15 September 2017

Newsletter Articles

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

Term 3 has been full of diligence, a strong commitment to learning, enjoyment and pure excellence, so it comes as no surprise that the term has come and gone in a flash. I would like to take the opportunity to thank our parents for their continued support, our wonderful students and our dedicated teachers. This term has allowed for many highlights, from our Book Week Parades, Sports Day, our various school incursions and excursions, to our very successful Maths Bee competition. As I mentioned it has been a jammed packed term but a very successful one. Well done to everyone.

Speech Choir

Congratulations to our Prep and Year 1 students and staff who participated in the Speech Choir competition last week. As they do every year, they did our school proud. It was our most successful year to date, with a 1st Place, 2nd Place, and the highest praise given to our other participating teams. This extraordinary achievement is due to the huge commitment and dedication that our teachers give to this event and the hard work our students put in to learning and presenting their poems.

Planning for 2018

Planning for 2018 is in full swing....... Last week we held our ‘Prep Classroom Experience’ which was very well attended by our future prep students and families. The feedback from parents has been extremely positive and they are looking forward to joining our Musgrave family in 2018. Over the past month we have also commenced our prep enrolment interviews. These interviews are all held with the aim of ensuring that our prep students make a positive start to their schooling here at Musgrave Hill State School.

It is important that we get our enrolment numbers for 2018 as accurate as possible so I ask you to please do the following:

• Ensure that you have enrolled your child for Prep if they are to commence next year
• Let anyone you know who intends to attend Musgrave Hill State School in 2018 not only in Prep but all year levels to come and get an enrolment pack to complete as soon as possible
• Please inform the office ASAP if your child will be leaving Musgrave Hill and therefore not be attending our school next year

Our Prep classes and the other year levels are filling fast so the earlier people apply and enrol the more likely they will be able to attend our fabulous school. Last year we trialled sending out letters informing the students of their classes before the end of the year, this is only possible if we know how many students we will have and therefore how many classes.

Your support in this matter will be greatly appreciated.

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

I was fortunate enough to attend a session presented by Dr Michael Carr-Gregg (one of my favourite speakers) around the topic of bullying. Whilst Michael did not present anything that is not already on our radars as educators, he provided us with updated statistics and resources which help us to deal with this topic.

It is important that the definition of bullying is consistently used. The National Centre Against Bullying (NCAB) defines this as someone (or a group of people) with more power than you repeatedly and intentionally using negative words and / or actions against you, which causes you distress and risks your wellbeing. Equally important is what bullying is not – it is not arguments and disagreements, disliking someone, single episode acts of nastiness or spite, or random acts of aggression or intimidation.

Naturally cyber bullying was a major topic. Interestingly the NCAB found that SMS messages were the most common form of cyber bullying. So how do we as parents deal with this? Ensuring that your child’s computer and ipads are in a “public place” in your house (not in their bedrooms) and having them leave their mobiles on the kitchen table when they go to bed at night or even before (and not under their pillows!!) are just a couple of suggestions he made. Having time limits for social networking is also highly recommended, knowing the legal age restrictions of sites and adhering to those as well as being familiar with their operations. He suggested typing your child’s name into Google to establish their “digital footprint” was a great way to start!

It is important to note that Michael Carr-Gregg was quick to point out that the mobiles and networking sites were not bad, but more so that the responsible use of these should be what we as parents promote. We need to teach our children to be “cybersmart”!!

The Australian Government has established a great website which can be used as a resource for families. The website below includes activities and advice for children of all ages as well as parents.

Whilst anti-bullying strategies remain a major focus in our education systems and here at Musgrave Hill, it is often these “out of hours” instances which are most prevalent. Being aware as a parent of strategies to limit these occurrences and of where to go for support and help is most important.

Scooters

We have had a number of reports of students acting in an unsafe manner while riding to and from school. This includes riding on the road and zooming around parents who are walking their children to school. While it is great to see students being active, the safety of themselves and those around them is paramount. If your child/children do use scooters to come to school, could you please discuss with them safe practices? It is also extremely important that they wear helmets as anything we can do to protect our children should be foremost in our thoughts.

Please note that school will resume for all students on Tuesday 3rd October. Please take care and stay safe. I will look forward to all the challenges and rewards Term 4 has to offer.

Julie-Anne McGuinness - Principal

ASSEMBLY AWARDS

FROM THE OFFICE

Excursions for term 4

By now you should have received an information sheet for Term 4 excursions.

The Information sheet and permission notes will be emailed to you in week 1 of Term 4. Multiple invoices will then be emailed out.

You will receive a separate invoice for each excursion and each student.

Examples: Swimming; Fun with Maths ; Gold Rush

The name of the excursion will appear in the centre of the invoice page.

The line item will state “non-food component” as this is a GST descriptor automatically created.

There is a BPoint link on the bottom left hand side of the invoice which will take you directly to the payment page.

Please make payment by the due date and carefully read the refund policy on the information note.

New Payment Method

We can now offer parents the ability to pay invoices over the phone using BPoint IVR (Interactive Voice Response). Parents call 1300 631 073 and enter their CRN, amount and credit card details to complete payment. At the end of the call you will be provided with a unique payment receipt number.

The school office is no longer able to take credit card details over the phone as this is not Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard compliant.

Process for Payment Plans

We now have a new process for payment plans using BPoint Electronic Direct Debit Registration.

If you are unable to make a full payment of an invoice by the due date you need to contact the Business Manager, Janette Connolly to arrange a payment plan. You will negotiate with the school on the amount, frequency and number of payments for the payment plan.

You will receive an email with a link for your payment plan. You click on the link and register for the direct debit/ payment plan and nominate your credit/debit card or bank account. You will receive a confirmation email detailing the agreement and you will need to click on the link to confirm the agreement. The next day the school will receive a report confirming the registration for the payment. Once this has been received your child will be able to attend the activity.

You will receive an email reminder the day before your charge is due to be debited from your bank account or credit/debit card.

SPORTS TALK

Regional Athletics Carnival

A massive congratulations needs to go to Jayden C-B, who after an outstanding effort at the Regional Athletics Carnival placing 3rd for Discus, has gained selection in the South Coast Team. We wish you all the best!!

Special mention also needs to go to Hesed L-F who placed 5th in the 200m Final. Congratulations on an outstanding effort at such a high standard of competition.

Run Club

Here’s a tally of the leading runners and classes for 2017 …

The top 5 classes are…

Rookies to Reds

Mrs Halsall – PE Teacher

LEARN A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT IN 2018

The Instrumental Music teachers and Arts teachers are commencing the selection process for the 2018 Music Program.

Students currently in Year 2 are eligible to learn a string instrument in 2018:

Violin, Viola, Cello

Students currently in Year 3, 4 and 5 are eligible to learn a brass, woodwind or percussion instrument in 2018:

Trumpet, Trombone, Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Drums

If your child is interested in learning a musical instrument in 2018 or you would simply like to know more about the music program, you are invited to come to our Instrumental Music Information Session to be held in our new Music Rooms on Wednesday 18 October (Term 4 Week 3) at 3.00- 3.30pm.

Mr Denning and Mrs Rickert – Music Teachers

FETE NEWS

NOT LONG NOW… Friday 6th October 3-7pm

Purchase your unlimited ride pass with Jubliee Entertainment by Thursday 5th October for only $25 through Flexischools or at the Tuckshop, the cost will be $30 on the day or $5 per ride.

We will have a side show alley with laughing clowns and bobbing ducks and pony rides.

There will also be food stalls including: Dumplings, sausage sizzle, ice creams, hot chips etc., all at reasonable prices, or you can bring along your own picnic basket and enjoy our night.

We are after donations of drinks, lollies, chocolates, chips etc. as prizes for the stalls. Your help would be greatly appreciated.

Year Grade Stalls

Art department is holding a cent auction.

This is our major fundraiser for the year plus it will be a lot of fun so PLEASE, PLEASE support us.

Ange and Sally – Tuckshop Convenors

CLASSROOM CAPERS – 4 LIME

Here we are at the end of Term 3! As we marvel at how quickly this year is going we look at our class and see how much they have grown. They have worked so hard this year and have had many experiences. Including the recent Science Factory visit where they got to use and play with a green screen, virtual reality roller coasters and the programming of robots.

This term we have been reading Traditional stories from around the world. We investigated the morals of the stories, how the characters were represented and what were the consequences for the characters because of their actions. In Science we have been looking at the properties of materials and discussing the impact of their different rates of biodegradability.

We wish you a safe and happy holiday and can’t wait for our new adventures with 4 Lime in Term 4.

A WORD FROM OUR GUIDANCE OFFICER

Respecting Self, Respecting Others

Joy Wheeler – Guidance Officer

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAPLAIN

Sibling Course

A course for children who don’t have disabilities and who have a brother or sister with a disability

Factsheet on being a Carer

Holiday Day Camp

I hope everyone has a safe and fun break. See you Term 4...

Chappy Rusty

COMMUNITY NEWS

“This is a service provided when space permits. The school acts solely as a messenger and is not actually recommending any activities advertised”

CENTACARE HOLIDAY PROGRAM

A course for children adjusting to family life after parental separation

UPCOMING EVENTS