Issue 27, Monday 4th September 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
I may have spoken too soon about spring arriving at Parkhill; welcome back to a regular Melbourne spring is probably what I should have said!
Last Friday saw many colourful characters in our school: I loved the participation and enthusiasm from all our students and teachers who embraced the dress up day with verve. The highlight of the day was the book parade which was well attended by parents and families and gave many of our “characters” time to shine. It’s not often you’ll find pirates, wizards and superheroes all rubbing shoulders together! Thank you to Mr Davies and the SRC team for organising this lovely event.
Another special event was having our local MP, Matt Fregon, visit our school. Matt’s birthday card initiative provides many older people in our community with a special, hand drawn card from a local primary school student: his most recent batch came from Parkhill. Matt presented over twenty students with five copies of their published cards and a certificate of thanks – we certainly have some budding artists here!
During the last week, our leadership team met with a representative from region regarding potential for implementing the School Wide Positive Behaviour framework in 2024. This initiative is an evidence-based model that is used in many schools Australia wide and has been a specific focus of the Victorian Department of Education for the past few years. What was interesting to me during these conversations with our regional representative was the question “What ten things does your school culture value?” At a leadership level there was lots of discussions around our Four C values, and it also generated deeper conversations regarding what we want for our Parkhill students, and what will hold them in good stead as they progress through life. The regional representative spoke to simple statements such as “I wear my school uniform with pride” as indicating deeper values of self-respect and connectedness. We discussed a lot about how there is safety in predictable, explicitly taught school wide expectations, and how these can generate so much more than just, as his example stated, a tidy uniform.
Thinking about our school, I am seeking opinions regarding Parkhill’s brand. With School Council and our leadership team, I have discussed several aspects of uniform, motto, assembly etc. and I’m looking for community feedback. There is no locked course of action regarding changing anything right now, but as a new principal, it’s probably a great time for me to get your thoughts on our school’s brand.
Please find the link to the survey below – I look forward to hearing from you:
https://forms.gle/X51mwZZqY9xEEt7Z9
Have a great week everyone.
Jo Jolly
Principal
Calendar of Curriculum Events
Hats are back! students need to wear a hat outside during the months with the letter 'R'. Please remember to send your child to school with a hat for recess and lunch.
Student of the Week
The Term 3, Week 7 recipients were:
FA – Aruar M
1/2A – Sunny X
1/2B – Tilly G
3A – Kira T
4/5A – Riley T
4/5B – Patrick C
6A – Victor V
Second Hand Uniform Stall
There will be Second Hand Uniform Stall this Wednesday 6th September from 8:45am to 9:15am, outside the administration building. Each item is a gold coin donation.
Y1/2 Decompose Experiment
Earlier in the term, the Y1/2s started an exciting experiment where they would discover whether everyday items would decompose over two weeks’ time. They buried a newspaper, a tissue, a plastic bag, a can, an apple core and two straws.
This week, students showed curiosity when completing their experiment and digging up their items. There were even some surprised faces when we discovered that the tissue had completely disappeared!
I encourage you to talk to these mini-scientists about the experiment and their discoveries!
Tabatha Watson
1/2A Teacher
AFRICAN MUSIC CELEBRATION - This Friday
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). If you have not yet provided this to the school, please do so ASAP. If you require assistance, please reach out.
Thanks for your support!
Marinda Tanner
Performing Arts Teacher
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
“Dads are most ordinary men turned by love into heroes,
adventurers, story-tellers and singers of song.” – Pam Brown
Ahh… the first day of spring has arrived. September is also when we celebrate our wonderful fathers (a.k.a. Pa, Pappa, 爸爸, お父さん, bố, cha, vader). Happy Father’s Day to all our Parkhill dads.
Working Bee Call Out – Library
Save the Date – A library working bee group will be hosted in the first week of Term 4 – Tuesday 3 October from 09:00 to 12:00.
We will be sorting out and organising books in their different locations. Feel free to drop by and say hello or come spend the morning with us, we will love to see you!
Kindly RSVP at the office or simply email me if you can join us.
Scholastic Book Orders
I have extended the deadline for Scholastic orders. If you have not placed your order, it closes today (Monday 4 September).
We expect delivery to be made before the end of term. I will advise if there are any delays.
Angelita Williams
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
DON’T MISS A THING!
Join our Facebook page.
Search for us using the name “Parkhill Primary School Community Page”.
Then click the “join group” icon.
A group administrator will confirm your association with the school and approve your request.
If you would like to be on our email distribution list and receive communication and minutes from our meetings please email parents.friends.secretary@gmail.com
Contact us on WhatsApp – https://chat.whatsapp.com/DtYmFR9RjrZ7ayDpYAVy6L or email parkhillpiranhas@gmail.com
Order Here – https://au.entdigital.net/orderbooks/9r34937
Lunch Orders
You can find the links to the lunch orders on the website under Quick Links.
FLEXISCHOOLS LUNCH ORDERS
