PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

SMART CHOICES – HEALTHY FOODS: The introduction of government legislation regulating the types of foods and drinks able to be sold at schools is the perfect opportunity for us all to steer our children’s eating habits in a healthier direction.

The government’s policy is aimed at combating childhood obesity, but as educators we also know that there is a direct link between what children eat and the performance of the brain. This even extends to certain behaviour patterns.

In this age of both parents working more and more children have the task of packing their own lunches. I would urge all parents to take the lead of the government and reinforce their healthy foods message by providing nutritious foods for them to choose from. If “junk food” is available then children will select this every time.

Whilst on morning tea duty this week I spoke to one student about the lunch he had packed himself – a packet of chips, a packet of Tiny Teddys and some chocolate biscuits!!

This type of food might be convenient but it isn’t assisting developing bodies and brains now, or providing the basis for a healthier, happier adulthood in the future.

Thank-you to Julie Burns and Lorraine Insch for continuing to progress their Healthy Foods mural on the tuckshop walls; its yet another way we can reinforce the message that for the development of strong, healthy bodies and brains correct nutrition is vital.

LEADING THE WAY: Congratulations to all the former Hampden students who were recognised as leaders of Mirani High at the 2007 Senior Investiture last Friday.

Newton Wiseman and Joel Faltinsky (male captain and vice-captain), Tara Keast (Aquilla House Captain), Alexis Howe (Cultural Captain) and student councillors Jessica Burston, Ty Crozier, Zoe Goodson, Chris Jowsey and Jacob Muscat are the latest in a long list of “Hampdenites” who are prepared to unselfishly contribute to the improvement of their fellow students and school by making their time and talents available to the broader school community.

Hampden, your former ‘community’ school, is proud of you!

Howard Frost

Principal.

SCHOOL NEWS

SPORTS HEROES! Congratulations to Jade Barratt who was recently selected in the Mackay U14 Softball Team to play at Noosa in April.

Jade’s selection follows that of Michael Volker who represented Mackay in cricket earlier this year.

RUGBY LEAGUE COMP: Boys 10 years and older who indicated an interest in playing in a combined Pioneer Valley team this season have been given a permission/information sheet for parents. Please return this by next Wednesday if your son is able to participate.

MEDIA CONSENT FORMS; Thank-you for your prompt attention to this matter. Almost all forms sent to affected families have now been returned.

We will now be updating our files in relation to “Internet Access Agreement” forms.

DENTAL VAN: The Dental Van has now moved on. All children who visited should have given their parents a letter detailing any recommended treatment and how to access this treatment.

In at least two cases, children who claimed to have returned their dental permission form were not called to the van for an inspection as the dentists could not find their forms. The parents of these children should phone the clinic at North Mackay directly on 49514241.

Hello Everyone!

Prep Year One has been gainfully employed this week. The children drew up contracts and completed all the activities they had ‘signed up’ to do. When the contracts were completed satisfactorily, Prep Year One was able to purchase items for hire from Mrs Medway’s Hire Shop with their ‘pay’. You worked very hard everyone!

We found another spider this week. Crawling across our carpet was a Swift Ground Spider. (Not swift enough for us – we caught him with Nakita’s Bug Catcher and quickly identified him with information from our spider chart!)

As part of our phonological awareness this week we investigated long and short, and voiced and unvoiced sounds.

We also discussed what numbers tell us. For instance: this number – 9 teddy bears – tells us how many teddy bears Ashlyn has at home, and this number - $3 – tells us how much money we had to spend!

BUS NEWS

The Hampden (Anaru School Bus Service will still be running the same schedule as per the end of 2006.

A copy of this timetable is reproduced in this newsletter.

BUS RUN SCHEDULE

A.M. Delachantos Rd 7.40

Milton Lookout 7.42

Wallins Rd 7.45

Sorenson Rd 7.50

Kuttabul Shop 7.55

McGills Rd 7.57

Palm Tree Ck 8.00

Kuttabul Bus Stop 8.03

Kuttabul Pub 8.05

School 8.07

Zunkers Rd 8.15

Quarry 8.20

Tweedies Rd 8.25

Pyms Rd 8.28

Keast 8.30

School 8.35

P.M. School 3.10

Sorenson Rd 3.12

Kuttabul Shop 3.17

McGills Rd 3.19

Palm Tree Ck 3.22

Kuttabul Bus Stop 3.25

Kuttabul Pub 3.27

Wallins Rd 3.32

Zunkers Rd 3.37

Quarry 3.43

Tweedies Rd 3.45

Pyms Rd 3.50

Keast 3.52

Milton Lookout 3.58

Delachantos Rd 4.00

Please be at the stop 5 min early.

GROUNDSCARE NEWS

Please keep the offers for help on our Groundscare Roster coming in. We are still short of volunteers, especially in the latter part of the year.

Thank You

Kathy Frost (Co-ordinator)

P & C NEWS

It’s still not too late!! You can join us tomorrow at Leprechaun Park at 10.00am to stock up eskies to be pleaced in the 40 corporate boxes we are servicing for the Cowboys/Warriors rugby league clash, or from 2.00pm to keep the occupants of these boxes well supplied throughout the duration of the event.

Phone Frank Perna for more information on 49540274.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.” Mark Twain 1835-1910, Writer.

TUCKSHOP NEWS

Thank-you for your support of our Friday tuckshop again this year.

Education Queensland has endorsed the products being sold as complying with the new Smart Choices regulations and this is a good thing for all our children.

Although the tuckshop has a stated goal of providing a wide range of affordable healthy food choices, price rises by suppliers are required to be passed on from time to time.

From next Friday the price of flavoured milk will rise to $1.50 and salads to $3.00 to help absorb such costs.

Cheryl Barratt (Convenor)

Issue no.4, 23rd February, 2007.

Issue no.4, 23^rd February, 2007.