SUNBURY HEIGHTS PRIMARY SCHOOL EVERY CHILD - EVERY OPPORTUNITY - HELPING CHILDREN SHINE

Charter Road East Telephone: 9744 3377 PO Box 243, Sunbury Facsimile: 9744 5721 3429 Facebook:www.facebook.com/sunburyheightsprimaryschool Email: [email protected] 12th December, 2013 Website: www.sunburyheightsps.vic.edu.au

Important Dates DECEMBER JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH Mon 16th December Non Uniform Day - JSC Christmas Fun Tues 28th January Bookpack Sales – 8am-4pm Day – Gold Coin Donation Tues 17th December Bookpack Sales - 8am - 4pm Thurs 30th January Gr 1-6 return to school PSW Uniform Sales – 9am – 12.30pm Tues 17th December Gr 6 Graduation Wed 5th Feb 2014 Preps start school - Fulltime Wed 18th December Prep – 2 Concert Tues 11th Feb 3-6 Swimming Sports

Fri 20th LAST DAY TERM 4 Tues 25th Feb Prep Incursion Western Water December 1.30pm DISMISSAL Wed 26th Feb School Photos Thurs 27th Feb Interschool Twilight Swimming Sports – Selected Students Mon 3rd March Hume Division Swimming Sports – Selected Students Fri 14th March District Athletics – Selected Students Tues 18th March Pupil Free Day – Curriculum Day Mon 24th- Wed 26th Grade 4 Doxa Camp March Wed 26th-Fri 28th Grade 5 Doxa Camp March

MONDAY 16th DECEMBER Non Uniform Day - JSC Christmas Fun Day – Gold Coin Donation

NEWS AND INFORMATION

On Tuesday evening, at our last School Council and Parents and Friends meeting for 2013, our School Council, led by Shaun Synan wanted me to thank all of our parents for their contributions to Sunbury Heights this year. Our School Councillors are hoping to catch up with families at the Thank You Morning Tea and at the Junior School Concert next Wednesday where they will be encouraging you to become more involved in the life of the school in 2013.

SCHOOL CAPTAINS Congratulations to Mauricio Barragan Orea, Kasey Sciberras, T-J Bartlett and Rachael Wilkinson were announced at last Monday’s assembly as the Sunbury Heights School Captains for 2014. Congratulations to these four exemplary students who, I know will represent the school with pride.

2014 GRADE 6 LEADERS. Today the other leadership positions for 2014 were announced.

A Badge Presentation Ceremony will take place early in 2014 for all our School Leaders.

STAFF CHANGES: In 2014 Peter de Waart will return from twelve months leave. Peter is a valuable member of our School Community and has contributed greatly to improving the learning outcomes for our students and we look forward to his return.

Nicole Portelli will be joining the Sunbury Heights staff for 2014. Many of you may have seen Nicole at school this year when she replaced Jane when she was on leave. Nicole has already established excellent relationships with the staff, students and many of the parents and is excited about becoming a staff member at Sunbury Heights.

2014 SCHOOL STRUCTURE: The school structure for 2014 was presented to School Council on Monday evening and in 2014 we will run twelve classrooms and three specialist areas of Art, Science and PE.

Our final class structure has been developed to try to maintain class sizes appropriate to the needs of the students across the school. The organisation of classes and teachers assigned to each class are as follows: Prep Prep Danaher (Team Leader) Prep Kelly

Junior School 1/2 Ross (Team Leader) 1/2 Portelli 1/2 Harding

Middle School 3/4 Wilson (Team Leader) 3/4 Knight 3/4 de Waart

Senior School 5 Andersen 5 Pianura 6 Langmaid (Team Leader) 6 O’Keefe

TRANSITION: On Tuesday a very successful Step Up Program was implemented across the school. All current students, as well as our new enrolments spent the day in their 2014 year level class.

When I visited the classrooms, students were excited about what the New Year holds and could clearly tell me what they were looking forward too. Joined writing, Grade 3 and 4 sports featured highly for many of our Grade 2 students.

Our grade 1 students were amazed at how much they would be able to write by the end of Grade 2 and our Grade 5 students were looking forward to being Buddies for our incoming Preps.

Feedback from parents suggested that the consistency of the activities ensured that all students had many of their anxieties and concerns allayed and I thank the staff for the effort they put into the planning of the day.

New Prep parents had the opportunity to meet with myself and other staff members to have a conversation around what hopes and dreams they have for their children and how the school can help them achieve them.

GRADE 6 GRADUATION: Our Grade Six Graduation will be held next Tuesday evening. The students will enjoy a meal with their class teachers at the Bowling Club, a disco and then formal presentations. This is an opportunity for students to share their primary school years with their parents.

It is a night that will be one of mixed emotions, the excitement at the prospect of starting a new stage of life in the transition to Secondary School and a touch of sadness at the conclusion of seven years of primary school. It is an exciting time though and as our students enter this next stage, I encourage them to, seize the moment. Set yourself some goals to strive for not only next year, but for the future and work hard towards achieving them . Farewell Grade 6 and all the best, “You have been “wicked.”

JUNIOR SCHOOL CONCERT: I am sure all of our families will thoroughly enjoy the Junior School Concert next Wednesday evening. I am sure the thorough organisation and coordination of the concert by Rebecca Danaher and the Junior School teachers and support staff will ensure the evening goes off without a hitch. Thank you to all the staff for planning the program and teaching the students the items they will present.

REPORTING: Student’s reports will be sent home next Wednesday 18th December. There are no formal interviews in December. If you have issues or concerns prior to reading the report and indeed after, please remember that your child’s classroom teacher is always there to assist you.

CLASS PARTIES: Class parties for students in Grades Prep to Five will be held on either Monday or Tuesday of next week. Individual teaching teams will contact families with specific details about arrangements for class celebrations.

MELBOURNE STORM CHRISTMAS PARTY: will bring Christmas celebrations to Sunbury Heights Primary School this Saturday 14th December when it visits the area for a festive season party.

10 Storm players will visit the school from 1pm-3pm with the group departing Storm’s headquarters at AAMI Park with children and families from the Starlight Foundation. A group of lucky members will also join the festivities as a sign of appreciation for their ongoing support of the club.

Players that are attending are: , Mitch Garbutt, , Slade Griffin, , Hymel Hunt, Richie Kennar, Matthew Lodge, Travis Robinson and Kurt Mann

On arrival at the school, the local club will run a sausage sizzle as well as a skills and drills session. Santa will make an appearance and there will be games and music for everyone to enjoy.

Storm members, fans and local residents are encouraged to attend to take part in the Christmas fun.

LAST NEWSLETTER 2013: As this is our last newsletter for 2013 I would like to take this opportunity to thank parents, children and the school community for a great 2013 school year.

A whole school assembly will take place on Friday 21st December and students will be dismissed from the assembly between 1.20pm and 1.30pm.

Enjoy the break from routine over the holidays, with best wishes for a happy and safe Christmas and New Year.

Regards,

Kaye Mills Principal

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! To the following students, until the 31st December 2013 Emilee Palser, Kris Riley, Shayla Hendahewa, Cheyanne Morbey, Briony Williams, Alex Braun, Phoebe Hall, Mitchell Crosland, Chloe Desira, Casey Carew, Zoe Ryan, Jesse Newberry, Aljon Banting, Jackson Olivieri, Laura Hunt, Cameron Symes.

PUPIL OF THE WEEK Grade Student Reason Prep H Jake Szabo For being a helpful student to others in the room. 1/2R Ata Noble-Gray For reading at home every night. 1/2X Declan Corcoran For being a great helper. 3/4 K 3/4K For being a brilliant grade all year. 3/4W Ava Woolford Fleming For terrific descriptive writing about Christmas. 5P Cheyanne Morbey For putting in 100% effort all year! 5A Jessi Buchanan For completing the PM Levels. Mauricio Barragan Orea PE 3/4K For great PE session. Miss Ratkowski ART Justin Taylor For being helpful in the Artroom. Mrs Caddaye Mrs Warrior Cindy Trewin For finishing 100 Reading Lessons.

DOLLARMITES REWARDS

I have stock of all the Dollarmite rewards in the Library. Feel free to visit the Library between Tuesday to Friday, with your 10 token coin/s. Tokens can also be sent on banking day with a list of the item you would like. Thanks Bev McIntyre

YEARBOOK ORDER 2013 Its Yearbook time again! Once again, the school has put together a Yearbook magazine. Every student has been included in the book. The book has lots of photos of students, students’ work and special activities that took place in 2013. It looks fantastic and will be a wonderful keepsake. The Yearbook cost is $15. (Once the money and form have been received a yearbook will be given to your child.)

Thank you Yearbook Committee

Christmas Tree Sales 3rd Sunbury Scout Group Freshly cut Christmas Trees from $40 Miller St Scout Hall: 14th & 15th Dec Delivery available To pre order trees contact Mike 0419 810 727 or Liz 0419 887 648