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958a Burke Rd, Balwyn 3103

Phone 9817 1917

Facsimile 9817 3697

deepdene.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au

Newsletter 15th September 2016

No. 29

From the Principal…

Dear Families,

‘Shakespeare Really Does Rock’. What two fantastic days and nights of entertainment

we had with our Level 3 – 6 performances last Wednesday and Thursday. We are not all

going to be concert performers and many were operating outside of their comfort zone.

However, every performer was engaged, prepared to ‘have a go’ and having fun!

Congratulations and well done to all our children.

Working behind the scenes we had a dedicated team of people who worked extremely

hard to bring the performances together. Thank you to all our teachers for their

amazing work with this school event.

Thank you to parents who were supportive and lucky enough to attend 2 shows – the

logistics of placing children in 2 casts whilst maintaining classroom programs is a

challenge. Hence not class splitting when allocating children to casts.

Special thanks to our Performing Arts teacher, Nanette Stephen, our Area Leaders Chris

Vlahos and Vicki Amos for ‘bringing it together’ and to Ed Schaepman for his technical

support. Well done everyone! Congratulations and thanks to all involved.

It is hard to believe we are at the completion of Term 3. One only needs to view the

diary to see what a busy place school is and also gain an overview of the many programs

and opportunities we provide for our children. Programs and activities this term have

included, and will include:

2017 Foundation enrolments

Level 3 & 4 Tech Kids program

Level 6 transition day at Balwyn High School

Foundation, Level 1, 2 and 3 swimming program

Trinity Music Festival

French Day performances and crepes

ICAS Mathematics and English

Firefighters visit - Foundation

Staff Professional Learning sessions in VCOP

Staff first aid update – asthma and anaphylaxis management

Foundation – ‘100 days of school’ celebration

School Nurse visit - Foundation

Interschool Chess Tournaments

Level 1 & 2 Chess Club activities

Level 1 & 2 Como House visit

Level 3 & 4 Lego Robotics incursion

House Athletics Day

District athletics

Hooptime basketball – junior and senior

Division soccer final

continued on page 3…

Calendar for Term 3

SEPTEMBER

Thur 15 Sep

Footy Pie Day - wear

your favourite Team

colours

Fri 16 Sep

Last Day of Term 3

2.30pm Finish

SRC - Dress in your

Pyjamas Day

Calendar for Term 4

OCTOBER

Mon 3 Oct

First Day of Term 4

Dance Club L3 & L4

Dance Club L5 & L6

Tue 4 Oct

Just Get Active - whole

school incursion

9.10 - 9.40am F, L1 & L2

9.45 - 10.30am L3 & L4

11.10 - 11.45am L5 & L6

Wed 5 Oct

Division Athletics - Bill

Sewart Reserve - 9.00am

Chess Club - L1 & L2

Fri 7 Oct

Bike Education - L5

Mon 10 Oct

Excursion - Immigration

Museum - L5

Balwyn High Visit - L6

Dance Club L3 & L4

Dance Club L5 & L6

Wed 12 Oct

Excursion - Immigration

Museum - L6

Chess Club - L1 & L2

Fri 14 Oct

Bike Education - L5

Scavenger Hunt

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SCHOOL NEWS

Year 5 / 6 Hoop Time

On Tuesday the 30th of August 15 boys and girls went to the

Nunawading Basketball Centre to play in the 5/6 Hoop Time.

Throughout the day both teams played 5 games including the finals.

The girls’ team were undefeated up until the grand final which they

sadly lost. The boys’ team played only 2 other teams, they lost 3

games but won 2 so that was enough to put them into the grand final

which they unfortunately lost as well.

Rachel Li and Kate Tassiopoulos (Jacinta and Emily’s Mums) both

volunteered to train the girls and help out with the boys’ team. They

did a magnificent job. We are very grateful for their support and coaching skills. The girls’ team consisted of 8

players, they are Jess H, Bella M, Olivia C, Jacinta L, Emily T, Charlotte M, Lia I and Millie B.

George Hajis (Samuel’s Dad) did an amazing job coaching the boys’ hoop time team. All the boys did a

wonderful job on the court, the players were Samuel H, Archie W, Oliver C, Jordan B, Hugo T, Riley C, and Taz B.

Overall the day was a massive success and everyone had loads of fun!

Thank you to all the parents for helping out with all the kids at the centre, as well as driving kids to and from the

venue, scoring our games and volunteering to coach and help train us.

Also a big thank you to Mr. Schwaiger for organising everything.

Oliver and Jess

Year 3 / 4 Hoop Time

On Thursday the 11th of August at Nunawading Basketball centre some the level 3 and 4’s competed in a

sports competition called Hooptime. Hooptime is a round robin in which lots of different schools come in

and compete in basketball.

Both the boys and the girls had 8 players. The girls team included; Claire C, Emmerson B, Elizabeth V,

Miranda L, Lucy P, Leila B, Olivia A and Evie O. The boy’s team included; Matthew L, Ryan H, Hugh C, Jack N,

Charlie W, Lukas R and Nathan B.

Unfortunately neither the boys nor the girls won any of their games but they all tried their hardest and gave

it their best shot (ha ha no pun intended).

The amazing coaches consisted of Sharyn

Baker who coached the girls and Cath Cran

who coached the boys.

Lots of lunchtimes they gave up to practice

and improve their skills and it all paid off

because they had loads of fun.

Thank you so much to Mr Schwaiger for

organising it all and making it possible.

Zac and Emily

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SCHOOL NEWS

Stephen Rees

Principal

…continued from page 1.

Foundation – Flying Bookworm Theatre

Visiting authors – whole school

Tournament of the Minds

Fathers’ Day stall

Olympian visit – Levels 1 & 2

Melbourne Writers’ Festival

Olympic Games celebrations

Box Hill Indoor Sports –Levels 1 & 2

Author visit – Leigh Hobbs

Book Week celebration and dress up

Literacy week celebrations

‘Shakespeare Rocks’ – school performances

Tabloid sports – Foundation, Levels 1 and 2

Footy clinics

Prep 2017 Enrolment

If you are currently a member of the school community and have a child ready to

commence school next year please call into the office to book a Foundation enrolment

meeting time if you have not already.

School Planning / Enrolments 2017

Planning for 2017 is now well underway. It is essential that the school is notified of any

student in Grades Foundation – Grade 5 who is not intending to return to Deepdene

Primary School in 2017.

If your son or daughter will NOT be returning to the school next year please complete

the attached notice and return to the school office as soon as possible.

Term 3 ends tomorrow, Friday September 16th. Please note children will be

dismissed for the end of term at 2.30pm.

To all school families have a safe and relaxing holiday. Those who are travelling, travel

safely, and good luck if your football team is still playing in the

finals! Term 4 commences on Monday, October 3rd.

Term 3 11 July -

16 September

Term 4 3 October -

20 December

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

CHILDREN NOT RETURNING TO DEEPDENE PRIMARY SCHOOL IN 2017

Please return this form to the school office ASAP

Child / Children’s Name/s:___________________________________________________________________

2016 Class Level/s:________________________________________________________________________

Transferring to:___________________________________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian Signature:_________________________________________________________________

3.00 pm — 3.30 pm In Multi-purpose Room

Deepdene Primary School

Second-Hand Uniform Shop

Opening Dates Term 4 Friday 7th October Friday 21st October Friday 4th November Friday 18th November Friday 2nd December Friday 16th December

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SCHOOL NEWS

MELBOURNE WRITER’S FESTIVAL

On Tuesday 30th of August, we travelled on the tram and train to the Melbourne Writers Festival in the city. My

favourite part was going on a tour around the NGV Australia.

We saw 5 artworks; Home again by Frederick McCubbin, Sheering the Rams by Tom Roberts, Journey into

Light by Yvonne Audette, The Pioneer by Frederick McCubbin and Painting by Peter Booth; then made

observations of what we saw on the paintings.

My favourite was The Pioneer. I liked this painting the most, because it told a story of a family who lived in the

forest over 50 years.

After this we had a workshop with author Leanne Hall. In the workshop we wrote stories, planning and

dialogues about the paintings.

By Megan C

Experience at the Melbourne Writer’s Festival On 30th August, 10 students from Deepdene Primary were chosen to participate in the Melbourne Writer’s

Festival at Federation Square. First, we sat down outside and started to munch on our snacks. After that we

made our way to the Melbourne Writer’s Festival. As soon as we got there we were welcomed to our locker

room where we put our bags. In the program we were with 2 other schools. They split the schools into 2

groups and we had to observe paintings from NGV’s Inspired by Art collection. A few of the paintings were

called Journey to Light, Shearing the Rams, and Home and Away.

After observing the paintings, all the schools sat down on tables and had a discussion with Leanne Hall [author of Iris and

the Tiger] and had to do some writing exercises. For one exercise, you had to work with a partner and write a dialogue

about what was happening in the painting Home and Away. My partner and I decided to write the dialogue like a script.

Unfortunately, we had to say good bye to Leanne Hall, as it was lunch time.

After we had eaten our lunch, we were off again to meet Jacqueline Harvey (author of the Alice-Miranda series and

Clementine Rose series). Jacqueline Harvey told us about her life and what it is like to be a writer.

Surprisingly, when Jacqueline Harvey was young she wanted to be teacher not a writer. So her first job was

a teacher and then later on became a writer. She also told a bit about her newest books (which I am very

excited about!) The Melbourne Writer’s Festival was very inspiring and my favourite part was getting my

books signed!

By Disha M 3G

KEW DISTRICT ATHLETICS

On the 26th of August a group of students competed in the Kew district athletics. Everyone had lots of fun and

tried their best. Everyone did a great job and well done to these people who made it into division athletics; Anna

Z for girls 10 year-old Triple Jump and 100m sprint, Jack N for 10 year-old boys Shot Put, Hugh C for boys 10

year-old Triple Jump, Maddie W for 11 year-old girls 200m, Jordan B for boys 12 year-old discus, Bella M for 12

year-old girls 100m and 200m and Max H-W for boys 12 year-old 1500m and 800m. A big thank you to all the

teachers who came along on the day and supported us. In the end Deepdene came 6th place in the Kew District

Athletics and did a great job. A very, very, very big thank you to Mr Schwaiger and for organising it and giving up

his lunch times to help us train , also thank you to Mr Gross for helping run trainings

as well. Overall everyone had a great time at district Athletics and enjoyed competing

in their events. Everyone should be very proud of themselves.

Written by Olivia and Ben: Cottee House Captains

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A Journey to Greatness

(inspired by a visit to the Melbourne Writers Festival)

With a yawn, I pushed open my window and breathed in deeply, inhaling fresh aromas.

A variety of vibrant fuchsias, ambers and scarlets adorned the morning sky. Concealed

behind blankets of soft white clouds was the blazing sun, stirring from its deep slumber.

Reluctant to pull off my warming sheets, I forced myself out of bed.

Outside my room, a tall figure with broad shoulders stood, munching on what seemed

like breakfast as he mimed the chopping of a tree. At the sight of me, he grinned

sheepishly and retreated to the table, where a small meal of nuts and fruit lay.

“Morning, John.” I said, acknowledging my good friend’s presence. In reply, he waved.

“G’day, Anna,” I grabbed a piece of fruit from the kitchen and placed myself down into

the chair beside him.

“Today’s the day,” I said cheerfully, “We’ll make our fortune, and our city! A grand

creation it shall be, with gardens and animals and so much more! The possibilities are

endless!” I spread my hands, unable to contain my excitement. At this, John’s smile

morphed into an expression of concern.

“Now now, don’t go too far, Anna. We’ve still got to make the journey through the

perilous Australian bush, and, if we somehow survive that, we’ll still need to find a huge

piece of land for construction.”

I laughed. “Where’s all your positivity gone, John? You know you’ll need it if we’re to

complete this adventure.”

“Over-confidence will not assist us either.” He said. I stared into his eyes, which had

lost their usual charm and warmth. Instead, they seemed stone hard and menacing.

“Let’s compromise, then. We’ll not be over-confident, nor shall we lose our positivity.”

His mouth tightened into a line as he shrugged and walked off, abandoning his

unfinished meal.

I didn’t see John until noon, when we had finished packing our belongings. I had visited

the stables and brought out only the finest four of our horses. He had brought out his

old travellers’ wagon, and had loaded it with his possessions.

I was relieved to see that his anger had subsided and his kind personality had returned.

After depositing my belongings onto the cart, I hopped on behind John. A loud creak

caused me to grimace in disapproval, but I simply shook my head and cried, “Let us set

off!”, and set off we did.

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A Journey to Greatness

The bush flourished with life of all kinds. Chattering birds soared across the open

landscape while ants and other bugs scurried through the fallen leaves and branches. A

grin twitched at the corners of my mouth and I heaved a sigh. I had been told that the

Australian bush was treacherous and deceiving, but I had not expected such natural,

effortless beauty. It was not possible for such a magnificent sight to be a danger.

My curious characteristics lead me through the depths of the woodlands as I explored to

my heart’s content. John displayed little worry as I hurried ahead. A grey bundle of fur

lay silent and immobile in a tree, and I had to convince myself not to climb up and pet

it. On the contrary, a tall, brown creature leapt past with great enthusiasm as we

ventured on. I was tempted to pursue it, but John placed a gruff hand on my shoulder.

“Stop,” he said, and I hesitated. “What’s wrong, John?” “Where are we?” He asked. “I

don’t know-” I stopped mid-sentence as waves of both guilt and horror crashed down

upon me. “We’re... Lost, aren’t we John?”, whose expression was grim, nodded, and I

bowed my head in shame.

Hours passed, and I spent that time reflecting on my faults of the day. I had been over-

confident, ignoring warnings of nature’s trickery, and I had paid the price. Unaware of

my surroundings, I had become lost. What was worse - I’d caused John Watson, one of

the nation’s up-coming construction stars to go astray from his path of glory and fame. I,

insignificant Anna Lester, had ruined the life of an innocent man.

Eventually, John noticed my grief and came over to comfort me. “It was me,” he said, “I

was the one who was negative. I was the one who pointed out that we were lost. I

was the one who didn’t plan anything. Now, I’m the one who has ruined the day.” I

was disgusted with his pessimistic attitude, but I suddenly came to a state of realisation.

“Was... Was I like that?” I asked, tripping over my words. John’s mouth curled into a

sorrowful smile. “I’m afraid you were.” “Then... I regret being like that. Please, let’s

make the most of the time that remains.”

With that, I embraced him with all my heart,

and he did the same.

And so the story continues...

By Natalie C

Based on ‘The Pioneer’, an artwork

created by Fredrick McCubbin

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