18 November 2016

Newsletter Articles

Principal's Message

I am sure you'll agree the lead up to the Christmas break is always busy. We're certainly feeling that way at Mullaloo Heights as we approach the end of the school year. Our students are currently completing assessments and proudly demonstrating how much progress they have made this year. The work produced will be analysed by teachers and used to compile end of year reports. I am sure you are all looking forwarding to receiving your child's and reading about their many acheivements. It has been a great year with real commitment from our students. This has certainly been reflected in our reading and Mathletics homework programs. Students have embraced the incentive schemes introduced this year, with many receiving their 100 club badge for reading and gold badge for Matheltics. Numerous students have told me of the targets they have set themselves with regard to these programs. For some it is the achievement of double gold in Mathletics by the end of the year, while others are aiming to gain 200 books or points for reading. Regardless of the target set or number of books read, what is truly pleasing is the motivation and enthusiasm for learning shown by our students. This is a consistent attribute of our students and the true reward for our teachers' hard work

As a school, we are rewarding our students' hard work with a new end of term event this year. No doubt you will have noticed that a Family Fun Day has been added to the school calendar. This will take place on Tuesday 13th December and involve students working in mixed age groups through a number of fun activities before enjoying a shared lunch in the Undercover Area. We have organised 2 sessions so that our students gain maximum time on each activity; Kindy - Year 2 students will begin at 9:00am, while Year 3-6 students will start after recess. Parents are very welcome to join us on what is going to be fantastic day and a memorable end to a great year; make sure you save the date. More information will follow about this new event.

Our Pre-Primary students performed the final assembly of the year and it was a marvellous finale to a year of outstanding assemblies. I don't think there was a dry eye in the house. The assembly was a true showcase of the huge progress they have made whilst in Pre-Primary. They spoke clearly and confidently and the standard of reading was incredible. It is hard to believe they have just completed their first full time year of schooling. It is a great illustration of the quality teaching and learning offered by our early childhood staff and the support given to their programmes by our parents. The next assembly will be the Book Award Assembly on Thursday 1st December at 9:00am. Teachers are currently nominating students for awards and will be in touch with parents with regard to this.

Caroline Booth
Principal

Dates to remember

Are you leaving at the end of the Year?

If your children are leaving at the end of the year, please let us know in the office as soon as possible. This information will help us when planning for next Year. Thank you!

Kindy Orientation

Our new Kindy students for 2017 have been getting a taste of school over the past few weeks by participating in our orientation program. Mrs Marr has kept both parents and students busy, preparing stimulating activities and games that prepare them for life in a classroom next year. Everyone has been having an absolute ball and are already looking forward to joining Mullaloo Heights next February.

Buddy Writers

This year, teachers have focussed on improving student writing through the implementation of our new Talk 4 Writing programme. The programme emphasises the importance of oral language, the proviso being that if children can't say it, they can't write it. As a result, in every classroom, the introduction to each writing unit begins with oral language work; once this is completed, the explicit teaching of writing skills begins. We have seen a huge impact on the quality of student writing so far, particularly for our younger students. As a result, we were delighted to see students from Room 8 bringing their narratives to read to their buddies in Room 10. Their writing was amazing and the pride in their work was clear. Their older buddies gave great feedback, commenting on the quality of their vocabulary and good text structure. Well done Room 8! We can't wait to see what you produce next year.

Fun Fair - Friday 25th November

Students in Room 12 have spent the last week getting prepared for their annual fun fair. They started by working in groups to brainstorm a huge range of enticing activities for our younger students to enjoy. This list was whittled down, after a lively discussion, to the best few and they now are in the process of organising equipment and leaders for each activity. The fun fair will run just before and during lunchtime on Friday 25th November. Each activity will cost 50c or a $1 so younger students need to bring a few dollars in order to participate. After witnessing the enthusiasm of our organisers, we can safely say this is going to be a lot of fun.

Salvation Army Appeal

Christmas is almost here and it's the time of the year where The Salvation Army will support up to 5,000 families across Western Australia by providing Christmas hampers starting from mid-December. Many families in our state aren't able to have a Christmas meal on Christmas Day because of financial constraints and many other factors. So this year The Salvation Army is looking to Mullaloo Heights Primary School for help in collecting non-perishable food items that can be given to families in need. This is a great opportunity to gift many families with an unforgettable Christmas.

At Mullaloo Heights we would like to donate baskets of food to this appeal. Each classroom will receive their own basket and on Friday the 25th of November, students are invited to come to school in free dress, with their tin of food to fill their classroom's basket. At the Book Award assembly, on Thursday the 1st of December, all the baskets will be displayed and collected by a Salvation Army team member.

Please see the list below for food ideas. We hope you can support us in this fundraiser look forward to seeing the baskets filled!

• Tins of soup, fish, beans, fruit or vegetables
• Bags of lollies or chocolate
• Potato chips
• Jelly
• Cake or pancake mix
• Vegemite, peanut butter, jam etc
• Beverages - tea, coffee, cordial, milo, long life milk etc
• Cereals
• Rice, pasta, spaghetti
• Pasta sauce
• Muesli or cereal bars
• Extras for Christmas - Christmas puddings or cakes, bonbons, candy stockings etc

If you have any questions, please direct them to me. I am in school on Thursday and Fridays.

Thank you,
Jess Smith
School Chaplain

Student Leaders for 2017

We have had a few enquiries regarding how student councillors will be appointed next year. As happened last year, School captains for 2017 will be announced at the final Book Award assembly. Councillor elections will then take place early in Term 1 of next year, thereby allowing new students to have access to this opportunity. Four councillors will be appointed and, as in previous years, they will be voted into office by their peers and teachers. These councillors will be in office for semester 1. At the end of this semester, we will appoint 4 new councillors, again after a democratic vote. They will be in office for Semester 2. Please note that councillors will no longer be aligned to factions. Faction captains will be appointed separately and will have duties aligned to sporting events. We found this approach to be highly successful this year as more opportunities to gain leadership experience were available to our students.

Merit Certificates: Thursday 17th November, 2016

Remembrance Poems

Please enjoy these poems inspired by Remembrance Day and written by Rm 12 students.

Remembrance Day

Flowers die flowers bloom
They are still in our memory as some assume
One poppy in the field
Some men will not yield
We want them safe
We want the home
Forever in our hearts the will still roam.
By Caitlin

Remembrance Day

The falling of our
Servicemen and women
Is mourned on 11 November,
By mothers, fathers and children
So brave were our military men,
We will remember them
By Konrad

Remembrance Day

On Remembrance Day
We say hey,
To the people that are sad
And others that are mad,
However our life
Will never be in this much strife,
For all those men
That will never be seen again,
Lest We Forget.
By Ty

Remembrance Day

We stand in silence to remember,
On the 11th of November.
We remember them to this day,
To show respects we stand and pray.
We remember those who fell,
By a gun or a mortar shell.
Family members have been lost,
Nothing will ever count the cost.
By Thomas Vallet

Remembrance Day 11-11-2016

Let us forgive and not forget for those who have fallen.
Let us pray every day for the soldiers to fight for freedom and come back home safe.
By Zak

Remembrance Day

We wear a poppy
On Remembrance Day,
To honour and respect
The ones who pray
They shall not grow old,
Age shall not weary them,
At the going down of the sun,
We Will Remember Them
By Tasmin

Parent Information/Reminders

Student Booklists for 2017

On Tuesday, 15 November, classes were issued with next years student booklists. Parents should have received their hard copies by now. If you have not been given this by your child/ren, please check their bags. Digital copies are also available from the Mullaloo Heights PS website at the following link:

P&C News

P&C Parent Disco **CANCELLED**

Unfortunately due to lack of interest, the P&C have made the decision to cancel this fundraising event.

Those that have purchased tickets, will receive a refund for tickets purchased. Money can be collected from the front office.

Community News