PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

CONGRATULATIONS

NEWTON WISEMAN,

MIRANI HIGH DUX 2007

What a wonderful way to end Mirani High’s Awards Night last Friday evening – with the announcement of a former Hampden student as Dux of the school!

And this was on top of other outstanding performances from former Hampden students, such as Tara Keast’s sportswoman of the Year award, Joel Faltinsky’s polished performance as co-host for the evening and Colleen McFarlane’s MRAEL Award.

As their former principal and teacher I was filled with pride as past students collected award after award for Academic Achievement, Subject Awards, Cultural Awards, Citizenship Awards, Vocational Awards, and other specialty awards for Science, Leadership, Maths, etc. A feeling I had also enjoyed the previous week at Calen’s Awards Night.

We certainly do have a talented community of young people in this Kuttabul area, and it’s uplifting to see them getting so involved in high school life, and in the broader community as well. They are indeed products of our school’s Vision Statement “Empowering all learners to shape and enrich their changing world.”

DRESS CODE: With the introduction of the new Education Act late last year, schools were asked to formulate a School Dress Code (Uniform Policy) to accompany their Behaviour Management Policies.

Our Dress Code (Draft) was distributed to parents at this week’s P & C meeting, and also examined by our staff members.

If you would like a copy to read please contact the school office.

Discussion of this new policy will be the only major agenda item at December’s P & C meeting.

REMEMBRANCE EVENTS: What a great weekend we just had celebrating Remembrance Day with the HMAS Kuttabul’s commanding officer Bryan Parker.

The P & C executive is to be complemented on their hard work organising Saturday’s dinner, which was enjoyed immensely by our navy guests and the 120 others in attendance.

The planting of a pine tree descended from the original Lone Pine of Gallipoli by Commander Parker following the Armistice Day ceremony was another special feature of the weekend.

SCHOOL CAMP DEPARTS: Thirty-eight students and twelve adults head off for a week at the North Keppel Island Environmental Ed Centre this Monday morning at 8.00am.

The week involves snorkelling, outrigging, swimming, fishing, hiking, team building, plankton trawling, alternative energy studies, indigenous culture, African drumming, and a whole lot more!

We’ll all be pooped when we return, and that’s for sure!!

Due to absence on camp there will be no newsletter next Friday.

Bon voyage,

Howard Frost

Principal.

ELECTION DAY: Hampden State School is an official polling place for the elections next Saturday 24^th November.

Polling will be held in the 6/7 building/community room from 8.00am to 6.00pm.

JUMBLE SALE: Please continue to bring to school any saleable items you are able to donate for the Student Council’s Jumble Stall (i.e. similar to a garage sale) on election day.

We will also have a range of plants available for purchase as well at this stall.

Any parents who are able to assist with supervision of students on this stall will be most welcome. An hourly roster is hoped to be established, from 8.00am to 2.00pm.

If you are able to help out for an hour, please leave your name at the office.

NO NEWSLETTER: As we’ll be at North Keppel Island for this coming week there will be no newsletter next Friday 23^rd. Perhaps we’ll send a postcard instead!!

GOOD LUCK JADE! Jade Barratt is now on his way to Canberra after a 3 day training camp in Brisbane.

Our best wishes go with him and his team as they participate in the Australian Championships next week.

CHOCOLATE DRIVE: Almost all chocolate drive returns are now in, and what a wonderful response it has been. Final figures will be provided when the last few outstanding boxes are returned.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

Humour is just another defence against the universe. Mel Brooks, comedian, film maker

GROUNDSCARE NEWS

The recent rain has really greened-up our school grounds and everything is looking fresh and tropical again!

Unfortunately this also means work for our mowing volunteers who this month are the Grov and Morrison families.

Thanks for your continued support everyone.

Kathy Frost

Groundscare co-ordinator

LAST MEETING: Our last meeting for 2007 will be held on Monday evening, 10^th of December. (Last week of school.)

The main item on this short meeting agenda will be a review of the proposed School Dress Code.

Following the meeting the P & C will provide refreshments and nibbles in appreciation of the contributions you have made to the school’s operations throughout 2007.

Please join us for this social interaction.

2008 EXECUTIVE: As our P & C Secretary Priscilla Walters has her last child in Year 7 this year, we’ll be looking for a “new Priscilla” for 2008.

Please give some consideration to offering yourself for this role next year. You’ll have an experienced and very supportive team around you for support.

Similarly, Cheryl Barratt our tuckshop convenor is leaving us for the high school tuckshop with Jade off to year 8.

Perhaps you’re better with a wooden spoon than a pen, so if secretary’s not for you, how about the tuckshop convenor role??

XMAS HAMPER RAFFLE: This year we’ll be having our usual Xmas Hamper raffle and once again we’re asking for donations with a celebration/Xmas flavour to fill this hamper.

In past year’s we’ve had excellent responses and have been able to offer 3 prizes, something we’re hoping to be able to do again.

All proceeds from this year’s raffle will go towards the cost of our Bush Dance Band, Hullabaloo, thus enabling admission on the night to be free.

WEEKLY CLASS AWARDS

PRINCIPAL’S AWARDS: For singing beautifully at the Remembrance Celebration Dinner – Demi Cruickshanks, Dylan Edmonds.

Year 6/7: Homework Award: Chelsea Perna. Teamwork Award: Tamara Patchett, Sarah Smith, Ally O’Keefe, Lacey Mackenzie. Maths Award: Luke Kippen, Raymond Brown.

Year 4/5: Uniform Awards – Nick Perna, Jake Balsillie, Damian Volker, Tim Patchett, James Medway. Tables Awards – James Medway, Tiffaney Wales, Andrea Perna, Damian Volker, Jett Jones, Kimberley Wales, Anthony Leeding, Kristen Mackenzie, Sean Gee, Darcie Cahill, Lachlan Thompson, Jake Balsillie, Demi Cruickshanks.

– James Medway, Tiffaney Wales, Andrea Perna, Damian Volker, Jett Jones, Kimberley Wales, Anthony Leeding, Kristen Mackenzie, Sean Gee, Darcie Cahill, Lachlan Thompson, Jake Balsillie, Demi Cruickshanks.

Year 2/3: Oral Language – Abbey Medway, Amee Insch, Melissa Burns. Story Writing – Layton Morrison, Angel Lucas, Hapi Anaru, Douglas Pridmore.

Prep/Year One: Harley Proctor, Ricky Jones, Mikeely Morrison, Andrew DePoali – for reading 80 books. Shelby Mackelvie, Cate Cahill for interesting What Am I’s. Corey Paskins for persisting at writing. Shacarnie Scuderi, Rowan Leahy for listening well.

We’ve had a very lean period lately with our Milestone Awards, but now the drought has really broken!! Congratulations to:

ALICIA KEAST (20 awards) CHAMPION STUDENT

ZANE LISLE (20 awards) CHAMPION STUDENT

JOEL ASHCROFT (20 awards) CHAMPION STUDENT

CATE CAHILL (65 awards) SPECTACULAR SCHOLAR

MICHAEL VOLKER (250 awards) SCHOOL CITIZENSHIP CITATION

Issue no.37, 16th November 2007

Issue no.37, 16^th November 2007