NEWS DESK
Kits bridge gap for school starters
Bay kayaker’s body found THE body of missing Mt Eliza woman Kylie Phillips was found by a fisherman 500 metres off the pier at Indented Head, Tuesday 21 November. The police Air Wing, water police and emergency services crews had been searching for the missing kayaker, 44, who disappeared off Mt Eliza, Wednesday 15 November. Her kayak was found in waters off Altona, Friday 17 November. It is believed Ms Phillips had a medical condition. Mornington police said the family had been notified immediately. The Water Police will prepare a report for the coroner. Anyone with mental health issues should call Lifeline Australia 13 11 14.
CHILDREN starting primary school at Hastings next year are being “prepped” by their parents using a kit designed to “bridge the gap” between pre-school and more formal schooling. The get-ready-for-school kit was developed by former prep teachers Nat Petersen and has now become part of the Linking Schools and Early Years partnership formed 11 years ago after statistics showed Hastings children lagged behind their peers in several important areas of education. The imbalance has been corrected to a large extent, although Australian Early Developmental Census (AEDC) figures show Hastings children “are considerably behind their state and national peers when they first commence school in prep,” Ms Petersen said. “This is a huge worry because often children who are behind at this stage can find it very difficult to ever catch up.” The Linking Schools and Early Years partnership, along with Hastings’ schools, kinders, Good Shepherd Youth and Family Services, Hastings Western Port Rotary Club and businesses, agencies and volunteers, have succeeded in improving children’s language and cognitive development skills. However, they are still behind the state average. The get-ready-for-school kits being handed out to parents cost about $100 each and have been paid for through Western Port Rotary Club and local businesses. “We are so very grateful to Rotary”,
Helpful beginnings: Rotarians and traders have backed a get-ready-for-school kit designed to make it easier for Hastings preschoolers to make the transition to primary school. Picture: Supplied
Ms Petersen said. “It simply wouldn’t have been possible without their amazingly generous support. “When the teachers at the three Hastings schools were deciding what to put in the kit, they got quite carried away and went way over the initial budget. Paddy Fincham, president of Rotary Hastings Western Port, graciously let them have their way and Rotary provided the extra money.” Western Port Chamber of Commerce asked High St traders to sponsor a child starting school in Hastings
Hastings RSL
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for $20. “This money would enable the addition of more valuable items to the get ready-for-school kit, and hopefully bring a further sense of purpose to the whole town,” Ms Petersen said. “We needed 85 $20 sponsorships to supplement the 85 kits and the shopkeepers did it. “The end result is a kit of pre-literacy, pre-maths, pre-writing readiness activities valued at just under $100 that has been given to the parents of every child starting preps at one of our Hastings schools next year.
Have your say ‘Party House’ law Addressing anti-social behaviour from short stay rental accommodation Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Draft Short Stay Rental Accommodation Local Law addresses the potential impacts of anti-social behaviour on the local community from occupants of short stay rental accommodation properties - commonly referred to as party houses – across the peninsula.
The proposed local law will: • Implement a registration system • Provide a Code of Conduct • Minimise the risk affecting the peace of neighbours • Ensure appropriate management and presentation
The RSL club is available for HIRE for that SPECIAL FUNCTION
1066 Club – every Thursday 10.00am – 3.00pm
(Except for 1st Thursday of the month)
Thursday 6.30 Service Parma, Chips & Salad $15.00 - One Free Beer, Wine or Softdrink Children $8.00 with a Free Softdrink
Friday Night Raffles/Meals 2 course meals $12.00 per person. Raffles drawn at 7:30pm PAGE 6
Western Port News 28 November 2017
“Parents receiving the kits will be guided by the teachers on how to make the most of the activities over the next few months. “Hopefully our youngest students will develop the confidence to jump right into formal learning in 2018. “I don’t know of any other small town anywhere that is prepared to help its youngest students like we have just done and have been doing for 11 years now through the Linking Schools and Early Years partnership.”
Have your say More info and have your say online: mornpen.vic.gov.au/haveyoursay Submissions close 7 December, 2017.