Upcoming Events. In This Issue. Tuesday 20th December - Last day of Term 4. Strict 2.30pm Pickup. Term 4, Issue 41 Fri 16th Dec

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1 Term 4, Issue 41 Fri 16th Dec In This Issue Assistant Principal s Report Highlights of the Week Pg.2-5 Pg.6 Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program Report Pg.7 Community Development Pg.8 Camp Australia Holiday Program Pg Upcoming Events Mon 19th Dec Grade 6 Big Day Out School Council 6.30pm Tues 20th Dec End of Term pm Finish Tues 31st Jan First Day of Term am Start Fri 3rd Feb Prep Allocated Session for 1 Hour Mon 6th Feb Prep First Full Day Tuesday 20th December - Last day of Term 4. Strict 2.30pm Pickup Page 1 - Berwick Fields Primary School Newsle er

2 Assistant Principals Report When looking back on the achievements of Berwick Fields during 2016 I am drawn to the improvements that our students are making in their learning, par cularly in literacy and numeracy. Their growth is reflected in the teachers judgements when looking at the new Victorian Curriculum, and highlighted in each student s por olio. I would like to thank all the teaching staff on the thought, effort and care they have shown their students throughout 2016, enabling such posi ve growth in not only their academic achievements but also their social and emo onal development. Throughout the year, 35 of our classrooms have been supported by a mentor who has worked side by side with teachers, enabling further professional growth, par cularly in light of a new curriculum whilst also suppor ng the students with their learning. I would like to thank Janelle Kelly, Tania Johnson, Anita Green, Lisa Sargent, Tanya Whiteside and Leonie Wigney for the learning challenges and produc ve dialogue that they have engaged both staff and students in! This year we have worked hard to improve our curriculum planning and assessment processes, ensuring that we are designing learning experiences that are sequen al, connected and authen c whilst respec ng our school s Philosophy of Learning and the new Victorian Curriculum. We have collaborated to agree on our shared expecta ons and used these to inform our assessment strategies. Amy Coath (Essen al Learnings Leader) and Rachael Rydqvist (Assistant Principal) have played a very important role in leading this work in As you would be aware our school is based on the premise that we cannot get the best out of our students, in terms of their learning, unless we are also helping them with their health and wellbeing. This o en includes family needs as well and the demands placed on schools to solve society s problems. An enormous effort, emo onally, strategically and in me, is devoted by staff to this area and as a community we would be lost without them! Many thanks to, Kerrie Romey, Chantelle Pereira, Mandie Boelen Allison Jackson and Lara Schendzielorz, and our school chaplain, Trish, and first aide officers Jess Blangiardo, Sara Hunt and Kate Davies, for the genuine care and concern you show all members of our school community. With 2016 being our 10 th Anniversary we have enjoyed celebra ng the milestones and moments that have made Berwick Fields short history. Thank you to Suzy Gaymer, our Community Development leader for bringing together the community throughout the year to celebrate this significant achievement. I know Suzy has also been very grateful to the community members that have rallied around in the name of community spirit!! As you can see there are many, many people involved in trying to provide our students with the best learning environment possible. Two groups in par cular who provide excellent support to Mr Wigney and myself are members of School Council, led by Michelle Friend and our wonderful support staff, led by Business Manger, Sue Willoughby. A big thank you to Belinda Moore, Tracy McGavigan, Sara Hunt and Kate Davies. Page 2 - Berwick Fields Primary School Newsle er

3 I would like to acknowledge the valuable contribu on of quite a few staff who are leaving us on Tuesday. They have worked really hard while at Berwick Fields and have helped to build a safe, caring and produc ve work environments for students, staff and parents to enjoy. A big thank you to Donna Bartle, Kalina Brew and Emily Roberts who joined our team in 2015 and will be moving onto new schools in The same thanks is extended Diana Harold Reid and Colle e Griffiths who have taken up a variety of teaching roles during their me at Berwick Fields, offering great support to a number of students. I would also like to acknowledge the efforts of Sharon Anamalay and Darren Kirby who both started their career at Berwick Fields as Educa on Support Officers, went on to pursue a teaching degree and started their teaching careers with us. I would like to wish them both the very best as they take the next step in their professional journey at their new schools. In the Educa on Support area we are losing the services of four of our Educa on Support Officers, Lisa Bradbury, Leanne Humphreys, Michelle Leighton and Lisa Taylor. Thank you for all your work suppor ng students with special needs, along with their family s and our staff, over a number of years. All the best for the future and we hope you take with you fond memories of your me at Berwick Fields! I would like to extend another congratula ons to our Year 6 students on gradua ng to secondary school. You all looked great on Monday night! May your future be all you wish for and I look forward to hearing about your achievements over the coming years! This milestone also sees 43 families move on from Berwick Fields, as their youngest child graduates. I would like to say a par cularly thank you for helping to maintain our school s community spirit, even during its rapid growth. We hope you too stand proud of your associa on and contribu on to Berwick Fields and relish in what the future holds. I would like to acknowledge the contribu on that AJ, Ryan, Bethany, Tahlia, Takaya, Jaya, Callum, Charly, Brooke, Jude, Olivia, Taylor, Dexter, Seneth, Mimi & Chezz have made to Berwick Fields. We have appreciated your leadership, organisa on and role modelling. And to all our students well done on how you have gone about taking responsibility for your own learning throughout 2016 and demonstrated our school values when learning and playing together. Enjoy a well deserved break!! Finally I would like to express my personal thanks to everyone for your ongoing support in Mr Wigney s absence. Leading a school of Berwick Fields size does come with its challenges but I have been so apprecia ve of peoples willingness to accept the complexi es and trust in our decisions, always made with the students interests at the core. I have certainly learnt a lot during my me in this ac ng role and have been so apprecia ve of this opportunity, along with the trust that Stephen has put in me, as he took the necessary me to a end to his health. I would like to thank Stephen for his leadership, even during his me away from Berwick Fields as he was only ever a phone call away. I know he would like me to reassure you all that he is well and on the road to recovery, looking forward to a tradi onal Christmas with his family. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a safe New Year! I hope you enjoy a relaxing Christmas break so that you are ready and raring for 2017, remembering our first day back in January 31 st Regards, Amanda Ellaby Page 3 - Berwick Fields Primary School Newsle er

4 The following students were recognised for their individual efforts at the grade six gradua on on Monday night! We look forward to hearing about their journey at the 2017 gradua on ceremony! Physical Exper se Academic Excellence Environmental Leadership Community Spirit Exemplary Ac ons Innova ve Expression Zoe D 6B Atriya K Paige A 6C Keira M 6B Anja D 6C Olivia S 6B Cogni on Collabora on Communica on Connec on Crea vity Peer Nominated Diya B 6E Mitchell Ht 6D. Chezz C 6E Aidan A 6B Arsh K 6A Seneth I 6C Principal s Awards Rahul S 6D, Tahlia G6B, Hasini A 6E & Mila C 6C Page 4 - Berwick Fields Primary School Newsle er

5 Congratula ons to Danupa, Mitchel H, Keira M, Anja & Seneth for your community services through your 2016 Rotary projects. Well done to Thomas D for being awarded the SSV Academic and Spor ng Achievement medal! This is a huge achievement given that he was selected out of our school s district network. Woo hoo Raveen Abeysinghe & Ryan Allison for having the fastest Beep Score in What a huge effort! Thank you for Misha for represen ng the Junior School Council at assembly on Wednesday. Thank you to you and the Junior School Council on your leadership and work throughout Page 5 - Berwick Fields Primary School Newsle er

6 This weeks Highlights Page 6 - Berwick Fields Primary School Newsle er

7 2016 Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Report 2016 has proved to be another successful year in our Berwick Fields kitchen garden. A relatively mild summer allowed us to harvest a wide range of vegetables during Term 1. For the fourth year in a row our tomato harvest exceeded 100 kgs and the kitchen made full use of this bounty. Other summer vegetables sent to the kitchen included bags of bush beans (blanched and then frozen), cucumbers, cabbages, eggplants, butternut pumpkins, silver beet, sweet corn (close to 100 cobs this year) and zucchini. We made a big effort in autumn in 2016 to plant a wide range of vegetables to show our students what vegetables can successfully be grown during the cooler months of the year. We managed to fill all of our 18 boxes with a range of vegetables including cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower. peas, leeks, carrots (4 boxes), swedes, parsnips and onions. In particular we had great success with parsnips and leeks. In all we sent 60 parsnips and 70 leeks to the kitchen. (see photo) We also had an excellent crop of carrots especially our heritage carrots( St Valery and Red Core Chantenay) both of which were widely grown in Australia years ago. We have just planted seedlings of an heirloom cantaloupe (rock melon) called Petit Gris de Rennes (the little grey of Rennes) which was found growing in the walled garden of the Bishop of Rennes in France about 400 years ago. Seed of this variety is very difficult to obtain but we managed to obtain just 10 seeds for We look forward to tasting these superb and very rare melons in the new year. A Merry Christmas to all our student gardeners who worked so cheerfully in our garden in 2016 and to all our garden staff and volunteers. Page 7 - Berwick Fields Primary School Newsle er

8 Community Development Our Christmas Picnic Concert was a lot of fun, with beautiful weather to boot. Wishing all families a wonderful and safe Festive Season. School Grounds For Learning proudly show off their certificates after completing a wonderful mural outside the environmental room. CONGRATULATIONS Page 8 - Berwick Fields Primary School Newsle er

9 2017 School Fees We are now taking School Fees for You can pay online using the QKR App, by bank deposit or by using BPay. You can also pay with cash or card by visiting the office before 2.45pm Tuesday 20th. If you wish to get your BPay codes or Family Account numbers, please ring the office on Please note: book packs are included in the school fees but will not be taken home. Instead they will be waiting in your child's classroom for their first day as long as fees are paid. NO DOGS ALLOWED IN OUR SCHOOL GROUNDS (Whether on a leash or not!) Please understand that some of our students are scared of dogs and even if your dog is the nicest dog in the world they do not know that. Page 9 - Berwick Fields Primary School Newsle er

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