Newsletter: 01/09

Important Dates to Note:

From the Principal

Welcome back to school. I would like to welcome all families and staff back to school, in particular I would like to welcome new staff: teachers, Kim Beverley and Lydia Mojuetan; assistants, Lily Sheehan and Jennifer Brown, and our new school secretary, Josephine Radaich. 2009 has already been a year of enormous contrasts. We began the year with the inauguration of the first African American President. A man who says he will fulfil the dreams of the Civil Rights Leader, Martin Luther King. This is not only a great moment for America but a great moment for all minority groups across the globe. In his speech Barack O’Bama talked about qualities that are common in all humans. He said:

"Our challenges may be new. The instruments which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends – hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been a quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded, then, is a return to these truths."

"What is required with us now is a new era of responsibility – a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task."

When I heard and read his speech there were many parts that bought tears to my eyes, but this paragraph in particular, as this is what Dr Montessori wrote intuitively in her book ‘Education for Peace’. Let us hope that together we can instil these virtues in our children so that they will grow and face the challenges of the future. In stark contrast to the tears of happiness for the possibility of liberating humanity, we have been deeply affected by the tragedy and devastation of weeks of bushfires. Yesterday, a letter was sent to all families to ask for your support in assisting victims of this tragedy. I have attached another copy of this in case you did not receive it. I ask that you respond with the generosity that you have shown many times, as a community.

Welcome

We would like to welcome the following families to the school who started with us recently:

• Jasper Bourchier who started in LCDG-A, in Anthea’s class and his parents David & Elke.
• Max Potter who started in LCDL, in April’s class and Sian Potter who started in LCDG – Anthea’s class and their parents Simon & Monique.
• Georgia Blackley who started in LCDM, in Kim’s class and her parents Edward & Joanna.
• Danielle Skarratt who started in LCC, in Lydia’s class, and Jack Skarratt who started in LCDG, in Anthea’s class, and their parents Bryce & Kay.’
• William Bensky who started in LCDM, in Kim’s class and his parents Tom and Sonia.
• Eloise O’Clery who started in LCDF in Maria’s class and her parents Richard & Genevieve.
• Loic Dutry who started in LCDG, in Debbie’s class and her parents Danicia and Martin.

Enrolments

Reminding families to add siblings to waiting lists, for their future enrolments.

From the Teachers

Corroboree

It is wonderful to see so many parents turn up to watch their child’s Corroboree, but it is sometimes difficult to fit everyone in! We have seating set up for you along the wall facing the Corroboree leaders (and kitchen), and we ask that you enter via Anthea’s side door- which means walking around the outside of upper primary and then up the path along the railway side of the school. Please avoid entering via the library as this means you need to walk through the groups of children.

We would also like to take this opportunity to remind you that Corroboree is a wonderful opportunity for the whole student body to get to know each other and feel comfortable in such a large group setting. We encourage children to show things they have found in nature, special photos, their work or something special they have made. Please encourage this at home too, by not allowing children to bring any toys or inappropriate items (such as superhero items/books etc) to show as these do not fit with our Montessori philosophy.

For some children it takes an enormous amount of courage to stand up in front of everyone and speak into the microphone to mention what they are going to show. We understand that the young children in particular can say or do ‘funny’ things while learning how to do it properly. We ask that you resist the temptation to laugh, as this can be very embarrassing for the child, and in some cases this has affected children to the extent that they have refused to show anything again for a very long time.

We look forward to seeing you when your child’s class is hosting Corroboree for that week. Each class hosts one Corroboree per term and dates are in the term calendar. We start at 11.45am and finish at 12.30. Thank you

Intensive Virtues Workshop

On Monday 2nd February, all teaching staff were involved in an intensive Virtues workshop. While the school has been including the Virtues Project for several years, it was a very beneficial day – as a reminder of the many strategies we can use to incorporate virtues into our classrooms, as well as for new staff to become familiar with its benefits.

La Casa del Giardino

We have had a lovely start to the year! The children have returned with big smiles and enthusiasm, obviously refreshed and ready to get back to school. We are concentrating on cooking activities this term, with an activity on the shelf each week as well as parents coming in to cook something with the children.
We have started the term discussing the virtue of ‘respect’- what this means, how we show it, and why we use it. We have also discussed that we use virtues everywhere…not just at school!

Middle Primary Parents

On Fridays Sam will be conducting Physical Education lessons for all of Middle Primary. Just a quick message to remind parents that students need to wear sneakers that are appropriate for running around on the basketball court and the oval. In addition to this Middle Primary also have fitness on a Monday and Thursday morning and therefore also need sneakers for these mornings.

Virtues

For our professional development this term all teachers attended a Virtues workshop which built on the parent evening we had last year. As part of our commitment to including virtues in our education, a virtue will be included in each newsletter. This will be the main virtue the whole school will be concentrating on for that fortnight. This newsletters virtue is –

Respect

Respect is having regard for other people and their feelings. It is thinking about how your actions will affect them and caring about how they will feel. It is paying attention to what other people like and don’t like, then doing things that give them happiness.
I am practicing respect when I …

• treat everyone the way I would like to treated
• speak courteously to everyone
• am receptive to the wisdom of elders
• honour the rules of my family and school
• expect respect for my body and my rights
• honour other people’s needs for time and space for themselves

Uniform Shop dates

The Uniform Shop dates will be every other Friday, commencing 13 February 2009, between the times of 8.30-9.30am.

TERM DATES FOR 2009

2009		Teachers Return	Students Return	Mid-term Break/PD	Finish
Semester 1	Term 1	Monday 2 February	Wednesday 4 February	Friday 20 March	Thursday 9 April
	Term 2	Tuesday 28 April	Wednesday 29 April	-	Friday 3 July
Semester 2	Term 3	Monday 20 July	Wednesday 22 July	24 August	Friday 25 September
	Term 4	Monday 12 October	Tuesday 143 October	Friday 13 November	Friday 11 December

Across the Desk

Ramp to the Crossing of the Carpark.

Can parents please be aware that the parking area closest to the ramp at the crossing in the car park should be left vacant to enable wheelchair access.

Scholastic Book Fairs for everyone

2009 Back-To-School Children’s Book Sale! Titles starting from as low as $1.00

When: Thursday 26th and Friday 27th February

9.00am – 5.30pm
Saturday 28th February
8.30am – 1.00pm

Where: Scholastic Book Fairs Warehouse

Units 1 & 2, 70 Beringarra Avenue, MALAGA

Let’s visit Cottesloe Library!

Some of our middle primary students handmade books are displayed in the library until end of this February!

Child Eczema Management Study

Amy Mitchell, undertaking a Masters at Queensland University of Technology is attempting to develop a questionnaire designed to measure parents confidence, behaviours and beliefs regarding management of their child’s eczema. She requires parents of children with eczema to complete a voluntary online questionnaire re managing childhood eczema. Any parents’ interested in doing this should contact Amy on 07 3138 3856, or alternatively, email her on
quteczemastudy@gmail.com

Movies in the Pool

On Saturday 28 February, the Claremont YAC will be holding an outdoor screening of the movie "Surf’s Up", at the Claremont Pool, Davies Road, and invites you to bring the family along. Screening commences 8pm (but people are encouraged to come earlier for a swim). Entry is $5.00.

Tennis Coaching

To enrol with Jamie Venerys for tennis coaching please contact Jamie on 0417 933 398. There are application forms available at the front office.

After school Drama Classes

This will continue from this Friday February 13. Please bring your children to the Upper Primary classroom by 3.15pm. It is important that we don't interrupt this classroom before they have finished for the day. Please wait OUTSIDE the classroom until the U.P. class has left.

It is important you ensure your child is handed over to myself, or another teacher. At the end of class please be punctual and ensure you are there to collect your child.

Classes are $10 per week. If you wish to pay ahead, there are 8 classes this term. Hoping to see you there for fun, games and drama!!
Susan Russell

Netball Clinics with Sam

Welcome back to everyone! I will not be conducting netball clinics for at least the first 6 weeks of this term due to the heat. I will keep you all informed for when I plan to start. Thank you!

East Fremantle Soccer Club

Information sheets are available at the front office for the East Fremantle Soccer Club.

Kidz’n’Sport

There are information sheets available at the front counter for any parents interested in enrolling their child in kidz’n’sports.

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Dear Parents and Staff

I know that you will all be feeling an enormous amount of grief and concern for the families and animals affected by the dreadful bushfires in Victoria. We would like our community to pull together and offer support to the victims of this tragedy. You can assist in two ways:

1. The school will be donating $1,000.00 and if any of you would like to donate money, we will be sending a cheque to the Premier of Victoria on Friday 20th February 2009. We have decided to take this avenue so the funds will not be misused. All donations will be receipted and we will inform you of the total amount sent
2. I have spoken to the volunteers from Father Brian’s’ Crisis Care Centre in West Perth. They are looking for new towels, new sheets and new blankets, disposable nappies for babies and new toiletries. They need these by Friday 13th February 2009. If you would like to donate please bring them to the office and we will courier them to the Crisis Care Centre on Friday afternoon.

I call on your generosity at this time of need.

Yours sincerely,

Rhonda Sheehan
Principal