Nicholas McNeilage – ANZAC Award 2016

Dear parents

Welcome back to Term 2. Another big term of events and learning that will conclude with the Semester 1 reports. I have been in the role of Acting Principal while Miss Selley is on long service leave until Week 4 and it has been a busy but rewarding time. I usually spend most of my role with the Early Years classrooms, but I have enjoyed interacting with the older years and collaborating with the whole staff, parent and community members on a different level.
The term started positively with the parent interviews. It was great to see so many parents commit to the meetings and teachers found it valuable. I would like to thank the teachers, many who came in early in the day to start planning for Term 2, for enduring a long day and preparing for the process. If you missed the opportunity for an interview you can negotiate another time with the class teacher. The school will review the timing and format of the Interview Days and will seek feedback from the school community through Liaison Parents.
Our virtue for the coming weeks is courtesy and it is my belief that the students at MHPS do this very well. I am always greeted politely and with a smile by the students as I move around the school. It was also lovely to get so many greetings and smiles at the Laneways Festival on Sunday. A reality check for any school is to see the environment reflected in the students and I am constantly reassured through the positive, smiling and happy faces I see daily. I love the stories, the sharing and the smiles!!!

TREE LOPPING

We recognise there have been some questions about two of the playground trees and their removal over the holidays. We have regular site visits and audits from Building Works and Maintenance to ensure our site is safe and healthy and this includes tree audits. The peppermint tree in the Junior/ESC playground had developed severe stress fractures and hollowing that was deemed unpredictable and potentially dangerous. The large tree in the “Pirate Cove” was dying on one half and any pruning would unbalance the tree and prove dangerous. As both trees are in our highly utilised playgrounds they were removed. The stump remaining will comply with height restrictions and planned to be integrated into the existing playground. Room 14 has already put on their thinking caps and come up with a list of great ideas of how to change the stump. A unicorn house, fort and cubby house were some of the great suggestions.  Lorena Rock, Acting Principal

ANZAC CEREMONIES

On Friday 8^th April the school held its annual ANZAC Ceremony in front of the wall that is now decorated with three Gallipoli veteran medals, a large poppy and a map of the WW1 war zones. This memorial is dedicated to remembering all Australians who have served their country in the armed forces during wars. The funding for the memorial was gained through a grant the school received in 2015.
Twenty nine students including a student from the Education Support Centre, and the six Student Councillors respectfully laid small wreaths on the memorial. Thank you to Annabelle’s mum, Ms Ahern for assisting the Student Councillors to make the wreaths.

The choir sang “ANZAC Cottage”, a song specially written by James Blundell for the centenary of ANZAC Cottage. Two  parents, Mr Wes Brumley, a former Warrant Officer, and Corporal Dunne from the Special Air Services and Commander Spencer from the Mount Hawthorn RSL addressed the ceremony. Rochelle Phipps, one of our parents, played the bugle.

At the conclusion of the ceremony Mrs Anne Chapple, from ANZAC Cottage presented Nicholas McNeilage from Year 6 with the very prestigious 2016 ANZAC Award.
On ANZAC Day Mr Mackesey accompanied our Student Councillors to the Mount Hawthorn Community ANZAC Ceremony. These students laid two wreaths on behalf of the school community.
Bronwen Mears,  Associate Principal

MATLOCK STREET CROSSWALK

The Deputy Premier and Eleni Evangel meet with P&C and Schools Board representatives to talk crosswalks.

The Deputy Premier, The Hon. Liza Harvey (who is also Minister for Police and Road Safety) visited the campus this morning to meet with P&C and Schools Board representatives about the proposed crosswalk on Matlock Street.  P&C Vice President and Safety Committee representative Tracy Denham briefed the Deputy Premier on the work that Karen Sheilds has been doing on this important issue.  The pedestrian / car surveys that have been completed show that there is considerable vehicle traffic on Matlock Street both morning and afternoon but that pedestrian numbers (whilst high in the mornings) fall off in the afternoon.  This suggests that whereas lots of parent’s surveys walk their kids to school in the mornings, pickups are more common in the afternoon and some kids use the OSCA service.  The numbers mean that we don’t yet qualify for an “A” class crosswalk (where the Government pays for the attendant).  However, we do qualify for a “B” class crosswalk which is staffed by volunteers.  In a nutshell, the Deputy Premier has suggested that we apply for “B” category crosswalks near both the Killarney and Woodstock Street intersections with Matlock Street.  Once the crosswalk is installed and actively used, it will be possible to reapply for an “A” class crosswalk.  The Deputy Premier praised the work already undertaken by the City of Vincent (i.e.: the bollards around the Matlock Street / Woodstock Street intersection) and was told that further “traffic calming” strategies (i.e.: raised platform) to try to ensure vehicle speeds are moderated along Matlock Street itself.  All in all it was a very productive meeting.  Thanks go to our local member Eleni Evangel, MLA for arranging the Deputy Premier’s visit.  The work done on this issue by Karen Sheilds has been outstanding – and she is to be congratulated for taking the lead on this important safety issue. Michael Jenkin, School Board Chair

COMPUTER CLUB

The Computer Club is a weekly, after school computer coding group for children in Years 3 and 4 at Mount Hawthorn Primary School. Each week a new skill will be taught using the free online coding language ‘Scratch’. Children will learn how to program their own interactive stories, games, and animations — and share their creations with others. Click HERE for more information.

TERM ACCOUNTS

Term Accounts will be sent home with students this week and your prompt payment for these activities is appreciated. We still have a number of families who have not made payment for the Voluntary School and P&C Contributions.  Payment of these contributions allows us to provide the excellent range of learning programs available to students at our school.  We are happy to accept payment via credit card (Visa or Mastercard), cash or cheque at the school office.

FACTION CROSS COUNTRY

On Tuesday 31^st May, all students in Years 3 to 6 will take part in this event at Menzies Park from 12.45pm to 3.00pm. Students will walk to and from Menzies Park in their class groups and must be collected from school.  No students will be allowed to leave the event with their parents. From the results of the School Cross Country, an Interschool Team will be selected for The Interschool Cross Country Carnival organised by City Beach Primary on Wednesday 22^nd June 2016.
Interschool selection is solely based on the results from the carnival and it is school policy that students that are injured or ill will be taken into consideration. Interschool Selection Policy
Trackstars
In preparation for this year’s Cross Country events; we have secured the assistance of Raf Baugh who is running the before school TRACKSTARS program. We would like to offer students in Years 3 to 6 the opportunity to train in preparation for the school and interschool carnivals. Follow links for further information and to SIGN UP  – 3 spots left at Mount Hawthorn on Mondays at 7.30am – STARTS NEXT WEEK. Sue Kenny and Anita Putt, Physical Education Teachers

PROTECTIVE BEHAVIOURS

Protective Behaviours for Pre-primary, Year 3 and 5 will begin in term 2 with Ali Fisher from “Keeping US Safe” (other Year groups have refresher lessons during the year). Protective Behaviours is a preventative program that teaches safety and empowerment. It is a simple problem-solving program, which enables people of all ages to develop strategies to use in unsafe situations. These are skills that your child will carry with them for the rest of their lives and that your child will be able to draw upon should the need arise.

ITALIAN NEWS – WELCOME FEDERICA!

After a busy Term 1 of gelato fun and Lego Leaning Tower of Pisa construction, students have excitedly welcomed our Language Assistant, Federica Tagliabue.

Federica has just recently completed a psychology degree from the Università Cattolica di Milano and is at Mount Hawthorn Primary School for all of Term 2 to experience school life and Australian culture. Federica will be working closely with the Year 3 to 6 students, assisting them with their conversational skills in small groups. She will also be creating native speaker resources which will develop the students’ fluency and confidence.

It is great timing for the Year 6 students as Federica will be preparing them for their Siena’s Ristorante experience which is taking place on Wednesday 11^th May. Watch this space for photos!
A “grande” thank you to the Teo family who are hosting Federica in the first half of her stay. Syrah, Issy and family have made Federica feel extremely welcomed and have been informative guides of all the Perth attractions. The Wood family are hosting Federica in the latter part of the term and are looking forward to spending time with her. If you would like to know more about the Language Assistant Program, please email me at anne.monisse@education.wa.edu.au Signora Monisse, Italian Teacher

IMPORTANT DATES

For the very latest information on coming events please check the School Website.

10th, 11th and 12th May –  NAPLAN Testing for Years 3 and 5

13th May – Assembly Year 2 Rooms 7 and 11

20th May – Assembly Year 4 Room 34

24th and 25th May – Parent Liaison Meetings

31st May – Faction Cross Country for Years 3 to 6