Volume 23 Issue 40 Thursday 14 December 2017

S chool Captain Elections 2018 As informed last week, our election for school captains 2018 was held on Friday 8 December! All

thirty-two candidates, twenty-three girls and nine boys, made their election speeches to their “electorate” comprising the current Year 3, 4 and 5 students. Staff present were suitably impressed with the confidence and public speaking skills demonstrated by all of the contenders! With candidates presented, it was off to the polling booths for the casting of the votes into the ballot box! The outcome will be conveyed at this week’s assembly!

C ommunity Spirit and Leadership Award Congratulations are extended to Niranjana [Paru] of Grade 4VK who was awarded the 2017 Judith

Graley Community Spirit and Leadership Award at our school assembly last Friday. Niranjana received a framed certificate and a $50 book voucher. The Year 4 teachers deliberated intensely over the many potential recipients. The award was available to the grade four

student who was regarded as having the potential to play a future leadership role in our community and displays the following qualities: Considerate of others Civic minded Demonstrated initiative Participates in a range of activities inside and

outside of school Understanding of contemporary world issues Member of Parliament for Narre Warren South, Judith Graley, attended the school to present the award personally to Niranjana. Naranjana’s proud parents, Sunil and Ramya, were present during the presentation.

S RC Extend Thank You! The SRC extend a HUGE thank you to our generous

school community for their support of the Berwick Church of Christ’s Food Pantry.

www.brentwoodparkps.vic.edu.au

term dates 2018 term 1 30 jan - 29 march term 2 16 april - 29 june term 3 16 july - 21 sept term 4 08 oct - 21 dec 15 dec last canteen day for 2017 21 dec year 6 graduation evening ($32.50 payment due 11 dec, pay using qkr) 21 dec school reports to go home 22 dec last day term 4 (2:30pm finish) 30 jan students commence for 2018 2 feb first canteen day for 2018 jim bell, principal jenny reid, assistant principal

DATES TO REMEMBER

P remiers’ Reading Challenge Presentations Brentwood Park Primary School

is proud of its 100% student participation in the Premiers’ Reading Challenge and in particular, those students who went beyond the challenge and read at least 100 books over the period the challenge was open! These children numbered 148 and from this number, a Champion Reader from each year level was selected! Our Champion Readers were:

Foundation Harriet L

Year 1 Yenuka P

Year 2 Sienna T

Year 3 Abhay S

Year 4 Vilara G

Year 5 Bryan C

Year 6 Shameera T Judith Graley presented our Champion Readers with their certificates and badges.

G rossery Gang Competition Winner Students all around the country were invited by Just Kidding and Moose Toys, to create a

storyboard depicting characters from the Grossery Gang, in a story of their choice. Originality, creativity and imagination were key criteria. Students had to include an illustration of the background for their story. Once created, the winning storyboard was to be converted into a webisode. Patrick F from 5SM was the winner of this competition. Patrick won a huge hamper from Moose toys and the school was awarded the grand prize of $1000 for the Arts department. In addition, the grade 5 students were treated to a premiere screening of the winning webisode and a short movie about the Grossery Gang with popcorn and drinks. Representatives from Just Kidding and Moose Toys attended assembly last Friday to make the winning announcement and to present Patrick and the school with their prizes!!

F oundation— Year 2 Christmas Concerts Well done to our Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 performers! This week, we had the opportunity to

hold the annual Junior School Christmas Concerts in our performing arts centre. The Foundation Christmas Concert was held on Monday and the year 1/2 Christmas Concert was held on Wednesday. The concerts were a combination of popular and traditional Christmas songs. It gave the junior students the opportunity to perform on stage and to show what they have learnt in performing art classes. The concert concluded once again with a visit from Santa.

Thanks once again to Jenny Reid who, as always, was resplendent in her Christmas attire and for being a wonderful hostess for the concert. Thanks also to the F – 2 teachers and sugarplum fairies, Tianna and Hazel Thank you to performing arts teacher, Linda Moore, and to Mel Dennis for taking photographs.

Please see the collages in the newsletter which have captured, in part, the festivities of the concerts!!

2 018 Camping Program Beginning in 2018, Brentwood Park Primary School will be conducting outdoor education camps

for students in year 4 to Arrabri Lodge and year 6 to Phillip Island Adventure Resort. This means camps will be every year, for year 4 and 6 classes only.

Year 4 2018 Venue: Arrabri Lodge at East Warburton Dates: 19th to 21st September Cost: $300 (approximate) Year 6 2018 Venue: Phillip Island Adventure Resort Dates: 28th to 30th May Cost: $300 (approximate)

Any parents interested in attending a camp in 2018 need to contact Jim Narayan. Further information regarding the camps, will be forwarded in 2018.

S tudent Placements 2018 The organisation of classes for next year is now underway. When we organise classes, we try to

ensure an even spread of abilities within each class across the year level. Teachers take into consideration how individual children work together and use the knowledge of all teachers at the year level together with specialist teachers and senior staff in the final formation. We endeavour to design each class as a cohesive working and learning unit and, where possible, place children with at least one of their nominated friends. This in itself is a complex procedure but cannot be seen as the primary focus in class organization. Sometimes it is beneficial for students to explore new relationships and not be reliant on the same one or two class friends year after year. Additionally, sometimes it is the teachers’ considered opinion that particular children need to be separated from friends to enable them to develop and realize their potential. When organising classes for 2018, staff will be placing the children in class groups which are conducive to learning. This will remain as the primary focus. The staff are aware of the friendship groups and will also attempt to include a friend, however, attaining a positive learning environment will be the primary determining factor. We expect to be informing children of their grade placements on Thursday 21 December, prior to their 2018 grade orientation session.

S tudent Orientation for 2017 Tuesday 12 December was “Orientation Day”. Whilst our current Year 6 students attended their

respective secondary colleges for the day, other children who will be joining our school community in 2017, also took the opportunity to visit us and spend some time in classrooms. With delegates from respective grades escorting the new children to various grades, the parents joined the principal team for morning tea. This afforded them the opportunity to ask questions about their child’s “new” school. _____________ children in Year 1 - 6 will be joining our school community next year! The orientation session was a valuable experience for all who took part.

P assion Projects As part of the “negotiated” curriculum at Brentwood Park Primary School, students have an

opportunity to follow an inquiry of which they are particularly passionate. Last week, we featured a selection from Year 5 whose inquiry projects were from the scientific field. This week, we feature an inquiry from Year 2 which is geographical. Sammar U of 2 RG had previously enjoyed a family trip along The Great Ocean Road to visit the Twelve Apostles. This became the catalyst for Sammar to pursue further investigations! He proudly presented his project with the assistance of classmate Rohan.

F orthcoming Assembly Performance After only one and a half terms of lessons, our violinists are gearing up for their first

performance. At this week’s assembly our “string ensemble” will be performing the well known Christmas pieces, The Little Drummer Boy and Jingle Bells. Parents are always welcome to attend our assemblies which are held each Friday 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Term 4 Week ending 8th December, 2017

FCV Anika For her focus and dedication towards learning her Oxford words this year. AMAZING EFFORT! FBM Charlotte For her great leadership when practising our Christmas concerts. FJF Tameah For a great start to Brentwood Park Primary! FSM Bella For displaying confidence when speaking at our concert rehearsal. Well done! FTL Natalia For her fabulous dancing during our concert practice. FLP Samira For your AWESOME drawing of Santa that was done during our directed drawing session. 1HG Hrithika For your OUTSTANDING homework that is completed with excellence and additional tasks. Keep this up! 1MC Ryder For all the effort you have put into your writing! 1NC Julia For trying your best when learning about division. Your confidence is amazing to see! 1MB Lucas For showing a huge improvement in his handwriting. Well done! 1BV Avneet For producing an excellent information report. Well done, Avneet! 2DK Emma For her consistent effort to edit her work without reminders. Well done! 2CM Tiara For being such a thoughtful and considerate classroom member. 2AD Sophie For her fabulous letter to our Elf Biscuit! 2RG Warisha For her beautiful handwriting in all class work. Amazing effort! Well done! 3CH 3CH For their wonderful acting, singing & dancing in the Year 3 Spotlight. You are all seriously BAD!!!! 3SH Delisa For being an amazing member of 3SH. Keep up your growth mindset! 3MF 3MF For their amazing performance at the Year 3 Spotlight. You are all SUPERSTARS! 3LM 3LM For their amazing performance a the Year 3 Spotlight. You were all so ‘Happy’! 4MB Marlon For always being kind and considerate to all his friends. 4CP Amna For being a hard working and kind student. 4VK Olivia For always working hard to improve her spelling skills. 5SM Gaurav For settling in well at B.P.P.S. Great job! 5JG Armia For preparing an excellent project and attentively listening to others present! 5SI Katie For creating a highly engaging project discussing Greek mythology. Your PowerPoint and novel were incredibly detailed and sophisticated! 5LF Ashton For an excellent project and model for your passion project. Well done!

Term 4 Week ending 8th December 2017

Year 6 and ‘SPECIALIST’ Stars of the Week 6JP Raven For your imaginative and creative Christmas poem. Fantastic work! 6JA Shameera For doing a great job at our Spotlight Concert as part of the techicians team. 6JD Cooper For his excellent help with the 2018 iPad set up. Great job! Health & P.E 4CP For showing a great understanding of the game of rounders. Well played! Health & P.E FJF For their excellent teamwork in our game of ‘Multi-ball’! P. Arts Yr 3 All Year 3 performers, techs and stagehands. For your wonderful ‘Spotlight’ performance. P. Arts 1NC For doing cool reindeer actions for ‘Blitzen’s Boogie’. LOTE 5LF For your consistency in demonstrating an excellent learning attitude and beautiful manners in Chinese class in 2017. Thank you, 5LF! LOTE 1BV For your confidence in singing Merry Christmas in Chinese and excellent discipline in class. You are stars, 1BV! Visual Arts 1BV For their fantastic 3D paper construction art work! Visual Arts 6JP For their creative designs on their graduation pillows!

P LEASE DIRECT MONEY FOR EXCURSIONS, ETC TO YOUR CLASSROOM TEACHER - NOT TO THE OFFICE.

Please hand money and permission slip in sealed envelopes to classroom teacher first thing in the morning. By following this process teachers are aware that your child will be attending the excursion and mark them off

their lists. Money is collected by office staff and processed each morning and a receipt given back to teachers along with permission slips. All money is tallied and banked daily – no money is left on the premises. If you wish to pay by credit card, a proforma is available from the office. This can be filled out with details and placed in a sealed envelope and handed to your classroom teacher

Please deliver cash in a sealed envelope with your child’s name and grade on the front by 9.30 a.m. If you have a number of children attending an excursion you can place all money and permission slips in the one envelope with children’s names and grades on the front and deliver to one of the children’s teachers. The office staff will be able to allocate money to the children’s particular items and distribute permission slips and receipts back to teachers. Enve-lopes are available at the office. If you have a large amount to be paid or need to process an EFTPOS transaction through a savings account you can make arrangements to pay at the office. We also have a new Qkr payment system on our Skoolbag app. If you download our Skoolbag app and Qkr payment app you can now pay for your child’s excursion on line.

All change will be delivered to the children in the afternoon. Re-imbursements will only be made under certain circumstances – they will be made by cheque (no cash transactions are made).

Notices are sent out with a final collection time – please adhere to this time. All money and permission slips are required to be sent back by this date – otherwise your child will not be able to attend. This enables us to confirm bookings and numbers with bus companies and organisations we are visiting. Also we need to send details to the De-partment of Education Emergency Management for all excursions, camps, etc. We also need to accommodate students who will not be attending.

We would appreciate it if parents could please follow these processes.