Senior Newsletter Term 4, 2017

Haddon Primary School

Address: 398 Sago Hill Road, Haddon Phone: 53 424487

The senior team would like to welcome back everyone for the final term of 2017! How the year has flown and this term will sure be no exception. There are many exciting and fun events coming up that will make for an enjoyable end to the 2017 schooling year.

Please put these dates into your calendar or diary

Important dates:

Nov 2nd - BIG WRITE Nov 30th – Movie ‘Wonder’ 2/3C & 3/4M

Nov 6th - School ends at 1.30pm (Staff P.D) Dec 1st – Half Day 12.30 finish (report writing day)

Nov 7th – Melbourne Cup (Dress up day) Dec 19th - Movie ‘Coco’ and school breakup party (Grade 3-6)

Nov 10th – Ballarat Show Day Holiday Dec 20th – Year 6 graduation

Nov 16th – Art Show and COLD WRITE Dec 21st Students last day (reports to go home)

Uniform

As we reach Spring and Summer this Semester it is important for students to dress appropriately for the weather. This means checking the forecast, if it is going to be a warm/hot day we encourage students to wear the appropriate clothing so that they feel comfortable whilst learning and playing in the sun! For some of our Grade 6 students, wearing the Grade 6 hoodies is a great feeling but they must understand that there are risks in wearing them in higher temperatures. Students are also encouraged to bring drink bottles to school and can keep their shoes on when coming inside.

Hats

As mentioned previously, the sun is out and the students are loving it. However, this a constant reminder that students need to be wearing their hats during recess and lunch. We are a sun smart school and students must comply with these rules. Students need to be wearing the Haddon Primary School hats only.

ROLL ON DEODORANT

Please be aware that students are allowed to bring deodorant to school, but it must be roll on only. We have many asthma suffers so spray deodorant is banned at school.

Home Time Again, please be mindful of student safety and walk into the school grounds when collecting your child from the front of the school. If your pick-up point is near the bus stop, please make sure your child is near you, as this will make it easier for teachers to recognise who remains to be collected. Those students without parents should be waiting against the brick wall and not playing on the raised grass area or near cars.

It is always nice to enjoy the weather this time of year but we need to be vigilant with this.

READING Reading every night is important. Reading should be enjoyable and careful choice of books is the key to enjoyment. Please encourage your child to read regularly.

The five-finger test is helpful when choosing a book. We encourage students to do this when selecting books. It is best done with an adult, as children often do not know that they are reading words incorrectly.

If you want to see if a book is suitable, try the "five finger test!"

To check the reading level of your book, take this simple test:

1. Open the book to the middle and choose any page to read. 2. Read the page (aloud if possible).3. Put out one finger for every word you do not know or cannot pronounce. 4. If you have five fingers out, the book is too difficult to read without help. 5. If you do not get any fingers up, but are reading very slowly and decoding almost every

word, you will not enjoy the book.

BIG WRITE AND COLD WRITE

This term, we will continue with our fortnightly ‘Big Writes’ and termly ‘Cold Writes’. These writing assessments are part of the VCOP program that is being implemented throughout the entire school. These writes give teachers critical information about your child’s writing ability. It also allows teachers and students to analyse and create writing goals that students strive towards to enhance their writing. We encourage parents/guardians to continue having the ‘Big Talk’ (5 – 10 minute chat) with their child about ideas and strategies in what they will write the following day.

ART SHOW

The Art Show is fast approaching and is one of our many enjoyable nights. This night will give the students a fantastic opportunity to display some of their pieces from the year. This year students are also participating in a ‘Book Theme’ class piece, which will also be on display! Information sheets have recently been sent home with all the details. We encourage all family and friends to come and enjoy what will be an enjoyable night filled with fun games, nibbles and drinks.

‘Wonder’ Movie Day

2/3C and 3/4M will be attending a screening of the film ‘Wonder’. Both classes have been reading the text of the film throughout the year so it will provide a great opportunity to see the way they have created the movie from the text! If some can recall, Mr Carter dressed up as the main character for Book Week!

Literature Circles

This term the Senior Unit will be introducing and conducting Literature Circles as part of our reading focus. In Literature Circles, small groups of students gather together to discuss a text in depth. The discussion is guided by students' responses to what they have read. You may hear talk about events and characters in the book, the author's craft, or personal experiences related to the story. These circles help students to comprehend their reading and seek advice or clarification when reading. Students will be given a suitable text, are expected to conduct themselves maturely, have a responsibility to complete the reading and work so that they can share their opinions that will open up detailed discussion and clarification.

Camps 2018

2018 will see a change up with our Grade 5/6 camps. Students will enjoy the experience of two trips. The first of our camps will be in Term 1 to Alpine Ash on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd of March. The next, will be an overnight stay with our Urban Camp in Melbourne on the 3rd of September.

Grade 6 Graduation

The Grade 6 students have been working extra hard in preparation for their graduation night! This term students will have an opportunity to work hard on delivering a speech to their family, friends and peers. This speech will give students a chance to reflect on their time at Haddon as well as thanking anyone that has helped them on their journey. Students have been asked to bring in a toddler photo and if they did not start their schooling here, a Prep photo is also required. Thank you for the students who have brought these in already. There will be more information to follow in the coming weeks.

Movie ‘Coco’ @Regent and school breakup party

During the last week of school, students from the Senior Unit will enjoy a trip to the Regent Cinema to watch the movie Coco! The students will enjoy the movie experience before making their way back to school for our end of year school break up party. More information on this day is still to come.

Early Birds

For those who arrive to school early of a morning, you have an option of signing them in to the Early Birds Program in the library. Please see Vicki of a morning with a gold coin donation.

Grade 5 Fishing

3/4 Sovereign Hill Excursion