NEWSLETTER Week 4 Term 1 2016

An IB school valuing, supporting and inspiring a community of lifelong learners

Principal: Phil Garner 4 Seymour Street, Eden Hills 5050 Phone: 8278 5355 www.blackwoodps.sa.edu.au

Deputy Principal: Kris Robson

Important Diary

Dates

Monday 29th March to Friday 4th March

Swimming Rec to Year 5 Marion Indoor Pool

Friday 4th March Clean Up Australia Day

SAPSASA District Swimming 6-9pm

Marion Outdoor Pool

Monday 7th March Easter Seminar

Wednesday 9th March & Wednesday 16th March

Lacrosse Clinics

Friday 11th March Assembly Room 5 & 6

Ashby Hall 2.30pm

Monday 14th March PUBLIC HOLIDAY

Tuesday 15th March STUDENT FREE DAY

Wednesday 16th March OSHC Committee Mtg 6pm Admin Mtg Room

New Students Afternoon Tea 2pm & 2.30pm

Thursday 17th March Anti-Bullying Performance

SAPSASA State Swimming

Dear Parents/Caregivers

Blackwood Primary School 2016 Governing Council Our Annual General Meeting was held on the 23rd of February 2016. I would like to thank all the parents and staff who attended. The 2015 Annual Report is now available and can be accessed through our website or may be viewed in our front office.

Following the AGM, we held the first Governing Council meeting for 2016.

We welcome the newly elected and returning Councillors.

Brendan White - Chairperson Wendy Brown – Vice Chairperson Hayley Scott – Secretary/Minutes Elise Ruthenbeck – Treasurer Amy Offler – New Councillor Karen Drysdale – New Councillor James Down – Returning Councillor Kirrilee Burton – New Councillor Neil Barber – Returning Councillor Tom Stoten – Returning Councillor Ingrid Lord – New Staff Representative Phil Garner – Principal

I would like to thank our retiring councillors for their contributions to our school. Donna Harris, Sandra Robinson, Megan Brown. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to our school.

We are developing a different approach to the operation of the Governing Council and sub-committees this year that will give all parents greater opportunities to be more involved in school decision-making. There will be more information on how you can be involved in making a real difference in your school over the coming weeks.

INCAS and PIPS Assessments As you are aware, our Reception teachers have assessed all reception students in literacy and numeracy, including phonological awareness and oral language development. Our year 1-7 students have been assessed in literacy and numeracy, developed ability and attitudes towards learning. These are standardised assessments. The results of these assessments will focus the teaching and learning programme for individual students. These assessments are just two aspects of our whole school assessment procedures which allow us to identify how well students are progressing and achieving. Class teachers are able to discuss these results and other assessments with you at your 3 way conference. Find out how you can assist us to improve your child’s achievement at school.

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IB Mission

The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.

These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

Photography – Swimming and Aquatics and other school events Our school has a Policy around photography at Swimming and Aquatics events and other school events such as sports days and assemblies. With swimming lessons beginning next week, please be aware that the taking of photographs by parents at the swimming centre is not permitted by the Centre Management or by our School. Teaching staff may be taking some photographs for school purposes and these may be available to parents upon request. Please refer to the school’s photographic policy on our website.

Car Park Safety Our school car park has become heavily congested during peak drop-off times 8.40am - 8.45am and peak pick-up times 3.20pm – 3.30pm. In order to avoid severe congestion during these times perhaps the following suggestions may help.

In the morning:

Walk to school if you live in close proximity

Use the Beaconsfield entrance to our school. This is at the back of the

school with a short walk on the path to school. Begin the day with less

stress.

Leave home a little earlier and drop of your children from 8.30am.

In the afternoon

Walk to pick up children and have a play in the grounds for a while after

school.

Use the Beaconsfield entrance to school. This is at the back of the school

with a short walk on the path to school. Organise with your children to

meet you there after school.

Pick up your children a little later. Try 3.30pm. There is always a staff

member on duty at the kiss and drop until 3.40pm.

Car pool with another parent.

We ask parents not to Double Park in our car park. This limits the flow of traffic, is dangerous for our students, prevents others parents from leaving and has caused damage to staff vehicles.

School Information

Student Absence 8278 5355

If a student is late or absent, please ring the

office on the above number before 9am

or

SMS Text to

0427 016 460

*** Banking Day Banking day is

TUESDAY

*** Term Uniform Shop

Opening Hours Monday 8:15 – 9:15 Wednesday 12:45 – 1:30 Friday 8:15 – 9:15 3:00 – 3:45

Ph: 0411 784 467

*** KickStart Breakfast

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

& Friday 8:30am Junior Primary

Wet Area

*** Lost and Found

Ensure all items are clearly labelled so we can return

them to you and check the lost and found cupboard

for missing items.

*** BPS Playgroup

Thursdays 0 – 4 year olds 9am to 11am OSHC Room

***

School Tour Days We offer school tours for

new families & new students.

Contact Reception on 8278 5355 for the next tour date and to book.

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Meet Our New Teachers

Fiona Hinkley – Year 4/5 Teacher Room 2 I am Mrs Fiona Hinkley and will be teaching the Year 4/5 class upstairs in Room 2. Here is a little about myself. I graduated with a Diploma of Teaching in 1990 and have taught in many in SA and NSW schools, both in the country and in the city. I also taught at School of the Air in Broken Hill. My teaching experiences have been in all year levels from Reception to Year 7. I have two boys, Brad and Adam. They keep me pretty busy as they love their sport on the weekend. When I am not driving to cricket or footy matches I like to relax with friends for a coffee or a BBQ. I like to travel and see and experience new places and recently have been to Fiji. I look forward to year ahead at Blackwood Primary School and being part of your community.

Laura Thompson - Year 3/4 Teacher Room 3 Loves: Spending time at my beach house, travelling the world, cooking, babysitting my nephew, attending family/friends events and keeping fit. Favourite Food: Italian food and sushi This is my first year teaching at Blackwood Primary School, and I feel very privileged to be teaching at a wonderful school with such a supportive community. For the last three years I have been teaching at Westbourne Park Primary School where I was teaching multiple roles from R-7. I’m 26 years old and I grew up on a cropping and grazing farm, 130km north of Adelaide in the Clare Valley. I attended boarding school in Adelaide from year’s 10-12. I now live in Adelaide with my partner. I have two sisters that I’m very close to. My younger sister lives in Melbourne and plays professional basketball and my older sister lives in Adelaide who is a lawyer. I also have a one year old nephew that I enjoy spoiling to bits. Travelling is something I love doing in my spare time. My favourite spot in Australia is Noosa, which I visit each year. My good friend lives in London, so I have enjoyed travelling around Europe and staying with her a couple of times. She was lucky enough to visit me this January and soak up the Aussie summer. I am looking forward to getting to know the Blackwood Primary School community this year.

Veta Grigoris – Year 1/2 Teacher Room 10 Favourite Colour: green Favourite Past times: travelling, cooking, gardening, art/craft, flower arranging Hi everyone, I am delighted to be working at Blackwood Primary School. I have been teaching for many years, in both the country and city. I began teaching in Port Augusta in classes ranging from R-7. I am passionate about Early Years Education and Play and look forward to encouraging student creativity through Art and Design. My family and I love creativity; my husband designs and builds all of our furniture and my older daughter is an associate at the Jam Factory, as a metal artist & jeweller and our younger daughter is studying Early Childhood/Arts at university. I enjoy spending time with family and friends at a winery or two, at the beach or visiting antique shops, as I love collecting Depression glass pieces. I am an avid reader of interesting biographies and usually get one or two for Christmas/my birthday (Yes…. I’m a Christmas baby!). I am looking forward to a great year teaching year 1/2 and working with the Junior Primary Team.

Year 7/8 Transition Information

Information is available on our school notice board outside the front office and on Year 7 Classroom notice boards. Later this term in April a Year 7/8 Transition Pack will be sent home to all Year 7 students with more information.

If your child is away from school for any reason or they are late.

Did you know that you can SMS Text 0427 016 460

the school with your child’s name, their class and reason for absence/lateness.

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Our students have the opportunity to be involved in an exciting new program: ‘Children’s University Australia’ (CUA). Children’s University Australia is run in partnership with The University of Adelaide. It takes education beyond the classroom.

CUA provides students in year 3-7 with exciting free range learning activities outside their day to day school work, whether that be before school, lunch time, after school, in the school holidays etc.

Participating students have access to activities at school and also in the wider community (Learning Destinations). These activities have been validated by CUA trained staff as good learning experiences. A full list of Learning Destinations can be seen at: www.childrensuniversity.com.au

Some of the school based learning experiences that are validated include:

After school hours sport- Cricket, Soccer, Basketball, Netball.

Jump Rope

Cross Country

Debating

ICT club

Festival Choir

Some activities at OSHC and Vacation Care

Students enrolled in CUA will be issued with a Passport to Learning which records their individual learning journey. After 30 hours of learning, the children are rewarded for their participation with certificates at a graduation ceremony to be held at the University of Adelaide.

The annual fee for 2016 is $27.50 including GST. Children’s University is not compulsory. The activities are all voluntary and the children choose what to do and when, and the learning always has a link to something they could do at a ‘grown up’ university.

If your child would like to become a member of CUA for 2016 please complete the form sent home last week and return it to school by Friday 4th March, 2016 along with your payment. For further information and enrolment forms please contact the school office.

Sports Voucher

The Sport Vouchers program is a Government of South Australia initiative administered by the Office for Recreation and Sport. The program provides an opportunity for primary school aged children from Reception to Year 7 to receive up to a $50 discount on sports memberships/registration fees. All South Australian primary school aged children are eligible for the program and it is one voucher for every primary school aged child per calendar year. To find your nearest provider please use the ‘Find a Club’

tool. For more information and an explanation on how the program works go to http://www.sportsvouchers.sa.gov.au/

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Parents & Friends News Corner

WELCOME… The Parents and Friends are dedicated to building a sense of community within our school as well as fundraising to provide resources for the development of the school’s facilities and teaching resources. We are also another connection between the leadership of the school and parents; raising and addressing general issues.

The P&F committee is a volunteer group made up of parents and teachers committed to the school and their children’s education. We welcome and encourage any new members to join us. Meetings are held regularly and we’d love to see new faces there, everyone is welcome.

For more information or enquiries please do not hesitate to

contact: dl.0565.pandf@schools.sa.edu.au or leave your details

at the Front Office - 8278 5355

Calendar

Mothers Day Stall

(Wrapping day in first week of May)

Autism Awareness Day 1st April

Family Camp Out 28th May

Movie Night 17th June

2016 Meeting dates:

Term 1

29th

March 6pm Staff Room

Term 2

10th

May 6pm Staff Room

2nd

June 2.30pm TBC

Volunteering You don’t have to be a parent to volunteer. You may be a grandparent, aunty or uncle, all are welcome. The children love seeing their family members at school and your help is valued and appreciated. Without the help of volunteers there are many things that the school and our children would miss out on, such as Canteen, sausage sizzles, disco and family nights. We cannot achieve the P&F goals without volunteers. If you or family member are considering volunteering any time, please make your enquiry at the front office or contact ‘Parents and Friends’ through our email.

P&F 2016 Thank you to all who could attend our very first P&F meeting for 2016. It was lovely to see familiar faces, although we encourage and welcome new members to join our wonderful committee. Our first meeting was a very productive one. At the meeting we held elections for the following positions and the successful candidates were selected: President: Hayley Scott Vice President: Julie Pringle Secretary/minutes: Wendy Brown Treasurer: Donna Harris Canteen Coordinator: Anne-Marie Lewis Event Coordinator: Bridget Jan, Cindy McKee, Amy Jennings Banking Coordinator: Donna Harris Childrens University Committee: Craig Seckerson, Julie Pringle, Anne-Marie Lewis We would like to thank all who accepted these roles and look forward to working with you across the school year.

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Keep your kids smiling SA Dental Service

Have you received a letter from Medicare about the Child Dental Benefits Schedule? The School Dental Service is a Child Dental Benefits Schedule provider. Dental care is FREE for ALL babies, pre-schoolers and most children under 18 at the School Dental Service. Please call now for an appointment. Marion GP Plus Dental Clinic Phone: 7425 8400

Blackwood Kindergarten

Playgroup

We invite all families with children under school age to join our Saturday morning Playgroup

9am. to 10.30am. during term time. (Dads are most

welcome.) This is a great opportunity for children and

parents to socialise, discover & have fun together in a fabulous

learning environment. Our qualified coordinator Cheryl will

welcome you and lead the activities and story time.

Requirements are… fruit to share, water bottle to drink, a hat

for outdoor play (adults & children). Cost $3 per family

per visit. Just turn up, or ring the kindy for further information.

Learn more about our kindergarten on our website

www.blackwoodkgn.sa.edu.au Ph 82783596.

See you for a play and a chat! 11 Brigalow Ave. Blackwood