P.O Box 82 Timboon 3268

Telephone: (03)5598 3381 Fax: (03)5598 3507

Email: timboon.p12@edumail.vic.gov.au

Website: http://www.timboonp12.vic.edu.au School Council President: Chris Hibburt

School Captains: Ahliya Harris, Rebecca Vogels, Darcy Tribe, Kate Jones and James Stevens

TSPA President: Charlene Payne

Newsletter Date: Thursday 15

th December, 2016

Edition: 16:38

Ho Ho Ho - What a 2016!

The End of the Year: This is the last newsletter for the year. I would like to wish all families a very Merry Christmas and a safe and successful New Year. We look forward to seeing you all in 2017. Thank you for your support over the course of the year and congratulations to all students on a very successful year. Tomorrow, Friday 16

th December is the final day of school.

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

All end of year reports will be distributed today. We do not mail out reports. Please collect them from the office if you unable to attend the Awards Ceremonies. This Friday will officially be a school clean-up day. Buses will run normal time on Friday. This means a 3:30pm finish for students. School composite structures in 2017: As you may be aware the following composite structures will be in place for 2017: Years P-1 and Years 5-6. To support your understanding of composite classroom structures I have compiled some evidence based information: Composite classrooms, in which children from two or more year levels are combined within one grade, have become common in many schools around the world. Often referred to in a variety of ways, including "multi-age", "multi-grade", "split-grade", "mixed-grade", "combined" or "non-graded" classrooms, they define classes in which students of varying ages, abilities, or interests might be grouped together. Composite classes are a practical response to the problem of uneven grade enrolments; for example, when there are too many students to form one "straight" grade but not enough to form two. Combining students in this way is often an expedient administrative solution that not only allows schools to ensure more consistent class sizes, but enables them to address gender balance issues within each class; more easily match teachers to student need; maximise school and teacher funding and resources; and cope with declining enrolments. While multi-grade classrooms are a practical necessity in rural and remote areas, they have become a common feature in many urban Australian schools, usually in response to variable grade-level enrolments. In Victoria, almost half of all state primary students are taught in composite grades, often combining year levels such as grades 5 and 6: reportedly, the most popular combination. Research, which has been predominantly conducted in primary schools, suggests there is no discernible difference between composite and straight grade classrooms in terms of academic performance. However, benefits relating to student independence, responsibility and study habits have been highlighted. For example, younger children within a composite grade generally aspire to emulate older children in their work, and older children enjoy leadership and mentoring opportunities that lift their self-esteem. Some say composite classrooms are more flexible; allow children to work at their own pace; offer a wider range of friendship opportunities; and encourage more co-operation and tolerance. Proponents of composite classrooms adhere to the theory that children should be taught "by stages, not ages", pointing out that in life, age stratification does not exist. Many acknowledge, however, that composite grades suit some students more than others and that positive outcomes are more dependent upon quality teaching than anything else. Book Lists: All book lists were sent out and were required to be returned to the general office by Friday the 2

nd December. If you

have not returned this booklist, you will need to return it to Warrnambool Books or order your items online. School return date: Students in Years Prep-11 will begin on Tuesday the 31

st January, 2017. Year 12 students will return on

Wednesday 1st

February, 2017. ICT servicing and connections - Upon returning to school in 2017, students will need to bring their electronic devices to school to be reconnected to the school network for a $20.00 service fee. The following servicing schedule will take place:

Wednesday 1st

February- Years 10-12

Thursday 2nd

February- Years 7-9

Friday 3rd

February- Years 5 and 6

Farewell to the following staff

Here is a brief history of Julie Broomhall’s career: Sent to Timboon Consolidated Schooling 1971 from Geelong Teachers’ College. The school had 1000 students on the primary campus that year (4 or 5 classes at each year level). Sent to Skipton then Camperdown in 1974 (to replace teachers on long service leave) Gained an advertised position at Timboon and continued through to 1982 – took seven years’ family leave. Returned to teaching in 1990 at Cobden Primary School Again gained advertised position at Timboon in 1993. Since then Julie has taught in every year level on the primary campus, often taking combined year levels. In many of those years, timetabling has allowed Julie the opportunity to teach on the secondary campus: Year 7 woodwork, Year 8 geography, Year 8 home group and English, Year 9/10 middle school English and Year 12 Australian History. Julie also took the opportunity to complete Reading Recovery training and taught Year 1 students in need for several years. Her literacy interest led Julie to train as a District West Australian First Steps Tutor, assisting staff in district schools. Julie served on School Council for several years, and her school leadership positions included P-12 Literacy Co-ordinator, P-12 Professional Development Co-ordinator, English KLA Leader, and 5-8 Sub-school Leader. What a long and decorated career – congratulations Julie!

Here is a brief history of Denis Horne’s career. Started teaching French and English in 1971 at Blacktown, a tough suburb in far western Sydney. Denis also taught at Griffith and West Wyalong in NSW, Frankston and Camperdown before coming to Timboon. He started at Timboon in January 1997, so when he officially retires next month, Denis will have been at Timboon exactly 20 years – still just a short stint compared to other long serving Timboon teachers, but the longest he has served in one school. Before coming to Timboon Denis studied two years of Japanese with New England University and continued to study a further two years with Monash while teaching. Denis had the great opportunity to study in Japan for over three months with Monash and with the Japan Foundation. Denis was sport coordinator for about 10 years and especially enjoyed organising athletics and swimming carnivals. He started the school’s first VCE LOTE class in 1999 with nine students, including present teacher Dean Whitehead. He led the first of

eight study trips to Japan in 2001. Altogether he has travelled with over 70 Timboon students to Japan. Denis established a sister school relationship with Kansai Soka K-12 School in Osaka in 2001, a link that still continues, and facilitated four exchanges with Minabe High School in Wakayama. Denis finally made it to the top of Mount Fuji in 2013, despite having nearly cutting off his leg with a chainsaw the year before. What a long and decorated career – congratulations Denis! Bridget Flynn and Ian Clarke will be completing their teaching time at Timboon P12 School in 2016. Bridget has been teaching in the P-6 Campus for the past 4 years. Ian has been teaching and providing educational support and teaching in the 7-12 campus over the past three years. I would like to thank them for their contributions over the years and we wish them the very best for the future. Pennie Maxwell will be on family leave for 2017 and we look forward to her return in 2018. Some great activities and excursions have taken place over the last week including the Year 5 Peterborough Bike Ride (pictured below) and the Year 7-12 Warrnambool activity (pictured below).

A reminder that Lowes have all your school uniform requirements.

The school’s web page address is: http://www.timboonp12.vic.edu.au/. Key dates, policies etc. will available on the web page or through Compass.

And remember: Have a safe and Merry Christmas! SEAN FITZPATRICK PRINCIPAL

Awesome agricultural authors Inspired after their Skype session with “George the Farmer” author, Simone Kain, the Year 3 students were challenged to create their own farm stories as part of their studies on author’s intent and creating a narrative. Part of their research included researching information on the type of farm they were portraying and was followed by numerous drafts and edits as Simone had advised. Students then published pop-up books or ebooks which were shared with the Year Prep/1 classes as part of buddy reading in their literacy block. A diverse range of farms was represented, including orchards, dairies, bees, chickens, horses, cropping, fish and pigs with an intriguing collection of titles such as “You gotta be kidding me”, “The naughty chicken”, “Missing pigs”, “Incoming croc”, “Apple accident” and “Chicken trouble”.

SECOND-HAND UNIFORM SALE The next second-hand uniform sale will be held on

24th

January 2017 (10am – 12pm in the SEU building)

For enquiries, please call Susan: 5598 3358

CANTEEN NEWS

We welcome Canteen Volunteers for 2017.

Could all existing and new volunteers complete /update their details on the form in this newsletter

and return to the canteen. Thankyou

CANTEEN ROSTER 2017

WEEK 1 TERM 1 Mon 30

th

Tues 31st

Kim Smith Wed 1

st

Thurs 2nd

Sue Trotter Fri 3

rd Bronwyn Lenehan

12:00 – 2:00pm WEEK 2 (6

th – 10

th February)

Mon 6th

Joy Morden Tues 7

th Beth Roberts

Wed 8th

Julie Gass Thurs 9

th Naomi Lewis

Fri 10th

Yvonne Russell 12:00 – 2:00pm Anne Rosolin WEEK 3 (13

th – 17

th February)

Mon 13th

Tues 14

th Kylie Treble

Wed 15th

Susan Van Rijthoven Thurs 16

th Wendy Maskell Emily McKenzie

Fri 17th

Christie Berry Prue Cashmore 12:00 – 2:00pm WEEK 4 (20

th – 24

th February)

Mon 20th

Tues 21

st Christine Flecken

Wed 22nd

Melinda Drysdale Thurs 23

rd Rebecca McAuliffe

Fri 24th

Tanya Delaney 12:00 – 2:00pm Monique Fitzpatrick If anyone can volunteer in the blank time slots above it would be appreciated.

EQUESTRIAN NEWS

Interschool Dressage Our team of Louis Janssen, Holly Cardwell and Zoe Greenslade competed at Terang last Friday against 20 schools. Congratulations to Louis and his horse Comanche for placing 6

th

in a very strong field.

Library Christmas/New Year hours

The library will operate for its usual hours until Tuesday 20th

December.

Wednesday 21st

December: 1.00 – 4 .00 pm School holiday

hours begin

Friday 23rd

December: 1.00 – 4.00

Saturday 24th

December: 10.00 – 12.00

The library will then close for Christmas/New Year and resume

on Wednesday, January 4th

, operating in school holiday hours.

Port Campbell Christmas Tree will held on Friday December

16th at the REC RESERVE

CANTEEN

VOLUNTARY HELP

We are always desperate for canteen helpers. If you can assist once or twice a term, or even more, please let us know. Could all new and existing volunteers, please complete this form so we can update our records. I would like to assist in the School Canteen in 2017 Name: ___________________________________________ Child’s Name: ___________________________________________ Telephone: ___________________________________________ Signed: ___________________________________________ Date: __________________

(Preferred Days)____________________________________ Or any particular day __________ __ By how times per term 1 2 3 4 5