The Torch ARARAT PRIMARY SCHOOL 800

PO Box 225 / 70 —78 Moore St

Ararat VIC 3377

P: 03 5352 1253 F: 03 5352 4926

E: ararat.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au

W: www.araratps.vic.edu.au

Principal’s Report

November 3rd , 2016

Dear parents and friends of Ararat Primary School 800,

Thank you, once again, for your outstanding support for our 2016 Arts Extravaganza. A number of audience members commented that it was our best effort yet, and that the performance skills of our students continue to dramatically improve. From my perspective, it was amazing to observe the high level of coordination and cooperation involved, with our band and choirs providing the musical backing for our Circus students’ performances. The level of professionalism demonstrated by our students and staff was remarkable. The unavailability of the Performing Arts Centre next year, while facilities are upgraded, may mean that our Arts Extravaganza and Senior School Production could take a different ‘shape’, but we’re optimistic that they will be able to proceed.

Last Friday’s “Walk to School Day” was a great success, with nearly 100 students joining staff for the walk to school from the Town Hall, followed by an elaborate breakfast, which was open to everyone. Special thanks to Mr Pilgrim for his coordination of the event, our staff team for bringing it all together, and to Robyn from Ararat Rural City for her support in providing a ‘mountain’ of nutritious food. Hopefully, the event will encourage more of our students to walk, ride or scoot to school on a regular basis, and to join us on Tuesday and Thursday mornings for our Breakfast Club.

While we were enjoying a day off for Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday, four of our students were heading off on the adventure of a life-time – Somers Camp. The nine-day outdoor-education experience is offered to our students every two years, and the level of interest was so high this year that we had to conduct a ‘lucky draw’ to select our four participants. Bella Fiegert, Tamika Moyle, Marcus Jerram and Jack Squire departed at 6:30am, joining students from across Victoria at the Education Department’s outstanding facility on Western Port Bay. We look forward to hearing of their adventures.

Our Year 6 campers are due back this afternoon, following their two days at Sovereign Hill, experiencing a taste of education in the 1860s. Special thanks to our staff and parent team who ensured the success of the event – David Collins, Di Coles, Adrian Pilgrim, Zach Louder, Jamie Toner and Steve Madex.

Our formal 2016-2017 Prep Transition program will commence next week, with Year 4 students visiting Carey Street, Jack and Jill, St Andrews and Ararat North pre-schools to meet their kinder buddies. Please note that students visiting St Andrews and Ararat North will be transported by private vehicles, and are required to return their permission notes prior to their designated days. Our

students are very excited at the prospect of taking on their first major responsibility before becoming part of the Senior School in 2017. Our first at-school transition day will take place from 2:10pm on Friday, November 18th, with our 2017 Prep students visiting us for the first time. We look forward to this event with great anticipation! Additional transition activities will be conducted on November 25th, December 2nd and 6th. Sincere thanks to Katie Sanford, Terri Dalgleish and Lisa Hannett for their coordination of our Prep Transition Program.

Looking forward to next week, we cordially invite you to join us at 2:15pm on Wednesday for our mid-term assembly. Student Achievement Awards will be presented, focusing on our School Wide Positive Behaviours values of Respect and Responsibility. Our Preps and instrumental music students will also entertain us, and the Arts Extravaganza raffle will be drawn. Tickets for the raffle were sent home with last week’s newsletter, so please ensure that they are returned to the office by November 8th to be in the draw. Special thanks to Yvonne and Greg Culell from the Halls Gap Zoo, who generously donated the major prize – a family pass to the zoo, valued at $75. Monies raised by the raffle will help to cover the cost of hiring the Performing Arts Centre for rehearsals and performances.

We also extend an invitation to your to join us for our annual Remembrance Day ceremony at 10:50am on Friday of next week, conducted by our Year 6 students. A feature of the event, once again this year, will be a performance of “The Last Post” and “Rouse” by Year 6 student, Walter Pope, and a recitation of “In Flanders Fields” by Gretta Fennell. The ceremony will take place at the front of the school near the flag pole – weather permitting - and we hope you’re able to join us for this most important occasion.

Every year we ask a random selection of families to complete the Parent Opinion Survey, reflecting on their perceptions of our School Climate, Student Engagement and Student Behaviour. Our return rate was considerably higher this year (80%), which we greatly appreciate. We’re very pleased with the feedback we have received, particularly in the areas of School Improvement, Parent Input, Behaviour Management and Stimulating Learning. Our General Satisfaction result was an improvement on our 2015 figures, and well above the State Mean and Like-School data. Areas that we will continue to focus on include Homework and Student Behaviour. Thank you to all families who expressed their opinions and provided us with written feedback. Your input gives us clear directions for the future. Continued over the page

School values: Respect Honesty Self Awareness Learning Belonging

Key Dates for Term 4

Thursday 3rd November Gr 6 Sovereign Hill Camp - return

Monday 7th November Buddy Kinder visits

Thursday 17th November Gr 1-2 Melbourne Zoo excursion

Friday 18th November 2017 Prep Transition Day #1 2:20pm to 3:20pm

https://lightthenight.org.au/event/ararat

Specialists’ Report . . .

From the Art Room

We have had a busy start to Term 4 with artwork from out students entered in the Ararat Show last Sunday. It was an excellent display of our students’ work and we were well represented in the awards, with six firsts, seven seconds and five highly commended. Well done to all of the students who had work entered.

1st Place Olivia McGrath 5/6D (Horserider wire sculpture) Zabina Starrick 1/2FJ (Monet waterlilly) Erin Peter 5/6D (Degas ballerina chalk pastel) Sevahn Maxwell 3/4B (Degas ballerina chalk pastel) Aleara Madex 1/2TB (Four season tree painting) Lilly Pyke 3/4H (Flower sculpture)

2nd Place Erin Peter (Painting of a cottage) Maggie Croft (Monet Bridge) Hannah Khan ( Clay bowl) Lachie Mullin (Monet Waterlilly) Tamsyn Kettle (Flower sculpture) Leo Murphy (Wire weightlifter sculpture) Ava Kahle-Phillips (Degas torn paper dancer)

Highly Commended Levi Wilson (Torn paper dancer) Millie Greene (Wire ballerina sculpture) Angel HK (Waterlilly canvas painting) Jessie Murphy (Degas chalk pastel) Flynn Toner (Parrot painting)

A special mention to our school’s Earthlings Sustainability Group who entered in the herb section for the first time this year. Although we didn’t receive any prizes, the show committee were very impressed and look forward to our participation in future years.

It has also been the Arts Extravaganza with a student art exhibition. It looked amazing and every student had at least one artwork on display. The level of the students’ work this year has been very impressive and it all came together for a stunning display. Special thanks to Judy Leggett and Jade Kahle for their help and creativity in setting the stunning display of art up. Also thanks to our grade 6 students, Cherysh, Logan C, Olivia, Tash and Tyson who also helped with the setting up. It was an amazing performance and showcase of our school’s Arts programs. Well done to everyone involved, especially Ms Fisc for all her hard work coordinating the show.

Finally, best wishes to our KidPreneur students who will

present their wares for sale at next Sunday’s Great

Western Makers’ Market. A great deal of work has gone

into the development of the children’s small-businesses,

under the guidance of Mr Pilgrim and Kate Harwood:

“McShoBa Dreamcatchers” – Olivia McGrath, Arianna Bajer, Kaine Shaw and Tylah Moana

“Light It Up Candles” – Elly Galoso, Talia Rhodes and

Haylee Sobey

“LML Pots” – Louise Cooper, Millie Greene and Lilly Pyke

“Face Painting” – Crystal Thomas, Nikhita Ewen-Jones and Zaf Davies-Harrison

Kind regards,

Jennifer Molan

2016 Arts Extravaganza . . .

. . .

MON TUE WED THU FRI

School Banking is

processed on Tuesdays

Students must wear a hat in

Term 4.

We are a SunSmart school

3rd

Breakfast Club

8:30 - 8:50am

Gr 6 camp

Sovereign Hill

4th LUNCH ORDERS

7th

Buddy Kinder visits

commence

Coding 3:20pm – 4:30pm

8th Breakfast Club

8:30 - 8:50am

Regional Golf

9th Grade 6 Graduation photos

taken

Mid –term Assembly

2:15pm

School Council

10th

Breakfast Club

8:30 - 8:50am

11th LUNCH ORDERS

Remembrance Day

Service at 10:50am

14th Assembly

T20 Cricket

Coding 3:20pm – 4:30pm

15th

Breakfast Club

8:30 - 8:50am

16th 17th

Breakfast Club

8:30 - 8:50am

GR 1-2 Melbourne Zoo

Excursion

18th LUNCH ORDERS

2017 Preps and

school-wide

Transition #1

21st

Coding 3:20pm – 4:30pm

22nd 23rd 24th 25th LUNCH ORDERS

2017 Preps and

school-wide

Transition #2

October 29th Shakirah Ohlsen

November 1st Ashton Moyle

2nd Kaine Shaw

3rd Jai Te Hau

Stay up to date with all our news and events by following us on our website. All school notes sent home can

be found in our virtual office. You can find us at:

www.araratps.vic.edu.au

The Ararat and District Badminton

Association Inc.

Junior Badminton for learners

No Charge

Mondays

from

3:30pm to 4:45pm

at

Alexandra Hall

Runners only Requirement

For more information phone

Joy on 5352 1522

Sunday 6th - KidPreneur @

Great Western Makers’ Market