2006
Library News

IN THE LIBRARY

22 November 2006

We are heading into the last weeks of Term 4 and a lot is happening in the Library. Recently the children voted that the unspent money from Paul's Collect-a-Cap fundraising could be used to purchase some of the books they have been writing up on the library wish list. I am in the process of pricing and ordering these books now.

Shelves have been relabelled so that finding non-fiction books is that little bit easier and I am writing up a proposal for an add-on package for the library catalogue that incorporates educationally approved web sites. This will cut down on some of the time children spend trolling the Internet for information sites.

I am halfway through my Cert III in Library and Information Sciences and am learning lots! One of the assignments had to do with defining one's role in the school library. I thought I would publish mine here to give families a bit better idea of what I do in the library at school.

I will be soon calling for all library books to be returned to the library. Overdue notices will be posted home and all lost items need to be paid for please. This money is used to replace the book or if no longer available to find something similar. It is important to keep the fiction in the library current in order to keep reading interest high.

Many thanks to the families who donated books or time to the library this past year; it has become the exciting hub of a good school thanks to your interest and support.

Lastly I'm including a photo of the successful entrants of the Australian Reading Challenge. Congratulations once again and due to many requests we will be entering into this worthwhile challenge again next year.

Happy reading,
Cathy Hainstock

Principal's Term Letter

6 September 2006

Dear Parents,

This term saw Village School become one of 40 schools in Victoria who were accepted into the Sustainable Challenge. This resulted in a visit from the Sustainables Troup in the first week of term. They demonstrated many ways in which individuals and families can take up the challenge and make a difference to our environment and our future. Since then, all students have chosen different aspects of sustainability to study and report on. We know from discussions with students that their families are taking this on board as well and making changes to the things they do. Our Whole School Meeting, which was to have been held early in the term, was postponed due to the perceived lack of attendees and the fact that many of our students were sick at that time. It was held later and many of our students presented some of their early work about our challenges with Sustainability. At this meeting also, Tanya, who had been to a conference in Sydney, which discussed Alternative and Democratic Schools, shared a video and some of the items that had been discussed. We felt that we weren't as alone as we thought we were.

We took part in J-Rock for the second time. Our students performed very well dancing an adaptation of the dances from our Performance of 'Arabian Nights'. Each school was awarded three certificates of excellence and ours were for: choreography, sets and their use and sound track. Many thanks to our parents for their help with choreography, set building, transportation of sets and students, costumes, make up and stage set up and removal. We will not be doing J-Rock next year as our Performance will (hopefully) be at the end of third term and it would not be a natural flow on.

Many students took up the 'Reading Challenge' the money from which is used to purchase books for students in less favourable situations to allow them to learn to read.

Gloria from the Irlen Centre gave a thought provoking talk to teachers and interested parents about Irlen Syndrome, which is often mistaken for Dyslexia and which can be treated, sometimes, to the point where it is cured. If you missed out on this talk, we do have information available from the office.

Our three older groups enjoyed a visit from the CFA education van and learned how to exit a burning building and some tips for avoiding fire.

The school rocked to the beat of African drumming as Shona worked with each of the groups. We all had a great time and she is now teaching those who wish to continue on Fridays at lunchtime.

Within the farm, Dolores seems to be making a full recovery – phew!! And our geese are sitting on a clutch of eggs- will we hear the patter of tiny webbed feet this year?? Sadly, Joe, our little buckskin pony died very unexpectedly. A lovely memorial ceremony conducted by the students, was held in the gazebo and attended by his two and four legged friends. A memorial 'plaque' has been placed, by students, next to a tree.

All that remains is for me to express the thanks of the students and teachers for all the help that you, the Village School parents have given us, once again, this term, 'THANK YOU'

News From the Library

16 August 2006

There are only 2 weeks left in the Australian Reader's Challenge and congratulations need to go out to the 19 students and parents who have read their 10 books. That's exactly half of the entrants. Quite a few others are on the home stretch. If you are recording your book titles at home instead of in the library please remember to bring them in before the 30th of August so I can enter them onto the website. That way you will receive your certificate of completion.

Another reading challenge has come our way. This time a class challenge. Scholastic Book Clubs are running a “Classrooms Care” challenge. Scholastic Books has challenged classrooms to read 100 books before November 30th. All books count – school, public library and personal ones. For every class that meets the challenge, Scholastic Books will donate 100 books to either the Smith Family, Learning Links or HOPE Worldwide. They are donating up to 50,000 books to these charities. Tanya's and Mary/Edith's classes are eager to meet this challenge. I'll be speaking to Charmaine's class this week about it too. It is so wonderful to have the library filled with enthusiastic readers and wonderful to think its going towards two good causes – our kids and underprivileged children.

Thank you to Callan for donating some Animorph books to the library. They are shelved in Mary/Edith's room and have been well-received. Thanks also to Cronin-Barreiro's for some books donated earlier in the year and to Mariah who donated a young adult fiction book to the library. If you have any books you would like to donate, they would be greatly appreciated. Anything we can use in the library, we'll keep and others will be welcomed as stock for the book stall at the Fete. All money raised at this stall will go directly in to buying more library books.

Thanks again need to go out to Carole and Pam who are my 'library fairies'. They come a bit early several days a week and check that books are in the right spots on the shelves. So much easier to find that way!

Happy Reading Cathy
WE ROCKED AT THE ROCK EISTEDFOD!

2 August 2006

It was a busy and a very L –O-N-G day. We arrived in time for the ten o’clock production meeting, the only meeting I’ve ever been to that involves a lot of dancing and cheering.
The children were busy most of the morning, the student reps and co-host had special meetings to attend and we all had the rehearsal on stage as well. In the afternoon the children could choose to be part of various activities, including ball games and dancing. Some did, some sat in the sun painting their toe-nails and others played backgammon. After another weird and wonderful production meeting we had tea and dressed for the performance. This year the JRock people were determined for the event to be completely non-competitive so every school was awarded three certificates. They chose areas that each school excelled in.

We were very happy to have our three awards for

2005

2005 Whole School Camp
Wilson's Prom was held in October at Wilson's Prom. Check out the photos.

Family maths and activity nights
are always a great chance for parents and friends to interact with the students and teachers at the school. As part of our commitment to oral learning, the school recently held two exciting early evening events:

Junior Rock Eisteddfod 2005
Vodaphone Arena : August 2nd 2005. 31 students held their own in an environment of larger schools with up to 70 performers on stage! A big thank you to all the children who went, both as back stage hands and dancers - you were magnificent! We received Awards of Excellence for: Many thanks to parents/students for the beautiful costumes, make-up and sets.

Spring Shearing

Shearing time at the school (goats only).

150 Trees in 1.5 Hours!
National Tree Planting Day : July 29th 2005 was celebrated at the school again this year with the planting of 150 trees by the students and parent helpers. Some of the planting took place at the front of the property to help replace some scrub that was removed for the replacement fence. It was great to see the children attacking the task with such gusto!

Natural Parenting Melbourne - Croydon Playgroup
NPM's Croydon Playgroup meets at Village School on Wednesday mornings during school terms.

Village Venture Family Night
A fine evening, a good movie, wonderful company, tons of delicious food and a good portion of the money raised to build the fence around the vegetable garden. A special thanks to all who made the night such a success!

Marion's Wish Answered
After too many years to count Marion S.'s wish for a notice board has finally been delivered. A massive thanks goes to all those who were involved in it's design, construction and installation.

Children First Foundation
After hearing of the work that the Children First Foundation does, students in Tanya's and Mary's groups wanted to help and decided to hold a community walk and fair at the end of term 4 2004 to raise money for Moira Kelly. The foundation brings children from third world countries to Australia to receive life saving and life enhancing surgery. $400 was raised and the students have been invited to visit Moira on her property in Kyneton in 2005.

Salvation Army Christmas Gifts
It is Village School tradition to think of those less fortunate than us at this time. Thank you to all who gave gifts at our end of year performance.

Lady McBeth
A big thank you to Village parent Sharron McB. for providing her time to give an educational talk on general hair care and providing student haircuts at a discounted price. A great effort with $110 going to school fundraising. Sharron has a hair and beauty salon "Lady McBeth Hairdressing" in Bayswater.

2004

Whole School Camp

This camp was held at Waratah Bay (near Wilson's Prom) from Monday 25th to Friday 29th October. Check out the photos on the Library and Edith's computers - orders taken by VIPP if you would like copies.

Hullabaloo
As part of the Melbourne International Arts Festival, City of Melbourne is presenting Hullabaloo, a brand new work for massed voices by acclaimed composer and performer Graeme Leak. Village School children will be performing as part of Young Noises Choir to produce this. The Choir will stage a free performance of the work in Federation Square, Saturday 23rd October at 3pm.

Trivia Night
2004's trivia night on Saturday 4th September was a great success with over $1500 being raised for the School. Thank you to Rod McL and his assistant, as well as all the other helpers, that made it such a fun night.

Book Crossing Excitement at Village School
Almost as good as a visit from the Easter Bunny! students were on a hunt through the bushes and garden beds this week, when it was discovered that someone had planted BookCrossing.com books all around the school grounds for the children to READ and RELEASE. BookCrossing.com is a global movement of book lovers on the Internet. Its purpose is to make the whole world a library! Books are registered on line (www.bookcrossing.com) and have their own journal. People finding the books can read them, register into the online journal your comments on the book and where you are going to leave it next. Then you release the books back into the wild for someone else to enjoy. You can track the travels of your book and go hunting for books that have been released (locations are listed). So if your child brought home a 'found' book that's what its all about. And if you'd like to take part in Bookcrossing have a look around the school grounds in your spare time. Apparently 39 books were released on to our property and we haven't found them all yet! Happy hunting and happy reading! For more info check out the website...Hey, that tickles!

Academic Distinction.
Congratulations to Carly McD., now at Ringwood High School and previously of Village School, on her recent award for academic distinction. Well done Carly!

Scouting Award
Well done to C.McK. who was presented with the "Law and Promise Award" at the 1st Lower Plenty Scout Group Awards night. It is an award given each year, recognising "an individual setting a great example to all by living the Scout Law and Promise".

Fire at the school!
On Saturday 22nd May 2004 a very successful Bonfire Night was well attended by many Village and also other families. Thanks to all who came along to make this a fun night, but more importantly, thanks to the committee and others who put in the hard yards to make this the success it was. We were blessed with a mild and dry night to enjoy star gazing and the bonfire flames. The kids seemed to have a great time and the free marshmallows went down a treat! Full marks also to the budding entrepreneurs from Mary's and Edith's classes who came up with the idea for a market. They organised, set-up and sold items on the night to help raise money for the school.

Doum Takka Doum...
What a fantastic collaboration Tanya's group was involved in. On Sat. 15th May 2004 they publicly performed their own composition with a group of talented musicians and another small group of children at Artplay in Southbank. In an earlier session the children worked with a professional musician and composer in a workshop exploring visual musical scores and using percussion to create rhythms and write their own music.

Inter School Equestrian Challenge
Congratulations are in order for J.R. who competed on Wednesday 26th May 2004. The event involves both primary and secondary students on ponies 13-14hh. Well done J.R., who received a third place ribbon in the Pleasure Mount section and a second place ribbon in the Eventing (3 phases) section. Sadly, K.McK. was forced to pull out of the competition due to injury.

Gazebo
Our new Gazebo.As a commemoration of our 21 years, a building fund was established for a large gazebo to be used for performances, meetings and as a shelter. It was formally opened during our 21st Birthday celebrations. A big thank you to parents and former students who donated to the Gazebo (donations over $50 are recognized with a plaque).

Village Equestrian Champions
J.R. & K.Mc. with their trophy & ribbons.On Wednesday, February 25th 2004, two Village students (along with two past students) competed as a team in the Glenbrae Interschool Equestrian Competition.

The team competed against 10 other primary and secondary schools in the area (private and government) in dressage, show jump and cross-country events.

J.R. won a number of ribbons and Champion Rider of the Day. The team won 2nd overall. K.McK. came in 6th place in show-jump/cross-country combined.

Congratulations all and good luck to them when they compete again on March 31st at the Glenbrae Equestrian Centre, Wandin.E.F. with trophy.

There were more Village School champions at the Shetland Pony Grand National Events at Yea Races on February 29th 2004. Students competed in two races. E.F. won the first race and past student J.D. was the winner of the second. Nudge, M's horse, came in first place in the first race, unfortunately without her rider so was not awarded the prize.

Flute, Piccolo, Fife, Clarinet and Woodwind Tuition
Lessons will be available on Tuesday afternoons at the school from an experienced and qualified teacher. Private half hour lessons are $25. Phone Leonie on 9844-2076 or 0438-848-565. Recommended instrument hire from Billy Hyde, Blackburn ($27 per month) 9878-8777.

Piano Lessons at Village School

Piano lessons are being conducted each Friday with David Bremner during school hours. Lessons are held in the kitchen and the cost is $25 for half an hour of individual tuition using a keyboard. Should anyone have a spare piano lying about at home, I am sure that this would be gratefully accepted by all! See Tanya for more information should you or your child be interested in starting.