1. education
2. school

Principal: Doug Elliott
Assistant Principal: Barbara Nicoll
PO Box 809 Heathmont 3135
Telephone: 9870 6098
Fax: 9870 6051
[email protected]
www.greatryrieps.vic.edu.au
A Learning Community
Volume 18 Issue 9
16 April 2015
NEWSLETTER
Watch this space for notices sent out each week.
If you have not received any of the following notices, please ask your child’s teacher or contact the school office.
27 March
Fun Foundation Facts
Foundation families
27 March
Special Religious Instruction Forms Youngest students
14 April
Annex News/Homework Sheet
Years 5&6 families
15 April
Chess Club Term 2
Interested students
15 April
Premiers’ Reading Challenge
Participating students
15 April
Interschool Sport
Participating Years 5&6 students
Welcome Back to Term 2
School term dates - 2015
Term 2: 13 April to 26 June
Term 3: 13 July to 18 September
Term 4: 5 October to 18 December
Help us reduce paper use across our school by
receiving your copy of our weekly Newsletter
electronically!
To subscribe to our weekly email distribution list
simply email: [email protected]
and post “Subscribe Newsletter” in the subject line.
From the Principal:
Welcome back after the Easter
school break! I trust everyone
managed to take some time
out for themselves and their
families when they could.
Staff were engaged in a very
powerful professional learning
program on the first Monday of
this term! “Making Space For
Learning” was presented to
nearly 200 teachers and
support staff from six local primary schools, with one
group working at Ringwood Secondary College and
the other hosted at Great Ryrie.
Presenters
from
the
Australian
Childhood
Foundation took us through some of the current
research on brain development and how we are all
affected by trauma. A key aspect of the day was how
we can make adjustments in our learning
Diary Dates
APRIL
Monday 20
Thursday 23
Assembly – Quadrangle
Chess competition in BA Hall
Foundation “Ball in the Hall” in S&PC
Friday 24
Interschool Sport
Saturday 25
ANZAC Day
environments to re-engage students who have
disconnected from learning as a consequence of
trauma in their lives.
It is estimated that as many as half our children may
have experienced trauma directly or indirectly, which
can impact upon their learning from time to time! The
good news is that we can help them re-engage in their
learning by providing a structured, supportive
environment!
Barb Nicoll; Notice of Retirement:
Our Assistant Principal,
Barb Nicoll has notified the
school of her retirement
from the Department Of
Education and Training at
the end of this term! Barb
will remain on Long Service
Leave until the Term 2
holidays but will not return
to work after the Term 2
break.
It has been a wonderful
experience working with Barb during the eight years
that she has spent at Great Ryrie and I am sure that
all of our parents and students join us as a staff, in
congratulating Barb on her significant contribution to
education, spanning over 40 years.
We have all benefitted personally from Barb’s many
skills and talents, from her hard work and from the
commitment and dedication she has demonstrated
during the time she has worked with our community!
Memorial To Oil:
This discussion piece is doing the rounds in
Maroondah. What is a memorial to oil and why is it
here?
The ‘Memorial To Oil’ sculpture will be in the school
foyer for about four weeks. It is comprised of over
100 items manufactured from petroleum by-products!
Student ILPs On Your Compass Portal:
Virtually all students’ Individual Learning Plans, as
developed at last term’s 3-Way Conferences, are now
accessible to parents through Compass.
Compass can be accessed via our school website! All
families were posted a letter in February, providing
them with Compass login credentials. Parents should
log in often, to keep up to date with their child’s
learning, authorise absences and to update family
contact details.
Portfolios also went home at the end of last term and
should now be returned to your child’s teacher.
New Smoke Free Regulations:
In order to provide a healthy environment for every
school community, all school buildings and grounds
have been ‘Smoke Free Zones’ for many years. As of
this term, this has now been extended to the outside
of the school grounds. Smoking is no longer allowed
within 4 meters of school gates.
What Is School Policy?:
As advised last term, the Investment, Parent
Payments, Electronic Banking and School Purchase
Card policies were ratified at our March School
Council meeting.
The School Philosophy Statement was also ratified.
These and other policies are all accessible on our
school website.
Have you noticed that our website is being updated
continuously with additions and changes happening
almost on a daily basis? If you haven’t visited for a
while check it out.
Surf our website regularly and give us any feedback
you have. Communication with families is pivotal to
our work with children!
Your School Council Needs You!
We still have two casual vacancies for parent
representatives on School Council.
School Council meets at 7:30pm on the fourth
Tuesday of the month. Please contact me if you are
willing to be co-opted to one of these two positions!
Monday Assembly:
Next Monday we will have our assembly in the
quadrangle. There will be no chat with the principal
afterwards however, as I will be at Mullum Primary
School, along with Sharon Jacobs and other local
school teachers, working on our ‘new look’ Mid-Year
Reports for 2015. These will be available through
Compass at the end of this term.
Lest We Forget!
Next Friday we will also have a brief, ten minute
assembly for ANZAC Day, in the quadrangle at
11:10am. School Captains and Vice Captains will join
me at the Ringwood Clocktower for the dawn service
on Saturday and all our student leaders are attending
a combined schools service at Ringwood Lake next
Wednesday!
Wishing you a great weekend,
Doug Elliott
Principal
“Every
Child,
Every
Opportunity,
Everyday,
Everyone’s Responsibility…”
Reminders From the Office

Please send the correct money when sending
cash. We do not keep a lot of change at the office.

If there are any changes, particularly to
contact phone numbers for parents, guardians and
EMERGENCY contact people, please let the office
know ASAP or use Compass to update.

If you wish to pay your school fees by BPAY,
use the Biller Code and unique reference number
detailed on your family statement. Please send the
remittance advice to the office indicating what you
have paid via BPAY.
NUDE FOOD RESULTS THIS WEEK
We encourage all children to bring their snacks, drinks
and lunches but leave their rubbish at home.
Especially on Tuesdays!
 Years 5&6
no winner this week
 Years 3&4
34H
76%
 Years 1&2
12N & 12A
61%
 Foundation
FDK
78%
Community Notices
Is there some good news in your family that you would like to
share with the rest of GRPS? A new addition to the family, a win
in a Grand Final, a great sports game …. Let Yvonne at the office
have the details by Wednesday morning and we’ll let everyone
know!!
Congratulations
What a wonderful surprise! What was thought to be
her engagement party turned into her wedding! We
are very excited to announce the marriage of Miss
Michelle Waterson to Mr Adam McRedmond.
Congratulations to the new Mrs Mac and Adam!
CONGRATULATIONS
STUDENTS OF THE WEEK
20 April 2015
FDB
Sienna Giles, Madigan Urquhart
FDJ
Tayah McKay
FDK
Charlie Pears
FDW Maybell Lockie
12A
Paige Goldberg
12J
Jack Grasso
12N
Lachlan McLeod
12R
Jade Cheung
12S
Mia Harrington
12V
Jiya Ramtohul
34H
Bawi Cem
34J
Adam Lee-Ercole, Oscar Witherspoon
34K
Jack Stevens, April Marsh
34R
Inayat Grewal, Belicia Braione
34W
Elise Ball
56B
Emma Hanly, Caelum Smith
56F
Josh Bird
56G
Leigh Smith
56K
Mackenzie Skinner
56M
Gus Horrabin
Performing Arts – Jyden Cater, Campbell Young
Indonesian – Ben Gosbel, Lachie Moroney
Visual Arts - Ishaan Agrawal, Honey Cin Zah
These will be presented at assembly next week!
You are invited to participate in a parent focus group
session on:
Improving traffic congestion & pedestrian safety
around GRPS, to be held on Wednesday 29th April
from 7-8pm in the Library. This session will consider
the results of the Active Travel Survey undertaken in
term 1 and explore issues and opportunities in relation
to how we travel to and from school, and problem
areas in our surrounding streets.
This session will help inform the development of the
Active Travel Plan which aims to get more people
walking and riding to school, increasing health and
wellbeing and increasing pedestrian safety.
PERFORMING
ARTS
‘ALADDIN
TROUBLE’
PRODUCTION
UPDATE
Years 5 & 6 students
were auditioned this
week for all individual
speaking roles in our
Production of
‘Aladdin Trouble’. We
were thrilled with the
large amount of
students who did
audition and with the
high quality of their
auditions. Students were very well prepared. We will
be announcing the students and their roles in the next
few weeks.
PARENT PRODUCTION MEETINGS AND
WORKING BEES
Many thanks to those parents who attended our first
Costume Working Bee at Dee Skinner’s home this
th
week on Wednesday 15 April. This will be a weekly
occurrence. If you need further details please contact
the office, Helen Francis or Peta Murray.
We will be having our first Prop Working Bee next
nd
Wednesday 22 April at 9.00 am. Please meet in
the Performing Arts room.
If you would like to help but cannot make any of these
dates, please do not hesitate to contact the office or
the Performing Arts department at school.
POLO SHIRT COMPETITION
We will be having a drawing competition once again
this year to find a design for our official Production
2015 shirts. This competition is opened to Great Ryrie
PS students. We are looking for an original design to
complement the theme of our Production, ‘Aladdin
Trouble’. The winning design will be printed on yellow
polo shirts and sold as a part of the school
fundraising. Students are permitted to wear these
shirts as part of their school uniform over the next 2
years until our next Production. These shirts have
been very popular in past years.
This year students will have the opportunity of starting
their design in their weekly Art lesson over the next 2
weeks. They can then finish their design at home.
Entry forms will be handed out in these lessons with
all details. The final designs must be handed in with
st
the entry form attached no later than Friday 1 May to
the office.
Helen Francis and Peta Murray.
LIBRARY
The children are back and busy borrowing from the
Library, there will be an area set aside in the Library
with books for the Premier’s Reading Challenge, so
enjoy the challenge and read entertaining books.
th
The Book Fair arrives WEDNESDAY 13 May and
th
departs late TUESDAY 19 may and is titled “Kings,
Queens & Castles Enter the Kingdom of Books!)
More details will be sent home in the coming weeks,
so mark these dates in your diary!
BOOK CLUB
Book Club issue 3 has arrived and been distributed to
the classes. All orders and payment are due back
th
THURSDAY 30 APRIL.
Our school has opted for LOOP (Linked Online
Ordering & Payment) when paying by credit card, you
can pay by cash and Cheque (payable to Scholastic
Australia).
st
The LOOP option will be closed on Friday 1 May,
enjoy browsing the catalogue and look out for the $2
gold coin book for each issue – Great Value!
*PE News*
There will be a change of date for this year’s Grade 3
-6 Athletics Day. This is due to Naplan
recently being scheduled in the week that we had
planned to run the athletics day. Therefore, the
athletics day will not take place on May 12. The new
date is yet to be confirmed but will be towards the end
of this term.
Years 3&4 students and anyone who is in the 9/10 yo
age group from a higher grade will be taking part in
athletic running heats starting on Tuesday 28th April
from after lunch till the end of the day. This is in
preparation for the actual athletics day which will be
held later this term.
If there are any parents who can please help out with
Years 5&6 interschool sport on a Friday afternoon
between 1:30 - 2:30 that would be really appreciated!
For our students to take part in interschool sport
successfully we need to have a minimum of one
parent helper with each team, obviously the more
parent helpers the better. Please contact Mr Henson
or your Years 5&6 classroom teacher if you are
available to help out during this time. The interschool
sports include Football, Soccer, Softball, Netball, Hot
Shots Tennis and Volleystars!
FUNDRAISING
THANKYOUS & CONGRATULATIONS
Thankyou to everyone who donated prizes for our
Easter Raffle which was a great success at our final
assembly for Term 1 and congratulations to all of the
prize winners. The prize for selling Cadbury
Chocolates was also drawn at the assembly - well
done to Mason Aronleigh who took out the Coles
Voucher. The school appreciates the efforts of all
involved in both of these events, as well as the Hot
Cross Bun Drive and it was wonderful that so many
families and individuals helped to make these
fundraisers successful. A reminder to those families
yet to pay for their chocolates that the money is
overdue and we ask that you send it to school as
soon as possible.
Thanks also to those families who have responded to
the fundraising request for helpers by returning the
notice that went home last term. It is great to know
that with all of the events planned we have people
who are willing to help out. It is not too late to fill out
the form and send it back to school as we have events
planned right up until the end of the year and there is
something for everyone!!
Congratulations to our Easter Raffle Winners
Flynn McKay
Charlie Isbester
Josh Bird
Dante Fisher
Jude Cole
Lucas Strawhorn
Stephanie Du
Ashton Thompson
Simon Du
Niang Hoih Cing
Isaac Kirchner
WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS TERM??
Plenty!! There are a few major events happening this
term. Firstly, the Mother’s Day Stall which is coming
up at the beginning of May. Marg McHardy and Karina
Jackson have been working hard to make sure that
there are a variety of nice gifts on offer for purchase.
rd
Set aside Saturday 23 May on your calendars to
come along to our parents’ and friends social night.
This year we will be running a Trivia Night along with
a cover band to provide entertainment.
We will also be producing the ever popular Production
polo shirts for sale. Students will be invited to create
designs along the theme of Aladdin Trouble in art
classes during planning week and can complete them
at home.
More information on all of these events will follow
soon as we look forward to a busy but fun term.
Ann-Maree Bosomworth
Fundraising Convenor
Chaplain’s Spot Term 2 Week 1 2015
Grief & Loss
There are many times in life when we are confronted
with situations that bring emotions of grief and loss,
whether they be death, family separation, loss of
work, or relationship breakdowns. These events may
be directly affecting us because they are in our family
or other close connections. However, they may be
national or world events that are affecting us.
These days, there are many tragedies shown on the
media, whether they be terrorism or other major
circumstances.
How do we respond? There can be shock, especially
when it is sudden. We express emotion – this is most
often shown through tears [and yes, men it’s good to
cry]. We can feel lonely and even sick. We may feel
panic, as we consider the unknown future. We also
may feel guilty, regretting something we have said or
done, or not said or done. Another stage is hostility or
resentment, asking ‘why?’ All of these are valid stages
of grief. We need help to move through them to find
hope, and adjust to the new reality.
How can we care for others who are grieving? We
might give them a phone call, flowers, a card, a hug, a
meal or a treat. Mostly, we need to be there when
they need us. We don’t have to say much. Often we
don’t know what to say. Our presence, and our
listening ears are so much more important than all the
words we might try to speak. As I have said to some
students, treat them like normal, but with extra care.
We all grieve when we lose someone or something
special. The way we deal with loss is a very individual
thing. No-one knows exactly what we are feeling. I
know that some of my early experiences have
affected how I relate in life.
Also, what may affect us more than the death or loss
situation, is the way we are trying to cope with the
change it has brought. Who am I without the person I
miss so much? Why do I feel angry, or collapse in
tears, or struggle to sleep? How can I get through
this?
The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement is
an independent, not for profit organisation, and is the
largest provider of grief and bereavement education in
Australia. Check out their website at www.grief.org,au,
and you can contact them at 253 Wellington Road
MULGRAVE VIC 3170. Phone: 9265 2100
Seasons For Growth:
This is a program for people dealing with grief and
loss. We plan to run a program for older students this
Term, and younger students next Term. If you believe
your child might benefit from such a program, could
you please contact me via email or phone at the
school. Check out the program at goodgrief.org.au
Alan Silverwood – Chaplain
[[email protected]] Pastoral
care for our community. [The Chaplaincy program
is funded through the Federal Government &
Community support. This is a voluntary program
in our school community.] Feel free to contact me
if you have something you would like to discuss.
PAID ADVERTISEMENTS
The Department of Education and Training and Great Ryrie
Primary School do not endorse the products or services of any
private advertiser.
No responsibility is accepted by DET and Great Ryrie Primary
School for accuracy of information in advertisements or claims
made therein.
COMMUNITY BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS
We would like to acknowledge and thank the following
sponsors for their support.
(For more details please see our website!)
ALL SMILES
Sorrento Ocean Beach & the Yarra Valley
Donate vouchers for all fundraising events
Phone: 9876 4044
www.allsmiles.com.au
--AMAZING TRANSFORMATIONS
COSTUME HIRE kindly donate all the wonderful
costumes we use for school functions.
33 High Street Glen Iris, 9885 4714
--BEAUTY ON RYRIE donate many beauty products
and vouchers for all school fundraisers and events.
41B Great Ryrie St Ringwood, 9870 6766
--BENDIGO COMMUNITY BANK (Heathmont & East
Ringwood Branches) sponsor our school and along
with Student Banking donate the following amounts
for services taken out.
The amounts are
$400 for a Bendigo home loan greater than $250,000
$200 for a Bendigo home loan less than $250,000
$50 for a Bendigo equipment finance loan
$50 for a Bendigo personal loan
$20 for a Bendigo credit card
Heathmont branch: 9870 6654
East Ringwood branch: 9870 3655
FORTHCOMING EVENTS IN MAROONDAH
Tuesday 5th May 1.00pm - 2.00pm
Woiwurrng Language Workshop (school
bookings welcome)
Hosted by Mandy Nicholson in association with
the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for
Languages.
Ages 8+
$8 Booking Essential
Thursday 28th May 10.30 - noon
Exhibition Launch
Join Mayor, Cr Tony Dib JP in recognition of
Reconciliation Week 2015. Acknowledging the
importance of a vibrant shared future for
Indigenous and non Indigenous people, come
and experience a Welcome to Country. Smoking
Ceremony and performances by talented singer
Kutcha Edwards and the Djirri Djirri Dancers.
Free Booking Recommended