AXEDALE PRIMARY SCHOOL
“Excellence Through Endeavour”
High Street, Axedale 3551
Ph. (03) 5439 7232 Fax. (03) 5439 7575
Principal – Lex Johnstone
Email: [email protected]
NEWSLETTER No. 37 November 23rd 2017
Important dates:
Nov.
Dec.
23rd Art Show 5-7pm
28th/29th Parent Teacher Interview Day
29th Music Night – 7pm
30th Prep 2018 Transition 2.15-3.25pm
7th Prep 2018 Transition 2.15-3.25pm
8th Prep Dinner
10th Axedale Community Carols
12th Orientation Day 9am-12.30pm
Dec.
12th Starting School session 9.15-11.15am
13th Gr. 6 Graduation
14th Thank You Morning Tea 11.15
14th Axedale Disco
20th School Christmas Concert 7pm
21st Last day of school 1.30pm finish
22nd Staff 2018 Planning Day – Student
Free Day
SCHOOL VALUES AWARDS
Spencer – For always being a very honest
and caring person. Spencer is a friend to
everyone.
Danielle – For always being honest and co-
operative at school.
Grace – For listening attentively and
working to the best of her ability in all
classroom activities.
Sydney – For listening attentively and working to the best of her ability in all classroom
activities.
Callum – For being a friendly class member and choosing a ‘can do’ attitude during
learning time.
Lily B – For playing with a range of friends out in the yard.
CLASSROOM ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Nash – For writing interesting diary
sentences and confidently sharing his work
with the grade. When asked questions he is
able to share to elaborate on his
experiences.
Riley – For making an exceptional effort in
his big write last week writing a four page
story.
Belle – For being a superstar when playing volleyball and taking heaps of fantastic catches to
help her team.
Brianne – For writing a fantastic piece about a new mini-beast with a donut body.
Eric – For working hard and persisting during the whole school testing program.
Georgia – For always striving to do her best and achieving personal best OnDemand results.
HOUSE TROPHY This week our House Trophy was a draw between
McIvor.
GOLDEN BRUSH
The winners of the Golden Brush this week were
Grade 5/6.
MAGIC WORDS
Congratulations to our students who achieved a Magic or Oxford Word Reading Certificate this week.
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
2018 PREP TRANSITION
The first of four transition sessions for our 2018 Preps started today. Our current Preps have been looking
forward to their friends from Kinder coming along to school for their first practice day. Further transition
days are on Thursday 30th November and Thursday 7th December from 2.15 – 3.25pm.
We are looking forward to the start of their school journey and hope that these days help our new Preps to
start building strong friendships within our school.
Thanks to our 2018 Prep parents for their work and support so far to make our transition program smooth
and successful.
STATEWIDE ORIENTATION DAY – TUESDAY DECEMBER 12TH
The Statewide Orientation Day is on Tuesday 12th December from 9 - 12.30. On this day, our current Grade
6 students will be attending their 2018 secondary college and all Axedale students will be working in their
likely 2018 class groups.
A “Starting School” seminar has been organised for 2018 Prep parents from 9.15-11.15am. This will be run
by CCS Family and Relationship Services. A flyer was attached to last week’s newsletter for 2018 Prep
families. Any other interested parents contact the office for further details and to register your attendance.
2018 Prep Information Sessions for parents run by Gaye Saunders and Lex Johnstone will run from 11.45am-
12.30pm on Tuesday 12th December. These sessions will have a particular focus on classroom programs and
how you can help to have your child school ready.
A BBQ lunch will follow from 12.30 for all students and any parents who would like to come along.
ART SHOW
Tonight, we are holding an Art Show in the Axedale Hall. At the Art Show, work completed by the students
throughout the year will be displayed, highlighting their skills in a range of areas. Parents and families are
invited along to view the many samples of work that will be on display.
Light refreshments will be available.
The Art Show will be open from 5.00 - 7.00pm.
PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS
Parent Teacher Interviews will take place on Tuesday 28th November after school for Grades 3/4 and 5/6 and
all day Wednesday 29th November for all grades P-6. A slip for preferred interview times is included in your
envelope again today for those families who are yet to return. A confirmation of booking is included today
for those families who have already returned their interview request forms.
The interviews are planned for this time as a prelude to Student Reports that come out on Friday 15th
December. Our intention is to make the most of the opportunity to discuss progress and view work samples
and provide parents the chance to discuss specific aspects of their child’s work and approach to school.
Feedback from staff and parents is that discussions are far more powerful and productive in informing
parents of progress and areas for further work.
2018 GRADE GROUPS
As we get closer to confirming a number of areas in our planning for 2018, it is worth raising a number of
factors involved in developing grade structures for next year.
We will have a total enrolment of close to 130 next year, with a six grade structure.
Parents need to be aware that a number of class level groups will need to be split across two classrooms as
part of organising classes.
In doing this, a range of factors are taken into account – gender balance, academic balance, social factors, how
many years with current teacher, student/teacher relationship and the mix of student personalities. I also aim
to leave spaces in each class for further enrolments at each grade level.
Our expectation is that current enrolment numbers will be maintained for a number of years to come – so
splitting grade groups will become a yearly task, not an exception this year.
PREP DINNER
Our Prep Tea is on Friday 9th December. Preps will stay at school from 3.30 and will enjoy some after school
activities before enjoying a meal together and a little bit of DVD time.
Pick up is 7.00pm.
GRADE 6 GRADUATION
please note change of date
Our Grade 6 Graduation is set for Wednesday 13th December.
Our evening will involve a friendly game of ten pin bowling at the Bendigo Bowling Centre
in Hargreaves St. at 6.00pm before moving to La Cecil’s (La Porchetta) on Williamson
St. for tea at 7.00pm.
Parents are encouraged to be a part of the bowling fun as well as joining us for tea.
School will cover the cost of all the bowling and the Gr. 6 student meals.
THANK YOU MORNING TEA
On Tuesday 19th December, we are hosting our ‘Thank You Morning Tea’ to acknowledge
the significant amount of help that we receive throughout the year from a range of people
and groups within our local and wider community.
Invites to non-school based helpers will be sent out this week. So if you help out with
reading, excursions, Brekky Club, Fresh Fruit Friday, Quickshear, Bike Hike, book covering, Walk to
School Day, head lice checks, gardening, working bees, School Council, Finance Committee, PVF,
Mother’s and Father’s Day etc. etc. – we hope to see you
there for Morning Tea.
THANKS
Thank you to Julie Liersch for cleaning our
fish tank. It looks lovely and fresh again.
AXEDALE DISCO
Our PVF Committee is conducting the ‘Axedale Disco’
on Thursday December 14th at the Axedale Hall.
Kinder/Prep/1/2 students disco will run from 4.00 –
5.00pm and the Grade 3-6 disco will run from 5.10 –
6.30pm.
Entry is free
QUICK SHEAR
Plans are well underway for the next Axedale Quick Shear
& Family Fun Day to be held on 27th January 2018 from
2pm at the Axedale Hall & Park. For those new to our
school this year, this event is a fabulous free family day
held in the town each January. It is also a major
fundraising event, with all funds raised being shared
amongst the Primary School, the Pre School, the CFA and
the Hall. Last year the funds received by the school
contributed to the cost of installing a water bore to help
with watering our grounds and gardens.
As well as the shearing, there are a range of other
competitions (photography and beaut ute), activities (the
Market, 'Smoko' afternoon tea, demonstration by
Bendigo On Road Radio Controlled Car Club, silent
auction, spinning wheel), entertainment (show bags,
jumping castle, face painting, petting zoo, 'throw the ball
in the loader bucket' and more) and food
& drinks available on the day.
In conjunction with the Quick Shear event a raffle is held,
with tickets being sold in the lead up to the day. Enclosed
with this week’s newsletter is a raffle ticket book (one
per school family). There are 6 tickets per book, with
tickets being $2 each or 3 for $5. Once sold please return
the ticket stubs and money to Katrina at the office.
Additional raffle ticket books are available if your family
would like extra. If all books (including any unsold
tickets) could please be returned by the last week of term
4 it would be appreciated.
Further updates about the Quick Shear will appear in
future newsletters, as the Committee works to finalise the
volunteer roster for the day (would you like to be a
volunteer?) and to confirm items for the silent auction
(would you like to donate?).
ATHLETE’S FOOT SCHOOL REWARD PROGRAM
Please support this fundraising program. For every pair of shoes
purchased from the Bendigo Store $5 is donated back to the school.
This applies to the whole family across the full range of shoes.
COGB ROADWORKS
I met with COGB Construction Co-ordinator today to discuss a range of school based safety & traffic issues
during the construction phase of the upcoming roadworks on Raglan St.
I will share as much information as possible in next week’s Newsletter.
DENTAL CHECK UPS
Community Dental Services at Bendigo Health are sending a team to Axedale Primary School to provide
oral health screening for students on Tuesday 5th and Wednesday 6th December.
A form is enclosed with the newsletter today. Please return this to school by next Wednesday 29th
November.
OPTOMETRIST CHECK UPS
We are seeking indications from parents who may be interested in having free optometry check-ups early in
2018. An expression of interest is attached to the Newsletter today. Please fill out and return to the school by
next Wednesday, 29th November . If there is sufficient interest, we will go ahead and book dates for early
2018.
Please contact the school with any queries.
‘Wide Open Road Optometrists’ offer the following blurb :-
As a mobile Optometry Company we are called Wide Open Road Optometry and our office is in Daylesford.
We operate out of Central Highlands Health located in Creswick and have practiced out of Ballan Hospital
community centre for 7 years.
We perform eye examinations which are bulk billed and covered through Medicare.
We are offering a mobile Optometry service to primary schools. Our aim is to make it easier for children to
have to access to appropriate eye care, particularly if they have not had that opportunity previously. We are
interested in ensuring the children have functional vision and healthy eyes both of which can enhance their
learning capacity in the classroom and their general coordination. Around 80% of children under 8 years of
age will not have had an eye exam. Many of the older children will also not have had a comprehensive eye
exam.
We have a mobile digital retinal camera which will is particularly useful for monitoring eye health. At times
some children may need to be referred for further testing at an ophthalmologist or another optometrist.
We can provide the family with a copy of the child’s prescription for them to shop around. We do not sell
glasses in schools.
Kind regards,
Catherine Vallence
B.Optom (Hons) UNSW
SCHOOL APP
If you haven’t already signed up to our school app we ask that you take the time to
download it. Search for Updat-ed and from the menu select our school. We’ll receive your
registration request and will need to approve you before your app is up and running
MICHAEL GROSS PARENTING RESOURCES
Our school is a member of Parenting Ideas. Visit www.parentingideas.com.au
This week’s attached article is “Failure! What a genius idea!”
BREAKFAST CLUB Many thanks to those who have volunteered to help with Breakfast Club during this Term. Your assistance is
very much appreciated.
Tuesday 28th November – Julie Liersch
Thursday 30th November – Hannelie Schutte
Tuesday 5th December – Melinda Pengelly
Thursday 7th December – Liz Harrington
FRESH FRUIT FRIDAY
Many thanks to those who have volunteered to help with cutting up fruit on Fridays this term.
Friday 24th November – Susie McGrath & Renée Hedger
Friday 8th December – Jade Field & Katherine Simon
As part of the Fresh Fruit Friday sponsorship in conjunction with the Bendigo Spirit, McKern Foundation
have organised free entry for primary students to all Bendigo Spirit home games for the remainder of the 2017
season. Students can present the flyer at the bottom of this page at any Home Game for free entry. If you
require further information please contact Ricky Cawley - Student Wellbeing Worker.
PARENTS, VOLUNTEERS & FRIENDS
CHRISTMAS HAMPER
Yes it is that time of year again. We are asking families to contribute a non-perishable item to
our Christmas Hampers. It would be good to see lots of Christmas themed and holiday items.
Tickets for the raffle will be sent home later in the term.
KIDDIES FOOD KUTTER FUNDRAISER
The food cutter and peeler are $10 each or you can buy a 2 pack (1 of each) for $16. Another order form is in
the newsletter today. Orders are due today Thursday 23rd November.
JOKE OF THE WEEK
Q. Where do ants go for their holidays?
A: Frants!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Common sense and a sense of humour are the
same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of
humour is just common sense, dancing.
William James
Lex Johnstone
Principal
CLASSROOMS
AMBULANCE
On Tuesday we had a visit from Megan Lacey, a
Paramedic with Ambulance Victoria. Megan was able to
demonstrate to the students how heart rates are checked
and also the level of oxygen in their blood. Students were
shown how the stretcher is moved in and out of the
ambulance and were able to ask a range of questions about
the various equipment contained in the ambulance.
Student comments:-
Adam – I learnt that ambulance officers face some
dangerous situations while on the job.
Campbell – I learnt that they use a mechanical bed to lift
patients as it is much safer for the officers.
Emma – I learnt that my heartrate should be around 70-
100 beats/minute.
Matthew – Being inside the ambulance was fun and it wouldn’t be scary if I was in an accident.
Alla – We got to use the finger monitor that measured our heart rate and oxygen levels.
Noah – We got to ride up and down on the lifting seat – it was fun.
Kiera – The lights were flashing and the siren was on – it was very loud!
MARC is very quickly coming to an
end for 2017!
All MARC books are now overdue
and need to be returned ASAP
so that I can begin the stocktake
process.
Thanks in advance,
Mrs G
COMMUNITY NEWS