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JASON’S JOURNAL – The Principal’s Message
With some media discussion of late about NAPLAN (we are still awaiting these results and will send them to parents as soon as they arrive), I reflect on the many extra-curricula activities the students in primary school experience that are not measured by such a test. Whilst academic accountability is absolutely important, the care for “the whole child” is (I feel) a feature of our staff and school. One such opportunity that blends academic, social and emotional learning is our biennial musical production. The first performance each night begins at 5.30pm while the second performance begins at 7.30pm. This structure enables the children to put the time spent at rehearsals into practice – performing to an audience twice. Ticket sales are now open to the whole school community for performances:
Wednesday 16th September @ 5:30pm and 7:30pm: Prep B, Prep S, 1D, 2C, 2E, 3E, 4S, 5K, 5L & 6M
Thursday 17th September @ 5:30pm and 7:30pm: Prep A, 1L, 1J, 2S, 3A, 3N, 4D, 5A, 5/6A & 6D
We appreciate that in doing so some families have been split across both nights, and we hope that this may be seen as an opportunity for the children to see their siblings on stage or to invite other family members (such as grandparents). Students performing will be supervised by school staff backstage, with a “drop off” and collection point to be arranged closer to the nights. We consider ticket prices of $20 (for adults) and $10 (for concession / children 3-16) to be real value for money. (Children under 3 do not need a ticket if they are able to sit on an adults lap for the whole performance). You do not need to buy a ticket for your child if they are in the night’s performance.
Each family is (initially) limited to 4 tickets per performance. Once you have purchased your tickets @ www.trybooking.com/150595, you will need to print them out. If you have any difficulties please do not hesitate to contact the school office on 9894 2855. CONTINUING TO BUILD TEACHER CAPACITY Over recent years we have invested heavily in the professional development of all staff, as research tells us that the higher the capacity of the teacher, the better the student outcomes will be. Some of this professional learning has been in the form of external facilitators – such as the recent Curriculum Day, but I can proudly say that the majority of our professional development is led by our own experts within the school. Within our staffing structure, all teachers have responsibilities outside their classroom and they are encouraged to develop their leadership skills; including presenting to staff, planning, initiating and delivering projects and reviewing data to inform teaching practice. A number of projects are currently being undertaken: the school’s Leadership Team completing the Bastow Institute ‘Coaching for Leadership Teams’ program and a number of staff involved in Bastow’s ‘Leading Numeracy’ course (http://www.bastow.vic.edu.au/about-us/what-is-bastow). Such work allows our teachers to take ownership of the processes that they implement and it ensures that we increase the capacity of all staff in the process, the end result of which is improved results for our students (with increased rigour in Maths evidenced from the work thus far). In addition to the way the school’s Maths School Improvement Team have led staff development of whole school practices in the teaching of Mathematics here at BLPS, a highlight was today’s hosting of Bastow staff and teachers from Auburn South PS and Mooroolbark SC for a day of observation and professional learning.
No 25
13 August 2015
I congratulate Emma Maguinness, Murray Aeschlimann, Jenn Bowring and Loisia Steed for their work in this Strategic Plan area and the way they showcased our Maths progress with the visiting staff. CLASSROOM VISIT – PREP A NUMERACY BLOCK Each year Blackburn Lake Primary funds participation (along with other Whitehorse Network Schools) to the ‘Leaders in the Making Program’ (LIMP), and annually BLPS values and has staff representation. This year Alana Hartman-Smith was selected though internal expression of interests and has been released regularly to attend professional learning aimed to assist aspirant leaders. Each year we accommodate the LIMP program for one session (other participant’s schools also hosting) and earlier this month I presented theories of leadership (eg. Sergiovanni model) in addition to mentoring LIMP “graduates” from other Whitehorse Network Schools. In joining Alana and Prep A this week for my scheduled classroom visit, I was reminded of the high level of work that the children of Blackburn Lake produce which is due not only to the student’s efforts in the class but the careful planning and preparation done by the teachers across the school - especially so in Prep where a strong foundation is set during the daily “Numeracy Block”. Alana’s encouraging and expressive voice asked the children to build upon previous Maths work focusing on addition, continually asking and probing to assist the links to subtraction “using a range of practical strategies for subtracting small groups of numbers” (the WALT intention). As children age, they begin to understand the world in new ways. Piaget’s theory, in regards to cognitive development, states that as humans develop they go through four stages. Each stage corresponds with a different way of understanding the world. As individuals advance to the next stage, their thinking becomes more abstract and complex. Each stage corresponds with a specific range of ages as well; however, the ages can vary depending on the developmental situation of the individual (“stages not ages” as I wrote in last week’s Lakeside News). The four stages are sensorimotor, pre-operational, concrete operational and formal operational. The two more advance stages are the concrete and formal operational stages. Through making links to previous lessons, using specific Mathematical terminologies (such as less, difference, minus, take away, equation) and rephrasing, Alana’s Maths Hour gave many opportunities for students to create meaningful connections between concrete, representational and abstract levels of thinking and understanding. As well as opportunities to count on fingers, the students manipulated objects on the interactive whiteboard as well as cut and paste a clothesline – recording the “missing socks” in the form of an equation (eg 12 – 5 = 7); and yes, we all know about the joys of the missing socks at home! This sequence of learning moved through students’ learning starting with visual, tangible and kinesthetic experiences to establish basic understanding, before giving opportunities to extend their knowledge through pictorial representation. I was even able to join in the fun at the end of the lesson with a “game” of ten-pin bowling, the students working out ‘10 – 5 = 5’ (a bowling effort on par with the Australian cricketers!)
PREP LAUNCHPAD
In term three we run our successful Launch Pad program at Blackburn Lake Primary which aims to promote a smooth start to primary schooling for children transitioning from kindergarten. During these sessions parents are invited to stay and listen to presentations in our school Library on Wellbeing, Early Years Numeracy and Early Years Literacy. These sessions provide parents with the opportunity to gain a better understanding of our programs and curriculum approach and advice on how you can best support your child.
At this stage we have over 60 children enrolled for next year, which is similar to this time last year and testament to the strong reputation the school enjoys. I greeted parents as I spoke on the topic of “Wellbeing” (our school’s fundamental foundation) at a parent information session, welcoming the prospective Prep
students as they started our ‘Launch Pad’ Prep Transition Program, for what was effectively the beginning of their school life! We welcome the children and parents back for the second Launch Pad session tomorrow afternoon, with Assistant Principal Loisia Steed and Maths Coordinator Emma Maguinness to speak to parents about Maths. PARENT OPINION SURVEY - returns by end of Friday 14 August (tomorrow)
A big thank you to those families who took the time to respond to our random Parent Opinion Survey. I am looking forward to receiving your feedback (when returned after compilation from the Department) in the coming months, with a reminder if you received a survey that it is not too late to return yours confidentially to the office tomorrow.
PUBLIC SPEAKING Last Thursday night two of our Level 6 students participated in the Forest Hill Public Speaking Competition, doing themselves and the school proud when presenting their speeches “If I could change the world.” In speaking to another of the privileged few school Principal’s involved in the contest, modern children are given wonderful opportunities that weren’t available in years gone by and it was terrific to see the children rise to the challenges of public speaking in a confident, articulate and poised manner. I invite you to hear both Eliza and Jasmine’s speeches at tomorrow’s Assembly @ 3pm, as well as celebrate August birthdays and acknowledge our ‘Students of the Week.’ Regards, Jason Walker - Principal [email protected]
LOISIA’S LETTER
Staff Taking Leave A number of teaching staff are taking Long Service leave or Personal leave this term. Suellen Hall will be taking leave from next Monday 17th August and returning to school on Thursday 10th September. Alana Hartman-Smith will be taking leave from Monday 24th August and returning to school on Wednesday 16th September. Adam Marchesi will be taking leave from Monday 14th September until Friday 18th September.
DIARY DATES FOR 2015 Friday 14 August 2.35pm – 3.25pm Prep 2016 ‘Launch Pad’ # 2 session - ‘Maths’
Wed - Friday 19 -21 August Year 4 Camp @ Mount Morton
Saturday 29 August 9:00am - midday Working Bee
Tuesday
1 September 6:30 – 7:30pm 6:30 – 7:30pm 7:30 – 8:30pm
Education Subcommittee Marketing & Communications Subcommittee School Council
Friday 4 September 2.35pm – 3.25pm Prep 2016 ‘Launch Pad’ # 3 session - ‘Science’ Saturday 5 September Father’s Family Activity
Wed & Thurs 16 & 17 Sept ‘Alice in Wonderland’ Whole School Musical Production @ Kel Watson Theatre Forest Hill College
Friday 18 September 2.00pm – 2.30pm Assembly (Term 3 concludes – EARLY DISMISSAL)
Monday 5 October 9.00am Term Four commences
Monday 2 November CURRICULUM DAY – No Students at School
Tuesday 3 November Melbourne Cup Public Holiday
Tuesday 10 November 7.00pm – 8.00pm Prep 2016 ‘Parent Information Night’ - Library
Friday 20 November 2.35pm – 3.25pm Prep 2016 ‘Orientation’ session # 1
Friday 27 November 2.35pm – 3.25pm Prep 2016 ‘Orientation’ session # 2
Friday 4 December 2.35pm – 3.25pm Prep 2016 ‘Orientation’ session # 3
Wednesday 2 December Christmas Stall Friday 18 December 1.00pm – 1.30pm Assembly
(Term 4 concludes – EARLY DISMISSAL)
Classes will be covered by our current, regular casual relief teachers, who have an excellent knowledge of the children, as well as the school’s curriculum planning documents and school routines. Additionally, I will be taking Long Service leave from Monday 17th August until the end of the term. David Dowson will be taking on additional responsibilities in my absence. If you have any curriculum, student welfare and daily routine concerns, please contact David through the school on 9894 2855 or via his email. [email protected] Regards, Loisia Steed – Assistant Principal [email protected]
TOMORROW! Never give up Last chance to buy any of the NED Yo Yos
Encourage others or accessories will be FRIDAY 14 AUGUST
Do your best
EARN & LEARN Closes: Tuesday 8 September
This community program enables schools to earn educational resources whenever you shop at Woolworths. Each sticker is worth $10 spent. Please complete the Sticker Sheets (more available on school office counter) and place completed sheets in any of the following “Earn & Lean Blackburn Lake” boxes outside – Forest Hill, Blackburn South and Brentford Square Woolworth stores (with a box also in the school foyer).
‘STUDENTS OF THE WEEK’ We congratulate the following ‘Students of the Week’ – to be presented at Friday’s School Assembly
Principal’s Award Billy G – 3E Allowing me to ‘shadow’ his Maths learning – showing me (and other school visitors) his capabilities & confidence in Maths
Assist Principal Derya E – P-S Showing caring to other students & adults in the school – well done on displayed good manners Derya!
Prep A Prep B Bethany L showing excellent focus and concentration when Reading and Writing in class Prep S Zoe L Making her Reading sound like talking – well done!
1D Georgie B Writing an outstanding narrative about a ‘Magical Box’ 1J Lachie M His terrific effort with his homework when creating clues for a Fairy-tale 1L Bonnie C Teaching the class the alphabet in sign language - Great work! 2C James E His fantastic book report about ‘Tom Gates: Everything’s Amazing’ – a super
effort James – well done 2E Jack W Showing his improved Spelling skills in his narrative Writing & the ‘2E Spelling
Bee’ – well done! 2S Joshua M Being an attentive & respectful listener at all times 3A Liam C Being persistent & talking through the process of column addition – top effort! 3E Sahiba V Adding lots of descriptions to her narrative during ‘Revising & Editing’ time –
great work! 3N Amy C Wonderful descriptive Writing in her narrative about ‘A Lion’ 4D Xinda C Settling into life at Blackburn Lake Primary School beautifully 4S Kaiden M A well delivered homework presentation about the fable ‘The Ant and the
Grasshopper’ 5A Jasmine S Working well in a team & applying taught problem solving strategies during
Maths 5K Anas A Great work in the classroom especially in Reading 5L Ryan H His incredible passion project on the ‘Water Quality in his Locality’
5/6A Luke T His thoughtful contributions to discussion about bias in the Media 6D Carlos L Demonstrating a solid understanding of angles – great work 6M Li Hao Y Concentrating & persisting with how to measure the area of a Circle Art Georgia S – 2S Creating a beautifully detailed Cheshire Cat
Italian Aadith A – 5L Ellis L – 5/6A
Always showing enthusiasm for our Italian classroom activities – well done! Always showing enthusiasm for our Italian classroom activities – well done!
ART ARTICLES Grade 3 and 4 students are very busy creating props for the school play. Fish, octopus, lobsters and jelly fish are all emerging and taking shape. Thank you to all the parents of Grade 3 students who supplied a Tee shirt for tie dying. The students have completed that task and the shirts look bright and wonderful. You’ll have to wait until opening night to see the full impact. On Tuesday night the staff did a short PD on creating artwork for a new mural. We had fun making glass beads into artworks. The students will now have a turn during ‘Buddy’ time to make a bead to add to the mural. There has been an issue with supplies but when that’s resolved we should have a beautiful new mural to enjoy.
MAGICAL MUSIC NOTES The students are learning their songs, and dances. We are working on these in class, as well as learning the whole school numbers.
Marimba Ensemble Please remember to come at the beginning of lunch and begin to set up the instruments.
Alice in Wonderland Term 3, Week 10 (16
th
& 17th
September)
The school production is now only 5 weeks away! Classes are all consolidating their songs and dances. Your continued assistance in encouraging your child to practice their song and dance at home will assist with us all being ready when we need to be. We are busy with rehearsals and the leads are working hard rehearsing their scenes with our amazing production team. Next week will see our first run through from start to finish with all our lead roles. This will give them a great opportunity to see how the show fits together, and how they fit into the big picture. If you are not sure what night your child is performing, the list is below. Wednesday Thursday
Prep B, Prep S Prep A, 1L
1D, 2E 1J , 2S
2C 3N
3E 3A
4S 4D
5L, 5K, 6M 5A, 5/6A, 6D
Help Needed
Photographer We are looking for someone who is handy with a camera, and would be willing and able to take photos for us on our ‘costume try on’ day to be held on Monday 31st August. We would also like you to be available to take photos for each of the performances on Wednesday and Thursday night if possible. For anyone who is interested please email Sam at [email protected] Costumes We are in need of two black children’s suits – size 14-16 and size 12 – for our production of Alice in Wonderland. If you have a suit and are happy to lend it to the production please email Lesley at [email protected].
Zara S – P-A Always showing enthusiasm for our Italian classroom activities – well done!
Music Amelia W – P-B Being helpful & tying her classmates shoe laces – great work
Phys Ed Kinnon McD – 5K
His great participation in the Athletics Trials
Props We are in need of a couple of candelabras (any style). If you have a small one that sits on a table and are happy to lend it to the production, please email Sam at [email protected]
Sam Collins Music and Performing Arts Coordinator([email protected])
“Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle.” ― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
INNOVATIVE ITALIAN NEWS
L’angolo della bella Italia
Buon giorno a tutti! I am Sonia Gaetano-Tortelli in ‘The beautiful Italian corner’. I have some exciting ‘Italian’ news! I have entered four students from Level Five and Level Six in an Italian Poetry Competition that is held each year. It will be
held on Wednesday 2nd September at The Veneto Club in Bulleen and we will be competing with other schools from around Melbourne. These four students have been working hard with me each lunchtime learning the poem. I am very proud of their enthusiasm and efforts! Poetry is a unique genre of literature and it can appeal to our imagination and our emotions. Studying and using poetry whilst studying a foreign language can help students in a variety of ways: its simple language can help convey complex ideas, it has themes that may interest the students, it can challenge students to focus their attention on the form of the language where it can help students with their pronunciation and intonation skills as well as help students obtain more cultural awareness. These four Level Five and Six students will be performing their poem at Assembly on Friday 28th August. For further ‘Italian’ fun at home, hop onto this website that the students have been exploring at school - www.education.vic.gov.au/languagesonline Remember it will only work on a computer and not on an iPad. Stay tuned for more Italian news next week. Arriverderci!
Make your own rainbow
You will need A glass of water (about three quarters full) White paper A sunny day
What to do 1. Take the glass of water and paper to a part of the room with sunlight (near a window is
good). 2. Hold the glass of water (being careful not to spill it) above the paper and watch as sunlight
passes through the glass of water, refracts (bends) and forms a rainbow of colors on your sheet of paper.
3. Try holding the glass of water at different heights and angles to see if it has a different effect.
How does it work? While you normally see a rainbow as an arc of color in the sky, they can also form in other situations. You may have seen a rainbow in a water fountain or in the mist of a waterfall and you can even make your own such as you did in this experiment. Rainbows form in the sky when sunlight refracts (bends) as it passes through raindrops; it acts in the same way when it passes through your glass of water. The sunlight refracts, separating it into the colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.
“Everything that is done in the world is done by hope.” - By Martin Luther. Sonia Gaetano-Tortelli [email protected]
SUPER SPORTS REPORT DISTRICT ATHLETICS - Tuesday 25 August 1500 metres - Unfortunately last week’s trials had to be postponed. They have been re-scheduled for Monday 24 August – the evening before our Athletics day. Good luck to those involved. Our team is nearly finalised. Notices for level 4 children will be coming home TODAY. Students in level 4 who are competing will need to return their forms by next Tuesday - PRIOR to going on camp. Students from the other levels will be bringing notices home either tomorrow or Monday. The weather is proving to be bit of a challenge but everyone involved in levels 3-6 is working very hard. SNOWSPORTS Bella F and Ruby H had a great time last weekend competing in a cross country skiing competition. They had such a good time they are going to back up and have a go at the downhill and slalom competition in a couple of weeks. Good luck. Regards, Phil Lumsden - PE / Sports Coordinator [email protected]
PARENTS ASSOCIATION (PA) NEWS
CHOCOLATE FUNDRAISING DRIVE The Chocolate Drive boxes will arrive tomorrow & be
Distributed via your child’s classroom
Spare boxes will be available from the school office after Friday
Father’s Day Stall
Wednesday morning 2nd September
Mad Hatter’s “Tea Party” WEDNESDAY 26 AUGUST 2015
On Wednesday 26 August at Lunchtime the PA are holding a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party for the children from the Canteen.
Hot Milo & Snowball is $2.50.
If you just want a Milo its $2.00 and extra Snowballs are 50c each.
All funds raised go toward funding costumes & sets for ‘Alice in Wonderland’.
So bring along $2.50 to school on Wednesday and come down to the Canteen at lunch time and be a part of the “Tea Party”.
Come along to the DJ Centre on the morning of Wednesday 2nd September to select a special gift for your Dad or Grandpa/Pa/Pop. Items will be priced from $1 to $10. Please bring your shopping bag, so that we can get the treasures home safely. We are looking for some help from parents and grand-parents to run the stall. Even if you are not able to help out on the 2nd, there are still ways that you can help us out:
Help to set the stall up in the DJ Centre on Tuesday afternoon for 1-2 hours between 3.30-5.30pm
Help for an hour or so to run the stall and pack up on Wednesday morning between 9-12pm.
Help with some baking - we never seem to have enough baked goods for presents and they are always
amongst the first gifts to sell. If you are able to bake a batch of Dad’s favourite biscuits or Grandpa’s
favourite short-bread, please send it along to the office on the morning of Tuesday 1st September or drop
your batch in to the DJ Centre on Tuesday afternoon. Please deliver the batch in a bulk container and we
can wrap your creations into hampers or single items. Please label with your name, phone number and
ingredients. Items need to be suitable to eat up to a week later and not require refrigeration.
If you are able to help out, please either click on the following link http://doodle.com/r8qecbbzgbaxsiuf and enter your name and availability, or contact Simone on 0422 624 630 or Kate on 0411 043 832. Hope to see you there – the stalls are always a lot of fun!
Launch of the New Online BLPS ‘Helping Friends’ Form The Parents Association (PA) are finally catching up with technology and pleased to announce the launch of our new BLPS Helping Friends online form. The Helping Friends register was created for parents / guardians who are interested in helping the school community every now and then. The PA will contact you when the events you are interested in are scheduled. If you are happy to help, please click on the link above and complete a form (it only takes a minute or so), indicating your interests. We are starting 'afresh' and will do the same at the start of every school year to help capture the most accurate info. You can always submit a new form online if your availability or interests change. Many thanks in advance!
Parents Association
ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS For only $65 Entertainment™ Memberships are packed with hundreds of up to 50% off and 2-for-1 offers for the best local restaurants, cafés, attractions, hotel accommodation, travel, and much more! Available as a traditional Entertainment™ Book -or- Digital Membership on your smartphone, your Membership gives you over $20,000 worth of valuable offers valid through to 1 June 2016! From every Entertainment™ Membership we sell, 20% goes towards our School! The more Entertainment™ Memberships we sell, the more we raise – so please share this info with your family and friends! You can order directly online and pay with credit card at: https://www.entertainmentbook.com.au/orderbooks/1894b68 Please contact Jen Robertson ([email protected]) if you have any queries at all or would like to pay for your Membership with cash.
UNIFORM SHOP OPENING HOURS in MPR
Monday Afternoon 3.30pm – 4.00pm Thursday Morning 9.00am – 9.30am
SCHOOL BANKING - Every WEDNESDAY is School Banking Day
SCHOOL BANKING REWARDS For every deposit you make, you will earn 1 silver Dollarmite token. When you have saved 10 tokens, you may order a reward by handing in your 10 tokens the next time you bank at school together with your order card. The reward items touching down to earth in Term 3 are (available while stocks last): Cosmic Light Beam Torch Glow-in-the-Dark Solar System
Reward items that are still available:
Invisible Ink Martian Pens Intergalactic Rocket Planet Handball
ET DVD
2014 - Projector Cup, Shark Key Ring, Swim bag, Scented Pencils
2013 - Light Blue Wallet, Headphones, Knuckles Game
ACHIEVEMENT CERTIFICATES Congratulations to the following school bankers for earning their Achievement Certificates. SILVER Certificate for making 20 deposits this year: Emily B, Maria C, Benjamin E, Zoe M, Samuel McC, Thomas McC, Isla M, Jack S, Andrea T Your certificate will be passed to you via your classroom teacher.
Help the Dollarmites activate the Prize Portal To activate the Prize Portal, students must simply make three or more School Banking deposits during Term 3 and they will automatically be entered into the competition for a chance to win one of hundreds of prizes. Students can also complete a Money Mission at commbank.com.au/prizeportal to double their chance of winning a prize. Please note, students can start the Money Mission at any time from 13 July 2015, but are required to make their three deposits by the end of Term 3 to double their chance of winning. Thank you for supporting the School Banking Program! Vickie L | School Banking Coordinator | Contact: 0419 773 335
COMMUNITY NOTICE BOARD Any advertisements in this newsletter are in no way endorsed by Blackburn Lake Primary School
Juniors Field Naturalists – Meet 7.30pm last Friday of each month
of the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria Inc.
1 Gardenia Street Blackburn 3130
Meeting – 28 August ‘Party Night’ – theme: Australian Animals Meeting – 25 September ‘Scorpions’ Speaker – Max Campbell Excursion – 27 September ‘Brisbane Ranges’ with Cathy Powers All enquiries to: Clare Ferguson 8060 2474 email: [email protected] www.fncv.org.au/juniors
Doncare needs friendly volunteers to assist them in their Op Shops.
Funds raised in the shops by our volunteers provide substantial funds to our programs in Domestic Violence, Emergency Relief, Family Services, Counselling and Social Support for Seniors. Call us on 9856 1500 Email us at: [email protected] or drop into one of our shops and ask for an application.
Single Mum’s Program You are invited to an open morning at
LifeCare Women’s Centre Thursday 10th September from 11am to 1pm
34, Court Street, Box Hill (Enter from Thames Street)
The centre runs a holistic day program for single mums coming out of relationship breakdown, domestic violence and other issues.
The program, run by qualified staff, offers positive change to the wellbeing of these women through supportive friendships, therapeutic group work, activities and
meals. Please R.S.V.P. to Laura on 0468645212 or Christina on 9886 3899 or email
[email protected] Website : crosswaylifecare.org.au
