AXEDALE PRIMARY SCHOOL
“Excellence Through Endeavour”
High Street, Axedale 3551
Ph. (03) 5439 7232 Fax. (03) 5439 7575
Principal – Lex Johnstone
Email:
NEWSLETTER No. 6 March 8th 2012
Important dates:
March / 9th – Curriculum Day (no students)12th – Labour Day Public Holiday
15th – Cottee’s 5-a-side Soccer
15th – Finance Meeting
20th – School Council AGM / March
April / 23rd – Ride to School Day
29th – School photos 9am
30th – Last Day of Term 1
16th – First Day of Term 2
On Monday morning, School Council President Mike Gunn spoke to the students and gathered parents at our first assembly in the new school. Mike, a former student, spoke about the transition from the brick building to our former classrooms and now the exciting shift to our new school.
At our assembly the student elected Junior School Council leadership team for 2012 was announced. Congratulations to Harrison Gunn (President), Ainslie Van Wynen (Vice –President), Luke Harrington (Secretary), Asha Tuohey (Treasurer) and Alex Long (Assistant Treasurer).
Also at Assembly this week our elected House Captains for 2012 were presented to the school. Well done to the students, who spoke confidently to their houses about why they would make a good captain for their house. Campaspe and McIvor are our two Houses and Captains for 2012 are:
McIvor – Angus White & Alex Hermens, Junior Captains – Jack Di Valentine & Laura Higgins
Campaspe – Harrison Gunn & Ainslie Van Wynen, Junior Captains – Tim Long and Zara Smith
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
This week has been a very exciting week in our school with the move to new classrooms. I would like to acknowledge the work of our teachers, especially over the last two weeks. It has been a very disruptive time and they have been able to maintain normal classrooms programs for the students who we feel have made a very smooth transition to their new rooms.
The teachers have completed a lot of packing up and unpacking, a lot of shifting, a lot of setting up and have put in many hours over and above normal expectations to keep things flowing smoothly in classrooms during the shift.
I would also like to thank the students who have been busy moving light items from building to building and have enjoyed being part of the process of shifting. Many student helpers this week have done a great job helping to empty the Art Room portable in readiness for its shifting.
Our former Gr. 2/3/4 and Gr. 5/6 classrooms will now be set up as our Art and Music teaching spaces.
PORTABLE REMOVAL
Our portable building will be fenced off in the coming days and before the end of term will be removed from the school site. The building will be moved to the Knowsley CFA and Tennis Club. Our community thanks BRB Modular for their generosity.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
Today is International Women’s Day. Our School Choir performed at an Axedale Ladies function this morning and our three Gr. 6 girls spoke about their thoughts about their mums, their friends, Axedale and our community to the gathering. The girls and their parents should be very proud of the way they spoke to such a large group of people.
After the Choir returned to school, students spent the rest of the day working in two groups, a girls group and a boys group.
The girls worked in teams on bead making, collage, lemonade spiders, nails and face painting while they boys took part in some teamwork building games, a mini golf competition and some woodwork.
WORKING BEE
Our next Working Bee will be held on Sunday 18th March from 9.00am. Work will begin on the front entrance and garden area of the new school. If you were unable to make it to the last Working Bee, it would be great to see you on the 18th.
DISRUPTION
Our normal landline 5439 7232 is active again after the shift of buildings.
SCHOOL COUNCIL
Just a reminder to the community and School Councillors that our AGM and next School Council Meeting is on Tuesday 20th March.
SCHOOL PHOTOS
School photos are on Thursday 29th March. Attached to the newsletter last week was the photo order envelope for each child. Each child must return their own order envelope with correct money to the school on or prior to Thursday 29th March (am).
ENGRAVED BRICK PROJECT
Thank you to all the families who have supported this project. We currently have orders for XX bricks. I have met with Stuart Read who will be doing the paving and he is able to complete the work over the school holidays in readiness for Term Two..
CURRICULUM DAY
Tomorrow is a Curriculum Day. There will be no school for the students. Staff will be at Eppalock PS with teachers from other schools working on Spelling Programs, the Ultranet and Interactive Numeracy and Literacy programs.
GOOD FRIDAY APPEAL
Attached to the newsletter today is a Good Friday Appeal donation envelope. Can all donations be returned to school by Thursday 29th March so we can be acknowledged during the Telethon on Channel 7. Thanks.
PARENTING IDEAS
Our school is a member of www.parentingideas.com.au
Parenting Ideas is a site run by well known child psychologist Michael Grose and provides a wealth of information available on line to all parents. I would encourage parents to have a look at the site. As a parent myself, I have found it very useful at times when planning the best way to handle a particular issue at home.
Each week in our Newsletter, we will attach a page of tips, ideas, thoughts and suggestions to assist families in our shared quest to develop well rounded and resilient kids, as well as smoothly functioning families.
Michael is the author of8 parenting books, including his new release Thriving! andthe best-selling Why First Borns Rule the World and Last Borns Want to Change it. His popular parenting columns appear in newspapers and magazines across Australia. He's the current Channel 9 Today Show parenting expert. He also has a regular fortnightly half hour parenting segment on ABC radio Victoria. Michael has an education background, and holds a Master of Educational Studies with research into what makes healthy families tick. He has conducted over 1,500 parenting seminars over the last two decades.
This week’s article is titled ‘Helping kids unwind’.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“It’s not what you do for children, it’s what you do with them that counts.” Australian parent of seven children
CLASSROOM
JUNIOR SCHOOL COUNCIL
Today was Crazy Hair Day. Junior School Councillors collected approximately $90 with all funds raised going to Cystic Fibrosis Victoria.
A new water cooler has been hired by the school for student use. As part of promoting a healthy lifestyle, we are encouraging students to have healthy lunches, eat lots of fruit (Fresh Fruit Friday) and providing this water.
Junior School Council have agreed to donate $10 towards the cost of the water cooler.
RIDE TO SCHOOL DAY
Friday 23rd March is Ride to School Day. We encourage students to ride their bikes to school safely on this day.
We would like to run an organised ride to school along the O’Keefe Trail, similar to what we did with Walk to School Day last year.
For those with bikes and bodies that are fit and willing, we will start the ride at 8.00am on the O’Keefe Trail at Longlea Lane. This will provide approx. an 8km ride to school. For younger riders keen to take part, we will pick up riders at the Arakoon gateway at approx. 8.30am for a 3km ride back to school.
We will have some members of the Bendigo/Kilmore O’Keefe Rail Trail group riding with us on the day and we would like a couple of parents to be involved as well. If interested please contact Mr J.
DAHLIA & ARTS FESTIVAL
Please see Mr C if your child is interested in participating in a relay race on Saturday 17th March in Eaglehawk. Grade 2/3/4 children will run over 200m and Grade 5/6 will run over 400m. Children will need to be accompanied by an adult.
FRESH FRUIT FRIDAY
Fresh Fruit Friday continued last week. Thanks to Jocelyn for cutting up the fruit. We would like a couple of extra helpers to cut up the fruit. If you can help out on a Friday morning anytime between 8.30 and 11.00, please contact the school.
PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS
For families who were unable to come to the school, please contact your child’s teacher to make a date and time.
PREMIERS’ READING CHALLENGE 2012
The Premier’s Reading Challenge is on again this year. An information letter and consent form was attached to last week’s newsletter. Children are encouraged to participate. Once your details have been registered you will be given a Username and password for access to the website where you can keep track of the books you are reading. Students will be given a record card and books that have been read will need to be listed on this. The record card will need to be handed into Mrs Baldwin in the office on a regular basis so the books can be verified as read.
GUITAR LESSONS
Guitar lessons with Jo Woodward started Friday 10th February. For enquiries please phone Jo on 5439 5264 or 0417 374 834 or email
BENDIGO INTERSCHOOL EQUESTRIAN TEAM CHALLENGE
On the 14th and 15th April, Katya Bathurst will be riding in the Bendigo Interschool Equestrian Team Challenge at the Bendigo Showgrounds. We are looking to enter a team to represent the Axedale Primary School if possible, so if there are other young riders out there who want to participate, please contact us. For further information or queries about the event, contact Lara Bathurst on 0429860671
COMMUNITY
WANTED TO BUY
6 x 4 metal trailer in good condition. Up to $250. Phone 5439 1249.
WORKERS WANTED!
Brian from Bendigo Wine Estate (Axedale -Goornong Rd. - 4km from Axedale) is seeking casual workers to help with the grape harvest and a tractor driver for the chaser bin. Work will begin in approximately one week, with flexibility around days and hours worked – hence the desire to offer the work to locals. Might be a great way to earn a few dollars between school drop off and pick up.
If interested, call Brian on 0407 508 343