Bendigo Bank Community Grant Last week I attended the ‘Pinewood Community Bank – Community Grants Presentation’ at the Monash Gallery of Art. We were thrilled to be announced as one of the recipients of this grant sponsored by Bendigo Bank. We lodged a joint submission with the Lions Club of Waverley for funding to install one more musical installation in our playground, and to landscape the whole area. This was granted and we received $8,140 at the ceremony. We are very excited about the potential to complete this project and are grateful for the opportunity to make it happen. This is an extension of the outstanding music program we have here at Essex Heights PS and we look forward to the music that will be composed and played in the playground. I would like to sincerely thank the Pinewood Community Bank and Manager, Mark Davenport, for their generosity in supporting the Essex Heights Community in this project. I would also like to thank the Lions Club of Waverley who partnered with us in the submission. The Lions are great supporters of Essex Heights PS and this is a further example of what is a very positive partnership. CALENDAR DATES TERM 4 6 th December Group from 4AW to ACMI 10 th December Orientation Day for Year 6 at Year 7 school 10 th December Orientation Day for new students Yrs 1 – 6 at EHPS 11 th December Choir performance – Elizabeth Gardens 11 th December Last session for Chess Ideas after school program 12 th December Parent Helpers Morning Tea – 11.00 a.m. 13 th December Last Canteen Day for 2013 18 th December Year 6 Big Day Out 20 th December Last day of Term 4 – 1.30 p.m. finish 2014 28 th / 29 th January Staff return to school 30 th January Students in Yrs 1 – 6 commence school 31 st January Students in Prep commence school ISSUE 40 5 th December, 2013
Transcript
Bendigo Bank Community Grant
Last week I attended the ‘Pinewood
Community Bank – Community Grants
Presentation’ at the Monash Gallery of Art. We
were thrilled to be announced as one of the
recipients of this grant sponsored by Bendigo
Bank. We lodged a joint submission with the
Lions Club of Waverley for funding to install
one more musical installation in our
playground, and to landscape the whole area.
This was granted and we received $8,140 at
the ceremony. We are very excited about the
potential to complete this project and are
grateful for the opportunity to make it happen.
This is an extension of the outstanding music program we have here at Essex Heights PS and we
look forward to the music that will be composed and played in the playground.
I would like to sincerely thank the Pinewood Community Bank and Manager, Mark Davenport, for
their generosity in supporting the Essex Heights Community in this project. I would also like to
thank the Lions Club of Waverley who partnered with us in the submission. The Lions are great
supporters of Essex Heights PS and this is a further example of what is a very positive
partnership.
CALENDAR DATES
TERM 4
6th December Group from 4AW to ACMI
10th December Orientation Day for Year 6 at Year 7 school
10th December Orientation Day for new students Yrs 1 – 6 at EHPS
11th December Choir performance – Elizabeth Gardens
11th December Last session for Chess Ideas after school program
12th December Parent Helpers Morning Tea – 11.00 a.m.
13th December Last Canteen Day for 2013
18th December Year 6 Big Day Out
20th December Last day of Term 4 – 1.30 p.m. finish
2014
28th / 29th January Staff return to school
30th January Students in Yrs 1 – 6 commence school
31st January Students in Prep commence school
ISSUE 40
5th December,
2013
Transition 2014 – Prep and Year 7 Our 2014 Prep students visited Essex Heights today and experienced their final transition session before
commencing on Friday 31st January 2014. Again it was magnificent to witness the enthusiasm and
confidence of these students as they spent time with our Prep teachers for 2014: Lena Papadatos, Pam
Rowler, Natalie Zaibak, Lisa Carne & Felicity O’Flynn.
Orientation Day will also be happening for many of our Year 6 students next Tuesday, December 10th. We will
all remember the heightened excitement and anticipation this brings as the students make their way to
Secondary School for the first time, and begin the next exciting stage of their educational journey. We will be
thinking of you all and wish you well.
Finally, also on December 10th, we will be holding an Orientation Day for the 14 children who are also
beginning at Essex Heights in 2014 in Years 1- 6. We have had very strong enrolment interest this year which
is a pleasing endorsement of our comprehensive programs and outstanding results.
Instrumental Music Exams As part of our Instrumental Music Program, we have a number of students who test their skills and knowledge
in formal AMEB Music Exams. This year there were eighteen children who participated across a range of
instruments and we were very pleased with the outstanding results. This included 17% of children who
achieved the highest award A+; 50% who achieved an A; and 27% who achieved a B+. This is testament to the
high quality Instrumental Teachers we have here at Essex Heights, and to the hard work of the children
involved. Thanks to Alyssa Kennedy also for her great work in the Program Co-ordination.
Some of our
students with
their Exam
Certificates.
Concert Band – “Carols on the Green”
On Tuesday morning children and parents entering through
the Essex Rd. gate were treated to a festive performance by
our fabulous Concert Band.
Conducted by Ken McDonald, the children entertained
everyone with a range of Christmas songs and carols.
Thanks to Ken, Alyssa Kennedy and the children for their work
to set up this performance …… which was greatly appreciated
by everyone.
Parent Helpers Morning Tea – Thursday, December 12th – 11:00am The partnership between parents and staff is a very positive aspect of the Essex Heights community. There
are so many ways in which parents support their children and our programs through their willingness to give of
their time. This includes classroom helpers, excursions, sport teams, choirs and music performances, canteen
roster etc. As is traditional, the staff would like the opportunity to say thank you to all the parents who have
assisted them throughout the year. Therefore we invite you to join us for morning tea on Thursday, December
12th at 11 am in the Hall. Hope to see you all there!
Early Dismissal – Friday December 20th – 1:30pm A reminder to parents that school will finish on Friday, 20th December at 1.30pm. We will, of course, have
After School Care commencing from this time. As is traditional, we will have a final assembly at 12.45pm and
this will be conducted in the school Hall.
Please note that our final Contact will be distributed on Wednesday 18th December.
See you around the school,
Andrew Crossett
Take Home Reading books
The last book order finally arrived at midday on Friday, there was great celebration at school!
Most of the books have been processed and will start being sent home for covering this afternoon. If you have
any books that we have already sent home for covering, can you please send them back to school by Friday,
December 6th.
As we are working on a very tight schedule it is important that all books are back by the end of next week. We
will be restocking our take-home reading boxes commencing this Friday. It is really important that this is up
and ready for the beginning of 2014.
The books that we are sending home this week need to be back at school by Wednesday 11th December.
Please ensure that your child’s name and grade are written on the bag when you return them to school.
Thank you for your co-operation.
Judy McKay
Literacy Support Teacher
Please note the last day for ordering Canteen lunches for 2013 is
Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA): The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is provided by the Victorian Government to lower -income families to help with
education-related costs.
If you have a child under 16, and you hold a valid Health Care Card, Pension Card, or are a temporary foster parent, you may be
eligible to receive the EMA. The allowance is paid in two instalments, one in March and one in August.
The payment is intended to assist with education-related costs such as; uniforms, excursions, textbooks, and stationery. You
can elect to have your EMA paid in one of the following ways:
Paid by direct deposit (Electronic Funds Transfer) into your own nominated bank account; or
Paid to the school to be held as credit which you can use towards education expenses; or
Paid by cheque which will be posted to the school for collection.
In 2014, the annual EMA amount per student is:
$200 for prep students
$150 for students in years 1 – 6.
$300 for year 7 students
$250 for students in year 8 – until age 16*.
* A pro-rata amount is payable for students turning 16 in 2014.
The EMA is paid in two instalments –
Instalment 1 = Paid from March – Prep $140.00 & Years 1 – 6 $105.00
Instalment 2 = Paid from August - Prep $60.00 & Years 1 = 6 $45.00.
How to Apply: Contact the school office to obtain an EMA application form.
Closing Date: Application forms can be obtained from the school office and need to be
lodged by 28 February 2014. A valid Concession Card will need to be presented and photocopied at the
time of lodgement.
For more information about the EMA, visit http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/parents/financial/Pages/default.aspx
