Issue 6, Friday 10th March 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
What an interesting week around the full moon! As always, a busy week at school, ending on an active note with the Summer Sports Round Robin finally going ahead.
NAPLAN
NAPLAN begins for Y3 and Y5 students next week on Wednesday. The full schedule has been released to families affected and you can find it below. The students have now completed two practice tests and are ready to go through the four assessments in writing, reading, conventions of language and numeracy. They are also very keen for the food! It is a bit of a Parkhill tradition to offer a small snack for students sitting the NAPLAN tests to help fuel their brain. If you are available to help chop fruit or bread on any of the scheduled days (see below), please let Wendy or Iona know.
Think U Know
Tuesday afternoon we gathered in Y3 for a very informative and eye-opening presentation with Senior Constable Jaclyn and Federal Agent David who talked us through the various risks children might find using the internet. David has sent through a link to resources that families might find useful when discussing cybersafety with their children: https://www.thinkuknow.org.au/resources-tab/parents-and-carers
We will arrange for a similar presentation for the senior students shortly.
Subcommittees
School Council will meet next week and discuss membership of our subcommittees. Membership for any subcommittee or working group is open to anyone in the Parkhill community. I encourage anyone interested in helping to make Parkhill an even better place to join. Our committees are as follows:
Finance – budgeting, reviewing school finances, discussing fundraising and finance issues
Buildings and Grounds – improvements to the school’s buildings and grounds, working bees
Policy – governance of the school, policies and procedures
Publicity and Promotions – promoting the school to the wider community
Community Hub Establishment Group – creating a space for the community to gather
Parent Teacher Interviews
March 20 and 21 are our Term 1 Parent Teacher Interviews. I encourage you to book an interview on Compass with your child’s class teacher to discuss your child’s progress together and keep communication channels open. Children benefit greatly from a consistent message from both teachers and parents; this can be supported by discussing their progress at parent teacher interviews. Please call in at the office if you’re not sure how to book an interview.
Building Update
Once again no updates, though our point post has arrived and will be installed shortly.
Have a lovely long weekend!
Michelle Smith
Acting Principal
Calendar of Curriculum Events
Student Of the Week
The Term 1, Week 5 recipients were:
Foundation: Lucas M
1/2A: Mao N
1/2B: Karl W
Y3: Kabir A
4/5A: Somo M
4/5B: Santanah A
Y6: Miranda C
NAPLAN tests start next week
NAPLAN this year will be starting next week; from Wednesday 15 to Monday 27 March. It consists of four different online assessments: writing, reading, conventions of language and numeracy. The only test that is not online is Y3 writing. All students in Y3 and Y5 will sit the tests.
Families with a Y3 or Y5 child will have already received information about the tests. If you are concerned about your child sitting the test, please talk to your child’s class teacher straight away.
We are planning to hold another practice test on Thursday this week for students to use logins and navigate the platform successfully.
Tests will begin from Wednesday 15 March with the writing test. If your child is unable to sit a test on the planned day, they will be able to sit it on the next day (until 27 March).
Our planned test schedule is as follows:
Wednesday 15 March 9:15-10:30 – Y3 Writing
Wednesday 15 March 11:00-12:30 – Y5 Writing
Thursday 16 March 9:15-10:30 – Y3 Reading
Thursday 16 March 11:00-12:30 – Y5 Reading
Friday 17 March 9:15-10:30 – Y3 Conventions of Language
Friday 17 March 11:00-12:30 – Y5 Conventions of Language
Monday 20 March 9:15-10:30 – catch up tests
Tuesday 21 March 9:15-10:30 – Y3 Numeracy
Tuesday 21 March 11:00-12:30 – Y5 Numeracy
Thursday 23 March 9:15-10:30 – catch up tests
Friday 24 March 9:15-10:30 – catch up tests
You can check out the demonstration site at home. Access at https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site
Y3 Maths
Did you know that area is the amount of space inside the boundary of a flat shape or object? Well if you didn’t, be sure to ask some students in 3A for more information! 3A students engaged in prior learning by working in small groups to calculate the surface area of a maths book using informal units. After this, students learned to calculate the area of 2D shapes formally by measuring in square units and cm2. We have excellent mathematicians in Y3!
Lucy Magura
Y3 Teacher
Cloudy with a Chance of Rain
There was so much wonder in the Foundation STEAM lesson on Thursday as we once again donned our meteorologist hats and investigated clouds. We described the cloud cover in the sky using the terms ‘clear sky’, ‘partly cloudy’ and ‘overcast’, and then discussed how clouds are made. Most fun of all was when we made our very own cloud in a jar. We tried every colour in the water and yet our cloud remained white. Have a go at making your own cloud in a jar using the attached link and let me know how successful you are.
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/learn/project/make-a-cloud-in-a-bottle/
Keep those brains STEAMing!
Andrea Crane
STEAM Teacher


Working Bee
The Buildings & Grounds Committee will be having a Working Bee on Saturday 18th March from 12pm onwards. Afternoon tea will be provided. We would love to see you there!
Library News
Dear Parkhill Families,
Orders for Issue 2 can be made now. Here is the online link if you wish to browse. You can place an order at scholastic.com.au/LOOP or by using the LOOP app.
The cut off date for orders is Friday 24 March. Kindly note that orders from Issue 2 will only be delivered after the term holidays (in Term 2). Please keep this in mind when placing your order.
Every Book Club order earns Scholastic Rewards for the school to purchase additional resources, however there is no obligation for you to make a purchase.
If you would like more information or need a hand with placing an order, please email me and I will be in touch.
Angelita Williams


Parkhill Dads' Bowling Night!
A warm invitation to all Parkhill dads to come to the Lawn Bowls Night at Burwood Bowls Club.
(Burwood Reserve, Warrigal Road, near top of Highbury Rd, Burwood VIC 3125)
When – Friday, March 24th
Time – 5.30pm onwards
Why – A great way to meet other Parkhill dads over a friendly game of bowls!
What – Bowls, Pizza & Drinks
Cost – $10 per person includes dinner and bowls (drinks can be purchased from the Bowl’s Club Bar)
Please RSVP via the Parkhill Dads’ Whatsapp chat (see below).
A big thanks to Zero Plumbing who has subsidised the cost of the night.
It would be great to see many new faces amongst some of the older ones as well!


Contact us on WhatsApp – https://chat.whatsapp.com/DtYmFR9RjrZ7ayDpYAVy6L or email parkhillpiranhas@gmail.com




PFA News
President: Zoë Littlewood
Treasurer: Chris Fagan
General Members: Adam Keens, Emma Gullan, Lih-Shan Yam, Marinda Tanner, Sarah Bakri, Trish King, Vanessa Cowley






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




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





