1
Principal -Kevin Warne
Assistant Principal – Allyson Dixon
School Council President – Matthew Postill
Telephone - (03) 57931288
Fax - (03) 57931412
Web - www.puckapunyalps.vic.edu.au
Email - puckapunyal.ps@edumail.vic.gov. au
Alamein Road
Puckapunyal, Vic, 3662
Postal: Military P.O.
ABN: - 74134967962
Term 1 Issue 8
March 26th, 2014
Inside this Issue:
Next week is the last week of Term 1. Friday 4th April is the last day of
the term. All students will be dismissed from school at 1:30 p.m. The students
will only require a morning play lunch as they can have their lunch once they are
home that day. We will finish off the term with a 1:10 p.m. assembly which all
parents are invited to attend. We have some awards to hand out, some
presentations and some performances for assembly. Please come along.
It will be an Out of Uniform Day on this day as it is always on the last day of
term.
There will not be any afternoon school buses available for our children on the
last day of term. Good luck to all students and their families during the term
break!
Crazy Hair Day
* The first day of Term 2 for students will be Monday 15th April, 2013.*
On Friday the 4th of April (last day of Term 1) the SRC will be running
a Crazy Hair Day to help raise money for people with blood cancer.
The SRC encourages everyone to be creative and come to school with a
crazy hairstyle. There will be prizes awarded for the craziest hair on the
day.
It will be an out of uniform day and gold coin donations will go towards
the Leukaemia Foundation World’s Greatest Shave.
At times children require medication to be administered whilst they are at
school. For this to happen, the medication must come to school in its original box
or container and parents need to complete a medication form at the school office.
This also applies to the use of cough mixtures and throat lozenges.
***Sunday Nights - a
great night to check for
Head Lice. ***
DSTA Message/Birthdays
2
ANZAC Day Commemorations
2
School Camps and Latestays
2
Positive Behaviour Awards
2
Traffic Safety and Bike Education
3
Student Reminders
3
School Assemblies
3
Student Awards of the Week
4
Teaching/Learning Focus Week 9
5
Adopt a Granny Day
5
St Patrick’s Day Photos
6
Friday
4th April
Last Day
of Term 1
Tuesday
22nd April
First Day
of Term 2
Friday
25th April
ANZAC Day
Public Holday
***Have you heard your child
read today? We encourage all
students to practise their reading
at home about 5 nights per week.
Therefore, by now, most students
should have read at least between
35-40 nights. Well done if you
have kept up!
Just like last year, we are hoping that Friday Canteen lunches will be
available from next term. We do, however, require some more helpers to
volunteer.
If you for
canExcellence’
spare the odd few hours on a Friday to help in the School
‘Striving
Canteen, please
Openletsince
the 1887
school office know. Thanks!
2
Happy Birthday to Dimitee Taylor
who is having her birthday this Sunday.
On behalf of the Puckapunyal Primary
School Community, we wish Dimitee a very
Happy Birthday!
Anzac Day
is on Friday the 25th of April (first
week of Term 2). It is a public holiday and the school
will be closed. We hope that all families enjoy the
day. On Thursday 24th April, at a special 9am
morning assembly, we will have a short
commemoration to pay respect to the ANZACs. We
encourage students to bring wreaths to school and any
child in cubs, scouts, guides, etc, can wear their
uniforms for the commemoration. All parents are
welcome to attend our commemoration. It will be
held in the school amphitheatre or the PC Centre
(depending on the weather). As in previous years, our
school choir will be attending the dawn service at
Memorial Park on ANZAC Day. We will be
performing 2 songs at 5:45 a.m. We would encourage
all school community members to attend the service.
At both ANZAC commemorations, our school
captains will be laying wreaths on behalf of the
school.
Ms O’Connor has begun choir rehearsals for the
Dawn Service.
The Years 3-6 students in the choir have been
practising during some lunch eating times.
School Latestays/Camps Planned
for 2014
Easter Raffle fundraiser: We have already raised over $500
with this raffle. Thanks so much everyone! Just a reminder
that the tickets, money and donated prizes are due in no later
than Thursday, 3rd April.
Mothers’ Day stall: Any suitable gifts for this are also
appreciated. Thank you for gifts already received.
Healthy lunch tip – ‘instant’ lunch food: Here are some
healthy suggestions of pre-packaged/ ‘ready to eat’ foods
available, that can take the pressure off the morning lunch
preparation rush. They can also add some variety and interest
to your child’s lunchbox. It’s always a good idea to check the
salt, sugar and fat content of these products. For instance there
are some great muesli bars available that are still relatively
healthy, but there are also some that lack substantial nutritional
value.
-Tubs of fruit (SPC Ardmona factory outlet in Shepparton has
some great bargains of these in bulk)
-Dried fruit (apricots, sultanas, apples, dates, prunes, raisins
etc.)
-Mini cheeses
-Cheese and cracker biscuits
-Crackers, crisp breads, rice cakes, fruity Bix
-Muesli bars (must be nut-free)
-Popcorn
-Pretzels
-Pull-top cans (baked beans, macaroni cheese etc.)
-Tuna/salmon tubs
-Weetbix
-Yoghurt
-Breakfast bars and supplements such as ‘Up & Go’
Have a terrific week.
Sue Ranger, Defence School Transition Aide.
POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR
REWARD UPDATE
Only one more week to go, and we will have a
Foundation – Latestay at school Thursday 4th
winner! Any house could win!! Keep up the
September - Foundation student stay at school
positive behaviour everyone!!
until 7:30pm for BBQ and other outside
CURRENT SCORES
activities.
nd
Year 1 – Latestay at school Tuesday 2
Melba- 191 points
September – Year 1 students stay at school
Bradman- 186 points
until 7:30pm for BBQ and other outside
Hume- 178points
activities.
Chisholm- 174 points
Year 2 – Excursion and Stayover at school
th
th
Friday 5 September – Saturday 6
September. Years 2 students attend an
excursion to the Melbourne and stay the night
at school.
Years 3/4 - 3 day/2 night camp to Ballarat –
Wednesday 27th August – Friday 29th August.
Well done to
Students to participate in Goldmine activities
Hamish Kenny,
at Sovereign Hill, Ballarat.
Naomi Pennycook,
Years 5/6 - 3 day/2 night camp to Philip Island
Ben Postill and
– Monday 8th September – Wednesday 10th
Shelby Marston
September. Students to participate in
who all received a
Beachside and Outdoor Adventure activities at
‘Positive
‘Striving for Excellence’
YMCA Camp in Philip Island.
Behaviours’ Raffle
Open since 1887
Prize this week.
Well done!
3
Each week, at assembly or in class, we remind our
students about some rules, some expectations and
Next term, all Years Foundation-6 students will be
some general reminders. We ask families to support
involved in a Traffic and Safety Education Program
our school by reinforcing these at home.
during Physical Education and Sport classes.
- -Bikes and scooters are welcome at school but helmets
However, this year, we have had far too many reports from
must be worn at all times.
parents and community members that some students are
- -Bikes and scooters must be left in bike racks all day.
riding irresponsibly to school or around the community.
Nobody is allowed in that area until after 3:30p.m.
We strongly encourage families to take responsibility for
(....and only if you have a bike or scooter there).
their children to be taught correctly how to ride their bikes - -Helmets are to be kept in our classrooms (not at bike
and how to follow road rules.
racks).
1.
-Skateboards are not welcome at school.
Please consider the following:
2. -Outside sporting games at playtimes such as football,
*Does your child know that riding without a helmet is
soccer, cricket and tiggy must have an umpire/referee
dangerous and illegal?
(whistles available in office).
*Do you know that once a helmet has a crack it is useless
and will not protect the head on impact?
*Does your child know that drivers cannot read their minds
and they must use hand signals?
*Do you know that children under 8 have not developed
peripheral vision and therefore cannot see dangers out of
the corners of their eyes?
*Do you know that VICROADS strongly encourage that
students under 8, riding on the road, should only ride with
adult supervision?
*Does your child have the knowledge and skill to ride
safely in the community?
The responsibility for Traffic and Safety Education should
be a partnership between home and school. Our school is in
an ideal position to promote the issues so that parents
become more aware of the children’s needs and the
difficulties they experience in traffic. As mentioned, next
term we will begin our program. Please also help by
addressing the above considerations (and any others you
may think of).
Have you been to any of our school assemblies yet?
Our students run the assemblies and do a terrific job! If
any family has any spare time, please come along to our
next Monday morning assembly. All community members
are also welcome.
Did you hear Liam Reyne
and Trinity Bopyd read at
assembly this week? We did!
They tried to convince the
audience with their
persuasive writing, which
season of the year is the best!
They did a wonderful job!
Come along and see who
reads next week.
P
uckapunyal/Tallaroo
Net Set Go will run on Tuesdays in Term 2 in
the Area Gym from 4:00-4:45pm. It is suitable for
aged 5-10yrsFootball
old. A registration session
kchildren
Junior
will be held this Thursday 27 March at 3:30pm at
the flagpole at the Club
front of school.
Registration
Netball
want
forms are available for collection from the school
office for completion prior to that day. The cost
new
players for all
for the program is $45 and is due in full on
Thursday 27 March. Alison Cox and Tamara
our
football
Pennycook
are still interestedand
in hearing from
any parents or teenagers who are available to
assist with the program.
netball
teams for the
2014
season, however,
‘Striving for Excellence’
Open since 1887
4
Congratulations to the following students who
were ‘Students of the Week’ for last week.
Winners – Paige Cooper, Abby Williams,
Shontay Wicks, Janae Senner, Sara Harbert,
Bryce Williams, Emily Cox, William Burn and
Mackai Harriden. These students were selected
because they were modelling ‘Caring’. This
week teachers are looking for students who are
modelling ‘Confidence.’
5/6 P in Room 1B won the
Senior School Times
Tables Trophy.
Luke Freeman and Mackai
Harriden were both very
delighted to showcase the
winning trophy this week!
Congratulations to the following students
who were ‘Authors of the Week’ for last
week. Winners – Matthew Jenkinson, Harrison
Bruhn, Tessa Thompson, Cooper Dickinson,
Abigail Major, Trinity Boyd, Jake Tanis, Mara
Beveridge and Nic Franks. These students
were selected because they showed great skills
as an author.
3/4 A in Room 11 won the
Middle School Times
Tables Trophy.
Defence
School Transition
Sophie Spinaze
and SaskiaAide Message
Back
at
school:
I
trust that
everyone has had a smooth and
Truter are very happy
to look
satisfactory
beginning
to the
after the winning
trophy
for school year. Changing schools,
beginning
school
for
the
first
time and even returning for
their classroom!
another school year can be daunting for students and parents.
It is great to see parents eager to support their children at this
time and be an integral part of their education. If you have any
concerns, or just feel like a chat about school and your child,
please find me!
SWAPP Select Program 1/2 I in Room 9 won the
Duty career assistance
I have information about the Yard
ADF partners
program if anyone is interested.
Competition Trophy.
NEW UNIFORM
Cohenn Diaz and Hailey
We have recently had a new shipment
uniform
arrivetothat
Altas are of
both
very happy
includes shorts, tops, tracksuit
pants
and
hats.
Some
parents
show off the winning trophy
have been waiting on this to arrive.
for their classroom this
Best wishes for the week. week!
Sue Ranger, Defence School Transition Aide
Defence School Transition Aide Message
Back at school: I trust that everyone has had a smooth
and satisfactory beginning to the Congratulations
school year. Changing
to
schools, beginning school for theRyan
first time
and
evenFree
Free,
Eden
Taylor
returning for another school yearand
can Dimitee
be daunting
for
students and parents. It is great towho
seeeach
parents
received
eager to
support their children at this time‘Recycling
and be an integral
part
Cans’
of their education. If you have any concerns, or just feel
Awards this week.
like a chat about school and your child, please find me!
Every little bit counts!
SWAPP Select Program
I have information about the ADF partners career
assistance program if anyone is interested.
NEW UNIFORM
We have
had a new
of uniformWould
arrive you like to look after Ms. O’Connor’s budgies for the
Thank
yourecently
to the parents
whoshipment
came to the
holidays?
that includes
shorts,last
tops,
tracksuit
and hats. Some All seed and instructions will be provided. Please
Parent
Forum
week.
It waspants
a
see Ms. O’Connor if you can help. First in best dressed!
parentsopportunity
have been waiting
this to arrive.
terrific
to talk toonfamilies.
‘Striving
Excellence’
Thank for
you,
Ms O’Connor
Best wishes for the week.
Open since 1887
Sue Ranger, Defence School Transition Aide
5
Each week in the newsletter, we will give families a summary of the Teaching/Learning Focus for the week.
That can help families by: being aware of what classrooms are covering; with discussion topics at the dinner table when
discussing school (eg. ‘How are you going with addition in Numeracy this week?’); helping their children study at home,
etc. Parents have indicated that this information would be very useful. We also ask families to be aware that schools are
very busy places and events can be unpredictable at times. We therefore must remain flexible. That means, we can plan to
cover certain topics at particular times and have to change them according to arising needs.
Junior School – Preps/Foundation Rooms 3 & 6
Literacy: We will continue to develop early writing skills with a focus on pencil grip, capital letters and full stops. We
will be focusing on the letter ‘Oo’ and the sound it makes.
Numeracy: We will practise counting to 20 by 1s and we will learn how to write the number 8. We are still exploring 2D
and 3D shapes.
Junior School – Year 1s Rooms 3, 8 & 9
Literacy: We will be revising basic writing skills including correct pencil grip, correct letter formation and the
construction of sentences. Letter focus is the letter ‘Oo’. We are focusing on capital letters, full stops and questions.
Numeracy: We will practise our subtraction work and counting by 2s. We continue our work also on fluency tasks. We
have been exploring 2D and 3D shapes.
Junior School – Year 2s Rooms 8, 9 & 10
Literacy: We will continue to revise our writing skills including correct pencil grip, correct letter formation, use of dotted
thirds and the construction of sentences. We have also been continuing to focus on questions. Nouns have also been a
focus.
Numeracy: We will continue to practise addition and subtraction as well as counting patterns forwards and backwards by
1s, forwards by 2s, 5s and 10s. We continue our work also on fluency tasks and exploring 2D and 3D shapes.
Middle School - Years 3/4 Rooms 10, 11 & 13
Literacy: During writing sessions over the next few weeks, we will work on persuasive texts and recounts. We will also
be focusing on compound sentences using conjunction words.
Numeracy: We will continue to learn about the four processes, place value, fractions, tables and skip counting.
Senior School - Years 5/6 Rooms 1A&1B
Literacy: During writing sessions over the next few weeks, we will continue to work on reports. We will also focus on
singular and plural nouns.
In reading we will be focusing on fluency and expression while also identifying key words and phrases during note
taking.
Numeracy: We will continue work on place value (including decimals), processes and estimation. Another focus will
be work relating to the investigation of graphs. Tables facts will be practised throughout the week.
When your children are away from school......
Some families ring and ask for some school work
th
for their children to do at home when they are away.
On Thursday 24 April our Years 1/2 students will be involved
We understand that families are trying to do the
in the ‘Adopt a Granny’ Day program. For many years
right thing. Unfortunately this is not always
Di Grant has been visiting our school bringing some
possible, especially with short notice.
grandparents from the Country Women’s Association (and
What can you do with your kids at home?
their friends). The idea has been to run some fun activities
Children can practise their reading, spelling and
involving a particular year level of Pucka kids. This is because
tables. They can put their spelling words in
most of their grandparents do not live nearby. It has been a fun
sentences. They can finish their homework. They
tradition and it’s the Years 1/2 kids’ turn this year! From 9am
can write stories. They can practise their
until lunchtime the visitors will be involved with our students.
handwriting. Children can do ‘mini’ projects or
Any of our grandparents who would like to attend the day can
investigation work about favourite topics, eg.
also come and join in with the Years 1/2 kids.
dinosaurs, etc. Some families purchase affordable
Thanks, Di!
work books in supermarkets for these occasions too.
Please, only request teachers to organise extra work
‘Striving for Excellence’
Open since 1887 for children if they are having an extended time
away from school.
6
‘Striving for Excellence’
Open since 1887
Thanks for the photos, Mrs. Eastman!