Principal: Mr Stephen Crossley Ph 55232218 Fax 55217839

PO Box 317 Portland Vic 3305 portland.bay.sch@edumail.vic.gov.au

Date: Thursday 7th May 2015. Issue 13

COMING EVENTS

TERM 2 Friday 8th May - Sailing Regatta in Warrnambool for selected students

Next Week Monday 11th May - Swimming - Finance meeting 1pm Tuesday 12th May - RDA - School Council Meeting 7pm Wednesday 13th May - Thursday 14th May - Friday 15th May -

Important Dates to Remember. Monday 18th May - School Photos - Family Photo Order Envelopes are available from the office. Tuesday 26th May until Friday 29th May - Group 3 CAMP - Blackwood Friday 5th June - Curriculum Day No students for report writing day Monday 8th June - Queens Birthday Public Holiday

From the Principal’s desk

Steve is back from his leave and returning to school next Mon-

day. I’d like to thank everyone for all their support over the last

4 weeks while I’ve been in the Acting Principal role. I’d also

especially like to thank Larni Butler who has been teaching

Group 1 during this time. Jill Edwards was our visitor to our

assembly yesterday to be presented with the money raised of $172 on Crazy Hair

Day last term. The money goes towards the Lighthouse Foundation.

May Ball

Our May Ball was held on Saturday night and was a huge success. On behalf of our

school community, I extend a huge thank you to the organisers, people and business

who donated items and everyone who helped or supported us in any way. Thank you

and we will keep you posted on funds raised and purchases for our students.

Wellbeing Day

Last Thursday I visited Hamilton SDS and met with the Principal, Cameron Peverett

and two of the teachers, Sonya Holden and Julie Smith. The reason for the visit was

to share how our schools’ have introduced School-Wide Positive Behaviour

Support over the last year, and what some of our future plans are. For example: how

we run assemblies, how we acknowledge and reward students for positive behaviour,

how we teach students about our schools’ behaviour expectations on how to be a

learner, a respectful, how to be responsible and how to be safe.

I was very impressed with a special anti-bullying day they organised for the whole

school last term. The students rotated around various activities learning about how to

make and keep friends, how to get along with others at school and at work, and what

students could if they thought they were bullying.

We are organising a similar activity day in the last week of this term, called

Wellbeing Day. Some students from Susan and Phil’s classes have already met with

teachers to start the planning. If any parents would like to know more or be involved

in some way please let us know.

Sailing

Thanks to everyone, students, parents and staff (both Portland and Warrnambool

staff) for making last week’s sailing such a success. We thought we were especially

lucky with the weather!

Tomorrow Friday, 8th May, weather permitting, Brady, Ashley, Graydon, Isaac, Sean

and Jenny will be competing in the Sailing Regatta in Warrnambool. Susan and

Adam will be supervising the students and Darrell is driving the bus. Good luck!

Grip Student Leadership Conference

Last Tuesday Jamie Pumpa and Coster Saurbrey attended the GRIP Student

Leadership Conference in Mount Gambier with Teacher, Kylie Ferguson. Reports

are that the day was fun packed, they meet lots of new people and came home with

some good ideas and best practises on what makes a good leader.

Caught Being Good.

Congratulations to all the students who were given raffle tickets for demonstrating

behaviours for being respectful last week. This week’s raffle winners are:

Peter Saunders, Akaysha Morrison and Graydon Rudd.

Peter and Akaysha were recognised for making good choices and following

directions; Graydon was recognised for playing safe games. Well done!

This coming week, the students will be focussing on learning how to be safe.

Happy mothers day to all the mums on Sunday and have a safe, relaxing

weekend……..Gillian Caithness, Acting Principal.

At our whole school assembly,

we draw the

“Caught Being Good” raffle.

Throughout the week, staff give

students a raffle ticket for

displaying positive behaviour either

in their classroom, on the

playground or in any school events

such as excursions, outings or

community access.

Stars of the Week “Caught Being Good”

Well done, Peter Saunders,

Akaysha Morrison and

Graydon Rudd,

Great Job in last weeks focus of :

“Being Respectful”

This week’s focus is:

“Being Safe”

Swimming News Huge effort by all this week at swimming. Our swim teacher,

Rose and I are seeing huge improvements in all the students.

This week's You're a Star award goes to Lucy Jennings for

trying new things in the water and the Top Effort award goes

to Jenny Elliot for trying a new swim program that she can

follow herself. She swam 700 metres - well done Jen.

Cheers Emma

MAY

BALL

2015 Congratulations and

thank you

to the

May Ball Committee,

and everyone who contributed in some way

on, another very successful event and

fantastic night.

Thank you to everyone

who donated and

helped in this very

worthy event for our

school.

Raffle winners : 1st Sue

Cowie, 2nd Boppa, 3rd

Judy Rodwell and 4th

Bernie Stiles.

Thank you to the following business on the raffle prize donations

Sailing - last Friday

1st May 2015

“Great Fun !! Want

to do it again “ -

Jmara

Fantastic day with great

weather and smiles all

around.

“Really had fun” - Brodie

“2 thumbs up”:) - Noah

These a

re

amaz

ing,

great

job ev

e-

ryone.

Student Quotes:

Wow !!!

5,4,3,2,1……...Awesome !

Amazing, it does something !

It actually worked !

Really ! I didn't think it

would do anything, wow !

Words on Wellbeing Taking responsibility

Last week, I wrote about the critical importance of the 3 R's for us. So this is a little like checking homework! The

article was not about Reading, Writing & Arithmetic...it was about Remembrance, Respect and Reflection. And how we build on these values for our wellbeing. So when we add another R word, it can be a little daunting. Because

the word I want to add is RESPONSIBILITY. A value we are thinking about this week. For it is sure hard these days to take responsibility for our actions. And it is really hard to simply have to BE responsible. There is the little sister

or brother to care for; that funny shaggy-haired dog who needs to be fed and groomed; our personal hygiene and

care; the daily chores that need to be shared around the family. So in our everyday life, we all have to act responsibly. Parents will often take responsibility for kids. But this

sometimes means saying NO. It sometimes means teaching that critical lesson that for an action there is a consequence. For an inappropriate behaviour, there is someone who will need to take responsibility. And it can also

mean having to make choices; making a strong good choice rather than a weak, bad one. These are life-skills and

we need to sometimes explicitly teach and practise them. Building our children into responsible adults can be a daunting task but it has rewards. There are many individual

needs here within our school community. And many caring, responsible parents and teachers who continue to build self-esteem in the children attending Portland Bay. This is what a holistic education is about. We learn that through

partnerships we can share responsibilities and nurture the wellbeing of one another. So this week, think of all the times you have taken on being the responsible one. And be proud of what you have achieved.

Some parents have asked if others may want to enjoy a regular morning tea (& yes, I am happy to take responsibility for this)! Where some general discussion questions on Wellbeing may be shared. Or even just for a

getting-to-know-you chat. What do you think?

Sue Cowie - Wellbeing coordinator

Wednesday School Lunch. *********************

Week 5’s meal is Pumpkin Soup & Bread

The cost will be $4.00

Please Complete the below form and return to the office, with correct money,

by Monday, Thank you.

Name: ________________ Group: ____________

Total enclosed: $__________________

Akaysha doing some

amazing magic show tricks Adam, Adam, Adam….It’s

called a Washing Machine !!

L

Community Announcements :

Thank you to Subway

Portland for supporting

our Motor Heads program.

Very much appreciated

and we support our local

business.