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With
the end of the school year drawing closer, there will be a number of
farewells to staff and staff changes, as we move into next year.
The
leadership of the school for next year is still uncertain.
Peter
Simmonds,
the appointed Principal for the school, who has taken leave from the
school this year to manage the Technology School of the Future, has not
yet determined whether he will return to the school next year or continue
in this role. We expect that Peter's decision will be known before the
end of the year.
Doug
MacLean,
who accepted the Principal's role this year in Peter's absence, has
accepted an Exchange Teaching position in Dunfermline, Scotland for all of
2006. He will be taking a Year 6 class at the Lynburn Primary School,
refreshing his teaching skills back in the classroom and learning about
the Scottish education system.
Barbara Williams,
who has taken on the role of Primary Head of School this year, will return
to the classroom next year. We thank Barbara for her excellent leadership
in the school as she has filled this role with commitment and energy.
Judy
Davies,
our Junior Head of School, is not leaving, but is continuing in her role
into next year, and is the only known member of the 2006 Leadership team
at this time. We thank Judy for her leadership, commitment and the
stability that she brings to this team.
Our
District Superintendent and the Director of Human Resources in the
Education Department, are both well aware of the uncertainty of the
leadership structure in our school and are working with Governing Council
to make the appointments and the transition into next year as smooth as
possible.
A long
term teacher at our school, D'Arcy Jones, completes his ten year
tenure at the end of this year and will transfer to another school. D'Arcy
has spent his time at Happy Valley working in the Middle School and has
made strong contributions to the ICT programs, the environmental programs,
and the introduction and promotion of the Jason Project for Middle School
students. We thank D'Arcy for his commitment to our school over many
years.
Another long term staff member who will be leaving at the end of this year
is Robyn Langbrandner, an SSO and past parent of the school, who
has worked mainly in supporting the school's curriculum computer system.
With a reduction in SSO hours allocated to the school over recent years,
Robyn's position could not be continued. We sincerely thank Robyn for her
work and support in maintaining our computers. |
Tanya
Morris
will be leaving unexpectedly at the end of this year. We congratulate
Tanya on winning a German teaching appointment at Flinders Park Primary
School next year. We thank her for the way that she has engaged students
in their language study and she will be really missed.
Jim
Graham,
who has become well known to many families over the last two years at our
school, has won a teaching position at the Woodend Primary School from the
beginning of next year. We will all miss Jim's jovial nature and his
sincere and caring approach towards students.
Trudie
Petho,
after being farewelled last year, returned this year and we were very
lucky to have her back. It is time to farewell Trudie again but who knows
what might happen to Trudie next year!
Margaret Neemann, Stephanie Kakoschke
and Mark Inglis have all taken classes in our school this year and
their tenure in the school finishes at the end of the year. We thank them
for their commitment to our school.
Wendy
Galbraith
and
Suzanne Hastwell have all filled SSO support roles in the school this
year and their tenures in their positions finish at the end of this term.
We thank them for their endeavours.
Shorter term vacancies in the Junior Primary School have been filled by
Lynne Davies and Liz Loveday from part way through the year,
and we have valued their involvement with our younger students.
This
represents a quite large change in staff going from this year to next, and
we wish all departing staff the very best as they move on to their new
directions.
At the
end of the year we always lose our wonderful group of Year 7 students as
they move on to the next chapter in their life at high school. We have
appreciated their leadership and commitment to the school over this year,
and their involvement in school life over their primary years. Our Year 7
group will be recognized and congratulated as they graduate on the last
Thursday of term.
There
are other students who will not be returning next year. Lauren Hammond, a
Year 6 student, has taken up the offer of a place in the Ignite program at
Aberfoyle Park High School next year, Alana Yeates will be moving out of
the district and Sume and Lerien Otto will be returning to South Africa.
We wish all these students well as they continue their studies at their
new schools next year. |
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NOTICE OF MATERIALS AND SERVICES CHARGES FOR 2006 |
Attached to this newsletter is a copy of the Materials & Services charges
for 2006 that has been verified by the Chief Executive (or his delegate)
as required by the Education Act 1972, 106A -- Materials and services
charges for curricular activities. (Copies of the Act are available from
Andrea Roberts at the school.)
These
fees were approved at a meeting of the Governing Council on Monday, 14th
November 2005. An additional fee of $35 per student was approved for
school performances/excursions. We want all students to participate in
school activities however, Governing Council has endorsed the policy that
students will not be included in excursions/other performances
until their $35 performance/excursion fee has been paid.
Total of Invoice for fees 2006 = $240.00. Invoices will be sent home at
the end of the year.
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LOTE
Language Study at Happy Valley |
German
has been the language studied by students at Happy Valley for many years,
most recently taught by Frau Morris. Earlier in the year, Governing
Council explored the idea of changing to a more relevant geo-political
language, an Asian language such as Chinese or Japanese. At that time
change was not feasible as Frau Morris had a long term contract to teach
German at our school. However with Tanya's departure at the end of the
year, the discussion by Governing Councillors on changing the language was
reignited. Governing Council has the power to request a change to the
language on behalf of the school community at times like this, and in a
survey of Councillors, Japanese emerged as the most favoured language for
our school from the beginning of next year.
Apart
from the regional significance of studying an Asian language, Governing
Councillors took into account the languages offered at our feeder
High Schools. They are:
Aberfoyle Park High (where most of our graduating students go)
Spanish
German
Chinese
in Year 8 and 9 only at this time
Japanese
from Year 10 only this year
at Year 9 and up in 2006
at Year 8 and up in 2007
Reynella East High German
French
Japanese
Urrbrae No languages offered
Mitcham Girls Indonesian to Year 9
Italian
French
Blackwood High German
French
Japanese
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Woodcroft College German
Japanese
Seaview High French
Indonesian
Japanese
A
timeline of just over one week was all that we had in which to make a
decision, before staffing for next year was to be finalized by the
Education Department. We have therefore requested the appointment of a
teacher of Japanese from the beginning of next year, to lead the change in
direction.
Next
year will be a transition year, where the language program will be heavily
oriented towards studies of the cultures and contexts of the Asian region,
building a setting for the more specialized study of the Japanese language
in future years. Upper Primary students will not be disadvantaged by the
change.
The
Education Department's belief is that the study of any language is
beneficial and it is more the quality of the language learning experience,
and the engagement by students, that ultimately determines the success of
a LOTE program.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DIFFICULTIES WORKSHOP |
Last
week about 20 parents and some staff spent an evening with Ingrid Alderton
and Linda Hale, learning about how we can support students who have
learning difficulties. Apart from learning a lot about learning styles and
finding out some tips to help students learn, parents were able to ask
questions and have a laugh!
The
Education subcommittee thanked our guest presenters at the end of the
night with a small presentation for each facilitator.
This
is just some of the feedback.
"I
found the evening enlightening. It made me realise just how different kids
are, even within one family, in the way they learn and relax or study.
Recently I took up study and I didn't realise how many different
techniques I'd used to help myself. (That is, repeat, repeat, repeat,
acronyms and visualisation.)
I came
away with some new and old ideas to use and I am glad I came to the
session."
"A
very beneficial informative evening -- was very impressed with Ingrid and
Linda, especially the way they explained how people see the same thing in
different ways -- neither way is wrong , just the different way they
learn.
I
should imagine parents benefited from the input of learning strategies
provided. The handouts were very useful and sure to be used along the way.
Useful for parents to get together and realise they are not alone with
their child."
"The
parent workshop was a very worthwhile informative evening. Ingrid and
Linda shared lots from their years of experience. I think everyone
received something useful to take away with them. I am looking forward to
another workshop next year." |
HARDY'S WINE ORDER -- REMINDER -- LAST DAY TO ORDER!
Wine orders need to be at the school by this Friday, December 2nd.
This offer was advertised in the last newsletter. If you would like an
order form, we have some spares at the front office. Due to the fact that
it was necessary to apply for a liquor licence, collection date will be on
Tuesday December 13th between
9.00
-- 4.00pm only. Wine can be collected from the Front Office on that day.
RAFFLE
WINNERS
Our last raffle was drawn at our assembly
earlier this term. With our big build-up to our Gala Day, the committee
inadvertently omitted to advise our community of the lucky winners of the
raffle.
The winners were:
First Prize: The Epsom Printer -- G. Mules
Second Prize: Power Tools -- A. Lawrence
Third Prize: Fishing Tackle Box -- Jake Fauser
The
Fundraising Committee would like to say a huge "Thank you" to everyone who
supported our raffle last term, and we would like to congratulate the
winners.
CHRISTMAS RAFFLE
You may remember that last year, our
Christmas Raffle prizes consisted of baskets assembled by the committee
from donations made by families within the school. The committee believes
that, as we have had so much support from our community, for fundraising
events, such as Gala Day, we did not want to ask families for more
donations. Therefore, for our Christmas raffle, the prizes have been
donated by a number of people within our school community and are
currently being assembled by our committee. Prizes will include two coffee
tables kindly donated by Willow Creek Furniture.
Tickets will be sold on Christmas Night only for $1 each.
Congratulations
to the following students who have received Principal's Awards at the last
Primary Assembly, for demonstrating our school values. They are --
Zacharia Hamilton, Emily Reynolds-Bakker, Brett Evans, Isobel Wakefield,
Adrian Mitic, Scott Vanderham, Paul Ellacott, Mitchell Molnar, Thomas
Foster, Dale Sharrad, Kieran Clarke, Chris Squire, Adrian Veljkovic, Josh
Cryer, Tom Hall, Emma-Faye Nottle, Kristen Murphy, Michael Ross and
Michael Ottewell.
A
reminder that all books are due back by tomorrow Friday 2nd
December. Parents will be invoiced if books are not returned.
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BASKETBALL
Happy
Valley Hawks Year 3/4 Boys
Well done on a great year with only two losses.
It was a pleasure coaching you and I hope you all play again next year.
Jason
Merritt
(Coach)
CONGRATULATIONS TO DAYNA COX.
After
plenty of hard work and training, Dayna has been selected to play in the
Under 13 State Girls SAPSASA Cricket Team, which will verse all the other
states in Cobram/Barooga on the NSW/VIC border in January 2006. We wish
her all the best on her cricketing adventure.
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Tea Towels $10. Come and buy yours from the Bookroom Window.
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The Uniform Room opening hours are Wednesday 3.00 -- 3.30pm and Friday
8.30 -- 9.30am.
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Join us for a cuppa and a chat at our next meeting on Wednesday 7th
December at 9.00am in the Long Room. See you there.
Nyree Haese - Secretary
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During
the next two weeks our stocks will be running low, so as from Monday could
you please make two hot food choices and two drink choices? We will do
our best to cover your order.
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On the
last day of term there will be NO LUNCH ORDERS, only counter sales of
iceblocks etc.
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I
would like to thank all parent volunteers for 2005 and a BIG THANK YOU to
my student helpers who give up their time one or two days a week.
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The
new menu will come out at the end of term with minimal change.
ROSTER
Mon. 5
Dec.
Tues. 6 Dec.
Wed. 7 Dec.
Thur. 8 Dec. Julie Day
Frid. 9 Dec. Glenys Moylan
Mon. 12 Dec. Sue Tiddy
Tues. 13 Dec. Katrina Allen
Wed. 14 Dec.
Thur. 15 Dec. Julie Day
Frid. 16 Dec. Glenys Moylan
CHRISTMAS NIGHT
-- Monday 12th December. The Canteen will have and ice cream
machine near Unit 5. See you there.
Helen King |
