Volume 7 -  10th May 2007
Week 2 .... Term 2


 

Ph: 8381 7166
Fax: 8381 6041

Email:
 hvsadmin@happyvalley.sa.edu.au

 

Website:
 www.happyvalley.sa.edu.au

 

Inside this issue............
New Staff, Sandra Bailey Farewell, Did You Know? Mathematicians at Work, Parents as Partners, School Car Park, Visit by Crows Star, Come Out 2007, Reminders, Resource Centre News, The Canberra Journals, Road Safety Trip, Parent Club News, Kookaburra Cafe, OSHC, Values for Australian Schooling


REMINDER:  PUPIL FREE DAY TOMORROW

FROM KYLIE

Values and Vision for our School
 "Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent. Most talents are, to some extent, a gift. Good character by contrast is not given to us. We have to build it piece by piece -- by thought, choice, courage and determination." John Luther

The word value comes from the word valour, and according to the Macquarie dictionary valour means to act with honour, courage and "great-heartedness".

Here at Happy Valley we need to start talking seriously about "What values do we want to teach our children so that they can go out into the world and act with great-heartedness and honour?"  This is going to be one subject that as a staff we will be talking about on Friday. I also will be asking Governing Council to look at this question at the next meeting.

Some families may wish to contribute ideas individually and to enable that to happen I have attached information and a questionnaire about the National Framework for Educational Values to this newsletter. Please feel free to complete this and send it to me via the front office. I am also very happy to talk through the issue with any families that are interested.

While the National Framework has 9 major values we are looking to focus on three or four of these values at the moment, therefore it is important that you think carefully about the first question on the sheet as this will help us with this process.  It is also import that we think about exactly what values are.

Currently we have our Kookaburra logo surrounded by four messages namely co-operation, learning, communication and striving for excellence, but what happens if you communicate without honesty, or strive for excellence without respecting those around you?  It is important that families and the school are agreed on these most basic questions so that our children get consistent and clear messages.

I will keep families up to date with progress on this subject over the term, so watch out for more developments.

WELCOME TO OUR NEW CHILDREN
 

We would like to welcome our Term 2 group of new Reception students who started school last week. The children are in Unit 4 with Liz Loveday. Our new people settled in very well. They are Kayla M., Jamie R., Joshua D. Jordan M., Riley S., Vanessa O., Holly W., Liam M., Tayla S., Aimee Z., Brooke S., Harry S., and Sam P.

 

Mrs Kylie Raymond                Mrs Judy Davies Mr Doug MacLean
PRINCIPAL JUNIOR HEAD OF SCHOOL PRIMARY HEAD OF SCHOOL

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WELCOME TO OUR NEW STAFF

We would like to welcome several new staff members to Happy Valley. Abby Ingham is our new teacher with the Year 1/ 2 class in T10, replacing Sandra Bailey. Liz Loveday is taking the new reception children in Unit 4 and Jacqui Brettig is in Unit 5 replacing Shelley Saunders who is on Long Service Leave. A special welcome also to Marion Freer, who is working across several classes providing student support. Brian Pedlar, well known to many of you, is working for the first 3 weeks in Simon Mueller's class while Simon is on Long Service Leave.

SANDRA BAILEY - FAREWELL

As you will have read last term, Sandra has decided to retire after more than 10 years at Happy Valley. To farewell Sandra and to celebrate her long teaching career, we are having a farewell function on Wednesday May 23rd in the hall between 4.00pm & 6.00pm. Any parents or past parents who have had close connections with Sandra are invited to attend. Please respond to Amelia or Lorraine if you are coming.

Please note that this is an adult only function. Students have already said Goodbye at the end of last term.

DID YOU KNOW???

As part of our Numeracy initiative, staff have been trying out numeracy activities at each staff meeting. Last week we used dice. You may not realise that the opposite sides of a die always add up to seven (6+1, 5+2, 4+3). This is so that when dice are formed with holes in each face for the dots, they are evenly weighted, and therefore "true".

Knowing this fact enables many activities to be devised using dice. For example, if three dice are placed on top of one another and the numbers shown on the hidden faces are added together, one can work out that total by looking at the number shown on the top exposed face. This seems magical until you work out that the dice in the stack have five opposing faces hidden and one exposed on the top. Since opposing faces total seven, the sum of those six faces is 3x7=21. By subtracting the number on the top from 21, one can find the sum of the hidden numbers.

Lyn Smart followed up our staff meeting activity with some numeracy activities in her classroom. The children were very excited and involved in practising what they learned.
                                                          Stephanie Kakoschke

MATHEMATICIANS AT WORK
From Lyn Smart's class
 About Dice
It has 6 faces.
It has 12 edges.
It has 8 points.
It is a net.
We had to make a dice. We made 2 dice. We had to fold it. We made a cube. A net is what you fold.
When you add 2 opposite numbers they make 7.
1+6=7                         5+2=7                         4+3=7
6+1=7                         2+5=7                         3+4=7
                                                                           By Sharni.


The dice has 6 sides.
There are 8 points. They have 12 edges. When you roll a dice, if you get a 6, there is a 1 under the 6. If you roll a 4, underneath there is a 3.
                                                                         By Nicola


 

PARENTS AS PARTNERS

We would like to again offer our "Parents as Partners" workshops. These workshops are suitable for parents of children already at school, as well as children who will start in the next months. These will happen during Term 2. The current plan is to have the workshops on Wednesday mornings from 9 -- 11am. The series of 5 workshops will again focus on how parents can best support their children's learning, both in literacy and numeracy. There is a tear off slip at the end of this newsletter. Please return this slip as soon as possible if you would like to participate, as numbers will be limited.

A further invitation with topics will be sent home shortly. An invitation will also be extended to parents of children at kindergarten.

Judy Davies

SCHOOL CAR PARK

The school car park is provided for the use of school staff and official visitors to the school only. It is NOT for parents to drop off or pick up students. Using it for these purposes causes congestion and the safety of children moving through the car park is at risk from moving cars. As parents, please respect the purpose of the car park and drop off and pick up your children in the correct places outside the school boundary.

VISIT BY CROWS STAR

Last Thursday we were lucky to receive a visit from Nathan Bassett, Crows and All Australian full back. Nathan's visit was made possible when one of our Pedal Prix cycling teams in last term's Aberfoyle High School Cycling Challenge won the

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event. The visit by Nathan was one of the prizes.

Nathan attended our whole school assembly on Thursday, spoke to the students, and then presented certificates to all our students who participated in the event. He then spent some time with the winning team -- Courtney, Luke, Leah and Ben.


Nathan Bassett chats with members of the winning team (Leah absent)

The Cycling Challenge and the visit by Nathan Bassett was a great way to launch our Pedal Prix program this year
 


Scott Francis takes early morning training with our Pedal Prix team
 

COME OUT 2007

Come Out this year will be launched on Friday of next week, 18th May, with a walk to Thalassa Park. The Come Out student committee felt that this would be a good way to link to the Come Out theme 'The Universal Story'. The State committee has suggested a focus on play and playgrounds as a beginning activity in schools for this year's Come Out. Students will leave the school at 10.00 am and will need to have recess to take to the Park as well as a water bottle. There will be playground activities at the Park linking to the theme. Students will be back at school in time for lunch.

Other activities planned to celebrate Come Out include painting Totem Poles with buddy classes, with the poles then being displayed in the school grounds, creating a Sea of Hands in the school grounds, and the performance 'Headhunters', in which the whole school will be involved on Wednesday 23rd May.

The Come Out Committee are requesting donations of water based interior and exterior house paint in bright colours from parents, and any undercoat/primer.

Come Out, which is a biennial schools' arts event, promises to be another great celebration of the Arts at our school again this year! 

REMINDERS

  1. There are still some copies of the Entertainment Book available from the finance office, $60 each.

  2. Term 2 instalment plan payments are now overdue.

  3. Governing Council has approved the use of a debt collection agency for overdue school fees.  Accounts for families who have not paid the invoices sent home in February and have not contacted the finance office, will be forwarded to the Department of Education and Children's Services for processing through their collection agency.

  4. Students who have not paid the performance levy will not be able to attend the upcoming incursion for the Come Out Festival.

The Finance Office is open 8.30 to 9.30 a.m. Tuesday to Friday mornings.  Monies sent to school on Mondays will not be accepted at the Front Office and will be returned to parents.

RESOURCE CENTRE NEWS

DONATIONS URGENTLY NEEDED!
 We desperately need donations of the following items --

  • Soft toys relating to the Polar regions e.g. Polar Bears, Penguins, Wolves, Snow Leopards, Seals etc.

  • 2 Litre royal blue and/or white ice cream containers.  Lids not required.

Thank you to the Goldfinch family for a donation of the popular Deltora Quest books.
 

THE CANBERRA JOURNALS

The following extracts are from student journals which were written during the Year 7 trip to Canberra earlier this year. 

On Wednesday 28th we went to CSIRO Discovery.  My class and half of Mr Vercoe's class came with us because we had to have two groups.  I went into the looking room and made cheese.  The cheese didn't really work.  It came out all slimy and it looked like vomit.  We also made DNA.  What happened was we put in all these ingredients into a container and the end product turned out like the real thing.  It showed us what DNA really looked like.  DNA means Deoxyribonucleic acid. -- Leah W.

On Thursday night we went to the movies.  The movie we saw was Mr Bean's Holiday.  The movie was really good but very predictable.  The cinema we went in was huge and we had it all to ourselves.  At the movies we got popcorn and coke.  I enjoyed the movie, especially seeing it with my friends. -- Courtney N.

On Wednesday we went to New Parliament House.  The first thing we did was go and practice that we were in the House of Representatives.  The person who was leading us told us to sit on either the right or left.  I sat on the government side (which was on the left).  The guy leading us told us to have an argument about something and we had to choose it.  We chose to ban animals in the circus.  That went on for a while.  The second thing we did was we entered the real House of Representatives.  We learnt a bit about the House of Representatives.  The third was the Senate and we learnt a lot about that room too.  We learned that this is where new laws are made and bills passed. -- Tori S.

Mount Ainslee is the highest point in Canberra.  On our way up there, there were lots of Kangaroos and a few rabbits.  The view from there was amazing!  The lights on Parliament House were beautiful.  When we arrived back at the hotel, I went straight to bed because I was so tired. -- Emma N. 

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On Tuesday March 27th we went to the Australian War Memorial.  When we arrived at the War Memorial we had to watch a short movie clip about the wars and the war memorial.  We went over to meet our guides.  We all sat down in front of this boat with lots of gun shot holes in it.  Our guide explained to us about the boat and what war it was from.  Our guide then took us up into a view platform above the eternal flame then he explained all of the names on the walls and parks.  We had time in our dorm groups to look around.  We went to the tomb of the Unknown Soldier first.  In the tomb of the Unknown Soldier we were told why he was so special.  He was the only unidentified Anzac because his face and his dog tags were blown off from a Turkish hand grenade.  About ten minutes later we went to see all the aircraft and vehicles. -- Ben B.

On Thursday at about 3:30pm we went to the National Gallery.  We split into two groups.  My group went with Sam.  He introduced himself and showed us the most expensive painting in the world.  The title was '"Blue Poles" by Jackson Pollock and it looked a lot like scribble.  We also saw another picture and it was painted just white.  After a while we said thank you and went to the gift shop. "-- Amelia V.

At Zone 3 we were split up into three groups.  A, B and C.  I was in group A with Luke, Caleb, Wes and Mr Vercoe.  When we went in they told us how to hold the gun and showed us how to shoot the bases.  After that we went into the maze.  It was hard but I did get the two bases and so did Luke.  At the end of the first round we found out what our scores were and mine was 9,200 points.  After that we went and played some Arcade games like Pinball and Rally car racing. -- Dan M.

ROAD SAFETY TRIP

On Tuesday April 10th Mr Francis' and Mr Draper's classes went to the Road Safety School at Thebarton.  When we got there we met the police officer Paul Noble, he took us inside and showed us a road safety video on the projector.

When it had finished he asked us some questions about road safety.  Next Mr Draper and Mr Francis had a coin toss and Mr Draper's class won and rode first. 

Mr Francis' had to be pedestrians for 30 minutes and when the little man on the traffic sign went green we got to cross and the bike riders had to stop at the red light.  The officer had a control box and he controlled all of the lights and things.

When it was our turn we grabbed a bike and a helmet and headed off to the first traffic lights and in the end everyone enjoyed it and learnt something new.

By Shane S and Jamie K.

PARENT CLUB NEW

Thank you to all who participated in the Mother's Day Stall.  Yet another successful day.  We hope all the Mothers, Grandmothers and Carers have a wonderful day on Sunday.

A wonderful warm welcome to all the new parents in the school.  We hope you enjoy your time at Happy Valley.

Our next meeting is on Wednesday 6th June at 9.00am in the Long Room.

Karen Erlandsen - Secretary

KOOKABURRA CAFE

During terms 2 and 3 only and starting next Tuesday 15th May, we are able to sell products from the Betta Bite savoury range -- Pizza Pie, Potato Pie, Beef Pie, Pasty, Large Sausage Rolls all $2.80 each (sauce 20c extra) and are reduced in salt, sugar and fat.  They are virtually trans fat free, do not contain msg and are registered as School Healthy Kids Products. 

Now available in the Meal Deals is a Junior Snack Vegetarian Pasty 100% veg. no meat. $2.80.

On Wednesday 20th June we will be having a SPECIAL Meal Deal -- 100% Beef Burger with Lettuce, Cheese, Tomato, Carrot, Sauce, Mayo and will include a Farmers Union Flavoured Milk all for $5.00.  Look for the order form with will be sent home soon.

VOLUNTEER ROSTER
 Mon. 14th May              CLOSED
Tues. 15th May              Suzie Boyce
Wed. 16th May            
Thur. 17th May
Fri. 18th May                 Glenys Moylan
Mon. 21st May              CLOSED
Tues. 22nd May             Katrina Allen
Wed. 23rd May             Suzie Boyce
Thur. 24th May             
Fri. 25th May
                                                                        Helen King

OSHC

REMINDER -- Pupil Free Day tomorrow Friday 11th May.  Please book your child into OSHC as soon as possible if care is required.

Roxanne Longbottom
 Director -- 8322 2411 or 0417 898 739

"PARENTS AS PARTNERS"

Name ______________________________________________                  Phone number _____________________

Child's name _________________________________________                  Class ______________

I am interested in participating in the "Parents as Partners" workshops in Term 2.

Signed ___________________________________

 
 

VALUES FOR
AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLING

Care and Compassion
 Care for self and others 

Doing Your Best
 Seek to accomplish something worthy and admirable, try hard, pursue excellence

Fair Go
 Pursue and protect the common good where all people are treated fairly for a just society

Freedom
 Enjoy all the rights and privileges of Australian citizenship free from unnecessary interference or control, and stand up for the rights of others

Honesty and trustworthiness
 Be honest, sincere and seek the truth

Integrity
 Act in accordance with principles of moral and ethical conduct, ensure consistency between words and deeds

 Respect
 Treat others with consideration and regard, respect another person's point of view

Responsibility
 Be accountable for one's own actions, resolve differences in constructive, non-violent and peaceful ways, contribute to society and to civic life, take care of the environment

Understanding, Tolerance and Inclusion
 Be aware of others and their cultures, accept diversity within a democratic society, being included and including others

1. What values are important to you?
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2. What values do you think your child should be taught at school?
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3. Does the school support the values that you try to encourage in your child at home?
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