Hazel Ludlow and Isam Elsheikh are

pictured here stroking a Blue tongued

Lizard from the reptile collection at

Seymour College.

Alamein Road

Puckapunyal Vic, 3662

Acting Principal: Prue Smith

Tel: (03) 5793 1288

Mobile:0418 551833 Fax: (03) 5793 1412

ABN – 74134967962

Website - www.puckapunyalps.vic.edu.au

Email – Puckapunyal.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au

Term 3 Issue 5 Wednesday 17th August

Dear Parents, Families and Friends of the School

Last Wednesday our Year 3 and 4 students along with a handful of Year 5 students

visited Seymour College as part of an Early

Transition program. This visit was designed

to introduce these students to the next

stage of schooling. Even though we know

that many of our children from our school

will be posted with their families

elsewhere, and will not be going on to

Seymour College, the experience was still

extremely valuable as an introduction to

the opportunities and experiences offered

at Seymour College.

Some responses from students:

What was the best part about your visit

to Seymour College?

“Doing the physical education inside” “Holding the animals” “Seeing 2 of my brothers” “Learning about fresh water studies” “Seeing the reptile room” “Doing Art and learning to blend colours”

Lara Clarke, Polly Duff and Sophie Godbold

enjoy handling the Long Necked Tortoise from

the Vertebrates collection at Seymour College

Our Transition program will continue throughout Terms 3 and 4. There will be

further days for the Kindergarten children to visit the Primary School and the

Year 6 children will also participate in Transition Days which specifically

highlight the shift to secondary school.

For those Year 6 students entering Seymour College in Year 7, there is an

opportunity to apply for the Enhanced/Accelerated Program. (See below.)

SEPTEMBER 5TH

We have had many inquiries from parents regarding September 5th

when the AEU (Australian Education Union) has called a Stop Work

Action Day. This action has been ratified by Fair Work Australia and

will see a significant impact on Puckapunyal Primary School. This

action will include not only teachers but office staff and ancillary

support staff.

To minimise inconvenience to our school community, I wish to advise

parents that if they are able to make alternative arrangements for

their children on this day, they should do so.

It is highly likely that the school will be closed on this day.

ENHANCED / ACCELERATION PROGRAM 2013

Grade 6 Students Interested in applying for a place in the 2013 Enhanced / Acceleration Year 7

class?

Application forms need to be returned to Main Campus – Loco Street no later than

Thursday 30th August 2012 They are available from your Primary School or Main Campus –

Loco Street The testing day for this class will be:

SATURDAY 1st SEPTEMBER 2012

10:00 am – 12:30 pm

Phone 57711300

[

HOUSE ATHLETICS REMINDER

6th & 7th September

Some events will be held at school on the 6th September.

The Athletic Sports will be held on Friday September 7th

at Number 7 Oval.

Students will be practising their skills during sport time.

AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM On Monday, Robyn Itter and I attended professional learning regarding the implementation

of the National Curriculum.

As you may already know, the Federal government and the Australian states and territories

have agreed to adopt a National Curriculum from 2013. This paves the way for a less

painful path for those children and their families as they move from state to state and will

ensure a smoother educational transition for our mobile Defence families.

The shift to a National Curriculum will not happen overnight and it is anticipated that a

complete implementation of the National Curriculum could take up to 10 years to achieve.

So, do not expect dramatic and sudden change! This is such a significant change in

thinking and education and it will be undertaken with great care.

Supporting each state to implement the new curriculum is a mammoth task. Here in

Victoria, we are well placed to make the initial changes. Victoria has a strong and sound

curriculum based on VELS (Victorian Educational Learning Standards) and much of the

Victorian curriculum has been included in the new National Curriculum. In Victoria, you will

hear the term AUSVELS which is the curriculum vehicle which will be used to support the

transition from a Victorian based curriculum to a National Curriculum.

Other states will have more significant changes to make to their curriculum documents and

so it is difficult for me to give any insight to each state’s progress.

In 2013 the subject areas of English, Mathematics, Science and History will be

introduced as the first stage of the implementation of the National Curriculum.

Robyn and I will try to keep you updated about the change to National Curriculum as they

progress. Prue Smith

You are invited to a

Fabulous Fantastic Fun-Filled Family and Friends Game Day

To celebrate Literacy and Numeracy Week When: Wednesday 29th August

Time: 2.30-3.30pm Where: BER Building

Who: Family and friends

Look out for your child’s personal invitation to YOU!

CONGRATULATIONS to our AUTHORS OF THE WEEK

BACK ROW: Hayley Blake, Leilani Pene, Natasha Bourne, Jemma Williamson, Alaa

Elsheikh and Elaf Elsheikh

FRONT ROW: Logan Jack Barry , Amy Franks, Alex Potts ,Jessica Pascall

ABSENT from photo : Jared Mott

WRITING : Poetry from Mr Harcourt’s Classroom

Congratulations to our STUDENTS OF THE WEEK BACK ROW: Shaun Edwards, Beth Ryan, Campbell Martin, Beth Ludlow, Matthew Frankel

FRONT ROW: Riley Berger, Abigail Major, Jade Ryder, Serena Chivers

ABSENT from this photo: Xtina Chalson and Joshua Smith

The Australians

We are the Aussies , we like to run

And when we win gold, we have some fun

But when we v’s BOLT, we’re stuck in a

bubble of trouble!

Author: Mason Pene

We’re standing behind the blocks

Ready to beat the clocks

Through the water I go

Hope it’s not too slow

Swim, Aussie, Swim.

Author: Mackai Harriden

We are from the land down under

We run as fast as thunder

We’re searching for that gold

Before we get too old

Go Aussie Go

Author: Xtina Chalson

Last week the Grade 1’s in Miss Atkinson’s class were lucky enough to send an email to Canadian Olympic Basketball player Chelsea Aubry. They asked her some great questions and were very excited when she replied to them.

Hi 1A, Thank you so much for your pictures and questions!!! The hoop in women's basketball is 10 feet high, a basketball game is 40 mins long and 10 players play on the court (5 for each team) at a time. I am having the time of my life here at the Olympics!! It’s great to be able to stay in the Athlete’s Village and be able to see all the different athletes from all around the world everyday! Like Qantas is Australia's airline in Canada we fly with Air Canada for the most part. In the game against GB I scored 3 baskets. In our pool we get to play Russia, GB, France, Brazil and AUSTRALIA!!! It’s a very hard pool but all the games have been very exciting to watch and play in!! Basketball is very fun! I am a very competitive person so it’s wonderful to get to play against the best in the world! And I get to play with some of my very good friends on team Canada! I’ve also been able to travel around the world through basketball and get to live in different countries like Australia!! I am 28 years old and Team Canada has won 4 bronze metals so far and there are more to come. In the big competitions we play with an orange and white stripped ball. Unfortunately, I have not met the Queen yet...but we are still here for another 2 weeks so you never know I may still get my visit in with her!! So the weather here has been very up and down. The first week here it was very hot but now the weather has turned a little cold but it’s very refreshing and it’s good to have the cold so the basketball gym is not super hot when we play our games. The UK is 9 hrs behind Melbourne time. I love playing basketball but most of all I love representing Canada that these Olympic Games. I’ve worked a long time to get to the Olympic Games and it is a dream come true! Now most important I have heard of One Direction and I do LOVE them very much...but I love Justin Bieber the best!!!! From Chelsea

Our Questions

How tall is the hoop? How long does the game go for? How much fun are you having at the Olympics? Did you fly over on QANTAS? How many baskets did you get against GB? What countries are you playing in the Olympics? Is basketball fun? How many medals have your team won? How old are you? Do you have any friends playing? What colour basketball do you play with? Have you met the Queen yet? What is the weather like? Is it good at the Olympics? What time is it in the UK? Have you had fun? Do you like playing basketball? Have you ever heard of One Direction?

Defence School Transition Aide Message Fathers’ Day Stall: We will again be having a Fathers’ Day stall this year. If

you have anything that would be suitable for this stall, we would really

appreciate it. They can be left at the office (no lighters, no nuts in food

products please). Thanks.

Collect a Cap (Pauls milk): We receive 10 cents for every cap collected.

There is a collection box in the foyer. Participating products are all specially

marked 2 and 3 litre Pauls white milks. (Physical, Trim, Smarter White, Rev,

Skinny and regular milk). Thank you!

Mobile ‘phone recycling: We receive money for these, so keep bringing them

in too!

Healthy Lunchbox Tips: Here are some ideas for lunch that don’t include the

word ‘sandwich’! Some variety can help keep children (and adults!) interested

in, and enjoying their food.

Boiled eggs

Salmon rissoles, lean beef rissoles, kebabs, chicken strips

Zucchini/vegetable slice

Home-made Pizza

Left over vegetables and meat from dinner. Some children love to eat

these cold!

Rice / pasta mixes

Enjoy your week!!

Sue Ranger, Defence School Transition Aide

Flagathon All sponsorship money was due in last Friday. However we understand how

busy life can be, so we’ve extended this until this Friday. Everyone has done

so well! Thank you for supporting our school.

Coles’ Sports for Schools & Safeway’s Earn and Learn The vouchers and stickers are no longer being issued, and we have to confirm

our final count, and dispatch all vouchers and stickers within a couple of

weeks. So please bring them in as soon as you can. It appears that we will be

able to order approximately $3000 worth of educational supplies and around

$1000 of sporting equipment. This is AWESOME!!! Thank you to everyone for

supporting this so enthusiastically. A big thank you also to Class 2I for their

counting efforts. They have had lots of counting and adding practice!

Lily Waugh and Hazel

Ludlow with the Middle

School Tables trophy.

A beaming Alex Brazier with the

Yard Clean-Up Trophy awarded to his

class Year – Miss Atkinson’s Year 1.

Jack and Grace Tricarico,

very reliable and regular can

collectors, with their

Certificates of Appreciation.

Oliver Kenny, Gabriel

Wilmen–Kelly and Hamish

Madden pictured with their

prizes after their names

were drawn from the

Positive Behaviour Awards

on Monday morning.

Sophia Wann and Gabbi

Gaspari pictured with the 5/6

Tables trophy

Ben Berry and Imogen

Fawcett with samples of

their Library writing

GOING OR STAYING

We know that many families will be leaving at the end of the year to take up postings elsewhere. It

is very important that the school is notified as early as possible of impending departures. Please

let us know ASAP if you know that you are leaving Puckapunyal

This helps the school to prepare for 2013. Our staffing appointments are based on the number of

children enrolled at Puckapunyal PS and it makes our planning for 2013 much easier if we have a

reasonably accurate knowledge of those who are leaving or staying. If you are aware of your plans

for next year or as soon as you know, could you please indicate on the slip below whether your

children will/will not be attending Puckapunyal PS next year and return the slip to school.

2013 Family Name

_________________________________

Given Names of children

_________________________________ _________________________________

_________________________________ _________________________________

Circle and complete one section below

a. The above mentioned children will attend Puckapunyal PS in 2013

b. Our family is moving to ________________________(destination). Their last day of

school will be …………../………../…………

c. It is uncertain as to where we will be in 2013.

PHOTOGRAPHS FOR

OUR WEBSITE Do you have any photographs in your collection at

home which capture the essence of Puckapunyal

and/or Puckapunyal PS?

We are looking for photographs which might be

suitable to include on our new web page. If you

have a photograph that you think may be suitable,

could you email it to the school

puckapunyal.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au as soon as

possible. Scenic foggy and frosty photos are

acceptable!

School Council is working with “the sponsor-ed

group” to develop a new website for our school.