PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

GOOD BREAK: I really enjoyed my fortnight’s holiday, as I actually did “go away” for the first time since taking some long service leave a few years ago.

It was great to catch up with family and friends in Brisbane before heading to the Gold Coast for the second week. Even the traffic seemed tolerable after an early morning stroll along the beach!

In short, it was a chance to move from the fairly narrow work focussed world to a more flexible ‘real’ world, rich in social, personalised interactions.

Spending too much time in rather narrow worlds is a trap we adults often fall into, but now more and more of our children are also finding themselves in “unreal” worlds thanks to the digital revolution. For them, there is an almost seamless integration of virtual, digital and physical spaces for both their socialising and learning activities.

So the next time you get a chance drag the kids away from in front of their computer, x-box, I-pod, TV, mobile phone or whatever, and head for the hills, the beach or anywhere they have the chance to interact with real people in real time.

As my holiday has reminded me, we all need a balance in our lives, both to know ourselves and to understand others.

REPORTS/INTERVIEWS: Students received their Semester 1 reports today, and have already been given interview/appointment letters to take home, in most cases.

It’s not too late to request an interview with your child’s teacher, so please feel free to phone, or let us know via your child, if an interview is required.

We look forward to some frank, useful, two-way dialogue over the next week or so with you, the members of our parent body.

Howard Frost

Principal.

WELCOME: A very warm welcome to Hampden to Latarni Thompson and her family. Latarni’s in year 1 and already seems right at home in her new school environment.

STAFF CHANGE: Visiting ‘Arts’ specialist teacher Alyce Woods has moved to Townsville and will be replaced by Leita Pace. Leita has been teaching drama and dance in Bundaberg prior to transferring back to Mackay.

WHITSUNDAY VOICES: I’m sure the children in years 5, 6 & 7 who are lucky enough to be able to participate in this premier youth literature festival on Friday will be enthralled by their experiences.

It’s not everyday you get the opportunity to engage in workshops with world famous authors and illustrators at such a young age!

I’d like to thank Helen Taylor, our teacher-librarian, for her efforts in arranging this visit for our students, and also Wide Bay Aust Ltd for their generous sponsorship of our transportation costs.

ENERGEX MOVE-A-THON: Hampden will be participating in this Ed Qld initiative over the next six weeks. See Minister Welford’s letter (an insert in today’s newsletter) for details.

ROCK-POP-MIME: Our Rock-Pop co-ordinators have been hard at it over the holidays organising props, music and costumes, and soon it will be time for the students to become involved.

Expect lots of information on this in the very near future.

ACTIVE AFTER-SCHOOL: The term 3 program will commence in week 3, with prep children also being invited to participate in some activities this semester.

As soon as activities and days are confirmed application forms will be sent home.

MACKAY DISTRICT SPORTS: Friday week will see our team members in action for the Calen Sub District at the Mackay trials.

To help these children prepare, Stephanie Cruickshanks is conducting training sessions each morning from 8.15.

YEAR 4/5 – CALL FOR HELP!

This term we will be studying INVENTIONS. We need any old, small appliances that you no longer need that would be suitable for the children to pull apart. Old clocks, kitchen appliances, radios, etc would be great. Could you please send them into the Year 4/5 room instead of sending them to the rubbish dump. Thanks!

Sue Wales.

FIRST-AID COURSE: Later this term we will be endeavouring to run a full first-aid course for interested staff, parents and other community members. More details soon.

TREE DAY 2008: Friday 25^th is Tree Day. This year we intend to plant some native trees to “fill in gaps” where others have died, and also to plant some fruit trees to commence an orchard section.

INTER-SCHOOL SPORT: With athletics almost over for the year the focus will switch to inter-school sport for the year 4-7 students.

I’m anticipating our first games to be played on Friday 08 August.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

Success is neither magical nor mysterious. Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying basic fundamentals.

P & C NEWS

Monthly meeting will be held this Monday 21^st. All welcome.

WEEKLY CLASS AWARDS

Weekly class awards will resume next week, however we do have two Milestone Award achievers to acknowledge today.

Courtney Perna has 165 awards, making her a SUPER STAR, while her sister Chelsea in year 7 has reached 265 awards, equalling the highest ever total and still with six months of school to go! Congratulations, girls.

COMMUNITY NOTICES

NORTHERN SUBURBS CRICKET CLUB SIGN ON:

Juniors & Seniors

DATE: Sunday 27^th July

TIME: 10 am – 12 noon

PLACE: Wanderers Soccer Grounds

Ben Nevis Street

Beaconsfield

CONTACT: Pam Barratt

49422076 or 0417798441

(for more information if needed)

MARIAN MARKETS

Church Grounds Marian

Sunday 20^th July 8.00am – 12 noon

Plenty of great stalls

Silent Auction

Sausage sizzle & refreshments available.

The Pioneer Valley Catholic Church is commencing a program to prepare Catholic children for the Sacrament of Penance (Confessio/.Reconciliation). Children from Year Three upwards are eligible to participate in this program. Parents who would like their child to be involved are asked to contact the Parish Office 49543242 – Charlotte 49543863 – Michelle 49540801 – Noela 49585664 – Sandra 49543642.

There will be an information night for parents in the Marian Church Hall on Thursday, 24^th July at 7.30pm.

Issue no. 22, 17th July 2008

Issue no. 22, 17^th July 2008