50 Main Rd GEMBROOK 3783 Ph: 03 5968 1313 Fax: 03 5968 1548 email: gembrook.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au

www.gembrookps.vic.edu.au

Gembrook Primary School

Diary Dates

A view to the future

23 February Gembrook Market BBQ (helpers needed)

24 February EDEC Swimming (selected students)

26 February Foundation family night 6pm Gr 5/6 Camp meeting 5.30-6pm School Council 7pm

27 February MyBus incursion Gr 6 (no cost)

28 February Transition visit to ESC (Gr5/6)

6 March Parent Information Night (Gr 1-6, 6pm)

7 March Junior Sports Afternoon (JLC, school oval)

10 March Labour Day Long weekend

12 March Preps first Wednesday at school

13 March Gembrook Athletics Gr3-6 Mountain Rd Reserve

14 March Drive-in Family Movie Night Movie: Frozen 7pm school oval

17 March EDEC Athletics Gr3-6 Mountain Rd Reserve

18 March Produce Market 1/2A

21-23 March HPV Wonthaggi Gr 6 Cost: $80

23 March Gembrook Market (helpers needed)

26 March Incursion / Sean Choolburra F-6 School Council 7pm

28 March Circus rehearsal at GPS

31 March- 2 April

Grade 5/6 City Camp—(cost $250)

1 April Produce Market 1/2B

3 April Circus rehearsal & performance at Emerald Secondary Performing Arts Centre

4 April End of Term 1-early pickup at 2.30pm

22 April Term 2 begins

Gembrook Primary School is a welcoming and

respectful community that provides modern, flexible

learning spaces that support a personalised, engaging and

challenging learning program so that students will achieve

the social, emotional, academic and physical growth to

succeed in a global society.

19 February 2014

Notes that have gone home:

Home visits (foundation)

Transition visit to ESC (grade 6)

HPV Wonthaggi (Gr 5/6)

City School Camp (Gr 5/6)

Head lice (MLC)

School Council election nomination

All notices are available on the school website: www.gembrookps.vic.edu.au

Education Maintenance Allowance 2014

EMA application forms for 2014 are available at the school office for parents and guardians who are hold-ers of a Health Care Card or Veterans Affairs Gold Card, and for temporary foster parents.

Applications must be returned to the school office no later than 28 February 2014

Gembrook Market BBQ

Helpers needed for this important

fundraiser for the school.

23 February &

23 March

Sign up at the school office or through

TIQBIZ APP

Thanks!

School Banking for Students

Will now be processed on Thursdays

Jessica Mc gives a

thumbs up for the

Gembrook Primary

Swimming Carnival

A VIEW TO THE FUTURE

Kym’s Comment

Dear families and friends Gembrook Primary School Swimming Carnival Congratulations to all our fantastic swimmers in grades 3-6! We had a wonderful day at Belgrave Outdoor heated pool earlier this week. It was great to see everyone in the pool doing their best and having so much fun. The House Captains were won-derful leaders on the day. Well done senior school students. Thank you to the many parents who were able to come along and cheer our swimmers, and a special thank you to the par-ents who were able to assist.. Thank you to Tom Budin, our physical education teacher, for his great organisation of the day. This year we are sending a large team of twenty five stu-dents to the EDEC swimming sports on Monday 25 February. We wish them all the very best!

Murrindindi, Wurundjeri Elder visit to Gembrook Last week Gembrook Primary School was privileged to have Murrindindi, a local Wurundjeri elder visit our school. While he was at the school he spoke to the students about indigenous culture and the importance of the value of Respect. Respect is our school value, making the presentation even more signifi-cant to our school community. While Murrundindi was at school he conducted a traditional ceremony to start the school year.

DEECD Reminder Please be aware that parents/guardians of students, who do not have student accident insurance, are responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for injured students, including the cost of ambulance attendance/transport and any other transport costs. Parents/guardians can purchase insurance poli-cies from commercial insurers if desired. The Department does not hold insurance for personal property brought to schools and it has no capacity to pay for any loss or damage to such property. School Council Elections The next school council meeting is Wednesday 26 February at 7:00pm in the staffroom. A number of school councillors will be retiring. A notice regarding nominating for school council was distributed last week. Nominations close this Friday, 21 Febru-ary. Parents on school council provide important viewpoints and have valuable skills that can help shape the direction of the school. Please consider this opportunity. Student Leadership Students at all levels of schooling at Gembrook have an oppor-tunity to be part of student leadership teams. It is through these teams that students are able to voice their opinions and ideas for the school and for the wider community. The School Captains, Hollie and Liam, have made a brilliant start leading the weekly assemblies. The SRC team have met and have al-ready planned an exciting Crazy Hair Day for 14 March as part of the World’s Greatest Shave fund raising activity for the Can-cer Council. The eco warriors around the school are reminding everyone about the importance of looking after the environ-ment through recycling, reducing and reusing. The House Cap-tains were brilliant leaders at the swimming sports and they have a number of events in this first term. At last week’s assem-bly these student leaders received leadership badges. At the assembly year 6 students also received their leadership jackets. I am sure each and every student leader this year will make the most of these leadership opportunities. I congratulate all these students and wish them well for the year. I would also like to thank Brad Batten, Member for Gembrook and Andrew from Gembrook IGA for generously supporting Gembrook Primary School.

Free Fruit Friday – Gembrook IGA Thank you to Andrew from Gem-brook IGA for kindly providing fruit for each student every Friday of the school year. Thank you IGA!

Enjoy your week!

Kym Principal

School Captains—Holly & Liam Kym, Brad Battin& Andrew from IGA,with Liam & Holly

Grade 6

House Captains

Murrindindi, an elder from the Wurundjeri people, visited the school and performed an

Indigenous smoke ceremony to start the school year. Murrindindi also visited each learning

centre to talk about Koori Culture.

Name Reason Grade Teacher

Bradley Well done Brad! You always try your best and are a respectful class mate. You're a star Brad! FH Miss Hutchison

Zac B You are kind, caring and always looking out for others. Thank you for be-ing a polite and well-mannered class member. F1T Mrs Tregidga

Tom Excellent organisation and getting along. 12D Mrs Bigwood

Jack You are setting a fantastic example of organisation especially in our morning reading time. Well Done! 12B Mr Bailey

Molly For your persistence and always bringing your smile to each lesson. 34S Mrs Schembri

Billy A great effort in class this week! Well done on making good choices. Keep up the good work! 3D Mrs Davidson

Will Your persistence and positive attitude to improve your juggling skills. 56FE Mrs Everett and Mr Fraser

Rhyce Rhyce your commitment and attitude to all your school tasks is fantastic. Great job! 56A Mrs Alsop

Bailey (12D)

For showing great manners and being such a keen learner. You are fan-tastic! LOTE Meg Sensei

William D 5/6A For demonstrating outstanding science thinking skills Science Mr Fraser

Owen For great scientific thinking. Well done! Science Mrs Everett

Pete K F/1T Showing a 'You Can Do It' attitude in art. ART Mrs Liston

Star of the Week-week 2

Star of the Week-week 3

Name Reason Grade Teacher

Alysha You have been a kind and considerate role model in the classroom Alysha. Thank you and keep it up! F1T Mrs Tregidga

Briana You have made a wonderful start to the year. What a positive learning attitude! 12D Mrs Bigwood

Emily You have started the year by showing fantasic effort and focus with all tasks. 12B Mr Bailey

Hamish His great start to the year and for his great attitude towards his work! 34S Mrs Schembri

Madelyn For always putting 100% effort into all the work you do. What a great start to the year! Welcome to Gembrook 3D Mrs Davidson

Harper What a great start you've made to the new school year, Harper. Keep up the terrific effort and attitude. Well done! 56FE Mrs Everett and Mr Fraser

Estella For her fantastic attitude and commitment to all she does. Thank you. 56A Mrs A

Lila Thank you for inspiring others to use your ideas in Art this week. Art Ann

Steph For great participation and determination for the entire lesson. Well done! PE Mr Budin

Points Tally

First place Tynong 165

Second Place Redwood 139

Third Place Kurth Kiln 110

Fourth Place Beenak 91

Please Help Taryn Smith is organising the

school library. If you have time,

Taryn would appreciate your help

sorting and covering library books.

Contact Taryn through the school office

Or turn up to the library

on Wednesdays

Thank you

Contact Details

If you have updated your contact details, please

let the office know. It is important the school is

able to easily contact you in case of an emergency.

Conveyance Allowance 2014 Applications are now available for conveyance allow-ance for 2014. This allowance is available to Gembrook Primary School students who use a private car to travel to school and who live 4.8k or more by the shortest prac-ticable route from the school or last stop on the school bus route and attend the nearest appropriate school at which admission is possible. Your application is valid for the entire school year un-less you have move house. The form can also be printed from the school website at http://gembrookps.global2.vic.edu.au/

Application Forms are available at the school office and should be submitted to the school by 14/03/2014 More information about the Conveyance Allowance Program is available at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/principals/safety/pages/transportscas.aspx

NB: Accident Insurance & Ambulance Cover

This is a reminder for school families that the Department does not provide accident insurance or ambulance cover for students. The cost of any medical attention or ambulance for a student will be borne by the parent/guardian. Parents are liable for all medical expenses incurred because of student injury, including transport costs such as am-bulance or air ambulance costs.

Working with Children Check All parent volunteers need a working with chil-dren check. Forms are available online from the Victorian Department of Justice. www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/

Swimming Carnival

Children and Hot Cars. No Exceptions. No Excuses.

On hot days, it is important to remember that children should never be left alone in a car. The temperature inside a car on hot days begins to rise as soon as the door closes and within minutes the temperature inside can be double the temperature outside.

Leaving children in hot cars – even for a moment – can result in injury or death.

Young children’s smaller body size and underdeveloped nervous system places them at a much greater risk of life-threatening heat-stroke, dehydration and other serious health risks. Victorian legislation makes leaving a child unattended in a car a criminal offence, with penalties ranging from fines of $2165 or three months in prison.

If you are travelling with a child in a car and you need to get out, make sure you take your child with you. No exceptions. No excuses. For more information, see: Kidsafe Victoria

Community Page

Irish Dancing Classes Children, Teens & Adults New Beginners Welcome Solo, Team, Soft shoe and Hard shoe classes Tecoma ~ Mondays & Thursdays Monbulk ~ Wednesdays Emerald ~ Saturdays First Class Free Cost: $10 / lesson (pay as you go for new beginners) Family discounts No other joining fees or performance fees Please contact Kate for more info. kate_bilton@hotmail.com 0434 517 636