PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

ACTIVE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM: Hampden has just been selected to participate in the “Active After-school Communities” program from Term 1, 2008, and I spent two hours yesterday with Olympic gold medallist Tracey Belbin, as we completed a grant application and delivery plan.

The AASC program is a national program that provides Australian primary school aged children with access to free, structured physical activity programs in the after-school timeslot. It is designed to engage traditionally inactive children in structured physical activities and build links with community-based organisations to create opportunities for ongoing participation.

At Hampden we intend to run a one hour session two afternoons per week initially, with an opportunity to expand this to 3 afternoons in terms 3 and 4 if the interest and support is there. A healthy afternoon tea snack will also be provided on these days, free of charge.

More information on this program, and how interested parents can become involved, will be provided later this term and early next year.

INTERSCHOOL SPORT: Commencing next Friday 09 November, Hampden’s upper-school students will be participating in some inter-school sporting competitions with neighbouring schools.

More information will be forwarded once the draw is known, however the focus sports will be T-ball and cricket.

FAREWELL KALVIN: Today is Kalvin Mitchell’s last day at Hampden prior to the family relocating to the Sunshine Coast.

I wish Kalvin all the best for the last few weeks of this school year, and for his secondary schooling from 2008.

My thanks and appreciation also go with Kalvin’s parents Melissa and Geoff.

Melissa in particular has been involved in various capacities as a volunteer over the years, teaching drama and co-ordinating one of our Rock-Pop-Mime entries, amongst other activities.

But it was her nursing of the several sick children afflicted by a mystery virus while on camp in Cairns two years ago, that will always be foremost in my memory.

By staying behind at the campsite to tend and supervise those ill children so the remainder would be able to complete the scheduled activities, Melissa demonstrated selflessness beyond the norm.

Good-bye, good luck, and thanks from Hampden.

Howard Frost

Principal

CHOIR: Congratulations to our choir for what was, from all reports, a superb performance at last Friday’s eisteddfod competition.

The judge’s deliberations are reproduced later in this newsletter.

I am hoping that the choir will be able to perform at the opening of upcoming Remembrance Dinner on Saturday week (10^th), and to this end a pink coloured flyer was sent home to parents earlier this week containing details and asking for a response.

Please return this by Monday to assist our planning for the night.

BOOKCLUB: Our term 4 Bookclub offering has a distinctly Christmas feel about it. To ensure all orders are back to school prior to the end of term, the cut-off date for orders to be handed in at school will be November 14^th.

ROCK-POP 2008: With our winners cheque last week came a letter concerning the 2008 Rock-Pop-Mime, which is also reproduced later in this newsletter.

Obviously the Lions Club organisers are intending to make it even bigger and better than this year.

Are we up to the task as defending champs??

Start putting your thinking caps on, everyone!

ARTS COUNCIL CHANGE: Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Term 4 tour of Tjapukai Girl has been cancelled. In its place, the Arts Council is delighted to be able to offer our school Didjeribone.

International performer Tjupurru, Adrian Fabila, is a one man music machine. He plays the didjeribone, a unique slide didjeridu. Combined with his ‘face bass’ and a set of guitar pedals, this one-man band sequences live samples and electronic effects to transport the traditional into contemporary culture.

Tjupurru is a proud descendant of the Djabera Djabera tribe of the West Australia Kimberleys. He has a national and international profile and recently performed as a soloist at the Sydney Opera House.

SPOOKY WEDNESDAY: Thank-you for your support of this fundraiser in aid of Jade Barratt.

The kids had a lot of fun and almost $150 was raised as well!

SWIMMING: Our first week of formal lessons went extremely well this past Monday.

Let’s see the same excellent results again this Monday, (Junior school swims first this week) with everyone remembering their togs and towel.

CHOCOLATE DRIVE: We’ve got some really keen sellers out there!! Boy oh boy!!

Keep up the great work and return unsold items and money when you’ve exhausted your client list.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

“Your imagination is your preview to life’s coming attractions.” – Albert Einstein

REMEMBRANCE DINNER: Next Saturday night the P & C, School, Kuttabul RSL sub-branch and the Kuttabul Camelboks are hosting the inaugural Remembrance Dinner. Information is again provided in this newsletter.

For catering purposes we would like to know how many people we have coming.

Please let us know by this Monday 05^th if you would like tickets reserved for you. (Phone 49540189)

MEETING CHANGE OF DATE: As our monthly meeting for November falls during school camp week, the date has been changed to the 4^th Monday of the month, namely the 26^th of November.

NEW SPORTS SHIRTS: Following several months of discussions, a new sports shirt has been decided upon for 2008.

As the P & C has only limited supplies of the current shirts remaining it has been decided to sell these at half-price. ($12.50)

WEEKLY CLASS AWARDS

Year 6/7: Leadership Award – Ellise Burston. Maths Award – 100% in year 6 test – Jordan Perna. Sports Award – hockey effort last Friday – Raymond Brown. Vocabulary Award – Michael Volker. Following Instructions Award – Laura Thompson. “Good Sport” Award – for Free Dress Day hair-do! – Bronson Walters.

Year 4/5: Poetry Award – Anthony Leeding, Jett Jones, Kristen Mackenzie, Damian Volker, Dexter Edmonds, Darcie Cahill, Lachlan Thompson.

Year 2/3: Conscientious Effort – Angel Lucas, Jack Mitchell. Swimming – Denzel Fagan. Oral Language – Courtney Proctor, Jayde Mellross, Hapi Anaru, Riley Cruickshanks, Denzel Fagan.

Prep/Year One: Class Award to everyone in Prep Year One for their Farmer acrostics!

Issue no. 35, 2nd November 2007

Issue no. 35, 2^nd November 2007