ARARAT WEST PRIMARY SCHOOL 4720

WESTLETTER
P.O. Box 105 Ararat 3377 Fax (03) 5352 4989 Tel. (03) 5352 1909

E-mail: [email protected] Twitter: www.twitter.com/araratwest Facebook: www.facebook.com/araratwestprimaryschool

ARARAT WEST PRIMARY SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT: Developing in our children an interest in learning and a desire to be their best; utilising their skills and attitudes to enable them to reach their full potential in society

13/2012 Thursday, May 10, 2012

2012 Blue House wins both the Athletics Sports and Swimming Sports Captains and Vice Captains Angus Burns, Tayla Borrelli, Monique Scott, Buddhi Bandara Please remember that when you come into the school for any reason you must come via the Front Office and sign the Visitors book. This is for safety reasons and must be adhered to. Thank you for your co-operation.

DRINK BOTTLES
Have arrived and are available for purchase at $5.50 each

Note:-

- SCHOOL PHOTOS Monday May 14 PLEASE MAKE SURE ENVELOPES ARE RETURNED BY PHOTO DAY WITH CORRECT MONEY AS NO CHANGE WILL BE PROVIDED. THERE IS ALSO AN OPTION TO PAY ONLINE OR BY CREDIT CARD. The envelope has to be returned even if you have paid Online or by Credit Card or no photo will be taken!

DATES FOR DIARY

MAY
Friday 11 Monday 14 Tuesday 15 Wed. 17 Friday 18 Monday 21 Tuesday 22 Tuesday 22 Friday 25 Wednesday 23 Friday 25 AWPS Cross Country (Grade 3-6) SCHOOL PHOTOS Naplan Boite Choir Fundraiser Dress-up Day & Icy pole Sale Curriculum Day Pupil Free Black Ranges Cross Country Education Week Grade 5&6 Ararat Community College Expo and Information Evening at 7pm Grandparents Day Education Week End-of-Term 2

JUNE
Friday 29

CHANGES TO STUDENT DETAILS

Please notify the office and obtain a Changes to Student Details form for any of the following reasons: * * * * Change of address Change of telephone numbers Change of emergency details/contacts Medical alert information

These changes are vital to keep your child/rens details up-to-date in case of an emergency

PRINCIPALS REPORT
Next week is a very important time for Year 3 & 5 students around the country as they undergo the National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy, NAPLAN testing. This is an important part of our school year and it is important that all students come well prepared so they can approach the tests with confidence. Teachers have worked extremely hard in preparing our students for these tests and we are confident that they will perform well. Students will need to prepare themselves for each day of the testing by ensuring they get plenty of sleep, and start the day with a good meal so they have the energy to focus. We have a proud tradition when it comes to student achievement, and that is why we embrace this time of year as it is an opportunity for our students to shine. On Sunday, our senior choir will again be on show when they participate with the Victorian Symphony Orchestra. This is a great opportunity for participating students. Earlier this week the choir met some members of the orchestra and spent time practicing. We have come to expect excellent performances from our choir and we are sure that Sunday will not be any different. Tomorrow, students from Yr 3-6 need to come prepared to work up a sweat as they will be participating in our annual cross-country event. Students will have either a 2km or 3km course to complete, which will be both challenging and rewarding. It is expected that all students from Yrs. 3-6 participate and we wish them well. As everyone would have noticed our lunch orders this year are being prepared by Tasty Bird. As part of the arrangement, Tasty Bird provides the school with 10% of the profits from our lunch orders. Recently the team from Tasty Bird provided us with a cheque for the first term which was over $500. This type of initiative demonstrates fantastic commitment from one of our local businesses to put something back into our community. Our school is incredibly thankful for the support from Tasty Bird and we can only encourage others to return that support.

SUCCESS AWARDS:
Congratulations to the following students who received an award this week Racquel Scott For displaying outstanding sportsmanship at Athletics. She stopped during a race to help a friend in need. We are all proud of you. Well done! Jack Ward For writing great persuasive texts. Jack presents arguments which are well organized and lengthy.

Aiden Newson For consistently putting 100% effort into doing his Languages (Chinese) tasks nicely and quickly. Well done! Jayden Potter For being able to complete a Zoe Robertson For consistently trying number of different writing styles recount, her best to learn Languages (Chinese) and reports and persuasive texts to a very high being a good team player. Well done! standard.

WEEK:EDUCATION WEEK:As part of Education Week the school will be holding a Grandparents Day on Friday May 25. Individual classes will be sending home notes regarding times.
Please come dressed up as your Favourite Musical Personality on Friday May 18 and bring a Gold Coin Donation We will also be holding Donation. our last Icy pole fundraiser at lunchtime on this day. Icy poles will be available for 50 cents. This is a fundraising event to assist with the costs associated with the choirs participation in the Boite choir. So please send your child along with 50 cents for an Icy pole as well as a Gold coin donation for dressing up and support the choir. Your support is greatly appreciated.

FUNDRAISER: FUNDRAISER:-

Michael Jackson

Elvis Presley

Madonna Beethoven One Direction Justin Bieber

Ararat & District Cycling Club

Jeziah Woods and Murray Culling both belong to the Ararat & District Cycling Club. Jeziah Woods I got a sash because I won most of the races for track season. The races were all held at the Ararat Velodrome. I won it because I got the most points. I raced in different races called Scratch, Handicap, Sprint and Fly. Murray Culling On the weekend I won this sash in Hamilton, doing road racing. I got this sash because I won a 10km race. I was racing in the under 13 boys and girls age group. I beat my big sister! We have a track season and a road season. During the road season we go to lots of different places to race.

We are excited to be taking part in the 2012 Woolworths Earn & Learn program. Last year, we were able to purchase some great resources with the points we earned, thanks to you. From Wednesday May 9 until Sunday July 1 2012, you can collect stickers at Woolworths that go towards Earn & Learn points. For every $10 you spend at Woolworths (excluding the purchase of tobacco, liquor and gift cards), you will receive a sticker. These stickers can then be given to your children to collect on a special sticker card. Once it is completed, they can simply bring it back here to school or you can drop them into your local Woolworths collection box. The more points we earn, the more we can redeem from a choice of over 7,000 educational resources including Mathematics and English resources, art & crafts materials and much, much more! We are grateful for your support and look forward to a successful program. If you have any questions, please ask at School or visit the Woolworths website www.woolworths.com.au/earnandlearn.

New Competition for School Banking

This Competition couldnt be simpler Students need to bank 5 times at School between Tuesday April 17 to Tuesday June 26 (thats 8 weeks taking out 2 weeks for the June School Holidays). Once the Student has made their 5 deposits they log on to www.combank.com.au/beadollarmite and in twenty five words or less describe their best savings tip. (Please note: Chance plays no part in winning this Promotion. Entries will be judged on their originality and creativity from the valid entries received during the Promotion Period.) What are the prizes I hear you ask? There will be 10,051 prizes in total. The entry judged as being the most creative and original will receive the first prize of: Winning child: Gets to be a Dollarmite featured in Coinland with their own game for 1 year, from August 2012 until August 2013. Family of winning child: An Annual Family Pass for Event Cinemas valued at $494 School of winning child: 25 Apple iPad 2s valued at $10725 Class of winning child: $1,500 for an organised class excursion of the schools choice

The next 50 entries judged as being the next most creative and original will receive: For the winning child: An Annual Family Pass for Event Cinemas valued at $494 School of winning child: 10 Apple iPad 2s valued at $4290 Class of winning child: $1,000 for an organised class excursion of the schools choice The next best 10,000 entries will also receive a set of Dollarmite figurines valued at $6 The total prize value is approximately $400,000!!!!

Student Attendance
It is important for all students to be at school every day. With winter approaching, there will be many students who experience coughs, colds and other minor illnesses. When deciding whether to keep your child home from school, please consider the following: A child should be at school unless; The child is too sick to leave the house. Generally, if a child is not sick enough to need to see a doctor, then the child should be at school. The child has an infectious disease like measles, chicken pox or mumps. The child has an injury preventing movement around school. The child is going on a family holiday that cannot be arranged during school holidays. This must be arranged with the school in advance. The school is provided with any genuine and acceptable reason preventing the child's attendance. How can parents help? Contact the school in advance if you know your child will be away. Wherever possible, make appointments out of school hours. When your child returns, supply an absence note to explain the days missed. If your child has seen a medical practitioner (e.g. doctor or dentist) a certificate or appointment card will help explain their absence.

Remember
There is a direct link between attendance and achievement. Poor attendance makes it difficult for students to form positive friendships with their peers.

ARARAT WEST PRIMARY SCHOOL - ABSENCE NOTE

My Child _________________________________________________ in Room ______ was absent on __________________________________________________________ For the following reason: __________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Name (Please print) ______________________________________________________ Signature ___________________________________________ Date __ / __ / 20____

ARARAT WEST PRIMARY SCHOOL - ABSENCE NOTE

My Child _________________________________________________ in Room ______ was absent on __________________________________________________________ For the following reason: __________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Name (Please print) ______________________________________________________ Signature ___________________________________________ Date __ / __ / 20____