Issue 11

Tuesday 8th May 2012

PRINCIPALS REPORT
Assessment and progress in learning is an ongoing process that involves the teacher and the students continuously. Developing and applying literacy skills through reading, writing, spelling, speaking and listening are all aspects of learning for students. In mathematics the skills and language that is learnt and applied is also monitored for progress and understanding. Teachers develop tasks and experiences explicitly teach skills that support the students in their learning. The students are shown and have the knowledge and skills clearly explained and supported. Teachers assessments can be through observation, assessment tasks, and tests. Teachers will be monitoring the students ability as a learner in a variety of skills. Teachers are in the midst of working through assessments, and the students progress to complete the first half of the year reports. These reports give an indication of the achievement the students have made, the work that can be done to improve the students learning, and future goals for learning for the second half of the year. School will be closed on Friday 8th June for Report Writing Day. Our focus for this term is to do our personal best as learners.

DATES TO REMEMBER
NAPLAN DATES Literacy (Writing and Language conventions) 15th May Reading 16th May Numeracy 17th May Monday 7th May until Friday 18th May SWIMMING for Grade 3-6 Wednesday 16th May School Council Meeting 7pm in the staff room Finance Committee, 6:30pm Friday 8th June Report Writing Day SCHOOL CLOSED Monday 11th June Queens Birthday SCHOOL CLOSED Saturday 16th June Annual Trivia Night and Auction

JENNY OMACHEN
Principal, Ashby Primary School

Thank Yous
Over the last two weekends volunteers have been hard at work supporting our school! Thank you to those families who attended the Working Bee, Sunday, April 29th: Squire family Scherer-Cavenett family McLachlan family and Armytage family

They were able to move a veritable mountain of mulch from the junior playground to planting beds along Waratah Street and near the stage. Thank you also to those parents that volunteered this past Saturday to man the BBQ outside Heritage Meats: Nicole Armstrong Lis Bevan Dave Collinson

Cynthia Scherer Brett Squire Peter Stephens Heather Vine

Thank you also to Heritage Meats for donating all the sausages. We raised just over $400 through the BBQ!

Principal: Jenny Omachen

www.ashbyps.vic.edu.au

School email - ashby.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au

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Friday May 18th is National Walk Safely to School Day!!

Walk Safely to School Day (WSTSD) is an annual, national event when all Primary School children will be encouraged to walk and commute safely to school. It is a Community Event seeking to promote Road Safety, Health, Public Transport and the Environment. Experts agree children need an absolute minimum of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise each and every day and the more time spent being active, the better off theyll be. For many children the 60 minute minimum can be achieved by simply getting off the bus a few stops earlier and walking the rest of the way to and from school or walking to the shops or to a friends place. And walking with children can help parents achieve the minimum 30 minutes of exercise that is recommended for Australian adults each day. Computer time or sedentary activity like watching TV should be limited to a maximum of two hours a day (unless its educational i.e. for homework or at school). www.walk.com.au Lets see how many Ashby students take up the challenge and walk to school, and remember as always Part Way Is Ok.

Mothers Day Stall

Mothers Day is a chance for families to get together and celebrate mum and the mother figures in their lives. Its a chance to spoil mum and remind her of how special she is to you! Friends of Ashby will be hosting a Mothers Day Stall, Friday, May 11th from 9:1511:30am for students. There will be small gifts for mum ranging from $1-6 in price. So if you are looking for something special for mum look no further!

Vege Garden To Do ListWeek of May 916

Due to the rain last week Mr. Batters class was not able to get outside into the garden. Rain also means more WEEDS! Below are a list of tasks we need assistance with in the vege garden (in the junior playground) over the nextweek:

Entertainment Book Reminder! All families should have either paid or returned their 2012 Entertainment Books. If you havent, please do so as soon as possible!

Watering garden beds (2 x a week) Weeding garden beds Turning the compost bins (2 x a week) Cutting Rosemary branches into smaller pieces

These tasks can be completed any time that the school grounds are open (generally 7:45am-6pm Monday to Friday). If you need equipment from the garden shed, you can get a key from the office. If you complete a task, simply mark it off from the notice board list. Thank you in advance for your help!

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Art Room Assistance Needed

Thanks everyone for the donations of recycled materials so far. We still need larger things like hub caps, bin lids etc to make some larger recycled character faces for outside. I'm also on the look out for old shoes, any sort will do, high heels, sneakers and thongs. I'm always on the look out for sparkly pieces of material, old jewelry and buttons. Thank you

Deutsche Ecke
In German we are looking for old calendars for a project. If you have any outdated or extra calendars looking for a new home, please bring them into your childs teacher or hand them in at the office. Thank you! And dont forget here is a wonderful website to enjoy with your child. www.education.vic.gov.au/ languagesonline German You can learn interactively, listening and repeating, typing in answers and winning games. You can also explore other languages....... Viel Spass! (Have fun!)

Calling All Crafty People

Hi, were looking to set up a craft group for Mondays after assembly in Cosy Corner Caf just off Pako. All skill levels and interests are welcome. Bring along your current project or join in with some crochet lessons for now. If youre interested feel free to catch up with Amanda Heitman or Katrina Eadie at school, or just turn up to the caf after assembly. Kids are welcome too.

Seeking Silent Auction and Trivia Night Donations!

This years Silent Auction and Trivia Night will be held Saturday, June 16th. Our largest fundraiser of the year, this event also provides an opportunity for fun and community building. Money raised from this event allows us to increase the resources available to our school and to improve the quality of education offered to our students. Last year the almost $7,000 raised went towards supporting the schools music program. This year monies raised will support the schools literacy goals, including support for the reading recovery program. Integral to the success of this event has been the support of our business friends. This year businesses can support the event in two ways: 1) Donate an item for the event. This includes items for the silent auction, raffles on the night and mystery envelopes. 2) Advertise in the Auction Catalogue. If you work for or own a local business, please consider supporting us in one of the ways listed above. You can pick up an information packet from the FOA board outside the staff office, or send an email to friendsofashby@ashbyps.vic.edu.au to request an information packet. You can also assist us by dropping off information packets at local businesses. There is a list of local businesses we are targeting on the FOA board outside the staff office. Simply list your name by businesses you are willing to drop the information packet off at and take the required number of packets.

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Western Heights College

Open NightYear 7, 2013

Vines Road campus (Orange Building)

Tuesday 8 May 2012

Information sessions at 4pm, 5pm, 6pm Followed by campus tours Leading the way with flexible learning spaces

Its BackWoolworth Earn and Learn Starts Wednesday May 9th!

May, From Wednesday 9th May you can start collecting stickers at the checkout of your local Woolworths supermarket (selfservice too) to give to Ashby Primary School. Therell be one sticker for every $10 spent, excluding purchases of liquor, smoking/tobacco products and gift cards. Once received simply give the stickers to your childs teacher or drop the stickers into the collection box outside of the staff room. And dont forget to let you family friends and neighbours know so they can start collecting too! Stickers collected will allow us again to earn valuable learning resources for our school. Last year we collected over 13,000 points (this year they are stickers) which we redeemed for literacy related resources, including many new books for literacy circles and the school library. More information will be coming home in a separate flyer tomorrow!

Ashby Netta/Netball Skills Clinic

Starting Thursday, May 10th (and every Thursday in Term 3) we will be holding a Netta/ Netball Skills Clinic, as well a games, from 3:20-4:00pm on school netball court. We need at least 14 students to run the clinics and games. If your child (boys, girls, all grade levels) is interested in participating please complete and return the interest form below to your childs teacher or the office ASAP or put your name on the signup sheet near the door going out to the junior playground (across from Ms. Canns room

Can You Help?

Below are some current activities we are seeking assistance with:
Fresh Fruit Friday, every

Ashby Netball Skills Clinic Interest Form

Yes, My child is interested in participating: Childs Name/Grade: __________________________

9Friday, 9-10am Each Friday we prepare fresh fruit and veges for the classroom. Join us in the kitchen this Friday and ever Friday in Term 2 to help. Garden Volunteers with Mr. Batters Class, every 12:30-1:30pm. Thursday, 12:30-1:30pm Volunteers are needed to assist small groups of students in their tasks including weeding, mulching, composting, watering and planting. If you can help please let Mr. Batters know or join us in the garden on Thursdays. Siblings welcome
Plastic garden pots needed

do you have any plastic garden pots sitting in your shed? The ones new plants come in? We are collecting any size of these plastic pots for use in growing seedlings. Please bring them to the office, or place them near the garden shed in the junior playground.