PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

LEADERSHIP PRESENTATION: Jan Jarratt MP, Member for Whitsunday, has graciously accepted an invitation to present Hampden’s 2008 school leaders with their badges.

The presentation will commence at 12.30 sharp this coming Tuesday 22 April, when the Student Council Executive as well as the Sports House Captains and Vice-Captains will be recognised.

Parents and other interested family members are welcome to attend these presentations, and following the ceremony Mrs Jarratt will stay for a short while to share a cuppa and a snack with us.

ANZAC DAY: The children have begun practising their songs for Anzac Day next Friday, and appear to be enjoying the mixture of some revered favourites and a couple of new additions.

Some grounds beautification has also been occurring with the 6/7 class tidying up the gardens and surrounds, a process which develops co-operation, perseverance, personal pride of accomplishment and school pride.

Organisers of the morning’s ceremony have been working overtime to ensure the event’s success, and along with our regular guests from the HMAS KUTTABUL we’re also expecting a large number of the Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club to be in attendance this year.

Kuttabul’s Anzac Day Dawn Service here at Hampden, and the activities which follow, have a reputation within the wider community. If you haven’t attended one before I urge you to do so this year, and bring some guests with you if you like.

You’ll find it both a moving and entertaining experience.

Howard Frost

Principal.

SCHOOL CAMP: All children in years 4-7 received their first copy of this year’s school camp newsletter, “The Townsville Tabloid”, yesterday. This edition asks for “expressions of interest” from both students and parent supervisors.

PUPIL ABSENCES: An “absence sheet” has been included with this newsletter to assist parents in advising the school when children have been absent.

Contacting the school by phone, fax or e-mail are other alternatives available.

ACTIVE AFTER SCHOOL: This program is expected to resume after the Anzac Day weekend.

Unfortunately the Jump Rope provider is unable to instruct during term 2 and an alternative activity has to be found.

SPORTS SHIRTS: Children requiring shirts to be screen printed for our inter-house sports day should bring them along in the next fortnight.

Please ensure they are sun-safe (have a collar) and are clearly named.

SPORTING SUCCESS: Congratulations to Cody Morrison and Sean Gee who have been selected in the U12 and U11 Mackay District Rugby League teams respectively.

Best wishes for continued success, boys.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

It is difficult to see the picture when you are inside the frame. – Author unknown

MS READATHON: Isobell from MS READATHON was our special guest at school this week. Isobell told us what MS (Multiple Schlorosis) stands for, how it affects people, and how we can help to raise funds to support these needy people.

Every family received a brochure that tells us how to follow the 5r’s, so that by June we’ll be ready to read, read, read!

EEC NEWS

Hello Everyone,

We have had almost a whole week of birthdays in Prep year One! Mrs Perna’s birthday was on Tuesday, Samara’s birthday was on Wednesday, Emilee’s birthday is today, jack’s birthday is tomorrow and Kaleb’s birthday is on Saturday. We wish you all Many Happy Returns!

Ruby the orphan wallaby visited us on Wednesday. We took special care of her for the day; watching her closely as she nibbled the grass and explored the great outdoors, giving her milk and fresh grass, making sure she was comfortable in her hanging pouch, and emptying it of ‘you know what’! She enjoyed the children’s cuddles and close attention and has been invited back for another visit!

Our clever Prep/Year Ones have begun making comparisons this week. We are investigating similarities and differences and the language used to convey them. For instance we noticed that both Rowan and Joel like cheese and pears, both are leaders this week, but Rowan has dark hair and Joel has light hair. We read fiction books about little monsters in year One and used opposites to compare their behaviour with ours. Most children’s hands are clean, but, all little monsters’ hands are dirty. Some children’s pencils are sharp, but, all little monsters’ pencils are blunt. Children’s voices are quiet, but, little monsters’ voices are loud. We have just finished reading fiction books about worms and butterflies and we want to compare them with non-fiction books about the same subjects. In Math we are sorting found objects and shapes according to attributes such as size, shape, colour, texture and composition.

Mr Perna brought his tractor to school today and fulfilled another ‘wishing jar’ wish. We couldn’t go for a ride in it but we did get to sit in the cab and find out what all the levers and buttons do! We also looked at the symbols and signs and found out what they meant.

Lots of other people had tractors at home and we were able to compare them with Mr Perna’s. (Mr Perna says his tractor is the biggest but David DePaoli reckons his harvester is bigger still.)

REMINDER: The monthly meeting of the P & C will be held this Monday – 21^st April.

TUCKSHOP NEWS: Due to next Friday being Anzac Day Tuckshop will be on Thursday the 24^th April. If everyone could have their order forms in by Tuesday it would be greatly appreciated.

Also, if you have an abundance of fruit or vegetables in your garden and would like to donate it to the tuckshop we will cut it up for the children or use them is our menus. If you can help please phone Barbara 49540162 or drop them into the school on Fridays.

The Horse Is In The Jeep – Lillyann Burgess

Once upon a time not very long ago there lived a horse. One day the horse went riding. When the horse got to Africa he saw people camping in the open. He turned around and he saw a funny looking zebra jeep. So the horse got in the jeep. He turned on the engine Brbrbr…! Just then the campers woke up and off went the jeep. And the campers ran after him.

Lion Drives the Motorbike – Riley Cruickshanks

Once there lived on an island far away. On that island lived people had funny teeth. They had a car, motorbike and two jeeps. One day something came to the camp. It had big teeth and mean and glary eyes. It was a lion that big glary eyes and mean big, big teeth. They tried to catch it but the couldn’t. He was too fast for them. He ran into the jungle and he came our on a motorbike. They fell to the ground.

The Bears Captured – Melissa Burns

Once upon a time there was a bear. When they went the bear jumped in the car. Whoa!

The Monster – Denzel Fagan

One night in the forest there were two kids in a tent and they did not know there was a monster in the forest and the names of the kids were Ned and Fred. Ned heard something outside the tent. I will look outside the tent said Fred. So Fred looked and he said I cannot see it. You must be using your imagination said Fred and they saw the band and they ran out of the tents and ran home and the monster was watching.

The Magic Window – Ryan Olsen

Once upon a tie some men that wee explorers started to walk through the forest. They walked and walked until they found a door. They went in the door, what did they see. They saw a window. I think we need to knock on it. So they knocked on it. Nothing happened. Just then the window sucked them up. When it had stopped they were in Africa. They saw people, lots of people. They wanted to play.

One Dark Night – Douglas Pridmore

One dark night in the far west desert some friends set up camp and made a fire and put up the tents and a few hours later the fire went out and they went to sleep. At midnight a ho, ho, ho and the friends woke up and saw a zombie and walked to the car and jumped in it and only one was left and they drove after them and the zombie said blar, hob, ho! And the zombie ran out of there and jumped out of the car and ran like the wind and the zombie had a hat on his head and stopped and the hunters shot him with a tranquilizer.

Africas First Day at School – Shelby Mackelvie

Once upon a time there was a little girl. She loved school. She loved to read and write.

The Very Lost People – Kade Starrett

Once upon a time there lived some very lost People. They wanted food. They could eat forever but there was a bug who was very small. They could barely see it when it gets angry.

Scary Mary – Cate Cahill

Once upon a time Mary was sick and Mary died of her sickness. If you saw her you would get petrified and in four days you might die and they all lived but one and Mary died in 1009. That is the end.

Issue no11, 17th April 2008

Issue no11, 17^thApril 2008