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LoSEMS

CSEF DROUGHT RELIEF FUNDING PROGRAM

A reminder about the Camps, Sports and

Excursions Funding that is available to all

students at Dimboola Primary School. The

funding is for $375 per child and a concession

card is not required to meet criteria – all

children are eligible. This funding is extra to the

funding available to some families with health

care cards who receive $125 per child. The

forms are to be returned to Dimboola Primary

School by Friday 18th

March.

The $375 remains with your child for their

educational journey. Any unspent money from

this year is still assigned to your child next year

and beyond. This is an initiative to assist

families who are experiencing the effects of

drought. Unfortunately the Hindmarsh Shire

has been identified as one such area. Let’s hope

that next year the climate is more supportive of

farming enterprises and the flow on effects of

this on communities in the Hindmarsh area.

MEALS ON WHEELS

DPS will be doing Meals on Wheels for the

month of March so if you can help out for a day,

or a couple of days, we would love to hear from

you. There are vacancies on a few of the days.

This is a great way of providing a service to the

community. Please ring the school on

53891270 if you are able to assist.

DIMBOOLA PRIMARY SCHOOL PO Box 241 Dimboola VIC 3414 Ph: 03 53891270 Fax: 03 53891399

e-mail: dimboola.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au

“We strive to build a strong school community of enthusiastic learners”

DATES TO REMEMBER

March

Fri 18th School Fete

Mon 21st “Little Bad Wolf” Performance

Wed 23rd Preps at school

Thur 24th Last Day of Term 1 – 2.15pm

dismissal

April

Mon 11th First Day of Term 2

Tues 24th Zoo Excursion

NEWSLETTER No.08 March 17th, 2016

.: HONESTY in all of our actions. .: RESPECT for each other and our environment.

.: TOLERANCE to accept those things that are different .: RESILIENCE to bounce back when something bad happens.

Due to the Fete

there will be

NO CANTEEN TOMORROW

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A VISIT FROM THE PREP/1 CLASS:

I was greeted by a group of 18 Prep/1 children who were very excited to show me their

biscuit rockets that they had made on Wednesday. This was done to reinforce the sound

of “R”. Thanks for this wonderful surprise, unfortunately there were no extra “Rocket”

biscuits for Mr Sampson!

POP UP LIBRARIES:

Working in consultation with the local Learning and Employment Network (WSMLLEN) we

are hoping to establish some pop up libraries in some of the local businesses. Essentially

we are hoping to provide various shops with a tub containing multiple books for people to

borrow and return at a later date. The books are aimed at people who are learning to read

and should be colourful and engaging. With this in mind we are hoping to have a book

drive where used books may be dropped in at Dimboola Primary School to go into the

collection for children to access from a local business and take home for reading. Your

support with this would be greatly received.

BREAKFAST CLUB:

Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Bendigo Bank we will offering children breakfast

from Term 2. Bendigo Bank will be funding a small fridge, toaster, kettle, cereal, bread and

condiments. This is a very generous gesture and I thank Wayne and Janine. The starting

date will be the 11th

April at 8:30. A working committee has been established to work out

the finer details of the club but we are overjoyed to provide this to children. We also

intend on running a competition for students to come up with a groovy name for the

breakfast club. This will be discussed at the Junior School Council.

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SCHOOL FETE:

A reminder that the school fete is to be held tomorrow, Friday 18th

March from 3:30 –

7:00pm. This is a major school fundraiser so we encourage you to bring your family and

friends along. There will be lots of great food and activities to entertain everyone and I

would like to thank and make note of the work that Mrs Bronwyn Hastings has been

doing in getting sponsorship and prizes from various organisations as well as liaising

with outside vendors to supply lots of great entertainment for the evening.

I realize that the allocated times will not suit everyone due to work or family

commitments so if it doesn’t, could you please arrange a swap and if that is not possible

let the school know. We are trying to make sure each event has a couple of helpers to

share the workload.

PS If your name does not appear and you would like to help we would love to hear from

you.

ATTENDANCE:

Please find attached information regarding Primary School Attendance. Whilst we are

above the state median for school attendance, I encourage parents to consider the

reason for your son or daughter being absent. Last year we had an average absence

rate of 14.74 days per student. This was up from the previous year with 12.76 days per

student. An interesting statistic is that if your child misses 3 weeks of schooling per year

that equates to half a year of learning by the time they finish Year 6.

Coming to school every day is vital, but if for any reason your child must miss school,

there are things we can do together to ensure they don’t fall behind:

• Speak with your classroom teacher and find out what work your child needs to do

to keep up.

• Develop an absence learning plan with your teacher and ensure your child

completes the plan.

COMING DATES:

Friday 18th

March – School Fete 3:30 – 7:00

Monday 21st March – “Little Bad Wolf” Cultural Performance

Thursday 24th

March – Last day of Term 1, 2:15 finish. Enjoy your Easter break.

Monday 11th

April – Start of Term 2.

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Just a reminder that many of the apps that can be used on iPods, iPads and iPhones

have a minimum legal age limit of 13 years old. It has come to our attention that there

are students at school who are using apps with such age restrictions. We would like to

remind parents that it is not appropriate for students of primary school age to have

access to these apps and that the use of any type of communication between peers

on these devices should be supervised at all times. These age restrictions have been

put in place in order to protect children from the dangers of social media, not only

from bullies but from predators online. We would appreciate parents support in

protecting the students from the negative situations that could arise and enforcing

these rules at home.

CYBERSAFETY

Early Tuesday morning 10 lucky students caught a bus from Dimboola Primary

School to head off to Somers Camp, where they will stay for 9 days.

Somers Camp is a DEECD school, located on the shores of Westernport, 90kms

south-east of Melbourne. It provides opportunities for 160 children (80 boys and 80

girls) from Years 5 and 6 from a regional area to participate in a program that blends

a range of outdoor and environmental education activities, in a safe and secure

learning environment.

At camp students will participate in activities such as archery, boating, bush craft,

orienteering, rockclimbing and surfing to name just a few. We’re sure they are all

having a wonderful time and we can’t wait to hear all about it when they return next

Wednesday!

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Ngujarn and Nakun: Belonging in the other

Date: 12/03/2016 - 15/05/2016

Across four generations in the Mullett

family, cultural knowledge and

connection to land has driven an artistic

tradition that has been passed down

from the oldest members of the family

through to the youngest.

Curated by one of the younger members of the family Steaphan Paton, the exhibition

Ngujarn and Nakun: Belonging in the other presents the works of the Mullett family, from

the late Uncle Albert and Aunty Rachel, their children, grandchildren and great

grandchildren. The works will be drawn from the private collections of the family and the

Koorie Heritage Trust’s artworks and artefacts collection.

Artists: Albert Mullett, Rachel Mullett, Kerrie Clarke, Kynan Clarke, Tehya Clarke, Seamus

Clarke, Liam Clarke, Richard Mullett, Michael Mullett, Colin 'Chook' Mullett, Jennifer

Mullett, Ben Pender, Luke Johnson, Hollie Johnson, Steaphan Paton, Timothy Paton, Doris

Paton, Sienna Paton and Njarala Paton.

Koorie Heritage Trust Gallery, Level 1, Yarra Building, Federation Square, Melbourne VIC.

image credit: Richard Mullett (Gunnai) 'Kind (Bream)', acrylic on canvas, 125 x 250cm, Koorie Heritage Trust Collection

While I was in Melbourne I went to my family

exhibition, Ngujarn and Nakun, I entered a

painting of two emus I did in year two, while I

was eight. We’d only been there for about

two hours and a man from Copyright

Australia was interested. I had a long think

about it and then I decided I wanted to sell it.

So I told the curator and she rang the man

and he bought it. I was the only one to sell

my painting on the first day. If you get a

chance to go to Melbourne in the holidays or

in between now and the 15th of May, go to

The Koorie Heritage Trust in Federation

Square and see the exhibition. My painting is

still there but it has a red sticker next to it.

Tehya Clarke.

Below are more details about the exhibition. Seamus Clarke also has artwork on display,

along with Mum Kerrie and their brothers Kynan and Liam. Check it out!

TEHYA SELLS FIRST PIECE

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Book Fair March 2016

What a wonderful effort from our school community at this first book fair in 2016.

We took $1510 of book sales in the 10 days at DPS. From that we were able to

select $453 worth of books for the school library.

We also qualified for $60 of prizes to be used at our discretion to publicise the fair.

At next week’s school assembly some random draws of names will take place and

children who purchased items from the fair could win a book.

Thank you again to Jenni, Sharon and Kellie for helping with the Book Fair. Also,

thanks to Desiree and Bronwyn for jumping in when I was not around.

Well Done! Dimboola Primary School community.

Sandra Gove

Book Fair Organiser

Helping the Community

Yesterday Brook, Isaac, Will, Harvey and Caleb went up to the DMSC Health and Fitness

Centre. We made a powerpoint on Helping the Community. We talked about fundraisers

that we do and our 5/6 homework. We presented it to the Hindmarsh Shire Council and

the Deputy Mayor. We were asked what we would do if we were a Mayor for a day. Some

of the replies were that we could have a museum, a Bounce trampoline park and a skate

park plus more. We were very pleased to meet everyone and present our powerpoint to

some of the most important people in our community.

By Brook Ward, Harvey Simpson, Isaac Wren and Will Abbott.

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Wimmera Regional Library presents

Duck Cameron Master Magician

Award winning Duck Cameron has captivated

audiences worldwide with his spectacular and

original Comedy & Illusion. His visual portrayal

of the 'classic magician' reminds one of an era

lost and yet surprises us with his up-beat, sharp

and hilarious routines which always keep

audiences on the edge of their seats - this is a

show not to be missed and suitable for all ages!

As a special School Holiday show,

Duck Cameron is appearing at:

Dimboola Community Centre,

12 Wimmera Street

on Tuesday 5th April at 2.30pm.

Bookings essential on 53891734/53914452

or dimboola.library@wrlc.org.au

Ticketed entry only - $2 per person

(adults and children).

There will be limited seating – please book early

at your local Library to avoid disappointment.

Dimboola Town Committee Easter Eggstravaganza Colouring Competition

Don’t forget to get your entries in!

Extra copies available from the school office.

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Why it’s important

We all want our students to get a great

education, and the building blocks for

a great education begin with students

coming to school each and every day.

If students miss school regularly, they miss

out on learning the fundamental skills that

will set them up for success in the later

years of school.

There is no safe number of days for missing

school – each day a student misses

puts them behind, and can affect their

educational outcomes.

Each missed day is associated with

progressively lower achievement in

numeracy, writing and reading.

Getting in early

Attendance patterns are established

early – a child regularly missing days

in kindergarten or in the early years of

school will often continue to miss classes

in the later years, and receive lower test

scores than their classmates. It’s vital that

students go to school every day – even in

the early years of primary school.

What we can do

The main reasons for absence are:

Sickness – There are always times when

students need to miss school, such as when

they’re ill. It’s vital that they’re only away

on the days they are genuinely sick, and

setting good sleep patterns, eating well and

exercising regularly can make a big difference.

It's vital that holidays are planned during

school holidays where possible, and not

during the term if it can be avoided.

“Day off” – Think twice before letting your

child have a “day off” as they could fall

behind their classmates – every day counts.

Truancy – This is when students choose

not to go to school without their parent’s

permission. There can be many reasons for

truancy. The best way to address this is for

schools and parents to work together.

If for any reason your child must miss

school, there are things you can do with

your school to ensure they don’t fall behind:

• Speak with your classroom teacher and

find out what work your child needs to

do to keep up.

• Develop an absence learning plan with

your teacher and ensure your child

completes the plan.

Remember, every day counts. If your

child must miss school, speak with your

classroom teacher as early as possible.

Openly communicating with your child's

school about all absences is a good way to

prevent attendance issues being escalated

to a School Attendance Officer. A School

Attendance Officer is a Department of

Education and Early Childhood Development

Regional Director who has authority to

follow up attendance issues. Attendance

issues that are escalated can lead to an

Infringement Notice.

If you’re having attendance issues with your

child, please let your classroom teacher

know so we can work together to get your

child to school every day.

For more information and resources to help

address attendance issues, visit:

www.education.vic.gov.au/school/parents/

behaviour/Pages/studentattendance.aspx

Primary school attendance

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development

Going to school every day is the single most important part of your child’s education. Students learn new things at school every day – missing school puts them behind.

Dimboola Primary School Athletics Day Welcome back to school in 2016. This year we are going

to have our Athletics Day on Friday 22nd April in Term

Two at Dimboola Memorial Secondary College.

We again are going to need helpers to run our

day. If you are able to help at our Athletics Day on

Friday 22nd April, could you please fill out the box

below and return it to the office.

I am able to help on Athletics Day

Name _______________________

Junior Any

Senior