School Newsletter
17 May 2017
From the Principal
Streets and Lanes Festival
It was fantastic to watch the Mount Hawthorn Hummers perform at the recent Street Festival. The quality of the performance and the enthusiastic buzz generated by Mrs Hardman was infectious. The amount of ex-students who watched the performance was also an indication of the success of our music program at the school.
Mrs Edmiston also had a significant contribution with a colourful display of umbrellas decorated by students during art class. For me it was an opportunity to catch up with many students and families from previous years who promised me they would be back for the Fair.
We have also commenced Interschool sport for our Year 6 students which lead into the lightning carnival in the last week of the term. Hopefully the form of our teams can replicate the sensational last 20 seconds of the mighty Dockers last weekend.
Parent Liaison Meetings
The meetings have been scheduled for next Wednesday and will follow a similar line to the past few years with briefing points in the following newsletter. Importantly it is a chance for me to discuss school planning, listen and clarify processes and policies.
Communication Charter
I am very supportive of the Communications Charter which was put in place in my absence and distributed last Term.
Semester 2 Reports
We are looking at the possibility of sending out reports electronically at the end of this term with further updates sent out throughout the term. I understand this may not suit all family contexts and we will cater for individual needs where possible.
A starting point is to ensure the email addresses provided with the student update forms sent home last term are correct. If you did not return the form or have changed your details please email Marjorie.Commijs@education.wa.edu.au
Our Gardener
If you s
ee David out and about give him a big thumbs up as it has been fantastic to come back to a Gardener with an amazing work ethic and a can do attitude.
Library News
Our new library shelving continues to delight us in the way it creates a circle that embraces each class with stories and colour. Interestingly, its design is so clever that it has created much more usable floor space in our library, which is something that we greatly value in our growing school. With all our shelving now on wheels, there are infinite possibilities as to what can be done in the space.
Thank you to the P&C for the generous donation that made the purchase possible. It is something that the whole school will be able to enjoy for years to come.
We also wish to thank Shoni and the Von Nida family for their donation of colourful mats to provide pizazz for our Alfresco Library. The students enjoy relaxing in comfort, browsing books during breaks.
The Art of Reading
We hear from the teachers that you are keen for your children to extend themselves as readers. This is fantastic and it is our goal as well as yours. Reading is a gateway to new places, an escape from old places, it fosters the curiosity all our kids need to keep exploring our extraordinary world. We know that good readers are stronger students. We also know that the art of reading is one which requires perseverance and encouragement. Most of all we know that children learn from what we do, more than what we say, so we encourage you all to read, to be seen reading and to talk about what you are reading. Ask your child to retell their most recent story. It is important that we build their confidence as storytellers as well as readers.
Students borrow library books during their library class one day per week but we encourage anyone who is keen to come in before or after school to change their book for something new. A week can sometimes be too long to wait for your next adventure. Parents are welcome to come in with their child to help them choose a book or to ask for our assistance in redirecting them to something new and fresh. We love meeting parents and teaching our student borrowers how to self-scan their way to reading success.
Just a reminder that ALL students from Pre-primary to Year 6 require a library bag/plastic bag to borrow a book. This ensures protection for library books whilst they are in students’ school bags.
Madeleine Galbraith and Julie Kelly
Book Club Orders
Please note that all Book Club orders are now to be completed on-line. The instructions for completing on-line ordering can be found on the back page of the Book Club catalogue and is called SCHOLASTIC Book Club LOOP.
What on Earth got into the Junior Block?
You may have noticed some white footprints in our building earlier this month. This was the exciting hook to our Year 1 Talk 4 Writing unit on Possum Magic by Mem Fox. Students have had so much fun (and laughter) learning the story map and innovating the text to create our own version of the story, Mermaid Magic!! It has been an exciting adventure with many of the classes experiencing Talk 4 Writing for the first time. We have learnt important features of a short narrative and are now very busy writing them in our books. Feel free to come by and take a look at our journey.
Year 1 Classes
Important Dates for Term 2
- Tuesday, 23 MayFaction Cross-Country Years 3 to 6
- Wednesday 24 MaySchool Board and Parent Liaison Meetings
- Friday, 2 JuneSchool Development Day (students do not attend)
- Wednesday, 21 JuneInterschool Cross Country (Year 3 to 6 selected students)
From the P&C
FATHERING PROJECT – 7.00pm Thursday, 8 June 2017 in the Harbeck Library
P&C committee member Steve McQuillan with a Fathering Project schools coordinator will be officially launching the fathering group with the (working title) ‘MH Dadios’.
Steve has fellow committee members Dan Loden and Chris Gwynne, Cam Knapton, Andrew Jones, and Justin Bird as “Champion Dads” along with Year 1 teacher Elishia Vearing as our much appreciated school liaison support.
All school fathers and father figures from Kindy to Year 6 are invited for an easy going information night with a bite to eat and drink and the beginning of a rewarding journey begins. Steve encourages all those Dads to start a journey of enjoying special ‘Dad time’ and experiences with our kids.
Steve is encouraging Dads and fathers figures to come and hear about this brilliant initiative. Oh, and mums can encourage them too! For more information email mhpspc@gmail.com
Entertainment Books
Entertainment Books will be on sale at this Friday’s Assembly or you can pay for a digital membership.
Safety House Returns
Julia Wilcox has joined the P&C’s safety committee and taken on the role of Safety House co-ordinator. The Safety House program is a valuable part of our community and we would love to see the number of Safety Houses in Mount Hawthorn increase.
The majority of children who use Safety Houses do so because of bullying from other children and although, to date, no Safety Houses in Mount Hawthorn have ever been called upon, often just seeing the Safety House signs on letterboxes around the neighbourhood is enough to make children feel safer.
Applying for and being a Safety House is very simple and you don’t need to have someone at home every day. Julia can provide you with and talk you through the application, so please email her for more information mhpspc.safetyhouse@gmail.com
School Oval – Stage 2
Thanks to the generosity of our local member John Carey, we have funds to complete the Oval works (known as Oval Stage 2). This includes the long jump pit, rebound wall, artificial turf and high ball fences.
Expertise Needed
Any parents who are landscapers, builders, trades, handymen or project managers please contact Chris Gwynne cgwynne@iinet.net.au if you can help the Grounds Committee.
Primary Teacher Units
These will be purchased for the school with the $4000 raised at the Election Day and the school will top up to purchase nine units. These units support the Teach 4 Writing program and assist the use of other areas outside the classroom as a workable teaching space.
COMMUNITY FAIR – Saturday 28 October 2017
Class Fair Representatives – You should have received your “Fair Stall” forms via email. Please complete and return to mhpspc.fair@gmail.com by Friday, 26 May 2017 (open the PDF, type the information in and click the email button to send it back in).
We have a fair website https://mthawthorncommunityfair.com/ which is a work in progress.
The “Contacts” page introduces the MHPS Community fair committee. Note that the email address for all queries and committee members is mhpspc.fair@gmail.com
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