Volume 18 -  8th November 2007
Week 4 .... Term 4

Ph: 8381 7166
Fax: 8381 6041

Email:
hvsadmin@happyvalley.sa.edu.au

Website:
www.happyvalley.sa.edu.au

Inside this issue............
Working Bee, Healthy Lifestyles Week, Reminder, Disco, World Teachers; Day, Christmas Night, Food Collection, JP Awards, Premiers Reading Challenge, Excursion, Book Fair, Edible Garden, Kooka Council, Kooka Café, Parent Club, Ducklings, Sport, OSHC/VAC, Keys, Com.News.

Class Placement Process
Thank you to all of those families who responded about class placement, we will do all that we can to accommodate your requests.

This process, as you can imagine is a very complex and time consuming one as we consider all of the variables such as the size of classes, the numbers of students in each year level, friendships, the learning needs of each student etc.   This year we have an added complication as we are right on the edge of forming another primary class.

The Education Department is very particular about how many classes we should have based on the numbers of students that we have. At the moment we have the exact right number of students for 7 primary classes but they will be very large (at the maximum size).  If we have extra enrolments we could be eligible for another teacher and be able to make smaller classes and a better mix/spread of year levels.  If we gamble on making 8 classes and we lose students, or any of the potential enrolments fail to show up on the first day of school, we could be in the position of losing a teacher, and having to restructure classes, as we could not afford to pay the extra salary out of our school budget.

Over the last few weeks we have had a number of enquiries about future enrolments but until we have the students physically here, we really can't count on them. The situation may become clearer by the end of the term, but it may not either.  We will manage the situation in the best way we can for our students, but please be aware that there could be changes in the primary classes over the holidays.

This does not impact on Junior Primary classes and I know that several other schools in the area have the same dilemma.

We will keep you informed of developments as soon as we know.

Staffing News
As I have talked about in previous newsletters the staffing process this year is a "rolling" one and we are working through vacancies over a period of time.

Our latest news is that Simon Mueller has been reappointed to our school for a further ten years.  This is great news, as I know Simon is pleased, and I know that the Happy Valley School community highly value Simon's teaching.

We have also been successful in gaining a Commonwealth Government grant to pay for the salary of a Christian Pastoral Support Worker in the school next year.  This person will be working about 15 hours per week, and will be supporting students and their families in a variety of ways.  This has been a very successful scheme in several local schools and I believe that this person will become a real asset to our school community.

Bethsalem Car Park
In the next few weeks the Bethsalem Car Park (on the corner of Greenbriar Ave. and Education Rd.) will be closed and upgraded.  Although this car park is on Bethsalem's property they are happy for us to keep using it after the upgrade which is very generous of them. The block will be paved and car spaces marked allowing for more parking.

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The Working Bee is being held this SUNDAY 11^TH NOVEMBER from 9.30 am and we'll finish by 12.30. Even if you can help for part of the morning please come along. Fathers, mothers and older students are needed and there will be jobs for everyone!

The work to be done is:

• Place safety mesh under the roof of the Unit 4 verandah

• Begin the redevelopment of the area south of Unit 4 from where the timber buildings were removed

• Move the old OSHC store shed next to the oval

•  Place the new railing in the centre courtyard

• Establish a Japanese themed garden next to the staff room

• Move bag lockers to the Long Room for OSHC student use

• Put protective oil on the timber in the Junior Primary playground

• Rake the soft fill under the play equipment

The Japanese garden was begun this week.

Many volunteers will help spread the load and will make sure that we get all the projects done. Please bring rakes and shovels to help. If you are available and haven't let us know yet, please complete the tear off slip at the end of the Newsletter and return it to the front office tomorrow.

Mystara, Nicole, Jesse and Ben with Mike Lane check the new hand rail for the courtyard area. 

Healthy Lifestyles Week will be held from 19^th to 23^rd November. During the week, students from right across the school will have the opportunity to be involved in a range of activities and sports and many different 'Come 'n' Try' activities. There will be a focus on healthy eating with 'The Giant Fruit Eat In' each day and some classes preparing healthy meals to try.

Grandparents are invited to visit on Thursday 22^nd November (not Wednesday as in an earlier newsletter) from 9.00 to 11.00 am to watch or even join in the Whole School Health Hustle, The Giant Fruit Eat In and the 'Come 'n' Try' activities the students are involved in.

The emphasis for the week will be on students being healthy and active throughout the week, and right throughout their lives!

All invoices can be paid over the internet using the school web page http://www.happyvalley.sa.edu.au/ and following the prompt at the lower left-hand side of the screen. The site is checked daily and a receipt will be forwarded to you via the classroom.

Also, when returning the slip at the bottom of the invoice, please include the 3-digit verification number on the back of the card. 

Thank you, Andrea Roberts

We will be having our school Disco next week, in Week 5, on Friday November 16^th, in the School Hall.  A number of students will be helping with the planning and organising.

The times will be:
Year Level:
Reception -- Year 3:      6.00 -- 7.15pm (Cost $3.00)
Year 4 -- Year 6:           7.30 -- 9.00pm (Cost $3.50)
Year 7:                         7.30 -- 9.30pm (Cost $3.50)

Tickets will be on sale during the week prior to the night, outside the Resource Centre.

There will be a canteen on the night with drinks, including spiders, and snacks.

Students need to be dropped off and collected from the Hall. Parents will need to come inside the Hall to collect children.

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The Parent Club will be having the staff room open so parents of Junior Primary children can stay at the school during the disco (with or without younger siblings).

They will be serving tea / coffee / champagne & orange for the cost of a gold coin.

Andrea Chapman

On World Teachers' Day a Town Crier visited the assembly and handed out parchment scrolls to each adult at the school.

Miss Ingham's said:

        'We would like to celebrate the wonderful work of

Miss Ingham

by telling you that

• you make us challenge new things and we learn a lot

• we respect you so much because you respect us

• we enjoy activities you come up with

• you are a very confident teacher and we are very lucky to have you

• your smile makes us happy everyday'

The Town Crier (Wes E.) at work!
 

This year Christmas Night will be held on the School Oval on Tuesday December 4^th.  Traditionally this is an evening of celebration, an opportunity for the school community to come together, and to wind up another great year.

The program will involve all the students in bush dancing, which they are practising with the Diddychwy bush band during workshops this term. Junior Primary students will also sing songs, including Christmas carols, the Primary School choir will perform and we will be entertained by other items by groups within the school community.The evening will finish with a FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR! 

The Pedal Prix group will provide a BBQ and there will be drinks and icecreams available from 6:00pm. So plan to start the evening with a family picnic on the grass. Bring a rug or chairs so that you are comfortable!

A donation of a gold coin for each person attending will be asked for as you enter the school grounds.  This will help to offset the costs of the evening, which will conclude at approximately 9:15pm.

Make sure you have the date marked on your calendar and plan to bring the whole family - including grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins - for a night of great enjoyment and entertainment. Remember, every student in the school will be involved!

Our school has again received a request from the Salvation Army to assist them with collecting non-perishable foods for the "Help Pack Santa's Sack" promotion for Christmas this year. I believe that we all appreciate the work done by the Salvation Army to support those in need. Therefore we are once again seeking your support, which will in turn enable the Salvos to provide food for needy people and families at Christmas time.

You can help in two ways:

• Firstly by donating non-perishable food (cans or packets), which will be distributed in the local area.

• Or, you may prefer to make a monetary donation.

We will have containers set up to collect the food at Christmas Night. If you prefer, you will be able to drop off contributions at the front office.

At our first Junior Primary assembly for this term, several children received Program Achieve awards for demonstrating one of the Keys to Success. These children were Cameron T., Aimee Z., Isabel V., Holly P. and Ashton B. Congratulations to these people.

Our school has again participated in the Premier's Reading Challenge. We have been advised that the Junior Primary section of our school has achieved outstanding results. As a consequence we have been invited to send one adult and two children to attend a special reception on Monday November 19^th at the Space Theatre in Adelaide. We will be choosing those children who will be attending in the next days.

  On Monday October 29th, Mrs Johnson's and Mrs Nightingale's (Lyn Smart's) classes visited the SA Museum,

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put a pie in it, then we put the peas on top of the pie.  Then people came up and then we ate them.

After our very popular Casual Day in Term 2, Junior Primary classes have requested that we have another Casual Day on the last day of this term. Instead of a gold coin donation we will ask children to bring non-perishable food items to add to the collection for the Salvation Army promotion.  See previous article.

Just a reminder that the Slices Order Form needs to be back on Thursday 22^nd November for delivery on Wednesday 5^th December.  Orders will be available for pick up in the Hall after 3pm.

We would like to give you all a little notice re the Xmas Stall.  It will be held on Wednesday 5^th December for Primary, Thursday 6^th December for the Junior Primary and Friday 7^th December as a 'back up' day.

The 'new parent' morning tea will be on the 23^rd November.  All welcome.

Andrea Chapman

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Nature moved in even closer to our school at the end of last term when a duck laid her eggs in amongst the lavender in the courtyard.  Mr Lane placed witches hats around her nest to discourage too much interruption. 

Domestic duck eggs take 25 days to hatch so we knew it would be during our school holidays when this would happen.

Nine ducklings hatched on an OSHC day during the school holidays so Deb Solly was able to take photos of their trip down to the Reserve.

Mother duck and her newly hatched ducklings.

The Sports Committee AGM was held last week and most of the positions were filled. Congratulations to:

Gary Kite -                  Soccer Coordinator
Wendy Nicolle -          Netball Coordinator
Simon Brandenburg -   Football Coordinator
Dean Cox -                 Cricket Coordinator
Janet Velkjovic -          Basketball Coordinator

The Sports Committee Convenor position is still to be filled.  If you are available to fill this position, please contact Georgie Goldfinch or Doug MacLean.

Vacation Care
The next Vacation Care period runs between Monday 17^th and Friday 21^st December, and between Monday 7^th and Friday 25^th January.  The service will be closed between Monday 24^th December and Friday 4^th January. 

Bookings will open on Monday 19^th November at 6:15pm to 7:00pm in the OSHC room.  From Tuesday 20^th November bookings can be made at either the OSHC room or the School Front Office.  A $20.00 fee is required at the time of

booking and we also ask that all outstanding fees from previous usage are paid.

Please be aware that bookings for the Christmas/January period fill fast so get in early.

Claiming Childcare Benefit During Vacation Care
Please ensure if you are using Vacation Care to contact the Family Assistant Office to register your child/ren.  Our Vacation Care Provider number is 407 049 146H.
Charity Fundraiser
One of our mum's is collecting bread tags for the Mental Illness Fellowship of SA Inc.  A BIG THANK YOU to all those families who continue to bring in their bread tags.  Keep bringing them in please.
Can You Help?
We are currently looking for the following items:-

• Old Christmas cards for Christmas craft

• Cardboard tubes

• Clean glass jars and lids.

Roxanne Longbottom -- OSHC Director
Deb Solly -- Vacation Care Assistant Director
Ph. 8322 2411 -- Mob. 0417 898 739

We have found a VERY LARGE bunch of keys that appear to belong to a tradesman or similar and are attached to a belt hook.  They were found in or near OSHC and would be easy to identify by their owner. 

If you know who they belong to, please give us a ring or call into the office.

FLAGSTAFF HILL SCHOOL -- 30^TH BIRTHDAY FAIR.  The school invites old scholars, past and present staff from Flagstaff Hill School and community members to our 30^th Birthday Fair.  Friday 16^th November 4 -- 8pm. on the school oval.  Personally engraved pavers for the building of our commemorative paved area can be ordered through the school.  For more information ring the school on 8270 1744 or e-mail to info@flagstaff.sa.edu.au
ABERFOYLE HUB SCHOOL -- CAR BOOT SALE. Sunday 18^th November, 9.00 -- 1.00pm.  There is a cost of $15.00 if you wish to set up a stall.  Sellers must be in by 8am.  To book a stall contact Debbie Lamps on 8381 7476.
BLACKWOOD UNITING CHURCH -- COMMUNITY PROGRAM DISPLAY DAYS & CRAFT FAIR.  Friday 23^rd Nov. 10am -- 6pm and Saturday 24^th Nov. 10am -- 2pm.  Entry by Gold coin donation.

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WORKING BEE

I / We are available to help with the Working Bee on Sunday 11^th November.

NAME(S): _______________________________________________________

Please return to the Front Office tomorrow Friday 9^th November.

Thank you for offering to help improve the facilities of our school!

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