Mentone Park Primary School Newsletter: NEWSLETTER 12/2017

PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

Dear Parents,

ENROLLING FOR 2018

It may seem like the year has only just started but plans are already being discussed for 2018. If you have a child who will be starting Foundation next year, or you know another family with a 2018 Foundation student could you please come to the office to get your enrolment forms. This will assist us with our planning and enable all students to participate in transition activities during terms 3 and 4. We have some amazing transition activities planned, with the next one a concert by the Junior School on Monday August 14.

CURRICULUM DAY

Our next Curriculum Day will be on Monday September 18. The focus will be centered around student health and wellbeing, where staff will be reviewing our current curriculum programs and updating our current best practice. OSHClub will contact parents but if you need care on that day please let them know as soon as possible, as this will allow them to plan more of their stimulating activities.

PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS

Thank you to all of the staff and families who attended our interview evening on Tuesday. Not only was it an opportunity for staff to keep you informed of your child’s progress this year but it was also another chance to experience the positivity that emanates from Mentone Park Primary School.

TRIVIA NIGHT THANK YOU

What an amazing night!!!! For those of us who were lucky enough to be part of our Vegas themed extravaganza, I am sure you will agree it was a wonderful success. A huge thank you must go to our PFA for their organization, planning, setting up and general coordination of such an amazing night. The hours put in by the team, superbly led by Amber Whalen and Kate Solomon were evident as the room looked great and the evening perfectly. A huge thank you also to Dana Pritchard and Jenny Martin for running the evening and keeping the audience engaged and challenged. Lastly THANK YOU to every person who attended, donated

and had a great time. Your generosity is appreciated by the most important people at our school, your children.

MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMP – Aug 23 - 25

The Middle School Camp to Angahook Holiday Camp in Aireys Inlet is fast approaching and I know the students are getting excited by the discussions I am hearing as I walk through their new learning space. The camping program is an important part of our curriculum and provides the students with a new set of skills and experiences that they will remember long after their time at primary school has concluded.

WOOLWORTHS EARN AND LEARN

Mentone Park Primary School are once again participating in the Woolworth’s Earn and Learn promotion. Parents who shop at Woolworths stores are asked to collect the “Earn and Learn Stickers” from Wednesday 26 July 2017 and bring them to the school office. In 2015 we received many excellent resources for the children to use and we would like to take advantage of this promotion once again. You will find the box just inside the office door as well as outside Woolworths Thrift Park.

FUTURE OLYMPIANS

Congratulations to all of our Middle and Senior students for your enthusiastic participation in our athletics trials every Friday. No matter your finishing position, it is wonderful to see the support and encouragement from everyone as you run, jog throw and jump to the best of your ability.

BEAUTIFUL BABY NEWS

For those of you that have not heard, Maddie Oates and her partner Pete welcomed their son Jasper into their family recently. The happy family are now settling in to a bright future together.

Best Wishes
Cameron Agars
Principal

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

RESILIENT YOUTH SURVEY

For the past three years, schools in the Kingston Network have been participating in the Resilient Youth Survey. The purpose of students completing the Resilience Survey is to help us find out what our students are thinking and feeling. With a better understanding of this, schools can identify their strengths and areas they need to address to ensure all students feel safe, healthy and fulfilled.

Students in years 3 – 6 participate in the survey and all answers are strictly anonymous. Every student within the school uses the same login. Students are asked to give information about their thoughts, experiences and feelings honestly. There are no right or wrong answers. At any time during the survey, which takes approximately 30-40 minutes, students can opt out from completing it if they wish.

Year 3 – 6 Students will be completing this survey in the coming weeks and results will be available to the school two weeks later. We can then analyse the data to determine our students’ perceptions of their strengths, levels of hopefulness, mental wellbeing, risk factors and protective factors.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s participation in this survey, please do not hesitate to contact me.

PLAY IS THE WAY

In each whole school newsletter for the rest of Term 3 and into Term 4, I will share more in-depth information about each of the five Key Concepts taught through the Play is the Way program.

This week’s focus is the key concept ‘Be Brave – Participate to Progress’ which is all about stepping out of your comfort zone and understanding that if you don’t join in, face fears and problems, or have a go, you won’t be able to move forward or improve things in your life.

Founder of Play is the Way, Wilson McCaskill, explains it in terms of a problem being a monster that grows! The longer you hide from your problems, the bigger the monster becomes! All too often, we find excuses to avoid facing our inner problems or fears. Many people find it easier to blame their problems and fears on other people and external events than to look for the source of the trouble within. But the fear of dealing with your issues can lead to a vicious cycle of stress and self-defeating behaviours, and, in the long run, avoidance only makes the problems bigger and harder to overcome.

Below are some snippets taken from an article recently published through WikiHow and reviewed by licensed Master Social worker Tasha Rube. It explores the idea of facing fears and problems.

How to stop running away from yourself

Method 1 Identifying Your Problems

1. Practise self-awareness. To be self-aware means to have the ability to see your true self without blinders. It involves accepting yourself as you are, and recognising that you are all fallible.

2. Take time to think. If you’re feeling helpless or overwhelmed, it’s a sign that you need to take some time off and reflect.

3. Get some perspective. Look at your own life from the perspective of a neutral stranger. See if you can identify any recurring patterns of problematic behaviours.

4. Stop trying to escape. Escapism can take many forms – playing video games, browsing the internet, or even working too much. A little escapism isn’t always bad, but when you’re trying to face your problems, it can hinder your progress.

Method 2 - Facing Your Problems
1. Work up your courage. It takes great strength to deal with aspects of your personality that you don’t like or don’t understand. Take a deep breath and commit to working through your issues.

2. Forgive yourself for making human mistakes. No one is perfect, so don’t be too hard on yourself for the slip-ups you’ve had.

3. Don’t victimise yourself. Do your best to avoid self-victimisation. You are going to face many obstacles in life that will cause issues and you are going to have to learn from them and try to resolve.

4. Don’t take yourself so seriously. See if you can find a way to laugh about your mistakes. A little levity can help you let go of the past and feel more optimistic about the future.

5. Reflect on the principles and values that are important to you. Ask yourself whether you’re living according to your own moral compass, or whether you’ve adopted someone else’s. If you feel like you’re living with no sense of direction, think about how you can begin to chart a new course according to your own values.

6. Practice self-empowerment. Observe your current situation, and how you are currently responding. Are you self-aware, holding yourself accountable, and taking action to solve your concerns?

7. Determine whether you need professional help. If your problems are too deep-seated or overwhelming to deal with alone, make an appointment to see someone. A professional can help you identify your problem behaviours and come up with healthy ways to cope.

8. Make a plan. Once you’ve acknowledged your problems, consider how you will go about solving them. Decide what you want your life to look like after resolving your issues, and think about the best way to get there.

Method 3 – moving forward
1. Practice mindfulness. Living in the present moment will help you deal with problems as they arise, instead of running away from them.

2. Address problems right away. Dealing with challenges is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. Stay alert for new issues that need your attention, and face them sooner rather than later.

3. Keep a journal. A journal is a great way to preserve your thoughts and track your progress.

4. Be true to yourself. Live in a way that feels authentic and comfortable for you. Don’t pretend to be someone you aren’t, even if you think that’s what other people want.

5. Be patient. Don’t expect to overcome all your issues overnight.

If you wish to read the full article, with sources and citations, you can do so using this link.

How to Stop Running Away from Yourself

Alison Lough

Assistant Principal

FROM THE OFFICE

Dear Parents & Guardians,

Please note all signed permission forms and any payment must be given directly to your child/ren’s teachers. This allows the teachers to check and mark off each child’s permission form and payment.

PAYMENT REMINDERS

ANGAHOOK HOLIDAY CAMP PAYMENTS
Please finalise any outstanding payments as student attendance numbers are being confirmed.

JUNIOR & MIDDLE SCHOOL SWIMMING PAYMENTS
All swimming payments are due Monday 14th August at the latest.

CERES JUNIOR SCHOOL EXCURSION
All CERES payments are due Friday 18th August at the latest.

If payment is not received for excursions, swimming and camps, children cannot attend.
If families are interested in payment plans please contact the office.

Payments for Excursions/Incursions can be made via Qkr under School Payments using the EXCURSIONS 2017 TAB
Families can enter the amount they owe and also add a note e.g CERES Excursion

SPARE CLOTHING
Please ensure that you pack extra underwear and clothing for your child/ren. Due to OHS guidelines, we are no longer allowed to provide underwear.

Please feel free to phone or come into the office if you have any questions.

We are more than happy to assist with showing you how to use Qkr and Flexibuzz.

Thank you,

Patti, Jane and Trish

Administration Team

PFA

EARN & LEARN

BOOKFAIR 21ST-24TH AUGUST 2017

OSHCLUB

ENTERTAINMENT BOOK 2017/2018

SCHOOL BANKING

SCHOOL UNIFORM

Working With Children Check Reminder

All parents/guardians, visitors & volunteers to the school MUST sign in & out of the school and display their WWCC in a lanyard, which is available at the school office.

The Department of Education requires any person involved in an activity where children may be present to have a current WWCC or have supplied proof that they have applied for a WWCC with the Department of Justice. All schools are required to comply with the Working with Children Act 2005.

Volunteers are expected to carry the WWCC card on their person at all times when working or volunteering at the school or during school related activities.

There is no fee for this check. Apply now by visiting: www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au

COMMUNITY SERVICE & ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Department of Education & Early Childhood Development and Mentone Park Primary School do not endorse the products or services of any private advertiser. They accept no responsibility for accuracy of information contained in advertisements or claims made by them.