AXEDALE PRIMARY SCHOOL

“Excellence Through Endeavour”

High Street, Axedale 3551

Ph. (03) 5439 7232 Fax. (03) 5439 7575

Principal – Lex Johnstone

Email: axedale.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au

NEWSLETTER No. 40 December 12th

2013

Important dates:

December 13th

– Axedale Community – Carols

in the Park 6.30pm

17th

– RE Combined Christmas

Service 2-3pm

17th

– Grade 6 Graduation

19th

– School Christmas Concert &

Picnic Tea

20th

– Last Day of Term 4 – 2.30pm

finish

22nd

– Bendigo Carols – Choir

2014

January

February

23rd

– Booklist Pick Up 9am-1pm

25th

– Axedale Quick Shear

28th

– Teachers resume

29th

– First Day of Term 1 – all

students

5th

– Prep Rest Day

20th

– School Photo Day

AWARD WINNERS Gr. P/1 – Lincoln Hipwell – For enjoying himself at

the Hot Dog Night, being very helpful and using his

manners.

Gr. 2/3 – Zayne Pearce – For always helping out others

in the classroom.

Gr 2/3 – Nathan Strawbridge – For always helping out

others in the classroom.

Gr. 4/5/6 – Kathryn McKay – For great progress in

subtraction.

GOLDEN BRUSH AWARD

The ‘Golden Brush’ winner for last week was Gr. 4/5/6.

HOUSE COMPETITION

The winners of last week’s classroom and house competition

were McIvor.

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

THANK YOU MORNING TEA Today we welcomed many parents, community members and

visitors to our school for a Thank You Morning Tea to

acknowledge the amazing support that a wide range of people

give to our school and our students. It was great to see so many

here. I would like to publicly acknowledge all those who

contribute to our school in so many ways. While it is probably

not a complete list, the following areas have been possible

through volunteer support.

Hearing reading every morning, buying fruit, cutting up fruit,

helping on excursions, co-ordinating mothers and fathers day

stalls, organising the ball, organising the progressive dinner,

being on school council, being on the finance committee, coming

to working bees, mowing whip ship outside of working bees, Artie mowing out the front, helping with

mosaic tiling, watering plants through the holidays, co-ordinating second hand uniforms, Library work,

painting cubby houses, contributing to Axedale Bush markets, cooking sausages, teaching guitar, attending

concerts to watch your children, helping with school photos, spreading mulch, cleaning up rubbish on a

Monday morning, checking for bullants, spraying round up, bringing pets in from home, cleaning the school,

selling raffle tickets, wrapping Christmas presents, covering books, catering for working bees, cooking

muffins, co-ordinating play group and completing head lice checks.

Ian and Sue are local community members who hear reading in the 4/5/6 room every Tuesday. They were

keen to present an award at our Thank You Morning Tea to someone who has shown great improvement and

determination throughout the year. Congratulations to Maliqua Pearce who was chosen by Ian and Sue to

receive this award.

CWA COMMUNITY YOUTH AWARD

Please see information in the Community section regarding the Axedale CWA Community Youth Award

This award is available to students from any grade level.

SCHOOL CHOIR –

LIGHTING OF THE

CHRISTMAS TREE

Last Friday our choir performed

at the Lighting of the Christmas

Tree at Rosalind Park. Over

1,000 people were in the

audience. They sang “Rockin’

Christmas” and “Feliz

Navidad”. They did an amazing

job and should be very proud of

themselves. Thanks again to the

parents for their support.

AXEDALE COMMUNITY CAROLS

The Axedale Community Carols are being held tomorrow night in the Axedale Park.

Proceedings will start from 6.30pm with a free BBQ and entertainment with Christmas

Carols from 7.30pm. Students who are in attendance will be performing four singing

items and an item with the Ungklungs.

RE COMBINED CHRISTMAS SERVICE

Next Tuesday 17th

December we will be holding our RE Combined Christmas Service

at the Axedale St Martin’s Catholic Church from 2pm-3pm. Parents are welcome to

attend. Students will be walking over to the church from 1.30pm. Those students who

are not attending will be supervised at school.

BENDIGO YOUTH CHOIR REHEARSAL

Choir students are invited to attend the Bendigo Youth Choir Rehearsals again next Wednesday 18th

December at St Andrew’s Church in Myers Street from 6.30 – 8pm to rehearse for the Bendigo Carols on

Sunday 22nd

December. Please let Miss Blume know if

you can make it.

TYPHOON HAIYAN APPEAL

Deborah Gates from the Red Cross in Bendigo came to

our assembly on Monday. Our Junior School Council

president Connor Cushen (whose initiative got the whole

appeal underway), John Caburnay and Keely Van Wynen

presented Deborah with a cheque for $2,670.85 from the

Axedale Community. Deborah presented our school with

a Certificate of Appreciation.

BUS TRAVELLERS

A reminder that for the remainder of the year, electronic

devices, hand held games, ipods, iPads, mobile phones

etc are not to be brought on the bus or to school. We feel it a good time to take a break from this activity for

a few weeks. We thank parents for their support in ensuring these items are kept at home.

SCHOOL PHOTOS – 2014

We have been scheduled to have our 2014 school photos on Thursday 20th

February with Richard Gibbs

Photography.

2014 BOOK LISTS

Student Book Lists for 2014 need be returned to school by tomorrow Friday 13th

December. Book

collection from the school will take place on Thursday 23rd

January from 9.00am – 1.00pm. In 2014, we ask

that all items from booklists be named and then returned to school where they will be stored for easy access

by students throughout the year.

CHRISTMAS HAMPER RAFFLE

It is on again and we are asking all families to donate something for our Christmas Hamper

Raffle. Please send in something “especially Christmassy”, so that our hamper will make

an excellent Christmas win! There is refrigerated storage available for chocolate items.

Raffle books are attached to the newsletter today and tickets will also be available at the end

of year break up evening. The raffle will be drawn on the concert evening. Thank you for

your support.

END OF YEAR EVENING

Our end of year Christmas Concert will be held at school on Thursday 19th

December. Please put this date

into your calendar. To start the evening, we will have a picnic basket tea from 6.15pm, or for those who

wish to cook, the BBQ will be available. Don’t forget to BYO chair.

Concert items will start from 7.00pm. Awards and acknowledgements will follow the concert from

approximately 8.00pm.

A reminder to parents to make a delivery to the office before this night – talk to a teacher or Katrina in

the office if you are unsure. School finishes on Friday 20th

December at 2.30pm.

GRADE 6 GRADUATION EVENING

Plans for the Grade 6 Graduation evening are now confirmed. Grade 6 students and their parents are invited

to come along to the Dragon City Bowling Alley in Hargreaves St. on Tuesday 17th

December from 5.45pm

and join in a fun game against their friends or even take on mum and dad. After bowling we will be making

our way up to La Porchetta for tea from 7.00pm.

School will cover the cost of the bowling & meals for students, while parents are asked to cover the costs of

their meals.

The students are asked to begin working on a speech about their time at Axedale including good/funny

memories, highlights, things they will miss and things they are looking forward to. Students have

traditionally presented this speech to their fellow Gr. 6’s and the parents on the night.

QUICK SHEAR

On Saturday 25th

January, a Quick Shear competition and Family Day will be held at the Axedale Park. An

organising committee made up of local residents and representatives from the school and pre-school have

been working on plans for the day over the last month or so. Profits from the event will be shared between

the school and pre-school.

We will be looking for considerable help on the day. Volunteers will be required to do general set up and

pack up tasks and a variety of jobs on the day. As it is school holidays we need an indication now if you are

able to help. Please fill in the slip at the end of the newsletter.

SCHOOL COUNCIL

Our current School Council will meet for the final time next February. School Council Elections are held in

all Victorian schools in March, with Councils working on a March to March cycle.

Of our current School Council Parent Representatives, Neil Aurisch, Lara Bathurst and Shane Carmody will

have completed the first year of their two year term next February. Michael Hermens, Martin Cushen and

Kellie White will finish their two year term next February.

We are actively searching for our next group of Parent Representatives. What is involved? School Council

meet monthly, traditionally at 6.30pm on the third Tuesday of the month. Reports are provided in Finance,

Curriculum, Buildings and Grounds, School and Community and a Principal’s Report. Being involved is a

great opportunity to contribute in a positive way to the feel and the happenings around the school.

Prospective Councillors are encouraged to come along to our February Meeting to gain a sense of what takes

place. Please let us know if you might be interested.

TERM DATES 2014

Term 1: 28th

January (teachers start), Wednesday 29th

January (students start) to 4th

April

Term 2: Tuesday 22nd

April to 27th

June

Term 3: 14th

July to 19th

September

Term 4: 6th

October to 19th

December

JUNIOR SCHOOL COUNCIL – CARDS FOR SALE

Junior School Council have a variety of greeting cards, gift bags, etc for sale at 50c per card or pack. The

card spinner is near the office, or look for the children selling them at the start of the day.

STUDENT BANKING

Students who participate in the Commonwealth Bank Student Banking program are encouraged to redeem

their tokens if they have 10 or more before the end of the year. The School Banking system is getting an

upgrade over the holidays and they will only be rolling over a maximum of 9 tokens into the new year.

Tokens will be tracked electronically from 2014 onwards.

ACTIVE AFTER SCHOOL COMMUNITIES

Yesterday was our last Active After School session for the year. We have had a great year of activities,

hopefully opening the student’s eyes to a range of activities that can be pursued.

Thanks to Mr C for all of the organising that he does to ensure the success of the program.

Many thank also to Deb Tuohey who conducts an activity each week for the students and just as importantly,

purchases the fruit that the students enjoy before each session.

Thanks also to Drew Cathcart, our Regional Co-ordinator who gives our school great support every year.

FRESH FRUIT DUTY ROSTER

Friday 13th

December – Emma Carmody

Tomorrow is our last Fresh Fruit Friday for this year. Thank you to all our volunteers

for their continued contribution.

Lex Johnstone

Principal

FROM THE CLASSROOMS

SPELLING & READING AWARDS

Each week at assembly, students who have

achieved levels in either word recognition or

spelling, are presented with their

achievement certificates.

Congratulations to the following students

who have achieved a level certificate:

Reading Mioow Red Words – Todd White

Reading Mioow Blue Words – Margarette

Caburnay

Reading Mioow Indigo Words – Killeen

Monti

Reading Mioow Purple Words – Meg White

Reading Mioow Lemon Words – Tahlia Kendall Reading Mioow Lemon Words – Callum Cairney

Reading Lemon Oxford Words – Zane Van Wynen Reading Silver Oxford Words – Jodi Burnside

Reading Silver Oxford Words – William Harvey Spelling Mioow Pink Words – Skyla Cairney

Spelling Mioow Aqua Words – Brydie Jobling Spelling Gold Oxford Words – Nathan Strawbridge

Spelling Blue Oxford Words – Laura Higgins Spelling Blue Oxford Words – Molly Bartels

Spelling Orange Oxford Words – Zayne Pearce Spelling Indigo Oxford Words – Hannah Prendergast

GR 4/5/6 INDONESIAN

In Indonesian classes this term Year 4/5/6

students have been learning about the

importance of early morning traditional

markets (Pasar) in Indonesian life. They

learnt how to bargain for basic goods and

presented a bargaining scene in Indonesian

language.

HOT DOG NIGHT

On Hot Dog Night the children had lots of fun and laughter while

learning the rules and responsibilities of a good camper. Thanks to

Mr J, Mrs Bennett, Miss Mannes and Mrs Williams for helping to

make it such a great night.

PREP-3 GYM

We were lucky to be given a free session at Palmer’s Gym this Tuesday. Our Prep – Grade 3 students really

enjoyed this opportunity.

FUNDRAISER – BEN SHAW

Ben Shaw took part in the ‘Gutsy Challenge’ run by the GI Cancer Institute to raise money for Gastro-

intestinal cancer research. Ben’s challenge was to eat two fruit and four veg each day for a week.

Ben raised $152.70 for this worthy cause.

COMMUNITY

Proudly presents:

Starlight Drive – In

Beneath the Southern Cross

Bendigo Showgrounds

6 pm Sat 25th

of Jan 2014

Family ticket $ 40 kids under 5’s free

Pre – sale tickets are now available:

www.starlightdrivein.com.au

Or call Noel on 0429 160 087

GOORNONG SWIMMING LESSONS

Swimming lessons will be available again at

the Goornong Swimming Pool from January

20th

– 24th

. Sessions are available for children

4 years of age or older. Sessions run for 30

minutes and a block of five lessons will cost

$50. Sessions will run from 2pm. Contact

Sharon Hipwell for further information.

Hey Ladies, would you like a social game of

netball. We have a three section indoor comp on

Mondays or Thursdays, with free crèches. Give

me a call, or if you are an umpire or would like to

learn you are most welcome.

Phone Deb on 5439 7637 or 0407 509 227

Water Aerobics Class Goornong Starting 7

th December 2013

FIRST SESSION FREE

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 6 pm

$10 per session or $80 for 10 sessions

(this includes pool entry for the day)

Water Temperature 28-32 °C

By appointment please phone

Claire Ellis 0459330070

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QUICK SHEAR VOLUNTEER HELPERS

Family Name________________________________

We are able / unable to help at the Quick Shear competition and Family day at the Axedale park on Saturday

23rd

January, 2014.

"Colour Your World Art Studio" It will commence next year, term one (all going

to plan), for children aged 18 months and up.

"Create, Explore, Learn"

"A place of sensory play & fine motor skill

development all through the world of art!"

2 classes per week:

Tues and Fri mornings 9:30-10:30

10 children in each class

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL!!

Call Megan on 0422596822

Located in Strathdale