Term 1 Calendar

Week 5

Wed 25 Mar

Thur 26 Feb

Fri 27 Feb

12:15pm Choir

Year 2/3 Camp

Year 2/3 Camp

8:50am Chapel

9:30am P&F Meeting

Week 6

Mon 2 Mar

Tue 3 Mar

Wed 4 Mar

Fri 6 Mar

8:50am Assembly

Halogen Leaders Day

12:15pm Choir

8:50am Chapel

Yr 4 Bible Presentations

Week 7

Mon 9 Mar

Tuies 10 Mar

Wed 11 Mar

Thur 12 Mar

Fri 13 Mar

Public Holiday

8:50am Assembly

12:15pm Choir

Choir to Barmera

No Chapel

WLPS Sports Day

Week 8

16-18 Mar

Mon 16 Mar

Wed 18 Mar

Fri 20 Mar

Year 4-7 Camp

8:50am Assembly

No Choir due to Camp

8:30am Chapel

Week 9

Mon 23 Mar

Wed 25 Mar

Thur 26 Mar

Fri 27 Mar

8:50am Assembly

12:15pm Choir

8:50am Chapel

Mid Murray Sports Day

Week 10

Mon 30 Mar

Wed 1 April

Fri 3 April

8:50am Assembly

Choir 12:15pm

Public Holiday

Waikerie Lutheran Primary School is a supportive Christ-centred community, equipping each student for life.

Message from the Principal At Waikerie Lutheran Primary School as a staff we all strive to use our God-given gifts to be the most effective people we can be. For the teaching staff, this means being the most efficient teachers we can be. At times it can mean a lot more work for us, but we know it is work that is well worth it because being a more efficient teacher will inevitably mean that our students have the best shot possible at reaching their full potential.

This year, I am asking all parents/guardians to set a goal. I would like you to open the lines of communication with your child’s teacher! I encourage you to make the effort to talk to them about your child and provide them with feedback about how you feel your child is going in their class (and at school). Open communication and feedback does not need to only be evident when there is something that needs to be addressed - positive feedback is always appreciated and very welcome! (Who doesn’t love a warm fuzzy?)! Letting your child’s teacher know that you appreciate the time they spend becoming a better teacher (if you can indeed see the benefit of their efforts). It is a wonderful way of building an open and honest relationship that will help us to provide the best quality of education we can provide.

Blessings on your week,

Adam Borgas

Tuesday, 24th February 2015

Newsletter

Waikerie Lutheran Primary School

Balanced Caring

Waikerie Lutheran Primary School

16 McCutcheon ST

Waikerie SA 5330

Ph: (08) 8541 2344

Fax: 8541 2140

Email: office@wlps.sa.edu.au

Website: www.wlps.sa.edu.au

Principal: Adam Borgas

Communicator Inquirer Knowledgeable Open-Minded Principled Reflective Risk Taker Thinker

School Mobile Ph: 0457265337

Year 6/7 Leadership Roles

Bus Monitors - Matthew & Ceobahn Playground Monitors - Will, Justice, Chloe and Taylah

Peer Support - Emma and Bradley Quelcha/Finance - Jesse, Joseph and Noah Class Rep - T-K

Sports Shed Monitors - Oscar, Will, Mitchell and Jennifer Public Relations Sustainability

Bailee Alicia

Year 2/3 Camp The Year 2/3 classes will head off to

camp this Thursday, 26th February and

return on Friday, 27th February. We

pray that they have a safe and rewarding time

away and look forward to hearing about their

adventure upon their return.

YEL Committee for 2015 Congratulations to the following students

on being selected as the Youth

Environment Leaders for 2015: William

Shugg, Stella Thomas, Aaliyah Loffler and Alicia

Kroehn.

Festival of Music Choir Last week a number of students from

Year 4 to 7 attended their first choir

practice for the year in preparation for

the Festival of Music Performance at the

Chaffey Theatre in Term 3. The choir will

travel to Barmera Primary School for the first

combined school’s rehearsal on Thursday, 12th

March.

Year 4 Bible Presentations The students in Year 4 will be presented

with a Bible at our Chapel Service next

Friday, 6th March 2015. All Year 4 parents/

grandparents are invited to attend this

presentation service.

Proposed Working Bee Dates We are holding a working bee on Saturday,

7th March commencing at 8:00am until

11:30am with a BBQ. Please come along as

many hands make light work!

Year 4 - 7 Camp If you have not yet returned your deposit and form

for the Year 4-7 Camp, please do so ASAP.

2015 School Council

Following the AGM on Sunday, 22nd February, we

would like to thank the following people for taking

on roles or continuing on School Council for 2015:

Chairperson - Tim Paschke (new), Parish Reps -

Neville Beelitz, Amy Lloyd, Janelle Schmidt, Tamara

McPherson (new) and Wendy Hensel (new),

Principal - Adam Borgas and Parent Reps - George

Loffler and Samantha Mihalopoulos (new).

We would like to thank Neville Beelitz for his years of

service in the role as chairman and look forward to

his continued presence on council and welcome

Tim Paschke to the role. We would also like to say a

big thank you to Scott Souter for his role on School

Council last year as Parent Rep and welcome

Samantha Mihalopoulos to the position. Lastly we

would like to thank Noel McPherson for his many

years of dedicated service and support of the

council and welcome Tamara McPherson and

Wendy Hensel as Parish Representatives.

School News

We would like to introduce the elected members of

P&F Committee for 2015:

Chairperson: Samantha Mihalopoulos

Vice Chairperson: Amanda Hull

Secretary: Melissa Schmidt

Treasurer: Belinda Kuchel

Wine & Food Coordinators: Leanna Bishop & Sharon Gore

Thank you to those members of our school community who attended our AGM. It was great to have so

much support for the meeting. Also a big thank you to those members who have agreed to stand in a

position for 2015.

Our first meeting will be held next Friday, 27th February in the Hall after Chapel (approx. 9:30am).

WLPS P&F 2015

Families In Our Prayers

Tuesday: Childs

Wednesday: Connelly

Thursday: Do

Friday: Ebert, R

Monday: Ebert, R&B

Tuesday: Burns

Wednesday: Camerlengo

Thursday: Cameron

Friday: Canney

Monday: Carter

Prayers

Thank God for our school.

Ask God to be with those who are ill at

this time and pray for healing.

Lutheran Worship Wednesday, 25th February

Mid Week Service

Waikerie: 7:00pm

Sunday, 1st March

2nd Sunday in Lent

Waikerie: 9:00am HC

Ramco: 10:45am HC

Wednesday, 4th March

Mid Week Service

Waikerie: 7:00pm

Sunday, 8th March

3rd Sunday in Lent

Waikerie: 9:00am HC

Lowbank: 10:30am HC

Morgan: 9:00am

Ramco: 9:00am

Gemma Gay

24th February

Emily McPherson

25th February

James Gelston

28th February

Matilda Bishop

1st March

Levi Milton

2nd March

Alicia Wood

5th March

Birthday during the

coming fortnight

SPORTS NEWS - SPORTS DAYS

WLPS Sports Day

The date scheduled for WLPS Sports Day is Friday, 13th March! In preparation for the day, the focus for PE

lessons this term is athletics so that our students are up-skilled for the carnival. The morning will consist of

individual events such as Sprints, Long Jump, High Jump, Discus, Accuracy Throw etc and the afternoon

will consist of team games such as Captain Ball, Egg and Spoon Race and Production Line. Team game

practice is being organised by the individual house captains, as well as within classes as part of fitness.

A draft copy of the tabloid of events for the different age groups is included in this week’s newsletter for

your information. (Please be advised this may alter slightly if required). A copy of the program for the team

games, map of the events and timetable of the day will be sent home next week.

Help Wanted!

In order to make this day a celebration of student achievement and a culmination to their sports program

for the term, we are looking for volunteers to help assist with the following events:

High Jump (ages 9 to 13) - measuring

Long Jump (all ages) - raking and measuring

Discus (ages 9 to 13) - measurer

Shot Put (ages 9 to 13) - measurer

Vortex (ages 5 to 8) - measurer

Sprints (all ages) - timer and time caller

Hurdles (ages 9 to 13) - timer and time caller

We do appreciate that when you attend Sports Day you come along to watch your child compete in

their events, but unfortunately without the assistance of volunteers, the day can not run effectively. This

year we are seeking the help of volunteers to either assist with an individual event (please refer the tabloid

below) or with an age group. If you are able to help in any capacity (even for one event/time slot),

please fill in the slip attached to the newsletter and return it to your child’s teacher, indicating your

preferences. Unfortunately, if we cannot find enough volunteers, we will proceed with running an

unmeasured ‘standard’ system of grading student efforts as per previous years. If you would be willing to

help, please advise Mr Braun, Mr Fladrich or Mrs Schmidt.

From the Business Manager’s Office

Parents / Caregivers

Since we as the Waikerie Lutheran Primary School staff and you as the Parents/ Caregivers

of our learners are in a relationship working towards the best future and support we could

give our learners, I would like to use this space as part of our continuous communication

channel with one another.

I will inform or remind you about important financial and administrative information that

require your attention.

Financial Information – School Fees

Early Payment Discount

Remember if you pay your school fees for the year in full by the Monday, 2nd March 2015

you do receive a 5% discount on the fees.

Normal Payment per term

Final date for payment of Term 1 Fees – 6th March 2015.

Credit Card Deductions via the school

Thank you to all the parents who chose the option. First payments were made successfully

for fortnightly, monthly and annual arrangements. Deductions will continue as per

agreement.

Direct Debit via the school from your bank account

My apologies that the process has not yet started. We are awaiting the bank as they need

to create a permission on our account to do the deduction. Hopefully we will be able to

start the process in the next few weeks. Parents/ caregivers who would like to make a

contribution into our bank account while we await the process of the bank are very

welcome to do so.

Centrepay

Centrepay is a free, direct bill paying service that the Government provides. If you would

like to make use of the service you are welcome to collect a form from the front office and

submit it to the Centrepay Offices.

School Card

If you think you are eligible for a School Card discount, please collect a form and submit it

fully completed to the front office of Waikerie Lutheran Primary School. Closing date is 28th February 2015.

Camp fees

Camp fees need to be paid before the camp start.

Year 2/3 Camp: 26 – 27 February 2015 – Fee $20.00

Year 4/5/6/7 Camp: 16 – 18 March 2015 - Deposit $50.00 due ASAP. Total Cost $139.

Please feel free to contact me for assistance.

Kind Regards

Hannelie van Niekerk

Business Manager

Corner of Peace

I recently came upon this story and thought that I would share it with you all. It is

being made into a movie called “The Fence”. It is beautiful love story, and shows us

the almighty power and inscrutability of God’s all-encompassing love; and the

strength and endurance of relationships.

The Girl with the Apples (A Brilliant True Story) August 1942. Piotrkow, Poland.

The sky was gloomy that morning as we waited anxiously. All the men, women and

children of Piotrkow's Jewish ghetto had been herded into a square.

Word had gotten around that we were being moved. My father had only recently

died from typhus, which had run rampant through the crowded ghetto. My greatest

fear was that our family would be separated.

'Whatever you do,' Isidore, my eldest brother, whispered to me, 'don't tell them your age. Say you're

sixteen! I was tall for a boy of 11, so I could pull it off. That way I might be deemed valuable as a

worker. An SS man approached me, boots clicking against the cobblestones. He looked me up and

down, and then asked my age. Sixteen,' I said. He directed me to the left, where my three brothers

and other healthy young men already stood.

My mother was motioned to the right with the other women, children, sick and elderly people. I

whispered to Isidore, 'Why?' He didn't answer. I ran to Mama's side and said I wanted to stay with her.

'No! she said sternly. 'Get away. Don't be a nuisance. Go with your brothers! She had never

spoken so harshly before. But I understood: She was protecting me. She loved me so much that, just

this once, she pretended not to. It was the last I ever saw of her.

My brothers and I were transported in a cattle car to Germany. We arrived at the Buchenwald

concentration camp one night later and were led into a crowded barrack. The next day, we were

issued uniforms and identification numbers. 'Don't call me Herman anymore,' I said to my

brothers. 'Call me 94983.'

I was put to work in the camp's crematorium, loading the dead into a hand-cranked elevator. I, too,

felt dead. Hardened, I had become a number.

Soon, my brothers and I were sent to Schlieben, one of Buchenwald's sub-camps near Berlin. One

morning I thought I heard my mother's voice. 'Son,' she said softly but clearly, ‘I am going to send you

an angel.' Then I woke up. Just a dream. A beautiful dream. But in this place there could be no

angels. There was only work. And hunger. And fear.

A couple of days later, I was walking around the camp, around the barracks, near the barbed wire

fence where the guards could not easily see. I was alone. On the other side of the fence I spotted

someone: a little girl with light, almost luminous curls. She was half-hidden behind a birch tree. I

glanced around to make sure no one saw me. I called to her softly in German. 'Do you have

something to eat?’ She didn't understand. I inched closer to the fence and repeated the question in

Polish. She stepped forward. I was thin and gaunt, with rags wrapped around my feet, but the girl

looked unafraid. In her eyes I saw life.

She pulled an apple from her woollen jacket and threw it over the fence. I grabbed the fruit and, as I

started to run away, I heard her say faintly, 'I'll see you tomorrow.'

I returned to the same spot by the fence at the same time every day. She was always there with

something for me to eat - a hunk of bread or, better yet, an apple. We didn't dare speak or

linger. To be caught would mean death for us both. I didn't know anything about her, just a kind farm

girl, except that she understood Polish. What was her name? Why was she risking her life for me?

Hope was in such short supply and this girl on the other side of the fence gave me some, as

nourishing in its way as the bread and apples.

Nearly seven months later, my brothers and I were crammed into a coal car and shipped to

Theresienstadt camp in Czechoslovakia.

'Don't return,' I told the girl that day. 'We're leaving.' I turned toward the barracks and didn't look

back, didn't even say good-bye to the little girl whose name I'd never learned, the girl with the

apples.

We were in Theresienstadt for three months. The war was winding down and Allied forces were

closing in, yet my fate seemed sealed. On May 10, 1945, I was scheduled to die in the gas chamber

at 10:00am.

Corner of Peace (continued)

In the quiet of dawn, I tried to prepare myself. So many times death seemed ready to claim me, but

somehow I'd survived. Now, it was over. I thought of my parents. At least, I thought, we will be

reunited. But at 8am there was a commotion. I heard shouts, and saw people running every which

way through camp. I caught up with my brothers.

Russian troops had liberated the camp! The gates swung open. Everyone was running, so I did too.

Amazingly, all of my brothers had survived; I’m not sure how. But I knew that the girl with the

apples had been the key to my survival. In a place where evil seemed triumphant, one person's

goodness had saved my life, had given me hope in a place where there was none.

My mother had promised to send me an angel, and the angel had come. Eventually I made my

way to England where I was sponsored by a Jewish charity, put up in a hostel with other boys who

had survived the Holocaust and trained in electronics. Then I came to America, where my brother

Sam had already moved. I served in the US Army during the Korean War, and returned to New York

City after two years.

By August 1957 I'd opened my own electronics repair shop. I was starting to settle in. One day, my

friend Sid who I knew from England called me. 'I've got a date. She's got a Polish friend. Let's double

date.' A blind date? Nah, that wasn't for me. But Sid kept pestering me, and a few days later we

headed up to the Bronx to pick up his date and her friend Roma.

I had to admit, for a blind date this wasn't so bad. Roma was a nurse at a Bronx hospital. She was

kind and smart. Beautiful, too, with swirling brown curls and green, almond-shaped eyes that

sparkled with life.

The four of us drove out to Coney Island. Roma was easy to talk to, easy to be with. Turned out she

was wary of blind dates too! We were both just doing our friends a favour. We took a stroll on the

boardwalk, enjoying the salty Atlantic breeze, and then had dinner by the shore. I couldn't

remember having a better time.

We piled back into Sid's car, Roma and I sharing the backseat. As European Jews who had survived

the war, we were aware that much had been left unsaid between us. She broached the

subject, 'Where were you,' she asked softly, 'during the war?' 'The camps,' I said. The terrible memories

still vivid, the irreparable loss. I had tried to forget. But you can never forget. She nodded. 'My family

was hiding on a farm in Germany, not far from Berlin,' she told me. 'My father knew a priest, and he

got us Aryan papers.'

I imagined how she must have suffered too, fear, a constant companion. And yet here we were both

survivors, in a new world. 'There was a camp next to the farm' Roma continued. 'I saw a boy there

and I would throw him apples every day.'

What an amazing coincidence that she had helped some other boy. 'What did he look like?' I asked.

'He was tall, skinny, and hungry. I must have seen him every day for six months.'

My heart was racing. I couldn't believe it. This couldn't be. 'Did he tell you one day not to come back

because he was leaving Schlieben?' Roma looked at me in amazement. 'Yes!' 'That was me!'

I was ready to burst with joy and awe, flooded with emotions. I couldn't believe it! My angel.

'I'm not letting you go.' I said to Roma. And in the back of the car on that blind date, I proposed to

her. I didn't want to wait. 'You're crazy!' she said. But she invited me to meet her parents for Shabbat

dinner the following week.

There was so much I looked forward to learning about Roma, but the most important things I always

knew: her steadfastness, her goodness. For many months, in the worst of circumstances, she had

come to the fence and given me hope. Now that I'd found her again, I could never let her go.

That day, she said yes. And I kept my word. After nearly 50 years of marriage, two children and three

grandchildren, I have never let her go.

Herman Rosenblat of Miami Beach, Florida.

May you have a safe and blessed fortnight.

Moira Ganner

Chaplain

Students of the Week

Teaching children about our Skills: Communication, Research, Social, Thinking and Self Management skills

provides them with the tool kit for successfully relating with others. As a way of celebrating the

demonstration of these skills by students, staff have elected these students this week.

Year 6/7 (Week 4)

Mia Will

Research Thinking

Year 4/5 (Week 4)

Brodie Latisha

Communication Self Management

Year 2/3 (Fuss) (Week 4)

Verity William

Self Management Self Management

Year 2/3 (Fladrich) (Week 4)

Charlotte Hugh

Communication Social

Year F/1 (Week 4)

Abbigail Gemma

Communication Communication

Foundation (Week 4)

Hamish Ryan

Communication Thinking

Year 6/7 (Week 5)

Jesse Mitchell

Self Management Social

Year 4/5 (Week 5)

Chloe Jed

Communication Self Management

Year 2/3 (Fuss) (Week 5)

Ethan Malachi

Communication Communication

Year 2/3 (Fladrich) (Week 5)

Grace Isabella

Communication Thinking

Year F/1 (Week 5)

Elizabeth Megen

Self Management Self Management

Foundation (Week 5)

Addison Levi

Thinking Social