ASCOT NEWS
5 August, 2008 Volume 3,
Issue 4
Mini School 1 – Units 1, 2 & 3
Mini School 2 Units 4 & 5
Term 3 Key Dates
6 August
7 August
18 – 22 August
21 August
28 August
29 August
5 September
15 September
19 September
Curriculum Day (pupil free)- Assessment
AVPS Family Dinner- Birdie Num Num’s
Science Week- Planet Earth, Planet Change
Science Fair
MVCC Sorting It Out! Recycling show (to replace Wed 27 August
School Assembly)
Parent Rep meeting and Special Lunch Day
District Athletics
School Council and Sub-committee meetings
Early Dismissal – End of term 2.30 p.m.
School Assembly Wednesday mornings 9 – 9:30am
Yard supervised between 8:45 - 9:00am before school and 3:30 – 3:45pm after school
From the Principal
Last Friday I was at the Statewide ‘Big Day Out’
where the Education Minister and the Director of
Schools presented a new Regional structure and
instructional model to every Victorian Principal.
Premier John Brumby attended at the end of the day
and announced his support and additional funding
for the Victorian public system. All good news!
The new Regional structure places Ascot Vale PS in
a new local network. We will now be part of the
Moonee Valley cluster (currently we are in the
Melbourne cluster) and this aligns us with local
government area boundaries. Overall, I believe this
is a good move for us and one that enhances our
ability to develop and support local community
partnerships.
While I was tucked up and warm at the Melbourne
Convention Centre, many staff, parents and students
were braving the wind and cold at the Athletics
trials. I have heard nothing but good reports from
Susie and Daniel about the behaviour and
participation levels of the children under these less
than perfect conditions. Well done boys and girls
and thankyou to Steve and his team for this event.
2009 Prep Enrolment
Prep 2009 enrolments now being taken.
The staff and Year 5/6 students and their parents
had the opportunity to attend a session regarding
cyber safety yesterday. The session I attended was
very informative and highlighted the growing need
to be vigilant about parent supervision of home
computer use. If this is something your family
would like more information about please go to one
of these websites: www.netalert.gov.au
www.cyberspacesmartkids.com.au
Some MVIMP students went off to Music Camp
today. Thank you Bev and Assunta for your help
and involvement with this camp this year. I look
forward to attending their concert later this week.
A reminder that this Wednesday is PUPIL FREE to
allow staff to attend our Curriculum Day on
Assessment. We are working through a program to
assist us to prepare individual learning plans and
goal setting for all students. We will trial some
formats in Units this semester and work towards
implementing this work in 2009.
Please collect a form from the office and return it to
us this month to help us plan ahead.
Reading at Ascot Vale PS
Thank-you to all who have generously volunteered
to donate their time to listen to students read, both
‘old’ and new helpers.
This need is great, however, and I am always able
to slot in more reading listeners, so if anyone feels
at any time that they are able to devote 15-30
minutes a day, or a week, please come and see me.
Again, a very sincere thanks to all current helpers.
Marg
Writing at Ascot Vale PS
This week our writing samples come from Emma
Hyland in U2, and Hannah Randell in U5.
Emma has written a superb diary entry, relating her
weekend’s activity.
Joanne Roberts
Principal
[email protected]
The second piece recounts U4’s visit to Chinatown.
This excursion provided much rich material for
writing, and doubtless inspired much enthusiasm
for China.
Marg
AVPS Family Dinner
A Fundraiser…. An evening on the
town!
GOOD NEWS at AVPS
Birdie Num Num’s
745 Nicholson St, North Carlton
Thursday 7 August, 6 – 8.30 pm
Adults $25 Children $10
Drinks at Bar Prices, No BYO
Please return booking form, WITH MONEY,
(cash only) to Units to allow appropriate
catering
(Extra booking forms may be collected from the office if needed)
School Council Vacancy
A casual School Council vacancy currently exists,
please see me if you would be interested in joining
the Council team. Our next meeting is Monday 18
August, 7-9 pm in the staffroom.
Joanne
On Friday the 1st of August, ABC attended the TIP
Awards Cocktail Party. After spending an entire
hour fixing our hair and makeup we headed off to
the party at Leonda by the Yarra. Soon after
arriving, we received chocolates, our award and
a $2000 cheque for our 'Caring CommUnit 3'
application and then settled in for a few drinks
(lemonade of course!!) and a social chat with the
rest of the winners. After a few lemonades it was
time to take Bev & Amanda home and check the
football scores, much to Carley's delight (go
Hawks!)!! We had a great night and can't wait to
spend our money with the residents of Corandirk
House!!
IT’s Not OK to Be Away
Some great news about our absences this year. At
this point in the year the students at AVPS are
doing exceptionally well at attending school. We
have an average of around 4 .5 absences per student
which keeps us right on track for an average of 8
days or less if we can keep it up.
This means our attendance rate is at approx 97%, a
figure that is fantastic, I hope that students and
Parents continue their hard work for the remainder
of the year and remember that:
IT’S NOT OK TO BE AWAY!
Social Skills – Resilience Program
My name is Isabel I am a Community Welfare
student form Victory University. I have joined in
partnership with Ascot Vale Primary to; work with
students to develop a school based Resilience
Education Program. With the help of our fellow
teachers and students, we ran our first session with
grade 5 & 6s from both units 1 and 3.
The students had a great time learning and gaining
essential social skills.
The students will be performing at some assemblies
sharing what they have learnt, educating the
younger students about how to be role models. This
program will run for duration of 6 weeks. Looking
forward to help continue to build a happier and
safer environment for our children.
Isabel Rodriguez
Reader’s Challenge
A note to remind participants of THE PREMIER’S
READER’S CHALLENGE that the closing date is
fast approaching.
We have several reader’s who have completed this
year’s Challenge, perhaps many more have , but as
yet have not put books onto their page. I would
encourage all to do so soon, end of August is not all
that far away.
Marg
Athletics
A big thankyou to all the parent helpers who braved
chilly conditions to assist at the athletics morning
last Friday.
Those who attended would have noticed the great
spirit in which the kids participated. Results and
news of those going through to Zone will hopefully
be in next weeks news.
Events such as these rely on parental assistance and
it is great that we have a great level of support.
Thankyou!
Steve Power
Cybersafety Tips for
Key Points to reinforce:
Parents





Remove any flirty photos
Remove any flirty nicknames
Never to send your surname
Don’t give out your birth date
Don’t give out your address or phone
numbers
 Set any social networking sites on
‘Private’ option
 Report any incidences that make you
feel uncomfortable by ringing 1800
880 176
Information website: www.netalert.gov.au
French at Ascot Vale Primary
anyone?
A handful of parents have responded positively to
an offer of after-school French language instruction
for their children. We're looking for a few more
interested parents in order to have sufficient
participants for the program to go ahead. The
program costs $100 per term (one hour/week). And
the operators of the program have offered to come
to the school to run one 'sample' class free of charge
for those who might be interested. Places in the
program are already full elsewhere. In order to get
access to this we can set it up at our own school! If
you are interested, curious, unsure, or definitely
want to take part I will act as coordinator between
interested parents and the instructors. Phone, email
or find me during school drop-off and pick-up.
Merci beaucoup, Susie Lauer 9372 6702
[email protected]
“FETE”
PROGRESS KINDERGARTEN
Saturday 6 September
10 am – 2pm, Family Fun
Brown Ave, Ascot Vale.
FREE Magic Show at 11 am,
Auction at 12.30 pm
Monday – Active Aftercare
Soccer
Tuesday – Capture the Flag is
back
Wednesday – No School
Thursday – Free play
Friday - Basketball
150 Years of Football
This Thursday Ascot Vale Primary School
along with many other Schools will
celebrate 150 years of Australian Football.
To assist in this activity we invite all
students to come to School this Thursday,
August 7 in their team colours and we will
construct a human graph outlining the
support each team has here at Ascot Vale
Primary.
We will also have some other Football
related physical activities that classrooms
will be invited to participate in throughout
the day.
So everyone, get behind your team, show up
to school in all your favourite teams colours
and help celebrate 150 years of Australian
Football.
OSHC now has a new program called “Active
Aftercare”. On Mondays we have a coach for
soccer visit and teach us everything from rules
to skills and the same on Wednesdays for
hockey.
The sports for active aftercare will change
every term and the best bit is there are no extra
charges!
Please ensure that all cancellations are made
before closing (6pm) the day before.
Cancellations made after this time are charged
at the normal rate. Cancellations or bookings
can be made through the school office, the
program (9326 0936) or through Camp
Australia Head Office on 8851 4160. All
enquiries in regard to invoicing, payment or
CCB (Child Care Benefit) should be made to
the OSHC administration team on 8851 4160.
Sean Black, OSHC Co-ordinator.