School Newsletter – 21 October 2015

Principal’s Message

Last Monday, our three School Basketball Association Cup teams had the privilege of some expert coaching from Basketball WA. All of the students were exposed to a variety of drills and skills to enhance their development for the upcoming Association Cup on Monday, 9 November.

FOURTH TERM
The sounds of fourth term start with the very popular Edudance Program and our Open Morning this Thursday, and culminate in the Year 6 Graduation, which will be held in the evening over at the community hall this year. The Year 6 students have continued the tradition of strong student leadership and will have many opportunities to enjoy their last term at Mount Hawthorn Primary School.
Shari McKeown and her team have done an amazing job planning the Fair, which is a great opportunity to catch up with many ex-members of the school community, and introduce new families to the school.
Planning for 2016 has commenced with curriculum planning, staffing, class placements and facilities being the focus of the Admin Team. As in previous years, staff members work within the guidelines of the Class Placement Policy and class structures will not be confirmed until later in the term or early in 2016. To accommodate the planning process, we really do need to know if families are moving at the end of the year.
The School Open Morning this Thursday has been organised for parents to have a look through their children’s work and to talk with their children about their learning journey. It is also an opportunity for the school to thank all our volunteers, who are an integral part of our school community.
I get a little tired just looking at the Upcoming Events on the website with all the activities planned for the term, however the sun is shining and our students are still smiling and importantly, are being exposed to a wide range of learning opportunities.
P&C

The school has always had a strong P&C, which has been integral in supporting the future planning and also raising funds for resources around the school. The P&C oversee the canteen and uniform shop, which are the envy of many schools and only exist because of the efforts of the organisers.

2016 will see many of the existing P&C Committee leaving, and we need new parents to step up and commit their expertise and time. It also provides an opportunity to change the format and timing of future meetings, to accommodate the changing needs of busy working families.

If you are free next Monday evening, it would be great to see as many new parents as we can attend the P&C Meeting at 7.30pm in the library, and I promise not to sign you up just for turning up!

PRE-PRIMARY NATURE PLAY
Thanks to Beaver Tree Services for donating the logs and Wes Brumley and Amanda Shackles, who created the new sensory play space at Pre-primary. The children are enjoying the space and it looks wonderful!

PRE-PRIMARY TERRARIUMS
The Friendly Bunnings Team came to Room 18 this week to help the Pre-Primary Students get ready for our school Fair. With the support and kind donations from Katie Atkinson from Bunnings Homebase Subiaco, we have started making ornaments to go in our terrariums. In our next workshop we will paint the ornaments and add them to our garden creations. Look out for them at our School Community Fair!
VACSWIM 2015-16
Enrolments for December/January programs are now open. Information about the programs has been sent home to every family. Further information and online enrolment.
SCHOOL PHOTOS
Following our recent school photography by Kapture, you can now view and order any sports and / or special photos taken on the day. When visiting www.kapture.com.au you will need to enter our school code to access the gallery – Code: 4TPA63

From the P&C

P&C General Meeting – Monday, 26 October 7:30pm in the Harbeck Library
Calling all members of the P&C and any interested parents to attend our next general meeting. The meetings are always lively, provide great insights into what the P&C is doing and planning for the school community and gives everyone an opportunity to have their say. Membership is only $1! Come along and be active in your school’s P&C!
Uniform Shop
The Uniform Shop will be popping up at Margaret Kindy with uniform samples for Kindy kids planning on coming to Pre-primary in 2016. Kindy parents, PLEASE get your orders in by Friday, 4 December, so we can deliver back to your child’s Kindy class by the end of term. We are available for advice via email to mhps.uniforms@gmail.com
Year 5 parents, please get your Year 6 Leader Shirts orders in by Monday, 30 November. Information sheets with order forms were sent home on the last day of Term 3. Contact us if you need another copy.
Menzies parents – please email us to be part of an exciting trial of a new faction polo fabric which promises better stain recovery. We need children who take a size 8 and parents willing to provide detailed feedback on the washability and suitability of the shirt.
Unfortunately with the dropping $AUD, prices have had to rise on some of our uniform items. The new prices are available from the Order Form on the school’s website.
The Uniform Shop is still gratefully accepting donations of washed second-hand uniform items in good condition. Please leave donations in a labelled bag at the front office, or drop them to us at the Shop.
Great Aussie Camp Out
On Sunday, 11 October an intrepid group of parents and children pitched camp on the oval and prepared to spend the night under the stars, listening to the calls of the local wildlife and enjoying Mother Nature! Some families have the camping thing down pat, for others it was a fun and challenging time getting the tent up and keeping it up! The kids had a fabulous time, ‘sans technology’, enjoying the recreation facilities on site. The morning was welcomed with a hearty cooked breakfast by our P&C President Tim Swart and his helpers and a great time was had by all. Hope to see you join in next year!

Patrick from Year 6, front and centre, with past and present students of Mount Hawthorn Primary School supporting the ‘Outdoors October’ Great Aussie Camp Out Event. It was a lovely evening and a great brekkie thanks to Ian Pickens manning the BBQ in the background.

Fair News

Only 3 weeks to go!! Mount Hawthorn Community Fair – Saturday, 7 November 12 – 6pm. Visit our webpage to keep up to date with how the Fair is coming to life.  See who our valued sponsors are, what stalls we have. Like us on Facebook and you will keep up to date with what we are planning. Bumper stickers are available from the admin office if you haven’t already got one.

Donations Needed for the following stalls:
Please leave your donation in the collection boxes at The Harbeck Centre.
THE TOY BOX – good quality toys and gifts
LEMONADE – Lemons for Kindy Purple lemonade stall

Fair Roster – There are some extra jobs Shari needs help with, before the Fair, at the Fair and after.  Please look at this task list and help if you can.

City of Vincent – Residents are invited to a Community Safety Forum on Monday, 26 October at 2015.

John Curtin College of the Arts – Open Day Tuesday, 27 October.

Sacred Heart Primary School Fete – Sunday, 25 October in Highgate 10.00am to 3.00pm.