Burwood Heights Primary School’s goal is to educate the whole child. Our students will be at the heart of

everything we do.

NEWSLETTER NO.38 THURSDAY 1ST DECEMBER, 2016

WEBSITE ADDRESS is burwoodhps.vic.edu.au/

FROM THE PRINCIPAL … Esther Wood.

FRIDAY 2ND DECEMBER CURRICULUM DAY

TUESDAY 6TH DECEMBER YEAR SEVEN ORIENTATION

WEDNESDAY 7TH DECEMBER DANCE AND GLEE CONCERT

WEDNESDAY 14TH DECEMBER YEAR SIX GRADUATION

FRIDAY 16TH DECEMBER REPORTS TO PARENTS

REAL LIFE ADVENTURES

TUESDAY 20TH DECEMBER END OF SCHOOL YEAR

1.30PM DISMISSAL

THE ROTARY AWARD 2016

It is with great pleasure I announce that Lachlan

Baensch was presented with the Rotary Youth

Achievement Award by the Rotary Club of Forest

Hill.

Lachlan has achieved much success in his academic

studies and always applies himself enthusiastically

to the task at hand.

Lachlan has excellent leadership qualities and has

held the position of School Captain this year. He

has reliably, conscientiously and responsibly carried

out this role.

Lachlan is a wonderful role model for all members

of the school community. His interpersonal skills

are of a high level and he shows care and

consideration towards others at all times.

Lachlan is an active and valued member of the

school community. He is an integral member of the

Community Partnership Programme with Strathdon

Nursing Home, where he has positively interacted

with the community and entertained them by

playing music on the ukulele.

On behalf of the school community I extend my

sincere congratulations to Lachlan. Well done!

ANNOUNCEMENT OF 2017 SCHOOL

LEADERS

On Monday 28th November it was Election Day”,

where students in Year Five presented speeches

outlining the reason why they would make very

good leaders in 2017. Students from Years Three to

Five cast their vote. The class representatives for

the Student Representative Council will be elected

in early February 2017.

The students are all to be congratulated on their

presentations. All were of an extremely high

standard. School Leaders for 2017 will be

announced at assembly, Friday 9th December,

2016.

ASSEMBLY WILL COMMENCE AT 2.30PM

THIS WEEK

Our FINAL assembly for the 2016 school year will

be held on Friday 16th December, commencing at

2.30pm.

TOMORROW CURRICULUM DAY – 2ND DECEMBER

This is a student-free day. Staff will be preparing

for 2017 and finalising all the necessary

documentation and records for 2016.

SCHOOL CONCERT

On Tuesday night all our students performed for

their parents and friends. What a wonderful night it

was as students danced and sang with obvious

enthusiasm to some toe-tapping well known music.

The students’ outfits of red, green and white really

signalled the upcoming Christmas festive season.

There was something for everyone and the “fair-

like” environment created an atmosphere of fun and

happiness, where soaps, scented candles, sausages,

decorated cup-cakes, plants and more could be

purchased…and lots of entertainment on the

volleyball court and basketball court.

Thank you to all the “helpers” and those who

provided stalls. Special appreciation to Mrs

Whiteoak for her once-again special choreography

and teaching of dance, Ms Crystal for leading the

choir and to all the staff who organised and lead

classroom rehearsals.

It was indeed a fitting conclusion to a wonderful

school year by celebrating with a School Class

Concert evening.

CYBERBULLYING

Cyberbullying has been one of the key concerns for

all educators in 2016.

In April 2016 it was reported that fifty students

suspended from a High School over a cyber-

bullying incident. That was just one of many

cyberbullying incidents reported by mainstream

media in 2016, indicating that the proliferation of

social media as a tool by which bullies strike their

victims has become a significant problem for school

leaders.

The issue of cyberbullying includes relatively new

forms of bullying including sexting and revenge

posting.

Cyberbullying impacts everyone and can be

considered a criminal offence. The offence is

considered cyberbullying when it involves:

Using the Internet or a phone in a harassing,

threatening, or offensive manner: If these

devices are used to spread messages or posts

which have the potential to be viewed as

offensive and can cause anger, outrage,

disgust or humiliation, the penalty can be up

to three years in jail.

Threats or intimidation: Trying to

intentionally frighten someone by using any

mobile devices, emails, or online posts is

considered a criminal offence. The penalty

for threatening to kill someone can be up to

ten years in jail. If the threat is based on an

individual’s race, transgender identity or

sexual orientation, the bully may be penalised

for up to six months in jail.

Bullying and cyberbullying are not always separate

crimes – in most jurisdictions, however, the acts can

be prosecuted via:

Assault

Defamation

Extortion

Harassment

Indecent conduct

Stalking

In Australia, anyone above the age of fourteen can

be held criminally responsible. Under criminal law

the offender must be deemed capable of being

responsible for their own actions. This means that

young offenders under ten years of age will not be

accountable for their bullying while others between

ten and fourteen years of age will only be held

answerable where it can be proved beyond

reasonable doubt that they knew that they should

not have done what they did.

There is a spate of existing and pending state laws,

including Victoria’s ‘Brodie’s Law’, which was

introduced in 2011 following the tragic suicide of a

young woman, Brodie Panlock, who was subjected

to relentless bullying in her workplace.

Please be alert to what your children are doing

at home on social media.

URGENT!

LOST PROPERTY

END OF YEAR IS FAST APPROACHING

LAST CHANCE TO CLAIM

It is really incredible to see so many unnamed items

of school uniform and the ever increasing number

of unclaimed articles of clothing. I ask parents to

please check in the Lost Property tubs if they are

missing any school uniform garments.

Please check the name on your school jackets in

case you have accidently picked up the wrong one.

EXCEL MUSIC OPEN LESSON DAY

On Monday 12th December EXCEL MUSIC will be

hosting an Open Lesson Day. Parents will have the

opportunity to attend their child’s lesson and

observe the progress that has been achieved during

the course of the year. It also enables students to

perform for an audience which is very important for

their musical development and personal growth.

PAYMENT OF REQUISITES

EARLY PAYMENT

Once again, as an incentive for early payment, we

are offering a ticket in a draw for one student’s

contribution to be free. This draw will take place on

Friday 16th December, 2016.

Summer Fun Day!

On Monday 5th December, the SRC will be

hosting Summer Fun Day. All funds raised

on Summer Fun Day will go to the State

Schools’ Relief.

Students are encouraged to come to

school in a summer inspired outfit and gold

coin donations are welcome.

The SRC will also be selling icy-poles on the

deck outside the Library to raise additional

funds for the State Schools’ Relief.

We look forward to seeing all of your

creative outfits!

PLANT RAFFLE WINNERS

Congratulations to ……….

1st Prize : Steff Sims

2nd Prize : Cowie family

3rd Prize : Rachael Rose Luo

Prizes can be collected from the Art Room or sent

home with students.

CANTEEN

Canteen lunch orders will be available till the 15th

December. After this date there will be no lunch

orders available.

Spotlight On…..

1/2E

Come and see 1/2E’s wonderful work

located on the library noticeboard,

near the door that exits to the decking