Hello everyone! I hope you have enjoyed a short week with the Melbourne Cup and Curriculum Day this week. Hopefully you managed to back a winner. The staff spent Monday working hard on a number of areas to further develop our school programs. These included:

Preliminary work for our upcoming Carnevale Day (22nd November)

Reviewing and leveled our literacy resources across the school to support our approach on individually supporting each student’s reading progress

Planned in teams to co-ordinate the program for the remainder of term 4

Teams of staff moderating student writing samples to support our term 4 reporting processes

Reviewed our school performance data and future considerations

Curriculum Days are an invaluable opportunity for teachers to work together and develop our practice as well as our school programming for the benefits of all students.

Remembrance Day To commemorate Remembrance Day our students were today involved in some fantastic learning opportunities. We were lucky (thanks Miss. Mooney) enough to have a visit from some soldiers from the Simpson Army Barracks in Watsonia. Warrant Officer Lee, Corporal Lanyon, Corporal Warren and Corporal Taylor brought along 3 differing army vehicles for our students to explore, spoke to our students about current peace keeping efforts around the globe, taught us all how to salute in the traditional ‘Army’ manner and answered the many varied questions from the staff and students. On Sunday 11th November some of our students will also be involved in the Remembrance Day service at the Watsonia RSL. This is a special time to honour the contributions and sacrifices made by those who fought for our country. I acknowledge and thank the community support shown by the Watsonia Army Barracks.

2013 School Fees School Council has recently reviewed the cost of providing a high quality education to your children at the most

affordable cost to families. School Council is very much aware of the impact increased fees has on families and assures families that any increases have only been made where it has been imperative to do so. These fees support the school in providing your children with a comprehensive, fully resourced and up to date education in a clean and safe environment. It is also to provide rewarding educational experiences in Programs such as Camps, Sport, Excursions and Incursion and the Concert, which will also become great memories for your children to fondly look back on. The fees represent the total cost of all learning activities and programs for the year. Please return your documentation indicating your preference for payment options (annually, termly, monthly, fortnightly etc..).

Read, Read, Read The school has recently purchased more literacy books for our students and we continue to encourage nightly reading at home. Please embrace this and make it part of your daily ritual with your children. The exposure to texts (of varying kinds and genres), the exposure to lots of discussions and conversations are imperative to student success at school and into further studies. The more students read and talk about their learning the more cognitive and articulate they will be. As parents you play a significant role in this development. At school we spend many hours of our core teaching time promoting and developing literacy skills. However the opportunity to expand, extend and practice these skills is something that all children should be doing at home each night. We continue to build our literacy resources for our library and also for our individual classroom libraries.

Canberra here we come… Our 5/6 students are currently preparing to embark on their camping experience which is an educational tour of our Nation’s capital, Canberra (12th – 16th November). All the students are very excited as the week gets closer! The 5/6 students are required to be at school by 6.30am for a 7am departure.

Principals Message

LINKLETTER Watsonia Heights Primary School

61 Henry Street, Greensborough 3088 (03) 94354617 www.watsoniaheightsps.vic.gov.au watsonia.heights.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au

Principal: Michael Kent Business Manager: Jenny McDonald-Price Linkletter Editor: Leah Amos

November 9th 2012

Issue 20 Term 4 2012

Principals message continued…… Sleepover Our grade 1/2 students are also looking forward to their upcoming dinner at school, where the grade 2’s will then stay on for a sleepover at school. Friday 16th November promises to be a great evening for all.

Bundoora Park As a compliment to their integrated unit of study our P-2 students are heading to Coopers Settlement at Bundoora Park on Friday 23rd November. The students will be participating in a range of activities to extend and consolidate their learning around sustainability. Reduce, re-use recycle has been the main theme for our P-2’s! They will participate in four activities. These will include: 1. A Wildlife Ride: A ride on an Electric Vehicle through the wildlife reserve to meet the kangaroos and emus an study the environment they need to survive. 2. A Wetland Walk: A look at how we use water as a resource; how we look after it and who else relies on it. 3. A Farm Visit and Waste Investigation: Kids visit and hand feed the "sustainable farm animals" and look at how useful their waste can be. They participate in a "cow pat pick-up" race. 4. An Education Session: A look at where our waste goes and how we can reduce landfill. Kids will make some homemade lemon cordial.

Carnevale Day Please be reminded of our upcoming Carnevale Day on Thursday 22nd November. The whole school will celebrate many cultures including our major focus on the Italian Carnevale celebration. Students will enjoy many fun activities on the day including a special lunch, a pantomime incursion and masquerade mask parade.

Our Softball Team Congratulations to the school softball team who this week won their way through to the district finals. Unfortunately the next round of competition is next week when all of our stars will be in Canberra enjoying their educational tour. This was a great season for the girls. Well done to: Chelsea, Abbey, Kristin, Sarah, Aislinn, Kiya, Brynn, Rachel, Emily, Georgia, Mia and also to Miss. Buckingham for her outstanding coaching effort!

Prep Play Dates As part of our Prep transition program we will next week welcome our 2013 Prep students the first of their three official transition mornings. The children will spend time in our Prep rooms from 9.30-10.45am on Tuesday 13th November and another visit on Wednesday 23rd November from 9.30-10.45am.

Prep – 2 Swimming Our Prep-2 students are continuing their swimming program. Unfortunately this week swimming had to be cancelled due to a chemical imbalance in the pool. We are assured that this lesson will be made up for all.

A reminder to all families to please reverse park when using the visitors carpark. This ensures all vehicles drive forward out of the spaces and can therefore more easily observe any pedestrians in the surrounds of the carpark. Don’t forget, term 4 in an official sunsmart term. Requiring all students to wear appropriate hats during any outdoor activity.

Warm regards

Michael __________________________________________

HELP WANTED TO PROCESS STUDENT BANKING Student banking is processed every Tuesday throughout the year by parents of the school community. The last couple of years Leanne Johnson has been our volunteer and we sadly have to say goodbye to her as her child Bradley moves onto Secondary School next year. We are so grateful and appreciate Leanne’s help to train another parent to take over the reins. So if you’re interested please speak to Leah or Jenny in the office.

PARENTS OF GRADE 6 STUDENTS DO YOU WANT TO SELL YOUR GUITAR AFTER

THE MUSICAL SOIREE? We have some students going into grade three in 2013 that require second hand guitars. If you’re interested in selling please contact Leah in the office.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

NOVEMBER Mon 12th Grade 5/6 Canberra Camp

depart

Tue 13th Prep Transition 9.30-

10.45am

Fri 16th 5/6 Canberra Camp Tour

returns

1/2 Dinner & Sleepover

Wed 21st Prep Transition 9.30 –

10.45am

Thu 22nd Italian Carnevale Day

(Pizza Slice & Gelati)

Fri 23rd Prep-Grade 2 Excursion to

Bundoora Park

Thu 29th Prep Transition 9.30-

11.45am

DECEMBER Fri 7th BER Offical opening

Tue 11th 3 Way Conference Night

Mon 17th Musical Soiree from

1.30pm-3.30pm

School Council Meeting

Wed 19th Gde 6 Graduation

Rehearsal

Thu 20th Gde 6 Graduation 6-10pm

@ Watsonia RSL(upstairs)

Fri 21st End of School for 2012

Early Dismissal

JANUARY 2013 Wed 29th Teachers return

Uniform Sales 9-12pm

Thu 30th Grades 1-6 begin term 1

Fri 31st Prep students begin

What’s on at WHPS…..Reminders

CANTEEN ROSTER

Lunch orders & Counter Sales are only available on Monday’s & Friday’s. The

canteen menu is available on the schools website or in the office stand.

Monday November 12th Virginia Butters

Friday November 16th Natasha Skidmore

Monday November 19th Alison Leighton

Friday November 23rd Emma Gersh

Family fee forms are due today

FAMILY FEES 2013. Thank you to all families who have returned their Family Fees forms for processing. For the remaining families who haven’t done so please ensure your forms are returned urgently. This is Warm regards Jenny McDonald-Price – Business Manager

Camp Rumbug Student Albums – by Tara Kennedy

SOFTBALL REPORT Written by Brynn and Chelsea

The legendary softball girls of Watsonia Heights were defeated only once last season in term 2 and their competitor was Watsonia North. After weeks and weeks of training the girls prepared for the Grand Final match against their rivals (Watsonia North). The game was exciting and very close when the amazing Watsonia Heights girls came to victory. They now have the opportunity to go to the division finals. Division Finals......... (November 8th 2012) The girls’ Softball Team now in term 4 are out of practice and a bit nervous after being defeated at this level the year before (2011). The other teams, Alphington Grammar and Viewbank Primary looked intimidated by the looks of Chelsea’s professional socks. November 8th 2012 the girls ran out onto the field, ready to play. The first team the softball girls versed was Viewbank. They were all a little nervous. The first pitch was thrown by Chelsea ... “STRIKE” our professional umpire Bubby Buzzakeiry yelled. We came to the end of the match and the scores were 15 – 1. W.H.P.S won. The team were ecstatic. Round 2....... Watsonia versed Alphington and Watsonia Heights was the first to bat. There was amazing batting by both Georgia and Mia who played their best game of the year! Everyone showed great sportsmanship. W.H.P.S knew they had won by the time the last innings was played. Kiya and Kristin ran to the bases extremely well. The two teams lined up and the umpire yelled “9 - 3”. The Watsonia Heights Softball Team had won again and made our school proud. A special thanks must be given to Allison Latross for providing the Softball Team with Collipo’s (icy-poles) at the end of the game. Softball Team: Brynn, Chelsea, Aislinn, Rachel, Georgia, Sarah, Abbey, Kiya, Kristin, Emily and Mia.

WATSONIA HEIGHTS PRIMARY SCHOOL

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_________________________________________________________________________________ Good Vision for Life Did you know that along with allergies and asthma, eye disorders are the most common long term health problems experienced by children? Good vision is important for educational, physical and social development and to help young people reach their full learning potential. Many young people experience undetected vision problems as they often assume that how they see is normal. The good news is that once detected, most eye problems are easy to correct. Incorporating regular eye examinations into your general health routine – just like visits to the dentist - can help to detect vision problems as well as other eye conditions that can threaten the health of eyes. Signs your child may have a problem with their eyes include:

Complaints of headaches or sore eyes

A turned eye, red or watery eyes, and frequent blinking

Delayed progress in reading ability

Poor hand-eye coordination

Skipping lines, losing their place or omitting words when reading

Sensitivity to light

Squinting when reading or watching television

Difficulty recognising familiar people in the distance

Difficulty concentrating. Children’s eyes should be checked regularly throughout their school life, and immediately upon noticing any problems with their eyes or vision. You can see an optometrist without referral from a doctor, and most consultations attract a Medicare rebate. Visit www.optometrists.asn.au for more information on the things you can do to protect your eyes and to search for an optometrist in your area.