NEWSLETTER NO.12 THURSDAY, 9TH

MAY, 2013

WEBSITE ADDRESS is burwoodhps.vic.edu.au/

TUES, WEDNESDAY

& THURSDAY

14TH,

15TH

, 16TH

MAY

NAPLAN ASSESSMENT

FRIDAY 17TH

MAY DISTRICT CROSS COUNTRY

MON – FRIDAY 20TH

- 24TH

MAY EDUCATION WEEK

WEDNESDAY 22ND

MAY OPEN NIGHT

THURSDAY 23RD

MAY OPEN MORNING

WEDNESDAY 29TH

MAY INCURSION “WILD SHOW” – FOUR-YEAR OLD

KINDERGARTEN CHILDREN

FRIDAY 31ST

MAY WINTER SPORT

MONDAY 3RD

JUNE SCHOOL COUNCIL

WEDNESDAY 5TH

JUNE ICAS - SCIENCE

FRIDAY 7TH

JUNE WINTER SPORT

MONDAY 10TH

JUNE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY – PUBLIC HOLIDAY

MONDAY 17TH

JUNE ICAS – WRITING

THREE-YEAR OLD KINDERGARTEN PHOTOS

TUESDAY 18TH

JUNE FOUR-YEAR OLD KINDERGARTEN PHOTOS

THURSDAY 20TH

JUNE VISIT BY MINISTER OF EDUCATION

REPORTS TO PARENTS

MON-FRIDAY 24-28TH

JUNE PARENT/TEACHER INTERVIEWS.

FRIDAY 28th

JUNE WINTER SPORT – END OF TERM TWO.

DISMISSAL 2.30 PM

MONDAY 15TH

JULY COMMENCEMENT OF TERM THREE

WEDNESDAY 31ST

JULY ICAS ENGLISH

FROM THE PRINCIPAL … Esther Wood

CLASSROOM AWARDS

Prep M- Keely Chew - for an outstanding effort

with her writing!

Prep W- Tharin Jayamaha - for working really

hard on the new sight words this week. Well done!

Grade 1/2A- Mia Emmoglou – for her improved

confidence when speaking in front of her class.

Well done!

Grade 1/2E- Harrison Moody – for his amazing

diary writing and for writing 2 pages. Keep it up

you champion!

Grade 1/2T- Raphael Green – for making a great

improvement in his reading. Keep it up!

Grade 1/2WM- Rickey Atkinson – for a really

good effort to sound and write his letters.

Grade 3/4A- Amelie Field – for making links

between different mathematical concepts.

Outstanding!

Grade 3/4G- Kieren Maharaj – for always

writing beautifully. Well done!

Grade 3/4J- Belinda Young – for always putting

in her best effort with every task. Keep up the

great attitude!

Grade 3/4P- Romain Blanchot - for making

great improvement in the Times Tables Challenge.

Well done, keep practicing!

Grade 5/6 A- Elisha Punay - for always showing

an enthusiastic attitude towards her school work!

You are a pleasure to have in the class!

Grade 5/6L- Martha Saif –for being a kind and

caring classmate that is always willing to help out

everyone! Well done!

Grade 5/6M- Billy Karipidis – for always putting

in his best effort in each assigned task. Thanks for

being a legend!

Grade 5/6H – Wendy Zhang – for fantastic

writing from the perspective of Margo from

Despicable Me.

HOMECRAFTS – Jessica Cheong 56M -for

engaging fully in our kitchen class and tasting and

enjoying new and interesting tastes and textures at

mealtimes. Thanks, Jessica!

VISUAL ARTS – Erin Burns – for her

enthusiastic attitude and creative approach in

making a sculpture based on ‘Sea Life’! Excellent

work!!

CONGRATULATIONS!

DANCE FAIR VICTORIA COMPETITION

I congratulate Mrs Jennifer Whiteoak for

providing such wonderful dance opportunities for

our interested dancers.

It was the Dance Fair Victoria Competition last

Saturday night and many of our students showed

the adjudicators what they were capable of in solo,

duo and team events. Holly Pratt (solo dancer);

duo partnerships Yasmyne Chung and Lily Chan;

Holly Pratt and Siew-Ting Lim; and team

members Niloufar Simakani, Yuying Li, Enola

Zammit and Dominique Rivera. The second team

was Tahlia MacPhie, Holly Pratt, Siew-Ting Lim,

Lily Chan and Yasmyne Chung.

All students showed great sportsmanship, were

friendly to other participants and had perfect

behaviour all night.

Mrs Whiteoak was extremely proud of all of the

dancers.

WELL DONE!

PREP 2014 ENROLMENTS

It is that time of year when schools are preparing

for the following year and student numbers are

critical to the school’s staffing structure.

I would ask you to please complete the required

Student Admission Enrolment Form if you intend

enrolling your child at Burwood Heights Primary

School in 2014. This form is available from the

main office or on the school’s website. It can be

forwarded by mail if requested.

We would like to have this information by the end

of June if possible.

If you are aware of any families who may live

near you and have not enrolled, would you please

advise them of this timeline.

Thank you for your assistance in this matter.

NAPLAN

The National Assessment Programme – Literacy

and Numeracy is an annual assessment for

students in Years Three, Five, Seven and Nine. It

has been administered since 2008.

On Tuesday 14th

, Wednesday 15th

and Thursday

16th

May, students will undertake the 2013

NAPLAN tests.

NAPLAN is made up of tests in the four domains

of Reading, Writing, Language Conventions

(Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation) and

Numeracy. The tests show how students are

progressing in Numeracy and Literacy against

national standards for all Australian students.

An individual student NAPLAN report will be

issued by the school later this year.

MOTHERS DAY STALL

Thank you to our wonderful parents who made it

possible for our students to purchase such

wonderfully attractive gifts for their mothers.

Special acknowledgement to Mrs Stella Hewson

and Mrs Amanda Brown for their preparation

before the sale began.

The students’ joy as they surveyed the presents

was so rewarding! You made many students

happy and I suspect many mothers will be on

Sunday!

SEXUALITY EDUCATION

Thank you Mrs Claire Maharaj for conducting a

very informative parent information night on the

Sexuality Education Programme. Those parents

who attended welcomed the opportunity to

understand more what this programme entails and

to ask questions about anything they were

uncertain about.

A most profitable evening!

WANTED - DRESS UPS

It is delightful to see the students having such fun

“dressing-up” at lunchtimes when they are playing

in the Outdoor Learning Classroom. We

desperately could use some additional items for

the students to parade in and convincingly take on

the many different characters they pretend to be in

their role-play. I know we asked for “dress-ups”

last year however many of these items are well

past their used-by date now….not all, but most.

If you have any suitable items no longer in use,

we could certainly provide a home for them.

HEAD LICE

Please check your child’s head regularly for nits

or head lice. These little pesky creatures are out

once again and with everyone being vigilant we

can minimise their activity.

If you need advice please do not hesitate to

contact the office.

SECONDARY SCHOOL PLACEMENT

REMINDER that Secondary School Placement

forms need to be returned to Burwood Heights

Primary School by May 17th

. We will then submit

all initial placement requests to the secondary

school.

Burwood Heights Primary School will be notified

in writing, by the secondary colleges of the name

of all their students who have been accepted in

Year Seven on August 16th

.

Orientation Day will be conducted for Year Six

students on December 10th

.

EDUCATION WEEK

Education Week will be celebrated in all Victorian

communities between 20th

and 24th

May.

Education Week promotes the achievements and

dedication of students, staff and the school

community.

Education Week will be celebrated at Burwood

Heights Primary School by an Open Night (school

and kindergarten) on Wednesday 22nd

May and a

Prep Open Morning on Thursday 23rd

May.

Please put these dates in your diary.

WEBSITE NEWS

Remember to check the website for news photos

and updates, especially the “What’s on” section on

the home page.

www.burwoodhps.vic.edu.au

Premier’s Reading Challenge Information:

Please note that registrations for the Challenge

close on Friday, 10th

of May.

Mindi Bakokpanos

Reading Challenge Co-ordinator

Mindi Bakopanos

Librarian & Reading Challenge Co-ordinator

CANTEEN CLOSED

Due to a sports carnival at Forest Hill College

there will be no lunch orders taken on Friday 10th

May.

Asthma, Coughs and Colds: Information for

Parents and Carers

The common cold, caused by an upper respiratory

tract infection, is one of the most common

illnesses for children and adults in Australia.

Colds are more common in winter months as

people spend more time indoors, in close contact,

and can be more likely to pass on viruses that

cause the common cold.

Colds can be a trigger for asthma, and asthma

management can become more difficult for

children and teenagers attending school if they

have a cough or a cold. Ensure your child reduces

the risk of passing on coughs and colds by

avoiding coughing or sneezing on, or near other

people and that they wash their hands

appropriately after blowing their nose or handling

used tissues. Coughing or sneezing onto the inside

of their elbow instead of their hands can also

prevent the transmission of infections. If your

child is unwell, it is recommended that they stay

home and rest to reduce the chance of spreading

infections and to give them a better chance to

recover quickly.

While there is no known cure for the common

cold, symptoms such as headache, cough and

runny nose can be managed, and children with

asthma are advised to see their doctor before using

any medication, or herbal and natural remedies, as

these may react with their asthma medications.

Many cold and flu medications available over the

counter are not suitable for children and teenagers,

and some medications may also trigger asthma

symptoms, it is best to avoid these unless

recommended by your doctor.

People with asthma should avoid the following

medications if possible:

Aspirin

Ibuprofen/Naproxen (non-steroidal anti-

inflammatory medications)

Beta blockers tablets and eye drops (used

for high blood pressure and glaucoma)

ACE inhibitors (used to control blood

pressure)

Saline drops and nasal sprays may help relieve

blocked sinuses, and gargling with salty water

may help relieve a sore throat.

If cold symptoms become more severe, parents

and carers are encouraged to consult their doctor

as soon as possible for advice. Nasal sprays

should not be shared between people as this may

transmit infections and viruses.

It is also highly recommended that in the lead-up

to winter, people with asthma ask make use of

influenza (flu shot) vaccinations.

For more information on the common cold,

medications and references used in this article

please see the Better Health Channel (State

Government of Victoria) -

www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au and the NPS website

- www.nps.org.au.

For further information, please contact the

Asthma Foundation of Victoria on 1800 645 130

or email schools@asthma.org.au

GARDEN VIEWS

Hello......It is possible to think of the seasons in a musical way. According to we in this part of the world 4 is nature's rhythm (4 seasons). To the Aboriginal person though there are 8 seasons in a year....half notes! Summer is like the high fast sounds and winter the slow and sombre ones. In a garden, winter works below the ground growing roots and summer fosters the above ground foods, (cucumbers), while autumn is a time of dying or harvest and spring a time of birth or growth.

As modern humans we can lose contact with the world's great rhythmical ways. Not so long ago the evening fire drew many. The word hearth, hides within it the words hear, heart, ear, art and earth. Early evening was a time for song and dance, for story and verse, all of which spoke to the emotional self rather than the intellectual...heart not just head. If you have ever joined in a folk dance or clapped along to the strong rhythms of African music you will know how quickly a smile arises.

I read somewhere how rhythm was once regarded as the secret source of joy and strength. As evidence, any dancer knows that s'he can dance all night for hours but feel exhausted by an

equivalent amount of unrhythmical muscular movement, hence the reason of the world's work songs such as sea shanties and railroad songs. The American army drill is trained to march and run to rhythmical cadences. Children love rhythm! In language it reveals itself in the rhyme, in poetry, in the limerick. Much of modern life fails to foster this means whereby simple joy can be easily and cheaply accessed.

As part of Real Life Adventures Mr Rhyder and I strive to create that artistic element, songs especially. Should you wish to belt out a tune at home with the family tribe then go to the Real Life Adventures school blog to locate the tunes. The words or lyrics will be available at the office, please ask for the songbook. Before the computer, finding tunes and lyrics was a burdensome and expensive task. These days we can all easily and cheaply access the means to foster that elixir of joy available to us via story, rhythm and song.

Perhaps a family that sings together smiles and laughs together. Yes of course it is natural to feel slightly silly and embarrassed when we first begin to imitate birds. It may be encouraging to keep in mind that the latest brain research is revealing how singing is important for proper whole brain development. Soon I am sure, I will have the chance to “sing in the rain” and do a quick shoe shuffle!

Regards Peter Le Ray.

FREE WAYS TO HELP

FUNDRAISE FOR OUR SCHOOL!!

(Plus one that’s not free, but you do get

something for it!!) We are off to a great start in the Forest Hill Chase

promotion, being the first week winners and

number one on the leader board – let’s see if we

can stay there and win cash for our school!

1. Keep receipts from ANY FOREST HILL

CHASE SHOP AND SEND TO THE

SCHOOL OFFICE – promotion runs from

Monday 15th

April to Sunday 26th

May

2013.

2. Collect the stickers being handed out at

WOOLWORTHS – sticker sheets

available from the office. Stickers available from 8/04/2013 to

9/06/2013. You will probably have to ask

for the stickers as they are not always

offered.

3. Get yourself an ENTERTAINMENT

BOOK – the books are now available at the

office or see Vicki Fahey. Books cost $65

for offers totalling over $15,000.

CAFE FRIDAY is now held in the kitchen on Fridays, straight

after drop off (9.05am).

All welcome to drop in for a coffee and a chat to

catch up

OSHClub News

After School Care Program

Hi Everyone!

I hope everyone has been having a good week so far. I'd just like to tell you about a

couple of things that are going to happen in the program from this week. Last week I said that we

have to AASC sessions starting up, we still do but there have been some slight changes to the

days. Starting this week, there will be Basketball sessions running on a Tuesday afternoon (not

Wednesday) and Circus Skills sessions running on a Wednesday afternoon (not Monday. I'll also

be introducing Trivia competitions and Science Experiment afternoons to the program each

week.

On the 24th of May, we will be participating in Australia's Biggest Afternoon Tea to raise money

for the Cancer Council. This is an invitation for all Children who attend OSHClub or have attended

in the past to bring themselves and their family along for a super fun afternoon tea. The

afternoon will be made up of lots of fun games and activities, fantastic food (Please feel free to

bring a plate of food to share) and at the same time we will be supporting a fantastic cause.

A special note to Parents: It is VERY important that you book your child/children in online if you

are wanting them to attend the program on a certain day, this can be done the morning you want

your child to attend. No one will be turned away if they aren't on the roll, but it is important that

we know numbers so that there is enough food to feed everyone, enough Staff so that all

children looked after and that we can meet everyone's medical and dietary needs on that day.

Instructions on how to book are in the “Parent Information” below.

Have a great week!

OSHC TEAM

Next Week's Activities

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

ACTIVITIES

Kid's Trivia AASC –

Basketball AASC – Circus Jail Break

Lava Lamp (Science)

ACTIVITIES

Rainbow Disco Balls (Cooking)

Hit The Square “Dog Tired”

Doorknob Sign Paper Plate

Animals Free Play

Parent Information

OSHC program phone: 0423 225 807

Coordinator: LINDSAY

Assistants: LAURA, ANTHONY, BELINDA, ANNA, BETH, POOJA, ALEX, MIKAELA, RACHELLE

OSHClub Head Office: 03 85649000

All families must be enrolled to attend the program, remember this is Free!! Please create an

account online at www.oshclub.com.au all bookings and cancellations can also be managed via

your online account. For on the day bookings please contact the Coordinator direct at the

program.

Program Update 9.5. 2013