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Following Doug MacLean's retirement from the school tomorrow, Darryl Draper has been appointed to the position for the rest of the year. Well done to Darryl for taking up the challenge.  He will bring a lot of energy and experience to the position.  Darryl will be replaced in his class for three days a week to allow him to undertake this leadership role.

Kylie Raymond is enjoying her time in America and has attended a valuable conference in Nashville, which has given her lots of new ideas about curriculum directions for our school.  Kylie will be back in her role as Principal from the beginning of next term and the leadership of the school will quickly settle down into the new arrangements!

There are some changes to the teacher arrangements from the beginning of next term which we would like to share with parents.

Joyce Kerr who has a Reception/Year 1 class was initially placed in our school for the first two terms.  We are pleased and excited to announce that Joyce has had her time with us extended to the end of the year.  This will give her class more stability and consistency, from which they will really benefit.

Judy Miller, our Teacher Librarian, will be on Long Service Leave for the first five weeks of Term 3.  Judy will travel and visit family in Canada, with her husband Greg, over this time and we wish her a very enjoyable break away. We have been told that Judy's role in the school will be covered by Sandra Daldry who will join the staff from the beginning of the new term.

During this term our enrolment numbers have grown dramatically, particularly in the Year 4 -5 area of our school.  From the beginning of next term, when the new Reception children start, there will be large numbers also in parts of the Junior Primary School.  To help with the blossoming enrolments, the Education Department has allocated an additional teaching salary to our school for the second half of the year. This salary will be used to support teachers of five large classes - Joyce Kerr, Lyn Smart, Darryl Draper, Carol Atherton and Simon Mueller.  The teacher(s) to undertake these support roles have not yet been identified, but their role will be to teach groups in collaboration with the class teacher, or to replace the teacher on occasions, to give them more preparation and marking time.

Happy Valley School is implementing Keeping Safe: Child Protection curriculum which is a revised curriculum for South Australian schools and pre-schools.  This revised curriculum includes aspects of the Protective Behaviours program taught in schools since 1985.  

Just as importantly, it includes new understandings about student learning and best practice in abuse prevention.

All of our classes will be taught this curriculum during Terms 3 and 4. All staff have undergone professional learning on the curriculum.

The DECS Child Protection policy (1998) states that all children need to experience programs designed to develop skills and strategies for personal safety and abuse prevention.  DECS is committed to provide Child Protection programs which support children to:

	Develop knowledge, skills and understandings to achieve and maintain personal safety.
	Participate in a range of developmentally appropriate experiences, which are responsive to their individual needs and interests.
	Develop positive, responsible and caring attitudes and behaviours which recognise the rights of all people to be safe and free from both harassment and abuse.

As a school, we are required to ensure that all children in our school learn about child protection.  However a key component of the revised Child Protection curriculum is the recognition of positive participation and contributions of parents and caregivers.  Your support, for example, could include discussing and reinforcing with your child what they are learning about being safe.

If you would like further information or support in this, please do not hesitate to contact the school.

We had a fantastic Wheel-a-thon a couple of weeks ago.  Fortunately the weather just held out -- only one shower.  The students had a great time and were really enthusiastic.

A huge Thank You to all parents (and grandparents) who helped out both before and on the day.

Some Junior Primary children get ready to go!

Please return money and sponsor forms to Andrea Roberts as soon as possible so that we can finalise the amount raised and present the prizes early next term. 

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You may have noticed the recent change to our SunSmart policy. The Cancer Council of SA is recommending that hats be left off for the winter months. Their report concludes that, "During May to August in South Australia, skin protection is not necessary for most people as UV radiation levels fall below 3. On a normal school day from May to August, where children are outside for relatively short periods of time -- ie recess and lunch -- the chances of skin damage from the sun for most people is low." 

This recommendation was discussed by staff, Governing Council and the Student Leadership Council and we have amended our SunSmart policy accordingly.

Our Happy Valley School community was very saddened to hear that Scarlett Stahl lost her battle with cancer on June 11^th. Our thoughts are with the Stahl family at this very difficult time.
 

Following an article in the local press over the weekend, we would like to assure all parents that their credit and debit card details are handled in a secure manner by the school.  ALL details requested from card users are necessary to process payment of invoices.  Once the eftpos transaction has been authorised by the bank and processed into the school receipting system, any associated paperwork is shredded and removed from the site for secure disposal.  The school receipting system only requires the type of card used e.g. VISA, Mastercard, and a current expiry date to be entered ensuring full card details are not stored in the system.

Reminder -- School Fees and other invoices to students now due.

Please note that the final payment of the school material and services fee on the instalment plan is FRIDAY 25^TH JULY 2008.  For any amounts outstanding after that date, an overdue payment of school invoices will be forwarded to the debt collection agency, as approved by the school governing council.

We understand the difficulties some families are finding themselves currently facing -- increased petrol, food, childcare and general living expenses -- BUT the fees invoices were sent out SIX months ago, an instalment plan was offered and some promised payment plans have not been honoured.  How would you cope if your income was held for that length of time before you were able to pay your household expenses?  The cost of collecting outstanding amounts also decreases the monies available to purchase items for student use -- costs for time, paper, envelopes, stamps, collection agency fees etc.

An article on debt stress from the Advertiser on Monday, May 19, 2008 states

"The increase in low-value debts being referred is very worrying.  Defaulting on a $400 bill demonstrates that consumers are in very serious trouble or that they don't fully understand the consequences of missing payments.

Defaulting on a bill will strain a credit record for years and will make it difficult for people to get mainstream access to loans and credit cards."   Andrea Roberts - Bursar

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On the 26th of June our class went to old Tailem town. It is an old place.  There is an old church and hall.  We went there for recess.  We left our bags there so we could come back for lunch and had our fruit.

Next we went to the old school.  The chairs were uncomfortable.  I sat next to Eden and the man who spoke to us was Mr Lunn and he told us about the school in those days.  Also there were two dogs. 

We went into our groups I went with Mrs Williams.  There was old cottage and there was one house that looked rich and new.  There were people that were fake and they scared a lot of people. It was funny.  We saw a hospital, bank, dentist, coffin maker, cinema, black smith, dolls, a bakery and it had real lollies, a train station and a lot more.

By Teea P.

Students checking out another form of transport from earlier times.

Children interested in learning violin, cello or piano, who are complete beginners and aged from 6 -- 8 years (strings) or 7 -- 9 years (piano) will be considered for weekly group instrumental and musicianship lessons at the Conservatorium on Saturday mornings from Term 3, 2008.

These are small programs involving limited numbers only, so parents and caregivers are encouraged to contact the school immediately requesting a brochure which gives application details.

Nia and I are guest members of the Flagstaff Hill Primary School band. I play the flute and Nia plays the clarinet.

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which he conducts. Band practice is at FHPS on Monday afternoons.

On Sunday, 22nd June, the band performed at the Southern Schools Band Festival. It was a big stage for our small band but our sound was loud!

We played Sneaker Stomp, The Spook and Power Rock, a medley of popular songs by the rock group Queen. Tony got the audience clapping along with this song!

It was great fun and Nia and I look forward to performing again!.

By Eleanor A.

Nia playing far left and Eleanor in the foreground.

A copy of our new (colour coded) price list for Term 3 will be sent home to all families soon.  A few small changes have been made and new items listed plus Fish Packs and Hot Potatoes will be available everday.

Thank you to our volunteers who help on a regular basis and also a very special 'thank you' to those who came in on Tuesday to help with all the catering for Doug's farewell.

We would like to wish you all a very happy and safe holiday and look forward to seeing you all next term.

Karen and Andrea

Vacation Care
There are still a few vacancies.  $20 booking fee is required at time of booking.
Cookbooks
Copies of the OSHC Cookbook are available for sale for $10.00 per copy.  Available from either the OSHC room or school book room window.

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

A big thank you to all who purchased from Kyton's and to those who help distribute the orders from the hall.

PLEASE NOTE -- School photos will be taken on Thursday 7^th August (3^rd week of next term).  Any volunteers who are able to help on the day, please meet us in the school hall from 9.00am.

Our next meeting will be in the Long Room on the 23^rd July following the New Parent Morning Tea.

Cindy Kershaw - Secretary

BASKETBALL
Basketball continues at Happy Valley School all through 4 terms.  If you are interested in playing basketball after school on Monday or Tuesday nights and in Years 2 -- 7, please contact me.

SAPSASA
Year 7 boys and girls' teams performed very well at the recent SAPSASA competitions.  Both teams should be congratulated for their sportsmanship and effort.  Good luck next year.

Janet Veljkovic - Basketball Coordinator
83706748 or 0410 437067

We have received information about the National Railway Museum special "Friends of Thomas the Tank Engine" Event.  This will take place during the holidays from July 12^th -- July 20^th at the National Railway Museum at Port Adelaide.  If you are interested please check the notice board near the canteen.

FLINDERS MEDICAL CENTRE -- Therapy Following Trauma.  Has your child been involved in or witnessed a trauma such as a car accident, significant burn, assault, dog attack etc?  The School of Psychology in the Flinders University is conducting a research study investigating what types of therapy are most helpful for children who have been traumatised.  Who can participate?  - *Children ages 7-16 and their parent(s) * Who have experienced/witnessed a trauma.  Call the Traumatic Stress Studies Unit in the School of Psychology, Flinders University on 8201 5995 for more information or email Anna McKinnon at anna.mckinnon@flinders.edu.au

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