PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

READING CHALLENGE: Wow, what a huge day for Courtney and Jayde on Tuesday! Up at 4.30am and not back in Mackay until after 10.00pm.

Bronwyn tells me they were perfect ambassadors for the school while receiving their class’s award from the Premer, and enjoyed the rest of their day exploring our state’s capital city.

And yes, they even managed a spot of shopping at the Museum’s gift shop.

Thank heavens for digital cameras, as there were lots of memories captured for posterity!

A big thank-you to the other member of the trio also, Mrs Wiseman, without whose influence the award and trip would not have eventuated.

REMEMBRANCE DAY(S): At last count we were expecting over eighty at Saturday night’s dinner at the Leap Hall.

This should be a very enjoyable evening with a wide cross section of community members and our special guests from HMAS Kuttabul in attendance.

* * * * * * *

On the following morning, commencing at 10.30am, we’re conducting an Armistice Day ceremony in our very own Remembrance Garden. (see the Community Notices page.)

This ceremony is open to anyone wishing to attend, and will be followed by morning tea.

BUDGET ’08: It’s that time of year when planning for next year is being undertaken.

School Budgets are formulated in conjunction with the P & C and become part of our Annual Operation Plan.

What resources do you think the school requires, requires more of, or needs replacing?

Please have a think about this, discuss it with your children, and respond to the resourcing survey in next week’s newsletter.

SCHOOL CAMP: With just over a week only until we head off to North Keppel Island it’s time to get seriously packing!!

All things going to plan in the office, as well as this newsletter a final edition of the “North Keppel News” will also arrive home. This will contain any last minute info and reminders.

A meeting for the eleven parents joining us on camp this year is scheduled for this Tuesday evening in the library, commencing at 7.00pm.

CHOCOLATE DRIVE: We’d like to finalise this fundraiser before Jade leaves for Canberra at the end of next week.

The children, encouraged by you, have been very enthusiastic in their desire to assist by selling these chocolates.

THANK-YOU VERY MUCH.

Please now return any unsold products (the Student Council will sell these at the term 4 disco) and the money from sales to the office so we can forward this on to Jade’s family.

Howard Frost

Principal.

ARTS COUNCIL: Our last performance for the year was enthralling for all those in attendance, and the four shows on offer for 2008 also look to be of a very high standard.

BOOKCLUB: A reminder that orders for this issue have to be at school by this Wednesday, the 14^th.

SWIMMING: It certainly has been the weather for swimming, and lessons have been extremely well attended.

INTERSCHOOL SPORT: This term’s interschool sport offering is Super 8’s Cricket and T-ball. We were drawn to play Mirani today. Ash your children how Hampden went!

JUMBLE SALE: Only two weeks to election day! If you have any saleable items you’d like to donate to the school please send them in for the Student Council’s election day Jumble Sale.

CHOIR NEWS: As more than half our choir are unable to be with us on Saturday at The Leap Hall, the choir will not be singing. Thank-you to our parents for responding quickly to the notice about this.

To make up for the choir’s absence, perhaps we’ll have some karaoke later in the night?!?!

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

“Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.” Anon

Hello Everyone

We were off and running in the Hampden Cup on Tuesday this week! Prep Year One students entered their horses and jockeys in a closely contested galloping race. Our stewards Jake Lisle and Mrs Medway checked the horses over for important thins such as two eyes, a tail, a saddle, reins and a mouth. The jockeys were all required to wear their allotted colours and helmets and to make ‘correct weight’ (according to Prep/Year One regulations). We pored over the racing section in the Daily Mercury for horses’ names and jockeys’ colours to give us ideas. Kyle Insch started the race and we all galloped safely over the finish line. Only one horse lost its head! Our fastest gallopers were Harley on ‘Click’, Corey on ‘Chick’ and Cate on ‘Prancer’.

Yesterday Mt Charlton’s Prep/Year One students joined us for a visit from our Fire Ed friends – Fire-fighters Brian, Bruce and Ian. We learned about good and bad fires, and what to do in a fire emergency. We got to hold the big fire hoses, look at all the equipment and listen to the fire engine’s siren which was VERY LOUD!

HAMPDEN STATE SCHOOL PLAYGROUP

Playgroup provides a wonderful opportunity for parents and young children in our country area to get together, and share ideas, knowledge and experiences.

More than 12 parents and 20 children enjoyed Playgroup in the Early Education Centre on Monday 29^th October! Sand and water play, painting and play dough were the most popular activities.

Our thanks to Barb Perna and Rosalie De Paoli for helping with its inception!

Please join us again on Monday 12^th November from 12.45 - 2.45pm.

MEETING CHANGE: Due to school camp and other commitments of the executive, the November meeting has been brought forward to this Tuesday, 13^th November.

The meeting will commence immediately following the school camp meeting for parents accompanying the campers. (approx 7.30)

As the Hail Creek computer course will be continuing as usual, the P & C and Camp meetings will be held in the library this time.

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT TO P & C

NOVEMBER 2007

Christmas Bush Dance
Active After-School Program
School Camp update
Election Day
Enrolment prediction ‘08
Financial Report
Budget Meeting for ‘08
Break-up Day
Behaviour Management Reward
School Uniform Policy
Semester 2 Reports
P & C Executive ‘08

WEEKLY CLASS AWARDS

Year 6/7: Green Thumb Award – Best results from the class vege patch – Sarah Smith & Ellise Burston (Capsicums) Luke Kippen and Kalvin Mitchell (Spinach) Lacey Mackenzie and Tamara Patchet (Spring Onions) Ally O’Keefe (Parsley) Student of the Week – Jaimee-Leigh Grov. Star Student Award – Michael Volker.

Year 4/5: Listening Award – Jake Balsillie, Nick Perna, James Medway. Uniform Award – Darcie Cahill, Mitchell Lake, Lachlan Thompson, Kristen Mackenzie, Emily Chidgey, Jett Jones.

Year 2/3: Abbey Medway, Amee Insch, Mikaela Gee – Story Writing. Jack Mitchell, Douglas Pridmore, Dylan Kippen, Corey Buckton – Oral Language.

Prep/Year One: Whole Class – Participation Award for Hampden Cup! Ashlyn Burley and Alica Keast – 40 books. Cate Cahill and Nakita Daniels – 80 books. Kade Starrett – 180 words.

Congratulations to all our avid readers in the lower grades who received a special Premiers Reading Challenge certificate this week.

After a lean couple of weeks we do have a Milestone Award achiever today. Congratulations to Jake Lisle for achieving his very first milestone, thus becoming a STAR STUDENT.

COMMUNITY NOTICES

HAIL CREEK COMPUTER COURSES

The popularity of these courses amongst community members from the three venues involved (Hampden, Calen and Farleigh) has enabled us to obtain an additional grant for 2008.

The 2008 structure is yet to be confirmed but would be based along the lines of a BEGINNERS PROGRAM followed by more ADVANCED COURSES.

If you have an interest in attending any such courses next year, please register this interest by phoning Hampden State School on 49540189. We would also welcome any suggestions regarding types of courses relevant to you.

Issue no. 36, 9th November 2007

Issue no. 36, 9^th November 2007