Volume 11 -  30th June 2005
Week 9 .... Term 2

Ph: 8381 7166
Fax: 8381 6041

Email:
hvsadmin@happyvalley.sa.edu.au

Website:
www.happyvalley.sa.edu.au

Inside this issue............
National Safe Schools Framework, School Uniform, Obstacle-athon, Assemblies, Bethsalem, Kooka Council, Fundraising, LAP, Edible Garden, Principal's Awards, Second Hand Book Sale, SAPSASA, Kooka Cafe, Chess, Parent Club, Chandlers Hill Kindergarten, Edible Garden Mural, Sport, OSHC, Community News, Tear Off Slip.

You have no doubt heard through the media that the Australian Education Union has been involved in negotiating a new Enterprise Agreement with the Education Department, for school staff.

In support of these negotiations, next week on the morning of Tuesday 5^th July, Australian Education Union members at our school will be taking stop work action. Most teaching staff will stop work from the beginning of the day until 12.15pm. The school will not be able to provide normal supervision of students or adequate duty of care.

From 12.15 pm staff will be on duty and the normal school program will begin, including a lunch break. There will be no canteen lunch orders available on that day.

The school will not offer a program of work and students should be kept home, or alternative arrangements made for their care, for example Out of School Hours Care.

Where parents cannot make alternative arrangements, they must advise the Principal on the form at the end of the newsletter by Friday 1^st July, that their child will be at school on the morning of the industrial action.

The situation is still quite fluid and could change at any time. We will inform parents by special news sheet if there are any changes to this information before Tuesday.

'Healthy eating is fundamental to good health throughout life for all people. It underpins healthy growth and development, contributes to health and well-being, positive mental health and quality of life, and plays a role in preventing disease and disability.

Internationally, concern about growing levels of chronic disease has prompted the World Health Organisation (WHO) to announce, in May 2004, a global strategy on diet, physical activity and health. This reflects evidence for the relationship between diet and the prevention of chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, dental disease, obesity and osteoporosis.

Overall, for good health, school-aged children need to drink plenty of water and eat plenty of fruit, vegetables, legumes and cereals; adequate amounts of lean meat and low fat milk products; and, importantly, choose foods containing less fat, less saturated fat, less sugar and less salt.

Children and adolescents with appropriate nutrition have improved cognitive development, attention span, work capacity, classroom behaviour, and attendance at school and preschool. Establishing healthy eating patterns at a young age provides a critical foundation for good eating patterns in adult life with health, social and financial benefits to individuals, families and society.'  (Source: Eat Well SA schools and preschools healthy eating guidelines/DECS)

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At our school, we are exploring ways to improve the healthy food knowledge of families, and the diet of our students, so that everyone enjoys good health. A group called the 'Healthy Eating Committee' has been formed and their first task is to work with the Canteen Committee to review the menu and the food offered through the school canteen.
 

Student ordering a lunch snack from Helen King in the Canteen.
 

Tegan enjoying her Spaghetti Bolognaise bake ordered from the School Canteen.

There are lots of great things happening in our school already to encourage students to eat healthy. We're going to add to them and make them even better!

If you want to know more about Government strategies for improving healthy eating in schools, go to the website -- www.decs.sa.gov.au/speced/pages/default/eatwellsa
 

Timothy, Dylan, Sarah and Taylah looking forward to their healthy lunch.

In an earlier newsletter this year (March 17^th), I wrote about the National Coalition Against Bullying conference that was attended by two of our staff.  In that article I alluded to the development of the National Safe Schools Framework (NSSF).  In 2003 all Australian Education Ministers agreed to the implementation of a NSSF.  The key message of the Framework is to ensure that all Australian Schools work towards creating a safe and supportive learning environment addressing issues of bullying, harassment, violence, child abuse and neglect and providing support where these issues continue to occur.

The six elements contained within the framework are:

• Examining school values, ethos, culture, structures and student welfare
• Establishing agreed policies, programmes and procedures
• Providing education and training for school staff, students & parents / caregivers
• Managing incidents of abuse and victimisation
• Providing support for students
• Working closely with parents

At Happy Valley a keen group of parents is going to begin the process of examining this document in the light of our school culture and policies.  If anyone else would like to join the group please let me know.  Staff and students will also be involved in the program.

The initial step is to conduct audits of the six elements. 
Incidents of overt bullying can be more easily recognised and dealt with than the frequent, but unreported, incidents of covert (silent) bullying. The process involves defining bullying and conducting a bully audit where students complete a survey indicating where, when and by whom they have been bullied.  The results of the survey will enable us to identify and counsel the bullies as well as provide support and strategies for the victims.  The role of bystanders in bully situations will also be addressed as part of the program.  The Bully Audit will take place before the end of term or early next term. In other schools where Bully Audits have been conducted on an ongoing basis they have been successful and there has been a noticeable reduction in bullying.

Barb Williams

Students have been reminded of the correct school uniform -- mainly clothing in green, gold and black, with no coloured scarves or headbands during the school day. The only jewellery to be worn is sleepers and studs, and no nail polish.

We ask for support from parents, so that when students leave for school they are correctly attired for the day. If a child cannot wear the correct uniform on a day, we expect a note from a parent with a suitable reason.

For parents who wish to know the complete details of our uniform,  a  uniform  policy  is  available  from  the  front  desk

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at the school. The uniform room is open on Wednesday afternoons from 3.00 -- 3.30pm and Friday mornings from 8.30 -- 9.30am to support parents to dress their children in the correct school uniform.

Just a reminder that Scott Francis, with the support of our Fundraising subcommittee, is organising our Obstacle-athon for next week, Week 10.

When:              Monday July 4^th -- all R-2 classes
                        Tuesday July 5^th -- Year 3 -- 7 classes.
Where:             In the School Hall

Children have been asked to find sponsors for the Obstacle-athon. We are still looking for parent helpers for Junior Primary classes on Monday. Please let your child's class teacher know if you are able to help.

There will be a small prize for all children who raise more than $10. The main prizes will be vouchers from Westfield Marion for those who raise the most money, one for Junior Primary and one for Primary. Sponsor forms were sent home last week. Please make sure that your child brings his/her sponsor form on the day so that the number of laps can be written on the form after the children have completed their session.

There will be no assemblies in the Hall on Tuesday in Week 10, due to the Obstacle-athon, which will necessitate the use of the Hall on both Monday and Tuesday. Junior Primary classes will have their assembly at 2.30 in the Long Room. There will be a whole school assembly on the last day of term, Friday July 8^th, at 11.00am in the Hall.

The choir, Ms Williams and Mrs Bennett, our accompanist, went to the Bethsalem Retirement Village next door to the school, and sang seven songs.  One of the songs had sign language, which was really helpful to Ralph.
 

Soloists
The soloists were Kristi Snares, Louise Jesshope and Nadia Porter.  A couple of weeks ago they went to a Reconciliation Day Concert to sing a song called ‘We Are One’.  Also a teacher came to our school to give our choir an assessment to see if we could get into the Festival of Music.  We got an A+.  Yesterday Jordan and Amelia each played piano solos that were very good.

The People
After we had finished singing we went to talk to the people that lived there.  It was very nice to be able to ask them questions and know what they’re like.

 Brittany Widdall and Caleb Chudleigh.

Message from Mrs Eime

String students who are playing with the Primary Schools String Orchestra who will be performing at school on Wednesday July 6^th are reminded to bring their violins that day as well as the music for Andante.

Classes from the school and violin students from surrounding schools will be attending a concert at 11:00am

Earlier this year, all classes decided to make a "Backpack of Love" to aid victims of the Boxing Day Tsunami. Each class now has its backpack, which they are planning to fill. Classes will choose a boy or girl, of a specific age, to whom their backpack will be sent. They will then be asking for help to collect items for the packs, from a list of categories provided by SAFM. Please send only new items. We ask for your support in this Kooka Council initiative.

Many thanks, Judy Davies

The Fundraising Subcommittee would like to say a huge thankyou to all families who supported our Quiz Night, either by donations of prizes or by coming along to support us. We are still checking how much money we made for the night but it will be over $1000. There were many wonderful prizes to be won on the night and we believe that all those who attended had a great time.

We were finally able to draw the winning numbers for our Lucky Football Squares on Saturday night during the evening. The winners were:

Sean Bache -- Autographed Crows Football in glass case
Joan Baker -- Signed Port Power Poster
Many thanks to all those people who bought numbers for the competition.

Fundraising Subcommittee

Our Learning Assistance Program has been quietly continuing to support our students.  Our seven volunteers are helping nine students.  This help ranges from Numeracy and Language to extending students with projects they have an interest in.

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Over the last few weeks, Sue Hammond has been helping Austin Gordon (pictured below) with a project.  The class had been looking at Australian Animals and Birds and Austin was keen to make a papier-mache model of a Galah.  The completed model is fantastic, completed with a feather that floated across the wet area floor just at the right time to be added in the right place!

Austin with his LAP parent Sue holding his Galah.

We still have the need for more LAP volunteers.  If you have the slightest interest and would like some more information please ask at the front office, or catch up with me.

Sandie Sherriff and Mitchell S have also been making birds but this time Seagulls with Origami

Wendy Nicolle   

Produce from the Edible Garden has been picked this week and used in classes to reinforce Healthy Eating.  Mr Mueller's class used their carrots and lettuce from their plot to put in their wraps and Mrs Nicholson's class put their broccoli in the macaroni cheese dish.  Thank you to parents Judy Hardwick in Mr Mueller's class and Michelle Rowe in Mrs Nicholson's class.

Timothy and Dylan serving up the Macaroni Cheese dish.

Elise and Josh making their wraps.

Congratulations to the following students who have received Principal's Awards at the last Primary Assembly, for demonstrating our school values.  They are -- Jesse Hommelhoff, Zacharia Hamilton, Ashleigh Paterson, Mitchell McDonald, Travis Kreslin, Meghan McLean, Nazanin Maghsoodi, Kristi Snares, Luke Szeitz, Daniel Moore, Rebecca Jutilane-Maynard, Josh Blanks, James Brown, Elizabeth Clavell, Taylah Low, Jack Price, Karlia Vinall, Alex Andrews, Kate Skinner, Renae Stark, Justin Szeitz and Nathan Brown.

               Thursday 7^th July and Friday 8^th July
20c book sale of second hand fiction and non-fiction books at the Library at lunchtime.

Please note:  The Resource Centre is no longer able to accept batteries for recycling.

On Friday June 24^th, ten students competed in the annual SAPSASA cross-country run at Victoria Park Racecourse. The conditions for the event were excellent with a clear day and a reasonably challenging track that ran through a pleasant parkland environment (not that the runners noticed).

The Happy Valley runners competed either in division two or three events and faced some very talented opposition. To the credit of our students they performed very well and can each be proud of their efforts. Three of our runners had top ten finishes with two receiving medals. Congratulations to Leah Wright for winning her event and receiving a gold medal, to Ben Richardson for placing third in the 11 year old boys race and receiving a bronze medal and to Alexandra Wilson for a sixth place in her event.

Special congratulations must go to all of the runners who came to school early each Monday, Tuesday and  Thursday  mornings

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since the start of term two to participate in training runs. They certainly were a dedicated group.

A big thank you must also go to the group of mums, dads and grandparents who supported the runners throughout their training and on the day of the event.

Kieren Smith competing in the SAPSASA Cross Country Day

Our runners were:

• Lunches will be available on the last day of term but due to limited stocks please make two choices for hot food and milk.
• There will be a few new food items I will be introducing to students to try, so if the hot dog tastes a little different or cakes etc. it will be because they are Gluten Free, Fat Free, Salt Free etc.

VOLUNTEER ROSTER
Mon. 4 July      
Tues. 5 July
Wed. 6 July                    Kylie Rawson
Thur. 7 July                    Julie Day
Frid. 8 July
Mon. 25 July
Tues. 26 July
Wed. 27 July
Thur. 28 July                  Julie Day
Frid. 29 July                   Robyn Draper

Have a safe and great holiday.

Helen King

The competition is heating up with all of our teams doing very well in the most even season we can remember.

Both of our junior sides scored victories in Round 3, keeping their medal chances alive.

Our seniors went down two games to three, but it could have so easily been four to one our way!

Congratulations to Scott Goldfinch who scored a great victory for the seniors and team mate Scott Paterson, who is undefeated.

Good luck for the rest of the season!

What:    Round 4
When:   Tuesday July 5^th
                 Juniors to be seated by 6.15pm
             Seniors 7.15pm
Where:  Woodcroft College.

Mark and Yvonne Smith Coordinators 0411-202010

Thanks to everyone who ordered from our Kyton's Pie/Lamington Drive.  Once again it was very successful.  If you have not picked up your order yet, please go to the front office.

We are doing the Custom Design Tea Towels in Term 3.  Please look in the front office window from next week for an example.  They can be pre-ordered or purchased at the Gala Day in Term 4.  Order forms will be sent out early in Term 3.  Get in early or you may miss out.  Perfect gift idea for grandparents, Christmas and Year 7's that will be leaving the school.

Our next meeting is Wednesday 6^th July in the Long Room at 9.00am.  See you there for a cuppa.

Nyree Haese -- Secretary

Would you like information about the preschool education programme offered for 4-year-old children at this kindergarten?

Is your young child aged 2 and a half years or over?  This is a good time to speak to the staff if you are thinking of enrolling your child at this centre.

Please phone 8381 7493 or call into the kindergarten to collect a brochure.

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As some of you are already aware, I am currently working on completing the mural for the Edible Garden.  It's been a long process and many children and some parents and staff have helped along the way.  If any other parents are interested, please let me know through the front office.  I welcome anyone to come in for a chat or to see the progress of the mural.  I'm in Unit 4, Room 15.

During the holidays myself and some other artists will be teaching some various Art mediums for children 8 and over.  Programs are available from the office and bookings are essential.  The classes are held at Red Poles, a wonderful new gallery, B & B, Cafe and Workshop in McLaren Vale.   Red Poles Tel. 8323 8994

Debby Haskard-Strauss -- Artist in Residence

Netball
The Saturday morning netball is continuing to be quite successful.  Although we haven't had any wins yet, we did shoot 22 goals to Belair's 37 last Saturday.  Players are improving each game we play, their passes get stronger, and positioning on the court is much better as the girls' confidence increases.  Thank you again to the parents for being so supportive. 

Good luck girls for the second half of the season

Thank you to all the families for your support and encouragement during our recent Quality Assurance Validation.

AUSTRALIAN RED CROSS -- Preliminary First Aid Course -- July School Holidays for young people between 1 and 15 years of age.  Check the notice board for more information.

AUSTRALIAN CHILDHOOD FOUNDATION Raising Happy and Confident Kids.  A seminar for parents by Michael Grose.  More information available on the notice board or register on line at www.kidscount.com.au

CROWS BLUE LIGHT DISCO -- "The Crows Shed" West Lakes on Thurs. 14^th July 7.30 -- 10.30pnm. Doors open at 7.00pm.  10 -- 17 years (no person under 10 or over 17 will gain entry).  $10 per ticket plus Bass Booking Fee.  The night features:  All the players from the Adelaide Crows and Ryan Fitzgerald from Nova will be the MC/DJ.  See noticeboard for more information or phone 8207 6318.

BLUE DOLPHIN HOLIDAY SWIM PROGRAM 18^th -- 22^nd July 5 x 1/2 hour classes from 4 children per class $54.  Ph. 8322 6566.

Student Name(s):         _____________________________________________

                                      _____________________________________________

                                      _____________________________________________

My child/children will be at school on the morning of Tuesday 5^th July and will be supervised by any staff who are available.

Parent Name: _____________________  Parent Signature:  _________________
 

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