PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

CALEN SPORTS DAY: Once again our school had much to be proud of about the Calen Sports Day last Friday.

With 4 shields, one overall champion, eleven representatives to go to the Mackay District, and numerous other placings and excellent personal efforts we certainly showed the way on the track, in the field and in the team events.

I won’t spend too much more ink on this topic as Rex covers it nicely in his P & C report, however I do wish to highlight the important role you as parents played on this day.

For the day to run smoothly we need most of our staff helping in an official capacity, which leaves very few to organise children for events.

Thank-you to those many parents then who helped set up and clean up, those who organised the ball games and relay teams, those who marshalled the runners and finalists, those who supervised other children in our school area, and those who took even the smallest of roles in making thee big picture complete.

Hampden’s success on the day was, like so many successes in any field of endeavour, due to a committed team effort.

SCHOOL UNIFORMS: I’ll have more to say on this topic next week, however the forthcoming holiday break is an ideal time now that sports carnivals are largely completed to assess uniform requirements (and any school stationery for that matter), prior to the start of the second semester.

Board shorts, denim shorts, and similar are not part of the school uniform and should not be worn.

The P & C’s order of additional sports shirts are due to arrive soon, and an order has been placed for a supply of navy blue hats as an option to the traditional dark green.

ROCK-POP-MIME: It’s astounding to think that three years ago winning one Rock-Pop-Mime competition seemed an elusive dream, yet here we are with an opportunity to make 2008 a hat-trick of wins!

Our successes have once again been attributable to great parent-staff-community involvement, and win or not this year we’re guaranteed to have an item to be proud of if we stick with this formula.

A meeting will be held this Monday afternoon to get the Rock-Pop ball rolling, so please give serious consideration to helping out.

Details of this meeting are provided in Annette’s notice later in this newsletter.

THANKS STEPH! The Active After-School program is a fantastic concept which delivers many health and social benefits for the children involved.

Unfortunately, like so many businesses around the area at the moment, the AAS co-ordinators have been struggling to find enough qualified providers to actually run the activities, and to fund the full durations of the programs in the climate of mounting fuel and wages costs.

It has been very fortunate for us then that Stephanie Cruickshanks has been able to gain the necessary qualifications and donate her time on Monday afternoons to run the multi-skills games program for us.

Our AAS co-ordinator, ex-hockey Olympian Tracey Belbin, was here on Monday to assess Steph’s performance and suitability for further “employment”, and just as we suspected, it was a gold medal performance from Steph!

Congratulations and thanks on behalf of us all, Steph! I hope the children you’re involving will grow up with the same love and appreciation of the value of being fit and active as you have.

Howard Frost

Principal.

H.R.E. PROGRAM: During term 3 the sexuality component of the school Human Relationships Education program will be conducted with students in years 5 – 7.

Each year level’s program is different, and although some topics are the same the lessons are treated differently for the different grades.

In accordance with our school policy, every child in years 5 – 7 has been provided with a covering letter, a copy of their class’s program and a proforma offering parents the opportunity to withdraw their child/ren from any or all of the lessons outlines.

CALEN SPORTS UPDATE: Congratulations to the eleven Hampden students chosen to represent Calen Sub-District at the Mackay District Sports on FRIDAY 25 JULY.

12 Y.O.

Michael Ormonde: 800m; 200m; 100m; High Jump; Long Jump.

Kody Erixon: 800m

Cody Morrison: 200m

Bill Brown: Shot Put

Laura Thompson: 800m; 100m

Chelsea Perna: 800m

Jordan Perna; High Jump, Long Jump

11 Y.O.

Damian Volker; 800m; Shot Put

James Medway: 800m; 200m; 100m; High Jump; Long Jump; Shot Put

Tiffaney Wales: 800m

Kimberley Wales: 800m

Parents and competitors should not that there were errors on the letters given out to the Calen team members selected, as follows:

The Mackay Carnival is definitely on 25 July, NOT 10^th August as mentioned later in the letter, and that forms need to be back at school by this Tuesday, 24 June.

C.W.A. PRESENTATIONS: Maureen Peach will visit us on Monday after lunch to announce place getters in this year’s CWA Country of Study-Mongolia. Hopefully we’ll have some winners to announce in next week’s newsletter.

REMINDERS: * Reports will go home and parent-teacher interviews will be held after the holidays this year.

· Active After-School lessons have now concluded. A new program will run during term 3.

GARY “WALKING MAN” HOUSE: This adventurer spent half an hour discussing his travels with a fascinated school population earlier this week.

See his contact details in the Community Notices section to follow his progress on the web.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

Experience is a different teacher, giving you the test first and the lesson after. – Anon

Hello Everyone

We have been planning and designing a zoo for our imaginary animals this week. Our challenge is to build an enclosure for each animal that will keep it happy and healthy, but also incorporates a sway for zoo patrons to view the animal easily and safely.

Here are some ideas already underway!

1) A revolving globe with seat belts inside suspended over a very dangerous animal’s enclosure.

2) A dome-shaped enclosure with steps over the top and a safety laser device that is triggered when a dangerous animal gets too close to the glass of the dome.

3) Tree disguises (that also smell like trees) that you put on before you walk up the ramp to a camouflaged tree house to view a very shy and rarely seen creature!

4) A transparent roofed tunnel to view an animal that lives underground. (Torches available at the entrance of course!)

5) A walkway around and over a dome shaped enclosure with a viewing platform fitted with a telescope for observing the animal from a safe distance.

PLAYGROUP

Please note Playgroup will be held next Monday – 23^rd June as we will not have an opportunity to meet again until Monday 21^st July. It will run at the usual time – between 11.00am and 1.00pm. Don’t forget to bring a plate of healthy food to share!

ROCK POP MIME

A meeting will be held in the Library on Monday 23^rd June at 3.15pm for parents and community members interested in Rock Pop Mime 2008. If you are unable to attend this meeting but would still like to help please let me know – are grateful for any assistance!

Thank you in anticipation!

Annette Medway

It is time again for my fortnightly secretary’s report and as I reminisce over the last fortnight, I find it hard to go past the resounding success Hampden State School had at the Calen District Sports day. This display of sporting/athletic excellence would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of the teachers and parents who trained and coached prior to the day and organised and encouraged on the day, in saying that there is also a lot to be said for our students natural ability. Congratulations to Michael Ormonde, who received the overall male champion and all who received age champions and runner up in their age groups. Hampden received positive comments on our new sports uniform and it was a pleasure to see the students wear them with pride.

The P & C general meeting for June was held at school Monday with our next meeting scheduled for the 21^st July at 7.30pm at Hampden School, hope to see you there.

Cheers

Rex Munchow

P & C Secretary

WEEKLY CLASS AWARDS

As we were all up at Calen last Friday there were no weekly awards presented, however each child did receive a special Calen Sports Day participation certificate for being part of that terrific day.

Next Friday, the last day of term, Behaviour Management Certificates will be awarded to all deserving children.

Congratulations to the following students who have reached Milestone Award levels this week:

LEE OLSEN (10 awards) STAR STUDENT

DAVID DE PAOLI (10 awards) STAR STUDENT

RYAN OLSEN (35 awards) AWESOME ACHIEVER

JAMES MEDWAY (35 awards) AWESOME ACHIEVER

TIFFANEY WALES (215 awards) WONDERFUL WORKER

FOUND: In the school playground – a silver B & D ROLL-A-DOOR key. Please enquire at the office.

MACKAY METEORS: The Mackay Amateur Basketball Assn is conducting Basketball Camps for boys and girls in U10, U13 and U16 age divisions during the forthcoming school holidays.

Ask at the office for a registration form, or phone 49575543 for more details.

Issue no. 20, 20th June 2008

Issue no. 20, 20^th June 2008