Dates to Remember

14th December Reading Improvement Party

4th – 15th December Junior School Swimming

16th December Carols on the Mountain

(Choir Students)

18th December Grade 5/6 Excursion to Luna Park

20th December Foundation – Grade 1/2 Parties

20th December Grade 5/6 Sushi Cooking

20th December Grade 3/4 Excursion

to Ferny Creek Reserve

20th December Grade 6 Graduation

21st December Last day of term

early 1.30pm finish

Wednesday 31st Jan 2018

Return to School

NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS Deadline by Wednesday 1pm

Email - ferny.creek.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au

If you would like to receive the Newsletter every week via email then

go to the website to subscribe to online newsletter.

PRINCIPALS BLOG

STUDENTS RETURN TO SCHOOL ON WEDNESDAY 31ST JANUARY 2018

Dear Parents and Friends,

Thanks so much to Cheryl for stepping in, in these last two weeks, to the

Principal role. I am still around, but as the FlexiBuzz notice sent last Friday

stated, I will be on part leave over these final two weeks. This means I will

be in and out of school and working from home. I am undergoing some tests

that I need to be rested for. The tests are not life threatening, just time

consuming.

Christmas Concert

Another beautiful evening saw another wonderful Ferny Creek Christmas

Concert. The children again lived up to our expectations. Personally I love

the change to more of a picnic on the grass event. The last two years have

been very community centred – relaxed, catching up with friends, reflecting

on the year that was, etc. Thank you to the team of organisers. A special

thank you to Melody. After our term 3 production, Melody only had a few

lessons (with swimming, etc.) to have our concert organised. Well-done

Melody. Thanks to Dean also for the pre-show entertainment with our two

bands. Thanks to the teachers for setting up and allowing any extra practices,

etc. when necessary.

Fantastic News or Sad News or Both?

I have the pleasure in letting our community know that Anna Moulday has

taken up an offer at Regency Park PS. It is so sad to be losing Anna. She

has been a fantastic teacher, community member and staff member since

joining us five years ago. It is important that teachers take the chance to

move to different teaching environments whenever possible. Anna will

become an even better teacher in our State system as she experiences life in

a quite different school than ours.

Of course, this means a change to our staffing structure previously noted in

earlier newsletters. I have great pleasure in announcing that Lisa Seymour

will become the Year 1/2 teacher to replace Anna. Lisa has, through 2017,

been teaching with Cheryl in Year 3/4 area. As Cheryl is also moving to the

1/2 area, Lisa and Cheryl can continue their wonderful working partnership

they’ve developed over this year. This change means we will advertise for a

new teacher to share 3/4 with Jodie in 2018. In the meantime Kristy has

volunteered to work the two days with Jodie until the position is filled. Kristy

has already worked with Jodie, in 2016, and, teaching Art this year she knows

all our students.

Newsletter

Thursday 14th December 2017 TOGETHER WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Our Year 6 Graduation

Congratulations to our graduating Year 6 students. Next Wednesday is

your big event! This year we are again holding this wonderful evening at the

Sky High Restaurant. We are still asking that littlies not be included as we

want the focus to be on the graduand and we want to keep the event a little

mysterious for them when they reach Year 6.

Final Assembly

On Thursday 21st, we are holding, to me, the most important assembly for

the year. It is our final special assembly for our Year 6 students, and we also

announce our 2018 School Captains. On this day our Year 6 students also

farewell their Year 1 buddies, the School Captains present their farewell

speech and they all perform their graduation song (from the night before). It

is also the time we announce our two Students of the Year awards. We are

continuing with the ‘tradition’ begun ten years ago with the announcement of

Ferny Creek’s Student of the Year. Teachers have been asked to nominate

any students in their class that have been a positive contributor to the school

this year. They need not be gifted or talented, but can be. The only criteria I

look at, is if they have given 100% throughout the year, not only in class time

but also in all else the students have been involved in. The decision is always

difficult. There are some truly wonderful students here at Ferny Creek.

Family Farewells As is the case each year, many families are moving on from Ferny Creek. We hope you have had a wonderful time with us and we wish you all well in the future. Farewell to the Box, Krysko, McGregor, Payne, Smith (Jared & Hamish) Batemen, Harbourd, Jessop, Lalanne, Manello, Clarkson, Coleman, Eames, May, Murray-Finlayson, Salvatore, Saxe, Roney, Wolstencroft, Smith (Amelie, Finn & Miles) families.

Quicksmart Success

Congratulations to all our Quicksmart Maths graduates of 2017. It has been

very exciting over this term to see so many of you successfully complete the

program. Many students have been cramming in extra sessions in their own

time to achieve 100% success. Well-done and thank you Tracey and Beth for

your work in Quicksmart this year!

Holidays at Ferny Creek

Can I again encourage all of you to use our grounds as much as possible over

the holiday period? The more people we have ‘using’ our school the less

chance there is of vandal damage or stealing of building supplies. If you do

see anything suspicious can I ask that you ring the Belgrave Police straight

away. I have notified them that there will be a lot happening at the school

and they have agreed to some extra patrols.

The Final Countdown 15th December, Friday: Junior Swimming concludes 18th December, Monday: Year 5 and 6 excursion to Luna Park 18th December, Monday: December School Council Dinner meeting 19th December, Tuesday: Reports and portfolios home 20th December, Wednesday: Year 3 and 4 Excursion to FC Reserve 20th December, Wednesday: Year 6 Graduation 21st December, Thursday: Last day for students, 1.30 dismissal 22nd December, Friday: Staff only

Have a wonderful final week of 2017 school life at Ferny Creek. See

you all next year.

Matthew and Cheryl

Phone: 9755 1522

Fax: 9755 2493 School Road, Ferny Creek,

Victoria 3786

Web: www.fernycreekps.vic.edu.au

Email: ferny.creek.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au

Banking Details Account: Ferny Creek Primary School

Bank: CBA

BSB: 063 414

Account Number: 10022451

Office Hours Monday – Friday 8.30am - 4pm

Principal: Matthew Coyle

coyle.matthew.j@edumail.vic.gov.au

Business Manager: Jill Heathcote

ferny.creek.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au

School Council President: Liam Smith

Promotion & PR: Rhian Jessop

ferny.creek.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au

Education, Policy & Planning: Matthew Coyle

coyle.matthew.j@edumail.vic.gov.au

School Crossing: Diane Garsed

Uniform Shop: Monday 8:50 - 9:30am

Karra Rhodes

Library: Beth Byrne

Buildings & Grounds: Michael Paterson

mpaterson@probuild.com.au

School Banking: Tuesday

Kirrily Whatman

Costume Hire: Sarah Jennings

After the Bell: Head Office: 9758 6744

P.O. Box 7082 Ferntree Gully Vic 3156

Email: admin@afterthebell.com.au Website: www.afterthebell.com.au

School

Crossing

News A big thank you for your courtesy and patience around the crossing. By adhering to the speed limits and reverse parking we can keep everyone safe.

I take this opportunity to wish all a safe and happy Christmas and 2018.

I will be taking Long Service Leave the first 2 terms of the 2018 school year.

Cheers, Diane

Band Tour to Mount Dandenong PS

2017 Christmas Concert

Free Piano

to a good

home

Brand name “Thurmer” Steel frame Circa 1885 Ivory and Ebony keys Measurements 1400mm wide,

1210mm high, 570mm deep

Call Jim 0488 550 416

WANTED Buildings & Grounds

Committee requires

services of a Commercial

Builder for a permit for

walkway cover.

Contact Steve O’Connor

0416 059 306

Foundation

1/2 Anna

1/2 Brian

1/2 Lynda/Jodie

3/4 Cheryl/Lisa

3/4 Samantha

5/6 Adam

5/6 Coby/Kelly

5/6 Doug 5/6 Doug

Miles S: For always working hard, listening attentively, trying your best and for being such a lovely class member – we will miss you! Angus B: For a great two weeks of swimming. You’ve listened well and remained calm and focused back at school. Well done!

1/2A: For making this year the best ever! You are all kind, respectful, responsible and resilient learners. Congratulations on an outstanding year together. Georgina W: For being friendly and helpful with other students in the class. Archie K: For showing great artistic talent and patience in designing his reindeer zentangle. Senna R: For always being a kind and considerate friend to others. Evie O: For always giving her best in all she does at school. Maia K: For her enthusiasm towards her new role as a buddy and her creativity when making her place mat. Tom F: For becoming more focussed during independent reading and book club activities – keep it up Tom!! Eloise T: For being a great helper in the classroom and giving 100% to everything she does! Oliver K: For being an OUTSTANDING student, member of our grade and friend. We are all going to miss you! Please come back & visit. 3/4S: For learning how to work together, trying to achieve personal bests and making it a year I will never forget. Lucy N: For her wonderful Literature Circles Book Reflection on the novel Maze Runner. Your effort this semester has been OUTSTANDING Lucy!!! Well Done. Aria B: For the wonderful effort you are putting into your Christmas Thinkers Keys. It is great to have a student finishing off the year in such a motivated fashion!!! Well Done. Jordan R: For demonstrating a high level of sportsmanship and resilience during our class game on Tuesday afternoon. Giselle R: For incorporating a prop into her school captain speech, maintaining the interest of her audience. You referred back to the prop multiple times in your speech and tied everything together nicely. Well done. James C: For the music! Whether singing, playing keyboard or ukulele, James’ heartfelt serenades show that he definitely has the music in him. Charlie E: For creating a new benchmark with the quality of his Book Clubs project. A terrific effort Charlie!

Stars of the Week

Creative Artist Award

Emma H, Chanel S & Lilly MF

Grade 5/6

Performing Arts Student of the Week

Jida S

Grade 5/6D

日本語がんばった賞

Lachlan R

Grade 1/2A JAPA

NESE