Heights Happenings – 2025 – Term 3, Week 4

Book Week Celebrations

We’re gearing up for another exciting Book Week beginning on Monday. The Children’s Book Council of Australia have chosen the theme “Book an Adventure” for this year. It’s a special anniversary year for the CBCA as they’re celebrating 80 years of Children’s Book Week.

When I think back to my time in primary school, book week and book character dress-up day is probably one of my fondest memories. Back in the 80s, we had to be super-creative with our dress up costumes because there weren’t that many pre-made character costumes or items that you could buy from the shops. My mum and I, along with my twin brother, would grab whatever we could find to put together a Robin Hood costume or a Goonies and Ghostbusters outfit. I’m looking forward to seeing all the kids dress up on Monday morning for our parade – it should be lots of fun.

Given it’s the 80^th anniversary of CBCA Book Week, here are some of the most memorable and influential children’s books written by Australian authors that hold a special place for me, and I’m sure for many of you as well.

• The Magic Pudding by Norman Lindsay
• Blinky Bill series by Dorothy Wall
• Possum Magic by Mem Fox
• The Rainbow Serpent by Dick Roughsey
• Wombat Stew by Marcia K. Vaughan and Pamela Lofts
• Koala Lou by Mem Fox
• Edward the Emu by Sheena Knowles and Rod Clement
• Animalia and The Eleventh Hour by Graeme Base
• Unreal!, Round the Twist and many, many books by Paul Jennings
• Fox by Margaret Wild and Ron Brooks
• Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley
• Are We There Yet? By Alison Lester
• Blueback by Tim Winton
• Once series by Morris Gleitzman
• The 52-Storey Treehouse series by Andy Griffith

I would regard any of these books as “must reads” as they highlight the histories, culture and uniqueness of Australia and its people.

As we celebrate Book Week, I’d like to thank Mrs Leanne Bentley and her crew of library captains and parent volunteers for their contributions towards Book Week and the Book Fair.

School Disco

The school disco happened last Friday night and was a great success once again. The kids went absolutely nuts for songs in the K-Pop Demon Hunters movie! I’ve not seen the movie but based on the way the kids were singing the songs, they’ve clearly seen the movie and heard the soundtrack multiple times. A special thank you to Rachel Husar, Holly Watson and their team of parent volunteers for making the disco happen so smoothly. The feedback has been very positive and I know they’re already planning for next year’s event.

Garden upgrades

The senior playground and Yarning Circle area has been getting a garden makeover lately. This is all thanks to Catherine Devlin who has worked exceptionally hard to design the space, find the right plants for the area and put them in the ground. She has used plants that are indigenous to the area and will grow well in our environment. It will look incredible once they’re all established. There’s a bit more work to be done to fill in the gaps, so if you’re keen to help her out please get in touch with the school and we will connect you with Catherine.

Enjoy your weekend!

Mat Anderton
Principal

Year 1 – Zones of Regulation

Year 1 students have been learning about the Zones of Regulation and how to recognise different emotions. As part of this, they designed their own characters to represent each zone — Blue, Green, Yellow and Red.

Year 3 – Seascapes

Year 3 students learned how to mix tints and shades by adding white and black to blue paint. They used these colours to create smooth gradients, showing the depth of the ocean. To complete their artworks, students used baking paper to transfer striking animal silhouettes.

Ella-C-2C

Tara Henstock
Visual Arts Co-ordinator

Library News

Book Week Celebrations are coming … August 18^th – 22nd

On Monday 18^th August, we will start with our Book Character Dress up day. Students can come dressed as their favourite Book Character and we will hold a whole school parade at 9.15am. We welcome our school community to come along and have some fun with us as we share our costumes. You may like to decorate a hat, decorate a t-shirt or use any items you have at home to represent your favourite book character.

On Thursday 21st August we have an incredible incursion with a live performance titled Treasure Hunt. Perform Education will provide us with an educational musical adventure linked to this year’s Book Week theme, Book an Adventure. The production will run two sessions, Prep – 2, aimed at junior students and a 3-6 production for senior primary students. This incursion has been booked with an early bird fee for families of $8.55 per student. This is payable through Compass.

Our annual Book Fair will begin on Monday 18th of August and finish Friday 22nd of August. The Book Fair will be open to students during their Library session where students can bring cash in a named envelope to purchase new, fantastic quality and popular books. Junior and senior fiction books, activity packs, journals, picture story books and non-fiction books will all be available for as little as $2 and up to $30. Book Fair will also be open to families between 3.30pm and 4pm each day, in the Library. In order to run a smooth and successful Book Fair we are asking for parent volunteers to help us out after school each day for half an hour. If you are available and able to support us as a cashier or supervising, can you please fill in the form below and return it to the school office or email me at leanne.bentley@education.vic.gov.au Your time and support is always greatly appreciated.

Cash sales and EFTPOS will be available at the Book Fair.

________________________________________________________________________________

I can help out at the Book Fair on these days (please tick the days you are available):

Name:                                                                                                                  Contact number:

If you have any queries please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Leanne Bentley

Winners of the Rock Bottom raffle

Congratulations to the following families on their raffle win:

1^st Stephanie Gibbs

2^nd Olivia Naughten

3^rd Perger-Jude Family

4^th Lisa Reiner

5th Winter Montebello

Free Student Tables. Please contact Lori at the office to arrange pick up.

Prep 2026 Enrolments

Prep 2026 enrolments are due into schools by the 25th August 2025.

If you have been offered a place after enrolling online with the VicStudent porthole, and haven’t accepted or declined, could you please now.

If you have a child to enrol for 2026 and haven’t yet, please contact the office as soon as possible.

Attendance

Please remember if your child will be absent ALL day, you need to enter an absence note on COMPASS. The office will be following up all unexplained absences.

Compass will automatically generate an SMS at 10.00am if your child is not at school. Please note that if you are bringing your child in late, ignor this SMS as late arrivals get signed in on the COMPASS Kiosk at the office on your arrival.  However, if your child is going to be absent for a complete day, you must approve this absence with a ‘note’ on Compass. This will avoid you receiving additional correspondence from the office to follow up this unexplained absence.

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.

CARE Ticket Winners

School Disco

Thank you to those parents who volunteered at the School Disco.

The kids had a wonderful time dancing the night away.

Thank you to Rachel and Holly for organising this wonderful event.

Chocolate Fundraiser

Thanks to those who have already returned the $60 payment for the box of chocolate and a massive thank you to those who have taken additional boxes.

All money is going towards the extension of the senior playground.

The chocolate money is due back Monday 28th August.

Upcoming Events

Father’s Day Stall will be on Tuesday 2nd September.

There is a call out for Parent Helpers on Compass today.

Save the Date for the great BHPS Trivia Night on Friday 17th October. All donations appreciated.

Leah Hodgson
Boronia Heights Hubsters