Issue 26, Friday 25th August 2023
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The Parkhill Community touch the land and think of the Wurundjeri People and surrounding Clans of the Kulin Nation who cared for the land before us.
We share our gratitude to their Elders past, present and emerging.
As we touch this land we promise to treasure it; taking care of all its people, animals, plants and waterways.
We at Parkhill appreciate this land.
Thank you.
Principal's Message
Spring looks like it is upon us now, with Melbourne punctuating the turn of season with a dreary rainy day or two.
This week I’ve had the pleasure of working with ES staff, teachers on volunteers for the Y6 and Foundation Garden program. Our garden is such a gorgeous plot of land giving us a taste of the country right here in the city. Thank you to our parent helpers who, along with our students, have been maintaining the garden space, helping to harvest the remainder of the winter vegetables, and providing support at our outdoor learning space.
While the garden sessions run, I have been up as sous chef with Lina taking a group cooking flat breads. I’ve been very impressed by the skills of potentially budding pastry chefs, and enjoying discussing the chemistry of cooking, along with learning about the ingredients that have been sourced locally. Up until this week, I didn’t know that Parkhill was able to harvest olives and make their own olive oil: something very few schools in Melbourne could boast about!
Also last week ended on a high note with our fabulous African Drumming incursion: a big thank you to Marinda and all who were involved in getting the amazing Salaka Drumming group. The day finished with a joyous performance from the whole school; something we’ll be treated to again in the coming weeks when all of the community are invited to attend the African Music Assembly.
Enjoy your (hopefully) spring weekend everyone!
Jo Jolly
Principal
Calendar of Curriculum Events
Student of the Week
The Term 3, Week 6 recipients were:
FA – Elsie D
1/2B – Elisha K
3A – Layla R
4/5A – Jessica Z
4/5B – Ishya L
6A – Poli K
Book Parade
It was fabulous to see so many amazing costumes for this year’s book parade! A big congratulations and thank you to all the students and parents who clearly put in time and effort to support our special day. Students wore their costumes with such pride and the spontaneous in-character banter between students was delightful to see!
Book Week is such a great opportunity to engage students around literature, so having the kind of excitement and buzz that was on show today is something really special. The sort of characters that turned up – from favourite books such as the Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland and Cat in the Hat, to new appearances – classics like Lord of the Flies – really blew my mind! I always really enjoy seeing the characters students identify with and the books they are passionate about.
A big shoutout has to go to the Parkhill Staff for their terrific costumes as well as our SRC students for helping to organise and run the Book Parade, they did a truly exceptional job.
Alex Davies
SRC Coordinator
AFRICAN MUSIC CELEBRATION- FRIDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 2:30PM
Please save the date for an end of term African Music Celebration. This term in Performing Arts students are exploring African music through singing, drumming, instrument playing and dancing.
We would like to showcase student’s learning by presenting the songs they have been practising in class for their families in a special African Music Assembly on Friday 8th September at 2:30pm in the hall. To add colour to our afternoon, children will perform in a plain, brightly coloured t-shirt (no writing or logos please). It would be greatly appreciated if you could provide this for your child please and send it to school (with their name written on the tag) on Wednesday 30th August. If you require assistance, please reach out.
Thanks for your support!
Marinda Tanner
Performing Arts Teacher
Coffee Cup Recycling Program
Parkhill has joined 7-Eleven’s Cup Rescue Recycling Program! Over 1 billion cups end up in landfill each year because they’re lined with plastic and need to be processed separately to be recycled. 7-Eleven and Simply Cups are determined to save as many cups from landfill as possible by ensuring takeaway cups can be collected, processed, and recycled.
If you have some takeaway coffee cups lying around (or have picked up a coffee from the local cafe before coming to Parkhill!) be sure to drop in to the office to recycle the cups!

OG Comes to Parkhill 2024!
Continuing our MSL and synthetic phonics journey in 2024, we are proud to host the Orton Gillingham training at Parkhill Primary School. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone working in education or allied health (such as speech pathology or occupational therapy) to take up this week of training here at Parkhill. The first four days are basic certification with an optional fifth day of advanced morphology training. Hosting a training week also means that we can send our own staff at a reduced rate to this valuable PD. If you know of any people who OG training would appeal to, please book via the links at the bottom of the flyer.




Library News
We have been celebrating Book Week and reading through a wonderful selection from the CBCA 2023 shortlist. One book I have enjoyed reading is ‘Tiny Wonders’ which reminds us that “good things take time” and that “the world is full of wonders”. As spring approaches and we will soon see the array of beautiful blooms from nature’s glory, take a moment to discover the secret language of flowers.
Thanks to families who have placed orders from the current issue. There is still time to order if you haven’t already.
Orders close next Friday 1 September.
Here is the online link to the catalogue Book Club Issue 6. Kindly placed your order at scholastic.com.au/LOOP or by using the LOOP app
If you have any queries or need a hand with your order, please feel free to get in touch.
Angelita Williams


Lunch Order Closure
There will be no Flexischools lunch orders on the following dates due to events at Ashwood High School:
- Tuesday 29th August
Parkhill Dads - Laser Tag!
The sight of 11 dads playing laser tag on a Tuesday night was nothing short of epic. It was a spectacle that defied the conventional expectations of a weekday evening. Their enthusiasm and camaraderie were infectious, turning a simple game into a memorable experience.
First and foremost, their dedication was evident. These dads, some in their forties or older, displayed the agility and spirit of teenagers as they dashed through the dimly lit arena, dodging lasers with the finesse of seasoned warriors. The atmosphere was charged with excitement as laughter and shouts filled the air.
What stood out most was their competitiveness. Each dad was determined to outscore the others, turning the game into a fierce but friendly competition. It was amusing to witness the transformation from mild-mannered fathers into laser tag strategists, plotting their next move like seasoned generals.
Surprisingly, their teamwork was exceptional. Despite the competitive spirit, they occasionally joined forces to tackle younger, unsuspecting opponents, proving that fatherly wisdom and experience can outshine youthful energy.
As the game progressed, it was clear that this Tuesday night laser tag session was not just about the game. It was an opportunity for these dads to bond and relive their youth, if only for a few hours. The smiles on their faces were proof that they were thoroughly enjoying themselves.
In the end, whether they won or lost was inconsequential. What mattered was the laughter, the memories created, and the reminder that no matter how busy life gets, there’s always time for a bit of fun and adventure. These 11 dads playing laser tag on a Tuesday night were a testament to the enduring spirit of friendship and the joy of reliving one’s youth, even if just for a little while.
To finish off the night, the boys finished with a lazy beer. Hoping to see more turn up to the next event.
By Peter Kingston




PFA News
President: Zoë Littlewood
Treasurer: Chris Fagan
General Members: Adam Keens, Emma Gullan, Lih-Shan Yam, Marinda Tanner, Michelle Wickman, Trish King, Vanessa Cowley, Iona Tsykalo, Jo Argaet
IVAN’S PIE DRIVE - forms due back Friday 1st September
Do you like pies? Not that awful Collingwood variety, but the food pies! “Ivan’s Pies” is a fundraiser where you can purchase savoury or sweet pies. There are meat, chicken, vegetable or apple pies, family size or single servings to choose from. Have one for a quick dinner or put them in the freezer for later. The forms are due Friday 1st September. The pies can be collected after school from the canteen on Thursday 14th September from 3pm. Forms are available at the office.


Father's Day Stall - Volunteers needed
Join us and watch your little people purchase a gift for their special someone. It’s a joy to watch and a highlight on the Parkhill Calendar. Please volunteer your time, it is only a few hours!!!! The signup to the event is https://signup.com/go/aQfPzud




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Lunch Orders
You can find the links to the lunch orders on the website under Quick Links.
FLEXISCHOOLS LUNCH ORDERS





