12 May 2016

From the Principal

Zoe Smith

Hello,

I hope all of our Mothers and Grandmothers had a wonderful Mother's Day on Sunday! We received lovely feedback about the handing out of flowers to mums on Friday morning. It is important to note the idea was from the Student Council and paid for using money raised through Student Council fundraising. What a kind gesture by our school leaders!

The focus of our Whole School Assembly last week was on improving our wellbeing. The choir sang two songs and Mrs Davey's class helped us understand what a 'Growth Mindset' could look and sound like. Next year, our school will look more deeply into the difference between fixed and growth mindsets and how we can turn things around so we spend more of our time with a Growth mindset. If you are curious and want to learn more about Fixed and Growth Mindsets, you can research the work of Carol Dweck.

Next week we have the privilege of working with Ryan Dunn from Melbourne University. Ryan was part of our Self Determined Review last year and is keen to see our progression to date. We have also asked him to help us dig a bit deeper into our work around Learning Intentions, Success Criteria and Connecting Data to Feedback. We are looking forward to working with Ryan again!

The Trivia Night is not far away now! Have you booked a table? It is a fun night! We are hoping to have at least one teacher's team this year with a number of other teachers helping me work behind the bar. The staff of the school are very grateful for the continued support shown by the school community towards our Curiosity and Powerful Learning Journey and so are keen to show our support of this community event. It is a good night, you can dress up and have some adult fun!

Finally, a reminder that the office opens at 8am and closes at 3.30pm, outside these hours the doors are locked and the night phone service is on. Although members of the office or admin staff may be physically present, we are not required to attend to knocks at the door or answer phones before or after these times. All children also need to be picked up by 3.30pm. If you know you are going to be late please ring the office and do all you can to arrive by 3.30pm. We are required to have two staff members present to supervise students so all attempts to arrive on time are greatly appreciated by our office staff.

Have a great week.

Newsletter Articles

From the Deputy Principal

Maree Hass

Date Claimer: Under 8's Activities on Wednesday May 25, 8.45 – 10.45

This annual event for Prep, year 1 -2 classes is on again. Please see poster attached for more information. We invite all parents to attend and join in the fun if available.

Study Tour – From Future Heir School in Taiwan to Graceville State School

The past couple of weeks I have included information about the upcoming study tour from Taiwan and I have written about our need to have school families come forward and host a student from Taiwan, arriving on August 2 and leaving us early on August 18. I must say over the past week more people have contacted me and indicated their interest, thank you very much to them. The success of a study tour to our school is very dependent upon this kind of support and we are looking to host approx. 20 students during this time. So if you might be able to host and haven't come forward yet please do so and if you want to know more then come along to the information evening on Wednesday May 18 at 6pm in the Waratah room. I will let you know about the program, the school the Taiwanese school our visitors will come from and requirements to host a student.

Please read the information below and let me know if you would be able to assist.

In order for Graceville to be able to host these students, we need to provide homestay accommodation. You may have more than one student if desired with most students preferring to stay with another student.

A homestay family must provide:

• A bed – own bedroom is desirable but not necessary
• All meals – send lunch each day, if your child has tuckshop, then provide homestay student with tuckshop also
• Travel to and from school

Each Saturday, the students will go on an all-day excursion so must also be dropped at school at 9:00am and picked up at approximately 5pm (this is negotiable if your family was to go away for the weekend).

We cannot undertake this study tour without the support of our school families. Students from Taiwan will be 10-12 years of age. School families with younger children can be a homestay family as all students will be assigned a school buddy as well. Could you please indicate on the form attached if you would be interested in hosting a student for this upcoming study tour. Please return the form to the admin office ASAP or email me at mhass10@eq.edu.au I will arrange an information session for all families who indicate interest to go through in detail what would be involved.

Date Claimer: Prep Information Evening - Wednesday July 27 at 7pm.

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

NAPLAN

All over for another year – Well done everyone!

Wellbeing

Thanks to Mr Arnold and the Student Council for the Mother's Day flowers which were handed out last Friday. I know the feedback from parents was very positive. Great initiative students!

Later in the term we will have events to commemorate NAIDOC week starting with an assembly on Thursday 16th May.

On Tuesday 26th May I and some of our school leaders will be attending the Annual Sorry Day Ceremony at the Sherwood Arboretum at 7.00am.

University of New South Wales Competitions

Entries for all UNSW competitions have now been finalized. Payments for these have been included in the Term 2 account.

Competition dates:

Digital Technologies - 17 May Yrs 3-6
Science - 31 May Yrs 2-6
Writing - 16 June Yrs 3-6
Spelling - 15 June Yrs 3-6
English - 02 August Yrs 2-6
Maths - 16 August Yrs 2-6

If your child is away on the day of any of the competitions, please let the class teacher know so we can look at an alternate day, before or after the sitting date.

Help 3/4 BC Save the Tasmanian Devil – Contribute to our Silver Coin Challenge.

At the last Student Council meeting a group of year 6 students form the Community Committee prepared a submission: they hoped to adopt an animal from Australia Zoo on behalf of the students at Graceville State School. The idea was to promote an interest in the environment and to provide a rewarding experience for all students. Mrs Bourke and 3/4BC also came with a request that the Student Council support them in a fundraising effort with the money going to research of the Tasmanian Devil.

3/4BC had been looking into endangered species and how we can help them. As a class we have decided to try and help one Australian animal, the Tasmanian Devil. We have joined forces with the Student Council who were also looking at helping an endangered animal. Jointly we have adopted Ebony, a Tasmanian Devil at Australia Zoo we will pay for this out of the money we raise. The rest of the money raised will go to Wildlife Warriors to research how to save this iconic Australian animal. We would like the whole school to be involved in raising money to help the Tasmanian Devil. So we are challenging you to contribute your silver coins. All you need to do to help is put your change in the Silver coin jar that is in every classroom. We will be collecting money over a 2 week period beginning next Monday 16th May and finishing on Friday 27th May. If everyone just puts in 50c a day for the 2 weeks, we could raise around $4000. It's not a big ask for everyone so dig deep and help us help Ebony and the other Tassie Devils out there.

The Student Council and 3/4BC are very proud to introduce Ebony to the School community. Ebony was born on the 20 March, 2011 and was one of 5 devil joeys born that season. Ebony is apparently a very personable little Devil. She love cuddles and to play with her keepers. This 12 month adoption will help to fund research into Tasmanian Devils and will assist with costs associated with vital breeding programs, new enclosures, veterinary requirements and animal rehabilitation programs.

The Student Council and 3/4BC will keep the School Community informed of Ebony's progress, and we will try and feature information in the newsletter on a regular basis.

3/4BC, Student Council, Mrs Bourke and Mrs Hornstra

Money Matters

Roberta Harycki

Thank you for your payments to date. The use of BPoint has been exceptional as families nominate invoices paid on-line. This Departmental program has allowed staff to manage payments and reporting more easily. Feedback from parents has been mostly positive so I thank you for your patience. As with most EFT transfers allow a couple of days to complete your transaction.

Please be reminded that your attention to permissions and last day for payment will ensure your child's attendance.

On the Term account, the UNSW competitions had been added. All entries will need to be paid for. The school has prepaid these testing papers and those students who have nominated, sit or not sit will still need to pay.

Voluntary Parent Contributions

Still collecting your valuable contribution to this school's curriculum resources in Curiosity and Powerful Learning.

$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 (e.g. -$10) in family accounts may be used with current invoices at the parent's request. BPoint payments over the invoiced amount will be added as a credit balance.

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.

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.

Music News

Naomi Lindh

Thanks again to families of Year 2/3 Choir students who were able to attend the assembly last Thursday. The students performing together have a lovely sound and thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to share this with the school community as well as their families.

Our choir and instrumental students are rehearsing for upcoming performances including:

31 May - Fanfare competition at Sherwood SS - Senior Strings and Senior Band

17 June - Choir Workshop/Incursion (to be held at school with a guest conductor and school choir conductors)

Please note - all students attending Fanfare must bring their signed permission slip to school to enable them to attend this excursion. The choir incursion does not require a permission slip as it is to be held in the school grounds.

Music Rehearsals Term 2

Tuesday 7:45am Senior Choir - Ms Julie West (jwest269@eq.edu.au)
Wednesday 7:45am Senior Strings - Mrs Ruth Prout (rprou5@eq.edu.au)
Wednesday 3-4pm Senior Band - Mr Steve Stiller (sstil2@eq.edu.au)
Thursday 7:30am Junior Band - Mr Alex Grodecki (agrod3@eq.edu.au)
Thursday 7:45am Year 3 Choir - Warratah Room
Thursday 12:45pm Beginner/Junior Strings - Mrs Ruth Prout (rprou5@eq.edu.au)
Friday 8:00am Year 2 Choir - Mrs Naomi Lindh - music room

We have been receiving a number of emails to notify conductors of student absences at rehearsals. This is greatly appreciated. Please continue to inform your child's conductor if they are unwell or unable to attend a rehearsal.

Chappy's Chat

John Erichsen

I do hope all the school mothers had a fantastic day on Sunday and received all the pampering they deserved. Somehow thank you never seems enough for all that mothers do. The student council's 'flowers for mums' on Friday was very well received and set the appreciative tone leading up to Mum's special day.

Have a wonderful week.

Active School Travel

TACO TUESDAY!
(Travel Actively Coming-to-school On)

May the 4th be at Graceville!

An intergalactic thanks to all the students, teachers and parents for making May the 4th such a fantastic event! There were some amazing costumes and it was a sight to see Darth Vaders, Jabawockeez, Princess Leias and Storm Troopers making their way on mass from the various walking points.

National Walk Safely To School

Now in its 17th year, National Walk Safely to School Day (WSTSD) is an annual event when all Primary School children will be encouraged to walk and commute safely to school. It is a Community Event seeking to promote Road Safety, Health, Public Transport and the Environment. Help celebrate this fantastic day on Friday 20th May by decorating wearing crazy socks and/or decorating your school shoes.

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. The next meeting is on 19th May @ 10:45am in the Waratah Room. Please contact Jo Richards at sajrichards@iinet.net.au for more information.

P & C

TUCKSHOP PRICE RISE

The school community is very supportive of the five day tuckshop and the P&C are very happy to provide this service, but unfortunately we cannot run this business at a loss. Some other schools in the area are unable to run a five day tuckshop service and the P&C are taking measures to make sure our tuckshop will remain viable.

The tuckshop has not had a comprehensive price rise for almost five years. With increasing supplier prices and wages, we have found it necessary to conduct this review. The price increase is generally 10% across the menu board and will be effective from next week. Our whole menu is still very reasonably priced and provides a great variety of healthy and tasty lunches for your children.

The tuckshop does however rely on volunteers to continue to be viable. We do need a greater volunteer pool for the roster and also for back-ups/emergencies. With lower volunteer numbers we have had to rely sometimes on more wages paid to cover the shortfall of volunteer labour. If you can help at all or would be prepared to step in last minute in case of shortfalls, please do get in touch with our wonderful convenors.

Any feedback about the price rise is very welcome and should be directed to the P&C Executive via email pandc@gracevilss.eq.edu.au

FETE COMMITTEE MEETING

The first fete committee meeting is to be held this week – 11 May. The P&C are in desperate need for new members for the fete committee. Please email us if you can help - pandc@gracevilss.eq.edu.au . The big day will be here before we know it – Saturday 27 August.

TRIVIA NIGHT

This is shaping up to be another fantastic night on Saturday 4 June. Great thanks to our Principal and some of the teaching staff who have volunteered to help with the bar on the evening. Please see the Trivia Night section of the newsletter for the booking form. Get a class table or invite your trivia buddies into the school. Everyone is welcome and great prizes will be on offer.

NEXT MEETING

All members of our school community are welcome to our next meeting Wednesday 20 July at 7.30pm in the Waratah Room (which is beside the staff room in the main reception block).

Please feel free to contact the P&C executive via email: pandc@gracevilss.eq.edu.au

School Banking

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.
• We will keep a record of your Deposits.
• Once 10 tokens have been recorded we will issue a reward coupon to redeem a reward. Reward cards will be issued at school in 2016.
• Branches do not have access to tokens or rewards.
• The School Banking program rewards individual saving. Minimum 5cent Deposit
• 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!

Trivia Night

Tuckshop News

A new record for the number of orders on Friday! It was a regular size week each other day so you must have been saving it up. Incredible effort from our volunteers last Friday to fill all these orders. Thank you to all our volunteers, we just couldn't do it without you. Here's how the week unfolded:

Our generous volunteers coming into help feed your children next week are:

You will have read in the P&C section of this newsletter that it has become necessary to increase our prices in the Tuckshop. It has been approximately five years since the last price rise and a recent review has shown that we must increase prices in order to stay open five days a week. This decision was fully supported by members at the P&C meeting held last Wednesday. If you have any questions or concerns please come to see us, we are happy to help. Please put any price rise complaints in writing to the P&C Executive at pandc@gracevilss.eq.edu.au

Price increases will be updated on School24 and the menu after service this Friday 13th of May and become effective immediately.

Remember, any questions, concerns or feedback, drop us a line at tuckshop.gss@gmail.com

See you at the Tuckshop.

Amanda and Anne

Uniforms & Stationery

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

All sizes in House Shirts (Cook, Kennedy and Flinders) are in stock including size 6.

Size 6 Polar Fleece jumpers have arrived, all sizes are currently in stock. Tracksuit pants and bootleg leggings are in stock.

Band folders are available $15

The last remaining school cookbooks are in stock $10 each.

Donations of 2nd hand uniforms are always appreciated. Good stocks are available for sale now, including lots of jumpers and good gold shirts. Come in and grab a bargain.

Order forms are available on the School website. If you email the order, the items will be sent to the classroom.

Email address for school uniform store is:
uniformstore@gracevilss.eq.edu.au

Community Notices

Thank-you for your Support of the Signal Flare BBQ for the Homeless

Mrs Davey and Miss O'Brien would like to send a huge thank-you out to all our school community - staff, students and parents - for your kind donations of toiletries in support of the Signal Flare's Homeless BBQ at Musgrave Park, last Sunday. We managed to package 55 waterproof, drawstring laundry bags filled with eight full-sized products including deodorants, shampoo and conditioner, body wash, wet wipes, toothbrush and toothpaste etc. The recipients were overwhelmed by your kindness and it was lovely to see many individuals return to us any products they would not use so we could pass them on to other people. We also had a full range of special items such as beauty gift-packs, perfumes, make-up and make-up bags. We gave them out as Mothers' Day presents and the ladies felt so honoured. A special mention to Jack Limmage (Year 6) and his mum, Alex, who came along and helped us out on the day. It feels so good to give to others.

Mrs Davey and Miss O'Brien

Free Assessment and Treatment for Children with Depression, Sadness, Fear and/or Anxiety at Griffith University

Parents, are you concerned about depression or anxiety problems for your child? At the Griffith University Childhood Anxiety Disorders Research Program, we are conducting a large-scale study that includes a thorough depression/anxiety assessment and a new tri-component intervention that aims to improve mood and reduce anxiety by helping children overcome unhelpful thinking patterns, increase use of positive imagery and encourage engagement in enjoyable activities. These services are provided at no cost to families. If your child is between 7 and 13 years of age, please contact our research team on 07-3735 3349.

ASPERGER SERVICES AUSTRALIA

Details for our upcoming May meeting are:

Date: May 19th
Time: 7pm - 9pm (Please arrive ready to start the meeting at 7pm)
Venue: St Matthew's Church Hall (cur. Oxley & Sherwood Rds. Sherwood)
Speakers: Jason and Ross from HYPAR http://www.hypar.com.au/
Topic: "Helping Young People at Risk"
Cost: Gold coin appreciated

Biography - Jason

Jason will share his story of being told he was on the spectrum at 15 and how, even prior to this, he survived through his adolescence and the difficulty he faced in transition from housing commission to a 'friendly' neighbourhood. Long story short, he did not cope. The rules of engagement had changed.

Despite coping sometimes well, sometimes not so, his greatest challenge was accepting (the panic around) his son's diagnosis. Then the next, and the next. Three of his five sons are on the spectrum. In his second marriage there is one on either end of the spectrum. Their challenges are great, their rewards are second to none.

What is HYPAR: Foundation and Values

HYPAR* (Helping Young People At Risk) was established in 2008, with the aim of providing male mentoring, support and respite for males aged 6 to 30 years, who have complex needs and challenging behaviour. We work within a strengths-based approach and aim to provide positive male role models for male youth, particularly for those who may have lacked such positive influences in their lives. We endeavour to provide consistency of support, in that each client is matched to one youth worker, who works with the client on an ongoing basis. It is hoped that this will facilitate the development of a trusting relationship between client and worker. The service does not involve formal counselling, but we do find that our support sometimes acts as a stepping stone for clients who may then go on to access professional therapeutic services.*HYPAR Pty Ltd is a privately owned and operated Queensland organisation.

We look forward to seeing you.

Kind regards

Jane and Ruth
Jane Leonforte
ASA Group Coordinator
0448 909 863