Greythorn Primary School No. 4694 Reading Avenue, North Balwyn. 3104 Telephone: 9857 9762 Fax: 9857 8175 Website: http://www.greythornps.vic.edu.au Email: greythorn.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au OSHCLUB 0411 392 707

Principal: Geoff Agnew

Edition 9 - 15th

April 2015

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

I would like to formally welcome Kim Dray to Greythorn Primary School. Kim’s experience, passion for learning and educational expertise will be an asset to our school.

Welcome back to school to all our students and families. It’s my pleasure to fill in for Geoff Agnew for the next two weeks. Geoff and I have known each other through the Boroondara Network for a number of years. After a dis-cussion before the break about these few weeks, I’m confident all will proceed as planned at Greythorn in Geoff’s absence.

Thank you to Jack and Sophia, our School Captains, who visited classrooms with me on Monday and introduced me to the GPS students. What a great opportunity for me to see classes already settled back into the new term and learning. As part of these visits, I asked every class to tell me something fantastic about Greythorn Primary. It was heartening to hear your children’s enthusiasm as they positively characterised their school. The most popular responses included:

working together

great opportunities for learning

terrific teachers

lots of wonderful friends

big playground with different places to play

sports and P.E.

camps.

I imagine camps are firmly in the minds of some of our senior students. We farewelled the Year 5 students today as they headed to Ballarat to experience school at Sovereign Hill as it was in the 1850’s. We have received word that they arrived safely. Expect some happy and exhausted campers to return on Friday between 3:00 and 3:30 p.m. Thank you to staff members Kathy Verbi, Simon Judkins, Alex Nitsos, Steve Pertz and Denise Hartigan for planning and supervising the campers, as well as the parents who have generously volunteered to assist (Nessa N, Dean H, Stella M). We are also fortunate to have a student-teacher, Rita Charalambous, joining the team.

At our staff meeting on Tuesday, Ken Darby and Simon Judkins led teachers through the more technical details of the new student reports. Following a change of policy and software by the Department of Education and Training, Victorian schools can now determine the timing, frequency and format of reports. Schools are adjusting their re-porting arrangements to be consistent with the new guidelines and reflect their teaching and learning programs. At Greythorn, this process began last year with discussion with parent representatives on the Education Commit-tee of School Council. Following that, staff consultation led to a draft report format which is almost ready to trial. Each student will receive a written report at the end of this term and in December. This is the next step in making the transition to the new reports and there will be opportunities for feedback in Term 3. More information will be made available to parents soon. Kind regards,

Kim Dray

Thursday 16 April Garden Club at 1.00pm in the Gazebo

Friday 17 April Parent Helper Briefing at 3.00pm in the Staffroom

Wednesday 22 April Year 4 Camp (students return on Friday 24 April)

Thursday 23 April Garden Club at 1.00pm in the Gazebo

Friday 24 April Interschool Sport vs Boroondara Park Primary (away)

Tuesday 28 April Year 1 Swimming commences (concludes 8 May)

Tuesday 28 April French Club at 1.00pm in the French Room

Tuesday 28 April Prep - Year 6 Musica Viva - Sounds Baroque visiting performance

Wednesday 29 April Chess Club at 1.00pm in the Year 5 area

Thursday 30 April Garden Club at 1.00pm in the Gazebo

Friday 1 May Year 2 Woodwork School visit 9.00am - 3.30pm

Tuesday 5 May Prep Zoo Excursion 9.00am - 3.00pm

Tuesday 5 May French Club at 1.00pm in the French Room

Wednesday 6 May Chess Club at 1.00pm in the Year 5 area

Thursday 7 May Garden Club at 1.00pm in the Gazebo

Friday 8 May Interschool Sport vs Balwyn North Primary (home)

Friday 8 May Mother’s Day Stall

Monday 11 May Cross Country Fun Run at Greythorn Park

Monday 11 May Prep 2016 Information Session and Tour in the Hall at 7.00pm

Tuesday 12 May NAPLAN - Language Conventions/Writing

Wednesday 13 May NAPLAN - Reading

Thursday 14 May NAPLAN - Numeracy

Friday 15 May District Cross Country (12.00-3.00pm)

Saturday 16 May Prep 2016 Information Session and Tour in the Hall at 9.30am

Monday 18 May Education Week at Greythorn Primary School

Tuesday 19 May Storytime in the Playroom - Pre schoolers Sessions

Friday 22 May Tour 1 to Noumea departs

Thursday 25 June Curriculum Day - Reporting to Parents

Music News

Sounds Baroque – Hercules Visiting Performance

Students in Prep to Year 6 will be treated to an inspiring performance from the group Sounds Baroque who will present Hercules on Tuesday 28

th April. This skilful adaptation of a Baroque opera with some modern twists, is

presented by Musica Viva and features some early instruments including the harpsichord and viola da gamba. The cost of this visiting performance is $7.70, which will be deducted from your child’s Excursion Levy. If this levy has not been paid please send $7.70 in a clearly labelled envelope to the office by Wednesday 22nd April.

We look forward to an enriching and engaging performance!

Joy Odou Music Teacher

COMING UP!

Year 2

will be performing at Assembly next Monday 20th April 2015

Year 2 students will need to be on stage by 8.45am

A number of SRI invoices are still outstanding. Students can only attend the Special Religious Instruction if both the permission form was signed and payment has been received by the school. All families that indicated that permission was given were sent home a school invoice in Term 1. If you have not paid to date, please forward $10.00 per student to the office by Friday 24

th April 2015.

Ricarda Lillis Business Manager

Special Religious Instruction

Classroom Helpers Briefing

A reminder that the briefing discussing the guidelines for helping in the classroom is on this coming Friday, 17th

April. This session is being held in the school staffroom which is located in Building 1, just down from the school office, at 3.00 – 3.30pm. Any questions contact Liz Miller.

School Photos

School Photos were distributed on Monday 13th April 2015. If you have not received your photo or have a query with your order please contact AdvancedLife direct on 9852 1133.

Sibling photos that were taken at a later date will be delivered to the school shortly.

Special Group Photos are on display outside the office. If you wish to order a copy, please complete the ‘Special Groups Order Envelope’ which is available from the office.

Special Group Photos are:

School Captains

Student Leaders

Social Service

Library Captains

French Club

Environment Captains

Art Captains

Music Captains (photo still to come)

Canteen Bites

Please note: Sushi is only available on Wednesday’s and is Fried Chicken and Avocado. Tuna is not available. Please find below the Roster for Canteen duty for Thursday 16th April to Wednesday 29th April 2015. If you are able to assist at all, please complete the attached Canteen Volunteer form or contact Lynne on 9898 3649 (After hours) or email lynnescraft@hotmail.com. Thank you.

Thursday 16 April Lydia Winstanley

Friday 17 April Monica Creedon / Fiona Casey

Monday 20 April HELP NEEDED

Tuesday 21 April HELP NEEDED

Wednesday 22 April Wilson Shum

Thursday 23 April Karen Koo

Friday 24 April Yelka Moloney

Monday 27 April HELP NEEDED

Tuesday 28 April HELP NEEDED

Wednesday 29 April HELP NEEDED

By now, everyone who ordered House T-shirts should have received them. If you have not received yours, please email karindabb@gmail.com. Thank you.

House T-shirts

Junior School Council

ANZAC Badges ANZAC badges will be on sale every day next week at recess in the Canteen Courtyard. Your JSC reps will be there each day to help you! Badges cost $2, $4 and $5 and the popular wrist bands are $3. Thank you. Junior School Council Pyjama Day Our Pyjama Day on the last day of Term 1 raised $800 for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal. Great job everyone! Junior School Council

Student Banking