Newsletter No 21 Thursday, 24 July 2014

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Thurs 24 July Parent Teacher Interviews Fri 25 July - Tree Planting Day - Yr 5 Family Life Mon 28 July - Prep 100 Day Celebration - Yrs 1&2 Healesville Excursion Tues 29 July - ICAS English - Yr 6 Family Life Wed 30 July - Yr 6 Ceres Excursion Fri 1 August - Yr 5 Family Life - Middle School—Mini Commonwealth Games - Closing day for Semester 2 EMA applications Thurs 7 August - Australian Maths Comp - Band & Choir—Oxfam Concert Tues 12 August - ICAS Maths Wed 13 August - Yrs 3&4 Toolangi Forest Excursion

Fri 19 Sept Last day of Term 3. 2.30pm Dismissal

Mount Waverley Primary School, Park Lane, Mount Waverley 3149 Ph: 9807-1480 I Fax: 9888-1495 I Email: mount.waverley.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au I Web: www.mountwaverleyps.vic.edu.au

IMPORTANT SCHOOL

DATES

1:1 Laptop Programs

Over recent years, many schools have commenced parent pay 1:1 laptop programs and in 2015 we envisage commencing a 1:1 program for our Year 4 students, who will have their device for the final three years of their primary schooling. Consultation is currently taking place with staff, School Council and the wider community with regards to the program’s implementation.

The demand by students for use of technology in schools has increased dramatically over recent years and at Mount Waverley Primary School we aim to ensure our students have the best opportunities to achieve their potential.

This use of technology will be enhanced by our involvement with Michael Fullan’s Deep Pedagogy Project which will be led by Erin Harman and Danielle Bonacci. Schools that focus first on student learning goals, second on precise pedagogy and thirdly on how technology fosters accelerated learning in high level standards leads to the development of whole school deep learning competencies and exemplary pedagogy. In essence, technology is a tool to enhance learning but improved pedagogy through teacher training must also be delivered to maximise learning.

Michael Fullan is a world renowned educationalist who I have been fortunate to meet several times. I highly respect his work and Mount Waverley Primary School will benefit greatly from this three year project with him.

In addition to the Fullan Project, Mount Waverley Primary School has also been accepted into the DEECD Office 365 trial, which combines cloud computing, email, website development and social networking.

I am very excited about working with Erin, Danielle, the ICT team and all Mount Waverley Primary School staff over the coming years to improve pedagogy linked with technology and look forward to the community supporting us to improve learning opportunities for the students of Mount Waverley Primary School.

Greg Paine

Hi, I’m Earnest and I care about the environment.

Remember Friday 25 July is Tree Planting Day.

Parentingideas Magazine Parentingideas Magazine uses a parenting Australia approach for child development, to help parents successfully raise confident, happy and resilient kids. The magazine has a plethora of positive parenting ideas to remove the trial and error from raising children. The editor, Michael Grose is the author of 8 parenting books, including his new release Thriving! and the best selling Why First Borns Rule the World and Last Borns Want to Change It. His popular parenting columns appear in newspapers and magazines across Australia. He appears regularly on television, including Channel 10’s The Circle, and is a popular and entertaining speaker, as well as a frequent columnist for a variety of written media. He also has a regular fortnightly half hour parenting segment on ABC radio Victoria. Michael has an education background and holds a Master of Educational Studies, with research into what makes healthy families tick. He has conducted over 1,500 parenting seminars over the last two decades. The magazine can be accessed via the link: http://www.parentingideas.com.au/Parent_Magazine.html

STUDENT COUNCIL NEWS

This Tuesday, Student Council is organising a

fundraiser for the ROYAL CHILDRENS’ HOSPITAL.

Students will be allowed to dress in yellow if they

donate a gold coin.

Thank you for your support.

SPECIAL RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTIONS

Parents are reminded that the Special Religious Instructions Parent Permission forms sent out last week must be signed and returned to school before Christian Religious Instructions can resume. If you would like your child to participate in the weekly half hour program, please return the signed form to your child’s class teacher as soon as possible.

SECOND HAND UNIFORMS

The second hand uniform shop will be open on Monday 28 July 9:00-9:30am. All winter uniforms will be $5 and summer uniforms $3.

We are located in the foyer of the hall and volunteers are most welcome.

As we are unable to change large denominations please bring small denominations.

For those unable to make it to the sale or for new parents please leave your name, number, sizes and items required with the Office and I will contact you if we have stock available.

Thanks

Mechelle G, Coordinator

REMINDERS Permission forms & payments: Yrs 1 & 2 Healesville due Friday 25 July Yrs 3 & 4 Toolangi State Forest due 4 August Yr 3 Camp deposit due Friday 8 August

PARENT OPINION SURVEY 2014

Each year the school, in conjunction with DEECD,conduct a parent opinion survey of 15 per cent of the school community. Parents are randomly selected to participate and the information is used to support future school planning and improvement. The surveys will be sent home to selected families on 28 Monday July and need to be returned to the General Office by Friday 1 August.

SPORTS NEWS District Girls Soccer

Congratulations to all the girls who participated in the District Girls Soccer day last week. All three teams played really well. It was great to see the girls enjoy the muddy conditions.

House Athletics

Congratulations to all the Year 3-6 students who participated in the MWPS House Athletics competition last week. Everyone did really well in the cold conditions. Thank you to all the parent helpers who helped out on the day.

The results were: 1st: Murray, 2nd: Barwon, 3rd: Goulburn, 4th: Glenelg. Cassie Kemp PE/Sport Coordinator

ESMART NEWS In addition to teaching our students computer skills, we also teach such things as ergonomic use of the equipment. As devices change, so does the way they are used but some techniques are specific to particular devices. As such, when using a laptop or desktop we emphasise: Using both hands and all fingers on the keyboard. Using thumbs on the space bar only, unless using a

complex combination such as control alt delete. This year I have noticed many students using their thumbs on the shift key amongst others. I assume this comes from using their thumbs on touch screens but it isn't efficient on a keyboard!

Sitting front on to the computer and sitting upright on the chair.

Moving laptop screens so they can see when they are sitting up, rather than slouching down to see the screen.

Using the mouse close to their bodies. If it gets too far away, pick it up and move it closer before you end up lying on the table!

Holding the mouse between the thumb and fourth finger rather than just laying your hand on top.

We strongly discourage students from using CAPS LOCK as it is better practice to use shift. They also tend to forget and leave it on. We would be very appreciative if you could reinforce these skills at home. Jen Dynan ICT Teacher

This week’s episode of Four Corners featured a very interesting story on “Generation Like” and how big companies are exploiting teenagers’ social media usage to make money. Even if you don’t yet have teenagers, it is very interesting viewing.

http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/

Jen Dynan

Check out the new and improved Library blog http://mwpslibrary.global2.vic.edu.au

ICAS RESULTS 2014

Computer Skills

Last term students from our school sat the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) Computer Skills test. All students were challenged by the questions posed and answered to the best of their ability. Of the 88 students who participated, 31 of them received certificates of Credit. An excellent result was obtained by Oliver C, Sonal M and Geoffery W, who received High Distinctions, as well as Nudara L, Anna S, Isabelle N, Jeremy D, Matthew L, Jeremy L, Sidharth R, Keevan V, Raymond Z, Sophia A, Ethan D, James M, Neha M, Michelle O, Ivan Z, Jungang F, Buddhinie K, JiaJun L, Matthew L, Ama N, Meghana S, Thisara S, Samuel S and Andrew W who received Distinctions.

Congratulations to all students who participated.

Bradford Rooks Coordinator ICAS

GOLD Loukas T, Leila C, Oscar D, Roger H, Siddhant

S, Sam E, Senuja R, Emily WS, Thomas C

SILVER Gina K, Jishnu S, Adhvik B, Kai S, Mia S, Elise

L, Gianna Z, Matthew D, Alina G, Tessa G,

Kayla L, Hannah K, Leah S, Liam C. John S,

Alannah T, Liam S, Amir K, Brynley B, Maggie

W, Nudara L

Rubbish Free Lunch Day Winners Week 1 Term 3

Congratulations to our winning classes for last week’s Rubbish Free Lunch Day. The winning prep class was PC with

91% rubbish free lunches in their class. The winning junior school classes were 2A and 2B with 95% rubbish free

lunches in their class. There were no middle or senior school winners this week due to House Athletics. Our

winning classes are rewarded with 15 minutes extra recess! Congratulations!

ENVIRONMENTAL COLOURING COMPETITION

Colouring sheets can be obtained from classroom

teachers or from the COMPETITIONS page of this

blog

http://sustainabilityatmwps.global2.vic.edu.au/

competitions/

Hand in to Ms Leary by

Friday 8 August.

MATHS IDEAS FOR PARENTS There is no hurry. Children develop their mathematics skills gradually and there is no urgency about developing any particular skill. On the other hand,

neither can all of the skills wait until the end of their schooling. It is necessary to work progressively on helping them to learn mathematics. In other words, start now, but there is no particular need to accelerate your child’s development.

Suggested Activities Time It is important that children can read both analogue and digital time. It is useful to get them to learn to do particular tasks, such as: Setting clocks, which not only requires setting up a

particular time, but also setting it for particular lengths of time

Asking the children “What is today’s date?” Keeping track of family birthdays and knowing which

ones are coming up Estimating then checking how long it would take to

find a particular name in the phone book Examining use by dates on items and comparing the

dates with today’s date Reading timetables eg ask “What time train would

we need to catch to get to the football by one o’clock?”

Asking time calculations like ‘How long is it from now until………bedtime?” “How long ‘til your next birthday?”

Congratulations to the following students who attained Silver and Gold Certificates in recent weeks!

CLASS SCORE CLASS SCORE CLASS SCORE CLASS SCORE

PA 79% 1E 83% 3C House Athletics 5B House Athletics

PB 83% 2A 95% 3D House Athletics 5C House Athletics

PC 91% 2B 95% 3/4Y House Athletics 5D House Athletics

PD 75% 2C 80% 4A House Athletics 6A House Athletics

1A 73% 2D 85% 4B House Athletics 6B House Athletics

1B 82% 2E 68% 4C House Athletics 6C House Athletics

1C 78% 3A House Athletics 4D House Athletics 6D House Athletics

1D 82% 3B House Athletics 5A House Athletics 6E House Athletics

PRINCIPAL’S AWARDS

COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD FROGS BASKETBALL - Aussie Hoops Thursday afternoons for 9 weeks commencing 24th July Oakleigh Recreation Centre, Park Rd, Oakleigh Cost: $55 Register: chadstonebasketball.com.au/aussie-hoops-clinics

TENNIS COACHING All ages from Prep to Adult 8 week term Cost: $120 Tallyho Tennis Club Ph: 0408 125 378

MARKET & GARAGE SALE 2nd August Market Notting Hill Neighborhood House , 37 Westerfield Drive, Notting Hill 9561 0114 and Garage Sales at 25 local homes ponsored by Epilepsy Assn

PAINTING & SKETCHING 8-12 yr olds 8 week classes at Waverley Community Learning Centre www.waverleyclc.org.au ph; 9807 6011 email: info@waverleyclc.org.au

CLASS

CITIZENSHIP

ACHIEVEMENTS

PA Milla Z for making an effort to be more organised in the mornings. Keep trying Milla!

Tristan G for working quietly and independently during reading and writing activities. Well done Tristan!

PB Ian W for always being a kind and considerate class mate. Well done.

Daniel O for writing independently during our class writing session. It is great to see you having a go!

PC Dulee S for always being ready to help out her classmates with their work when they need some support. Thank you Dulee.

Adams Y for his terrific efforts with reading. Adams makes use of lots of strategies to make sure he reads with accuracy and for meaning. What a fantastic effort.

PD Joshua F for always being a kind and helpful friend both in the classroom and in the playground. Well done!

Andrew Z for always trying your best when writing. You are creating some wonderful sentences. Well done!

1C Kenul for the terrific way he works in a small group. Kenul enjoys helping others learn.

Lucinda for a great start to Term 3! The extra effort you are putting into your learning is fantastic!

1D Georgia R for keeping yourself well organised. You always come to school prepared and complete daily activities without being reminded. Fantastic Georgia!

Noah L for writing a fantastic holiday recount. You have included lots of detail and made it interesting to read. Brilliant work!

2B Saran K for trying super hard to be organised. Your hard work is paying off, Saran. Keep it up!

Olivia K for always presenting her work with thought and care. Your work always looks beautiful, Olivia!

2C Michelle V for being a kind student who is always ready to help others.

Ella W for working hard and applying herself to every task.

2D Zayn M for always coming to school with a smile on his face and a positive attitude.

Julian M for being an excellent contributor to all our class discussions. Well done Julian!

BRAIN BENDER

Questions of the Week Prep—Year 2: Who won the Fifa World Cup?

Years 3—6: What year was Albert Einstein born?

Put your Answer, Name & Class on a piece of paper and place in the box

outside the General Office.

A Junior & Senior prize will be given out at our next assembly. Good luck!

Thomas B, Vice Captain

Asthma and Hay Fever (Allergic Rhinitis)

in Spring.

During Spring time plants, grasses and trees

release pollens into the air. As a result,

students and staff who are sensitive to

pollen may find their asthma and hay fever

symptoms worsening. During days of windy

conditions or during thunderstorms more

pollen is released into the air. When

breathed in these tiny particles penetrate

the lungs.

Hay fever is very common during Spring and

as a result of the strong association between

asthma and hay fever, those with both

conditions will often experience asthma

symptoms during this time.

Check the daily Pollen forecast at

melbournepollen.com.au

For more information on asthma and hay

fever please contact the Asthma Foundation

of Victoria or visit our website:

asthma.org.au

Tips for staying active this Winter!

Exercise Induced Asthma (EIA) is a common trigger for asthma. However, it does not need to be a barrier to students participating in sports and physical activities.

Here are some tips to help prevent EIA in students:

Before exercise take reliever medication 5-20 minutes before warming up. Warm up before exercise as normal.

During exercise watch for asthma symptoms and administer reliever medication if they should occur. Only return to exercise if symptoms are relieved. If symptoms reappear, administer medication again until they are relieved. The child should not return to activity after a second occurrence of asthma symptoms.

After exercise cool down as usual. Note that asthma symptoms can present up to half an hour after exercise has stopped. Ensure reliever medication is readily accessible.