Volume 8 -  24th May 2007
Week 4 .... Term 2

Ph: 8381 7166
Fax: 8381 6041

Email:
hvsadmin@happyvalley.sa.edu.au

Website:
www.happyvalley.sa.edu.au

Inside this issue............
Come Out, JP Awards, National Mathematics Day, Resource Centre, Fundraising, Pedal Prix Reminder, Sport, Parent Club, OSHC, Kookaburra Cafe, Southern Chess League.

Our pupil free day was a great success even if it was a bit of a "brain drain" for the staff.

In the morning we looked at values and vision for the school. We used a variety of processes to examine questions such as what are our personal values, what as a school is it important to value, and what do we need to do in our classrooms and across the school to make these values live? We also talked about what is our vision for the school, and how can we develop a mission statement that tells everyone what we stand for here at Happy Valley.

At Governing Council parents also have been contributing their ideas about this subject, and students will be contributing through "Kooka Council" and the year 6/7 executive group. This is all part of our preliminary work on our "wellbeing inquiry question". It is an education department requirement this year that each school researches a subject that impacts on the "wellbeing" of our staff and students. Here at HVS we have decided as a staff to look at values and how they impact on attitudes and learning.

In the afternoon we spent time on numeracy. Steph Kakoschke led us through a session where we looked at how we can improve our numeracy programs and results.

As a school we have spent much time over the last few years looking at how our students achieve in literacy and put in place many new programs and ideas for improving learning in this area. This has showed great results with all of our students performing above national benchmarks in reading last year.

Now it's time to put the spotlight on numeracy so our pupil free day was a great opportunity to start "the ball rolling" in this school priority.

We met for the day next door at Bethsalem in their conference room and we would like to acknowledge their part in making the day a success.

PRINCIPAL AWARDS
We had a number of students presented with awards at our assembly last week. They include Steph K., Leah W., April B., Allison N., Nathanael H., Sarah H., Sophia E., Aiden W., Olivia C., Braden W., Cameron G., Jake D., Kristi G., Sean G., Tori S., Jordan G., Shane M., Cameron G., Ben S., Georgia B., Ashleigh W-M., Timothy T., and Chelsea C.

SIBLINGS ATTENDING FOOTBALL PRACTICE
I know that brothers and sisters like to support our football players, however if they are unsupervised by adults it creates a large liability problem for us as a school.

After 3.30 the oval area is not supervised by teachers therefore it is inappropriate for brothers and sisters to be present at football practice unless an adult is there to supervise and take responsibility for them.

Student reports will be sent home on Friday of Week 5, June 1^st with the exception of a couple of Junior Primary classes. Teachers of these classes will have notified parents of any changes. Please sign and return reports and folders when you have read them as they will be used as the basis for interviews. Folders will be used again to send reports home at the end of the year.

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Interviews will be held in Week 6. Teachers will be sending home available times in the near future. Some teachers have again chosen to use a booking system through the front office. For those teachers, Amelia will have a booking sheet and parents will be able to call in or phone to make an appointment for an interview.

Last Friday morning, with the weather mild and sunny, all students walked to Thalassa Park and Come Out 2007 was launched! At the Park, students ate their recess, played on the equipment and on the grassy slopes. They really did 'Come Out' of the school to celebrate the Arts! A free ice block put everyone in good spirits and set students up for the walk back to school. The morning was a very successful and healthy way to begin our Come Out program this year.

'The Come Out Student Committee planning this year's come out activities - Kate, Jordan, Jacinta, Karlia, Steph and Savannah'.

Yesterday all students were entertained by the Come Out performance 'Head hunters'.  Here is some student work written after they saw the performance.

Today we saw a play called Headhunter.  Nan died and her grandson Rick went to the funeral.  When he backed out he hit a statue and the head fell off so Rick hid it in the boot.  Then he saw Gina and she was looking a bit lost so he said, "Do you need a lift?"  She said, "Yes,".  so they drove off together to where Nan was born.  They both had a secret.  Rick's was that he was hiding the head.  Gina's was that she stole her Nan's ashes.

By Rachel - (Mrs Whisson's Yr. 3/4 class)

The Headhunter play was about two cousins.  They decided to follow the Crow spirit.  They talked about all the fun things they had done with their Nan.  They were guided by Nan's spirit as Nan wanted to watch over them.  The ashes were Nan.  Gina was upset and that's why she took the ashes.  Then they went back to where Nan was born and put the ashes in a bowl made of grass.  They drove off happily because they did a good job with the ashes.

By Alex - (Mrs Whisson's Yr. 3/4 class)

The Headhunter play was about the two cousins and a grandma that died of old age.  She gave the boy cousin her red car.  They went on a car trip together.  When they were half way through the tyre got a puncture.  Gina was about to open the boot but Rick wouldn't let her because there was a head in there.  When they got back in the car Rick was hungry, so he found some biscuits so he told Gina that he was going to have a biscuit.  But there weren't any biscuits in the tin there were just Nan's ashes.  Gina wanted to put the ashes by the tree.  Then they had an argument.  After the argument they apologised.  They went to the lake that they always went to.  When they got there they remembered fun times.  They drove off happily because they got to put the ashes down by the tree.

By Chane - (Mrs Whisson's Yr.3/4 class)

Soon classes will begin decorating their totem poles with their buddy classes. When these are finished there will be an 'unveiling' in the school grounds, so look out for this next piece of community art, which will add to the colour around our school! There will also be a 'sea of hands' established in the garden areas near the canteen, another very visual acknowledgement of the arts in our school curriculum.

At our Junior Primary Assembly last week, a number of children received awards for demonstrating one of the Program Achieve Keys for Success. Congratulations to all of the following children -- Ashton B., Tyson C., James D., Hannah G., Leila W., Caleb W., Breanna T., Kellsie M., Max M., Holly W., Liam M., Nour S., Nicholas I., Olivia W., Sam K. and Mikaela U. What a great effort! 

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Last Friday was National Maths Day. We celebrated this day on Thursday and Friday as we were walking to Thalassa Park on Friday as part of our Come Out celebrations.

All students participated in a cumulative counting activity where every student in the school counted for one minute. Students were divided into three groups (so the numbers didn't become too large!) and Reception classes began the count in the morning. Classes estimated what number they might reach and what we might reach by the end of the day. Some interesting things came out of the event, for instance....1096, 1097, 1098, 1099, 2000!...requiring teacher intervention and providing teaching points.

On Friday classes planned various maths activities for students to participate in both on the walk and at Thalassa Park. Students made observations such as looking for numbers, 2D shapes and 3D objects in the environment on the way and at the park they collected data, made observations and recorded information to process back at school later in the day.

Some of the areas covered by classes:- linear measurement, plane shapes, solid objects, time, collection and collation of data, temperature and angles.

The Resource Centre has four copies of Net Alert information about keeping your child safe on the internet.  Parents are invited to borrow these if they wish to do so.

Judy Miller 

We will be doing Westfield's "Shop For Your School" again this year.  We managed a placing last year and received a digital camera.  This year we are hoping to do better and win something valuable for the children at our school.

"Shop For Your School" runs from 22^nd May until 5^th August 2007 and is as simple as registering online at www.sfys.com.au or at a Westfield store.  If you do not wish to register but can part with your receipts, drop them off to the fundraising pigeon hole in the front office and we can take them for you.  Look out for the "Shop For Your School" newsletters to keep you updated and Happy Shopping!

Sonia Berry
On behalf of the Committee

Don't forget 1:00pm Sunday 27^th May in the Mitsubishi car park for training in the cars.  Bring your own bikes.  Contact Wendy Nicolle on 0421283693 if you have any queries.

FOOTBALL
It has been a good start to the football season and everyone appears to be enjoying themselves.  

A couple of reminders! There are some 5 outstanding football fees that have not been paid. It is important that the fees are paid ASAP.  If these are not paid by the end of this month your child will be sitting on the bench. We do rely on the rest of the football fees to be paid to cover trophies and any extra equipment we might need for the rest of the season.

Football started off with a bang when the 6/7's won the Panther League Lighting Carnival, knocking out some of the favourite teams that were expected to win. Then last Thursday the SAPSASA boys defeated Craigburn Primary in an elimination knock out, to move closer to regain the SAPSASA shield. Our 4/5's under new Coach Grant Daniels have had two convincing wins and the word around the schools is that, they are the ones to beat this season. 2/3's are going along well with all the new players they have. Ray Wilden has them learning the basics and is teaching them the skills of football. Soon they will be a force to reckoned with.

I do ask that all Parents and Visitors please refrain from calling out and telling their child to go to a position on the field as Coaches have told them what they expect of them and the positions they are to cover. Also remember that umpires wearing green tops are also learning the art of umpiring. If we lose these we will have no one to umpire our great game. (This could mean that parents may have to take up umpiring) So please keep your thoughts to yourself during the game and allow the coaches to do their job.

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Have you received your new price list (yellow) and the Special Day (Wed. 20^th June) order form?  Please return the order form and money to the Canteen by Friday 15^th June.  Thank you.

Our Slush Puppie has improved once again with all natural flavours.  Slush Puppies are just apple concentrate and water.  The children like to drink it without flavour which is totally healthy.  Even the cups are environmentally friendly and break down much faster than plastic.  All approved by FOCIS and Nutrition Australia.

If you only need to order HOT NOODLES and nothing else, there is no need to use a lunch order bag.  Simply use an envelope with name, class teacher and include the money.

VOLUNTEER ROSTER
Mon. 28^th May              CLOSED
Tues. 29^th May             
Wed. 30^th May             Suzie Boyce
Thurs. 31^st May
Frid. 1^st June                 Glenys Moylan
Mon. 4^TH June               CLOSED
Tues. 5^th June                Katrina Allen
Wed. 6^th June  
Thurs. 7^th June               Suzie Boyce
Fri. 8^th June                   Karen Erlandsen

Helen King

Rounds One and Two
Welcome to all our new players and parents!

Round one ( 8/5/07) ended in a 2.5 to 2.5 draw for the Seniors, with victories to seat one player Jesse Hommelhoff and rookie Jacob Parker.  Jacob followed up next round (22/5/07) with back to back wins in an hour-long struggle.  The judges invoked a timing clock to finalise the deadlocked game and Jacob executed a fine checkmate in less than five minutes, to stay undefeated.

The Junior side is all-new!  After coming away with half a point in round one, the Juniors staged a huge turnaround in round two to defeat second placed Woodend 4 games to 1.  Congratulations to all.  A special mention to Austin Gordon who played a fabulous game!

Next meeting is Spot the Mate night, where the room is filled with set boards for players (and parents) to try to figure out checkmate in just one or two moves.  It's great fun.

What:               Spot the Mate
When:              7:00pm sharp, Tuesday June 5^th.
Where:             Woodcroft College, Bains Rd. Woodcroft
Co-ordinators:   Mark & Yvonne Smith
                        0418 137777 or 0419 811539

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