THE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER OF THE HAMPDEN STATE SCHOOL

POST OFFICE KUTTABUL. 4741.

Phone: 49540189

Fax: 49540258.

Email: admin@hampdenss.eq.edu.au

Website: www.hampdenss.eq.edu.au

Issue no.34, 23^rd October 2008

Parents & Citizens’ Assn meets 3^rd Monday of each month at 7.30pm.

BUSY WEEK: This will be a week to rival any in terms of the number of events scheduled, including the start of A A-S Gymnastics on Monday afternoon, class excursions on Thursday and World Teachers Day on Friday. However there are two reminders I wish to specifically target.

1. SWIMMING: Mondays are notoriously bad days for students to remember to bring things to school, so please remind your children to bring all necessary items required for swimming this Monday, as day 1 is when we assess their current ability levels and assign them to groups.
2. SCHOOL PHOTOS: These are being taken this Wednesday 29^th, commencing with the staff before 9.00am, then followed by the preps, year ones, and so on in year level order.

The preferred dress standard this year is the new sports shirt with either navy blue or bottle green “bottoms”. We will have extra shirts available for lending to any child without one.

Sibling (family) photos are also available if parents wish to avail themselves of this opportunity. Envelopes for ordering these photos are available from Rita Nicol or the front office.

FORWARD PLANNING: As mentioned last week, planning for 2009 is well under-way.

One very important facet of this planning is the annual budget.

Please have a think about where you believe funds need to be directed next year (both school and P & C funds), talk to your children to ascertain their opinions as well, and complete the survey form which will accompany next week’s newsletter.

We have a very well resourced school already, but there’s always more than can, and will be done to keep up with educational advances and to replace worn out equipment.

Our opinions will help us to prioritise our expenditure.

Howard Frost

Principal.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood. – Marie Curie

ACTIVE AFTER SCHOOL: There has been a huge response to this program this term with almost 50 signed up for soccer and over 40 for gymnastics on Monday.

It is very encouraging to see such participation rates as the benefits to the children are well documented.

Due to the numbers in the groups being much larger than the recommended 25 the role our parent volunteers play is more crucial than ever.

PREMIER’S READING CHALLENGE: Thank you for encouraging your children to participate in the Premier’s Reading Challenge again this year.

All students who completed their task of reading 20 books in the assigned period will receive Certificates of Achievement supplied by the Premier on tomorrow’s parade. (Choir participants have already received theirs.)

Across Queensland over 59000 students read over 1.1 million books, and as we all know literacy underpins every stage and subject of learning at school.

MAINTENANCE NEWS: Q-Build has been active at Hampden recently, with more to come. The rear library staircase has been repaired and strengthened, and the louvres in modular D replaced with solid panelling.

During this 08/09 financial year we are also due to see B-Block (EEC building) repainted and the covered link between A to B blocks re-sheeted with colourbond.

FIRST AID COURSE: I’VE BEEN ASSURED BY THE Dept of Emergency Services that there won’t be a need for further date changes, so our proposed first-aid course is booked in for SATURDAY 15 NOVEMBER.

Any further registrations for either the full course or the afternoon CPR update are still welcome. (Phone the school on 49540189)

Manuals will arrive next week.

CAMP MEETING FOR PARENTS: I am conducting a meeting for parents accompanying us on camp to Townsville this year on Tuesday evening 04 November, to induct everyone into their responsibilities and to outline general procedures.

It is important that those parents who have never been on camp with us attend this meeting. (If you are not able to do so, please let me know and alternative arrangements will be made.)

Attendance by parents who have been on a recent camp is recommended, but not compulsory.

SCHOOL EXCURSIONS: Both the year 4/5 and 6/7 students are participating in excursions next Thursday 30^th.

Please encourage them to return their permission envelopes as soon as possible.

The Flying Dutchman, Thunder and Bloodhaunter have set sail with their crews of not-so-bloodthirsty pirates from the Prep year One docks! Each crew has a captain, first mate, doctor, navigator, store person and lookout and is responsible for their ship. The crews keep their ships afloat by working as a team to keep their ship ‘shipshape’, completing classroom tasks set by the Pirate King at Pirate school, and for carrying out the responsibilities of their position aboard ship. Our doctors have been busy applying icepacks at lunch time and the lookouts have been gainfully employed watching out for our resident magpie!

Lots of people have been bringing ‘Pirate stuff’ from home – thanks Mrs Gee and Mrs Taylor, Kaleb for a treasure chest full of shining jewellery, Rowan and jack for great boats they made at home, Blake for the Pirate story and flag, Jake for the scarf and Joel for the shells.

Last week the Pirate King said he would share some of his treasure with us if we could share it equally between two people. Then he gave us nineteen sparkling gems to share. We quickly found that one person could have ten gems, but the other cold only have nine. One clever person suggested that we cut the extra gem in half giving us nine and one half gems each! We then investigated cutting shapes into equal parts. Some people were able to cut a circular pizza into 16 equal pieces.

This week we shared twenty pieces of fruit (pirates didn’t get to eat very much fresh fruit) and that was much easier!

WEEKLY CLASS AWARDS

Principal’s Award: Melissa Burns for creative approach to keeping magpies from attacking!

Year 6/7: Class Award for all Yr 6 students for the manner in which they approached their QCAT assessment task.

Good Manners award – Jaimee Leigh Grov and Laura Thompson.

Year 4/5: Demi Cruickshanks – Environment Award; Ben Perna – Comprehension Award; Courtney Perna, Abbey Medway – Listening Award; Jake Balsillie – Typeright Award; Jayde Mellross, Courtney Perna – BTN Award; Madelaine Burley – Cooperation Award.

Year 2/3: Lilly Burgess, Melissa Burns, Zayne Lisle, Cate Cahill, Shelby Mackelvie – Speaking Award. Harley Proctor, Ryan Olsen – Story Writing Award. Josephine Faltinsky – Good Manners.

Prep/Year One: Peaceful Pirates – Ashlyn Burley, Samara Mitchell, Dale Richards, Adam Perna. Science Investigation – Jake Lisle. Concentration and Effort – Jack McLeod. A Ship Shape Ship – Joel Ashcroft, Alicia Keast, David De Paoli, Adam Perna, Jordan Watkins, Emilee Burgess.

Congratulations this week to two of our younger students who have both reached the CHAMPION STUDENT milestone with 20 awards each. Well done EMILY BURGESS and DAVID DE PAOLI.

Roll up! Rollup! Narnia the Musical hits the stage at Mirani State High School Hall for two thrilling performances. Saturday 1^st November at 7pm and Sunday 2^nd November at 2pm. Tickets are on sale at the school office. Adults $10, Children $6 and Family of 4 $30. Don’t miss out.

Olafur Eliasson’s The Cubic Structural Evolution Project

Wednesday 5 November, 4pm – 5.30pm

Artspace Mackay

To be opened by Nicholas Chambers, Curator of Contemporary International Art at the Queensland Art Gallery.

Olafur Eliasson’s The cubic structural evolution project 2004, created from more than 300 kilograms of white Lego building blocks, is a highlight from the Queensland Art Gallery’s international collection. Like any contemporary city, Eliasson’s mini Lego world grows and reduces over the course of the exhibition as children and adult audiences participate in the pulling down and rebuilding of the Lego structure.

For more information, contact Artspace Mackay on ph: 4961 9722

George Street Neighbourhood Centre is offering free tutoring to assist people aged over 17 with literacy and numeracy to enter the workforce.

There is no cost to attend and we work towards the individual’s needs and goals. We are currently offering the following:

· One to one or a small group for people wishing to improve their reading, writing, spelling and basic maths.

· English as a second language (ESL) in small groups for people whose first language is not English and wish to improve their speaking, listening, reading and writing.

Please contact Jeni on 4957 2626 or gsnc.lit@bigpond.net.au to find out more.

Funded by the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations under their “Skilling Queenslanders for work Initiative

Year 2/3 have been enjoying "Charlie and The Chocolate Factory". Please take time to

read some of their own recounts of this marvellous story.

Chapter 1 Here Comes Charlie by Cate Cahill

Once upon a time there was a small boy. He lived in a very, very, very old house. There were

very, very poor. There Dad worked in a toothpaste factory. He screwed the lid on but how fast hescrewed it on, it did not matter.

Chapter 7 Charlie's Birthday by Lillyann Burgess

The next day was Charlie's birthday. He was so excited that he woke up at 6.00am in the

morning. An hour later the parents woke up. Charlie asked tham "Can I have my present,

please." Yes said Mr Bucket. They gave him his present. Charlie opened it carefully. It was a

chocolate bar. On the wrapper it said Wonka's Fugalisus Scrumshulisus Chocolate detightful bar. He carefully opened the chocolate bar wrapper but he was too excited to open it slow. So he tore

open the wrapper. But there was no Golden Ticket inside. He flipped it over but still there was

no ticket. The parents sighed. Charlie sighed even more. Oh well said Grandad Joe. You better

go to school now Charlie said Mrs Bucket, see you this afternoon.

Chapter 7 Charlie Birthday by Harley Proctor

The next morning Charlie woke up at 1.00 in the morning. Charlie woke everyone up. Charlie

looked at his Mr Wona's Whipple - Scrumpitous Fudge Mallow. Charlie opened his chocolate. He

didn't have a bite.

Chapter 1 Here Comes Charlie by Melissa Burns

The Bucket family is poos, very poor. They live in a crooked house in a town. Every day Charlie goes to school. He works in a store. They sell chocolate. There one cost 10c.

Chapter 5 Golden Tickets by Shelby Mackelvie

Charlie came home from school. He slammed the door. Hey Mum, Dad and all you oldies did hear the news. Yes, Yes, Yes. Dad is in the paper. Yes I will Mr Willy Wonka is making the 5

golden tickets.

Chapter 7 Charlie's Birthday by Riley Cruickshanks

Charlie woke up at 5.30am for his birthday present. He always knew what he was going to get. Mum and Dad gave Charlie his present. Charlie opened the wrapper of the chocolate. It took 5

minutes. He ripped it off. No golden ticket sadly.