Dear Parents,

With the end of Term 3 not far away it is a good time to reflect on the many highlights of an action-packed 10 weeks. Over the winter months, the students have been working extremely hard in their classrooms, and each of our year levels have been involved in excursions and incursions throughout the term. We have had many whole school events this term including Science Week, Book Week, Giddy-Up horse education and French Day. The community involvement has been a highlight of this term with many parents volunteering their valuable time.  I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge our Parents' Association who have worked incredibly hard behind the scenes with the Father’s Day Breakfast and stall, second hand bookstall, Footy Day lunch and the hugely successful Space Odyssey Night. We are lucky to have such an energetic and active parent community.

ART FESTIVAL
Preparation is well under way for our Art Festival early in Term 4. Students have been working hard with our Art teacher, Michele Freeland-Small, and ably assisted by a large group of eager parents. The Arts Festival theme is inspired by the book Wilam, written by Aunty Joy Murphy and Andrew Kelly and illustrated by Lisa Kennedy. It is a beautiful indigenous story about the creation of the Yarra River and acknowledges the traditional owners of the land, the Wurundjeri people. The students have created the animals that live in and around the Birrarung, understanding the delicate relationship between the land and the people. The story has given us the opportunity to reflect on our heritage and make plans for a future through regeneration and sustainability practices.

One of our talented Year 6 students, Kieran, created the beautiful graphics (pictured below) promoting the event which is currently displayed at our office.



TEAPOT AFTERNOON TEA
Students who display our school values: Achievement, Empathy, Respect, Resilience and Honesty are recognised by being awarded with a Tea Pot ticket. Last week, together with the Well-Being SALT students, I was pleased to host a Teapot Afternoon Tea with students. Always a highlight during each term, I look forward to more Teapot draws next term for
students who continue to display our school values.

Congratulations to the following students:

SPORTS COLOURS DAY
Well done to our Student Representative Council (SRC) for the organisation of the sports colour day last Friday. It was a very successful day that raised $350, which will go towards the Strike out Stroke foundation. The SRC conducted some sporting lunchtime activities for all students to join in. Thank you to Mr Smith and Ms Tod for assisting with the organisation of the day. Special mention to Katrina Standen and Shane Millar and their many helpers on the day who organised the pies, hot dogs, pizzas and lamingtons as part of the special “sport” lunch.




LIFE ED VAN
  

The Life Ed van has arrived at school, and will be here until the end of term. Each year level will have a particular focus based around health education modules that help children to develop relationship skills, positive communication (both face to face and online), problem solving and decision making skills

Topics covered are:

Prep:                My Body Matters
Year 1:             Harold’s Friendship
Year 2:             Safety Rules
Year 3:             Mind Your Medicine
Year 4:             All Systems Go!
Year 5/6:         Relate, Respect, Connect

GIDSSA ATHLETICS
Today, seventy-four of our budding athletes represented Glen Iris at the District Athletics carnival at Bill Sewart Reserve in East Burwood.  These students have been selected based on their performance at our House Athletics a few weeks ago. I know all the competitors will try their very best and should feel proud of their achievements.  Thank you to Nathan Gilliland and staff for their efforts in organising and supervising the athletics team, and thanks also to the parents who have assisted and supported the team. 

WORKING BEE
A huge thank you to Craig Ots-Maher, our Buildings and Grounds convenor, for organising the working bee last Sunday, and to our hard working parent volunteers who helped to make it a very successful one. A number of important tasks were completed including the cleaning up of the storage area under the school, shelving for the PE storage shed, the cleaning out of the pits and drains, and a general tidy up of the paths, sand pits and gardens. The chook shed also received a major makeover. Rivalling anything seen on The Block, the new henhouse “penthouse” is now in readiness for the arrival of the new chooks early next term. The students are looking forward to their arrival!

STUDENTS LEAVING AT THE END OF 2019
Thank you very much to the parents who have already let us know that their child will not be returning to Glen Iris next year. If you have not yet informed us that your child will not be attending next year could you please email our office on glen.iris.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au. This information assists us with forward planning for 2020.

SCHOOL PROPERTY ON THE HOLIDAYS
A timely reminder that with the school holidays coming up, we encourage our community to enjoy our school ground facilities over the break. We would also appreciate it that if you notice any person on the school property engaging in high-risk behaviour or vandalism to please call the police immediately. 

LAST DAY OF TERM 3
A final reminder that Friday 20 September is the last day of Term 3. Assembly will be at the earlier time of 1.50pm and students will be dismissed at 2.30pm. I hope everyone gets a chance to take some “time out” during the upcoming holidays and share some quality time with their families. The first day back for Term 4 is Monday 7 October.


Garry Collins
Principal