On Wednesday 6 March students are invited to participate in World Maths Day. This event is sponsored by UNICEF and Mathletics. Students from across the school will be tapping keyboards as they answer mathematical challenges against other students from around the world. The lab will be a busy place with classes timetabled to use it not only during class time but throughout recess and lunch times!!!

We invite each student to wear casual clothing during this special mathematical day with a number on it. It might be a football jersey or a t-shirt with a number on it. Each student is asked to donate $2.00 or more to donate to UNICEF.

We have set our goals high and hope to raise enough during the day to purchase two School-in-a-Box learning kits. Each UNICEF kit is valued at US$236 and is enough to purchase a School-In-A-Box - a learning kit which gives around 80 children the opportunity to start school. This has an immediate, tangible impact in poor communities, and can be replenished year after year.

Today teachers and parents met throughout the afternoon and into the evening ensuring a clarity of class expectations and demonstrating the importance of collaboration to improve learning outcomes. While the year has just begun, these meetings proved an invaluable opportunity to raise any initial concerns while reviewing classroom timetables and directions.

For those parents who were unable to attend their scheduled meetings please arrange a more convenient time with your child's classroom teacher by phoning the school or speaking with teachers.

Thank you to the dedicated teachers and parents who enabled the smooth transition of all students into their new grades.

‘Going to school every day is important for a student’s education.This may seem to be stating something extremely obvious, but data from school reviews is now available to support what teachers have long known. Absence from school means that learning opportunities are reduced and this can ultimately lead to poorer student achievement. Where this happens, the impact will be felt long after the student has left school.

Absence from school and class clearly affects the absent student, but also impacts on the teacher’s ability to plan and present class work in a sequential and organised way. This can affect the progress of all students in the class, not only those missing, and can make classroom management difficult.

Students from 12P wowed the assembly on Friday with their Who Am I?'s. We were shown crayon drawings over photos of each student and then invited to guess who they were after a few interesting details were shared.

Each student should not only be proud of the creative work they presented but also the thoughtful and clear way it was shared. Next week we are all looking forward to 56J's presentation. We're sure they will contribute to a great year of class presentations at assembly.

Students have swarmed over the new playground this week enjoying the spiderweb, the double slide and the rock wall. One of the highlights has been seeing both the youngest of students and older students sharing the equipment together. Everyone agrees that it is a welcome addition to our playground.
 
To ensure that everyone has an opportunity to play safely a roster has been established. Years 3 to 6 are encouraged to use the equipment from Monday through to Thursday. On Friday they have access to the adventure playground near the hall. Prep to Year 2 can continue to use the plaground near the hall and on Fridays challenge themselves on the new equipment. 

These changes will be monitored over the term and reviewed in term 2.  

Students in Years 3 and 4 trapped and dribbled as they were introduced to the skills of hockey today. Pender's hosted the visit from Hockey Victoria and the local Yarra Valley Hockey Club.Students participated in drills and games that developed their coordination skills and awareness of the rules of hockey. In the future, other grades will no doubt enjoy these introductory workshops just as much as those students who participated today.

If you would like to learn more about hockey and simply try it out, Yarra Vlley Hockey Club are providing a free introductory lesson starting on Saturday. You can make further enquiries at [email protected].

Today six of our talented students plunged into the Northcote Swimming Pool competing in the Darebin District Swimming Carnival. They arrived back at school exhausted by their swims but thrilled to have achieved so much.

The relay team achieved third place, while others achieved a range of firsts and thirds. Abbey just missed out on second in her freestyle and breaststroke races by a fngertip. Rylie knocked 22 seconds off her personal best hile Hugo amazingly took 13 seconds off his! Everyone did extremely well at this high level of competition. Each of the students said enthusiastically, "I'm going to be part of the team next year!" 

Well done Rylie, Isabella, Taysen, Hugo, Kayla and Abbey as well as Paula the coach for her creativity in designing the PGPS Swim Squad cap!  

We're always keen to save paper and become a little more efficient at Pender's and so we invite you to consider moving towards a paperless Newsletter. In the coming weeks we are inviting families to subscribe to a digital version of our newsletter that well be made available each Thursday.

By subscribing you can choose to add the names of the students you have enrolled at Pender's Grove and they will not be given a paper copy of the Newsletter. We hope to provide a more accessible format of our newsletter that parent can recieve and read with ease.

Simply click on the subscribe button to add your name to the growing nuber of digital readers!

Everyone is holding their breath this Thursday as our swim team plunge into the pool to compete in the District Swimming Carnival. Our thoughts are with Rylie, Taysen, Kayla, Abbey and Hugo as they mount their diving blocks awaiting the start of their races. All have been in training over these past few weeks. "We're all nervous and excited," said Taysen at lunch today. Their participation and eagerness to be involved has meant that they are winners already! A special thanks to Paula for encouraging the team along the way.

Challenge your family and friends to get active in 2013! The 2013 Premier’s Active Families Challenge provides a great opportunity for all Victorian families to get active and enjoy the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. So grab your family and friends and register today to do 30 minutes of physical activity per day for 30 days between 4 March and 14 April 2013.