Dear Parents

I was in a carpark earlier this week and was sitting in my car. The owner of the car beside me returned to his car and opened his car door, not once, but twice (!) hitting the side of my car. I was annoyed at his thoughtlessness about any possible damage to my car, so spoke to him, telling him that he had hit my car with his door and I hoped he hadn’t damaged it. Oh I am so sorry these carparks are so small was his response. I said to him that actually it wasn’t the carpark that had made the choice to hit my car with his door, it was him. Oh, he said you’re right and apologised again. I graciously said thank you for your apology (but I still checked for damage before he drove away! None!)

The choices we make are just that – our choices, no one else’s. Often, when we talk to a child about his or her choice that has resulted in hurting someone or damaging property, they will say oh I did it because my friend had told me to. Or a parent will tell us that their child’s choice to do something inappropriate was not their fault because another child made them do it, or provoked them first.

Nobody can make us do anything we don’t want to. Our behaviours, comments, action are all results of a choice we have made. If we choose to speak rudely to someone because they have annoyed us, it is our choice to do that. We cannot blame the other person’s annoying behaviour for our choice. We have a range of choices immediately available to us if we are annoyed – move away, say nothing, speak rudely, stay calm, respond reasonably, suggest a conversation later. Which of the choices we choose has nothing to do with the other person, but is solely our choice to make.

At school we do a lot of work with children around choices and how there are other choices they could have made which might have had a better outcome. We say “what else could you have done?” When they are asked that simple question, they are reflecting on alternate choices and they always suggest something which would have resulted in a more favourable outcome. I recently spoke with a child who had gotten themselves into a bit of bother. After we discussed the action, the choice they made and the outcome, I commented that the only person who could change their behaviour was themselves and that could happen through thinking of other choices when responding to aggravation.

All of this is important for children to know, but it is also very important that they make the less appropriate choice from time to time. It is through the consequences of these inappropriate choices made, that the most powerful learning happens. Nobody is perfect, but we can learn from our mistakes and wrong choices.

Kind Regards
Janice Adamson

Book Character Parade and Readathon
You know that feeling when you arrive at a function and you are horribly underdressed? That’s how I felt today when I made the choice to not wear a book character costume. OK, mitigating circumstances are that all our ‘stuff’, including our dress up box, is in storage while we sell our house (but following on from the theme above, it was my choice to not try to manufacture something at 10pm last night!). And the reason I felt so underdressed was because most of the children looked fantastic in their costumes. It was so great to see them all turned out in fancy dress, many carrying the books that were their inspiration. The Read-a-thon and accompanying activities are been a huge success. Now all you need to do is send back your sponsorship money.

Mathex
Two teams, one year 5 and one year 6 participated in the annual Mathex competition at St Kentigerns last Thursday night. It is such a fun competition and our two teams acquitted themselves very well.

VAS Chess Championship
After school chess is very popular and the VAS championship is keenly contested.
Congratulations to Jet Cheung, 1^st and Oscar Preuss and Rex Hu 2^nd equal.

Pizza Day
A very popular PTS initiative, well organised and the children love it. Thanks to the parents for their organisation.

PRE-ENROLMENT FOR 2017

URGENT ~ PRE-ENROLMENT FOR THOSE STARTING SCHOOL AT VICTORIA AVENUE SCHOOL IN 2017!
FOR IN ZONE AND OUT OF ZONE OPTIONS

For more information please go to our website or email Linley as soon as possible.

THOSE WHO ARE OUT OF ZONE
WITH CHILDREN WHO ARE DUE TO START SCHOOL IN 2017
MUST APPLY FOR THE BALLOT BY WEDNESDAY 12 OCTOBER 2016!!

IF YOU DON’T APPLY YOUR CHILD WILL MISS OUT!!

Uniform Shop  CLOSED on FRIDAY 23 SEPTEMBER (Last day of term).

Online orders placed by Tuesday 20 September and will be delivered on 21st September.
The shop will be opened on 10 October from 8:15 to 8:45am. and then as usual.
Everyone will need a hat for next term. No hat no play!!!

LOTS OF LOST PROPERTY!!

Please note that we have FIVE events coming up:

• Friday 16 September: Quiz Night – See the list below of fabulous auction items – you can bid on without attending the event!
• Monday 19 September: Maths Information Session at 7pm. CLICK HERE  link to tell us your are coming!
• Tuesday 18 October:  Brainwave Trust talk at 7pm – cost is $12:00 Tickets on sale soon in our online shop.
• Wednesday 12 October: Closing date for Out of Zone Ballot applications.
• Wednesday 19 October: Out of Zone Ballot is drawn.