PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

LITERACY IN-SERVICE: We have been a little short staffed this week around the school as all 3 of our teacher-aides attended three days each of literacy in-service.

During semester 2 this year and the first semester of 2008 all teachers across the state will attend 5 days of literacy professional development.

In my thirty-five years of teaching I have never before witnessed this magnitude of in-service, which is being funded jointly by the state and federal governments.

To say it will be a “great shot in the arm” for the improvement of literacy skills would be an understatement!

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: Thanks to the dedication of our 5 volunteer instructors our non-denominational R.E. program is again up and running across the whole school.

Recent changes to the Education Act have altered the name back to religious instruction now, its name when I was in primary school!

What hasn’t changed however are the underlying messages of love, hope, peace and tolerance, of which there never seems to be enough of in today’s world.

A special thank-you from Hampden to Rob Pym and the Calen Uniting Church for again financing the purchase of the student workbooks used by the classes.

A.G.M.s: This Monday sees the beginning of our monthly P & C meetings when the AGM commences at 7.30pm, preceded at 7.00pm by the Bus Committee AGM.

Hampden has a great reputation around the district, brought about largely due to the enthusiastic participation of parents in all facets of our school’s operations, from these P & C meetings to volunteer helpers “on the ground”.

Invariably great schools have strong P & C memberships, so please support your child’s school and fellow parents by attending our meetings on the third Monday of each month, commencing with our A.G.M.

Howard Frost

Principal.

WELCOME NIKITA: A warm welcome is extended to Nikita Daniels and her family who arrived at Hampden on Monday. Nikita has already settled in well to her new school and is enjoying being with her year 1 classmates here.

CONSENT FORM: A check of our records show that we do not have consent forms (previously known as media consent forms) for twenty of our students.

These children have been given a copy to take home for parents to sign, along with the associated information sheets.

From a practical viewpoint we are unable to publish photos of children who do not have this consent in our newsletter, local newspaper, school highlights CD-rom, etc.

EEC NEWS

Hello Everyone

Lots of “writing” and recording in Prep/Year One this week.

The victim of a close encounter with a spider, was interviewed by the class. We recorded a description of the spider and tried to find out what kind it was. Rowan brought a book to school about North Queensland animals and we found the section about spiders. From our research we concluded it was probably a Lynx spider. We then found lots of different (non-venomous) spiders around the school grounds and identified them according to their shape, coloured markings and the webs they spun. So far we have found a Northern Jewelled spider, a Lynx spider, lots of Daddy Long Legs, and a St Andrew’s Cross spider.

We also wrote valentines to our families, and made a table of things that roll and things that slide.

Many thanks to the mums who assisted with Year One reading, sights words and sounds this week – your help is invaluable!

Annette

P & C NEWS

VOLUNTEERS: It’s not too late to volunteer to help out around the school by returning your MOWING ROSTER FORM, OR BY PHONING Cheryl Barratt to assist in the TUCKSHOP. Anyone got a healthy recipe that kids like and could go on the tuckshop menu. Please don’t be shy come along and share your recipes with the tuckshop or call Cheryl Barratt on 49540268. We are also looking for ice-cream containers to use for ice making.

Frank has enough volunteers for the bar at this Saturday’s footy competition, but needs more help for the Cowboys V Warriors match, so we’re re-printing last week’s item.

MEETINGS: This Monday at 7.00pm the Bus Committee Annual General meeting will commence, followed by the P & C AGM and general meeting at 7.30pm, in the school library.

We urge all parents to attend these meetings and to give your opinions about how we can make our children’s education the best it can be.

Finally, don’t forget to complete and return your 2007 P & C membership forms. It’s in your family’s best interest to be an official P & C member.

Who’s for a football game?

Volunteers required

We have been offered to do 40 corporate boxes at the Cowboys V Warriors game on the 24^th February in association with St Mary’s school. I will require about 10 volunteers to set up on Friday afternoon, (table & 8 chairs per box) then about 10 people to stock eskies Saturday morning (about 10.00am). On Saturday we will require some people to start about 2.00pm, then others around 4.00pm. We will need about 15 people to take orders and to then supply each of the boxes for the remainder of the night. For this the school will receive $3300.

Can those who can help during these times please contact the school or Frank Perna (Mob 0418765243, Home 49540274).

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

The happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

GROUNDSCARE 2007: To start our 2007 year thanks goes to Frank Perna’s family and Bruce Crozier’s family. Thank-you to both families for ensuring the grounds were taken care of for the start of the new school year.

By now, our 3^rd newsletter into 2007 you will have come across our grounds roster for this year. Our first family to take on the challenge with our great wet season was Chris and Barb Perna and their family. Thank-you for a huge effort keeping our grass down at school, as well as your own!! I know no sooner Howard has mowed ours it looks like it needs another mow 2 days later!

Another roster has been inserted in this newsletter showing where assistance has been volunteered, but we are still in need of more volunteers.

Please consider. I know everyone’s spare time is valuable but the groundscare is a main part of our children’s outdoor education that needs your valued help.

Thank-you.

A MESSAGE FROM EDUCATION QUEENSLAND

Literacy-The Key to Learning

Literacy – the Key to Learning Framework for Action 2006-08 details the practical steps Education Queensland is taking to ensure every student from Prep to Year 12 as the best chance to meet the high literacy standards required to succeed in school and beyond.

It recognises that quality teaching can make the single biggest difference to students’ literacy outcomes.

It is essential that all teachers, teacher aides and schools have the knowledge, skills leadership and support to continuously improve the quality of literacy teaching in all subject areas.

In October 2006, 15 Regional Managers Literacy were appointed to assist in the delivery of professional development of all teachers from Prep to Year 9 and all early years teacher aides.

The first phase of the Literacy Professional Development is now being rolled out with the start of early years teacher aide training across the state. Regional literacy managers have organised three-day teaching sessions for teacher aides to help them support teachers in the classroom.

Information on the regional venues and timing of these sessions can be accessed from the Literacy website: www.education.qld.gov.au/literacy

Issue no.3 16th February, 2007

Issue no.3 16^th February, 2007