24 March 2016

From the Principal

Zoe Smith

Hello,

Thank you for your support this term! It is amazing to think we have reached the end of Term 1!

I would like to thank our teachers for the time and effort they put into Parent Teacher Interviews last week. It is a very important process and as you can imagine a tiring one for the teachers. Parent Teacher Interviews add at least 8 hours onto the normal working week of a teacher and teachers are not paid more for taking part in this process. I am sure you are grateful for the time the teachers took to meet with you.

The Voluntary Contribution Scheme which is being used to support our Curiosity and Powerful Learning Journey, has been well supported so far this year. I am very excited to announce we have now raised $20,000 which is the minimum we were hoping for! This equates to around 60% of families supporting the Voluntary Contribution Scheme. We are very thankful for your support as it means we can purchase the resources we hoped would get us off to a great start in our Curiosity and Powerful learning journey. The teachers, students and I are very grateful for your support!

We are now a term into our Curiosity and Powerful learning journey. We are on a huge learning curve and I would like to commend the staff for their continued enthusiasm and engagement. It is hard to 'learn on the go' when you still have so many usual pieces of work to maintain. We are listening to the teachers and gauging the pace of our work based on their feedback. So far, our teachers are enjoying 'playing' with an Inquiry approach to learning. Next term we will start working with Kath Murdoch, our Inquiry expert and start to cement the foundations of the approach.

On Wednesday morning our school hosted a meeting of school leaders who were interested in learning more about how social media is affecting schools. We were very lucky to have Barrister, Ross McSwan to talk with us about Social media, schools and the law. Unfortunately, it is becoming more common for schools and school staff members to be targeted by parents and students on social media. At these times, I am sure the parent or student making the post does not consider the wider ramifications of their actions. I would hope our families understand the damage that can be done to the reputation of a school staff member or the school in general when information, which often has a personal bias, is posted and shared for discussion on line. It is always important to pause, think, consider your emotional state and the impact your comment may have on others, before you click the final button and share your posts, tweets etc. with the wider world!

Thank you for the families who supported the Spell-a-thon last week. The special assembly for Spell-a-thon will take place on 28 April at 2.20pm. I would especially like to thank the wonderful parents who volunteer their time to make the Spell-a-thon a success.

I hope you have a fantastic Easter holiday break. Please stay safe and we look forward to seeing you back after the holidays!

Zoe Smith

Newsletter Articles

From the Deputy Principal

Maree Hass

A busy term one is drawing to a close, the students have accomplished so much! I would like to thank all of the parents who have volunteered their time in their child's classroom over this term; you have contributed to students' learning significantly. Have a relaxing and safe holiday and prepare for another action packed school term ahead.

We enjoyed watching the Prep Easter Hat Parade on Tuesday and their Easter songs. Well done teachers and children.

Date Claimer: Friday April 22

Our school ANZAC Day ceremony will take place at 10.15 in our school hall and families and friends are welcome to attend this special occasion.

Waiting List for Prep for 2017 – opens first day of next term Monday April 11.

The waiting list for 2017 will open on Monday, 11th April at 8:00am. Please let any interested people know that forms and information can be gained from our school office from that date which is the first day of next term. Families from within our catchment area we also invite you to obtain enrolment forms to begin the process when convenient after the start of term 2. For in catchment families a birth certificate and proof of residency in our catchment is required along with the completed enrolment form.

Graceville State School recognises as its prime obligation the provision of access to an appropriate educational service for students resident within this community as defined by its local catchment area.

Please visit the following link which details our school enrolment management plan and also provides a link to the catchment area for Graceville State School:

This site also outlines the process for placing your child's name on our waiting list if you reside outside of our catchment area.

Below is the calendar for term 2 assemblies.

From the Deputy Principal

Lisa McKeaten

Wellbeing

What an assembly that was last week! Thank you to 4B for their wonderful singing to start our assembly. Thanks also to Mrs Hornstra, Mr Arnold & 6H & A for all of their contributions. Also thanks to Mrs Lindt & the Year 2 & 3 choir for their performance. It was a wonderful way to celebrate the 2 events – national day of action against Bullying & violence & Harmony Day.

5G celebrated Harmony Day by investigating student's cultural backgrounds. Here are some photos to show their learning.

Young Leaders Day

Last Monday I had the pleasure of escorting 10 of our School Leaders to the Brisbane Convention Centre for the annual Halogen Young Leaders Day. The day involved about 3000 students and teachers from across the state.

The following are some photos from the day and accounts from the Student leaders:

National Young Leaders Day-Pippa Sheehan
Written by IIani S and Chloe L

The fourth speaker at the National Young Leaders Day was Pippa Sheehan.

You may recognise her name, because she is a news reporter and journalist for Ten Eyewitness News. During her time speaking, Pippa told us many things about being a leader and she also told us some inspirational quotes to do with leadership. Some examples were that: doing something without being asked makes you a leader; doing something little gives you the confidence to do great things; and one small thing can make you do something else and little things can impact you and other people. All of these things reinforce the theme of the day, which was 'master the little'. Some of the quotes Pippa told us:' a change is brought to an ordinary person that does extraordinary things', Feel the fear and do it anyway'; and 'oh yes that past can hurt, but you can run from it or learn from it'. We both found Pippa very inspiring because of what she told us and how she went about it.

Overall, we really enjoyed listening to Pippa and all of the other speakers, and we learnt many things from them. We should also like to say to everyone don't forget to 'master the little'.

Halogen Foundation National Young Leaders Day
Written by Sam D and Sam S

On Monday 14th March the school leaders were lucky enough to travel to the Brisbane Convention Centre for the National Young Leaders Day. The theme of the day was how to 'master the little' this essentially means that the little things add up overtime. Or you need to do the little things to get the big things.

There were four guest speakers and a panel of three people. The speakers included Nathan Dubsy Want (communicator and mentor), Ian Stewart (police commissioner), Josh Richards (stand-up comedian, physicist, explosives engineer in the British Commandos and Australian Army, and a candidate for Mars One), and Pippa Sheehan (Ten Eyewitness News reporter). The panel was made up of Lisa (You tuber who blogs about space), Sarah (food scientist that works with ice-cream), and Hannah (Camel dairy farmer).

National Young Leaders Day
Written by Xander L

Commissioner Ian Stewart is head of the Police Department for Queensland and looks after 1600 police men and was one of our guest speakers. The little things keep people safe, and that is why it is important to master the little to achieve the big. It is as simple as having courage, but not the courage of a fireman rescuing people but to be able to tell people to do the right thing. Fairness, to be able to treat people whether of skin colour, poverty of anything of the sort. The most important is to be proud of what you do, even though you may have not been successful at least you tried your best. Leaders serve and we would like to say a big thanks to Mrs McKeaten for organizing this event and the parents that escorted us there and back.

Money Matters

Roberta Haryicki

Pink family statements have been distributed and thank you to the many who have paid their account-in-full. Payment of an activity and a permission form returned by the due date will ensure your child's attendance.

Planned excursions for Term 2 and UNSW competitions will be added to the family statement. This statement will be distributed the first week back.

Voluntary Parent Contributions

Still collecting your valuable contribution to this school's learning journey.

$60 single student family and $115 for 2 or more in family. Please refer to the Principal's letter and information sheet.

Credit in Account: All credits in family accounts may be used with current invoices at the parent's request.

Request for Refund form for an excursion paid and not attended is available from the front office. Prepaid ticketing excursions and prepaid competition entries are non-refundable.

Payment of account days:

8am-3.15pm - Monday to Wednesday
8am-12pm - Thursday and Friday
BPoint is the preferred method of payment.
Eftpos, Debit Cards: Visa/Mastercard, cheque or cash payments are accepted.

Roberta Harycki
Business Services Manager

BPoint is the preferred method of payment; Eftpos, Debit Cards: Visa/Mastercard, cheque or cash payments are accepted

BPOINT User Information

For payment of multiple items on your statement/invoice, you will need to do a separate entry for each item, entering the invoice number and the corresponding payment amount for that item only e.g.

Separate Entries for each line must be done to ensure the payment is allocated to the correct Excursion/Resource Fee.

BPOINT payments must be processed in time to clear (usually 2-3 business days) before the Due Date for payment.

Spellathon

Spellathon Test Day was last Tuesday. Thank you to all the children for learning their words and trying their best. Thanks also to the teachers for supporting the Spellathon and for incorporating the Spellathon test into their busy schedules. Everyone's efforts to help the school are greatly appreciated.

Each child's sponsorship envelope should have been sent home again this week so the children can collect their sponsorship money from their sponsors. To be eligible for prizes the sponsorship forms and all money raised are due back to the School office by 3pm on Monday 18 April. If your child forgot to bring in their form for test day, please get them to bring the form in soon for the teacher to write the child's number of words/tasks that they got correct on the top. If you cannot find your envelope or form please find a copy linked to this newsletter.

Don't forget there are great prizes in each year level. Prizes will be based on sponsorship collected and also every child who spelt all their words correctly will be entered into an exciting prize draw where they could win one of two fun prizes in each year level (see your information letter for prize details). As well as these individual prizes, there will be whole class prizes. Every child in the class that raises the most money in each year level will receive a small prize. No matter how small a contribution your child makes it will be helping to make the 2016 Spellathon a great success.

This year the funds raised by the Spellathon will go towards refreshing the school's technology equipment (laptops and some desktops). Projects like these are of great benefit to all students in the school. Please encourage your friends, relatives and neighbours to sponsor your child and help us make Spellathon 2016 a great success.

Our sponsors for 2016 are Peter May and Brad Robson from Place Real Estate, Oxley Rd Discount Drug Store and Graceville Bike Company.

If you need help buying or selling your home, Peter & Brad from Place are the ones to help you. Please contact Peter on 0409543546 or Brad on 0414773437.

For all your pharmacy needs go to Oxley Road Discount Drug Store where you get more than just low prices. They are located right next to the Post Office.

To find Brisbane's friendliest bike shop with expertise in road, racing, touring, commuter, mountain and kids' bikes go to Graceville Bike Company on Honour Ave. Tele: 3379 7464.

We thank our sponsors for their support of our school and ask that you support them with your business.

If you have any queries please get in touch by emailing: gracevillespellathon@gmail.com

The Spellathon Committee

Proudly sponsored by:

Music News

Naomi Lindh

Thanks again to our Year 2 and 3 Choir students for singing at the Harmony Day assembly last week and parents who were able to attend. They sang beautifully and enjoyed the opportunity to sing for their peers, teachers and families. We will be organising another performance for the Year 2/3 combined choir at an assembly next term. The Senior Choir is currently learning a song for the ANZAC Day service in term 2 with Ms West and families are invited to attend this service.

All rehearsals will resume in week 1 of term 2, except Senior Band as Mr Stiller will be away on a camp with another school. He was going to organise to return for Senior Band but as the year 6 students will be on camp both percussion lessons and Senior Band rehearsals will be cancelled in week 1 of next term.

Junior Band rehearsals will begin next term on Thursday morning at 7:30am for all year 4 band students. Beginner and Junior String rehearsals will also start next term on Thursdays at 12:45-1:15pm in the music room. Students will need to bring their instrument, music book and folder to these rehearsals. Please note that it is a requirement of involvement in the instrumental program for students to attend rehearsals regularly. Please contact your child's conductor if they are unable to attend a rehearsal.

Music Rehearsals Term 2

Tuesday 7:45am Senior Choir
Wednesday 7:45am Senior Strings
Wednesday 3-4pm Senior Band
Thursday 7:30am Junior Band - beginning in term 2, week 1 - with Mr Alex Grodecki ( agrod3@eq.edu.au )
Thursday 7:45am Year 3 Choir - Warratah Room
Thursday 12:45pm Beginner/Junior Strings - beginning in term 2, week 1 - with Mrs Ruth Prout ( rprou5@eq.edu.au )
Friday 8:00am Year 2 Choir - Mrs Naomi Lindh - music room

On behalf of the music department I would like to wish our families a safe and happy holiday! We look forward to rehearsals, lessons and performances next term!

Naomi Lindh
Music Teacher and IM Coordinator
Graceville State School

Active School Travel

TACO TUESDAY!

(Travel Actively Coming-to-school On)

Please remember to take care while being active over the school holidays. Remember to STOP LOOK LISTEN THINK!

While in the car:

• Buckle up front and back in the car
• Follow speed limits
• Don't drive tired
• Don't park on yellow lines – this obstructs the view for other traffic and pedestrians

While walking:

• Look left, right and left again
• Cross at pedestrian crossings (if there is one near) or find somewhere safe to cross. Take care….LISTEN and THINK

While scooting and riding (or rolling)

• Wear a helmet and protective gear
• Make sure your bike / wheels are in good working order
• Remember to follow the road rules too!
• Be VISIBLE!!!!!

While on public transport:

• While waiting for the train…..STAY BEHIND THE YELLOW LINE!
• Use the designated overpasses or tunnels…stay off the tracks
• While using the bus…..stand back from the curb
• Always listen to the conductors / inspectors and adhere to safety guidelines

Additional Stamping Station

There will now be an additional stamping station located at the gate between after school care and the music block, so that those active travellers who enter from Park Road can get their passports stamped without having to come up to the quadrangle. Thank you to our students who do all the stamping on Tuesdays!

Did you know that the Graceville Bike Company proudly supports the GSS Active Travel Program? They are offering the following to the families of Graceville State School:

• 15% off all kids' accessories (not including bikes)
• 5% off all kids' bikes
• Free wash on parents' and kids' bikes with any Bronze Service - for the month of March

Our next big event…..A long time ago in a school far far away, students dressed up to celebrate active travel…..May the 4th be with you! If you took part last year you will remember how much fun it was. More information to follow.

If you have a few spare hours a month to help us run this fantastic program we are looking for volunteers to join our Active Travel Committee. Please contact Jo Richards at sajrichards@iinet.net.au for more information. Our next meeting will be on the 21st April 2016, at 10:45am in the Waratah Room.

School Banking

School Banking is changing to Monday's starting in Term 2
from 11th April 2016

School Banking is every Monday

• Place your money into your yellow Banking Wallet, complete your deposit slip (leave student no. blank the 1st time) and place the wallet into the Grey Banking Satchel in the classroom on Monday morning.
• One silver Dollarmites token will be issued for every deposit made.
• Once 10 tokens have been earned you can include your 10 silver tokens with a reward coupon to redeem a reward. Reward cards will be issued at school in 2016.
• Tokens are only available through School Banking. Branches do not have access to tokens or rewards.
• The School Banking program rewards individual saving. Sharing of tokens is not allowed.
• School Banking is processed by parent volunteer School Banking Coordinators. Please take the time to thank them for their efforts as this is a great fundraiser for our School.
• Happy Saving!

The Banking will still be processed in the same room off the Assembly Hall.

If you have any questions please direct these to the office and we will get back to you within a few days.

Please remember we are Volunteers and we are on not employed by the Commonwealth Bank.

If you would like to find out how to be a volunteer please leave your name at the office and I will get back to you.

Tuckshop News

School24 let us down on Friday but we still got everyone fed. We are trying to find out what went wrong. Hope you all got the email in time, but if not please remember, if School24 isn't co-operating, paper bag orders are ok. We will never let your children go hungry.

Here is how the week looked:

Please remember we are ONLINE ONLY for orders now; no counters orders unless it is a genuine emergency. School24 not working IS a genuine emergency.

Of course, our thanks to our generous Tuckshop volunteers for all they do. If you see them, make sure you tell them how much you appreciate their kindness. Also thank you to Mrs Hass, one of our Deputy Principals, for helping serve the students ice-blocks and chips at the counter on Thursday when we were in need of a hand!

First week back Term 2 - Volunteers for week commencing Monday 11 April.

Have a wonderful break.

If you haven't already done so, to set yourself up on School24 log onto:

Uniforms & Stationery

Opening Hours: Monday, Tuesday and Friday 8.15am to 9.00am.

Your teacher should have advised you if you had not ordered your child's Stars Plus Textbook

Graceville State School Tennis Coaching Term 2

Before School, Lunch Time and After School Coaching will commence from Thursday 21st April 2016 (during the second week back after the holidays).

Enrolments close on Monday 18th April 2016. Spare enrolment forms are available from the School Office, they can also be downloaded from the School Newsletter. To ensure a place in class, forms must be returned by this date to the School Office. Do not return forms to the School Office after this date contact Jim Joyce directly on 0417 771022.

Special Offer – All new students in Grade 1 and 2 will receive a free tennis racquet when joining for the first time.

For further enquiries please contact Jim Joyce on 0417 771022

Community Sport Notices

TENNIS COACHING CLINIC

DATE – TUES 5TH – THUR 7TH APRIL 2016

8:30AM – 12:00PM EACH DAY

COST $135.00

BEGINNERS TO ADVANCED (AGES 6 & UP)

THESE CLINICS ARE OFTEN BOOKED OUT, SO PLEASE BOOK EARLY TO ENSURE A PLACE

CLINIC IS HELD AT WEST BRIS TENNIS CENTRE

227 Archerfield Rd, Richlands

COACHING AND COMPETITIONS

TOURNAMENTS AND TROPHIES

ENQUIRIES CONTACT
JIM – 0417 771 022

To enter clinic please phone the above number or email jim@westbrisbanetennis.com.au

Holiday Swim Clinic

Bookings are now being taken for two swim clinics being held at the school pool over the Easter vacation. Group lessons consisting of Squad, Advanced Stroke Development and Beginner Stroke Development are on offer. Private lessons for learn to swim students or those who want specialized instruction may also be booked for 20 minutes. The first swim clinic will be held for 5 days from Monday March 28th till Friday April 1st. The second clinic will be held for 5 days from Monday April 4th till Friday April 8th. To enrol in the clinic please contact Pete Geraghty by email : petegeraghty@hotmail.com or phone [0432407442].

Community Notices