Marnebek Newsletter
13th October 2023
Issue 15
Message from the Principal’s Office
Dear Parents and Carers,
What an amazing start to Term 4 at Marnebek School! Our community has been buzzing with excitement with so many exciting events this term.
On Wednesday 11th October, we held our first ever Showcase and Market Stalls at both campuses at Marnebek.
New Holland Drive hosted the ‘Showcase’ for all the classes to present what they have been learning in Performing Arts and Visual Arts. It was a huge success and a sincere thank you to Hannah, Sean and Dylan for planning such an outstanding event.
Corrigans Road hosted the Market Stalls where each student planned, budgeted, made their product or service, learnt about money transactions, profit and lost statements and deciding what will the profits will be spent on at a later date. The stalls were also a huge success, and a shout out to the students, teachers, and support staff for making this day so successful.
On Friday 13th October, 10 First Nations students will be attending ‘Koorie Kids Day out’ in Hastings.
“Willum Warrain invites all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary school students to attend our Koorie Kids Day Out”. Students will be participating in:
Welcome to Country
Cultural Performances
Cultural Activities
In Week 4, we will be having our Termly Student Support Group (SSG) Meetings. Please keep a look out on Compass for notifications about booking into these for your children.
Enjoy your weekend and we look forward to seeing you all next week.
Kind regards,
Ruth Cameron | Assistant Principal
Middle East Crisis
Dear parents and carers,
Many in our school community are affected by the devastating events in the Middle East.
All of us are upset and disturbed by the awful events depicted in media footage and images.
This time is particularly distressing for staff, students, families and carers who have family and friends in Israel and Gaza.
We are also aware that students of diverse backgrounds, including Jewish and Muslim students, may be significantly affected by public events, mainstream media coverage and social media at this time.
Please be assured that all staff are aware of the extreme emotional toll on many in our community at this time. But please also feel free to get in contact with any of the staff at our school if you would like to ensure we are aware of what your child is going through at this time.
Our support staff will continue doing all they can to support all our students, and support is also available for our staff.
I also want to assure you that the department is monitoring the situation from a school security perspective, and have advised there is no further action we need to take at this stage.
It is possible that extremely distressing scenes from the conflict may be posted online in coming days. Please ensure your children are aware of
where they can find support in the event they come across such images. At our school, this includes:
New Holland Dve Campus:
Assistant Principals: Ruth Cameron and Luke Bennett
Leading Teacher: Anthony Richards
Corrigan’s Rd Campus:
Assistant Principals: Chris Murray and Liam Mara
Leading Teacher: Juice Biyendolo
You may find some aspects of this resource helpful:
Helping my children after trauma: A guide for parents.
Support is also available through external services including:
· headspace: 1800 650 890
· Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800
· Lifeline: 13 11 14
· Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636.
My door is always open, and I am sure we will all look to support one another in this very difficult time.
Kind regards,
Jennifer Hamilton | Principal
Key Dates & Events
Term 4 2023 | Term Dates: 2nd October - 20th December
18th October Senior School Information Night | Corrigans Rd campus | 5:30 - 6:30pm
24th October SSG Meetings | 2pm finish
7th November Melbourne Cup Day | Public Holiday | No Student Attendance
10th November Special Assembly Remembrance Day
20th November Parks & Gardens Graduation
20th November - 22nd November PGL Camp | Year 12
29th November - 1st December Forest Edge Camp | Year 10/11
30th November Prep Information Night | 5:30-6:30pm
1st December International Day of People with Disability
6th December - 8th December Prep Transition Sessions
7th December Year 12 Graduation | 6-11pm
12th December Statewide Transition
14th December Christmas Concert
18th December Year 6 Graduation | 5:30-7:30pm love sharing books on a daily basis in our class.”
19th December Last Day of Term 4 (students) | 2pm finish
20th December
Curriculum Day | No Student Attendance
Please note: All dates are correct at the time of publishing. Information will be posted on Compass regarding these planned events, nearer to the date.
Exciting News!
Pawsitive Vibes: New Therapy Dogs have arrived at Marnebek School
On Tuesdays, Harvey and Denve are visiting the New Holland Drive campus from 9:30 – 11:30am and the Corrigans Rd campus from 12 – 2pm. Denver is a groodle and Harvey is a mini groodle. If anyone would like to say hello, please ask their owner, Miranda, for a pat.
These furry companions bring joy and comfort to our students (and staff!). Therapy dogs have long been recognized for their remarkable ability to provide emotional support and comfort. Their presence alone can reduce stress, anxiey, and even boost self-esteem among students. As a school, we continue to prioritize the mental and emotional health of our students and our new therapy dogs are proving to be a pawsitive addition that benefits everyone involved.
Compass Parent Portal
Compass is our primary parent communication tool for day-to-day operational matters, upcoming events, notices and notifications so it is essential that all parents download the app.
Please ensure you log into Compass to update your family contact details. This ensures we are able to contact you, your partner or your emergency contacts should an emergency arise.
Please check to confirm the phone numbers and email addresses on your details are correct, or alternatively amend as required.
Please also ensure we are aware of any updated living arrangements, independent students, students living in ‘Out of Home Care’ or any legal documentation the school should be made aware of.
Our Administration staff at the front office can support families who need some guidance on using Compass. Please contact the school office on 5996 3858 for assistance if needed.
The Compass Parent & Carers FAQ guide has been specifically designed to help you get the most out of your Compass experience.
Compass Tip
How do I pay for the Graduation tickets on Compass?
In your compass app:
Click on 3 bars on top left side
Select - Canteen –
Select - Place Order at the bottom of the screen
Select Student
Select date - Choose today's date
Select a sitting - Year 12 Graduation Tickets
Select the item you wish to purchase and quantity
Add to cart
When you have finished your ordering - View Cart
Proceed to checkout
Select payment method
If this is your first time it will ask you to add your card details.
Select Pay
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the office on 5996 3858.
Classroom Snapshots
News from New Holland Drive Campus
Greetings from Prep D
In Prep D, we have begun to learn how to write simple sentences. Mr. Puppet joined us in class on Wednesday, to teach us about sentence writing. We wrote sentences to describe what Mr. Puppet was doing. Then, we went to our tables and wrote our own sentences with some pictures. We are so excited to continue to learn to write sentences and continue to make them even longer!
Emily Richardson | Prep D Teacher
Greetings from Prep C
Another incredible start to the term for our Preps! We are very proud of how well students have settled straight back into their learning and are excelling and striving to be their best individually and collectively.
We look forward to their last term as Preps with us, and trust it will be a term of further great personal and social growth.
Year 6/7 Swimming Program
Yrs 6/7 swimming lessons have commenced last week. Well done to all the students for a great start to the program this term!
News from Corrigans Rd Campus
What a fantastic event at Corrigans Rd Campus! On Wednesday, 11th October we held our very first Street Stalls & Talent Show event.
Our students and staff did a fantastic job organising the street stalls and talent show. The variety of stalls, from delicious food to fancy drinks, and activities like sumo wrestling, made it an unforgettable event.
A huge round of applause to all the talented participants and the incredible team that put it all together. Your hard work and dedication truly shone through today. And, of course, a big THANK YOU to all the parents and carers who came to support us! You made the day even more special.
We're thrilled to share that our event was not only a huge success but also a meaningful one. Making over $2000 in profit is fantastic! Our Student Representative Council (SRC) members will decide on a charity to donate to, making a positive impact in our community.
We can’t wait for next year for an even bigger and greater event!
Street Stalls and Talent Show
If “Pictures could speak a thousand words”. The pictures attached to this article will speak volumes about the various programs and activities that are happening in and out of our classroom. What a start to the last Term of the year!
We have just finished “MARNEBEK STREET STALLS”. The photos will speak about the success of the event. It was awesome to see many of our parents coming to the event and supporting our students.
Our class together with 10/11 D had set up a stall. We were preparing for this event from Term 3. After discussion and lots of considerations, we decided to make COOKIES for our stall. The students researched and came up with their own cookies' recipe. We made three different variety of cookies; M&M cookies, white chocolate cookies and plain cookies. Students calculated the cost and decided on a small margin of profit. We made hundred cookies, and they were all sold out in record time!
Our Duke of Ed students continue to go to Gumbuya World for their volunteering work and to Waverly Industries for their work experience. They have improved their ability to listen to instructions and work together in a team.
Enjoy the photos and create your own narratives!
Lysan & Dianne
News from 10/11C
The students in 10/11B have been working hard in their final push to read books for the Premier’s Reading Challenge. We read a great book today as a class about Bernie the sad bee who could not fly, but found her strengths lay elsewhere. We love sharing books on a daily basis in our class.
We also welcomed our long awaited order of books. It was wonderful to witness the students excitement as they began to devour the contents of their favourite choices. We now proudly have the beginning of a library cupboard in the common area of Learning Neighbourhood Four.
All of these books were ordered from the Book Club order catalogue which is so popular with our students.
It certainly has been an exciting week for all of our young readers.
Katie Ayrton (10B Teacher)
STEM with 10B
News from 8/9D
It has been an incredible and productive start to term 4 for us in 8/9 D. Students have shown an energetic interest and have been very enthusiastic about learning and engaging in classroom activities. They worked very hard and have made significant gains across a range of areas.
Our students have been involved in a range of reading and writing activities. Also, they have developed an understanding of what it means to be Responsible, Motivated, Respectful, Resilient and Safe learners. It is wonderful to see them developing these positive school experiences.
We also engaged in cooking activities and celebrated birthdays with great fervour.
Manisha Pillai (8/9D Teacher)
SWPBS @Marnebek
Celebrating students’ achievements
House Totals | Term 4 | Week 1
House Totals | Term 4 | Week 2
SWPBS Champions | Term 4 | Week 1
SWPBS Champions | Term 4 | Week 2
Congratulations!
Bus Awards | Week 1
Congratulations!
Bus Awards | Week 2
Who’s Who @Marnebek
Welcome Nick Stuart :-)
Hello Marnebek community,
My name is Nick Stuart and I am originally from the UK. I moved to Australia in 2008 as a backpacker. I fell in love with the country and decided to stay and become a teacher here. I have two wonderful children. My son, who has just turned four and my stepdaughter, who is twelve years old.
I am very pleased to be the new Grade 6/7 teacher at Marnebek School. I have been teaching now for over 13 years. I love my profession because every day is so different. Seeing student flourish and grow as learners is very rewarding and helping support them on their journey to becoming the best learners they can be, brings a smile to my face.
In my spare time, I love to be out in nature with my family and I love to travel. I love camping and the great outdoors and in my spare time I wakeboard, snowboard and spearfish. Recently, I have got a lot of enjoyment from being in the garden growing my own fruit and vegetables with my son.
Here are some facts about me…
I grew up in Kenya, East Africa. I moved back to the UK when I was six years old. In the above picture you can see me sitting on a wild white rhino in the game reserve when I was about 3 years old.
This will make you laugh…
When I lived in Kenya, I was bitten on the bottom by a baboon and had to have lots of injections over the course of three months. Just in case the baboon had rabies.
I have not only sat on a rhino, but I have also a crocodile.
I am a published author and have written a book called ‘The Little Book of Big Silliness’. The book is an educational tool and teaches students about Idioms and their literal meaning. The book was dedicated to my son on his second birthday and was written during lockdown. I have 2 more books in the pipeline.
My partner and I are also in the process of making a documentary about some indigenous artists. The ladies went to Paris for International Fashion Week. They have now exhibited their work all over the world and have been on the front of Vogue Magazine Australia. We sent a film crew to Paris and have recently got back from filming in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory where the ladies live. We crossed 68 rivers on our trip and 2 had crocodiles in. The pictures show our journey across one of the rivers and the wonderful ladies in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris!
Scholastic Book Club News
Issue 7 is now available!
Book Club has arrived! Look out for your copy of Book Club coming home in your child's schoolbag! It's packed with hundreds of books from just $3 to help you on your child's reading journey.
There are activities for everyone inside this issue, and if you login to Loop you can access 50 Extra Books.
Orders are due to in by Monday, 23rd October!
Thank you to the parents that have placed their order on this Issue of Book Club! There is still time to order if you haven’t already. Some of the most popular titles we've noticed this Issue include Super Speedy Sloth, The Bad Guys and Sweet Valley Twins.
Look 👀 Out for Scholastic BooksPlus.
TheirCare
Afterschool & School Holidays Services
Our school has partnered with an independent provider TheirCare to provide After Care and Holiday Care services to our school community.
The program services the children in the school from 3:00pm each day until 6:00pm. During school holidays the service will operate from 9:00am until 5:00pm. Families wishing to use this service can visit the TheirCare website: http://theircare.com.au/
Families are also eligible for a Government rebate which reduces the cost per session. Further information can also be obtained by contacting the school or ringing TheirCare on: 1300 072 410.
TheirCare provides a stimulating and safe environment for all children and an environment where children from and enjoy their time in their program. During sessions children develop life skills, friendships, confidence and creativity through play.
Community Notices
School Uniform
Beleza Uniform Shop
Marnebek School Uniforms can be purchased through:
BELEZA SCHOOL UNIFORMS CRANBOURNE
126 High St, Cranbourne VIC 3977
Website: Beleza – High Street Cranbourne
Phone: (03) 5996 6861
Our uniform price lists are below:
FEEDBACK FORM
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We really appreciate your feedback.
Your Marnebek Community Engagement Team