16 September 2016

From the Principal

Zoe Smith

The term has finally come to an end! It has been a very productive term and we are starting to see the first visible signs of forward movement in Curiosity and Powerful learning. The teachers are working hard to reflect on their practice, learn and find ways to continually improve. We know we have great teachers and we should be grateful and proud they are willing to become even better!

As a teaching staff we have agreed to invite the principals who helped review our school in 2016, to come back and see our progress. We have planned to do this in week 2, on the 12th and 13th of October. I am sure they will be impressed to see how far we have moved since the same time last year!

I would like to thank Ms Tapinos for organising Graceville’s Got Talent. There were some wonderful performances including one from Prep. I think all of the performers were very brave and I enjoyed every minute of the afternoon! I would also like to thank the Jones family who played for us again this year. What a talented family of musicians!

Term 4 is fast approaching. A few important reminders are below:

• Year 5 Leadership application forms will be handed out Tuesday 4th of October and must be returned by Friday 14th of October 3.30pm
• Junior and Senior Enhancement Class nomination forms must be returned to the school by 7th of October 3.30pm (these only went out to those who had expressed an interest earlier in the year)
• Public Holiday on Monday 3rd Oct
• Pupil Free Day on Monday 17th October
• Book Fair starts in Week 4
• School Discos will be in Week 4

Finally, I would like to congratulate two teams who competed in interschool championships last week, our Readers Cup team and our Maths tournament team. Our Readers Cup team won their tournament and our Maths team came 3rd. Well done to the members of both teams!

If you are heading on holidays, please drive safely and have a great time!

Newsletter Articles

From the Deputy Principal

Maree Hass

Prep 2017 – please enrol your child now!

Please see the office if you would like to book a meeting with me. If you are a school family and are happy without a meeting please ensure that you bring into the office your child’s Prep Profile as this contains important information that I use in putting the prep classes together for next year.

Date Claimer: Prep Orientation visit – Tuesday November 15th

A letter will come home next term with exact times and information for this visit to school and prep with your child.

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 for more information about the process for placing your child’s name on our waiting list if you reside outside of our catchment area:

From the Deputy Principal

Lisa McKeaten

Swimming for Term 4

Next term we will have our swimming program. Years 3-6 will have their swimming lessons with Mr Daunt, as part of the school program. All swimming lessons start in Week 2. Please ensure that your children have swimming togs, a rashi swim shirt, bathing cap and goggles.

Prep to Year 2 classes will be doing swimming with Peter Geraghty and his coaches as part of a paid, intensive swimming program. Peter is employed by the school to provide this service for us. In the past we have found it very intensive for our younger students, as the lessons are organised with several coaches working with small groups of students.

The Prep students will swim every Monday from Week 2 to Week 9 – 7 weeks in total because of the 17th October Pupil Free Day. The cost will be $56 ($8 per week).

For Years 1 & 2 students the cost will be $64 for 8 weeks of lessons – Weeks 2-9.

All families (Prep – Yr 2) should have received an invoice and permission form last week which must be returned by the end of this week. The last day for payment is Friday 16th September.

Keep watch on our school these holidays

During the school holidays, we do need the local community looking out for our school. If you see something suspicious, please don’t intervene. Call the School Watch number on 13 17 88 and let the local police or State Government Protective Security Service deal with the matter.

Brilliant Futures Program – Years 6-9

Ensure your place at Queensland Academies

Queensland Academies are state schools for highly-capable students in Years 10 to 12. They are located across three campuses in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Australia. A bridge between high school and tertiary study, the Academies are designed to maximise the potential of bright students and prepare them for university.

Queensland Academies offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme – an internationally recognised pre-university level qualification that allows subjects to be accelerated and graduating students to study at both Australian and international tertiary institutions.

The Queensland Academies Brilliant Futures Program is open to students currently in Year 5 and 6. Graduates from the program will gain an automatic offer into Year 10 at the campus of their choice, including Creative Industries, Health Sciences, and Science, Mathematics and Technology. The program is designed to complement a child’s current schooling through Years 6 to 9 and provides a smooth transition when entering Queensland Academies and commencing the IB Diploma.

Students will benefit from working with Queensland Academies teachers and will be challenged through contemporary pedagogy that offers collaborative, accelerated learning focussed on deep inquiry and real world research.

Expectations of students in the Brilliant Futures Program

• Participation in a minimum of one course in both Years 6 and 7
• Participation in the Year 8 project
• Payment of an annual enrolment fee
• Semester submission of report cards
• Submission of NAPLAN reports when available

We look forward to welcoming the next cohort of Brilliant Futures students into the Queensland Academies community. For more details call (07) 3377 9366

Designed to complement a child’s current schooling through Years 6 to 9, Brilliant Futures provides a smooth transition for highly capable students when entering Queensland Academies and commencing the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

Graduates from the Brilliant Futures Program enjoy guaranteed entry into the Queensland Academies senior secondary campus of their choice.

Applications close 5th October, 2016.

Entries now open for Origin Energy's littleBIGidea competition

Calling all young inventors! Students in Years 3 to 8 are encouraged to apply for the 2016 littleBIGidea competition. All they need to do is submit an idea, no matter how big or small, on how to make the world a better place. Entries close 30 September.

Money Matters

Roberta Harycki

Thank you for your payments to date. Prep – Year 2 invoices have been sent home for the upcoming swimming program starting in Term 4. Please be reminded the last day for payment will be Friday 16th of September 2016.

Helpful hints for payment - BPoint instructions are attached; Also note, Permissions and Payments by the “Last day of Payment” is a must for your child’s inclusion.

Credit in Account: (eg -$10) - Please let office staff know how you wish to use your credit and to nominate which excursions are to be paid.

Our financial system does not automatically match to other payments.

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

Payment of account days:

8am - 3pm - 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

We have had a busy term with performances at the fete and the 2 day instrumental music workshop which culminated in a concert involving all instrumental students. It was lovely to have all classes and available staff members attend the concert as well as many parents and family members. Thank you for supporting your child's involvement in the instrumental and choral program throughout this term.

The recruitment process for places in the instrumental program for 2017 has begun. I have sent forms home with students which include a slip which needs to be returned if students would like to be considered for the program. I also sent an email to parents via classroom teachers which includes further information and my contact details if you have any questions. It is important to ensure the slip has been returned if you would like your child considered for a place in the program as spaces are limited due to the instrumental teaching allocation to our school.

Please note that all rehearsals and lessons will resume in week 1 of next term for all choir and instrumental students.

We would like to thank our students and families for their commitment and enthusiasm this term and wish everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday.

Upcoming Performances:

Wednesday 16 November – Evening Concert 6pm - all choir and instrumental students will be performing
Wednesday 23 November – Grandparent’s Concert - 10am - all choir students and the Senior Strings

Please note - additional performance dates may be added to this during the semester.

Library News

Melanie Hutchinson

READERS CUP STATE FINALS

THESE GIRLS ARE AMAZING!!!

TARA M-R, EUNSU C, SOPHIE B, ISLA W and VIENNA T in Year 5D represented our school at the STATE FINAL READERS CUP organised by the Children’s Book Council of Australia. It happened last Thursday evening at Somerville House, and after an incredible effort and six rounds of competition – the team WON FIRST PLACE!!

Beating 17 other teams from all over the state, and with only half a point difference between first, second and third, our GSS team successfully achieved the WINNING position! First in all of Queensland!

These students were required to read five completely different books and answered some incredibly difficult questions about each of these books. The team studied extremely hard for over 10 weeks, always working exceptionally well together, which obviously paid off in the end. CONGRATULATIONS TEAM!

Furthermore, thank you to their families, who also worked tirelessly to ensure our team stayed on track and knew all these books inside out! We appreciate your support.

This magnificent achievement just goes to show how important and beneficial reading is for young people, as well as being heaps of fun!

CONTACT CLUB

A great big THANK YOU goes out to those parents who supported our Contact Club Book Covering Blitz in the library last week.

Thanks to these fantastic volunteers, the library once again has several new books ready for student borrowing (in time for the holidays!). They include popular fiction, graphic novels, non-fiction and plenty of picture books. These books will be on display in the library, and students will be provided with the opportunity to borrow them during library lessons. Volunteers have also been working hard on new class reading resources ready for next term.

Next Contact Club is in the second week of Term 4 – Wednesday 12th October. Feel free to join at any time.

And finally, on behalf of the Library Staff and Contact Club, we would like to say a big THANK YOU and sad farewell to Mrs Judd, who has been covering library books since the inaugural Contact Club in 2012 (and quite a few years before this too!). We will miss you and all your hard work. Good luck and all the best for you and your family on your new adventures!

Sport News

Wayne Daunt

Last month, Patrick I (5/6D) travelled to Melbourne with the Queensland Peewee (U13) ice hockey team, to compete in the National Championships for the Phil Ginsberg trophy.

Queensland finished fourth after the round robin games and went on to win the bronze medal in a tight game against NSW, with a final score of 2-1. Patrick is the team's goalie. Well done to Patrick and congratulations on your selection in the Qld team.

The following Year 5 students have been successful in qualifying for the Queensland Short Course Championships to be held at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre.

Saxon M (5P) - 10 years 50m Freestyle
Harvi M (5P) - 10 years 50m Freestyle, 50m Butterfly
Elliott R (5M) - 10 years 50m Backstroke, 50m Butterfly

Saxon swam in the 50m freestyle event and finished in 25th place with a time of 33.90. Harvi swam in the 50m fly and freestyle events finishing in 19th and 50th place. Eliott also competed in the 50m fly and backstroke events, finishing in 24th and 35th place respectively. Congratulations and well done.

Active School Travel

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

International Walk to School Day – Wednesday 5th October 2016

Don’t forget to dust off you walking shoes to take part in this international event. International Walk to School Day is a global event that involves communities from more than 40 countries walking and biking to school on the same day. It began in 1997 as a one-day event. Over time, this event has become part of a movement for year-round safe routes to school and a celebration – with record-breaking participation – each October.

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. Our next meeting will be on 13th Oct @ 10:45am in the Waratah Room. Please contact Jo Richards at sajrichards@iinet.net.au for more information.

P & C

TECHNOLOGY CRISIS

At the last P&C meeting we again discussed the state of technology in our school. It is important that the school community understand the position we currently find ourselves in and to have an open discussion about how to address this situation. Any feedback, comments and ideas are very welcome via email, in person, and at our next meeting.

The situation at GSS is over half of our computers in the school are out of their warranty - ie PCs over 5 years old. As you probably understand older computers need more maintenance. Unfortunately we do not have a full time IT support person and so these older computers do not get repaired immediately. The P&C contributed $18,000 to technology this year, which is a considerable sum, but unfortunately does not stem the flow of the bulk of our machines falling out of warranty. The trouble is that the problem compounds year on year.

Many other schools find themselves in similar situations. Some schools in the area have addressed this by a Technology Levy paid at the start of the year. Other schools have put the responsibility back on the parents and have adopted a BYOD (bring your own device) policy for technology in their schools.

Please feel free to join the discussion. We are working on the premise that we want our children to have ready access to appropriate technology for their learning.

PARENTS DISCO

The last P&C event of the year is set to be a cracker! An Old School disco break up party. Adults only! This is just a few weeks before the end of school, so please save the date - Saturday 19th of November. (See attached flyer)

BUILDING FUND

The P&C, like most other P&Cs, offers parents an opportunity to take part in a Tax Deductible Voluntary Contribution Scheme. If you wish to contribute to the P&C building work projects for the school, please contact the P&C Executive at the email below and we will send you the details. The building fund is going towards climate controlling the school, continuing to air condition the class rooms and the major project of fixing the ventilation of the hall.

SCHOOL BANKING

We urgently need some help with our school banking. Please call in to the school hall canteen after drop off on MONDAY mornings to see if our school banking co-ordinator Julie needs a hand. Banking takes about an hour (depending on number of helpers). Any help would be greatly appreciated.

NEXT MEETING

The next meeting is Wednesday 12 October (2nd week back after holidays) at 7.30pm in the Waratah Room (which is beside the staff room in the main reception block). Everyone is very welcome.

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

Uniform & Stationery

The Uniform store will be closed this Friday 16th of October as last day of term.

Get ready for term 4 with most of your swimming gear available from the uniform store. Attached is a form to order long sleeve rashies, swim caps, bags and quick dry towels in your house colours. Rashies are not kept in stock and can only be ordered through this form.

Friday sport shirts are in stock.

All sizes in Polar Fleece jumpers are in stock, as are tracksuit pants and bootleg leggings. Lots of second hand stock on hand.

Donations of 2nd hand uniforms are always appreciated. Good stocks are available for sale now, including lots of dresses, culottes, jumpers and good shorts. 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

Tuckshop News

Anne, Ally, and Amanda

Our fabulous volunteers making your children's lunches for first week of term 4 (yes we are heading for term 4) are:

Please thank them if you see them.

There will be no sushi ordered for the first week back, due to the Public Holiday on the Monday 3rd of October.

We hope you all have a great and relaxing holiday! If you are able to help next term in tuckshop or even for 2017, perhaps buddy up with a friend, please email us or come in and see us. We are always in need of help and happy to work with you! Term 4 gets particularly busy so we appreciate all the volunteers we can get.

If you have any queries please come and see us, call the school, or email at tuckshop.gss@gmail.com.au

School Banking News

Once again, thank you to all the volunteers that have helped with School Banking this term! These dedicated ladies make school banking possible. Unfortunately, one of these super mums (who helped every week!) has now left the school and we are in desperate need of some new volunteers. So if you have a Monday to spare, come visit us from 8:30am in the hall kitchen.

Due to the public holiday, pupil free day and a meeting of school banking co-ordinators, there will be no school banking on Mondays for Term 4, Weeks 1-3. School banking will resume on Monday 24th of October.

Rewards Update

The new rewards to be released for Term 4 are the Bush Fly Fan and the Wriggly Glow Worm. Rewards can now be pre-ordered for the start of Term 4.

Flying Snake Tail, Mud Splat Handball and Wildlife Writer Set are out of stock and unavailable.

Term 3 Competition

For those students that made 3 or more deposits in Term 3, don’t forget to complete the online Stargazing activity at the link below to enter in the draw to win a PlayStation 4 pack. Entries close on 30/09/16 and Terms and Conditions can be found on the Commbank website.

Contact Club

Thanks to everyone who came last Wednesday to cover the books. There are so many books at the moment, it was like digging into a mountain with a spoon!

Next Contact Club is going to move to the second week of term 4 as it is too difficult to meet up in the first week back from holidays. So please pencil in Wednesday the 12th of October for the next Contact Club. Spread the word to anyone you may know, we need help with this pile of books!

I would also like to say a big thank you and sad farewell to Ala who has covered books with the Contact Club since the beginning of the group in 2012. We will miss you Ala and thank you for all your hard work and dedication to covering so many books in the group and at home. Good luck, we wish you all the best!

If you would like to come along and join our friendly group, please email Amanda at thecarps.home@gmail.com

School Plus

Our September 2016 Holiday Program is now available.

Some days will fill up fast so don’t forget to book in quickly!

Tennis News

School Holiday Tennis Clinic

We will be running a Tennis clinic at West Brisbane Tennis Centre from Monday 19th to Wednesday 21st September 2016.

Time: 8.30am -12 noon each day
Cost: $135

Enquiries & Bookings jim@westbrisbanetennis.com.au Phone 0417 771022

Swimming News

The swim program at Graceville State School pool will commence with 2 swim clinics over the upcoming September school holidays. This is a great platform to get your child ready for the upcoming 4th term of swimming by having a lesson everyday of the clinic.

The first clinic runs from Monday September 19th until Friday September 23rd and the second from Monday September 26th until Friday September 30th.

All ability levels will be catered for with both group and private lessons available. Adult lessons are also available during the clinics. Preference will be given to those who can attend each day that the clinic is run for.

I am always on the lookout for qualified swim teachers. If you know anyone looking for work, please ask them to contact me.

Please direct all inquiries to Pete Geraghty by email: petegeraghty@hotmail.com or phone 0432407442

Community Notices

Staverton Kindergarten

Staverton Kindergarten has places available for age appropriate children for 2017 (children born 1/7/12 to 30/6/13). Please call 3379 1511 or visit our website www.staverton.com.au for further information.

School Holiday Activities

Cricket Clinic

Boys and girls, aged 6 to 17, are welcome to attend Holiday Cricket Clinics conducted by Henschell Cricket Academy Pty Ltd.

These Clinics concentrate on skills and activities for the beginner to the representative player whilst having fun.

Where: Fig Tree Pocket State School, Cubberla Street, Fig Tree Pocket
When: Monday 19 September 2016 to Thursday 22 September 2016 inclusive (4 days)
Times: 8:30am to 12:00pm daily
Cost: $199.00 (Incl. GST) (family rates available)
Contact: Email – henschellcricket@bigpond.com or Phone – Brett Henschell 0458 026 224

Taringa Rovers Football Camp

Taringa Rovers FC will be running the following 3-day Football Camp during the September school holidays. These camps are open to all junior players (Boys & Girls, Taringa & non Taringa players).

Cost: $95 per player
When: Tuesday 27th, Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th of September (2pm-5pm)
Contact: Kelvin Wheeler Ph: 0412 085 388
Email: juniordoc@taringarovers.com.au

To register your interest for the clinics please send an email to Kelvin at the above email address.

Holiday Art Workshop

OneGirlStudio are running various workshops during the September holidays at their Sherwood studio.