Volume 7 -  22nd May 2008
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............
Matt Hocking, Reports & Interviews, Australia's Biggest Morning Tea, It's a Boy!, Wheel-a-thon, Junior Primary Awards, Zoo Trip, NAPLAN Tests, Science Competition. Student Leadership Council, Pedal Prix, Disco, Parent Workshop, Edible Garden, Southern Chess League, Kookaburra Cafe, Sport, Parent Club, OSHC.

Welcome Matt
I would like to welcome Matt Hocking to our Happy Valley family. Matt is our new Christian Pastoral Support Worker.

Matt will have a vital role in developing our students' wellbeing and ensuring that our learning environment here at Happy Valley continues to be safe, caring and supportive.  He has already been very active in the school community and met staff, Governing Council and students.  I'm sure that he would also value meeting as many parents as he can.

Matt will be here on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays and can be contacted through the front office.

He has already proved himself very capable in several situations where he was "thrown in at the deep end" this week.

You may remember that last year I talked in several newsletters about social assets that help children become successful and less prone to social/emotional difficulties.  One of the most important of these assets is to have an adult outside of their immediate family, who children feel they can have a positive relationship with. Matt may fill that role in many of our students.

Young people who know that they have trusted adult friends that they can talk to, have a greater sense of belonging to a community of people that care about them.  Having another adult to talk to outside of the family may help them get a different perspective on an issue, or just help them to "blow off steam" in a safe and supportive environment.

As Matt has told our students he has the best job in the world because he gets paid to be a friend!

National Sorry Day
Next Monday is National Sorry Day and the start of Reconciliation Week.

Classes will be undertaking various activities through the week that centre on both Aboriginal culture and understanding what it means to be sorry in the broader sense of the word.

We will also be having a performance on that day for the whole school entitled the "The Power of One".  This performance will look at issues such as bullying, how there is no such thing as an innocent bystander to bullying behaviour and how to develop resilience in students. 

Watch out in the next newsletter for reports on events during next week.

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Hi!
I'm Matt Hocking and I'm your Christian Pastoral Support Worker (CPS Worker). If you haven't heard of a CPS Worker, I am simply in your school to provide support and friendship to students, staff and families. I'm at school every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and can be contacted by calling the school, emailing me at matt.hocking@happyvalley.sa.edu.au  or by coming in and visiting me.

To give you a rough idea of who I am, I'm 18 and love music and sport; I play drums and piano, and regularly surf and play netball. I live locally and completed year 12 at Aberfoyle Park High in 2007. I'm currently studying a Certificate 4 in Ministry and am involved in bands and youth programs at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Aberfoyle Park. I also passionately support the Crows.

I'm very excited to be working at Happy Valley. I will be spread across the whole school working with individuals, classes and existing groups and teams, as well as implementing new programs. I look forward to getting to know you and your children and being a support, through good and hard times. Just remember, as a friend I am never too busy to talk!

Matt Hocking

Just a reminder that student reports will be sent home on Friday May 30^th, at the end of Week 5.  Information will be sent home with reports about the national reporting requirements for all schools. We encourage parents to read their child's / children's reports and return them to the class teacher with written comments.

These reports will used as the basis for interviews the following week.  During Week 6, teachers will be available for interviews.  Teachers will have notified parents of their available times. You are able to make appointments by phoning Amelia in the Front Office to make a suitable time.

Please help us raise money for The Cancer Council SA by attending 'Australia's Biggest Morning Tea' to be held in the Happy Valley School Hall from 10.30 -- 11.30 on Friday 23^rd May (tomorrow).

Jaimee Walden & Jordan Veale
On behalf of the Student Leadership Council

We have set a date for our first major fundraising event. Our Wheel-a-thon will be held on Friday June 20^th.  There will be two separate circuits, one for Junior Primary children and one for Primary classes.  All students will receive sponsorship forms in the next weeks and will be asked to find sponsors for this activity. There will be a prize for both Junior Primary and Primary, for the highest amounts raised. We ask your assistance in supporting this event. Money raised through such events, organised by the Fundraising committee, goes directly into our school budget which is used to purchase resources for use by our students. Our Wheel-a-thon has been a really successful event in the past and it encourages physical activity as well!

At our Junior Primary assembly in Week 3, a number of Junior Primary children received student awards for demonstrating one of our school values, either Respect, Responsibility or Integrity.  Those children presented with awards were Tyler C., Holly W., Ethan G., Dechlan H., Brooke S., Brittany C., Ashton B., Serena B., Josh M., Kyra M., Casey N., Liam M., Leila W., Holly P. and Lyn's class received a whole class award for showing Respect.

Last week a large group of brave parents along with 43 very excited children from Mrs Higgins' and Ms Kerr's classes went on a trip to the Adelaide Zoo.  Fortunately the weather was fine although jackets and brollies were packed just in case!  The children were able to have "behind the scenes" experience thanks to the Hakof family who work at the Zoo.  Many children thought it to be an enticing career option although I'm sure it has its down sides!  A fun time was had by all and we arrived home at school tired but happy!

Mrs Higgins and Ms Kerr

Yesterday on the 15^th, I went to the zoo with my class.  I went in the children's zoo.  I got to pat the animals.  I got to go in the cage!  The animals were kangaroos and birds.

By Trinity

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I went to the zoo.  I saw the lion.  I saw the seals.  The seals were jumping in the water.  We caught the bus there.  We had recess and lunch there.

By Serena

Yesterday I went to the zoo.  We went on the bus.  When we got there we had recess and I got chips with a footy inside.  After recess we saw the seals.  The big seal was called Birry.  The small seal was called Shara.  Then we saw a girl called Roo.  She was talking about animal skins.  Then we saw Crickit the Koala.  There was a Koala called Lola too.  She was cute as well but I chose to hold Crickit instead.

By Matthew

The National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy Tests were held last week for all Year 3, 5 and 7 students. Students were tested on Language Conventions, Writing, Reading and Numeracy. The results of the tests will be sent home to families in August.

The University of NSW Science Competition in which a number of our Year 3 -- 7 students has enrolled, will be held next Thursday morning.

There will be a dress up movie day on Friday Week 6.  The theme is movie heroes and characters.  Classes will organise the movie to watch.

There will be a gold coin donation for dressing up.  All the money will be put towards repainting the school.

Laura and Robyn
On behalf of the SLC 

       
Leah, Sam, Trent, Darcy, Shaun, Courtney, Ben, Adrian and Adrian.  Absent from the photo was Mitchell.

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"MAGNIFICENT MONDAY" Special
Monday 26^th May
Tomato Soup + Hot Roll @ $2.00
Available for recess and lunch by pre order.

Now Available
     Hot Chocolate                     $1.20
    Hot Popcorn                        $0.50 per cup
     Variety Bread Treats            5c & 10c
     New Pies
      Four 'n' Twenty + Apple       $2.50

Thank you again to our regular volunteers and to our new mums, Sonia, Bindu, Kirsty and Dianne.  Your help is greatly appreciated.

Kind regards, Karen and Andrea.

SOCCER
Fixtures for the season were handed out at training this week.  Please let me know if a program has not found its way home and I will ensure that you get another copy.

This week's games are:
Senior Primary vs. Dover Gardens at Folkestone Road, Dover Gardens -- be there at 9.00 for a 9.30 kick-off.
Under 10 vs. Hawthorndene at Cunard Drive, Hawthorndene -- be there at 10.30 for an 11.00 kick-off.  Both teams are at home the following week. 

The first round matches last weekend resulted in a loss for each team.  After being down 2-0 in the first 3 minutes, the Under 10s showed plenty of spirit to make an even game of it before eventually going down 4-1.  The Seniors got off to a flyer scoring from the initial kick-off but slipped to be 6-2 down at half-time.  However, an improved second half restricted the final score to 8-3.

Below is some action from the Senior pre-season game against Reynella East.

Gary Kite - Soccer Co-ordinator
8381 5820, 0438 838 158

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FOOTBALL
Missing
A reminder to players to look after the footballs and make sure they are put away after use.  If you happen to find one, please take it to the front office.  The year levels are written on them.

Greg Halse

NETBALL
Happy Valley - B2
We have played 2 games so far - won one (6-3) lost one (28-4).

Congratulations to all the girls for their great sportsmanship.  I can see improvement with each game and our win was very exciting. Thankyou to all the wonderful parents who have helped with scoring, timing and support of me and the girls during our games.

Go girls!

Amelia Wright - Coach

Year 3/4
Big congratulations to our new netball team from Happy Valley School

We have eight girls from Years 3 and 4 starting out as new netballers.  The girls, with little idea of the game and only a couple of practices, have excelled with confidence and team co-operation to competing against other primary schools.  

With one win and one loss, I am looking forward to an exciting season with my girls as they continue to grow with their skills and a sense of fun.

Well done to -- Kayla S., Elenore K., Melanie E., Jasmine G., Sarah D., Jordan H., Shania S. and Michaela P.

Ali Maher - Coach

A reminder that Kyton's orders are due on 11^th June and pick up will be on 18^th June in the hall.

Next meeting is on 4^th June at 9.00am in the Long Room and on 6^th June we will be holding the morning tea for parents of the children having their transition visit.

COOKBOOK
Copies of the OSHC cookbook are now available for immediate sale.  The cost is $10.00 per copy.  Books can be viewed, paid for and picked up from the OSHC room.

UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES

• Monday June 2 @ 6:15pm -- Vacation Care program available

• Monday June 23 @ 6:15 -- OSHC Management Committee meeting

ELECTRONIC GAMES & TRADING CARDS
It has been decided to suspend the use of these activities in OSHC.  This is due to an increase in arguments between children and lost, missing and stolen games and cards.

VACATION CARE
The next Vacation Care period commences Monday 7^th July and finishes Friday 18^th July.  Bookings are open on Monday 2^nd June at 6:15pm to 7:00pm in the OSHC room.  A $20.00 booking fee is required at the time of booking.

CAN YOU HELP?
We are currently looking for the following items:-

• Old birthday cards and wrapping paper

• Cardboard tubes

NEED TO CONTACT OSHC?
If you need to contact OSHC for any reason you can-

• Talk to staff directly 7:15 -- 8:30am and 2:45 -- 6:15pm in the OSHC room

•  During Vacation Care 7:15am -- 6:15pm, unless on an excursion

• Leave a message on the answering machine outside these hours -- 8322 2411

• Talk to a staff member on the mobile phone -- 0417 898 739

Roxanne Longbottom -- OSHC Director
Ph. 8322 2411 -- direct line with answering machine or mobile 0417 898 739

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