We have nearly reached the halfway point in the year.  Next week will be the last week for term 2 and we will have an early finish at 2.15pm with an assembly starting at 2.05pm in the gym to finish off our term.

New Staff

We would like to welcome Monika Hackworthy and Shiu Pillay to our school from the start of term 3.  Monika will be our 3rd Year 5/6 teacher.  As per correspondence sent earlier in the term to all 5/6 parents, we will be splitting our Year 5/6 students into 3 equal classes of around 20 students to maximise teacher time and to allow for further growth at the school this year.  Shiu will be our new Maintenance Officer and will be responsible for keeping the school grounds looking as amazing as they are at the moment.  He will be joining us for a couple of mornings each week at this stage.  I hope you can join me in welcoming both Monika and Shiu to the Thornhill Park Primary School family.

Mr Soumbassis

As outlined in a letter to the Year 5/6 parents recently, Mr Soumbassis will be on leave for a few weeks to manage an illness.  He will hopefully be back with us early in Term 3.  In the meantime, Mr Duffy will be assisting in his class.  Reports for this class will be sent out early in Term 3.

Staff Absences

Due to flu season and ongoing staff illnesses your children may inform you that their class has been split for a day or they do not have their regular programs.  We have had several teacher illnesses over Term 2 and it is virtually impossible to replace teachers with Casual Teachers some days.  Students will still receive adequate programs as all classes complete planning together.  We thank you for your understanding on this.

Reports

Reports are to be handed out on the last day of term using the Compass App.  We will not be printing reports, therefore we ask you to look on this App for an indication of your child’s progress against Curriculum Standards.  Please read these reports alongside the work that has been presented to you on Class Dojo over the first two terms.

End of Term

Term 2 will end on Friday 23rd June at 2.15pm.  We will be holding an assembly in the gym at 2.05pm.

School returns for Term 3 on Monday 10th July at 8.40am.

Please keep safe over the holiday period and enjoy your break.

Enrolments

Please ensure that if you have a child coming to our school as a Prep in 2024 or if you know of someone who intends to come to our school next year, I would ask that you remind them to get their enrolment forms in as soon as possible. We ran our first series of Prep information sessions and Tours over the last 3 weeks and had over 50 families in attendance.  We would ask that all enrolment forms are in before June 28th so that we may start the process of hiring for 2024.  We currently have just over 30 Preps enrolled for next year and know that we will be getting a lot more.

Staff Car Park

I would like to remind parents once again that it is important that you stay out of the staff car park and do not enter at any time to drop off or pick up students.  This is a very dangerous practice and we want to ensure that we keep all students safe.  Parents who are concerned for the safety of their children are informing me of the fact that people continue to enter the car park for drop off and pick up.  We would also ask that you are vigilant with any young children as you walk through the staff car park as we have had near misses after hours when staff are leaving in the afternoon and young children are left to wonder around the car park on their own.  Please keep all in our community safe.

U-Turns and Parking on the Street

We have also noticed that an increasing number of parents are performing u-turns or getting their children to cross the street directly in front of the school.  This is a very dangerous thing to do, as it is only a matter of time before a child gets hit by a car.  Please take the extra 30 seconds to drive around the block.  We would also ask that you please stop closer to the crossing during drop off time and have your children cross safely at the supervised crossing.

Interschool Sport

I was very proud to attend the Melton Network Soccer Lightning Premiership this week.  Our students performed well in the boys and girls competitions and although they didn’t win the tournament, they displayed our school values with integrity.  We have also had students attend netball and t-ball competitions recently with similar reports of our students displaying the correct values.

Break-in

During the King’s Birthday Monday we had a break-in in our Canteen.  The police apprehended the people onsite and thankfully no real damage was done.  We would ask that you keep an eye on our school over the holidays and report any suspicious behaviour to the police.  Our school is monitored by Security Services, but it helps if people can alert the authorities if they see something that doesn’t seem right.

Have a wonderful holiday

Darryl Spiteri

Principal

2024 Enrolments

A reminder if you are enrolling your child next year at Thornhill Park Primary School, or you know of someone wanting to enrol their child, please email  thornhill.park.ps@education.vic.gov.au to request an enrolment form.  We would appreciate enrolments being submitted by Friday 28th July.

Cold Weather and Student Illness

The weather is getting colder as we enter winter. We have noticed an increase in both teacher and student illness. We ask if parents could ensure that their children are well enough to learn if they are sent to school. It is very difficult for children to focus on their learning if they have severe coughs, running noses or just generally feel ill.  Sending sick children to school also runs the risk of making the other children and teacher in the classroom sick as well. Lastly, please ensure the office has your correct contact details. We have called some parents to pick up ill children and we have old or incorrect contact details.  Please update your contact details via Compass.

Spare Clothing 

Please pack some spare clothing for your children. With the wetter weather upon us, many children are coming to the sickbay at recess and lunch wet or muddy. We have a limited amount of clothing in sick bay, and cannot always give children spare clothing. If your child is excessively wet and muddy you will be contacted and asked to bring in a change of clothes.

Lost Property

A reminder that students are responsible for their own belongings. Please put name labels on all clothing items, jackets, lunchboxes and drink bottles to prevent loss and reduce waste.  Some important reminders to all parents regarding lost property:

• Please label all clothing that comes to school!  If items came labelled to school our mountain of lost property would be much more manageable.
• If your child doesn’t bring home an item of clothing, please ask their teacher or come to the office to check our lost property box.
• Any items that haven’t been claimed from lost property by (the last Monday of term) will be placed in our ‘second hand’ uniform box.

Introducing the School Leaders

Red House Captains for 2023

Hi, my fellow students, I am Journey the house captain for the red team.  I am 10 years old turning 11 years old.  I like this school because of all my friends and the staff.  I also like this school because the school is so creative.  I wanted to be house captain or any captain because I wanted to represent the school and want everyone to know I’m responsible.  I really love this school.  This is my best school yet!  I have a big responsibility.

Hi, I am Alisha.  I am 10 years old, and I am house vice-captain for the red team.  I really love our school and it is better than the previous schools I have been to.  I really like being house vice-captain of red to have a responsibility of a big job.  I like my job because I get to represent the whole school.

Our Learning…. in Grade 5/6

Literacy

We have been learning about reasonable arguments and the language of persuasion. Students have been participating in various debates as a whole class, in partners and in teams. Students have been learning how to voice their opinion with supportive evidence. They understand that using language with high modality (words that are more effective in convincing listeners of the speaker’s position) impacts the audiences response to an argument. Students have been actively involved and enjoyed the speaking and listening process, which included giving feedback to others in a meaningful way. They were also encouraged to improve upon their arguments, using the feedback given. This wonderful learning experience has led the way for students to write persuasive pieces with greater knowledge.

Reconciliation Week

Students explored the importance of Reconciliation Week and why it was created. We discovered some key events in Australia’s reconciliation history. We discussed bringing equality and justice for all Australians and why Reconciliation Week is an important time to come together to listen and learn from each other. We learnt it is important to celebrate Reconciliation Week because we are all one community and we celebrate our cultural diversity. Students were encouraged to trace their hands and write 5 things they could do to improve, resolve or change positively their relationships with their peers.

Healthy meals for healthy learners

Parents and carers can help children thrive in their education by ensuring they eat nutritious and healthy food.

Use these tips to help plan healthy meals and snacks.

Start the day with a healthy breakfast

Breakfast gives students the energy they need to play, learn, and concentrate throughout their busy day.

A nutritious breakfast is low in sugar and contains healthy whole-grain foods like whole-grain cereal and toast and some protein and healthy fats such as eggs or cheese to keep little stomachs full all morning.

Get motivated with these easy breakfast ideas, and if your child is reluctant to eat breakfast, try these tips to make it tasty and easy.

Pick and mix to make a healthy lunchbox

Making lunch together is a great way for your child to learn healthy eating habits. Stick to fresh, unprocessed foods as much as possible and swap out the sweet treats for a piece of fruit or a tub of yogurt.

The pick & mix has practical ideas to create healthy school lunches.

Drink plenty of water

Children don’t need fruit juices or other sweet drinks to get the energy they need for their day. Encourage healthy habits by packing water or unflavoured milk in your child’s lunchbox instead.

Adding a splash of lemon or filling a colourful, reusable water bottle can help make drinking water a fun experience for your child. In summer, pack an ice block to keep food and drinks cold.

Find out more about sweet drinks and children.

Remember to be a positive role model

You are an important role model to your child. Show them that healthy eating is delicious and fun.

Congratulations to the following students who received awards during our assemblies!

Keep up the great work!

Students of the Week – Ending 09/06

Students of the Week – Ending 16/06

Congratulations to the following students who are celebrating a birthday in June and July!

We hope you had a lovely day!

Fateh 34A

Gayansa 34C

Nikshitha 12E

Sriyan PD

Manveer PD

Irfan 12A

Jordan PD

Jaspreet 12B

Dash PB

Journey 56B

Fani 34B

Guntaas 12E

Eshaal PC

Loralai 12C

Roza 56B

Lillian 12E

Alira 34C

School Term 2

Monday 24 April 2023 – Friday 23 June 2023

Friday 23rd June – School Assembly at 2:05pm

Friday 23rd June – Last Day of term (early dismissal at 2.15pm)

School Term 3

Monday 10 July 2023 – Friday 15 September 2023

21st August till 25th August – Book Week – Theme – ‘Read, Grow, Inspire’ 

School Term 4

Monday 2 October 2023 – Wednesday 20 December 2023