Principal: Mr Stephen Crossley Ph. 55232218 Fax. 55217839

PO Box 317 Portland Vic 3305 portland.bay.sch@edumail.vic.gov.au www.portlandbayschool.vic.edu.au

School Council President: Deb Robinson 0428 995 987

Date: Thursday 11th August 2016 Issue 25

COMING EVENTS

TERM 2 2016 Friday 12th August Group 5 & 3 - Return from

Camp

Next Week Monday 15th August

Tuesday 16th August

Wednesday 17th August

Thursday 18th August

Friday 19th August

Important Dates to Remember

Monday 12th September

School Finance Meeting 1pm

Tuesday 13th September

School Council Meeting 7pm

Robots and other

great creations are taking shape in our Art room.

This amazing robot is made by Lachlan.

Great Job :)

From the Principal’s Desk With both group 3 and group 5 on camp, it is a very quiet week at Portland Bay.

Reports from Blackwood are that both groups are keeping very busy and enjoying

their camp activities.

New School Report The new school planning group again met with Robert Bienevu on Tuesday to

further advance the planning for the new school facilities. The Schematic Design

plans are completed and have been approved by the architect, the school council

and the Department of Education. We are now working on the detailed plans in

preparation for tendering. A snap shot of the plans are in todays newsletter or

view the full plans on our website www.portlandbayschool.vic.edu.au

Child Safety Standards The Department of Education has created some new standards for schools to create

and maintain a child safe organisation with Child Safe Standards. Schools must

have:

1. strategies to embed an organisational culture of child safety, including

through effective leadership arrangements

2. a child safe policy or statement of commitment to child safety

3. a code of conduct that establishes clear expectations for appropriate behav-

iour with children

4. screening, supervision, training and other human resources practices that

reduce the risk of child abuse by new and existing personnel

5. processes for responding to and reporting suspected child abuse

6. strategies to identify and reduce or remove risks of child abuse

7. strategies to promote the participation and empowerment of children (Ministerial Order 870, 22/12/15)

School Council reviewed and passed our new policies on Tuesday night and is

committed to continuous improvement in maintaining child safety. I am confident

that the school is compliant with the new child safety standards and would

welcome any feedback from the school community.

Are your details correct? Have you changed address or phone number? Please make sure you notify the

office if you change your details.

Caught being good Last week we caught Rory, Dylan and Brodie for being safe at school, well

done boys. I hope you enjoy your prizes.

Parent Opinion Survey Thank you to everyone who has returned their survey.

Bart and Karen Rowley were the lucky winners of the raffle.

See you all next week……….Steve Crossley, Principal.

Stars of the Week “Caught Being Good”

Very well done to our

caught being good winners

last week were

Rory Walters, Dylan Russell

and Brodie Pumpa.

Amazing effort.

Next weeks focus is “learning to be a Leaner”

and

our ongoing focus “Caught Being Good on the buses”

At our whole school assembly,

we draw the “Caught Being Good”

raffle. Throughout the week, staff give

students a raffle ticket for

displaying positive behaviour either

in their classroom, on the buses

(including to and from school) , on the

playground or in any school events

such as excursions, outings

or community access.

Words on Wellbeing - Sue Cowie - Census Conundrums

This week, like many, I have completed the Census: with diligence; in a timely manner; taking responsibility; and in good faith.

But, now, I can’t help feeling somewhat cheated. If I have done what is asked and tried my best, why now are people who are

more powerful than I, saying that the process is flawed? Our children may feel somewhat the same, when it comes to learning

new skills. Coming from a Wellbeing perspective, albeit with a Literacy background, I know that sometimes, all the

preparation, professional development and simply hard work does not achieve the anticipated results.

Teachers use data to assess improvement but often we know that in a holistic education, some things cannot be quantified.

So like the Census, things can crash.

So when things do, it is always critical to ask whether our children knew what they were supposed to learn. Was there a clearly

stated intention? I have to confess to making a couple of mistakes on the Census form! But that is how we all learn; by making

mistakes. At Camp, there will be joyful times, but perhaps times when things are a challenge. Just imagine, parents, that world

from their point of view. Encourage, support and celebrate the learning of new skills.

Any process has flaws, as we have learned about our Census. As parents, we justifiably ask why my child is having difficulties.

In Wellbeing, I like to eliminate the blockers to learning. Sometimes it is as simple as making a child more resilient. Or as

Maslow wisely stated …not to worry about The Higher Orders of Learning until The Lower Orders are catered for; a child is

warm, well-fed and happy. A bit of common sense is a good thing. Like the Census, it will happen.

Happy Birthday & best wishes to the following

students who celebrate their birthdays this week.

Jordan Sherrard - 13th August

Damon Miller - 15th August

and the following staff member , Phil Mahon - 13th August

We hope you all have a great day.

Our Design and

development, as at August

2016, are looking positive

with colours, building

materials and special art

work the topic of

discussions.

Our new school is taking shape and form, please call into the

school office to view the current plans and design work.

Clay pots and clay animals, hand

puppets of all colours and design !

How creative are our students with

their designs in Art

with Teacher Julie Lamond. ?

Can you pick

your art

work ?

“Its lovely how the

students freely travel

around the art room,

searching for items and

thinking how they may

use different things in

their works” - Julie L.

Community Announcements :

How cool do these name plaques look ?

Nicely displayed in group 1’s window.

Great job and awesome colours !

Available at the school office are “Emergency Medical Information” Books.

These are handy quick reference books in case of emergencies.

Magnetised to be stored on the fridge.