Issue 7, Friday 17th 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
Can’t believe we are heading towards the end of Term 1. We have already achieved so much in such a short time. It is so nice to see people gathering together at drop off and pick up, parents in to help reading in the junior school, indulging in cupcakes together after school, cutting up fruit for students, locating hidden children after school in the playground nooks and crannies.. I could go on. We have such a wonderful community and I feel privileged to be a part of it.
Annual Privacy Notice – please take the time to review our Privacy Collection Notice, discussing student information; what we collect, how it is used and stored.
NAPLAN – we embarked on our NAPLAN journey this week with the Y3 and Y5 students completing three out of the four tests. And enjoying with faces full of food the yummy breakfast snacks! The students have worked so hard and done their very best during the tests: we are almost there. I would like to thank all the parents that gave up their time to chop fruit and bread for the students; they very much appreciated the food. Thanks also to Wendy and Iona for organising this.
Parent Teacher Interviews – are next week, March 21 and 22, and once again I encourage you to book an interview with your child’s class teacher. Parent Teacher Interviews are a great way to keep the lines of communication open between parents and teachers for the benefit of our children. Call in at the office if you would like some help.
Time in Lieu for Parent Teacher Interviews – You may remember during concert last year we had teachers out for part of their days to “pay back” the time they worked during the evening shows. This initiative honours the extra time that teachers always willingly give for those special events. Once again, we ask teachers to give extra time outside of hours for interviews, so, through our Consultative Committee, we have decided to have class teachers start at 10:30am on Wednesday 29 March to pay back the time. Specialist teachers, with support, will run a special STEAM challenge in Care Groups during this time, so there is no change for families.
School Council – we held a School Council meeting last night, both bidding farewell to members who are retiring and ushering and welcoming new members. Discussions were robust and centred around such topics as the upcoming principal appointment procedure, Parent Payments, Council Action Projects, building updates and Councillors reaching out to the community. I thank outgoing members Dan (who has agreed to stay in a consultative capacity), Wendy and Jay for their time on Council; and welcome new members Cam, Luke, Winston and Lih. Members of the community are encouraged to join any of our subcommittees if you would like to step up your involvement at school.
Transition – we begin our transition process for incoming Foundation students 2024 in a few weeks. Andrea will be visiting our local kinders to hold a STEAM session and we will also be holding an information session for interested families. If you know of any families that are curious, please pass along our information and encourage them to come along, we’d love to see new faces. Transition information for families with a Y6 child will be out early Term 2.
Building update – some movement in the hall with the walls being repaired, and still waiting to hear for an installation date for the handrail in the Foundation yard.
Have a lovely weekend,
Michelle Smith
Acting Principal
Calendar of Curriculum Events
Working Bee - Postponed!
The working bee has been postponed due to the predicted weather. The next working bee will take place in Term 2 – stay tuned!
Leadership Assembly
The Leadership Assembly will take place on Monday 27th March at 3:00pm in the library. At the assembly our school leaders will receive their badges and our Y6 class will receive their Y6 hoodies. Parents and carers are more than welcome to attend!
Walk for Water
On Thursday the 30th of March, Parkhill students are raising awareness and appreciation for all the people in the world who need to walk long distances for their drinking water. Students will do this by carrying 2 kilogram buckets of water in Care Group teams as far as they can in 20 minutes. Teachers will record the distances travelled to see if our Care Groups can walk the 10,000 steps that many individuals walk daily simply out of necessity. Best of luck to all students!
If you would like to take part for the exercise or come to support our students, we will kick off at the oval soon after 3:00pm.
Hope to see you there!
Alex Davies
SRC Coordinator
School Council News
Last night School Council met to thank those stepping down at the end of their term and also to welcome our new council members. It is important to acknowledge the excellent work by parents who are stepping down including Wendy Douglas, Jay Van Schyndel and Clare Sherman.
Council members continuing include Emily Condell, Jodie Thatcher, Peter King, Jason Van Lint and staff members including Andrea Crane, Jo Ravida and Michelle Smith as school representatives.
New members welcomed last night include Luke Smith (Henry Y1, Edward Y4), Winston Wickman (Connor Y5), Cam Elliott (Grace Foundation, Angus Y3), Lih Shan Yam (Aaro Foundation, Amara Y5). The meeting last night indicated that the council will be active and engaged in matters that require our attention and I feel great responsibility in being given the role of School Council President.
I would also like to formally thank and acknowledge Dan Edwards who has stepped down as School Council President. Dan has been on the school council for the last 8 years. His measured and insightful leadership has been warmly welcomed by the council over his years in the role of President. He has always worked towards achieving the best possible outcomes for the students and school. We have been fortunate to have had him leading the Council and are appreciative of him staying on the council as a community member. We know we will benefit from his experience as the school moves ahead in its search for a new Principal.
Process for recruiting a new Principal:
One of the core responsibilities of School Council is to appoint the Principal of our school. The Department of Education (DET) manages the process, working with the School Council in selection and appointment.
DET will seek applications for the Substantive Principal role for our school. That process will be conducted throughout Term 2, with a starting date set for the start of Term 3. The selection panel for the new principal will include myself as School Council President, another voted in member of school council, an elected member of Parkhill staff, a senior staff member from DET and a School Principal from our area. School Council will keep the community up to date with process and also to seek ideas and advice about the key characteristics you would like to see in a new Principal for our school. We want to ensure that we find the right person to lead our wonderful school – this may take time, but we think it is important to get it right. We will keep you updated as things progress.
Melo Conti
School Council President
Y4/5 Inquiry into Natural Hazards
Cyclones have been forming, the earth has been shaking and tsunamis have been crashing down in the Y4/5 area over the past month while students have continued their inquiry into natural hazards. We can’t wait to see what action they want to take to share what they have learnt about natural hazards with others.
Desiree Schlack
4/5A Teacher
Breaking Out of the Solar System
This week 4/5B explored their questions about our solar system in a series of seven stations. They collected information about the Sun, planets, black holes and Earth and used this information to solve seven puzzles. These puzzles once solved enabled them to open the seven locks on a Breakout Box. A Breakout Box consists of a combination of physical and digital puzzle elements that must be solved in a set amount of time, a bit like an escape room. Luckily students worked together cracked the codes and opened the box. Congratulations, 4/5B.
Andrea Crane
STEAM Teacher
Library News
A reminder that the closing date for Issue 2 orders close next Friday 24th March.
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.
IMPORTANT: Kindly note that orders will only be distributed 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








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






community notices






Ashwood Memorial Kindergarten will be participating in Kindergarten Open Night. Prospective kindergarten parents, please join us at 17a Arthur St in Ashwood, to meet educators and learn more about our lovely local kinder.

















