Issue 10
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
Welcome back to school after an
extended break. Term 2 is very
busy term with a strong focus
upon learning, and leading to the
assessment and reporting at the
end of Term 2.
Assessments are part of the
teaching and learning that occurs
in the classroom daily particularly
during literacy and numeracy.
Teachers make judgements and
assess the child’s skills and needs
and then plan activities to support
the skills and to extend these.
Another form of assessment that
students need to complete is
called NAPLAN (National
Assessment Program Literacy and
Numeracy). These tests are set as
national tests and all students in
Australia in grade 3 and grade 5
need to complete these tests. The
tests assess reading, spelling,
writing, and numeracy. They are
unseen by the students prior to
testing and are to be completed
independently within a time limit.
This year all our grade 3 and
grade 5 students will be expected
to complete these tests next
Tuesday 10th May for spelling
and writing, Wednesday 11th
May for Reading and Thursday
12th May for Numeracy. Any
parents who wish their students
to be exempt and not complete
these tests please contact the
office.
Mathletics is a mathematical
computer program that has been
Principal: Jenny Omachen www.ashbyps.vic.edu.au
Tuesday 3rd May 2011
DATES TO REMEMBER
used throughout the senior classes Friday 6th to Friday 20th
for at least four years at Ashby. May (NOT FRIDAY 13TH)
The program was introduced to Intensive Swimming
support independent learning of Program 1 for Years 4 to 6.
numeracy and mathematical
skills, and students can work Friday 6th May
through the program at their own Mother’s Day Stall
level. The Mathletics program
supports the mathematical Monday 9th May
learning that occurs within the Education Sub-committee
classroom. This year we have Meeting, 3.30 pm in the
been able to register all students staffroom.
throughout the school starting in
Prep, and during second term the NAPLAN TESTS
junior classes are starting to use Tuesday May 10th
the program. This program can Wednesday May11th
also be used at home. Once the Thursday May 12th
children are registered then the
program can also be used at Wednesday 18th May
home. Information will be sent Finance Sub-committee
home about the registration for Meeting, 6.30 pm in the
the junior grades. This program staffroom.
really supports students in their
understanding and use of School Council Meeting,
numeracy skills. 7.00pm in the staffroom.
Ian Dyer, teacher of grade 2/3, Friday 27th May
has taken Long Service Leave and Walkathon.
will be absent until 3rd June Mrs
Anna Trupkovic is the classroom Wednesday 25th May
teacher during his absence. Lightning Premiership.
Lucy Ford is a visiting student Friday 10th June
teacher who is working in Report Writing Day School
Lorraine Sawyer grade1/2. She Closed.
will be working in this classroom
for three weeks. Monday June 13th
Queen’s Birthday Holiday
School Closed.
Saturday 25th June
Jenny Omachen Trivia Night & Silent
Principal Auction.
School email - ashby.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au
Ashby Primary School Page 2

ART ROOM FRESH FRUIT FRIDAY SWIMMING

PAYMENTS
Our new kiln is installed and Yes, Tutti Fruitti Thursday has Reminder: Swimming starts this
ready to go! come to an end, however, Fresh Friday 6th May.
Fruit Friday returns this week.
We are very lucky to have such All payments MUST be finalised
an asset at our school and the This program is run by parents by Friday or students will not be
children are really looking and supplies fresh fruit and veg to swimming next week.
forward to using it, so we will be all children in the school each
embarking on lots of clay projects Friday.
this Term.
We will be preparing fruit in the
You may have noticed our bottle staff room from 9.00 a.m. Friday
cap lowers made by the children, and help would be greatly
in the garden. A lot are on appreciated.
bamboo sticks and these are
proving too weak to hold up the Sonya Dalton & Heather Vine
flowers. If anyone has any old
garden stakes at home we will
love to have them please.
Donations are always gratefully
accepted in the art room, any old
recycled products are wonderful.
The grade 5/6’s are doing
claymation at the moment and are
using any small boxes, buttons,
straws, bits of wood and material
scraps to make props with. Don’t Miss the
Mother’s
We also need lots of magazines
please.

Thank you,

Kathy Hyland
Day Stall
Friday 6th May
Friends of Ashby will be hosting a Mother’s Day Stall
where students will be able to purchase small gifts for
their Mum ranging from $1 - $5 in price.

While we will have bags for students purchases we also

encourage students to bring their own bags.

So if you are looking for something special

for Mum look no further!
Ashby Primary School Page 3

FRIENDS OF ASHBY UPDATES

Visit the FOA Blog http://friendsofashby.blogspot.com/ for more updates!

Next FOA Meeting

The next monthly FOA meeting will be held on Friday, May 13th right after Fresh Fruit
Friday or 9:30amish. We encourage those planning to attend to help with Fresh Fruit
prior to the meeting as the sooner the fruit is prepared the sooner we can start (and
complete the FOA meeting). Remember, all are welcome!

Mother’s Day Stall, Friday, May 6th

Mother’s Day is a chance for families to get together and

celebrate mum and the mother figures in their lives (e.g. stepmother, aunt, grandmother,
teacher, elder sister). It’s a chance to spoil mum and remind her of how special she is to you!
Friends of Ashby will be hosting a Mother’s Day Stall, Friday, May 6th from 9:15-11:30am for
students. There will be small gifts for mum ranging from $1-5 in price. So if you are looking for
something special for Mum look no further!
Volunteers are also needed for setup and manning the stall – see below for more information
about how you can help.

Parent Involvement and the Ultranet

The Ultranet is a state-wide, secure site that students, parents and teachers can access via the internet. It provides a
new learning space and more opportunities for information sharing across the Victorian government school system/
community. Since mid-last year the Ashby staff has been learning and utilizing the system. While staff were the first
stakeholders to access the system, we are now continuing to develop our implementation plan for the Ultranet and
parent involvement is an important element of this plan.

We are currently seeking 4-5 parents who would be willing to be trained on the use of the Ultranet so that they could in
turn train other parents in our school community. To volunteer for this opportunity you will need to have an email
address (so that you can register to use the Ultranet) and be able to attend a training on how to register and utilize the
system’s basic June 1, 2011 from 10-11am at the school.

If you are interested in this volunteer opportunity, please submit the form below by Thursday, May 12th to your child’s
teacher or the school office.

Ultranet Parent Volunteers Interest Form

Name: ________________________________________________________________________

Phone: ________________________________ Email: __________________________________

I am interested in being a Ultranet Parent Volunteer as described above and I can attend the training on June 1,
2011 from 1-11am

I am interested in being a Ultranet Parent Volunteer as described above but I cannot attend the training on June
1, 2011 from 1-11am

2011 Family Information Forms

Thank you to all the families who returned their 2011 Family Information Forms. Draft versions of the class friendship
lists will be going home at the end of this week. This will give those who submitted information for the lists a chance to
confirm that the information is correct - we hope we could read everyone’s handwriting, but know we probably made a
few mistakes. We will be sharing the other information collected with the classroom teachers early next week.
Ashby Primary School Page 4

FRIENDS OF ASHBY UPDATES CONT’D

Seeking Silent Auction and Trivia Night Donations!

This year’s Silent Auction and Trivia Night will be held Saturday, June 25th. Our largest
fundraiser of the year, this event also provides an opportunity for fun and community
building.

Money raised from this event allows us to increase the resources available to our school
and to improve the quality of education offered to our students. Last year the almost
$7,000 raised went towards the purchase of needed furniture including tables, chairs,
and mobile learning centres for several of our classrooms and a four term whiteboard for
our staff room. This year monies raised will support the school’s fledgling performing
arts program, including teaching staff and the production of an all school performance.

Integral to the success of this event has been the support of our business friends. This
year businesses can support the event in two ways:

1) Donate an item for the event. This includes items for the silent auction, raffles on the night and mystery
envelopes.
2) Advertise in the Auction Catalogue.

If you work for or own a local business, please consider supporting us in one of the ways listed above. You can pick up
an information packet from the FOA board outside the staff office, or send an email to
friendsofashby@ashbyps.vic.edu.au to request an information packet.

You can also assist us by dropping off information packets at local businesses. There is a list of local businesses we are
targeting on the FOA board outside the staff office. Simply list your name by businesses you are willing to drop the
information packet off at and take the required number of packets.

Can You Help?

There are many ways you can get involved at Ashby. Below are some current activities we are seeking assistance with:

• Fresh Fruit Friday, Friday, May 6th, 9-10am – Volunteers are needed to prepare and
deliver fruit and vegetable trays for the classrooms. If you can assist, please join us this
Friday and every Friday. Please note we will either be in the staff room or
when available the classroom kitchen.

• Mother’s Day Stall, Friday, May 6th, 8:45-11:30am – Volunteers are needed to
set up (8:45-9:15am) and man (9:15-11:30am) the Mother’s Day stall. If you can
help for part or all of this time, please let Cyndy Scherer know, leave a message
with the office or email friendsofashby@gmail.com.