The Bunya - Newsletter Issue No 1 Thursday 5th March, 2015 Term 1 week 6 Principal’s Message Melbourne visit Last week Mrs Beath and I visited Melbourne to attend the MindBrain conference. The highlight of which was listening to John Hattie. We always use the effect size research that John has presented in his book “Visible Learning.” This allows us to make decisions based upon knowing what works. If the effect size is not substantial, we do not waste time with that particular strategy. We also visited two schools and spent half a day in each one. Silverton and Wooranna Park Public Schools are leading the way in their teaching students to be collaborative, critical thinkers. We returned with many great ideas. Ian Jukes and Nikky Mohan, Canadian education experts, visited our school last Tuesday. They spoke to students, staff and parents to audit where our school is educationally. This Saturday, our teachers as well as teachers from Hinchinbrook and Glenwood Public Schools, will be learning together. This Staff Development Day replaces the one on 17th December 2015. Ian Jukes will be presenting his research around Disruptive Innovation. Our teachers will begin to develop their skills in planning to teach for different literacies. There will be much more on this in every newsletter as we take small steps along the Future Schools path. Parents will be invited to a session with Ian Jukes to listen and interact, ask questions and find out what direction all schools should be heading, to best prepare our students for a highly successful future. The P&C will be having a BBQ, the coffee van will be here, as well as other treats for sale. Please see the advert in the newsletter for details. Traffic changes in Pacific Palms Circuit This week saw the pick-up areas and the bus zone change. It is early days, but there seems to be a better flow of traffic. I do ask the community to follow the road rules and in particular, no u-turns over double yellow lines. Otherwise it will only be matter of time until there is a serious accident. The Rocks Walking Tour How wonderful it is to hear fabulous feedback from excursion providers about our students. Both year 3 and year 4 received “great reviews” from the staff at The Rocks Walking Tours. Not only was the students’ behaviour superb, but they asked brilliant questions. Great job stage 2! P&C news The first disco of the year is next Wednesday. There will be two sessions: K-2 @ 11.20-12.15pm 3-6 @ 12.20 -1.20pm Cost: $5 entry Glowsticks will be sold at the door for $1, $2 or $3. Help support this P&C fundraising event. Gold Grass Cinema – Friday 27th March This year our Gold Grass Cinema is on a little earlier in the year, when hopefully, it will not be as cold as 2014! Everyone is welcome. It is a great family night. The tickets have remained the same price for this year. The next P&C meeting and AGM will he held on Wednesday 18th March @ 6.30pm. All future P&C meetings will be held on the third Wednesday of the month. Have a great fortnight. Kylie Donovan PRINCIPAL Up Coming events – Term 1 Week 6 Event Mar 6 PSSA Round 3 Week 7 Event Mar 10 Mar 11 Mar 12 Mar 12 Mar 12 Mar 13 Skipping – Stage 1 P&C Disco Selective High School Test Scripture K-2 Assembly @ 2.10pm (1 Oberon) PSSA Round 4 Week 8 Mar 17 Mar 18 Mar 18 Mar 19 Mar 19 Mar 20 Event Skipping – Stage 1 Harmony Day P&C meeting and AGM @ 6.30pm Scripture 3-6 Assembly @ 2.10pm (3/4 Density) PSSA Round 5 _____________________________________________ Good number sense Reading with your child at home Maths is a numbers game but for some students - and When your kids see you reading and writing in everyday parents - the figures don't add up. Here are some life – whether reading for pleasure, sharing a story with strategies to help kids to work out sums in their heads in them or making a shopping list – it teaches them that they a way that makes sense to them. are useful skills. Here are some things you can do at home to help your kids with reading. Find out more: http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/homework-and- Find out more: study/maths/maths-a-to-z/- http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/en/homework-and- /maths_glossary/RId5/141/mental%20strategy study/english/english-tips/reading-with-your-child-at-home Hoxton Park Public School Merit Winners Term 1 Weeks 4 & 5 K Draco 2 Hubble 4 Triton Caitlyn Grebenshikoff Shyla Singh Christian Tran Isaac Pierson George Youkhana Jacques Hoang Indiana Naidoo Christina Cespedes Shreya Kamath Maddison Jones Gabriel Mazloum Dylan Chohaili K Earth 2 Nebula 5 Stellar Nathan Pham Damian Dimitrieski Olivia Jovanovic Bianca Chadwick Fetiniai Havea Filip Pismanovski Stuart Busiko Seumalo Leilua Renaldo Ionita Chantelle Cachia Celestine Nwuka Simet Faleh K Halo 3 Eclipse 5 Telesto Veronica La Spada Aceiyah Kumar Ismail Khan Isabella Carmona Susan Sharifi Leilani Weatherby Ashneel Kumar Tara McHugh Jirae Afoa Jeremy Pye Alyssa Oudshoorn K Horizon Georgia Hele Stavro Hana Shaelyn Allison Dilara Harm Leilana Kaukura Grey Jayden Mansour Louisiana Rodriguez Carrillo Keira King Malik Azmal Areej Hussaini 5/6 Sputnik 3/4 Density 6 Ozone Ethan Liu Nicholas Herrera Saez Ameera Hussein Anthony Khay K Pegasus Jone Livanisiga Sophia Luxa 1 Martian Tomasz Durka Wesley Dimanche Alicia Wu Angelina Sayes 1 Oberon Rihanna Daly Kevin Bintulan Poulis Poutros Emilia Mazloum 3 Rhea Krishneel Naidu Amrit Sharma Damanjot Kaur Gabi Roco 4 Comet Jayden Ly Zayne Ibrahim Rachel Jabur Jonathan Prada Yepes 2 Galaxy Lucas Todini Liliana Arruzza Hiba Osman Zac Cricri SPORT Edward Kivarkis Aleksandar Aleksic Ashton Eyke Tyler Conrades Aryan Chand Sumaira Ali Orlando Huynh Selvin Swamy Emily Milios Kaizen Morgan-Pritchard Vanshika Bondili Tatiana Carmona Emily Mellish Zaine Merhi Sherwin Singh QUALITY WORK Saniya Nizamuddin Serene Merhi Bella Clarke Gabrielle Fortaleza Emaan Ghafoor Max Roussel-Kefalianos Nikeel Maharaj Caitlin Steinbruckner Massimo Todini Emily Merry Jessie Le Oriana Thepsourinthone Milisa Aleksic John Kivarkis Alessia Caputo Nancy Volkman 6 Maia Nadia Saboune James Overell Dion Sayaloune Jasmine Veljanovski Braith Leatham Jordon Coluccio Rushil Patel Nancy Al-Salihi 6 Saturn Joshua Jabur Jireh Ieremia Anna Nguyen Courageous Afoa Darell Weatherby Hannah Falefata Maria Castro Keira King Makayla Birtles Ashneel Maharaj Madelaine Borg Braith Leatham Jayton Wakeford Tyde Matenga Jessica Beavan Daniel Pye Joshua Azar Daniel Falefata Tyrese Weatherby Valentina Dinkha Aavah Rivera Delilah Demir Mikayla Mellish Shannon Griffith Jacinta Jones Dominic Clarke Sayan Prasad Anthony Son Corey Kilmartin Alisha Hutchinson Samantha Vorn Asah Ghafoor Parri Nath Jo-Hanna Ieremia Angelina Lay Cristiano Nouna Thu Nguyen Braxton Sayaloune Benji Catania Dylan Wu