EHPS Contact Issue 1 - 2 February 2018 Page 1 of 10

Issue 1, 2nd February 2018

At EHPS we value: Friendliness, Honesty, Inclusiveness, Respect, and Persistence

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Dear parents and members of the Essex Heights community,

Welcome back to the new school year, which I believe will provide many opportunities for children and families to join together in a wide range of learning and fun experiences. As I walked around the school over the past few days I have been so pleased to see the children settled, happy and working so well. On Wednesday there were so many great stories to tell about the children’s travels and adventures since they left school in December. When we return to school at the start of the New Year, I am always amazed at how much the children have grown over the holidays.

In the two weeks before returning to school, it was fantastic to see so many children accessing the Out of School Hours Care Vacation Program. The children were having so much fun with their activities and excursions. A big thanks to Paul Davis and his staff for once again running an outstanding holiday experience for the children.

This year we welcome two new staff to the great team at Essex Heights: Lisa Burns in Year 3 and Amy Hipwell in Year 2 and Health and PE. The school is so fortunate to have such high calibre staff joining our school. We wish both of them well in their time with us and look forward to their contribution to the children and EHPS. I am also delighted to welcome back Margaret Fitzpatrick into Year 3. Margaret is a very well respected and experienced teacher. Her students in 3F will benefit greatly from her wide curriculum knowledge and expertise.

… continued

CALENDAR February Fri 3-Tue 6 ......... Prep SEA interviews Mon 5 ............... Canteen starts Tue 6 ................. School Banking commences Wed 7 ............... Prep students start (finish at 1.30pm) Thu 8-Fri 16 ....... Prep students 9am to 2.30pm Fri 9 ................... Yrs 5&6 Inter School Sport Mon 12 ............. Student Leaders Badge Presentation Tue 13 ............... PFA Meeting (note date change) Fri 16 ................. Yrs 5&6 Inter School Sport Mon 19 ............. Prep students commence full time Thu 22 ............... Pink Stumps Day Fri 23 ................ NO Student Free Day - date to be rescheduled Fri 23 ................. Yrs 5&6 Inter School Sport Fri 23 ................. Welcome BBQ Mon 26&Tue 27 Parent Teacher Interviews

March Tue 6 ................. PFA AGM Thu 8 ................. St John Ambulance First Aid in Schools Mon 12 ............. Labour Day public holiday Tue 13-Fri 16 ..... Year 6 Camp Thu 22 & Fri 23 . School Photos Thu 29 ............... Grandparents & Friends Day Thu 29 ............... Term 1 ends - 2.30pm dismissal

Students do not attend school on public holidays or student free days.

Whole School Assembly Every Monday at 2.40pm in School Hall. All welcome

School Banking - every Tuesday, starting 6th February.

School Hats - every day in Terms 1 & 4.

SCHOOL TOURS Fridays at 9.30am - commencing 2nd March

Bookings essential - please call School Office

ENROLMENTS FOR 2019 are being accepted now.

2018 Term Dates Term 1: 29 January* to 29 March Term 2: 16 April to 29 June Term 3: 16 July to 21 September Term 4: 8 October to 21 December * 29 January is a state wide student free day. EHPS student free days: 30 January, 7 September., plus one other

date to be confirmed

COMPASS PARENT PORTAL https://essexheightsps-vic.compass.education

Essex Heights Primary School 22-30 Essex Road Mount Waverley VIC 3149 Telephone: (03) 9807 4944 Fax: (03) 9888 2249 essex.heights.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au www.essexheightsps.vic.edu.au

Principal: Mr George Perini

Office Hours: 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday during school terms.

EHPS Contact Issue 1 - 2 February 2018 Page 2 of 10

23 new children and their families have also joined our community this year. We hope that their time with us will be enjoyable, productive and worthwhile. If you see new faces in the school yard please make sure that we live up to the Essex Heights value of ‘friendliness’ and make them feel welcome and part of our great community.

Staff have started the year with their classes by focusing on our School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) program in order develop a positive working environment in each classroom and throughout the school. This also incorporates the Starting Up, Starting Out program that covers many important aspects of starting the year in a constructive and positive manner.

Parent – School Partnership

An effective partnership with families is a very important ingredient to enable all children to reach their highest potential. In order to be successful at school, our children need support from both home and school.

I encourage all families to support the school and assist your child’s learning by ensuring that he/she: Attends school every day and arrives on time, ready

for the day’s learning. Completes all homework activities given by teachers. Reads daily to develop a love for reading and to

improve literacy skills. Shares school experiences and ’what went well today’

with you so that you are aware of the many good things in their school life.

Hats

In accordance with our Sun Smart Policy, I would like to remind all families that the children are required to wear hats throughout Term 1. These should be in the school uniform dark green, legionnaire style or wide brimmed for maximum sun protection. I would ask parents to ensure that children are bringing the appropriate headwear to school each day. On hot days we also suggest that students seek shade and drink plenty of water.

School Times, Late or Absent?

It has been very pleasing to see so many children arriving at school by 8.50am ready to enter the classroom with their teacher when the 8.50am bell rings. This has allowed teaching to begin promptly at 9am.

Please remember that students arriving at school after 9am must be signed in at the Office by a parent or guardian, and take the provided yellow pass to your child’s teacher.

… continued

February

4th ...... Riley C

Nandita C

Isabella C

Emma O

5th ...... Lachlan W

6th ...... Daniel Y

Cayle B

Agastya A

Alishba A

7th ...... Jonathan K

8th ...... Kaylee C

Permission Forms and Payment:

Year/Group Notice/Activity & Due Date

Whole School ...... Canteen Volunteer Request

Permission Form * - 9 Feb

Google Apps * - 9 Feb

Class Parent Representative * - 9 Feb

* On Compass.

Notices/Information Sent Home:

Canteen 2018 Menu

EHPS Contact Issue 1 - 2 February 2018 Page 3 of 10

Also, if your child will be absent on any particular day, please enter the absence on Compass and contact the school by 9am to report the absence verbally or in writing (to school email).

Our Compass portal is an excellent communication tool between school and home and can be used to send an email to a teacher, as well as add attendance notes or approve lateness or absence. Please make sure that you regularly log into the Compass portal. If you need any assistance, please check the information booklet on our website or speak to the staff at the Office.

Student Illness and Accidents

At this time early in the school year it is a good idea to remind parents about the necessity to keep us up to date with phone numbers and emergency contact details. If your child is ill at school, or suffers an accident, then staff will give immediate care and appropriate first aid. However, it is necessary on occasions to contact parents and we are often frustrated by out of date information that delays this process. Please make sure you notify the Office of any changes to your or your emergency contacts details. Obviously in extreme cases we may also deem it necessary to call an ambulance before consulting parents and you need to be aware of this. Please also keep the Office informed of any change in medical issues faced by your children as this helps us to make the best choices for their welfare.

Parents and guardians should also be aware that they are generally responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for injured students, including any ambulance transport costs. Most medical costs will be refundable by Medicare. If you are a member of an ambulance or health insurance fund, you may also be able to claim transport or other expenses from the fund. You will incur no cost if you require an ambulance if you are a member of Ambulance Victoria . The Department of Education and Training (DET) does not hold accident insurance for school students.

Is other Insurance available? Yes. There are commercial providers of insurance for students and they can be found online or through your Insurance Broker.

Students, Parents & Staff Personal Property

On a similar topic, students, staff and visitors often bring personal property to school. This can include mobile phones, calculators, toys, sporting equipment, and cars parked on school premises. Please note the DET does not hold insurance for personal property brought to schools and it will generally not pay for any loss or damage to such property.

I look forward to seeing you all around the school.

George Perini Principal

STUDENT LEADERSHIP BADGE PRESENTATION

Our Student Leaders will be presented with their badges at the school assembly on Monday 12th February. Michael Gidley MP, State Member of Parliament - Mount Waverley Electoral District, will attend to present the badges. Assembly is held in the School Hall after lunch on Mondays from 2.40pm. All welcome to attend.

NO Student Free Day on Friday 23rd February

The Student Free Day previously advised on 23rd February has been rescheduled; new date to be confirmed. Therefore, Friday 23rd February is a normal school day and students are expected at school.

EHPS Contact Issue 1 - 2 February 2018 Page 4 of 10

A link to the CSEF Application Form was sent to families via Compass.

Please bring your Health Care Card (or other valid concession card) when you submit your application at the

Office - the card must be in the name of the adult applying.

EHPS Contact Issue 1 - 2 February 2018 Page 5 of 10

Thursday 22nd February

11.30am to 1.30pm

Year 6 vs Teachers Cricket Match

National Songwriting Competition 2018

Music: Count Us In (MCUI) is Australia’s biggest school initiative; celebrating music and music education across the country. At Essex Heights, we are lucky enough to have had a past student involved in the writing of the 2015 Song. The Music: Count Us In National Songwriting Competition is currently open to help find the writers of the 2018 Program Song. Students must write a song to a brief to have their entry/entries considered.

We will use the MCUI National Songwriting Competition to help us write the 2018 Program Song. A small group of finalists will be selected to work in collaboration with each other, Program Ambassador John Foreman OAM, and our 2018 Program Mentor at our 2018 Songwriting Workshop. Past Mentors have included Marcia Hines, Jay Laga’aia, Taylor Henderson and Katie Noonan.

The program song will be learned and performed by students of all ages and abilities. They are looking for song entries written by students that are catchy, optimistic and upbeat. Your song should be positive and not too tricky. It can be in any style or genre but remember to consider what will be popular amongst young people all over the country. Send a submission that demonstrates your ability to write for young people.

http://musicaustralia.org.au/program/countusin/the-song/national-songwriting-competition/

MUSIC

Music Makers Club Explore sounds, invent melodies, write songs and perform together in this workshop series

Artists: Gillian Howell and Tony Hicks

We are all musicians and we can all be players.

You may have never picked up an instrument before OR you may be a real pro … as long as you want to make music - Music Makers Club is for you!

So if you have been learning a while, are just getting started, or have not yet started, come along to explore sounds, invent melodies, write songs, and perform together in a small group.

It's all about collaborating, listening, experimenting, discovering and performing.

Bring your own instrument or you can borrow one of ours. We will have the following available: ukulele, drum, xylophone, and other tuned percussion, plus some unusual instruments from around the world.

Please note, you must attend all five sessions.

Ages: 9 to 12 years (adults are not required to stay)

Happy singing & performing, Tanya Dolence

EHPS Contact Issue 1 - 2 February 2018 Page 6 of 10

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC Coordinator: Alyssa Kennedy

ART

Donations of magazines

We would be very grateful for donations of magazines for the Art program. Please deliver them to the Art Room or the Office.

Jean Elliott

Years 5 and 6 students are busily training and selecting team members for the Summer Inter School Sport Program. Our students compete in the Mulgrave District which is a competition between local primary schools, running on Friday mornings, starting next week, 9th February. This season we will field the following teams:

Endzone Hot Shots Bootball Volleyball Softball Kanga

Good luck to all the teams competing. We look forward to learning the rules of the games, working cohesively with our team mates, and trying our best each week.

Parent helpers please see Mr Wooster.

INTER SCHOOL SPORT

EHPS Contact Issue 1 - 2 February 2018 Page 7 of 10

Selamat Tahun Baru - 2018

Selamat Datang (Welcome) to the new year!

It’s great to see the students back for another fantastic year of learning at Sekolah (School) Essex Heights!

It has been lovely to say ‘Selamat Pagi’ (Good Morning) or ‘Selamat Siang’ (Good Afternoon) to you all as we start the new year. The students are straight back in to using their Indonesian words and have been telling me all about their ‘liburan’ (holidays) using some Indonesian words.

I am also very excited to have our 2018 Indonesian Captains who are eager to bring their ideas to the program this year. We look forward to Anastasia, Malavika and Alma stepping in to the role and leading their peers throughout the year.

There are some Indonesian festivals coming up which families may be interested in attending:

Saturday, March 24th Victoria’s Multicultural Festival Federation Square (corner of Swanston & Flinders Streets) 12 noon to 10pm Details: https://culturaldiversityweek.vic.gov.au/whats-on/victorias-multicultural-festival/

April 2018 (date TBC) Indonesia Street Festival Queen Victoria Market (513 Elizabeth Street)

April/May 2018 (date TBC) Museum of Indonesian Arts The Highway Gallery, 14 The Highway, Mount Waverley Open Wednesday to Sunday from 12 noon to 4pm Details: http://www.museumofindonesianarts.org/

August/September 2018 (date TBC) Indonesia Satay Festival Box Hill Town Hall

Terima kasih ‘Bu Sarah’ or ‘Ibu EdwardsJ’

BERITA BAHASA INDONESIA!

Maria Vlahos Canteen Manager

MUNCH & CRUNCH CANTEEN

The Canteen opens next Monday, 5th February. Students can order lunch on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. There are no over the counter sales. The 2018 menu and price list was distributed this week.

The Canteen can only operate successfully with a team of volunteers. A request for Canteen volunteers has been sent home. If you are able to assist, please complete the reply form and return to the Office as soon as possible for the preparation of the roster.

EHPS Contact Issue 1 - 2 February 2018 Page 8 of 10

SUSTAINABILITY TEAM

Recycling Bin Roster We are looking for volunteers who are able to put our yellow lidded recycling bins out on Sunday evening ready for the fortnightly collection on Monday morning. Please put your name down on the roster in the Office if you can help.

If you have any queries, please see Marita Steward (56A).

PARENTS & FRIENDS NEWS

Have a great week, Andrea F

Welcome Back

Welcome back to school! And to all our new families, a very warm welcome - I hope you’ll be very happy at Essex Heights. The Parents & Friends Association (PFA) has a lot planned for 2018, which we hope everyone will enjoy.

PFA Meeting

Our first meeting will be on Tuesday 13th February (note change of date) at 7.30pm in the Staff Room. Come along and be part of the planning and fun.

Welcome BBQ - SAVE THE DATE!

Our Welcome BBQ will be on Friday 23rd February. More info to come next week.

AFTER SCHOOL CREATIVE DANCE CLASS

An After School Creative Dance Class is offered for Prep to Year 2 students on Tuesdays in Term 1 from 3.40pm to 4.25pm in the Stadium, from 20th February to 26th March.

The program provides children with the opportunity to: Learn basic warm up routines Learn a choreographed dance routine Create their own movements Perform the dance for a small audience at the end of the term

The cost is $60. Registration forms are available in the Office. Return your forms with the payment to the Office.

The After School Dance class for Years 3 to 6 will not run in 2018, however a lunchtime class will be offered for students in these year levels from Term 2.

If you have any queries please contact Georgia Lombard on 0402 024 891.

Georgia Lombard Creative Dance & Drama

EHPS Contact Issue 1 - 2 February 2018 Page 9 of 10

COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD Products & services advertised in Contact are placed on a paid basis and are not necessarily being promoted by Essex Heights Primary School.

EHPS Contact Issue 1 - 2 February 2018 Page 10 of 10