From the Acting Principal…   

      If you can make the time available I encourage parents to attend the information nights on Wednesday 19^th August and  on Monday 14^th September.  This is a good chance for new families to meet other parents and staff.

    I shared morning tea with a group of class parents last week. It was a great time for putting faces to names and discussing the role they provide. Please make contact with your class parent.

    You may have noticed Amy Kirkham, Montessori trainer, who spent last week with us. Her time was shared across the cycle 1 classrooms.   Amy also conducted the Assistants workshop held over the weekend. This was of great benefit to our staff.

    It was disappointing to receive the news that Karen, the new Dryandra teacher, was not able to come. On the other hand we are fortunate to have such a capable team of staff. Measures have been put in place to team up teachers and assistants who will preserve the stability and consistency so important in the classroom.

    The activity behind the site fence has been a source of great interest. It is quite exciting to see the progress. We are likely to have a convoy of cement trucks in the near future as the slab is poured. Please be patient if you experience hold ups getting in and out of the car park. When we know the timing a notice will be sent out.

    Talking about the Spring Fair in the midst of winter seems a bit premature but our fair coordinator Adam Hartnett will rest easier once everyone signs up to assist in what is a major event on the school calendar. It also provides an opportunity to showcase the school to the community.

  I appreciate being greeted as I move around the school.

 

Bob

 

 

 

Upcoming Dates

 

TERM 3 2009

 

Aug 19                   Parent Information Evening 7pm

Aug 23                  Working Bee

Sept 10/11 NEW    School photos

Sept 14                  Parent Information Evening 7pm

Sept 24                  Canteen Day

Sept 25                  Last day of Term 3

 

Please see School Calendar for events during Term 4 and check the Bulletin regularly for changes to published events.

 

Term Dates for 2009

 

Term 1:                  4 February – 9 April

Term 2:                  28 April – 3 July

Term 3:                  21 July – 25 September

Term 4:                  12 October – 16 December

 

Public Holidays 2009

 

Monday 8 June     Queen's Birthday Holiday

Monday 5 Oct        Labour Day

Tuesday 3 Nov     Family & Community Day (to be   confirmed)

 

Term Dates for 2010

 

Term 1:                  3 February – 9 April

Term 2:                  27 April – 2 July

Term 3:                  21 July – 24 September

Term 4:                  11 October – 15 December

 

 

Car Park Safety Please remember: Drive slowly Follow the arrows – the right direction Ensure children walk beside you Be aware of reversing vehicles Watch for trucks Drive slowly!

 

 

 

Working Bee – Sunday 23rd 9am-1pm 

At our Working Bee last Saturday only 3 people turned up – yes three! There is still work to be done so please come along and pitch in. There are various jobs as well as the returfing of the Cycle 1 playground that must be completed. Sign up outside Acacia for this weekend.

Thanking you all in anticipation!

From the Learnscapes committee

 

I am very pleased to report that during National Tree Planting Day, fifty trees and shrubs were planted around the school. With selected species appropriate to classroom names, most were planted by the students outside their respective classrooms. Helpers planted some more (banksia, bottlebrush, flaxes and native grasses) between the Karri and Jacaranda buildings to replace some lost plants. The students in Eucalyptus did an especially good job by additionally carting mulch to all the new plants. A big thank you to Susie Collins (Banksia) for organising the day. Gentle rain, falling as I write, is setting the seal on the terrific outcome.

 

Inspired by your child's enthusiasm? If you would like to plant a tree or a shrub for your family we have a number of extra plants that are ready to go into the ground. All that is required is your commitment to water it regularly (think a milk-bottle of water) until it has survived the summer. The upcoming working bee on Sunday 23 August (see the signs around school) is a good opportunity when experienced gardeners will be present, who can provide advice and support to help you find the ideal position for your plant.

 

Together with general tidying up and school maintenance, a big job at the working bee will be to level and prepare the area of ground set aside for turfing in the Cycle 1 play area. If you would like to learn about compost, there will also be work done on the school composting system. While I still look forward to seeing you then, I am grateful to Adam Hartnett who will be the coordinator of works on the day.

 

Charlie Blumer

Convenor, Learnscapes Committee.

 

 

Schools Tree Day is coordinated by Planet Ark and with National Tree Day makes up Australia's biggest community tree-planting event. The aim of these events is to increase the environmental, educational and community development outcomes of mass plantings of indigenous plant species and bush regeneration to benefit Australia’s eco systems. Since 1996 when Tree Day was founded more than 2 million volunteers have planted over 13 million native trees and shrubs!

 

Music Excursion - Cycle 3 - Term 3

 

On Monday afternoon August 3rd, Karri and Eucalyptus students were warmly welcomed by the staff at St Jude’s School in to their hall for the MUSICA VIVA Doubling Up concert.

 

We were treated to a feast of pieces by three young professional musicians, two of whom were from Melbourne. 

 

They played Rondo from Divertimento No. 3 by Mozart using three clarinets, teaching the students about the woodwind family, what a Rondo is, and used simple home made instruments (plastic tube clarinets) to demonstrate how a longer tube makes a lower sound. Some of the lowest sounding instruments were bigger than some of the students!

 

Flow by Karlin Love was played using a clarinet trio.  The students were asked to identify parts of the music that were repeated or were different.

 

The big band piece In The Mood by Andy Razaf and Joe Garland was played using three saxophones.  A student was picked to conduct the piece by indicating the change in dynamics.

 

Irish Tune from County Derry, arranged by Percy Grainger, (also known as Danny Boy) was played using a flute, clarinet and bassoon.  The students were asked which instrument held the melody, and were shown how to make a flute using four bottles of water.

 

To top off a wonderful afternoon of music, Shepherd's Hey by Percy Grainger was played.  The musicians likened making music to baking a cake in that, one needs the right amount of ingredients at the right time and in the right place!

 

Alison Waddell

Music Director

 

Scholastic Books

 

Many thanks to Ashley Cadogan-Cowper for all his efforts in keeping the Scholastic Book ordering and fund raising happening smoothly over the last two years. Ashley is unable to continue with this task. Sarah Beresford-Jones (Community Hours Co-ordinator/Acacia Director) will be organising his replacement so that everyone can continue to benefit from this easy way to order books whilst making some money for the school into the bargain.

 

Community News

 

On Saturday 29 August 2009 Scouts ACT will be holding the south side launch of their new Pamphlet ’10 Healthy Reasons to Join Scouts’ and they would like to invite you. Participants will be challenged, quizzed and intrigued. They will fly things, create and eat delicious items and be encouraged to get fit safely as they progress through 10 activity bases. The Launch will take place on the grassed area at the rear of the Cooleman Court Shopping Centre Weston from 12:00 noon to 2:00pm. You don’t have to be a Scout to join in the fun, everybody is welcome.

 

Thankyou

Mick Freeman

Scouts ACT