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. 16 May 24th 2018

Important dates: May 25th Fruit Tree orders due June 8th Aquarium Excursion Prep–Gr. 3 28th Ecolinc Excursion Gr. 5 8th Soccer Tournament Gr 5/6 - $5 29th PVF Meeting 9am 14th Wide Open Road Optometry 30th Strath Haven visit - Choir 15th Wide Open Road Optometry 31st SES Visit and classroom sessions 15th Hot Lunch Orders – Prep-2 June 1st Bendigo Competitions - Choir 22nd Hot Lunch Orders – Gr 3-6 5th Ecolinc Excursion Gr 3/4

VALUES AWARDS Max – For always being kind, thoughtful and responsible while enjoying fun games with his friends. Lachie – For showing great resilience and persistence when writing a good copy of his procedural text. Ada – For being an excellent role model to other students in the way she demonstrates problem solving in the yard. Abigail – For approaching learning tasks with a positive attitude and being responsible for her belongings. Deakin – For starting tasks quickly and giving his personal best. Lincoln – For thorough completion of all homework tasks. Lincoln constantly challenges himself to achieve his personal best.

CLASSROOM ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS Emily – For confidently presenting her news item on Friday about the plants in her garden. She bought along sample leaves and flowers to share with us. Jayda – For writing a great procedural text about ‘How You Brush Your Teeth’ and working hard to complete her good copy to her personal best standard. Hagan – For putting in an amazing effort during NAPLAN testing last week, putting in a personal best and demonstrating resilience. All of Gr.3 – For doing their personal best with all NAPLAN tasks last week. Charlotte – For publishing an excellent narrative for her Digital Portfolio. Anthony – For applying a solid work ethic and focus to all class activities.

GOLDEN BRUSH This week the Golden Brush was won by Grade 1.

HOUSE TROPHY This week the House Trophy was a draw!!

MAGIC WORDS Congratulations to our students who have achieved a Magic Word Reading Certificate this week.

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

SCHOOL ROCK BAND Congratulations to our school band, the Axedale Rockaroos, who performed at our School Assembly on Monday. Alex, Anthony, LJ, John, Macy, Evie and Lainey were amazing. They performed magnificently in their first ever ‘gig’ and we admired their confidence, concentration, teamwork and glad they were all able to enjoy performing for us. There was a wonderful sense of pride in the audience as shown by the generous applause at the end of the song. We look forward to further performances. Mr. Marsh is keen to develop more performers and we look forward to many of our students currently learning instruments, singing and in the choir being a part of future performances.

GRANDPARENTS AND SPECIAL VISITORS DAY We had a fantastic turn up for our Grandparents and Special Visitors Day on Tuesday. The students really enjoyed having their visitor in the rooms with them, completing some work together, providing school tours and playing with them outside. A big thank you to those who travelled from near and far to make this day special.

CROSS COUNTRY Yesterday Grades 3-6 participated in the Division Cross Country at Bendigo Racetrack. Students competed in various divisions depending on their ability to complete the 2km or 3km track. Congratulations to the following place getters and also to Katya Bathurst and Noah Willoughby who have qualified for the Regional Cross Country event to be held in St Arnaud on June 5th. Thanks to all the parents who came along and supported the kids. Kristah – 1st Green group Alla – 2nd Gold group Luke – 3rd Green group Killeen – 2nd Green group LJ – 3rd Green group Lainey – 3rd Green group Darcy B – 2nd Gold group

SOCCER TOURNAMENT Grade 5/6 have been invited to attend the Zone Soccer Tournament on Friday 8th June at Epsom Huntly Reserve. Axedale will be entering a girls and a boys team. Teams have been chosen from students who are keen to be involved. Students have been training hard in PE sessions and will be travelling by bus. All parents are welcome to come along and cheer! The cost for this excursion is $5 and wasn’t included in the excursion levy.

SCHOOL VALUES AND EXPECTED BEHAVIOUR MATRIX On Tuesday night, School Council passed the new AXEDALE PRIMARY SCHOOL VALUES AND EXPECTED BEHAVIOUR MATRIX. The matrix has been developed by a Working Party from School Council, with input from students, parents, teaching staff and welfare staff. As part of promoting and utilising our School Values, this matrix will be used in classrooms to build a positive environment where respectful relationships can flourish. The matrix will also be used when we work with students to reflect on their behaviour and develop their ability to make good decisions. A copy is attached to the Newsletter for all families to keep at home as we feel the values we are building on are also very relevant in the family environment. Work is nearing completion on our ‘Respectful Relationships and Expected Behaviour Policy’. This policy will be shared with all families via the Newsletter when completed.

ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER OPTION After some recent enquiries we would like to offer families the option of receiving an electronic version of the newsletter rather than a paper copy. For families who take up this option you will receive an email with a link to the newsletter via our school website or the newsletter is also available via our app which we send a notification on when the newsletter is uploaded. Please complete the tear off slip at the end of the newsletter if you are keen to receive your family newsletter electronically.

WALK SAFELY TO SCHOOL DAY A big thank to the students and parents that joined us on the National Walk Safely to School Day last Friday. We had a great turn up of around 40 students and 15 parents (and a couple of dogs) and enjoyed a lot of friendly chit chat along the way. Lots of yummy fruit was devoured in the matter of a couple of minutes by the hungry walkers upon reaching school.

BENDIGO CHOIR COMPETITION Our School Choir is continuing to practice for the Bendigo Competitions that are coming up on Friday 1st June. The competition will be held at Ulumbarra Theatre. Our School Choir is in the Novice Section and will be competing against six other schools. Most of the other choirs are Grade 5/6 choirs so our choir, made up of mainly grade 2/3/4 students, will be looking to put in a ‘personal best’ effort.

CHOIR EXCURSION Our Choir is visiting Strath Haven Elderly Citizens home next Wednesday 30th May from 10.30 – 12.30 to perform. This will be great practice leading up the competitions. Travel will be by school bus. Three staff will accompany the students. The Bendigo and Local Excursion Permission Note covers this excursion AQUARIUM EXCURSION In the second half of this term, Prep – Gr. 3 students will be studying ‘The Sea’ as their Integrated Unit. As part of the unit, we are planning to take all of our Prep – Gr.3 students on an excursion to the Aquarium. We have booked in for Friday 8th June. We are planning to catch the train down to Melbourne and a V-Line Coach back to Bendigo. Parents will be required to get their children to the Bendigo Station in the morning and then collect again from the Bendigo Station in the afternoon. This is the Friday before the long weekend. Please return the permission form and payment of $20.

AFL VISIT On Tuesday 6th June we will be having a visit from 4 players from the . They will talk with all of our students, answer some questions and maybe have kick on the oval if time permits. Thanks to AFL for the opportunity.

BSE SPORTS TOURNAMENTS Over the next few weeks, some of our Grade 6’s will be heading to BSE on Friday afternoons to take part in sports events with students from Kennington, Spring Gully, Quarry Hill, Strathfieldsaye & Eppalock primary schools. The activities are organised to allow students heading to BSE next year the chance to begin to develop friendships with other 2019 Year 7 students.

JACKET LEFT AT MOTHER’S DAY HIGH TEA A black jacket which was left behind at the Mother’s Day High Tea is in the office. Please see Katrina

FRUIT AND ORNAMENTAL TREE DRIVE This year, our PVF group is again running the bare rooted FRUIT AND ORNAMEMTAL TREE DRIVE. Families who are wishing to purchase trees can order from a wide range of options. The school will receive $5 for every tree ordered. The trees are sourced from Valley Trees in Ardmona near Shepparton. Order forms were sent home on Monday with students. Please contact the school if you would like further copies. Orders with money need to be in at the School Office by tomorrow Friday May 25th. Thanks for supporting the school.

WIDE OPEN ROAD OPTOMETRY Wide Open Road Optometry are coming to do free eye testing for students in June this year. Since paper work was sent home last year, children in Prep – Grade 3 are now eligible for free glasses under the Glasses for Kids program as part of this eye check. This is sponsored by the State Schools Relief Committee. New forms were attached to the Newsletter last week for P-3 students. If you are unsure if you have completed this form previously please see Katrina

STUDENT ABSENCES – NOTIFICATION From the start of Term 3 the Department of Education requires parents to notify the school of their child’s absence as soon as possible on the day by either using the school app or phoning the school. All schools are required to contact parents on the same day of an unexplained student absence if they haven’t heard from parents. The app is the preferred method as this sends us an email which can be kept as proof of contact. If the absence is left as unexplained we will be sending an automated message to follow up.

FRESH FRUIT FRIDAY The Fresh Fruit Friday Program continues this term. Fruit will be provided during lunch and afternoon recess each Friday. Friday 25th May – Samantha Condon & Susie McGrath Friday 1st June – Tara Coffin & Melinda Pengelly

BREAKFAST CLUB Thank you to our volunteers, a new roster for Term 2 was sent home earlier in the week. Tuesday 29th May – Hannelie Schutte Thursday 31st May – Kellie Smith Tuesday 5th June – Melinda Pengelly Thursday 7th June – Liz Harrington

SCHOOL APP If you haven’t already signed up to our school app we ask that you take the time to download it. The majority of our families have now signed up for our school app and are finding it is a great way of staying in touch with easy access to newsletters, receiving calendar updates direct to your phone and entering absence notes. It is also the way we send our alerts and reminders. To download the app just visit the App Store for iPhones or Google Play for Android’s. 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 term we will be exploring Michael Grose’s Thriving Series on Optimism. There are 10 essential optimism skills to teach your kids so they can achieve. These skills will be included in the newsletter weekly. Today you will find skill 4 – Look for the Lesson

COMMUNITY HELP SOUGHT Orkambi is a drug that can help a local 8yo boy with Cystic Fibrosis. Orkambi is known to preserve lung function, reduce hospitalisation, reduce antibiotic use, increase appetite, increase BMI and improve mental health. Orkambi is being submitted to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee for the fourth time on July 3rd for reimbursement. For people living with CF in who have two copies of the F508del gene mutation, this drug has been denied them so far. Without assistance from the government, the current cost to families is $250,000 per year. There are a number of petitions around the school that parents may wish to sign to support this submission. Signed petitions will be sent to the Federal Health Minister Thank you On behalf of Daryl and Kellie Smith.

SCHOOL HOLIDAY ENTERTAINMENT The 104-Storey Treehouse with Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton Wednesday 11 July, 11am The Capital, Bendigo Join Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton as they celebrate the tenth book in their Treehouse series. The 104- Storey Treehouse introduces 13 new levels of mischief and wonder. Stupidhat level? Check. Refrigerator- throwing level? You bet. A deep-thoughts thinking room? You know it. Climb the never-ending staircase, save your burps in the burp bank; make money or honey in the money- making machine. Relax in the peaceful sunny meadow full of buttercups, butterflies and bluebirds … and help Andy find a cure for his aching toothache. Well, what are you waiting for? Come on up! Suitable for 5 – 12 year olds. Kids under three free on the knee. Presented by the Wheeler Centre

QUOTE OF THE WEEK Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth and faithfulness the greatest relationship. Buddha

JOKE OF THE WEEK Q: How do you stop a pig from smelling? A: You put a cork in it’s nose. Thanks Cooper for this great joke.

Lex Johnstone Principal

CLASSROOMS

SIMULTANEOUS STORY TIME On Wednesday our students took part in Simultaneous Story Time with many others across Australia. Thanks to Deb for coming in to share the story “Hickory Dickory Dash” with us.

EARTH SCIENCE This week in Earth Science we have set up an experimental garden bed using hay bales. We are going to plant strawberries in the bales and potatoes, celery and companion plants in the middle. Once the bales deteriorate we can use them as mulch and nutrients and start all over again. Thanks to the Scates family for spending many hours cutting rectangles in the tops of the bales ready for our strawberries. If there is anyone with an old scrabble game that they no longer need could you please send this along for us to make plant labels. Incomplete sets are fine.

PVF A few key things to note:  Pie Drive delivery will be today - 24th May  Fruit and Ornamental Tree orders are due in by tomorrow, Friday 25th May.  Trivia night – June 23rd Donations of bottles of wine are sought. These can be left at the office.  Next PVF meeting Tuesday 29th May at 9am.

FORMS TO BE RETURNED OR ORGANISED AT SCHOOL

FRUIT TREE DRIVE ORDER FORM – Orders are due by Friday 25th May

MELBOURNE AQUARIUM EXC P-3 – Permission forms & $20 due by Friday 25th May

SOCCER GR 5/6 - $5 payment due by Thursday 7th June

WIDE OPEN ROAD OPTOMETRY – Forms are due by end of May

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