No 13, August 2017

Point Cook College, 18-50 Ponsford Drive Point Cook,
Melbourne, Australia 3030. Tel: 03 83487100

Principal News

From The Principal's Desk

Assistant Principals

In this edition of the newsletter we meet Mr Nathan Gage our newly appointed Assistant Principal 7-9. This is a very exciting time for the College and we look forward to his leadership. I know he is very keen to meet as many people as possible. We wish him the best in his new role and hope that his association with the College is long and positive.

I am also pleased to announce that Ms Lizzie Tout has taken up the Acting Assistant Principal role Prep to Year 6. Lizzie is a proven leader in the College and like Nathan is very keen to make our great school even better. We also wish Lizzie the very best in her new role.

I look forward to working alongside these two highly capable leaders.

Safe Schools

I would like to encourage all parents and guardians to take the time to read Mrs. Fincher’s article found in the Engagement and Wellbeing News titled ‘Safe Schools Program’ and ‘Respectful Relationships Program.’ There has been some discussion circulated via social media recently regarding the Safe Schools Program in Victorian Schools, which has resulted in a number of questions from parents. There may also be further questions around Respectful Relationships, which is currently being rolled out in all Victorian schools.

College Council Vacancy

A vacancy has arisen in College Council for the remainder of the year. If you are keen to participate please email Kaylene Tanti at tanti.kaylene.k@edumail.vic.gov.au. If we have more than one expression we will hold a ballot. There are 3 meetings remaining for the 2017 school year.

Literacy Strategies

As promised here are some tips for you to help your children at home.

In this edition, I focus on asking your children questions. Some of these are appropriate to all ages.

By asking questions you can support your child to:

• Share their enjoyment and experiences of reading and writing.
• Develop a better understanding about the characters or topics.
• Develop a sense of empathy for others.
• Develop their values, attitudes and beliefs about the world.
• Broaden their experience and knowledge of the world.
• Foster their imagination.
• Consider the important points in what they are reading.

Helping your child at home.

These are the types of questions your child might be asked at school. You can include some of these questions when you talk about reading at home too.

The following questions require your child to get clues from the text to answer:

• How do you think the character was feeling?
• How would you change the ending?
• How would you describe the changes in the character/setting?
• These questions require your child to refer back to the text:
• What were the characters’ names?
• What was the setting?
• What did each character do?
• What happened at the beginning, middle and end of the text?

The following questions require your child to think about the main messages:

• What do you think is the main message in the story or text?
• Can you relate it to another event or issue?
• Do you agree with the views of the author?
• What is your opinion about the message in the story?
• How could other people see it differently?

I wish everyone a positive fortnight ahead.

A reminder that Friday the 25th of August is a Student Free Day.

Frank Vetere

College Principal

Assistant Principal News P-6

It’s with great excitement that I introduce myself to the Prep-Year 6 Community, as your Acting Assistant Principal!

Some of you may already know me as I have been at the College since it opened in 2010. I am Lizzie Tout and my current role is Neighbourhood Leader of Year 1 and 2 team. I am super excited and extremely grateful to have the opportunity to lead the Prep-6 Community at our College.

Lizzie Tout

Acting Assistant Principal P-6

Assistant Principal News 7-9

My name is Nathan Gage and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to take flight on this learning journey with you all as the new 7-9 Assistant Principal.

Having heard so much about the amazing individuals who make up this very large learning community, I can’t wait to meet everyone and start working together.

Nathan Gage

Assistant Principal 7-9

Seussical Jr

Ticket Information

Dear Point Cook College Families,

You are invited to come on a wild and wacky adventure as we meet the much loved characters from the famous Dr Seuss Books. On Thursday 31st August and Friday 1st of September over 50 students from PCC will be performing in our very first school musical “Seussical Jr’ at the Wyndham Cultural Centre (Watton Street Werribee). Each night the performance will begin at 7pm sharp and conclude at approximately 8:30pm. Tickets cost $20 adults and $12 per child (age 2-16) and can be purchased at the school office.

Looking forward to seeing you there to support PCC’s first ever musical.

Seussical Team

Administration

Important Dates - August

• 14th - Sovereign Hill - MAG Crimson
• 15th - Sovereign Hill - MAG Teal
• 15th - Second Hand Uniform Sale 8:15-9am and 2:30-3:15pm
• 16th - Sovereign Hill - MAG Indigo
• 16th - Year 4-6 District Athletics Day
• 16th - Year 8 Market Excursion
• 17th - Year 7-9 Bali Tour Fundraising Lunch
• 18th - Subway Lunch Day
• 18th - Animals of Oz incursion for students in Prep-9 EAL classes
• 18th - Year 8 Sport
• 21st - Seussical Jr Rehearsal in Gym 11am-4pm
• 22nd-24th - Year 9 Melbourne Experience
• 22nd - Year P-4 Layer Up day
• 23rd - Grade 2 Parents iPad information evening 6:30-7:30pm
• 25th - Curriculum Day
• 28th-29th - Year 9 Melbourne Experience
• 29th - Year 7 Sport

Curriculum Day

Please be advised that Friday the 25th of August is a Curriculum Day at the College and as such it is a Pupil Free Day. There will be NO staff at the College on this day. Please make alternative arrangements for your children.

iPad Program Information Session

Point Cook College operates a vibrant and successful BYOD iPad program for children in years 3-9. Parents of children currently in Year 2 are invited to attend an information session on Wednesday the 23rd of August. We will discuss the ways in which the iPad is used in our College. The session will be held in the Year 3/4 neighbourhood and will begin at 6:30pm. Please register to attend via the link https://goo.gl/forms/qHIMqr1uYzoEWclu1

Daryl English

Working with Children Check – Changes

Changes are being made to the Working with Children Act 2005 to clarify and simplify the requirements of holding a Check and implement key recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Please read more about these requirements on the College Blog.

Donna Galvin

Pre-loved uniform sale

Our next uniform sale will be held on Tuesday the 15th of August from 8.15am - 9 am and then 2.30- 3.15 pm. The sale will be held in a portable near the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden. You could enter through the pedestrian gate on Tom Roberts Parade near the garden.

Please note that we can only take cash payments. Items are mostly $5-$10 each. We will also have a number of worn items for $1 each.

We don't have all items of the uniform available in all sizes as it depends on the donations that we receive. If you have any items of uniform, (with no holes please) that you no longer need and would like to donate to our sale, please drop them off at the office. All of the money raised will assist families in need with their uniforms.

Sandy Thornton

Extra Curricular Activities Calendar

Click on this link to download the PCC Extra Curricular Activities Calendar. It can also be found on the PCC website under Our College - College Policies and Accountabilities

Please Note - This calendar is a live document and changes every two weeks, events get added and events get taken off. Costs are approximates.

Engagement and Wellbeing

Please click read more to find out about PCC Engagement and Wellbeing information and events including:

• Always Arrive August
• Safe Schools
• Respectful Relationships
• Anaphylaxis Policy 2017
• Saver Plus Program

Robyn Fincher

Library News

Please click read more to find out about the following Library News:

• Woolworths Earn & Learn Program
• Victorian Premier's Reading Challenge
• Wyndham Library Events

Sonja Faust

P-6 News and Events

Prep 100th Day of School Celebrations

On Tuesday the 1st of August our Prep students celebrated their 100th day of school! They completed many awesome 100 based activities such as making 100 day crowns, glasses, fruit loop necklaces and imagining they were 100 years old. Please read more and check out the photos on our P-4 Blog.

The Prep Team

Prep Enrolments 2018

We are now taking Prep enrolments for 2018. Please enrol your child so they do not miss out on our transition program beginning in October. For further details please contact Point Cook College on 8348 7100 and download the flyer here. For more information about our College please visit the website at www.pcc.edu.au

Toy Request

This term the Preps are studying 'Toys' as part of our Investigations. We are looking at different toys, what they are made of, how they work etc... If you have any toys at home that are no longer being used and would like to donate them for our kids to investigate we would be very appreciative. These will be donations only and will not be returned as we cannot guarantee they will be returned in the same condition.

Some toys that we are seeking are:

• Lego
• Blocks
• Building sets
• Marble runs
• Moving toys
• Board games
• Cars
• Barbie dolls

Rachel Wallace

7-9 News and Events

Investigating the Impact of a Body Image Program for Adolescents

Students in year 7 and 8 have been invited to participate in a research project: Investigating the Impact of a Body Image Program for Adolescents. Part of the project is a presentation delivered to students by the Butterfly Foundation. This is a FREE presentation that we fell will benefit our students in a positive manner.

This project is being conducted by a student researcher Emily Keohane as part of a PhD study at Victoria University under the supervision of Dr Jenny Sharples, Dr Laurie Chapin and Dr Siân McLean from the College of Health & Biomedicine. Please read more the the 5-9 Blog.

Abbi Chamberlain

Social Worker

Community News

Please click read more to find out about the following Community News:

• Parent Opinion Survey
• Prep-Year 6 Disco
• Cooking Classes for PCC Parents
• Parents and Friends Association
• Indigenous Literacy Day Book Swap

Rebecca Thornton

EAL & Community Partnerships Leader

rebeccathornton@pcc.vic.edu.au

Sustainability News

Please click read more to find out about the following Sustainability news:

• NatureWest Project 8W
• Wetlands
• National Tree Planting Day

Robyn Cairns

SAKG News

Year 3 program

It was lovely to have Mrs Sarah Moore back this term after her wonderful trip away. The Year 3s have been very excited to be part of the SAKG program and are loving their kitchen and garden sessions. This week students have been learning the process for planting seeds and seedlings and correct use of tools, all about soil and decomposition. It was wonderful to see some parents arrive at the garden gate to help the students out.

Robyn Cairns