Volume 19 -  22nd November 2007
Week 6 .... Term 4

Ph: 8381 7166
Fax: 8381 6041

Email:
hvsadmin@happyvalley.sa.edu.au

Website:
www.happyvalley.sa.edu.au

Inside this issue............
Christmas Evening, Healthy Lifestyles Week, Working Bee, Premiers Reading Challenge, Pedal Prix BBQ, Disco Thank You, Food Collection for Salvos, Japanese Garden, MS Readathon, Fundraising, Kookaburra Cafe, Lost Property, OSHC/Vacation Care, Community News.

Mindanao Visitors
Last week we had the pleasure of hosting Ms Leonila Thelma C. Liberato, Ms Sollie B. Oliver and Mr Regan B. Dagadas who all work as District Supervisors in the Southern Philippines area of Mindanao. This visit was part of the BEAM project (Basic Educational Assistance for Mindanao) which is a 6 year project funded by AusAid and both the Philippines and Australian Governments. In all 30 educators visited our state from Mindanao and worked in 7 schools across the metropolitan area.

The Mindanao region is an area of high poverty, civil unrest and religious violence all of which have had a great impact on the schooling and achievement of many students in Mindanao.  The BEAM project aims to redress these educational problems therefore contributing to a better economic and peaceful future for Mindanao.

Our visitors were particularly interested in early literacy and spent time talking to our teachers, visiting classrooms and observing lessons. They were thrilled with what they saw and have many ideas to share on their return to the Philippines.  Personally, I learnt much about their country and it was very interesting viewing the school through the eyes of international visitors.

On Thursday morning I accompanied Thelma, Sollie and Regan when they presented their impressions of our school to the others in the group and this was a delight to hear!  I thought that their presentation could have been our Annual Report as it was full of insights and I thought summed up our school in a very positive light.

Here are some of the things that impressed them (besides the high quality of teaching that they also commented on in depth)

• The quality of relationships between all members of the school community

• The high level of collegiality and professionalism of our staff

• The focus on values and the importance of a school vision that "lived" in classrooms

• Our acceptance and active promotion of a multicultural community

• The behaviour of our students

• The ownership and pride our students took in their learning

• The relevance of our classroom programs and our "constructivist" approach

• Our assessment regime and how teachers knew exactly where students are at with their learning

I look forward to further involvement with the project and continuing our friendship with Thelma, Sollie and Regan.

Staffing News
We are delighted that Trudie Petho has been appointed back to us for 2008 and she will continue to share classroom responsibilities with Scott Francis while Scott continues his popular P.E. program across the school.

Classes for 2008
We are still no clearer as to whether we will have 7 or 8 classes in the Primary section of the school.

We have prepared a class structure based on 7 classes but as I have stated in earlier newsletters this is a "provisional" structure only and could change. Please be aware of this when class placement notifications go out in week 8.

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Tuesday 4^th December
Food available from 6.00 pm
Entertainment from 6.30 pm

Dancing, performances, fun, food and FIREWORKS await you at our Christmas Evening on the oval. ALL students will be involved in the program during the evening.

A $2 Gold Coin donation per person at the gate will assist in offsetting the cost of the fireworks.

We ask families to bring a donation of a can or packet of food to make up food hampers which will be distributed to needy families in our community.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

This week, students have been dancing, riding wheelchairs, doing martial arts, shooting arrows, bowling, doing tai chi, relaxing, preparing healthy food -- and these are just some of the things, as part of our focus on being active and healthy. We hope students take the messages from this week with them through the rest of their lives!

Students from Mr Francis/Mrs Petho's Year 4/5 class prepare healthy snacks.

At the Working Bee held almost two weeks ago many, many jobs around the school grounds were done, thanks to the many parents who came and helped out. Thank you to the many parents who gave up their Sunday morning and helped to make our school an even better place for students! 

The new guide rail going into the central courtyard.

On Monday 19th November two chosen representatives of the Junior Primary School, Courtney H and Jackson M, accompanied Teacher librarian Judy Miller to a Reception given by the Premier Mike Rann to honour the school for their tremendous effort with the Premier's Reading Challenge. The Junior Primary School had a 100% participation rate.

After some entertainment from a Clown and an award winning performance of a Wakakirri act we were treated to speeches from the Premier and the Education Minister. This was followed by presentations of certificates and a bag of books to each high achieving school.

Courtney and Jackson were worthy ambassadors for the school and were treated to party food and "face" painting afterwards.

Congratulations and thanks to Lynn Reimann for co-ordinating this successful year with the PRC.
 

Jackson and Courtney 

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The Happy Valley School Pedal Prix group will be running a B.B.Q. at the school on voting day.  We will be ready for business at 8.00am and will stay until early afternoon. 

Thank you to the parents who have offered to help!

Have breakfast or lunch with us and help us save for a new bike!

Wendy Nicolle

Able bodied students try out wheel chairs as part of Healthy Lifestyles Week.

 

Our school disco last week was a great success. Our super team of students did a great job in organising the evening, and the canteen. A huge thank you to Georgie Goldfinch for again being a great DJ. Thank you to the parents and grandparents, who helped on the night -- it was very warm. The children were fantastic!
 

The beginning of the Japanese garden. 

Our school has 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. Please bring along your donations on Christmas Night. We will have containers set up to collect the food. If you prefer, you may drop off contributions at the front office. If you prefer you can make a monetary donation.

Children will be able to add to the food collection on the last day of school, when we will have a Casual Day. A rep from the Salvation Army will come to our assembly on the last day of school to collect all donations.

Redeveloping the area outside Unit 4 where the old transportables used to be.

Have you noticed the garden near the canteen, by the ramp as you walk through the school?  Due to a great deal of work and planning by Juno, this garden area has been completely transformed into our new Japanese garden.  Our gift from Barb Williams, the Japanese stone lantern, has now been relocated to this garden.

Our thanks to Juno for the inspiration and for the work. Check out the area as you walk by.

The fabulous, new Japanese garden. 

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Christmas Raffle
We will again hold our Christmas raffle. Tickets will be sold and the raffle drawn on Christmas Night. Prizes will include theme hampers. As happened last year, classes will select a theme, and notes will soon be sent home requesting donations related to the theme. Boxes will be kept in classrooms to hold donations.

Fiona Doroch raking soft fill in the playground.

I am still working on the new menu for 2008 and would like to draw your attention to a few changes

• Yiros, Nachos and Home made soup will not be available until next winter.  We will be introducing a few new products as well.

• Vegetarian Lasagne along with home made Quiche will be available all the time.

A reminder that hot food will not be available on the last day of term as we do not want to have stock left over the holidays.

The ice cream machine will be on the oval in the usual spot for the Christmas Evening on Tuesday 4^th December.

VOLUNTEER ROSTER
Mon. 26^th Nov.              Karen and Andrea
Tues. 27^th Nov.             
Wed. 28^th Nov.             Suzie Boyce
Thur. 29^th. Nov.             Tracey Willshire
Frid. 30^th Nov.               Richard Vinall
Mon. 3^rd Dec.                Karen and Andrea
Tues. 4^th Dec.                Katrina Allen
Wed. 5^th Dec.               Teagan Solly
Thur. 6^th Dec.                Tracey Willshire
Frid. 7^th Dec.                 Glenys Moylan

Helen King

Our lost property area is overflowing!  If your child has lost anything at all, please take a few minutes to look through the enormous range of items that are located on the racks adjacent to the Resource Centre.

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At the end of the term anything remaining will be donated to charities e.g. The Animal Welfare League.

Rugby workshop with parent and grandparent help.

Bookings are now open for the Christmas Vacation Care period -- Monday 17^th December to Friday 21st December and Monday 7^th January to Friday 25^th January. 

Please book your child/ren in if care is needed.

Roxanne Longbottom
Director -- 8322 2411 or 0417 898739

Baseball skills session during Healthy Lifestyles Week.

GREEK LESSONS at Braeview School in 2008.  Classes would operate from 4.00 -- 6.00 on a day to be decided by interested parents.  The classes would be run by an accredited teacher, authorised through the Ethnic Schools Board board.  The annual fee would cost $100 for one child, or $75 each for two or more.  For further information contact Father Conskoumbourdis on 0416104207 or Kassi on 0423878197.  Expressions of interest will close on 14^th December.

DUSTER DOLLIES -- PART TIME WORK 
Would you like to earn some extra spending money and work within school hours?  We have regular casual work available in homes within our Marion Agency for reliable and thorough cleaners.  Up to $25p/h. own transport required.  Couples or singles welcome and full training is provided.  Phone Toni Kelly 82702100 DUSTER DOLLIES CLEANING AGENCY (MARION).

ADELAIDE ZO0 EDUCATION -- Zooventures & Zu-fari.  Summer School Holiday Program.  Run by the Adelaide and Monarto Zoos from 9.00 -- 4.00 on various weekdays during the school holidays.  Bookings by phone on 82672434.  Phone for more information or visit our web site: http://www.adelaidezoo.com.au/education Portal.php

Korfball uses goals similar to netball but with a wicker 'net'.

SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIRS END OF YEAR WAREHOUSE SALE.  Thousands of children's books on sale.  All stock will be discounted up to 40% with books starting as low as $1.00.  Great gift ideas -- don't miss out.  29^th & 30^th Nov. 9am -- 6pm. and 1^st Dec. 8am -- 12noon.  39-41 King St. Norwood.  Ph. 1800024840 or email bookfiars@scholastic.com.au

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