MAJURA SCHOOL PHOTOS Wednesday 26 August NEWS Forms with money due Friday 21 August 14 August 2015 No 4

Majura Primary School acknowledges the people who are the traditional owners and custodians of this land

DATES TO REMEMBER

Monday 17 August Shine a Light Performance K-6 Thursday 27 August Questacon Yr 3 Tuesday 18 August Nth Athletics Thursday 27 August Senior Assembly 2.15pm Wednesday 26 August School Photos Friday 28 August Bookweek Dress Up

Dear parents/carers

Welcome to week 4. Hopefully the extra few degrees we’ve gained at the end of this week is a good sign that spring is on its way. Just a reminder that now it’s August, all students must be wearing a broad brimmed hat during all outdoor play and PE activities.

This week we waved our red corridor campers off to Birrigai. Unfortunately, it was the same day it snowed so we hope everyone packed sensible gear and is rugged up for the duration of the camp. Mr Zobel was been full of excitement during the lead up, and looking forward to taking on the flying fox. The focus of the camp is outdoor and team building activities and students will be kept very busy. We anticipate lots of tired children by the time they return on Friday afternoon. Thank you to the staff who have organised the camp and given up their time to accompany our students on this wonderful experience.

Last Friday night the P&C ran a very successful trivia night. It was full of dress-ups, dancing, singing and generally lots of fun. Thank you to the organisers and everyone who came out to support the event.

Next week is science week and to celebrate we will be doing a science themed Doing Things Together Day where students will be in multi-age groups for the morning and middle sessions undertaking science based activities and experiments. It’s really great to see students across the school working and interacting collaboratively on common tasks and also see our senior students leading the activities with their groups.

2015 School Satisfaction Surveys

The 2015 School Satisfaction Surveys are being conducted between 11th August and 31st August this term. Parents and carers, school staff and students (in years 5 and 6) will be asked to participate in these important surveys. The survey resultswill contribute to the school improvement process, which aims to achieve high standards in student learning, innovation and best practice in ACT public schools. Although the survey is voluntary, we hope you will want to participate. It won’t take much of your time and it will help us understand areas where we are doing a good job and areas for further development. A letter about the parent survey has been sent to you this week. The key ACT results from the 2014 School Satisfaction Surveys have been published on the Education and Training Directorate website (www.det.act.gov.au) and a summary of our school results is provided in our 2014 School Board Report. We encourage you to take the time to complete the survey. Student absences Please make sure that your child arrives at school at 9.00am as the teachers mark the roll promptly at this time. If your child arrives after 9am, please sign in at the front office as your child will be marked absent. This will avoid the front office calling parents to confirm absences.

Also next week we will be celebrating National School Support Staff Week and look forward to celebrating and promoting the vital role school assistants play in our school and the ACT education system.

Have a great week

Emma Aschenberger Deputy Principal

Knox Street, Watson ACT 2602

Phone 6142 3140 Canteen 6255 4441 Preschool 6205 6605 Afters 6241 4767 Mobile: 0447 474 912 [email protected] Web www.majuraps.act.edu.au

As part of our Inquiry Among the Gum Trees, Year 4 are investigating life cycles as well as interactions between eucalyptus trees and bees. Last week, we spent time in the school garden setting up our investigation into variables that affect seed germination.

Majura Primary Awards This week’s awards for excellence, respect & responsibility go to:

Charlie Blacker — KS Aiden Isbister — KG Garang Garang — KR Andrew Moorcroft — KA

Olive Ferguson — 1M Bjorn Nordling — 1S Astrid Sanixy -Mo l l and — 1T Rosie Mitchell — 1N

Nathan Moorcroft —2S Lucy Blacker — 2M Darcy McFarland — 2B

Payment methods accepted by MSP are:  Online—Log on to msp.com.au and click ORDER ONLINE. Record your child’s reference number on envelope.  Cash—Please include CORRECT MONEY as change will not be available on photo day.  Cheque—make out to MSP Photography.

Hand your sealed envelope into Front Office by Friday 21 August. There will be a late fee of $20. Late orders MUST be directed to MSP Photography, not the school. Online ordering for siblings IS NOT available. We have sibling envelopes at the Front Office.

B o o k W e e k

“Books light up our world”

On Friday 28th August 2015 at 9:15am there will be a whole school book week parade in the school . Children are encouraged to dress up as their favourite book character. Parents / Carers are welcome to attend.

Come and stock up on sweet treats for the Dads in your life on Saturday 5th September (the day before Father's Day) at the Watson Pre School Cake Sale. Cakes on sale from 10 am, outside the Supabarn at the Watson Shops, All money raised will be used by the pre school. Please help us reach our target, so we can carry out some much-needed landscaping improvements to the playground.

Chess Club The Majura Checkmates (Charlie Maskell, Cian Crimmins, Braidyn Cummins and Joseph Oakden) took on 37 other teams at the ANU primary school championships on Tuesday 4 August and blitzed the field to come equal 3rd, tying with the all-girl Turner Polgar Sisters..

A reanalysis of who had been playing who awarded the official third place to the Polgar Sisters meaning the Checkmates (just) missed out on the silver cup. First place went to Karpov and third to Grammar Fruit Tarts.

In June the Majura Conquering Kings and Unstoppable Queens won the right to go through to the ACT primary final which will take place on 17 September. Success could mean a place at the Australian finals.

Please wish them well.

The chess club meets every Friday lunchtime in the room without chairs in the senior corridor. New members, especially girls, are welcome.

Kate Perkins and Peter Martin Ph: 0422 004 200

To contact the Majura P&C Association, write to us using the P&C post box outside the P&C News Uniform Shop (by the front office) or email [email protected]

Communication P&C FUN-draising! We communicate with community via our website Trivia night raised $4800!! majurapandc.webs.com And our Facebook page www.facebook.com/ majura.parentsandcitizens If you haven’t already found us on Facebook – please do! It is the easiest way to keep up to date with what is happening around the school. If you haven’t opted in to receive the P&C newsletters via email, contact us so we can add you to our list. majuraparentsandcitizens@ gmail.com A massive thank you to everyone involved in making Trivia Night such a huge success – especially Amanda Dennis 2015 Spring coordinator and Jens who expertly geed up the crowds as MC, Carolyn, Sean and Disa for writing the all important Carnival questions, Penny, Julia, Bianca and Garry for their phenomenal prize, silent auction, and sponsor gathering DATE FOR YOUR efforts, Thea and Fiona for organising everyone's tickets and DIARY!!! tables, our super scorers Jane, Kate, Dan, Naomi, Garry and Leanne, Kim for IT and general support, Anthony for Saturday organising the construction challenge and tolerating a 24 October million questions with a smile to everyone who helped set up (everyone already mentioned plus Di, Ivana, and A small team of Brendan!) and clean up on the night, and to Campbell High carnival-loving school Band! parents is coordinating this year’s carnival A special mention also to the executive, teachers and Mr - please stay tuned for Zobel, who not only supported the night (and took home further information next first prize!) but between them also belted out tunes, busted newsletter, or to offer your moves on the dance floor, and hung around to lock up after help contact us. the P&C gmail Fundraising efforts are spent on resources and improvements for your school! Thanks everyone!!

Playscapes project! P&C Meeting news from last week: The Playscape project is moving forward: the P&C and school have now considered the first concept design for a new natural, active play area adjoining the existing Main Playground. Last week the project team brought Rob Wilson (playground designer) to present and seek input on designs from both the Majura teachers and the P&C meeting. Later this week, you can find out more about the project, the designs and images up on an information board near/on the P&C noticeboard and on the P&C website: http://majurapandc.webs.com

The project is to replace this:

With something creative, natural, active ………

Playscapes: Look for info display in the school foyer and on web. P&C seeks your input over the next month.

Pics from the fabulous Majura Trivia Night – even more on the P&C facebook page

The next P&C meeting is 7pm on Wednesday 2 September (Week 7).

The Great Watson Preschool Bake Sale 10 am Saturday 5 th S e p t e m b e r Outside Watson Supabarn

We are having a cake stall at Watson Shops in September to raise funds for our preschool.

We’ve done really well fundraising this year, but still need to hit our target so that we can make our playground the best playground for 4-5 year olds in Watson.

Time to test out your baking skills again!

Donations of homemade cakes, cupcakes, slices, biscuits, bags of caramel popcorn and other sweet treats would be very gratefully received at the cake stall from 9:30am on the day.

We will be providing you with a plate, bag and sticker a week before the stall which you can provide the cakes on.

Gluten free cakes are also popular so if you would like to test out your baking skills with gluten free cakes, that would be great.

If you would like to help out on the stall or if you have any questions about the stall, or alternative arrangements for dropping off your cakes, please contact Lucy Steen on 0421 077 023. (My son Isaac is in the Blue Moons group)

Cath, our second hand sale coordinator, was once again delighted with the quality of clothing that was donated, “they rocked!” she said.

Thank you to every family who donated.

The sale raised $284 for the P & C.

Next term we will invite pre-school families to the sale so if you have any size four uniform items you no longer please consider donating them. Uniform shop opens Tuesdays 8.30am – 9.30am. Opposite the bike shed gates. We accept cash or cheque only. Can’t make it? Use the order forms and locked box in the front foyer, for delivery to your classroom. We are always looking for extra help so come and see us at the shop.

“Real humanity is shown when we care for others” - Professor Fred Hollows The Fred Hollows Foundation is keeping Fred’s vision alive through The Fred Hollows Humanity Award which recognises Year 6 students who follow in his footsteps by showing care and compassion for others. The award, now in its fourth year, is supported by The Times and the ACT Department of Education and Training and is a fantastic opportunity to recognise students outside the sporting and academic realm. Teachers, principals, parents and members of the community are encouraged to nominate a compassionate Year 6 student through the online nomination form by August 21. All nominees and their parents will be invited to a presentation ceremony to announce the ACT winner. To nominate a student and learn more about the award go to www.hollows.org.au/humanityaward