2011 Newsletter 26 - Doncaster Primary School

Doncaster Primary School
‘The Bulletin’
Principal: Vicki Mackrell
2-12 Council Street, Doncaster, Victoria, 3108
Phone: (03) 9848 1122 Fax: (03) 9840 2664
www.doncasterps.vic.edu.au
email: doncaster.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au
Thursday, 1 st September 2011
Issue 26
Our Vision
Doncaster Primary
School will be
highly valued as a
learning
community which
strives for
excellence in
education,
purposeful
interaction,
equality of
opportunity,
diversity of
challenge, and
which promotes
ethical, moral and
personal
Please keep the
‘Diary Dates’
page of the
Bulletin in a
prominent place
for easy access!
Diary Dates
Friday 2 nd September - ‘Footy Colours Day’ - gold coin donation, please
- Grades Prep to 2 Chinese Cultural Music & Drumming Program
- 9.30 to 11am: Bright Beginnings
- 10.15 to 11.30am: 5D ‘Buddy Cooking Session’ with DSC
- 10.30am: Victorian Girls Choir Workshop for Grades 2 to 6
- 2.30pm: Whole School Assembly: 5W. Cake Raffle: 1D
Monday 5 th September - Tidy School: 4G on duty ALL WEEK!
- 11.30am to 1.30pm: ‘Multicultural Mathematics Morning’ for
Grades Prep to 4. Wear your House colours. Parents welcome!
Thursday 8 th September - Level 2 Chess Program
Friday 9 th September - Grades Prep to 2 Chinese Cultural Music & Drumming Program
- 9am to 2pm: Chess Tournament at Doncaster Gardens PS
- 9.30 to 11am: Bright Beginnings
- 2.30pm: Whole School Assembly: 5P. Cake Raffle: Prep C
Monday 12 th September - Tidy School: 4S on duty ALL WEEK!
Tuesday 13 th September - 7.45 to 8.45am: Grade 1 Father’s Day Breakfast in the
Conference Room
- 9am to 3.30pm: ‘High School Musical’ Dress Rehearsal at
Doncaster Secondary College
Wednesday 14 th September - 11am to 2pm: ‘High School Musical’ preparation and Matinee
Performance at Doncaster Secondary College
- 5 to 9pm: ‘High School Musical’ preparation and Matinee
Performance at Doncaster Secondary College
Thursday 15 th September - Levels 1 and 2 Dance Program with Ken Marshall
- Level 2 Chess Program
- 11am to 2pm: ‘High School Musical’ preparation and Matinee
Performance at Doncaster Secondary College
- 5 to 9pm: ‘High School Musical’ preparation and Matinee
Performance at Doncaster Secondary College
Friday 16 th September - 7.45 to 8.45am: Prep Father’s Day Breakfast in the
Conference Room
Principal’s and Assistant Principal’s Patter
MY EDUCATIONAL STUDY TOUR: A
VISIT TO UNESCO and LINKS WITH
DPS!
NESCO states that many opportunities for
U education and sustainable human
development are being undermined by the
lack of tolerance and interc ultural
understanding, upon which peace is founded.
Australian education policy states that
intercultural understanding allows students to
reach an evolving understanding of their own
culture/s and to appreciate cultural diversity
on a local, national and global level. It also
enables them to appreciate the common
ground that all people share.
The Melbourne Declaration asserts that these
Our Guiding Values
Honesty and Integrity Respect Teamwork Trust Fairness and Equity

“No one can make you
feel inferior without your
consent.”
Eleanor Roosevelt
attributes are necessary due to
Australia’s social, cultural, linguistic
and religious diversity and the fact that
major changes in the world are placing
new demands on Australian education:
• Global integration and international
mobility have increased rapidly in
the past decade
• India, China and other Asian nations
are growing and their influence on
the world is increasing (which
requires Australians to be Asia
literate)
• Globalisation and technological
change are placing greater demands
on education and skill development
• Complex environmental, social and
economic pressures that extend
beyond national borders pose
unprecedented challenges, requiring
countries to work together in new
ways
• Rapid and continuing advances in
information and communication
technologies (ICT) are changing the
ways people share, use, develop and
process information and technology
• These unique national and
international contexts constitute the
drivers for an intercultural
understanding field trial.
Doncaster Primary School’s school
vision, mission and values create a
culture in which all children are
engaged: behaviourally; emotionally;
cognitively. The author, Sergiovanni,
asserts that schools must be ‘caring
and learning communities’
(Sergiovanni 2000). The objectives of
our learning community are reflected
in the Strategic Plan, Annual
Implementation Plan, Team Charters
and Performance Plans for all staff,
plus Term planners and Individual
Learning Plans for children.
‘Living the Values – the Ways We
Want to be Treated’, is a ‘Values
Program’ that builds trust and
understanding. It transcends culture,
gender, disability, economic and
social status.
Building a sense of belonging and
connectedness to the school has been
achieved through this ‘Values
Program’. It also builds the capacities
of all and creates shared school-wide
agreed practice in all areas of school
life. We have been vigilant in
addressing the hidden curriculum that
is the way people treat each other and
how this is reciprocated.
Celebration of diversity, in all its forms,
has been demonstrated through the
breadth of the curriculum. The Arts
includes: Chinese Music, Dance and
Drumming; African Drumming; Artist in
Residence; Extensive Clubs program,
calling on community support from
Doncaster Community Church of
Christ, St John Ambulance and
Doncaster-Templestowe Badminton
Association. Hosting of overseas
students and involvement in NALSSP
to develop an Asia inclusive curriculum
have also enriched the school culture.
Building relationships between all,
students, parents and staff, is the
glue that holds us together as a strong
learning community. The values and
intercultural understandings provide
the structure in which we build
relationships, through which we
support and challenge each other to
learn and grow.
It is within this context that we happily
worked with 89.9 LightFM to host a
birthday party for Annie. Annie and
her family have had a very challenging
time in the last few months. Her
birthday party was cancelled due to
the death of her grandmother. Her
mother has been in hospital for two
weeks. Annie needed to know that
she is part of a school community that
cares, not only about her, but about
every single child, parent and staff
member. E ach one is special and
amazing! Enormous thanks to Mr
Wic her for liaising with Linda Bailey
(our former School Chaplain) to make
this special event happen. Highlights
from the morning are on the LightFM
website - www.lightfm.com.au .
When we celebrate in such a way, as
we did this morning, it builds our
relationships with each other, makes
us stronger as a community and
makes each one of us feel special.
ANOTHER SPECIAL and
AMAZING PERSON in OUR
COMMUNITY
It saddens me to report that our much
admired and loved crossing supervisor,
Matt, is finishing his role tomorrow,
Friday 2n d September.
We are most grateful to him for the
dedicated, enthusiastic and reliable
service he has provided at Doncaster
Primary School for over a decade. His
humour and knowledge of the children
and their families will be sorely missed.
We will farewell him at tomorrow’s
Whole School Assembly, at 2.45pm in
our gymnasium. Please be there to say
‘thank you’!
OUR PRODUCTION - ‘HIGH
SCHOOL MUSICAL, JR’
As you will be aware, our students in
Grades 4 to 6 are busy rehearsing for
the production. Everyone is thoroughly
enjoying the experience!
All children in Grades 4 to 6 are
involved in the production.
Page 2
Children in Grades Prep to 3 will walk to
Doncaster Secondary College to watch
the matinee performance on Thursday
15th September. A notice will be sent
home shortly.
Information regarding ticket sales and
performance dates are included on
page 7 of this week’s Bulletin.
If you have any queries, please phone
the Office on 9848 1122.
Thank you to those families who regularly return the ‘I Have Read the Bulletin’ Reply Slip. Unfortunately, due to lack
of interest, this will not longer appear in the Bulletin.

PARENT PARTICIPATION -
PARENT SURVEY
On Monday 22nd August, 76 families
received a randomly selected and
anonymous Parent Opinion Survey.
Thank you to the many families who
have returned their completed survey.
If you have yet to return your survey,
please do so as soon as possible. I
can guarantee you that they are
entirely anonymous and we use your
feedback to make our excellent school
even better!
RAINY DAY GAMES!
Our Level 4 teachers are asking for
donations of board games, particularly
Chess, for the students to use on wet
days. The Chess games don’t need to
be full sets!
Please send your donations to the
Level 4 building, or speak to Mr
Poulton for more information.
ENROLMENTS for 2012
If your child, or those of your relatives
and friends, turn 5 years old by 30th
April 2012, then they are eligible to be
enrolled at school.
We would encourage you to enrol this
term, as this will assist us in planning
our ‘Transition Program’ in Term 4.
‘BRIGHT BEGINNINGS’ -
BELONGING, BEING, BECOMING
Our Bright Beginnings playgroup
operates on Friday mornings from
9.30 to 11am.
A detailed information broc hure
regarding our ‘Bright Beginnings’
Playgroup is available from the Office.
IN THIS WEEK’S BULLETIN
• ICAS Congratulations (page 4)
• Surprise Party Photos (page 5)
• Homework Club (page 6)
• Multicultural Mathematics (page 7)
• High School Musical, JR’ (page 7)
• Parent Forum Survey (page 8)
• Chinese Translation Service, Cake
Raffle, Before School Sport and
Sports Shirts information (page 9)
• Toolbox Parenting (page 10)
• Action Drama (page 10)
Page 3
• Bulletin and Notice Email List reply
slip (page 11)
• WiseOnes (page 11)
• Sports Expo information (page 12)
• Advertising (page 13)
These attachments provide a great
deal of information about our school
program. I highly recommend them to
you!
Regards,
Vicki Mackrell
Principal
Congratulations to all of the children who competed at our House Athletics carnival. The
results achieved at House Athletics were used to put together our District Athletics Team.
Even though there were many students with very impressive results, we cannot take all of
you! We are limited by the number of places we can offer in the athletics events so we
had to make difficult selections.
We wish our students who are representing Doncaster Primary at
the Doncaster District Athletics Day the very best. These children
will be competing on Thursday 22 September.
We are offering our District Athletics Team early morning training
sessions with Georgie at 8.15am. Please meet Georgie at the
Sports Shed any morning of the week,
as many mornings as you like!!
Regards,
Dimitra Ferizis
Team Leader

2011 International Competitions and Assessments for Schools - Congratulations!
AI
Students from Doncaster Primary School achieved outstanding results when they participated in the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools
(ICAS). Those students whose achievement was outstanding were rewarded with Certificates of Credit, Distinction and High Distinction.
The (ICAS) are developed by Educational Assessment Australia (EAA) of the University of New South Wales and are conducted annually across Australia and in 12
other countries. There are over 1.5 million entries worldwide.
The Competitions are for students from Years 3 to 12 and assess their academic ability in aspects of Mathematics, Science, English, Writing, Computer Skills and Spelling.
“ICAS provide extensive independent evaluations of students’ skills, knowledge and understandings in the core learning areas. These skills and understandings are important indicators
of success in school and beyond”, said Dr Sofia Kesidiuo, General Manager - Assessment and Research at EAA. “All students from Doncaster Primary School are to be congratulated on
their significant achievements.”
An enormous thank you to Mr Wicher and Mr Spinks for their outstanding and tireless coordination of this competition! Congratulations to the following students:
Writing Competition - High Distinction
Science Competition - Distinction
Grade 3: Natasha Looi and Nadja Vukotic
Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6
Writing Competition - Distinction
Felicity Tram Jaimie Miao
Tsu Jie Ng
Amy Wang
Audrey McCarthy
Nicolani Susanto
Rebekah Wong
Julia Goh Jolene Ng
Lilyan Zhu Addison Heath
Natasha Looi
Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6
Jaimie Miao
Michael Zhang
Amy Wang
Katie Gao
Sarsha Marjanovic
Petar Vukotic
Jillian Lu
Felicity Tram
Ayiana Alcouffe
Audrey McCarthy
Jessica White
Rebekah Wong
Jylon Grandy
Roderick Heng
Nicolani Susanto
Grace Tsao
Lauren Prentice Ethan Tibb
Baxter Evans Jolene Ng
Wen-Kang Loh Emily Zhang
Courtney Shikos Lilyan Zhu
Charlotte Wood Annabel Lam
Jack Duckworth Emily Yang
Katiana Mouzis Meg Goh
Jonathan Pikis
Science Competition - Credit
Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6
Raymond Chi Timothy Davis Sarah Goh
Ruby Evans Andre Fung Janet Kwe
Jessica Tien
James Xu
Jeffrey Shao
Anke Oatley
Ayiana Alcouffe Julianne Lee
Natalie Pikis Grace Tsao
Jessica White
Lauren Prentice
Jonathan Tang
Emily Zhang
Spelling Competition - Distinction
Writing Competition - Credit
Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6
Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6
Jaimie Miao
Tsu Jie Ng
Amy Wang
Timothy Davis Georgia Dickson
Dominic Guo Donna Lack
Jennifer Le Tsu Jie Ng
Joshua Loh Isabelle Tibb
Jessica Tien Benjamin Yep
Wen Hui Loh Raymond Chi
Andre Fung Jasmine Lee
Marcus Leung Bethany Luo
Melvin Teo Leticia Yap
Rebecca Chemmanam
Christopher Lee
William Miao
Jeffrey Shao
Joshua Tong
James Xu
Nirali Adhvaryu
Jordan Markoski
Gianluca Ranalli
Amber Guest
Kevin Wang
David Zhang
Hala Hussein
Elnaz Shaabanpour
Michelle Tsiros
Yimin Zhu
Chelsea Reeves Yaya Feng
Jordyn Oatley Julia Goh
Georgia Kyriacou Esther Loh
Noah Deane David Maes
Joshua Geijsels Nathan Wu
Haoning Zhang Adelle Karkar
Brendan Choo Jonathan Tang
Mikaela Wang Christopher Jacovelli
Flynn Thaisen
Felicity Tram
Christopher Lee
Jeffrey Shao
James Xu
Ayiana Alcouffe
Audrey McCarthy
Rebekah Wong
Nicolani Susanto
Lauren Prentice
Haoning Zhang
Jonathan Tang
Julia Goh
Meg Goh
Spelling Competition - Credit
Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6
Page 4
Congratulations to you all on “Aiming High!”
Jylon Grandy Theodore Choi
Alexander Tsonis
Jade Vella-Wright
Liying Liu
Zhen Tan
Ms Mackrell
Dominic Guo
Jessica Yang
Ruby Evans
Sarah Goh
Wen Hui Loh
Jessica Tien
Yaya Feng
Annabell Lam
Emily Zhang
Baxter Evans
Jack Duckworth
Wen-Kang Loh

Thursday, 1 st September 2011
Page 5

Page 6

Page 7
Monday 5 th September
The students from Prep to Grade 4 will participate in an
exciting multicultural Mathematics morning on Monday 5
5th
th
September. Students in Grades 5 and 6 will have their
activities later in the month.
The students will be placed in their Houses and will rotate
around four different multicultural Mathematics activities.
The Houses are Lawson, Monash, Phillip and Flinders. The
students will also be in multi-age groupings to promote care
and responsibility for one another. There will be an
opportunity to earn points for their house at each activity
and also for dressing in their house colours.
Please allow your child to wear an appropriately coloured T
shirt or skivvy on this day, as that will add to the excitement
of the event!
The rotations will start at
11.30am and finish at 1.30pm.
Parents are warmly invited to
attend. Your support, as always,
will be much appreciated!
Best regards,
Sue Douglas
Mathematics Team Leader

Page 8

Chinese Translation Service,
Each Friday, 8am to 10am
8 10
Dear Parents,
Cake Raffle Reminder
Your turn is near … Prep C! Date: Friday 9
Page 9
If you require any assistance in translating the
Bulletin, notices or any relevant information into
Chinese, please come to the Staffroom on Fridays
between 8 and 10am. Please bring along the
information that needs translating. Every Friday
morning, there will be a Chinese translator at your
service.
Date: Friday 9th9
September
We really appreciate your support and are looking forward to your contribution.
Thank You!
From Ms Seng and Junior School Council
At Doncaster Primary School we are committed to encouraging our children to be fit and healthy.
We offer Early Morning Sport sessions that are free!!!
When: Monday to Friday,
8:15 to 8:45 am
Where: Top Basketball Court
We also offer programs such as tennis, badminton, triathlon and Zumba
that require a minimal fee. The details for these sessions are published
regularly in the Bulletin. Please keep an eye out for them!!
From ‘Manningham Leader’, 27 July 2011
DPS Sport Shirts are Back in Stock!
A new batch of sports shirts for Level 3 and 4
students has just arrived. All sizes are available.
Cost is $35
If you would like to purchase a new shirt, please
collect an order form from the Office.

Page 10

Page 11
Coming up
Term 4, 2011 .
. .
ANCIENT
GREECE
Perhaps you have been to Greece or know some Greek words. Have you seen pictures of Ancient
Greek buildings that still stand today? Can you recognize their architecture in buildings in your
home city? Learn to draw the columns in the buildings. How far did Pheidippides run at
Marathon? Then what? Why did so many new ideas arise in Ancient Greece? What battle
strategy was used successfully 2500 years later? Is China a democracy? Compare it with
Australia and the first democracy in Athens? Learn to debate like they did. Try your hand at
their kind of art. Or was it a craft? Great thinkers lived then so we will try some of their
experiments. Why did so many things today come from Ancient Greece in the first place? Have
fun learning all of this and more.
WiseOnes Application for 4 th Term 2011
This program is available for all Grade 1 - Grade 6 children who have qualified for WiseOnes.
The unit for fourth term will commence week beginning Monday, 17 th October , 2011.
✂ ……………………………………………………………………………………………
I wish to enrol my child in the unit "Ancient Greece” starting week beginning Monday, 17 th October,
2011.
I give permission for a copy of this slip to be handed to the WiseOnes teacher.
Child's Name _______________________________ School: _____________________________
Date of Birth ________________________ Class (2011) ________
Parents' Names ___________________________________________________________________
Address_________________________________________________________________________
Phone: BH _________________ AH __________________ Mobile _____________________
My child has already qualified for WiseOnes YES/NO
I would like a free test for my child YES/NO.
I would like my child to be tested with a fuller assessment to qualify for WiseOnes (assessment cost
$107 inc GST).
Please send this slip and payment of $206.00 on Thursday, 13 th October, 2011.
As we are a non-credit business, children will not be accepted into the program for the term unless
the fees and enrolment form are returned by the above date.
If paying by cheque please make it payable to Doncaster Primary School.
For further information, please contact Pat Truscott on 9326 6441 or Mobile: 0407 313 657.
AI M -
Bulletin and Notice
Email List
I / We understand that by 2012, all notices and
newsletters will be emailed to the email address
provided below.
1. Email address: __________________________
2. Parent’s Name: _________________________
3. Parent’s Signature: ______________________
4. Eldest Child’s Name: _____________________
5. Grade: ____________
My family does not / will not have an email
address by 2012. (Please tick and complete
Numbers 2 to 5).

Page 12

Transport to and from School
I am available to pick up children
from home and drive them to
school, and drive them home
again.
Page 13
I am also willing to drive children
or adults to sporting activities,
medical appointments, music
lessons, dancing classes, etc.
Phone Bev Robertson (a
past DPS parent) on
9848 4951 or 0428
692 345.
English Conversation
Classes
Wednesdays, 1pm to 2.30pm
Thursday, 7.30 to 9pm
Doncaster Church of Christ
(opposite our school)
Cost is a gold coin donation
Phone Marg on 9891 7482 or
0421 101 629