Issue 33, Friday 4 November 2022
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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
Dear Parents/Carers
I hope you were all able to enjoy the long weekend.
On Monday the staff were busy writing reports and organising classes for 2023. The School Improvement Team spent the day reviewing the Key Improvement Strategies and targets set in our Annual Implementation Plan. Every year we review against the targets that were set the previous year, and plan priority areas for the next year. The priority areas are driven by our four year strategic plan which is due for review in 2023.
On the back of the last couple of years and the impact CoVID has had on the mental health of our youth, the Department of Education has set out 2023 Priorities for all schools. One is based around student outcomes, in particular mathematics, and the other is wellbeing focussed with mental health at the forefront of our minds.
Resilience … it’s a familiar word, isn’t it? But what does it really mean?
When we talk about resilience, we’re talking about a person’s ability to cope with ups and downs, and bounce back from the challenges they experience during childhood – for example moving home, changing schools, studying for an exam or dealing with the death of a loved one. Building resilience helps children not only to deal with current difficulties that are a part of everyday life, but also to develop the basic skills and habits that will help them deal with challenges later in life, during adolescence and adulthood.
Resilience is important for children’s mental health. Children with greater resilience are better able to manage stress, which is a common response to difficult events. Stress is a risk factor for mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, if the level of stress is severe or ongoing.
https://www.heysigmund.com/5-simple-ways-build-resilience-well-children-dr-hazel-harrison/
On Wednesday we hosted an afternoon tea for the Rowen Street Kinder families. Rowen Street Kinder will be located temporarily at Parkhill next year while their premises undergo some building works.
We also held our first of four transition sessions, with 20 children coming along to the classroom and parents joining Michelle and I for an information session and some morning tea in the library. It was so pleasing to hear their chatter about the positive school community we have at Parkhill and singing the praises of the Preschool Program. Michelle and I smiled as they talked about the wonderful things they hear about our little school.
We have finally secured a date for our Swimming Carnival. We will be celebrating the program on Monday 12th December – more information will follow. We are also excited to be able to hold our annual Athletics Carnival on Tuesday 22nd November – again, more details will follow.
I hope you have a super weekend.
Best wishes,
Elaine Mitskinis
Principal
Calendar of Curriculum Events
Remembrance Day
Next Friday, the 11th of November, is Remembrance Day. This is when we take a moment to commemorate the end of the first World War. On this day, the SRC will instruct students to silently reflect for one minute. If you are a scout, please bring and wear your scout uniform. Everyone is invited to wear a red poppy on their collar.
Lucas and Mali
SRC Captains

STEAM - Engaging with Magnets
Y4/5 students engaged with magnets for the first time this week. As always, we began with the Engage phase of the 5E inquiry model. The purpose of the Engage phase is to gather students’ prior knowledge, stimulate interest and gather diagnostic data to inform teaching and learning. Today students mapped their prior knowledge of magnets and then set about producing an artwork by moving various paint covered items around their paper using magnets. Students achieved varying degrees of success raising questions about what may have been interfering with the magnetic pull, including statements about magnetic strength, friction, shielding and poor attraction. It will be great to see students further their investigations in the weeks to come.
Andrea Crane
STEAM Teacher




Games Club And Playground Activities
More ‘treasure’ has been found lately in the digging/mud area. Cakes and soups are aplenty in the F/Y1 sandpit area at the new restaurant. Games Club is as popular as ever with the crafty corner, chess area and new construction zone where the Lego building and creativity never ceases to amaze me. This area is enjoyed by all year levels across the school.
If you have any old games to donate, or time to come and join us in Games Club, you are most welcome. Contact me directly if you are interested.
Kerry D’Arcy
Integration Aide
Robotics Rodeo!
Monday 7th November
4 – 6 pm
Junior School Building
Book one 15 min time slot to explore the Sphero Indi, Sphero Mini or Mindstorms NTX robot with your child. Please book a time for the robot your child has been working with using the links below.
Smile Squad
Dear Parkhill Primary School families,
The Smile Squad team from Link Health and Community are coming to our school soon.
Smile Squad is the Victorian Government free school dental program.
This means all students can get a free dental check-up, preventive services, and treatment at school.
How to access free dental care
We need your consent before we can provide services. Consent is usually provided by a parent or guardian.
Sign up to Smile Squad at: https://bit.ly/smilesquadvic or paper copies are available at the office.


Library News


Dear Parkhill families,
We are super excited as the countdown to the Fair begins: 19 days!
Chance to win a voucher
We are once again giving our students the chance to win a $10 voucher to use at the Fair. There are three activities on offer:
- Foundation to Y2 – colouring activity page;
- Y3 to Y6 – complete a book review;
- All year levels – design a Book Fair poster.
A winner will be picked from each year level for the colouring and book review activities. There will be one winner each from the junior and senior school for the Book Fair poster.
Activity pages were distributed to classes this week. Entries will need to be submitted by Monday 14 November. There will be a box in the front office to drop off your entries or your child can give their submissions to their class teachers.
Parent helpers
We would love your help at the Fair if you are available Monday 21 November to Wednesday 23 November:
- 9:00-9:30am
- 3:15-3:45pm
If you have any questions or would like to help out at the Fair, please get in touch via email or leave a message at the office.
Angelita Williams
angelita.williams@education.vic.gov.au
Librarian
PFA News
PARKHILL COLOUR FUN RUN – NEW DATE
Sadly we had to postpone the Colour Run until next month due the continued rain and deteriorating conditions, but we have secured a new date:
Thursday 24th November 2:30 pm
Our aim is to reach $8,000! So far we have reached 75%; $6,014 has been raised and 4/5A is in the lead for donations! However, F/1A is a close second! To start fundraising for your child, sign up here https://chuffed.org/project/parkhill-colour-fun-run and share the link with friends and family! GO PARKHILL!!!!!
Winning Class and Prizes
There will be a special surprise reward for all children in the class that raises the greatest amount of money.
On the Day
On the day of the Colour Fun Run, pack a light coloured or white T-shirt into your child’s school bag. This is an extra fun way to show-off the colours from the dye on the day. There will be an early afternoon brain food break, then straight after, the Fun Run will begin at 2:30 pm. Parents and guardians are most welcome to come to cheer on their loved one.
Further Information
Detailed instructions on how to sign-up to start fundraising are attached below. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the office or Zoe on 0459 841 337.
NOTE: You will need a different email address for each child.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RfB_Z8flV5JCLMfGXf7lSM5qE-UepGeE/view?usp=share_link


COLOUR FUN RUN SIGN-UP – 1:30pm to 3:30pm
The PFA is looking for volunteers to help out with the running of the Colour Fun Run. Eighteen volunteers are required to set up the course and to throw the kids with dye and water and two volunteers are required to cut up oranges. Please sign-up! https://signup.com/go/CDnRMNM
CHRISTMAS RAFFLE
Donations are needed for our Christmas raffle! We’re looking for a big ticket item that people will be keen to win as the 1st prize, as well as smaller treats to make up into hampers such as: Christmas baskets, wine, chocolates, biscuits and shortbread, small games, Christmas craft packs or other smaller items that can be combined to make a festive prize!
Please drop items at the office by Friday 25th November and please get in touch with PFA if you can connect us with a major 1st prize item!
Raffle ticket books went home with children this week. Extra books are also available from the office for keen ticket sellers!


PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD!
The PFA is doing a SOCK fundraiser again this year! A great gift idea or stocking stuffer with fun designs available for every sized foot.
Socks are just $6.10 per pair and our school will receive a percentage from every pair sold. We will also receive a bonus if we sell over 100 pairs. Now that’s a goal worth aiming for!
Order yours by 27th November for pre-Christmas delivery via school before the end of term.
Order via this link and make sure you select Parkhill Primary School at checkout for our school to benefit: https://www.sockable.com.au/order




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