Greythorn Primary School No. 4694 Reading Avenue, North Balwyn. 3104 Telephone: 9857 9762 Fax: 9857 8175 Website: http://www.greythornps.vic.edu.au Email: greythorn.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au OSHCLUB 0411 392 707

Principal: Geoff Agnew

Edition 40 – 16th

December 2015

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

At Monday’s assembly, we announced our 2016 Student Leaders. Mr. Tim Smith, M.P. for Kew, kindly agreed to be part of this important event and addressed our students. It was great to see our 2015 student leaders congratulate and ‘pass on’ their badges to these new leaders:

2016 School Captains Georgia G. and Oliver D.

Music Captains

Olivia G. and Nathan L.

Library Captains Alex B. and Madeline B.

Environment Captains

Amelie B. and Will K.

French Captains Rosa D. and Jacques W.

Wellbeing Captains

Phillip H. and Isabelle R.

Art Captains Zac D. and Audrey W.

Social Service Captains Chloe M. and Jonathon A.

∞ Last night, we also held our Year 6 Graduation ceremony. Congratulations to these outstanding young people as they start the next phase of their lives and the teachers and parents who have guided them in the last seven years. A special thank you is extended to those parents who worked tirelessly to make this such a wonderful evening, including Kate L, Shannon F, Doris N, Elena S and Kirrily T. We are very proud of the Class of 2015 and also congratulate those students who received individual awards last night:

2015 Year 6 Awards Individual Achievement Award 2015 Marie T 6D Individual Achievement Award 2015 Mia J 6M Individual Achievement Award 2015 Sharika N 6S Sport and PE Award 2015 Anna B Sport and PE Award 2015 Isaac D Music Award 2015 Anita Y Art Award 2015 Wen Wen X Library Award 2015 Outstanding Promotion of Literacy, Literature & Learning Maria F Le Prix Francais 2015 Shayna P Jord Award for Courage 2015 Jasmine S Citizenship Award 2015 Campbell O’D Robert Wells Leadership Award 2015 Sofia N Robert Wells Leadership Award 2015 Jack B

Wright House Captains

Allen

House Captains

Woods

House Captains

Gardiner House Captains

Madeline D. Lia K. Kayla R. Sophie N.

Liam J. Liam C. Jack S. Wil L.

Wright Vice Captains

Allen

Vice Captains

Woods

Vice Captains

Gardiner Vice Captains

Rebecca G. Alessandra L. Amy K. Chantelle M.

Ben C. Luka S. Oliver N. Bailey T.

Welcome to our new 2016 teachers, who are looking forward to joining us tomorrow to meet their classes:

Ms. Krystina Simpson - Leading Teacher. After beginning her career in Scotland, Krystina moved to Australia in 2010. She is currently on the leadership team at Broadmeadows Valley Primary School and is a trained Maths Specialist.

Ms. Caitlin Shipsides, who is currently teaching Year 1 at Mill Park Primary School.

Ms. Andrea Bentley, who is currently teaching Year 1 at Birmingham Primary School.

Miss Megan Stewart-North, who is a current CRT (and former pre-service teacher) at Greythorn. Megan will be known to many of our students and worked in Year 5 last week. and

Mrs. Kirstin Tuminello, our new French teacher, who has also worked at Greythorn as a CRT.

We also welcome back from leave Liam Santamaria, Brooke Walling and Amber Shepherd. With these teachers in place, it is possible to announce our anticipated structure of 26 classes and their teachers for 2016. Please note that changes can occur over the break. Our first newsletter in Term 1 will have a confirmed and complete staffing list, including our Education Support Staff. Our teachers are all Primary Generalist teachers, fully qualified to work in any Prep - Year 6 class. In compiling our teams for 2016, we have been guided by teachers’ own class preferences, balanced to ensure there is some continuity in each team. Not an easy juggle, but we think we’ve achieved a great result for our students, with teams having a mix of experience and gender where possible. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our teachers for their commitment and professionalism this year. Your children are in safe and caring hands, most capably assisted by our Education Support Staff, including our office miracle-workers (Ricarda, Jen, Jenny and Kay), teacher aides (Kathy, Judi, Sana, Kylie, Leesa and Ben), technicians Ian and Andrew and Library Assistant Kaye. Thanks also to Lynne and Suzy in the canteen and George and John (grounds and maintenance). Special thanks to Assistant Principal Ken Darby for all his efforts this semester. It has been a pleasure to work at Greythorn Primary School this year. As Geoff Agnew is on leave in Term 1, I will remain at the school next term and look forward to welcoming those enthusiastic new Prep faces as they join our returning and other new students. Finally, parents are advised that student reports will be available on Compass late this week. Please see the information in this newsletter for more details. I wish all families a safe and happy holiday and our Year 6 students a smooth transition to secondary school. School resumes at 8:55 a.m. on Thursday, January 28. See you then! Kind regards,

Kim Dray

Reminder:

Final assembly starts at 12:30 p.m. on Friday in the stadium.

School finishes at 1:30 p.m. on Friday December 18.

2016 Prep Prep J Mrs. Juliette Browne

Prep L Ms. Laura Smaniotto Prep R Mrs. Rebecca Birch

Junior School (Years 1 & 2)

1B Ms. Andrea Bentley 1S Ms. Caitlin Shipsides

1T Ms. Sarah Tirtilas 1W Ms. Rachel Wallace

2B Mr. Matthew Baker 2R Ms. Elidia Rymer

2SB Ms. Krystina Simpson (M, T, W, F) & Mrs. Bec Banez (Thurs)

2W Ms. Anna Webb

Middle School (Years 3 & 4)

3A Mrs. Kim Adam 3H Mrs. Lorraine Howell

3MW Mrs. Brooke Walling (M,T) & Ms. Liz Miller (W,T,F)

3R Ms. Sue Rourke

4D Ms. Catia Durante 4DE Mrs. Melissa Darby (M,T,W) & Ms. Caroline Eva (Th,F)

4S Mr. Liam Santamaria 4V Mrs. Kathy Verbi

Senior School (Years 5 & 6)

5J Mr. Simon Judkins 5N Ms. Alex Nitsos

5P Mr. Steve Pertz -----------

6K Ms. Helen Karvela 6M Mrs. Janice Miller

6N Miss Megan Stewart-North 6S Mrs. Narelle Sime

Visual Arts Ms. Kristina Verhagen

Languages - French Mrs. Kirstin Tuminello (M, T, F) Ms. Aude Joyce (W, Th)

Library Mrs. Cheryl Williams

Music Mrs. Joy Odou

P.E. Mr. Daniel Zito

English as an Additional Language (EAL) Ms. Amber Shepherd

Learning Assistance Program (LAP) & Integration

Mrs. Denise Hartigan

Thursday 17 December Year 1 Christmas Party at Greythorn Park 11.15am - 12.50pm

Friday 18 December School ends - students dismissed at 1.30pm

2016

Thursday 28 January Term 1 commences at 8.55am

Tuesday 9 February School Swimming Trials

Tuesday 23 February School Photo Day

Friday 11 March Student Free Day

Monday 11 April Student Free Day

to all our students and families

from all the Staff at

Greythorn Primary School

BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) iPads in 2016

2016 Parent Accounts

2016 Parent Accounts were sent out last week. If you have not received your account please contact the office.

Please note that these accounts need to be paid by 1st

February 2016, however, please don’t pay or send pay-ments to the office until the first week of Term 1 2016. Thank you.

All current Year 1, 2 and 3 students will shortly receive their additional apps list for 2016. Please use the docu-ments to download and organise new apps that are relevant to your child’s 2016 year level.

On the first day of school in 2016, students are expected to arrive with their iPads charged and ready for learning. Please ensure you follow the setup steps carefully to ensure all restrictions and settings are organised accurately. Additional copies of this information will be posted on our school website during the last week of school this term.

A reminder that classrooms are open every day from 8.45a.m. to allow students to leave their iPad in a secure place.

As mentioned in the iPad communication, NEW STUDENTS to Greythorn need to download all new apps for their 2016 year level and all previous apps. Additional copies of this information will be posted on our school website during the last week of school this term.

Information about the Year 1 BYOD iPad program for 2016 will be made available in Term 1.

Kim Adam and the ICT Team

Compass News

The following excursions are now requiring parent consent and/or payment:

Paying for Events (Incursions/excursions) through Compass Under “My News” (on your main page in Compass), there may be an event Consent/Payment required. Click on the blue writing “Click here for more information”. This will take you to the page with information on one or more excursions/incursions. If you have more than one child, the events may be for different children.

If you have paid the excursion levy, there will not be an option to pay, only to consent (unless consent is not re-quired for an event located within the school grounds). Please take note of the excursion/incursion dates and any emails that you receive from the coordinator so that your payment or consent is received in a timely manner.

Year 1 Tennis 17th Dec 1 Yes No

Please check the Lost Property cupboard located in the Prep building to find missing jumpers belonging to your child/children. There are a lot of unnamed jumpers/jumpers with names that are hard to read. Any jumpers that have not been claimed by the end of the year will be donated to the Second Hand Uniform shop. Before your child/children return to school in 2016, please ensure all uniform is properly labelled with their full names.

Lost Property

Music News

Violin Lessons We are currently organising a new violin teacher to teach lessons after school next year. Please let me know if you are interested in your child learning violin, as this will be very helpful in our organising process. Thank you.

Year 6 Senior Choir Uniforms Any Year 6 students who have not yet returned their Senior Choir uniform need to return it tomorrow. Please place it in a named plastic bag and bring to the Hall. Thanks to those who have returned theirs already. Choir members in Year 5 can retain their uniform for next year.

Joy Odou Music Teacher

PFA News

Bakers Delight Balwyn 377 Whitehorse Road

Balwyn Vic 3103

Don’t forget to mention Greythorn Primary when purchasing your bread or mince tarts etc. Greythorn Primary belongs to the Dough Raiser Program at Bakers Delight Balwyn. 5% of all sales attributed to the school is re-ceived at year end.

We again thank Bakers Delight for offering this program to Greythorn Primary.

Greythorn Primary PFA

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE PFA!

Thanks to all those who have organised, assisted with, supported and attended PFA events over the course of the

year. It has been a fantastic year with so many willing and enthusiastic helpers. Thank you also to all those busy

class reps who have co-ordinated activities, passed on emails, and provided valuable support.

In 2015, we have enjoyed:

Welcome BBQ

Mothers' and Fathers' Day Stalls

Bounce afternoon

Skaterz Night

Parents' Movie Night

"Protecting Kids Online" Presentation for parents

Disco Bingo Night

Halloween Disco

Oaks Day Luncheon

Your Inspiration at Home fundraiser

World Teachers' Day Morning Tea

many different individual class functions...

We have also supported Prep Orientation sessions, and become involved in a Bakers' Delight fundraising pro-

gram.

Most events are for social purposes but many events do raise funds for the school. This year, funds raised by the

PFA have contributed toward the newly developed Friendship Garden.

We are looking forward to another great year in 2016. We have already begun discussion about some exciting

events, which may include a Movie Night for Children, a Mothers' Day Tea, a Year 3 Father/Daughter Camp, a

Dads' Golf Day, a Skincare Evening and more!

We welcome everyone to PFA meetings. Even if you are unable to attend meetings, there are many other ways you can be involved. You are always welcome to contact us at greythornpfa@gmail.com.

Merry Christmas!

Danielle Brown

PSW New Price List

as from 2nd November 2015

Disclaimer: We endeavour to ensure that the information in this newsletter is correct and current at the time of publication, but take no responsibility for any error,

omission or defect. Greythorn Primary School does not endorse the products or services of any sponsor or advertiser and no responsibility is accepted

by the school for accuracy of information contained in their entries.