50 Main Rd GEMBROOK 3783 Ph: 03 5968 1313 Fax: 03 5968 1548 email: gembrook.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au www.gembrookps.vic.edu.au

Gembrook Primary School

Mission Statement

A view to the future

Diary Dates

Gembrook Primary School is a welcoming and

respectful community that provides modern, flexi-

ble learning spaces that support a personalised,

engaging and challenging learning program so that

students will achieve the social, emotional, academic

and physical growth to succeed in a global society.

20 October 2016

Vision: To provide every student with every opportunity to be the best they can be. Value: Respect.

21 October Curriculum Day (pupil free day)

24-26 Oct Life Ed Van

24 October Produce Market F/1B

26 October School Council 7pm

27 October Kinder transition visit

1 November Cup Day (public holiday)

4 November Rescheduled Swimming Lesson (JLC & MLC)

7 November Produce Market 2C

10 November Kinder transition visit

11 November Orienteering grades 3-6

12 November PFA Disco

16-18 Nov HPV Maryborough

17-18 Nov Gilwell Leadership

17 November Kinder transition visit

21-25 Nov Bike Ed

24 November PFA Food Day Kinder transition visit Family Bike Ride

27 November Puffing Billy Car Parking

28 November Produce Market 5F

30 November Enterprise Market School Council 7pm

5 December Swimming SLC

6 December Step Up Day (grade 6) Foundation 2017 Information Night 5.30pm

7 –12 Dec Swimming SLC

Notes that have gone home

HPV (SLC)

Rescheduled Swim Session (MLC & JLC)

EDEC Grade 5 Soccer

SLC Swimming

Life Ed (whole school)

Curriculum Day (whole school) All notices can be accessed from the school website: www.gembrookps.vic.edu.au

14 December Christmas Concert 6pm

15 December Big Day Out (Grade 6)

19 December Graduation

20 December Last day of term 4, 1.30pm pick up

Lily is a bird magnet at the Healesville Sanctuary School

Excursion

A VIEW TO THE FUTURE

Bren’s Banter

Brendan

Principal

Dear Families and Friends,

Healesville Sanctuary Excursion

Certainly one of the highlights of the year so far was last

Monday’s ‘Murrundindi @ Healesville Sanctuary’ whole

school excursion. With the weather firmly on our side, and all

of our students and teachers armed with their hats, smiles and

great enthusiasm, we set off exploring all of the delights that

the sanctuary has to offer. Murrundindi taught us about our

native animals and just how resourceful his ancestors were

utilising native plants and trees for food, shelter, medicine, fire

and even transport! I was so proud of all of our students who

listened carefully to Murrundindi and who represented our

school so well. Thank you to all of our mums and dads who

came along to join in the fun.

2017 Classes

Planning is in full swing now for the 2017 school year and

parents are very welcome to write to me outlining any relevant

educational considerations for next year. I ask that written

requests are based on educational grounds and reach me by

Friday 4th November. Any request I receive will be carefully

considered by myself and all relevant staff, however I need to

emphasise that teachers at Gembrook, as skilled professional

educators, spend a considerable amount of time and effort in

placing students into classes for the following year and there-

fore staff recommendations will be a priority in relation to

student class allocation.

Monday 31st October

Every year, the Monday immediately prior to Melbourne Cup

day is often used by parents as an opportunity to have an

extended weekend break. Past experience tells us that student

attendance on this day is often low. We assure you that every

student who attends school on Monday 31st October will be

fully supervised, however it should be noted that low attend-

ance on this day will likely result in an alternate program for

the day.

Streets Ahead – We had a “wheely” good time!

Over the past two days students across the school have partici-

pated in Cardinia Shire’s Streets Ahead program. The program

consists of a classroom lesson on being active and staying safe

on ‘wheels’ and then culminates in a great Wheels Fun Day!

Our thanks to Kate Beveridge for her ongoing work with the

Streets Ahead program.

Learning Walk

Last Tuesday, several principals from nearby schools visited

our school to participate in a FISO (Framework for Improving

Student Outcomes) Group ‘Learning Walk’. The purpose was

to see our writing program and to observe students and teachers

in action during a writing lesson. Time was spent in all class-

rooms and the subsequent discussion will assist in focussing

our writing program and professional learning around writing

for next year and beyond.

Curriculum Day

Just a reminder that staff will be involved in a whole day of

professional learning with highly regarded education

consultant, Lyn Watts, tomorrow Friday 21st October. This is

our final curriculum day for 2016 and will be a pupil free day.

High Expectations at Gembrook!

Are you wearing your correct school uniform every day?

Are you wearing your hat when you are outside?

Are your trying your very best in class?

Is your book work neat and tidy?

Are you being a caring and friendly classmate?

These are just some of the ‘high expectations’ that will enable

everyone to have a terrific term four.

Have a great week everyone and all the best.

October

24 Tayla W

25 Konner A

School Chaplain The Chaplaincy Service at Gembrook Primary

School aims to support the emotional wellbeing of

students by providing pastoral care services and

strategies that support the emotional wellbeing of

the broader school community.

Pastoral care means looking after the personal

needs of students, not just their

academic needs, by providing general spiritual and

personal support.

If you would like me to support your child / children through any

issues they may be experiencing, please fill out a permission form at

the school office.

Kind Regards,

It is HAT season once again. As a

SunSmart school, all students MUST

wear a hat for all outdoor activities.

No hats means play is

limited to shaded

areas only.

School Canteen

Now available

Mondays & Fridays

Lila, Aiden, Ziggy, Will and Mitchell enjoying Frog in the Hole (eggs in bread) for breakfast at Before School Care.

We love Before School Care because we get to have special breakfasts, like pancakes, French toast and eggs cooked lots of different ways. Thank you Tanya. From Lila

OSHC Come and have fun with us and learn new skills in our Outside School Hours Care Program

(OSHC). All students are welcome—come along and enjoy the activities and spend time

making new friends. Before school care begins at 7.30 (earlier start available on

request). After school care ends at 6pm. Collect an OSHC enrolment pack from the

school office or download an enrolment form from the school website:

www.gembrookps.vic.gov.au

Register with Centrelink for a 50% child-care rebate. You can

do this by logging into your Centrelink online account through the myGov site. Select the Approved child care service to reduce your fees option and it will be set up for you. For more details on Child Care Benefit and

Child Care Rebate call the Department of Human Services on 13 61 50.

Cockatoo Neighbourhood House is running

classes in Circus Skills for primary school aged children on Mondays 4.30pm-5.30pm. The first class of this fun 6

weeks course is on Monday 7 November. Benefits of circus skills classes are incredible. It helps to

improve hand-eye coordination, flexibility, strength, in-

creases flexibility and develop self-confidence. It also teaches children about teamwork and trust.

For more information please contact Cockatoo Neighbourhood House on 5968 9031 or email

cnhouse@iinet.net.au

It is very important for girls to develop confidence and strength to stand up for themselves, therefore Cockatoo Neighbour-hood House organised a 6 week course Self Defence for Girls between the ages of 11 and 18 years. The course covers: Threat and Risk Awareness, Environment Awareness, Verbal Self Defence Techniques, Assertiveness and Confidence Building, De-escalation Strategies, Night Awareness, Training Ground Self Defence, Multiple Attackers Defence. There will also be some videos to watch. The course starts Tuesday 7 November, 5.30-6.30pm. For more information please contact Cockatoo Neighbourhood House on 5968 9031 or email cnhouse@iinet.net.au

Newsletter Advertising

$10 per business card per term (businesses

belonging to school families only)

$25 quarter page for 2 weeks (for business-

es outside school community)

$25 quarter page per term (school families

only) Please contact the school office if you would like to place an add in the school newsletter

Fencing / Retaining Walls / Decks /