McDonald Park Schools Principal - Sandy Davey N E W S L E T T E R Chairperson Governing Council – Mark Kranz N E W S L E T T E R 57 North Terrace, Mount Gambier. SA 5290 Telephone 08 8724 9811 Fax 08 8725 0254

Email - [email protected] www.mcparkr7.sa.edu.au Issue No.14 25/8/11 - Week 5, Term 3

S.A.K.G.F. CURRICULUM LINKS The new Australian Curriculum aims to develop skills and attitudes that will serve students well in their future lives. It includes subject areas such as mathematics, history, English, science, arts and languages. The Kitchen Garden Program offers enormous potential for integrated learning across these areas, by providing real life experiences for learning. The program provides an ideal context for the development of literacy and numeracy, thinking skills, creativity, teamwork, intercultural understanding, self management and social competence.

At the heart of the Kitchen Garden Program philosophy is the aim to positively affect how our children live as individuals and as members of local and global communities. The Program enables children to learn through hands-on experience in the garden and the kitchen, to work individually and to collaborate in teams. It provides opportunities for students to build positive social relationships, to work cooperatively and respect each other, to identify and solve problems, and to manage and resolve conflict. Students develop an understanding of how to maintain good health independently, and an increased appreciation of the value of a healthy lifestyle and the role of good food choices and physical activity in achieving it.

A common desire expressed by many schools is that they wish to educate the whole child, and to equip our children, not only with the skills of literacy and numeracy but also with an awareness of the fragility of the earth on which we live and a desire to care for themselves and our environment. Many of us are concerned about growing obesity amongst Australian children, and the increasingly sedentary lives many children lead; with hours spent in front of computers and televisions rather than in outdoor activities and games. The Kitchen Garden Program provides a unique learning environment and curriculum for addressing these broad concerns: Through the development of social-emotional learning skills such as cooperation, communication and negotiation students build self-esteem, confidence and a sense of achievement through kitchen and garden activities. Through the development of communication skills, reading and understanding technical instructions, exploring and expanding vocabulary and problem solving students develop their literacy skills. By involving students in physical activity in the garden for at least 45 minutes a fortnight, they have the opportunity to be more active. Through the scientific and environmental focus on issues such as climate and climate change, water management, plant cycles and plant diversity, soil health and the avoidance of chemicals, students acquire strategies for thinking, inquiry, processing information and problem solving, as well as a deeper understanding of future sustainability. Through the use of mathematical skills such as measurement, calculation, estimation and comparison, which have real-life application in the kitchen garden context, students improve their numeracy skills. Through the combination of ingredients into beautiful dishes, opportunities to incorporate art, poetry, creative writing, illustration and film-making students develop creative and aesthetic skills. Through planning decisions made in the garden each week students develop practical design and technology skills. Through discussion about the geographic and cultural origins of dishes and plants used in the program students build an understanding of culture and global communities. Most importantly, the pleasure gained from growing, harvesting, preparing and sharing will be a lifelong pleasure, and will affect how our children live as individuals, and as members of local and global communities.

LAP WORKSHOP 2011 COMING EVENTS Our LAP volunteers had the opportunity to attend a WEEK 6 workshop held last All week Literacy and Numeracy Week Thursday at the TAPAS Tue 30th Aug Andrew Daddo @ Tenison Woods bar. The workshop was College run by Penny Penhall who Fri 2nd Sept MUSIC IS FUN – Rec-Yr 7 instigated the program some 35years ago. It was WEEK 7 attended by 60 (co- Tues 6th & School Photos with Frank Monger ordinators and volunteers). It was a great day with Wed 7th Sept everyone sharing different aspects of LAP and special moments. Here are some of our volunteers’ comments.

CANTEEN HELPERS It was a very, very casual and informative day and Phone Michelle 87254221 th th thoroughly enjoyable. Penny was full of some brilliant Week Beginning Mon 29 Aug Mon 5 Sept ideas for us. I left feeling renewed with energy. Sandra Monday Sharon, Nicole C Sharon, Nicole C Simpson. Tuesday Lyn Lyn We got lots of positive feedback from Penny, making you Wednesday Can anyone help??? Sue C feel confident with what you are achieving in LAP. It was Thursday Deb Deb good working in groups and hearing what others thoughts and ideas are in LAP programs being run in Friday Deb Deb, Sam T different schools. It was worth being there. Helen Johnston. On Thursday 18th August four LAP volunteers went to STAFF CHANGES listen to Penny Penhall at a LAP workshop. We heard that volunteers need to be partnered with children who Donna Stokker will be on leave for the remainder of the have similar likes and interests. This will make the LAP year and Wendy Loughhead will be School Counsellor. voyage more rewarding for both the child and the Taking Wendy’s place as PE NIT teacher we welcome volunteer partnered with them. Sharon Mansell. Tom Spring and Mel Freeman. SSO NATIONAL RECOGNITION WEEK Penny is so passionate about the LAP program and all 22nd to 26th August the children who participate – past and present. She is This week we have the opportunity to acknowledge the an inspirational woman, providing a workshop that is great work undertaken by the support staff in our school. very informative and a great was to discuss ideas with The Support staff under take a variety of tasks helping to other volunteers. Kylie Hann care and educate your children, they support the staff and help to run our site. We thank them for their dedication and commitment to Mc Donald Park School. Fiona Fox Finance Officer Bronwyn Waters Office Administration Jan Boyanton Library & Classroom Support Sue Moelder Finance & Classroom Support Evelyn Biggin IT Support – Administration Linda Ward Classroom Support Peggy Johns Classroom Support RESOURCE CENTRE Sue Harris Classroom Support Anna Doll Classroom Support Thankyou to all who assisted with the covering of Connie Nieto Classroom Support readers, if there are any reader boxes still at home, Rachael Byers Classroom Support could they please be returned to School? Samantha Clarke Classroom Support If you have contact or grey tubs with handles, could they Nicole Thompson Classroom Support please be returned to the Resource Centre as well, we Shane Lewis Classroom Support still have readers that need covering. Thankyou Jodie Heemskerk Classroom Support Resource Centre Staff

Kelly Bernie Classroom Support Michelle Clark Canteen Manager ZIPTALES Deb Neilson Canteen Assistant Ziptales (a literacy program on the internet) can be Bernie Manser ACEO accessed at home through the Mount Gambier Public Jen McCourt S.A.K.G.F. Kitchen Specialist Library Website. Students will need their public library Michele Klik S.A.K.G.F. Garden Specialist borrowing card for the password which will then give Jenna Savage CPS Worker them access to Ziptales. Peter Williams Groundsman

MOUNT GAMBIER SHOW COMMUNITY NEWS 2011 Mt Gambier Spring Show Friday 21st/Saturday 22nd TIGERS BASEBALL CLUB October. Closing dates for entries Registration Day &Come & Try Session Under Lights th th Friday September 9 at 6pm Indoor exhibits by Friday 16 September Baseball Clubrooms / Diamond 1 Horticulture- Vegetables by Friday 14th Ocotber All past, present and intending players over 8 years of Entry forms available from front office of visit age are encouraged to attend. New players welcome— http://mgshow.jimbo.com/150th-mount-gambier-a-h- any age or experience. Sausage Sizzle & soft drinks spring-show-2010/schedules supplied For further information contact Franjka Gibbs: 0407 448 022 Sean Horrigan: 0407 686 198 Email: [email protected] PROUD MOMENT FOR THE

WILLIAMSON FAMILY WEST GAMBIER TENNIS CLUB Below is a good news story from the Williamson Family Is inviting all new beginners and intending players that whose two boys Joel (Room 9) and Darcy (Room T3) are interested in getting involved with an excellent club, have fun meeting new people, great junior coaches, and attend McDonald Park School: wonderful new ball machines. A great way to keep fit. Phone Wendy Cook 87249921 or Leanne Ballintyne Joel & Darcy Williamson’s 87248004

Great Grandpa Joe WANDERERS SOFTBALL CLUB Murdoch was inducted into Wanderers Softball Club are having a sign up day on the Richmond Hall of fame Sunday 28th at the South Eastern Hotel between 2 and on Friday 19th August at the 3pm. Everyone is welcome. For more details or if you Regent Theatre Plaza would like to come but can't make it please call Sonia on Ballroom in Melbourne. 0412609117. Season starts October 8th The other inductees on the day were John Northey and FEDERAL BASEBALL CLUB Registration Night Matthew Knights. Joe nd Murdoch played 180 games When: Friday 2 September 2011 Time : 6.30 – 8.00pm for Richmond in the 1920’s Where : Blue Lake Golf Links , Grant Avenue and 30’s alongside Jack Apologies or for more information contact Dyer and played in two Noeleen Henley 0408166977 or 87253748 premiership sides in 1932 [email protected] Greg Parslow 0408202768 [email protected] and 1934. Last Friday we got to meet WARRIORS SOFTBALL CLUB lots of great past and Registration present footballers When: Monday, 5th September 2011 including Kevin Bartlett, Time : 4.00pm – 6.00pm Where : Commercial Hotel Kevin Sheedy, , U13 / U15 Trials: Blue Lake Sports Park: , Matthew 12/9 3.45pm-5.30pm: Richardson, Angus Graham, Chris Newman, Dustin 18/9 10.00am: Martin and . 19/9 3.45pm-5.30pm It was so exciting and a very proud moment for the 42 Apologies to Tanya Hood - 0438754708 Murdoch descendents that attending the lunch. NUNGA PLAYGROUP Children’s Centre SAPSASA CONGRATULATIONS Mulga Street Congratulations to Mount Gambier – Held every Tuesday Georgia Hood from room 10:00 am to 12:00 noon

8. She has been selected Melaleuca Kindergarten to represent SAPSASA at Boandik Tce the forthcoming School Mount Gambier – Held every Friday - 10:00 am to 12:00

Sport Australia Softball Home Work Centre Event in Melbourne from 22 Kurrajong Street November 13th-18th. Mount Gambier What a fantastic Held every Monday- 10:00 am to 12:00 noon achievement Georgia, we Transport provided wish you all the best for the competition. Contact Laura, Heidi or Sarah 08 8724 7270 SSaamm OOsshhooddii WWoorrkksshhooppss During week 4 students and staff were lucky to participate in some Drumming Workshops with the very talented and vibrant Sam Oshodi. Everyone who participated thoroughly enjoyed themselves! Sam enjoyed himself so much throughout the week that he decided to put on a special performance for us all at our assembly with Stephanie Alexander & other special guests on Friday.

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On Wednesday the 17 of August at 10:00 am Room 10 went across to N7 to do a workshop with Sam Oshodi. He is an African Drummer. When we walked in Sam was dresses in a traditional costume. He introduced himself and said that he was from a village in Nigeria. He spoke about some tradition and he said in Nigeria people 7 and older are young adults and then he talked to us and said some African language. He told us some African stories and he showed us some horse tail, the black one had a love heart on it and the other one had a smiley face on it. He did some drumming and we played the drums. At the end of the song we passed the drum along. I got to play the big drum with Sam and Hamish. At the end he gave the class a necklace for everyone to look after in the classroom. I’d really like to go back to Sam again because it was really fun and Sam is really fun and he is nice. By Colby Munro – Room 10

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On Wednesday the 17 of August our class, Room 10, went to see Sam Oshodi an African Drummer. He told us some of his stories and he also taught us some dancing, singing and some African languages. He was from Nigeria in Africa. He has a lot of drums large to small. He had horse tails with the bone, the bone had a smiley face in it. Mr Bigg had a huge remote control huntsman spider and he was controlling it and he moved it. It scared me and I went ―Aaarggghh‖. Everyone started laughing, even Sam Oshodi. I liked the dancing and singing and the languages. It was awesome. He was really funny. I also really liked playing the drums but the one in the middle hade my hands really itchy and I think it was the goat or cow skin and it felt weird. At the end we went to recess, but that was ok because he gave us an awesome necklace that had a shell on it from Africa. Then he asked some people what would you do with a thousand dollars? I said I would take my Mum and Dad and my sister on a holiday to an awesome place. By Isabella Morale – Room 10 On Wednesday the 17th August at 10:00 am Room 10 went to Room N7 to see Sam Oshodi. When we saw Sam he talked about his past history and spoke about where he lived and his language. Sam talked about how if we were in his country and showed us some of the ways he talked. Next we played the drums. Each chorus we passed the drums to the left. Also there were horse tails there. My opinion is that it was fun but the time went too fast. By Skye Hainsworth – Room 10