1 September 2017

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPALS REPORT

Hello Parents, Carers and Friends

What a great fortnight we’ve had! So many great achievements from the whole community.

Thank you so much Risdon Vale School Association for putting on an amazing school fair. Thank you to all staff for helping classes contribute to the fair, and to our facility attendants and administration for going above and beyond once again. A huge thank you to Risdon Vale for turning up in droves and making it an awesome evening. This is such a great community and to see everyone having fun together was just fantastic!

Last week was also Book Week. Mrs Jean Rigney and Mrs Carol Andrikonis did a huge amount of work in setting up a wonderful book display and book shop in the library. The high-light was the Book Week assembly, which saw an excellent number of family members coming in to watch each class perform an presentation based on a story.

The Thursday night debating continues to be a showcase of how incredible our students are. Our two Grade 5/6 debating teams tackled the topic: That teachers should be replaced by computers! We had one team on the negative in one debate, and the other team on the positive in the other debate. Risdon Vale Primary School hosted, so it was wonderful to have other school visit us. Our teams are debating against much larger primary schools, so the fact we have two teams is a huge achievement. Great job debaters!

Table Tennis is going really well with our professional coaches helping about 19 of our students to really enjoy this sport. The new tables were purchased with a funding grant and we’re really looking forward to using the tables as part of lunchtime and Friday afternoon activities. I reckon we need a competition for staff and parents don’t you?

The architect has been to visit our school to look at the ECE toilets and to provide us with advice on what we can afford with our grant of $230,000. Yes, toilets are a very expensive utility, but of course, getting excellent facilities is a #1 priority, so we need to plan carefully to get the best result for our kids. Once we get a sense of what might be able to be done, we will ask for input from students, staff and parents. Or just email us: Risdon.vale.primary@education.tas.gov.au.

Actually, something that has been very hard to manage these past few weeks has been a spate of flu and colds, and various other nasty viruses. I’ve been struck down for days and it is incredibly frustrating. We’ve had many students and staff away from school sick. I must say that our school is lucky to have a great team of relief Teacher Aides and excellent relief teachers. Thank you to all of those to agree to work at our school as relief staff. I have also been impressed with how our students have coped with staff changes, by showing respect and following instructions, which basically means continuing to learn even when the regular teacher or Teacher Aide is away.

The school staff participated in professional learning last week as a part of the Tasmanian government’s work to address the serious issue of domestic violence. As a school, we understand that domestic violence is highly traumatising for children and that adults recovering from domestic violence need a great deal of support. The aim of our White Ribbon professional learning is to understand that gender inequality creates situations where one person tries to control and have power over another. We as a school, in the Education Department, are committed to preventing, and responding to, domestic violence in a constructive way.

As my article for this week is focused on respectful relationships, I also need to thank our wider adult community for always treating our school environment as a place where responsible and respectful behaviour is expected of all adults. Our school vision includes the words “social/emotional”, meaning that we are educating for excellence, in having high expectations of the ways children will treat other people. Adults are the role models for this aspect of the school vision. All of us. We all agree to use suitable language, to keep disputes away from school and to resolve issues in a mature way. We are educating 184 children through our own behavior towards each other. I am proud that as adults, we are all examples of social/emotional maturity for children.

The ways we are communicating are through the electronic newsletter, the school website, Facebook, teacher/parent discussions at drop off and pick up, phone calls, main office, texts, appointments, email, school based events, printed information going home with children and the sign at the front of the school. If you would like any information or you have any concerns, questions, ideas, or would like to have input, there are any number of ways of connecting with school. Your partnership with school is one of the most important ways of supporting your child’s learning and our teaching. It’s awesome to be having a great time educating our kids as a community.

Kinds regards,

Libby

Hi 5 Awards presented at assembly Monday 21st August

Hi 5 Awards presented at assembly Monday 28th August

Greenies Presented at Assembly Monday 28th August

Four students from Risdon Vale Primary School were selected in two sports to represent our district in the Southern Primary School’s Winter Sports Carnival.

Taylor Doyle and Connor Hansson were chosen in the Green Parrots Netball team while Connor Downham and Jayden Walker were picked for the Bowen Eagles Football team.

All four of our students tried their best and enjoyed the challenge of participating in competitive sport and although our district were not the winners in either sports, the students learnt a lot and were very grateful for the experience.

The competition is an annual event and hopefully we will have more students selected to represent the district from our school next year.

Home reading certificates presented at assembly 28th August

Home Reading

Congratulations to these students, who received Home Reading Certificates at assembly this week.

BOOK WEEK COMPETITION WINNERS FROM LAST WEEKS COMPETITION - WINNING $10 TO SPEND AT THE RECENT BOOK FAIR.

Book Week completion winners

Congratulations to the following students who won $10 to spend at our Book Fair by choosing the winning Shortlisted books.

5/6C Lincoln Bryan
5/6L Brodie Young
3/4P Blade Braslin
2/3WG Zoe Kelleher
1/2VG Bella Stevens
P/1PG Aden Furley
P/1B Indieanna James

Book Fair

Thanks to the overwhelming support of our community members we sold $2069. This allowed us to keep over $600 worth of books for our library. Many thanks for everyone who supported this very important event.

Fried Rice

Equipment: chopping boards, knives, bowls, tablespoon, teaspoon, frypan, serving bowl, serving spoons, eating bowls

Ingredients:

1 ½ cup white rice
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons sunflower oil
1 onion or 2 spring onions, finely sliced
1 garlic clove, finely chopped

Sauce:

1 tablespoon sweet chilli sauce
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce

Vegetable choices:

1/2 cups of peas, carrots -finely sliced or grated, sliced zucchini, silverbeet- finely sliced

Meat choices:

1 cup of chopped ham, chicken, lamb, pork or a combination of meats

Method:

1. Cook rice for 10 minutes in salted boiling water. Drain off water and leave the rice in the colander.
2. Break eggs into a bowl and whisk. Cook eggs in a lightly oiled frypan. When cooked remove eggs and put onto a chopping board. When cold, slice the eggs thinly.
3. Put sunflower oil in a frypan and add spring onion and garlic. Stir for 2 to 3 minutes to soften and then add prepared vegetables. Mix well while cooking.
4. Add cooked rice, meat, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and sesame oil. Stir-fry for 5 minutes or until heated through.
5. Mix sliced egg through the rice mixture and serve.

Serves 6-8

Nursery Rhyme of the Week

The Hokey Pokey

You put your right foot in
You take your right foot out
You put your right foot in
And you shake it all about
You do the hokey pokey
And you turn yourself around
That's what it's all about

You put your left foot in
You take your left foot out
You put your left foot in
And you shake it all about
You do the hokey pokey
And you turn yourself around
That's what it's all about

You put your right hand in
You take your right hand out
You put your right hand in
And you shake it all about
You do the hokey pokey
And you turn yourself around
That's what it's all about

You put your left hand in
You take your left hand out
You put your left hand in
And you shake it all about
You do the hokey pokey
And you turn yourself around
That's what it's all about

You put your head in
You take your head out
You put your head in
And you shake it all about
You do the hokey pokey
And you turn yourself around
That's what it's all about

You put your whole self in
You take your whole self out
You put your whole self in

Riddles

A man started to town with a fox, a goose and a sack of corn. He came to a stream which he had to cross in a tiny boat. He could only take one across at a time. He could not leave the fox alone with the goose or the goose alone with the corn. How did he get them all safely over the stream?

He took the goose over first and came back. Then he took the fox across and brought the goose back. Next he took the corn over. He came back alone and took the goose.

Almost everyone needs it, asks for it, gives it, but almost nobody takes it. What is it?

Advice.

A doctor and a boy were fishing. The boy was the doctor's son, but the doctor was not the boy's father. Who was the doctor?

His mother.

A frog fell into a well 12 feet deep. He could jump 3 feet, but every time he jumped 3 feet, he fell back 2 feet. How many times did he have to jump to get out of the well?

The tenth jump took him out. (On the tenth jump he reached 13 feet and was out.)

Word of the Week

Appreciation

Appreciation is showing a person or people how much you really do admire what they do for you, work or community. Appreciation also known as gratitude, can make the person receiving the kind words feel worthwhile.

Casual Words of Appreciation

These phrases are appropriate for business relationships, casual friends, and acquaintances who have gone the extra mile for you.

• I just wanted to let you know—the things you do for (me, the company, our group) do not go unnoticed. You’re a necessary piece to this puzzle. I appreciate your dedication and service, and I know others do too.
• Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your commitment. You are not only a valued member of this group, you’re a dear friend. I can’t imagine working without you.
• You’re the heart and soul of this team. I appreciate your dedicated commitment.
• I only wish to aspire to the things you’ve achieved. Telling you that you’re “appreciated” does not do your service justice. You’re the best!
• You do such a great job! Keep it up.
• Let me encourage you today: you’re not only on the right track. You set the course for the rest of us. I appreciate you.
• The difference you make is nothing short of legendary.
• I can’t imagine the world without you. I only know it would be a much different, much less comforting place.
• God bless you for always being there to cheer and to guide.

Appreciation Quotes

Try some of these special quotes from some of the world’s leading philosophers, actors, and businessmen to convey your deep appreciation for another person.

• Frederick Koenig once mentioned that happiness comes not from getting something we lack, but from the recognition and appreciation of what we do have. I agree—I don’t know what I’d do without you.
• “I would rather be able to appreciate things I cannot have than to have things I am not able to appreciate.” – Elbert Hubbard
• According to the Dalai Lama, the roots of goodness are in the soil of appreciation for goodness. You’ve been too good to me, and it is deeply appreciated.
• To truly appreciate life, we seek companionship. Thank you for being my companion. I appreciate you.
• “Courtesies of a small and trivial character are the ones which strike deepest in the gratefully and appreciating heart.” – Henry Clay
• Goethe said, “Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being.” You’ve treated me as though I were capable of reaching the stars. Because of you, I have.
• When I read that Dickens said, “Reflect upon your present blessings,” you came to mind.
• Proust urged his readers be grateful to people who make them happy. I am grateful to you.

Appreciating Relationships

Do you want to tell that special someone they’re appreciated without saying “I love you”? Try a few of these on for size.

• “Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” – Voltaire
• Your love and support will always be remembered, fondly in good times, and as encouragement in bad.
• Someday I hope to give to you a fraction of all you’ve given me.
• No words can express, no act of gratitude can relay, no gift can represent what your love and support have meant to me. Please accept this note as an indicator of my heartfelt appreciation for everything you are.
• I can’t imagine five minutes without you. Thank God I’ve got the rest of my life to spend with you.
• If I tried to tell you how much I appreciate you, I’d be talking the rest of my life. I hope that, in some small way, you realize how much you’ve meant to me, and how truly I desire to give back to you.
• You’ve bent over backwards for me. Please let me repay you somehow, if only in a note telling you how much I appreciate your love and support.

Regardless of the type or depth of relationship, words of appreciation are always appropriate. Challenge for this week is to tell people that you appreciate them and why.

Fair Article

Last week on Friday the school had a fair with lots of stalls. Everyone was spending money and having fun. Some kids played handball on one of the courts, some kids went on rides and some helped with stalls. Thanks to the Risdon Vale Fire Brigade we had a bonfire and fireworks. After the fireworks and bonfire everyone went home. The Principal Mrs Robinson along with staff and volunteers helped on many stalls. The barbeque sold out of food as well as the canteen. The beautiful smells coming from the garden and kitchen stall helped to sell lots of items. The money from the fair goes back to the School Association to help with the purchase new resources. The bike stall was also quite popular with goods made from recycled bike parts.

Journalist: Mason Burr

The Risdon Vale Primary School Association would like to say a HUGE thank you to the students, parents, staff, community members and volunteers who came together to make this fair even bigger than last year. We are still collecting money for raffle and a few other activities but the current tally is $5950. All we can say is WOW that is amazing. Thank you for your support.

Classes between them raised $2330.00 to go into their class budgets to purchase education items or to cover excursions for the children later in the year.

Thank you very much to the volunteers who cleaned up on Saturday morning, Tamara, Sue & Rob & Bill

A reminder that Raffle books need to be returned or more purchased at the school office before the draw on 11th September 2017.

Uniform poll

News from the Garden

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS