Term 1 Week 4 2017

Principal: Russel Cowan 1 Dicker St, Gordon, 3345

Ph: 5368 9223 Fax: 5368 9451

Email: gordon.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au www.gordonps.vic.edu.au

February 22nd

From the Principal’s Desk…. RESPONSIBILITY

Your friend’s child puts their seatbelt on without assistance, your relative has a toddler that puts their bottle and dishes in the sink without a reminder. Where did all of these responsible children come from?

At Gordon PS one of our values is Responsibility. We endeavor to play our part to assist students in becoming respectful citizens who make responsible choices. Responsibility is developed from a young age and is much more than just completing a task. It's also about an attitude, the idea of taking action and being proud of doing it, not just always having your family members or teachers do it for you.

Raising helpful, good kids who know how to do things for themselves can be achieved. Here are a few tips to assist those who are interested:

Start Young You can't suddenly spring responsibility on a teenager and expect he/she will know how to follow through. Imagine your high school daughter calling you at work with the complaint: "Mum I'm hungry. When are you coming home?" You say: “Make a sandwich!” She replies: "I'll just wait for you." Handing out responsibility to kids needs to start early. Think: toddler.

Let Them Help You Don't grumble and mope when it's time to do housework. Smile and invite your child to help (even if he makes the job take longer).

Show Kids the Way If your child wants a snack, show them where the apples are and how to wash one off. Place a hamper in their room for dirty

washing. Make responsibilities age-appropriate and even use the word "responsibility”.

Model Responsibility Use the same inclusive "we" phrases over and over to show how you can easily solve problems. “Now, we place our dirty dishes in the sink”.

Praise Them Kids love to help. They want to help. To them, chores don't feel like work. Keep up positive vibes by offering specific praises for actions. "You put your bike away so beautifully" or, "Thank you for emptying the dishwasher!"

Manage Your Expectations When you ask a five-year-old to make their bed, it may not be to Mum’s high standards. Don't complain. Recognize a job well done.

Avoid Rewards Praise is the award for a responsible task. Save rewards for tasks that go above and beyond what you expect to be your child's normal household responsibilities.

Provide Structure and Routine Kids thrive on order. Instead of offering rewards to get them to meet responsibilities, set up a routine with a positive end result. An example might be… brush teeth, eat breakfast and get dressed before watching TV. (Notice TV is not being offered as a reward -- it's just the result of finishing the routine.)

Teach Consequences If your child refuses to do their homework, tell them it’s their choice, but there will be consequences at school and home. Parents are often afraid to let their children be pun-ished, but it is important that children be able to sort out their own problems as it develops

Res

pec

t

Res

ilie

nce

R

esp

on

sib

ilit

y

R

esp

ect

R

esil

ien

ce

Res

po

nsi

bil

ity

Res

pec

t

Res

ilie

nce

R

esp

on

sib

ilit

y

Res

pec

t

Res

ilie

nce

R

esp

on

sib

ilit

y

Term 1 Week 4 2017

responsibility, this includes handling the consequences of their actions.

Your child packs their bag for school each day and forgets their art project due that day. As a parent you really want to bring it in for them, but don’t. Hopefully they will remember them next time.

Office Area

Please note that the administration area of the school has confidential information in it. For this reason parents and visitors to the school are not permitted in the area unless invited through by staff. I understand that there are times where the office is unattended, however, when this is the case I ask that you find a staff member to assist.

Swimming

Notes were sent home last week regarding the swimming competitions in the next two weeks. Good luck to all those having a go.

Tennis

Well done to those students who competed in the schools tennis tournament last week. They demonstrated our school values at all times representing our school very well. Thankyou to Ms Lulu and the numerous parents for their assistance throughout the event.

Working With Children’s

Child safety is of the highest priority at Gordon PS. Thankyou to all those parents who have supplied us with their working with children’s card. Parents on this register will also be asked to sign our Child Safety Code of Conduct. Please note that you are not allowed to volunteer in the school without being on the WWC register or signing the Code of Conduct.

Curriculum Day

Please note Tuesday 14th March is a Student Free Day. Staff will be at the Annual MCG conference working with numeracy expert Michael Ymer and Western Bulldogs Chris Maple. Please contact club 1878 if you require care for your child on this day.

Zumba

Mondays 9:30—10:15am in Gordon. $10 per class. Please call Emma on 0438 077 154 for more info. infmation .

Ballan Autumn Festival

This is a great event and notes have gone home outlining what we are doing this year. Please let your teacher know if your child will be attending.

Meet the Teacher

Next Tuesday from 3:30 – 5:30pm is a whole school community get together. There will be a BBQ ($1 for a snag and $1 for a drink) and parents are more than welcome to bring a picnic. This is a great opportunity for our community to get together with the added opportunity to listen to your child’s classroom teacher give a brief presentation, outlining requirements and expectations for 2017.

Presentation Times

Prep – Ms Irvin will be available for any questions (info night took place last year)

Grade 0ne 4:00pm

Grade Two 4:20pm

Grade Three 4:40pm

Grades Four, Five and Six 5:00pm

CSEF

The Camps, Sports and Excursions fund (CSEF) is a

payment of $125 per year towards these expenses

for the benefit of eligible students. If you are a

health care card or pensioner concession card

holder and you would like to apply for CSEF please

see the office for an application form.

Conveyance Allowance

The conveyance allowance is a form of financial assistance to help families in regional Victoria with the cost of transporting their children to their nearest appropriate school. If you live more than 4.8km from the school and we are the closest Government school to your residence you may be eligible. Please see the office for more information.

Happy Birthday

We would like to wish Happy Birthday to Ruby J

and Timothy M and to any members of our

community who are celebrating their special day.

Have a great weekend,

Russel Cowan

Principal

Term 1 Week 4 2017

All dates were correct at the time of going to print however they may be subject to change.

February 2017 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16

17 18 19

20

21 22

23 24

Comedian

25 26

27 28

Meet the

Teacher BBQ

March 2017 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

1 2 3

SSV Swimming

4 5

6

Assembly

7 8

Midlands

Swimming

9

10 11 12

13

Labour Day

14

Curriculum

Day

SSV Basketball

15 16 17 18

Gordon Market

Day

19

Ballan Autumn

Festival

20

Assembly

21 22 23 24 25 26

27

Swimming

28

Swimming

29

Swimming

30

Swimming

31

Swimming

Last Day Term

1

Term 1 Week 4 2017

Students of the Week

Prep Foundation Perry M and Lola C

Grade One Olivia T and Josh R

Grade Two Kael S

Grade Three Lilly T

Grade Four/Five Ryan T and Alannah F

Grade Five/Six Daniel C and Chloe T

Indonesian Student Matilda K

100 Words Award Sophie M and Lily G

Term 1 Week 4 2017

Grade One students planting seeds as

part of the “Lifecycle” unit of study

Term 1 Week 4 2017

Term 1 Week 4 2017

Term 1 Week 4 2017

Term 1 Week 4 2017

Term 1 Week 4 2017

Term 1 Week 4 2017