Snapshot - Home - Rose Park Primary School
Transcript of Snapshot - Home - Rose Park Primary School
Snapshot Week 5 Term 4
Friday 13 November 2020
Remembrance Day 2020
On Wednesday morning, students and staff
commemorated Remembrance Day. A special thank you
to Peter Young for performing The Last Post.
Principal’s Letter - Remembrance Day
At the Remembrance Service on Wednesday, I shared some
stories of three local schools with our students. It has been
my privilege to have led these schools and to come to learn their historic connections. I
acknowledge Kerrie Davies and the Rose Park Old Scholars and Denise Schumann (local
historian) for their detailed documentation of Rose Park and Norwood through the ages.
When WW1 broke out, local troops were sent to Gallipoli and then the Somme. Pte Victor
Allen Opie, an old scholar of Norwood Primary, was amongst many who fought and died at
Anzac Cove. The impact of WW1 on the Norwood community was significant and the Head
Master Joseph Kennedy decided to build a memorial in the school grounds. The Memorial
was paid for by school children and their families and was built inside the school, not on
public land. To our knowledge, it is the only memorial built by children in South Australia.
‘I went to Norwood School with my sister and brothers. The children built the Soldier’s
Memorial with their own hands and I laid several bricks for a penny each. We climbed up a
ladder and laid them’ - Recollections of Amy Woodroofe, Norwood Public School)
If you do walk past Norwood, take a look at the white memorial on the corner of Osmond
Terrace/Beulah Road. If you look at the school playground nearby, you will see a second
sculpture that was placed in the grounds as part of the 140th birthday celebrations. Look
closely and you will see old pennies – each one placed by a Norwood student at the time to
mirror the original memorial.
Week 6
Crossing Monitors
AM
Morgan D-P
Elizabeth E
William G
PM
Wania W
Tara H
Sofia T
After WW1, RPPS had a Peace Celebration and 780 peace medals were distributed. On June
20, 1919 Colonel Stanley Price Weir unveiled the Rose Park Roll of Honour. Stanley had
attended Norwood School and was one of the few survivors of the Somme. When WW2 was
declared on Sept 1, 1939 there were more than a few challenges. At the time, childhood
diseases were a problem and the classrooms had to be disinfected to prevent the spread of
mumps, measles, diphtheria and scarlet fever. Not so unlike our situation at the moment!
Classes were overcrowded and rationing was strict. Petrol, butter, sugar, meat and fabric
were in short supply. The parents worked with volunteers from Burnside Council to dig trench
shelters in Alexandra Avenue, which were covered with corrugated iron and sand bags.
When the sirens sounded for air raids, people went into the trenches. Ruth, one of the
students at the time, remembers blacked out windows on the houses and everyone being
frightened. There were lots of American soldiers staying with local families, who rode
motorbikes issued by the Australian Army.
So many RPPS old scholars served during this war and lost their lives. People like Ellen Keats –
a nurse in Singapore and the East Indies (now Indonesia) who lost her life during WW2 and
many WW1 victims, including;
Pte Reginald & Pte Clarence Shepley – brothers, killed in France in 1917.
Pte Leslie Lehmann – killed in France in 1917.
Sergeant Roy Latta – killed in France in 1917.
Charles James – the first young man from Rose Park to enlist in WW1 – killed in the Battle
of the Somme.
In fact, there were a total of 13 Rose Park old scholars killed in France during WW1.
Highgate School is younger, opened in 1923. It missed the great losses of WW1, but has seen
other wars and has new connections with Norwood and Rose Park on Remembrance Day
this year. Firstly, we have Opie House standing on the corner of the grounds. Perhaps the
same Pte Victor Allen Opie, or at least a family member. Secondly, there is a bilingual/
binational French program and many of the students come from France, or have family
there. Given the numbers of local soldiers who lost their lives during the battle of the Somme,
it is fitting that we reflect on these connections and remember together.
Two flowers symbolise Remembrance Day at Highgate; the poppy that we are familiar with,
which continued to grow amongst the graves in Flanders Fields and was recorded in poetry
by physician Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae -
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
We also wear the cornflower, which continued to grow in land devastated by thousands of
artillery shells. These flowers were often the only visible evidence of life, and the only sign of
color in the mud of the trenches. It also refers to the ‘bleuets’ – a term used to refer to the
youngest French soldiers who wore a blue uniform.
Wednesday was a time to remember and thank everyone who has given their life during
times of war - many who died far from their homelands. Our connections across the world
are recorded in our history books, but remain very much alive today as we move forward in
peace.
Nicola Brelsford
Helmet reminder!
A parent has reported a near miss on Cudmore Avenue this week, when an RPPS student on
a bike rode out in front of the vehicle, without a helmet. All students on bikes or scooters
should wear a helmet at all times, as well as checking for traffic when crossing roads.
Pupil Free Day
Don’t forget that Monday 23 November is a pupil free day. If your child will require OSHC on
the day, please contact Billy Newman-Graves on 0437 132 522.
Bookings need to be made in advance, closing date for bookings is 6pm Wednesday 18
November. Bookings are open for all families who are currently enrolled in the service.
Science Update Term 4
In Science this term, classes have been busy working on their
Units of Inquiry to complete mini portfolios that demonstrate the
following attributes: Inquirer, Communicator and
Knowledgeable.
Students are finding new ways to
use the i r inqu i ry sk i l l s by
demonstrating their understandings
in different formats by creating a
lapbook that is centred around the
‘Central Idea’.
All students are working in the area
of “Earth and Space Science”
which includes topics around
weather , ch an ges , n atu ra l
resources, space, and natural phenomena.
Here are some students from Room 3 putting together their final
product, ready for display.
Kellie Mensforth
Parents & Friends
Fundraising Update - our fundraising focus is to purchase more Soundfield systems. These
systems allow even the smallest voice to be heard. Ask your children about their experience
with them! Staff currently using Soundfield systems speak very positively about the benefits
and are keen for all students to have access to them.
We’re also raising funds to purchase a new PA system for use in the school hall. Unfortunately,
Government funding doesn't cover this type of equipment, so it's up to us as a school
community, and we are grateful for your support. Thank you for your feedback in the recent
survey. P&F funds will be spent in accordance with the community's expectations and that
we are running the fundraising events that you want.
Cake Stall Update - Feedback from the recent P&F survey has indicated that while the cake
stall was great from a fundraising point of view, it is generally viewed less favourably by
parents. As a result, we will cease to hold the cake stall in lieu of a donation. We are asking
for the amount that you would usually have spent on cake stall ingredients/purchases over
the course of this year. Please donate to P&F via Qkr! - you will find “Virtual Cake Stall” listed
in the donations tab of the Qkr! app. We have plenty of new fundraising ideas to replace
the cake stall next year so stay tuned!
Virtual Garage Sale - The RPPS Sustainability Group and P&F are running a Virtual Garage
Sale to raise funds for the school in November and coinciding with the Garage Sale Trail. Post
items to donate on the Rose Park Primary School Sustainability Group (Facebook). Rather
than being paid for the item, “buyers” can make a donation to the school via Qkr!, and
show evidence of the donation to the “seller” (eg a screenshot, or making the donation at
the time of collection) and arrange contact-free collection via direct messaging. “Sellers”
can either post a suggested donation amount or ask the “buyer” to make an offer.
We’re hoping this will provide an opportunity for people to find new homes for unwanted
items such as bikes that their kids have outgrown and encourage people to reduce-reuse-
recycle. An added bonus will be to raise some much-needed funds for the school. The Virtual
Garage Sale will be run independently of the school and aims to be covid-safe and contact-
free.
Venues wanted! - P&F are looking to organise some fabulous Parent Nights Out in 2021
(COVID pending of course!) We are looking for venues that have a capacity of 100+ people.
We would love to support our local community so get in touch with us
IBPYP Update - Year 3
In Term 4, Year 3 classes have been inquiring into how Peoples’ Behaviour Changes a
Community Over Time. We have been exploring ways that history is recorded, how culture is
celebrated in the community and how Indigenous people are connected to country and
place. We went to Morialta Conservation Park to learn from Trent Hill about how Indigenous
people lived and used the land to survive. We also went for a local walk on Remembrance
Day to learn how history has been recorded in our local community.
Governing Council Update - 13 Nov 2020
I am pleased to announce that following our AGM on 2 November, the vacant positions on
Governing Council were filled – we had five nominations for the five positions. My report to
the AGM is available on the school website. The parent Councillors, and office bearer
positions, are as follows:
Myself, Victoria Wallis-Smith – Chair
Nick Palousis – Deputy
Todd Ballinger – Treasurer (& Chair of Finance Advisory Committee)
Kirsty Stewart – Secretary
Emma Fletcher – Chair Education Sub-Committee
Anthony Alexopoulos – Chair Sports Committee
Dev Kumaria – Chair OSHC Committee
Michelle Morris
Reza Bradrania
The GC parents have children across every year level so I’m sure many of you will know us
already. But if not, we have included a short-bio and photo on the school website – our new
Councillors will be added in the coming days.
I’d also like to acknowledge Vanessa Carne-Cavagnaro, Tim McPhee and Kristian Maynard,
who completed their time with Governing Council this year – thank you for your work and
support.
The function of Governing Council is, at times, behind the scenes and while we endeavour to
action our ‘to-do’ list, I think it’s important to recognise that we are volunteers – with work,
family and personal commitments to juggle. We always seek feedback and welcome
suggestions from the parent/carer community – if you have anything you want to ask, any
questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with any one of us, either directly
or via the Governing Council email [email protected]
A key issue for the school is, of course, appointing a new Principal.
I want to assure the community that Governing Council has been closely involved in the
process. I was selected by Governing Council to be part of the merit selection panel. The
other members of the panel are the Education Director, a Peer Principal and the school’s
AEU Rep. I view my role on the panel as both a responsibility and privilege, and want to
assure everyone in the RPPS community that I will represent you to the very best of my
abilities.
The end of the school year is fast approaching – and what a year it has been. Here’s looking
to an exciting new chapter in 2021!
Victoria Wallis-Smith
Toilet Twinning Project – End of term 4 2020
After several weeks of ‘toilet’ issues including graffiti and vandalism, we are hoping to turn
things around by getting involved in the Toilet Twinning Project:
https://www.toilettwinning.org/
Rather than wasting valuable time and money on managing this problem, we hope to have
4 weeks of problem-free, respectful use of our facilities. If we can achieve this, we will ‘twin’
our toilets with one in a community far less privileged than ours.
You may like to discuss this with your child – the following facts are quite confronting.
2 billion people don’t have somewhere safe and hygienic to go to the toilet. (WHO/Unicef).
Almost 1,000 children die every day from preventable diseases linked to dirty water and unsafe toilets. (UN)
663 million people live without safe water. (Unicef)
Children worldwide miss 443 million school days each year because of dirty water and poor sanitation. (UN)
Sports Day - SRC Fundraiser
Icy poles will be available on Sports Day, to raise money for yard games. Please remember that parents and carers will not be attending Sports Day this year due to COVID-19 restrictions. We’ll include lots of pictures in the snapshot next week!