​ASCOT NEWS
July 28 2023, Term 3 Issue 1

Ascot Vale Primary School
‘Unique Learning Community’
Where we value:
RESPECT      RESPONSIBILITY      EXCELLENCE      EMPATHY      GRATITUDE

"Hands up, hands down. We are on Wurundjeri land."

House Aths Fun

Click on SPORT & PE below for news and pics.

Please click on the headings below to discover more. 
REMINDER: You can change the language at the top left hand corner of the webpage

FROM THE PRINCIPAL TEAM 

Dear Parents, Carers, Staff, and Students,

Term three is off to a busy start, highlighted by the P-6 swimming program, MVIMP Camp and 2 concerts, a Farmer's Market Stall, a parenting program presented by The Resilience Program, Parent Teacher Interviews, and a District Athletics Carnival. Thank you to community members who organised, attended or supported these programs or events.   

We enjoyed reading recent mid semester student reports that demonstrated much student growth in learning and development of positive relationships between staff –students and student-students across the school. We are very proud of all AVPS student achievements.  

​We hope carers or parents took advantage of extending the teacher-parent relationship by attending this week's parent-teacher interviews. Parents and carers are reminded to contact their child's teacher any time of the year to make an appointment to meet or hold discussions. The best way to get in touch with teachers is via Class DoJo direct messaging, alternatively, please contact the office to connect withyour child's teacher on 9370 6507. 

 
Kind regards,
​From the principal team
Sue & Michael 

Sue Osborne, Principal

Michael Downing, Assistant Principal

KEY DATES & EVENTS 

Please access our AVPS Key Dates & Events page AT THIS LINK.

STAFF NEWS

WELCOME BACK - LUCY, MICHELLE & DOUG 
​It has been great to have Lucy, Michelle and Doug return to AVPS in term 3 after periods of leave; the children, staff and parents are enjoying reconnecting with them. 

Lucy Mackinnon - AVPS Art Teacher

Michelle Rangott - Unit 4b Classroom Teacher

Doug Skate - Tutor - Located in Unit 3

Tutor Program NewS

Year P-2 students in the Tutor Program have been concentrating hard on their reading and writing this week. Each day, small groups of students work together with me using the Little Learners Love Literacy decodable Book Program. The students are working at their point of need sharing and engaging with their peers. The focus is on Phonological Awareness, being able to notice and use the sound structure of spoken words (using letter sounds to decode and read words).
Explicit teaching points:

•  decoding skills, fluency, accuracy and intonation when reading
•  comprehension and recognising letter sound blends in words, e.g. bl, fl, gr
• recognise all upper-case and lower-case letters and their corresponding sounds
• learning ‘heart’ words to store in our long-term memory (words that cannot be ‘sounded out’- need to learn ‘by heart’). Another common name for this is sight words.
• conversational language experiences to enhance oral language skills 

The students are enjoying their learning and have been enthusiastic and happy! I will be updating parents on student progress through individual student/parent class dojo messages and you can make an appointment to see me during the week if you have any questions. I will be available on Thursday afternoons after school near the oval (3.30-3.45pm) too.
Kind regards,
Doug Skate

​Supervision of students before and after school hours

Dear Parents and Caregivers,
We hope this message finds you well. We would like to address an emerging concern regarding the supervision of our students before and after school hours. It has come to our attention that an increasing number of students are being left unsupervised during these times. As partners in your child's education, we want to ensure their safety and well-being at all times.

At Ascot Vale Primary School, we have established guidelines to ensure adequate supervision for our students. Please take note of the following responsibilities and guidelines:
1. Supervision Hours: School supervision is provided 15 minutes before the start of school and up to 15 minutes after the school day ends. Specifically, our staff members will be present for yard duty between 8:45 am and 3:45 pm.
2. Active Supervision: We emphasise the importance of active supervision before and after school hours, particularly before 8:45am and after 3:45 pm. During these times, it is the responsibility of parents and caregivers to ensure the care and supervision of their children, including their travel to and from school.
3. Parental Responsibility: Before and after the designated supervision hours, the primary responsibility for the care and supervision of students lies with parents and caregivers. We kindly request your cooperation in fulfilling this crucial role.

Please note our Yard Duty and Supervision Policy - https://avps.vic.edu.au/uploads/9/5/6/5/95656824/yard_duty_supervision_policy_2022.pdf 
To further support the supervision of students before and after school, we highly recommend that you familiarise yourself with the DET (Department of Education and Training) student supervision policy. You can find the policy, including the section titled "Strategies to encourage parent or carer support for supervision," at the following link https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/supervision-students/policy

This resource will provide valuable information through a safety lens and aid in maintaining a secure environment for our students.
We believe that by working together, we can create a safe and nurturing environment for all our students. Your cooperation and adherence to the supervision policy and guidelines will help ensure their well-being and security. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We appreciate your ongoing support and commitment to your child's education.

community connections

Please access the headings below for 'Community Connections' news

​​SCHOOL COUNCIL NEWS

The AVPS School Council met this week online. Here is a summary of the July School Council news.

The AVPS Council:

• Workshopped the final wording of the ‘School Vision & Mission’ statements that reflect input from students, staff, and parents, see below.
• Approved the 2023-2026 AVPS School Strategic Plan, which will remain in draft form until approved by the department - see attached below.
• Acknowledged the improvements in community connection activities, compared to the same time last year, when the school struggled to sign up volunteers. We have since recruited 17 Parent Reps across the school who are meeting regularly in person and remotely to help organise, run, and plan the following events that are adding value to our school community: 
  • Weekly Fresh Fruit Fridays 
  • Farmer’s Market stalls 
  • Mother’s Day / Father’s Day events & activities 
  • Special Lunch Days 
  • Movie Night 
  • Trivia Night
• Was updated about:
  • Our Business Manager (BM) David has had a period of unplanned absence, resulting in delays to some aspects of the BM role. Christina Micucci, our admin assistant, has stepped in to complete the most important financial tasks; Sue and Michael have also completed other aspects of the role. However, some of the BM tasks are running behind schedule.  School Council expressed appreciation and offered assistance to the school.  David is due to return to AVPS on Monday 31st July.
  • Positive feedback shared by the Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) team from the recent community survey about the Camp Australia program at AVPS. They reported it was great to have such a high response rate to our recent parent survey on the OSHC service provided by Camp Australia.  There were many glowing and positive comments.  The OSHC team thank everyone who responded.
  • News that the OSHC subcommittee will be apply for a Vacation Care grant in the coming weeks.  

2023-2026_-_school_strategic_plan._draft_27july_2023_docx.pdf
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School Strategic Plan - 2023-2026
Ascot Vale Primary School (2608)

School vision and mission
Our Vision
AVPS is a unique learning community. Our school community is vibrant and inclusive. Our students are independent, passionate, confident and embrace the joy of learning.  As a result, our students are engaged, inquisitive and happy. They are empowered for lifelong learning and to have a positive impact on the world around them. 

Our Mission
Our school values guide us in all we think and do. We provide high-quality teaching and learning in a multi-age classroom environment. We do everything with a spirit of collaboration and friendship. We support our students to have the knowledge, skills, and behaviours to be valuable and valued members of our school community.  

The vision and mission statements above were developed after collecting key words and ideas from staff students and school councillors, resulting in graphics, such as this below: 

PARENT REP NEWS

SPECIAL LUNCH DAYS
Term 3 
PIZZA LUNCH DAY  Friday 4th August - Please place an order here: 
DETAILS:
WHEN – Friday 4th August
ORDERS – Via Compass Tix at this link: https://compasstix.com/e/etfvkvbj04 or approach the office to place an order.
ORDERS CLOSE: Tuesday 1st August Midday.
PIZZA MENU - Margarita, Hawaiian, Vegetarian and Gluten Free Margarita options. From Jovani’s Restaurant, Ascot Vale.
TO ORDER – Click on ‘Book Now’ on the link above. 
INGREDIENTS – click on ‘show information’ for dietary details.
SPECIAL REQUEST – please place one order per child/person

FLEMINGTON FARMERS' MARKET (FFM) 
SAVE THE (AVPS FFM) DATES:
Term 3
Week 6 - 20th August - U 4/5 
Week 9 - 10th September - U 2/3 
 
Term 4
TBC * - Week 2 - 15th October
TBC* - Week 7 - 19th November 

* in addition to our two FFM dates, we are planning to host a sausage sizzle on the Federal Referendum date, which has not yet been announced by the federal Government.  Term 4 FFM arrangements may need to be altered pending the referendum date announcement. 

Thank you to parents and carers who did a great job producing baked goods and running FFM stalls to date.  Enjoy the pics at the bottom of this section. 
​

FRESH FRUIT FRIDAY (FFF)
Thank you to the volunteers who have helped to prepare fruit platters on Fridays to date. The children enjoy sharing a healthy snack together and seeing their parents at school helping to prepare and deliver platters.  Here are the remaining arrangements for term 2, 2023:
Term 3  FFF DATESWeek 1 - 14th July - U 4/5 
 Week 2 - 21st July - U 2/3
Week 3 - 28th July - U 6/1 
Week 4 - 4th Aug - U 4 / 5 
Week 5 - 11th Aug - U 2 / 3
Week 6 - 18th Aug - U 6/1 

SPECIAL LUNCH DAYS - Term 3
Plwase save the following confirmed 'Special Lunch Day' dates. 
TERM 3
WEEK 4  - Friday 4th August - Pizza Day
WEEK 7 - Friday 25th August - Pies & S/Rolls

TRIVIA NIGHT 2023
Following the tremendous success of the 2022 Hawaiian AVPS Trivia Night, a Disco Trivia event will take place in Term Four, 2023. This will be an adult only event held on a Friday night in Term Four. This date will be confirmed once the Federal Referendum date is announced. I.e., we are all very keen to avoid the clash of a Friday night Trivia event followed by an early Saturday morning sausage sizzle!!!

​

2023 Parent Reps
Thank you to the following volunteers who will share the Parent Rep roles in 2023.
The next meeting will be held in person on online on Wednesday 2nd August.

UNIT 1 PARENT REPS Kirsten Deruddere Jemima Flego ​Andrea Benyi	​UNIT 2 PARENT REPS ​Claire Topliss Hazel Grunwaldt Katie Roberts​	​UNIT 3 PARENT REPS Benita Champion Emily Webster Jennifer Wallace
​UNIT 4 PARENT REPS Katherine McConnell Volunteer Needed ​	​UNIT 5 PARENT REPS ​Erin Katsavos Tanya Anderson Jenelle Dandris Danielle McKeown ​Shelley Smith	​UNIT 6 PARENT REPS Volunteer Needed ​​ ​

Farmers' Market 2023

reminders

As previously published, please access important information by clicking on the headings below:

2023 PUPIL FREE DAY REMINDERS

Pupil Free Days 2023
​Please make alternative arrangements for the care of your child or children on the following dates in 2023, as students are not required to attend school on Pupil Free Days.
TERM 1

• Friday 27th January 2023 - 'Teaching Writing' Professional Development 
• Monday 30th January 2023 - Start of Year Pupil Free Day 

TERM 2 

• Monday 24th April 2023 - Staff Professional Practice Day
• Friday 2nd June 2023 -  Strategic Planning Development Day

TERM 3 

• Monday 10th July 2023 - Staff Professional Practice Day

TERM 4 

• Monday 6th November 2023 - Report Writing Day 

ASSEMBLY SCHEDULE 

'In person' assemblies have returned to AVPS after three years of 'going online'. 

The plan is to hold these on the outdoor stage at the rear of the library, near the oval in fine weather, or in the hall when the weather prevents us from enjoying the healthy outdoor air. 

Parents/carers are welcome to attend. Gates will be opened just prior to commencement of the assembly. Alternatively, please enter via the school office.  There is no need for community members to sign in as visitors when attending AVPS assemblies.  

Teachers of the presenting units will publicise the assemblies in the days or week prior to the event. 

​TERM 3 MONDAY Assembly Schedule - Oval or Hall at 3:00pm
These arrangements have been updated and appear in the Compass Community Calendar- accessible by families.
WEEK 3 – 24th July - Unit 2
WEEK 5 – 7th August - Unit 4
WEEK 7 – 21st August - Unit 6
WEEK 9 – 4th September - Unit 1
Assembly Schedule Term 4
WEEK 1 – 2nd October – Sue and Michael
WEEK 3 – 16th October - Unit 2 
WEEK 5 – 30th October – Unit 3 & 5
WEEK 7 – 13th November – Unit 4
WEEK 9 – 27th November – Unit 6
Week 11 – 11th December – Sue and Michael
Week 12 – Wednesday 20th December – END OF YEAR ASSEMBLY – 9:00am

school tours

We are offering opportunities for community members to visit Ascot Vale PS in person to meet with leadership staff, interact with school community members (where possible), visit classrooms and other facilities.

Visitors will receive information about AVPS and how to enrol from the tour guides, usually the Principal, Sue Osborne and/or Assistant Principal, Michael Downing.

These tours are designed to help visitors find out more about our school and to get to know us better. They are mostly suited to parents or carers of Year Prep / Foundation children intending to start school in 2024, however, any prospective family may join AVPS tours.

Please click on the button below to book a school tour. ​

school tours

cAMP DATES

In case you missed this under the School Council section in the last newsletter, here is a repeat for your information and diaries.
SCHOOL CAMP ARRANGEMENTS 
The following arrangements have been approved by the Principal, pending documentation: 
2023 

• Club Lorne https://www.clublorne.com.au/
• October 23-27 - Week 4 Term 4 
• Year 5 / 6 ’s Monday to Wednesday.
• Year 3 / 4 ’s Wednesday to Friday. 
• Approximate costs $350 - $420. Final costs to be confirmed 

2024 
AVPS Year 5 / 6 Camp

• Canberra Camp
• Accommodation / TBC
• Term 2 - Monday 15th April - Friday 19th April
• Traveling both ways by Coach
• Approximate costs $950 - $1000. Final costs to be confirmed

 AVPS Year 3 / 4 Camp 

• Campaspe Downs  www.pgladventurecamps.com.au
• Term 4 - Wednesday 13th November - Friday 15th November 
• Approximate costs $430 - $480. Final costs to be confirmed 

PUNCTUALITY AND ATTENDANCE

​As partners in your child's education, we would like to address a matter of utmost importance that affects the smooth functioning of our school and your child's learning experience. We kindly request your attention to the topic of student punctuality and minimising withdrawals for routine appointments. Recently, we have observed a growing concern regarding student punctuality and the impact of early  withdrawals. While we understand that there are always exceptions, such as illness, unavoidable medical attention, and agreed upon allied health appointments, we kindly request your cooperation in ensuring that your child arrives at school on time, at 9 am, and remains present for the entire school day.
 
The impact of lateness and frequent absences is noticeable more than ever, affecting various aspects of our school community:

• Impacts on Classrooms and Learning: Punctuality plays a crucial role in maintaining a conducive learning environment. When students arrive late, it disrupts the flow of instruction, interrupts their classmates' focus, and may result in missed essential information. Consistent punctuality fosters a sense of responsibility and respect for others, while maximising the learning opportunities for your child.

 

• Impacts on Office Staff: Frequent withdrawals for routine appointments can place a burden on our hardworking office staff. The increased administrative tasks involved in managing attendance records, collecting students, and coordinating with teachers can be time-consuming, hindering their ability to attend to other important tasks.

 

• General Impact of Missing School: Regular school attendance is critical for academic success. Students who consistently miss school days or arrive late often experience gaps in their learning and may find it challenging to catch up with their peers. Every school day offers valuable opportunities for growth, collaboration, and social interaction, which contribute to your child's overall development.

 
Furthermore, we have been actively listening to our teachers, who have expressed their concerns about the impact of student punctuality on their roles in the classrooms. When students arrive late, it requires additional attention to help them settle in, which diverts precious instruction time away from the entire class. Consistent punctuality allows our dedicated educators to provide uninterrupted lessons, ensuring that every student receives the best possible education.
 
We acknowledge that there are exceptional circumstances where withdrawal for routine appointments is necessary. However, we kindly request that such appointments be scheduled outside of school hours whenever possible or during times that minimally disrupt your child's education. We greatly appreciate your understanding and support in this matter.
 
Please remember that our primary goal is to provide your child with a nurturing and academically rich environment. By emphasising the importance of punctuality and minimising routine appointment withdrawals, we can collectively create an optimal learning environment for all students.
 
Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain a culture of punctuality and regular attendance. Should you have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to the school office staff and/or your child’s classroom teacher.

ROAD & PEDESTRIAN SAFETY - MOONEE AND BANK STREETS

​PARKING –DROP OFF ZONES
Parents/visitors are reminded to please follow the  Moonee Valley City Council’s (MVCC) rules and regulations pertaining to parking and the drop off zone near our school. Some parents/visitors have been observed leaving their cars in the drop off zones, which impacts the efficiency of the drop off system and deems drivers at risk of being fined. MVCC parking officers regularly monitor these zones and issue fines for breaches of the rules. To ensure the zones work effectively, drivers should:

• ask your child to head straight to the pick up zone once the bell rings –they will then be ready and waiting once you arrive
• plan to arrive after the bell rings, not before, as you cannot wait in the zone
• remain in your vehicle at all times
• move forward to join the queue so that other cars can move into the zone
• use the handbrake when the vehicle is stationary
• not double park
• not park across a pedestrian crossing or driveway
• not undertake a U-turn in close proximity to the school
• not use the staff car park as a drop off zone

What does the no parking sign (in the drop off zone) mean?
Drivers cannot park in the drop off zone during the times identified on the sign as this is only  to be used as a pick up or drop off zone during those times.
Vehicles are only allowed to stay in the drop off zone for two minutes. If you overstay this time limit, you may receive a parking infringement.

​IN PARTICULAR - PLEASE NOTE – The Bank Street car park and lane way MUST NOT be used as a drop off zone or for completing U turns as this is a DANGEROUS  manoeuvre around small children.

In the interests of children's safety, community members are reminded to NOT use the carpark / lane driveway on Bank Street as a drop off zone. This is considered a hazardous practice, given that children often walk across this driveway. 

We strongly encourage parents and carers to please follow the requests above in order to keep everyone safe, particularly our children.
We encourage parents / carers to park away from school and walk a short distance to avoid traffic congestion. ​

Please find ' Safety Around Schools' and 'Drop Off & Pick Up' & 'Getting to and From School' information from MVCC below:

safety-around-schools-flyer-updated-september-2022.pdf
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drop-off-and-pickup-zone-flyer-2.pdf
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mvcc3264-getting-to-and-from-school-brochure-november-2018-3.pdf
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SPORT & PE NEWS

It has been a very busy semester and beginning of term for PE. Firstly, going back to week 6 of term 3 we had our House Athletics Carnival. Students in years 3-6 travelled to the Moonee Valley Athletics Track to participate and compete in events such as: hurdles, 100m, 200m, 800m, shot put, discus, long jump, and triple jump. Everyone was also encouraged to dress up in their house colours with an award for best dressed house and individual. There were plenty of smiling faces on the day and it was great to see students giving everything a go and show casing their athleticism and sportsmanship. A huge thank you to all teachers and parents who helped make the day a success.

Emily Walker - PE Teacher 3 days p/w. Unit 6a Teacher 2 days p/w

A few weeks later when day 1 of the 5/6 Sports Gala Days was unfortunately cancelled due to weather students kept their heads up in preparation for day 2. The 5/6 students travelled to Fairburn Park and Riverside netball courts to compete against other schools in the district in Netball, AFL and Tee ball. All students enjoyed the day playing in the social competition and thankfully the weather held out too. Thank you to our parent volunteers who assisted on the day.
 
Fast forward to day 1 of Term 3 and swimming was upon us. It was so impressive to see all students demonstrating the school values while preparing for, travelling to and from and participating in swimming. There has been extremely positive feedback from students about their enjoyment in the sessions and from the manager at Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre about the enthusiasm from our students. Overall, it was a highly beneficial and fun program.
 
Looking ahead to the District Athletics Carnival and 5/6 Basketball competition with excitement and anticipation.
 
Thank you,
 
Emily Walker


​Please enjoy pics below of our athletics carnival taken by Ellen Waters

MUSIC NEWS

Click headings below for 'Music' news. 

mvimp - mOONEE VALE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAM

 MVIMP Term 3 News 28th July 2023
This term the MVIMP program started with a BANG.  Week one saw some lucky students visiting the Urban Camp in Parkville and what a success it was. Our musicians had a fine time practising their skills for three days with the help of the Music Tutors. This culminated in a concert on the Thursday night and many parents and teachers were entertained with some fine playing. A HUGE thankyou to Jason who spent 3 nights at camp, supervising and entertaining the crew.
 
Week 2 was a big one too. Our Soiree took place in the Hall and it was so impressive. Many parents were blown away. Every MVIMP student played, there were nerves but it went off with a hitch. Well done to everyone who performed.
 
Please keep an eye out on our School Dojo Page for any changes to lesson times. We try our best to keep you up to date.
 
Thanks,
Amanda and Jason



​

 

Percussion Fun Term 2 2023

Violinists Term 1 2023

Please find the latest MVIMP Family Handbook in the file below. 

mvimp_family_handbook_2023.pdf
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Please take a look below to confirm the day that your child has their lesson.
 Monday

• Percussion          
• Brass                     
• Saxophone        

Wednesday

• Violin                    
• Cello                     

Thursday

• Clarinet/Flute      
• Band                      

 
Don’t forget that BAND is on a Thursday afternoon at 2.30pm.

PIANO - LAMPLIGHT MUSIC

Private piano lessons are available on request, vacancies permitting. 
The company providing this service is Lamplight Music. 
​Director:  Joshua Cowie
PH 0413 884 067 Email:  [email protected] 
NB There are currently no vacancies. 
Please contact Joshua to be placed on the waiting list.

P-2 CLASSROOM MUSIC WITH KATHERINE

July Music News

​Prep-2 classes have the started the term by learning about the note ‘C’ on recorder and using it in a range of songs. Students are also exploring ways to play rhythm sticks by learning patterns to go with music of different styles, including ‘Octopus’ Garden’ by the Beatles, ‘In the Hall of the Mountain King’ and ‘Friend Like Me’ from ‘Aladdin’. 

​​Katherine Anderson

​June Music News

​Students in all Prep-2 classes are enjoying working together on a range of class and small group activities to develop recorder skills. We have explored the notes B, A and G then played a range of songs including 'Hot Cross Buns' and 'Au Clair de Lune'. All classes have explored beat, rhythm, tempo and pitch through movement and body percussion activities related to themes such as Easter, Mario Brothers and Star Wars (May the 4th be with you!).

I have enjoyed helping students develop persistence, resilience, creativity and teamwork through all these activities!

​Katherine Anderson

DRAMA nEWS

 Drama News -June 22, 2023

The 3-6 students of AVPS have embraced Drama with a passion that can only be described as fierce. The first five to ten minutes of each session students engage in interpretive dance that quickly escalates into intense dance battles. It is fantastic to see each student getting involved and letting their creative side out. Then we move onto short improvisations and drama games. The last few weeks we have been working on short two-minute performances that the students have done in small groups. It was great to see how the individual groups changed the scripts to suit their personalities.  

I asked some of the 5/6s to describe Drama so far and their comments were:
“fun” “Extravagant” “Good for our wellbeing” “Fascinating and very dramatic”

It will be exciting to see how drama evolves over the next two terms! Have a great holidays and remember to practise your moves for the dance battles when you all come back!

Britt Stephenson 
AVPS Drama Teacher - Wednesdays and Thursdays

Enjoy these recent pics from Drama term 2:

​
Drama News 19th May 2023 
​
Confirmation of the Fourth Specialist Programs at AVPS
Following the implementation of the 2022 Victorian Government Schools Agreement, where an increase in teacher release time was awarded and funded, AVPS has introduced a fourth specialist teaching program across all year levels in 2023. The P-2 program was decided and staffed in a relatively smooth manner in term one (details below). However, the year 3-6 program opened both opportunities and staffing challenges for us. The original plan was to allocate Bella Rope to the 3-6 Specialist program in term one only, then for the subject focus to evolve over time, depending on staffing options. This changed at the beginning of the school year due to Bella being placed in the Unit 3 classroom position. Britt Stephenson stepped in as a casual teacher and played to her strengths by implementing a Health program to the Year 3-6’s in term 1. 

Introducing ‘Drama’ to the Year 3-6 AVPS Curriculum
The decision to run a Drama program as the fourth specialist class for Year 3-6 students at AVPS from term 2 was made late in term 1 2023, following a staff consultation process. Staff were prompted to identify areas of the compulsory curriculum where the biggest gaps are at AVPS; Drama was the most obvious choice. It was also agreed that Drama would bring multiple benefits to students, allowing them to develop confidence in performing or providing new experiences in expression. We plan to run Drama for the remaining three terms of the school year and to review options in term four, via a staff and student consultation process, for the 2024 program. Britt looks forward to sharing information about her new program to the school community soon. ​

JAPANESE NEWS 

July 28 Japanese News

Konnichiwa to all our families,

First, thank you to all the parents who met with me for a parent teacher interview. If you didn’t get a chance to meet with me, I am always contactable on Class Dojo if you wish to send me a message asking about Japanese at AVPS and your child’s progress in class.

This week our Prep-2 Units have been focusing on writing the numbers from six to ten with a focus on stories as strategies to assist their memory as well as the importance of the correct shape, stroke order and neatness of each other numbers.

Our Grade 3/4s have started learning the Japanese names for different hobbies and used their understanding of Hiragana to read the words that they know. This week, they played a group game called Wildcard to test their knowledge and recall of the hobbies learnt.

Our Grade 5/6s have completed making their Bento Boxes and have done such an amazing job bringing their original designs to life. Here are some of the bento boxes the students have brought together. 

June 22 Japanese News
​This term, Year 5/6 students have learnt about bento boxes and are currently in the process of creating Bento Boxes along with food to be put on display. In groups, they planned the appearance of the bento boxes and wrote sentences in Japanese about what is in the bento box. They then used a variety of materials to bring the plan to life. I am looking forward to seeing them all finished next term. 

Sensai Andrew Truong
Japanese Teacher

Enjoy these pics from Japanese term 2:

NIHONGO NEWS - 24th March 2023
This week, to coincide with Harmony Week, students from Unit 4B and Unit 6 learnt about the Hiroshima Peace Park and the Children’s Peace Monument and made Origami Hearts with the kanji symbols that mean peace and harmony 平和 (heiwa).

They learnt about the Sadako Sasaki who was diagnosed with leukemia due to radiation from the atomic bomb and how she persisted to fold one thousand paper cranes before her passing. The Children’s Peace Monument was created as a tribute to Sadako and all the children who passed away from the atomic bomb. People from all over the world send in their strings of paper cranes to the Peace Park to promote peace all around the world.

The Children's Peace Monument

AVPS NIHONGO NEWS - 3rd March 2023
Konnichiwa to our parents and guardians,
On Wednesday the 1st of March 2023, Sue and I had a great opportunity to participate in a Zoom Call with the Katsuragi City councillor Mitsuno Shibata, English Teacher Ayuko Tabata and the Principal Yoshitsugu Toge of Iwaki Primary School in Katsuragi City, Japan. This meeting was the steppingstone to begin planning a cultural exchange. The cultural exchange will be online communication classes in Japan along with other methods of offline communication such as letters and gifts.

Founded in 1874, Iwaki Primary School is in Katsuragi city in the Nara prefecture. The school had 755 students enrolled in 2020. English is being taught by a Japanese Teacher and Assistant Language Teachers who come from countries where English is the official language.

We look forward to be working with Ayuko in the future. We also hope our Year 5/6’s will enjoy this upcoming intercultural experience.
 
For any future updates, make sure to keep your eyes on the newsletter for future articles.
 
Andrew Truong
Japanese Teacher

visual arts news

Visual Arts News 28th July 2023
​NAIDOC WEEK IN THE ART ROOM 
 
To acknowledge and celebrate NAIDOC week we looked at the wonderful  landscapes  and animals of Dreamtime storytelling. 
 
The Bungle Bungles- unit 4 5/6 
 
This project was inspired by the amazing landscapes found in the state of Western Australia - specifically, the 'Bungle Bungles'. The Bungle Bungle Range forms the major component of the Purnululu National Park and it is known for its distinctive 'beehive' rock formations.
 
Unit 1 echidnas were inspired by the Dreamtime story, 'The Echidna and the Shade Tree'. 
 
Lucy Mackinnon
​

The Bungle Bungles - Inspiration for children's art work.

Term 1 News
​You Scream, I Scream, we all Scream for ICECREAM!!! 
 
The art room has been a delicious space this term with students getting creative  exploring the theme of 'Ice Cream'. 
 
We have explored different styles of art and mediums and looked at the artwork of artist Wayne Theiboud. We have studied every type of icy dessert across the different levels from soft serves to triple scoop ice creams, you name it we've drawn, painted, collaged and zentangled it. 
 
Here's a range of beautiful works from Prep through to grade 6. Absolutely delicious 😋 
Well done artists. 
 
Lucy 

environment team news

May 19 Environment Team News

Hi AVPS Community.
​The Environment Team has been meeting this term to focus on ways to reduce and recycle around our school. We are continuing to encourage 'Nude Food' with a weekly tally in classes and collecting rubbish around the grounds. Our raised garden beds are ready to be brightened up again after summer. We have researched some vegetables that could be grown at this time of year and look forward to getting our fingers in the dirt to plant some of them.

That's all to report from the Environment Team. 

OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS CARE (oshc)

OSHC phone:​​ 0423 795 247
Coordinator:​​ Dee Seneviratne

How to get started ​​before using our programs you must register online for an account. Registering is quick and easy. Visit our website to begin www.campaustralia.com.au​​

Once registered you can make bookings and cancellations, view your statements and manage your details anytime of the day online. Keep in mind we are able to take bookings at short notice to help busy families. ​

Save on Care. ​You can save 50% or more on Before and After School Care fees with the ​non-means tested Child Care Rebate. Almost all families are eligible. To find out more, call our Customer Service Team on 1300 105 343 Monday to Friday
​Please access files below to view the OSHC fortnightly report and/or the Camp Australia Holiday Program.
​
Dee and the OSHC team

ASCOT VALE COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD
Please peruse the community notices in the files and slideshow below:

ascot_vale_-_kelly_sport_term_1_2023__1_.pdf
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ascot_vale_yoga_flyer_2022.pdf
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ascot_kindergarten_flyer_1_2022.pdf
File Size:	332 kb
File Type:	pdf

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