1. family and parenting
2. children

ALPHA NEWS
TERM 4 ISSUE 7
FRIDAY 21st NOVEMBER
EXCELLENCE
ENDEAVOUR
THIS COMING WEEK
MONDAY
TUESDAY
Year 5 & 6 Tennis
Year 5 Bike Ed
WEDNESDAY
Year 1 & 2
Swimming
THURSDAY
PP-Prep swimming
Year 3 & 4
Tennis
FRIDAY
Primary School
Christmas Disco
6pm - 8pm
Andrianakos Centre
INTEGRITY
RESPONSIBILITY
CREATIVITY
DIVERSITY
RESPECT
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
JUBILEE CHRISTMAS MARKET – THIS SATURDAY 22ND NOVEMBER
As we bring our Jubilee year to a close, I invite families to join for some part
of the festivities this Saturday.
There will be over 30 stall holders, lovely food including a BBQ and
souvlakia stalls, scones and tea, adult drinks and refreshments throughout
the day.
Some of the added attractions include the jumping castle, bungie run and
rock climbing.
There will be live music all day and crafts activities for the young as well
as a wonderful opportunity to see the Back to the Future Delorean Time
Machine Car. You can even get your car washed by our team of senior
students.
At 1:30pm we will be unveiling the collaborative art project completed by
all the students in the school. The day will finish with an outdoor cinema
experience where we will be screening the film “Back to the Future” at
6:00pm.
I invite you all to come with your rug and picnic basket to sit and enjoy
the film as a family. Refreshments will be available for those who wish to
purchase something rather than bring your own. There is no cost associated
with the screening of the film.
We look forward to a fun day for all!
Dr Vivianne Nikou
PRINCIPAL
Bungee Run
Alcohol, drinks and food
Andria’s Cakery
Tracey’s Christmas
Decorations
Jubilee Christmas Market
T EL: + 61 3 9 4 97 47 7 7
FA X : + 61 3 9 4 97 3 47 9
Old Heidelberg Road Alphington 3078
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Jubilee Christmas
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Candles by Nikol
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Missy Moos
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Rock Clim
Jumping Castle
oul
Scentual S
Seven Woman
Jubilee Christmas Market
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Cashooz
A.G.S. PREPS’ HISTORY EXCURSION - Werribee Mansion
Wednesday 19th November was a very special day! It was a perfect Spring Morning with the promise of a
warm sunny day. Twenty four excited Prep children, 12 girls and 12 boys, skipped and bounced into class
with equally excited parents and grandparents. The children were immaculately dressed in their striking
A.G.S. uniform with braids or ribbons in the girl’s hair and a touch of gel in the boy’s smartly styled haircuts.
They chattered excitedly, had specially packed ‘favourite’ lunches and prepared to leave for their excursion
to the mansion at Werribee Park.
As a class, they and their parents had studied the Chirnside family home and they were about to match
their historical knowledge with Werribee Mansion itself.
They boarded the coach armed with a clipboard and pencils and the adventure began! Enroute they
recorded speed limits, signs and shared their prior knowledge of the City of Melbourne as we travelled.
They had a graph to chart how many bridges we saw, the traffic lights, policemen, cars, buses and children
we passed. They sketched anything and everything!
On arrival at our destination the children and 5 accompanying adults were dropped off at the gatehouse
and started the long winding walk into the grounds. About five minutes later they turned a corner and there
was the mansion, bigger and better than they had ever expected!
A small pictorial review is attached to give you a ‘tasting’ of the delightful day we experienced. A day to
remember... a perfect day!
Marianne Hull, Prep H
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PHYSICAL EDUCATION
This week has once again been very productive as the children practised their skills for bat
tennis.
We pat bounced the tennis ball with our hands firstly, aiming in a downward direction and
then again in an upward direction. We then used the bats and tried exactly the same thing,
aiming up and then aiming down. It is really wonderful to see the children’s faces when they
can see and feel how much they have improved. We have challenged ourselves to improve
each time we use equipment and the improvements might be in hitting, catching, throwing or
fielding the ball. Sometimes the improvements might be in the way the children interpret and
understand a game situation. It really is fantastic when they sense that mastery of skills!
The weather has been very warm and most children are remembering their hats and bottles.
This is important in the hot weather and we would appreciate it if parents can help us by
reminding their children as they pack their bags each morning. The days seem to start off
being very cool so it might be advisable to start with tracksuit pants over shorts so that
children are not over heating later in the day. Thank you for your help with these matters.
Adrienne Bishop
Junior Physical Education Specialist.
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Health Matters
Nursing and Psychology News at AGS
Beyond the bubble wrap:
Understanding parents’ fears in allowing their children
to play and travel independently
To investigate the role that parental fear plays in shaping children’s independence and
physical activity, and find solutions to help parents give their children greater freedom,
VicHealth has initiated and funded a three-year study (2012 to 2015) into parental fear, the
first of its kind in Australia.
VicHealth has commissioned La Trobe University and the Parenting Research Centre to
undertake the study which has included a survey of more than 2000 parents of children aged
nine to 15 from across Victoria.
Beyond the bubble wrap: Understanding parents’ fears in allowing their children to play and
travel independently, contains the preliminary findings of this research, which suggests that
children’s independence was related to parental concerns about safety in general and harm
from strangers in particular.
Beyond the Bubble-Wrap found 48 per cent of Victorian parents worry about their child being
approached by a stranger and 36 per cent avoid situations where their child goes without an
adult because of fears about strangers.
We know there are numerous factors that influence parents’ decisions to let their child
play and travel independently — from traffic concerns to parents’ work demands, childcare
arrangements and external perceptions.
But we also know children who are able to play and travel without an adult and those who
walk or ride to school are more likely to meet Australian physical activity guidelines.
In the 1960s, one in 20 children was overweight or obese. Today, that has risen to one in
four, and is expected to become one in three by 2025. With Australian children living a more
inactive lifestyle, there is an increased risk of serious health problems, such as obesity, type
2 diabetes and heart disease. Only one in five Australian children gets the recommended
one hour of physical activity every day, and only one in four walks or rides to school. Letting
children become independent is a complex process for parents and every child and family
situation is different. From a health perspective, it’s clear that physical activity should be an
important feature in children’s lives.
For more information go to www.vichealth.vic.gov.au
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Alphington Grammar School - Forms
2015 forms are now available on our website www.alphington.vic.edu.au.
Copies can also be picked up from the School Office.
Music Tuition
Program
The enrolment process for next
year’s Instrumental Lessons
is now open. Please be aware
places are limited.
School Bus
The AGS Bus Service
offers safe and convenient
transportation for students
travelling to and from school.
Please state your preference on
the application form.
Book Lists
Booklists are currently been
disseminated across all year
levels. Orders can be placed
online,
www.campion.com.au or
submitted to the School Office.
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All W
Jubilee
Christmas
Market
elcom
e
Saturday 22
November
11am - 8pm








Jumping Castle - Bungie Run - Rock Climbing
Live music all day
Back to the Future’s DeLorean Time Machine
Market Stalls - Photo booth
Artwork for sale
Barbeque
Alcohol - Soft drinks
Coffee - Cakes
OUTDOOR CINEMA ....Bring a rug & picnic basket and enjoy
the film ‘Back to the Future’ commencing at 6pm.
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Entertainment, music and karaoke
provided by BOP TIL YOU DROP
$10 entry fee includes a drink, snack and glowstick.
PRIMARY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS DISCO
Friday 28th November
Andrianakos Centre
6.00pm-8.00pm
Open to all AGS Primary School Students
from Pre-Prep to Year 6
Entertainment, music and karaoke provided by ‘Bop ‘til you Drop’
$10 entry fee includes a drink, snack and glowstick.
Parents welcome to wait outside and buy a snack
Parents welcome to waitand
outside
buy a snack
and relax
at tables in school grounds.
relaxand
at tables
in school
grounds.
Dress for Christmas Fun! Tickets available soon.
Surprise
Visitor….who
willTickets
it be??????????????
Dress
for Christmas
Fun!
availabe soon.
Surprise visitor....who will it be???????
Information on how to obtain tickets will be sent home next week
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