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Issue 02, Friday 18 February 2022
Principal's Message
Dear parents and carers,
We’re now three weeks into the school year and there is such a calm and positive energy right through the school. Students have settled into the rhythm and routines of school, engaged in their learning and enjoying the social/emotional benefits of being with their schoolmates.
Yesterday the Victorian Government announced that the COVIDSafe measures introduced for the first four weeks of this term are going to be extended for the remainder of term 1. The use of rapid antigen tests (RAT) as a screening tool, getting vaccinated, providing adequate ventilation and adhering to vital COVIDSafe steps such as hand hygiene, mask wearing and physical distancing have played an important part in reducing the impact of COVID-19 on our school community. These measures include extending the availability of free rapid antigen tests for screening until the end of term. The RATs will be sent home with students when delivered to school. The need for this program will continue to be monitored, and may end earlier based on health advice. This is great news and will mean we’re able to continue identifying COVID-19 cases as early as possible, reducing the impact on our school and individuals.
Learning support, extension and intervention
This year we have a strong focus on identifying and targeting individual student learning needs. In an average class there are students achieving at the age expected level, while some are achieving above the age expectation and some are achieving below the age expected level. Student needs are varied and we believe that we should be catering for every child at their point of need; their zone of proximal development (ZPD) – the Goldilocks principle. In its simplest form, ZPD means that children learn best when the work is not too hard, nor too easy, but just right. We use a range of assessments to inform our planning and teaching ensuring we are differentiating the learning to cater to these needs.
In addition to classroom programs, we have a number of intervention programs to support students ensuring they are challenged at their point of need. This includes: the tutor learning initiative (TLI) providing one-to-one support for identified students, the Quicksmart maths intervention program and the Maths extension program developed by Andrea Crane.
In addition, with the reduction of the number of classes this year, we have the opportunity to use our specialist teachers either providing intervention or releasing class teachers to provide intervention. We will continue to explore ways to resource and support students right across the school and in all curriculum areas.
Have a lovely weekend,
David Wells
Acting Principal
Calendar of Events
Please note that these events are subject to Covid-19 restrictions and are subject to change and/or cancellation.
Icy Pole Sales
Icy pole sales are back! Icy pole sales will begin next Friday, February 25, and will be available after school. Icy poles are 50c each and the proceeds from the sales will go towards Y6 Graduation.
School council update
Welcome back to the 2022 academic year to all families. This week the School Council met for the first time this year and discussion included funding. One of the items discussed was parent payments, which cover the costs of things like pens, paper, digital subscriptions for Reading Eggs, etc. These items are not covered by the government funding the school receives, so if you are able to make these contributions, please follow this link to access the information.
Currently, the school has only received parent payments from 37% of families at the school.
We understand that this year the changes to the payments by the Department have made the process more confusing, so if you have any questions about these voluntary payments, please contact Jo at the office (jo.ravida@education.vic.gov.au) or ask a School Council member. Importantly, there is also assistance available including payment plans and community assistance funds.
We very much welcome your feedback and look forward to a wonderful year ahead.
Warm regards,
Dan Edwards, Melo Conti, Elle Cattini, Wendy Douglas, Pip Papageorgiou, Jay van Schyndel, Clare Sherman and Sumi Sundram.
National Apology Day at Parkhill Primary
On Monday, Parkhill Primary held an assembly recognising National Sorry Day as a very important event on the Koorie Education Calendar. During the build up to this assembly, students unpacked the word ‘sorry’ as they discussed times when this word is necessary. The upper school watched Kevin’s Rudd apology and found out its importance to First Nations Peoples and specifically the Stolen Generations. Each class then made a Sorry Sun Wreath as we studied the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples flags and decorated a hand.
The Koorie Ambassadors, Sariaha and Santanah, put a speech together all by themselves. Here is what it read:
“Hello everybody,
This Sunday is National Apology Day. On this day 14 years ago the Prime Minister apologised to the Stolen Generation. Lots of First Nations kids were stolen from the government. They took them a long, long way away from their family and their mums cried.
At Parkhill Primary we have learned about the apology and what this means to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. At Parkhill, we recognise the wrong doings made in the past for First Nations Peoples, with the need of a better and more empowering future.
Archie Roach, Sariaha’s uncle, was part of the Stolen Generation. He wrote a song called ‘Took the Children Away’ which we will play for you today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeHGlJ32tak
As we play this song for you, we ask a member of each class to bring forward their Sorry Sun Wreath to pay our respects to First Nations Peoples at assembly.”
Bella Crowe
Koorie Education Ambassador
Y2/3 Writing
In Y2/3 we have been planting seeds to help us come up with ideas in writing. A seed is a picture prompt that helps us to think of ideas to write about. Last week students had to write a Sizzling Start based on a given picture.
“Slash! Slash! Slash! The girl is at war. The tiger broke his leg.” (Darcy)
“Roar! I saw a tiger laying on the side of the road. “Can I help you?”, I said. The tiger had an injury so I put a bandage on the tiger’s leg and gave it a beanie.” (Chloe)

“Flicker! The lanterns were magical.” (Yanni)
“Creak! Creak! The tiger and the girl crept into the hut and guess what they saw? They saw an ugly old lady.” (Keira M)
“Ouch! Ouch! Help! Help! The tiger hurt his leg in battle. The girl hurt her arm when she was walking.” (Patrick)
“Roar! The tiger was mad because he fought off the wolves. The girl fell off and hurt her back. The tiger came over and licked her. It is a long way to the temple.” (Edward)
“Whoosh! A light breeze blows past. The crashing waterfall is very loud but beautiful. Ella hops off onto the ground and lands on her big books. Her flowing jumper waves in the wind. She goes up the hill and into a hut. Creak! She opens the door and it creaks open.” (Kira. B)
Des Schlack
Y2/3 Teacher
Full STEAM ahead!
What another interesting week in STEAM. 4/5A explored plant adaptations using our amazing USB microscopes. Students were challenged to find which leaf matched which image on the interactive whiteboard. Our excellent scientific sleuths did a great job matching the leaves with their magnified close up. Next time you’re out in the garden with your child, talk about why leaves are fuzzy, waxy, large and small. We will further explore these adaptations and more in our next STEAM session.
Andrea Crane
STEAM Teacher
Lote news
Gong Xi fa Cai! 恭喜发财!
Xin Nian Hao! 新年好!Parkhill families! We have had a wonderful start of the year. The Year of the Tiger! The students experienced a traditional Chinese folk sport – kicking the shuttlecocks during LOTE lessons. Watch the shuttlecock fly in the air! The Y2/3 students loved playing the game ‘fly swatters’ (pictured) during LOTE lesson. This game is great for the students to consolidate their newly learnt vocabularies while having fun.
我们有一个美好的开端。虎年!学生们体验了一项中国传统民间运动——在LOTE课上踢毽子。看毽子在空中飞翔! 2 年级和 3 年级的学生喜欢在 LOTE 课上玩“苍蝇拍”游戏(如上图所示)。这个游戏非常适合学生在玩乐的同时巩固他们新学的词汇。
Shuoyin Tu
LOTE Teacher
John Monash Science School Enrichment Programs - Update
Selected students in Y5 were taxied to John Monash Science School this Wednesday to enjoy their enrichment programs: either Little Scientists or Mini Mathematicians. Thanks to parents for ferrying them across.
The Little Scientists were tasked with finding a solution for an egg drop so that the egg wouldn’t break. I hear that it only cracked a little bit!
The Mini Mathematicians became codebreakers and investigated alphanumeric codes, as well as cryptography. Very challenging!
Michelle Smith
Assistant Principal
Library News


Dear Parkhill Families,
A quick reminder that orders close tonight, Friday 18 February. You can place your order at scholastic.com.au/LOOP or using the LOOP app. Here is the link to the online catalogue Book Club Issue 1 2022.
Library sessions commenced last week and it is wonderful to see the students browsing and borrowing books from our library.
There are some books still out on loan from last year and an email has been sent out for overdue loans. If you are unable to find the books at home, please email me and I can update the system which will allow your child to borrow books from the library.
We are not seeking payment for lost books, though you are welcome to make a donation to the library. This can be done by making a payment to the office either by BPay, EFTPOS or cash. All donations to the library are tax deductible.
Please do get in touch if you have any queries. You can email me or leave a message with the office.
Angelita Williams
Integration Aide/Library Admin
Chicken update
Our new chickens have been dropped off by Jess and are settling in well. The children are enjoying getting to know them and seeing what kinds of foods they like.


Parent Class Reps & Co-ordinator
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
We are seeking expressions of interest for joining the Parent Class Rep team this year. The Parent Class Rep role is a great way to get to know more members of our Parkhill community, help coordinate classroom volunteers and bring families together through social events. In addition, we are also looking for a new Class Rep Coordinator to lead our wonderful team of volunteers. Full handover and support will be provided including a guidebook. To find out more please email me.
Pip Papageorgiou – philippa_isaacs@hotmail.com
Dad's get together
To celebrate the new year and welcome all the new dads to Parkhill. The Parkhill dads have organised a bare foot bowls & drinks evening at Burwood District Bowls Club on Friday the 4th March from 6pm onwards. Getting together has been difficult over the last two years and it would be great to have a night to catch up with a mate and mates we haven’t met yet! For further info please join the WhatsApp group on the link below
Ru (Andy Y4, Jake Y4), Melo (Paddy Y4, Annie Y1) Conor (Quin Y4, Jack Y2)
PFA News
Executive Committee:
President: Zoë Littlewood
Treasurer: Chris Fagan
Secretary/Communications: Vacant
General Members: Elle Delmee, Vanessa Cowley, Marinda Tanner, Jo Argaet, Sumi Sundram, Iona Tsykalo, Lih-shan Yam, Emma Gullan, Trish King, Telma Tomy
Next Meeting: Tuesday, 8th March 2022
Bake Sale
What an awesome effort to start the year with a bang!
Massive shout out of thanks to all the bakers, set-up/pack-up crew and those who sold the delicious treats on the day.
And thanks to you, Parkhill community, for supporting this event with your spare change.


Want to join the PFA?
If you are interested in what the PFA, and how you can get involved?
Please us know – parents.friends.secretary@gmail.com
Have a great weekend,
Zoe & the PFA Team
Lunch Orders
You can find the links to the lunch orders on the website under Quick Links.
Classroom Cuisine Lunch Orders
community notices
Does your child love Soccer and wants to join a team?


Sign up now!
Futsal (Indoor Soccer) at Ashburton Rec Centre
6 week competition
Prep – Y6 welcome.
Every Sunday morning in Term 1
Starting Sunday 27th February from 9.30am
Sign up as a team (max. 7 players) OR an individual (we’ll put you in a team!)
Cost: $75
Contact Lesley lesley@ashburtonsoccer.com.au to sign up by 16/2/2022 or ring 0409020143 for more information