Newsletter #5 April 23, 2021
GHPS IS COMMITTED TO CHILD SAFETY
Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow.
Principal’s Report
Welcome back to term 2!
I hope everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable holiday break and it is great to see our students looking well rested and ready for the term of learning ahead!
School Council and Annual Report Meeting:
Monday 29th March, marked the first official meeting of the 2021 Glen Huntly Primary School Council. At this meeting school council members were appointed to positions of responsibility and I am pleased to announce that Ross Donnan was elected as our School President for 2021. I will list below the roles and responsibilities of each committee and members.
On Wednesday 28th April we have our Annual General Meeting (ARM) and all families are invited to attend. At the ARM Libby Alessi will go through our schools achievements for the 2020 school year. Invitations have gone home for each family today.
GHPS School Council 2021:
Re-elected are: Ross Donnan (Amber Yr 6), Nicole Verginis (Stephanie Yr 5) returning with newly elected Nicole Healy (Ben Yr 3, Charlie Yr 1), Noel Duffy (Isla Yr 2), Gunjan Gosain Oberoi (Jashn Yr 6), Caitilin Hawkins (Samson Yr 3). Thankyou to members in their second term of office: Maitreyee Khire (Dhruva Yr 1) Arthur Le (Marko Yr 6), Nicole Bishop (Brody Yr 5), Supriya Arikarevula (Aditya Yr 4, Kiara Prep)
Re-elected staff member is Mr David Jenkins: Music & Japanese, returning with newly elected Ms Kamila Krauze Year 2 Teacher and Ms Amy Tinetti – Assistant Principal who is in the second term of office and Mrs Libby Alessi Principal.
School Council President: Ross Donnan
School Council Vice President: Nicole Verginis
School Council Secretary: Arthur Le
School Council Treasurer: Supriya Arikarevula
What does our school council do?
In the performance of their role, school councils are able to directly influence the quality of education that the school provides for its students. Within guidelines provided by the Department of Education and Training, a school council has responsibilities for developing and overseeing such things as:
- the school strategic plan which sets out the main goals and priorities of the school for four years
- the annual implementation plan which puts into practice the strategic plan
- the school’s budget which shares out the available resources to make sure that the goals/targets of the strategic plan are carried out
- the general educational policy of the school
- the physical appearance and maintenance of the school’s buildings and grounds
- the educational opportunities of students at the school through community engagement and fundraising efforts
Glen Huntly Primary School Council meets eight times a year. Meetings dates are published on the school’s website and are open to all parents and staff to attend. If you want to attend a School Council meeting, have a matter to raise or want to find out more about the work of the School Council, please contact our President; Ross Donnan or Principal Libby Alessi.
Sub-committees are advisory bodies to the school council; they assist council with performing their duties and functions, and are generally established to support school council in specific areas. The following committee structures exist at GHPS.
Finance Committee
School Council Treasurer: Supriya Arikarevula
Members: Ross Donnan, Nicole Verginis, Libby Alessi, Amy Tinetti, Julie Bruce and David Jenkins
This committee oversees the management of school finances and ensures there is good governance and responsible administration of the financial resources of the school. This committee organises the operational budget of the school, monitors revenue and expenditure and manages the resources available via government funding, parent contributions, grants, fundraising and school operations.
Publicity and Marketing
Co-coordinator: Amy Tinetti
Members: Ross Donnan, Nicole Verginis, Arthur Le, Nicole Healy and Libby Alessi,
This committee develops the marketing and publicity strategy for the school. Focusing on making connections with our local community and to build school enrolment numbers. We develop our enrolment strategy by organising Open days for new families, design flyers for kinders and the look and feel of our schools newsletter and graphic image. We also manage the schools website, COMPASS, Facebook and Instagram pages.
Buildings and Grounds (BAGS)
Co-coordinator: David Jenkins
Members: Noel Duffy, Maitreyee Khire and Kamila Krauze
This committee of volunteers manages working bees and projects aimed at maintaining a safe and enjoyable environment for our students. The organisation of working bees is a major function along with coordinating the assistance of volunteers to support a range of small and large scale projects.
Curriculum and Policy
Co-coordinator: David Jenkins
Members: Nicole Bishop and Caitilin Hawkins
This committee provides a forum for discussion of current educational policy and respond to requests from School Council as well as feedback from teachers, parents and students. They oversee the school’s policies and update and revise policies in line with DET policies and guidelines. They ensure all policies and guidelines are consistent with the Strategic Plan and support School Council and other committees. They seek feedback on proposed/draft policies from teachers and parents/school community as required, and present new or updated policies to School Council for ratification.
Glen Huntly Parents Association GPA (school council members)
Co-coordinator: Nicole Verginis
Members: Noel Duffy, Caitilin Hawkins and Libby Alessi
Play an essential role in engaging our school community. The committee is responsible for fundraising within the school, as well as the coordination and oversight of school events. Some examples of our GPA Events/fundraisers include: Mother’s and Father’s day stall, footy Day, Cake Stalls and Special Lunch Days just to name a few. GPA are always looking for more volunteers, so please contact GPA if you are interested!
Wellbeing:
To continue all of fantastic work our students and teachers are doing on being happy, healthy and resilient kids, here is some things you can begin to do at home:
Implementing GEM Chat at home – (GEM- Gratitude. Empathy. Mindfulness)
Gratitude Questions: These daily questions have been developed to help families practise the GEM principles. They are a great way to facilitate positive conversations as your family shares a meal either in the morning, afternoon or evening or at a time that works best. Check out some great GEM CHAT questions here:
- What were three things that went well for you today?
- Who is someone you feel really grateful for today? Tell us why.
- What is it about our home that makes it our home/special family place?
- What is something you are looking forward to tomorrow?
Want to look further into the benefits of Gratitude? Follow this LINK!
Aussie Bread Tags for Wheelchairs:
Austin in Year 6 is once again showing his humanitarian spirit and is collecting Bread Tags for Wheelchairs! These strong leadership skills are modelling to the students, staff and even you, our parents, how the small act of one can impact the lives of many in a positive way! Here are some words from Austin:
“I still volunteer for Aussie Bread Tags for Wheelchairs. I’ve been collecting bread tags from neighbours. I’ve also asked local businesses to help me. I think it would be great if GHPS could join this worthy cause. I have left a box in the school office for families to drop off their bread tags.”
Earth Day:
We celebrated Earth Day yesterday at GHPS. All students took part in Earth Day activities in their Art classes this week. How lucky are we to have such a wonderful art teacher, Ms Justine DeBruyn!! Here are some photos of the Earth Day work that our Year 5 and 6 students created.
On behalf of the whole GHPS community I would like to send my thoughts and well wishes to all of our GHPS families who have friends and family in India. We know that India is currently still suffering from the harsh effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and going through a very tough time. We are here to support you in any way that we can, please reach out if you need anything.
Remember I am here to help in any way I can and I am just a phone call away if you need any assistance or if you just need to have a chat. Please call me on 9571 2931.
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined.”
Thoreau
Amy Tinetti Assistant Principal
Congratulations to the following students who received a ‘Student of the Week’ award.
Nistha 3O – For her great listening and participation during cooking this week. You are a GHPS master chef.
Ben 3O – For his enthusiasm and willingness to get out of his comfort zone during our maths session this week. You took risks with your learning and enjoyed a challenge. Well done.
Rhea 3O – For demonstrating excellent leadership skills during Inquiry.
Rudhraa P 3O – For her excellent collaboration during our persuasive writing task this week. You took turnsand displayed active listening skills. Well done.
Samarth 3O – For reading every night this week and recording this in his reading diary. Well done.
Krishna 4N – For being our Digital Learning whizz and helping your classmates with their Digital Portfolios. Well done!
Shresta 4N – For consistently showing respect and kindness towards her peers and teachers. Thank you!
Varnika 4N – For being a kind and supportive friend to her peers. 4N is very lucky to have you!
Hudson 4N – For demonstrating a positive attitude and always coming to school with a smile on your face. We love having you in 4N!
Sana 4R – For showing enthusiasm and focus during guided reading this week. Keep up the great work!
Luke 5/6S – For being a polite, considerate and determined student of 5/6S. Continue to be your best Luke!
Please remember to put your name on all uniform/property.
Lost property will be sorted every month and any uniform without a name will be put into the second hand uniform shop.
Other unnamed items will be donated to charity.
If your child attends before or after school care, please check their lost property as well.
Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund applications
The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund helps eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.
If you have a valid means-tested concession card, such as a Veterans Affairs Gold Card, Centrelink Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible. There is also a special consideration category for asylum seeker and refugee families.
Payment amounts this year are $125 for eligible primary school students. Payments are made direct to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions and sporting activities for the benefit of your child.
If you applied for CSEF through our school last year, you do not need to complete an application form this year, unless there has been a change in your family circumstances.
If you would like to apply for the first time, please collect an application form from the school office.
You can also download the form, and find out more about the program and eligibility, on the Department of Education and Training’s Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund web page.
Check with the school office if you are unsure, and please return completed forms to the school office as soon as possible.
Calendar
April
Sun 25 Anzac Day
Wed 28 Annual Reporting Meeting
May
24 – 28 Education Week
June
Mon 14 Queens Birthday Holiday
Fri 25 Final Day Term 2 (early dismissal, 2.30pm)
