Heights Happenings – 2024 – Term 2, Week 9

I hope you’ve all had a great past couple of weeks. This update will be a short one from me this newsletter because unfortunately, like many of us in the community, I have been quite unwell and have had to take leave for the last six days. There’s some nasty bugs floating around at the moment. It’s a good reminder to parents to keep the kids home from school if they are unwell, as we don’t want these illnesses to continue to spread through the school. The ladies in the office are pretty vigilant when it comes to making phone calls home to parents when your child is feeling unwell. While it can be difficult at times when you’re at work and you receive a phone call from the school asking to pick your child up, hopefully you agree that the best thing for your child is for them to see a doctor and get plenty of rest at home.

Something I’m really excited to share with you is that we have a brand new podcast show called Boronia Broadcast. This is produced entirely by a small team of senior school students who are passionate about media arts. With the support of Mr Carlos Milan, Mr James Dean and Ms Ilusia Koronczewski, they have created an amazing show with special guest interviews, performances by students, and a few fun jokes and riddles to amuse the audience. I was honoured to be the first guest interviewee for the podcast, and I was astounded at the high production level of the show. Congratulations to the podcast team for putting this together. You’ll undoubtedly want to check it out yourselves, so head to our website www.boroniahtsps.vic.edu.au, go to the Parents tab and you’ll find it under Boronia Broadcast Podcast. Happy listening!

That’s all from me this time around. Stay happy and healthy and I’ll see you around next week.

Mat Anderton
Principal

This week our First Nations students, together with their friends, met with Vanessa Murdoch (EACH -Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing), Angela Thurbon (Knox Council Community Projects Worker – Youth) and Lea Jones (KESO) to learn about bush tucker. Brax MC and Ben L started our morning reading our school’s Acknowledgment to Country together. Vanessa then spoke about how the land was a supermarket for aboriginal peoples where they could find all they needed for a good and balanced diet. We discussed which bushes and trees provide bush tucker, including pepper berry, quandong, salt bush and lemon myrtle, as well as meat from barramundi and kangaroo. And we were reminded that eating is not just about the food but also about spending time with family and friends talking over a meal shared together.

The students then made a bush tomato dip and a native bush dukkah which they enjoyed eating together with crusty bread and crackers.  We look forward to Vanessa and Ange coming again to teach us more about bush tucker in Term 3.

Sarah McIntosh
Student Welfare

Beautifying our school

Thank you to Catherine, Mick (ex-parent) and the Building & Grounds crew for the work that they are doing today and Saturday on our gardens.

Leah Hodgson

Assistant Principal

CARE Ticket Winners

Care Award Winners – Term 2 – Achievement

Winter Interschool Sports

Earlier this term, our Year 5 and 6 students competed in the Rowville District Winter Sport round robin competitions over two weeks. Students competed in the sports of AFL, Netball, Soccer, Tee-ball, and Lawn bowls. We were proud of their effort, behaviour, and teamwork across all teams. I would particularly like to acknowledge and congratulate our soccer teams, with the girls’ team only losing one match from their eight games, to finish 3^rd overall. While the boys’ team had some thrilling games and made it all the way through to the 1^st place playoff. Facing the previously undefeated Waverley Christian College, our boys team delivered under pressure to come out victorious 2-1 in the final to claim the title. We look forward to hearing about their progress to the divisional stage. We would like to thank the many parents who assisted with umpiring and scoring for the numerous teams across the two days off play! Next term, the students will be competing in the summer sports of Cricket, Handball, Softball, Tennis, and Volleyball. If any parents are available and willing to assist with these sports on Friday 23^rd August and Friday 6^th September, can you please email me: shae.warren@education.vic.gov.au

Year 3 & 4 Hoop Time:

Last week almost 60 Year 3 and 4 students caught a bus to Nunawading Basketball Stadium to participate in a Hoop Time event. For many, this was their first basketball tournament and experience outside of school and P.E lessons. They had a great time and learnt so much on the day. With seven teams entered, we couldn’t have been able to give so many students this opportunity without the support of our classroom teachers in Mrs Lightfoot, Mrs Ascenzo, and Mrs Baum; as well as education support aide Mrs McNamara. And an even bigger thank you to the parents who helped coach and score on the day for all of the other teams – Brooke, Josh, Candice, Kathryn, Emma, Kerrie, and Melanie. It was also wonderful to see so many extra family members not mentioned, also there at the Stadium to support the kids.

Swimming

Recently our Prep to Year 4 students completed their one week intensive swimming lessons and water safety program at Knox Leisureworks. It was an exciting, but exhausting time for everyone, well done to all of the students and teachers who were involved! We know that water safety is a huge and important issue in Australia. The Year 5 & 6 students have their beach safety program to look forward to in term 4 this year.

Division Cross Country

Lastly, I would like to congratulate Owen H for making it through to the Divisional Cross Country event recently where he placed a very impressive 15^th (just short of the top 12 who progress to the regional stage). Well done Owen for all of the training and preparation he was doing outside of school for the event. Unfortunately, an injury prevented Levi M from also attending and competing.

Shae Warren
Physical Education Teacher and Sport Co-ordinator

Chocolate Drive

Look out for information re our Cadbury Chocolate Drive. Chocolates will be delivered prior to the holidays so that you can sell (or eat!!) them at your leisure. Thank you to Yvette Willison and the ladies in the office for organising the fundraiser.

School Disco

Twilight Market

Our Twilight Market is locked in for the 25th October 2024. Click here to follow the event page on Facebook. If you know a business who would be keen to sponsor the event, please contact us on 9729-2614.

The Entertainment Book

Chocolate Fundraiser Opt Out by 21st June 2024

Click here to download the Opt-out Form

2025 Prep Enrolments

2025 Prep enrolments will now be digital, you can fill in your 2025 application for enrolment form via the link below:

https://students.educationapps.vic.gov.au/s/

Applications to enrol are due by Friday 26th July.

Name Your Belongings

We know you treasure your uniform and books. Please remember to label all uniform, books and belongings coming to school. Like most years, we have had an incredible amount of lost property through the year. The majority was unnamed, along with illegible tags. We would love lost items to boomerang back to your kids.