14 October 2016

From the Principal

Zoe Smith

This week our school hosted an Internal Annual Review of our current positions in relation to Curiosity and Powerful learning. On Monday afternoon the teachers worked back late to complete a Self-Assessment to ascertain our teaching staff’s perception of how we think we are progressing with Curiosity and Powerful Learning. To ensure we have no blind spots, we invited the principals who reviewed our school last year, to come back and give us their perception. It is important to note, this was not a requirement but something we chose to do as a staff. It was a genuine interest on behalf of the staff to see how we were progressing as a whole school and refine our needs for the future. All of our teachers opened their classrooms to the reviewing team. We are becoming a strong teaching team who are committed to betterment for the good of the students. I am very grateful to our teachers who are committed and dedicated to our school community. You are very lucky to have such a wonderful teaching team at Graceville! I would also like to thank the parents who volunteered, at short notice, to take part in the consultation process aligned to our internal review. It was very beneficial to hear the key messages parents have seen and heard this year in relation to Curiosity and Powerful Learning.

I would like to thank Mr Daunt, our PE teacher, for organising the lower primary sports carnival this week. He put in a lot of effort to make the day an authentic experience as well as plenty of fun!

It is important to remember children should not be sharing hats or clothing at school, especially swimming wear. I have advised the PE teachers in particular that there is a “No Hat, No PE” policy (if in the sun) and no swim gear, no swim, policy in the school. We have had some complaints that children are using lost property or other children’s belongings so they do not miss out on PE, swimming or playtime. I have also reminded the PE teachers about this policy.

If you have a child who nominated for the Enhancement Classes, it is important to note that the release date of the classes has been postponed until Friday in Week 4. We are still finalising overall enrolment numbers to ascertain how many children are likely to be in each year level. This impacts on the numbers of children we can have in each Enhancement class. Unfortunately, we are still chasing 40 families for Class Placement forms which include the information we need to know if children are returning to the school in 2017. The office staff will be calling these families this week.

Also, a reminder to our Year 5 families that students who are looking at applying for School Leadership positions in 2017 need to have their applications handed into the office by this Friday 14th of October by 3.30pm. No late submissions will be accepted.

Have a great week.

Newsletter Articles

From the Deputy Principal

Maree Hass

Remembrance Day Commemoration – our school will be holding its annual service on Friday November 11, at 10.15 in our school hall. Poppies will shortly go on sale at our school entrances before school, so watch out for this. All families and community members are invited to attend our school assembly.

Prep- year 3 sports day

The students enjoyed participating in our Sports day this week. Thank you to parents and families who came along to support our students. Thanks to Mr Daunt and the band of year 6 students who did a fabulous job at running each event.

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 in the next few weeks 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:

Below is the calendar for Term 4 Junior assemblies – every second Tuesday commencing at 2.15pm.

From the Deputy Principal

Lisa McKeaten

Reminder – Sports & Music photos are on 25th October in the hall. Students are asked to come along with their musical instruments for the photos.

Money Matters

Roberta Harycki

Welcome to Term 4 of excursions. Your child’s permission proforma and family statement have been distributed. Families will only receive a statement if year levels have newly added excursions and if your account is in arrears.

3/4BC will have an additional excursion ($8) to Craigslea State School. Further information will be provided by the teacher along with a separate invoice for payment.

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

Thank you to our students and families who have returned to lessons and rehearsals! All instrumental and choral students will be involved in performances this term so it is important that attendance at lessons and rehearsals continues consistently.

We are in the stages of completing the recruitment process for the instrumental music program in 2017. Please contact me as soon as possible via email (nclos1@eq.edu.au) if your child is currently in year 3 and has not met with our instrumental teacher and they have expressed an interest in the program. Please note that we have organised for Mr Grodecki to meet with students on Thursday afternoon. Mrs Prout will be meeting with students over the next couple of weeks who are currently in Year 2 and have expressed an interest in joining the string program. Once all students have met with instrumental teachers and been considered for the program, offers will be made and sent out (in approximately week 5 of this term).

The Year 2/3 Choir will continue to rehearse on Fridays mornings together from 7:45am in the music room this term and rehearsals will continue until week 9 of this term.

Upcoming performances:

15th November - Oxley Senior Citizens' Concert - Senior Choir and Senior Strings (during school day, bus to be paid for by instrumental/choral program)
16th of November – Evening Concert 6pm - all choir and instrumental students will be performing
23rd of November – Grandparent’s Concert 10am - all choir students and the Senior Strings

Thank you for supporting the school music program!

Library News

Melanie Hutchinson

BOOK FAIR

It’s finally that time of year again - the school library is hosting its annual BOOK FAIR!!

In Week Four, from Wednesday 26th of October – Wednesday 2nd of November, Book Fair will take place in the LIBRARY.

It will be huge for everyone – there will be lots of fabulous books from publishers all over the world, with exclusive titles and great-value books for every child’s reading interest and level, so don’t miss out! (Don’t forget books make fantastic gifts - come in and get your Xmas shopping done early!) Remember, every purchase you make the library earns a percentage to gain great books for our library and classrooms.

So, if you love bringing children and books together, help us celebrate reading with our students and the school community.

Keep an eye out for the Book Fair Flyer which will be sent home shortly.

BOOK CLUB

Please be aware that we will NOT be running Book Club Issue 7 through the school due to the upcoming Book Fair. However, anyone who wishes to order from this brochure can view it and place orders online.

Active School Travel

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

Melbourne Cup
Decorate your School Hats

On Tuesday 1st November we are please decorate your school hats on Melbourne Cup day, which also happens to be TACO Tuesday! There will be lots of great prizes to be won so get busy decorating! More information to follow

Pick Up Zone – Acacia Avenue

Thank you to all the drivers who have embraced the new “procedures” for using the pick up zone on Acacia Avenue. You may have noticed that the traffic is flowing and congestion seems to have eased. If you haven’t already ordered your nametag for your car visor please complete the order form. For those who have sent in an order, thank you for your patients…..they will be sent to you very soon!

If you can please remind students who are being collected by car to ensure that they stay at the top gate so that the smaller gate remains clear and free for pedestrian traffic.

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.

Chappy’s Chat

John Erichsen

Well done to all the Prep to Year 3 students for their efforts at Monday’s Junior Sports Carnival! It was great to see everyone trying hard and having a good time. So many parents and care-givers attended in support of students, really adding to the atmosphere of the day. It is always fantastic to see our students on centre stage participating in activities designed for them to enjoy. I would like to thank the teachers and teacher aides for their assistance on the day and our Year 6 students who did an amazing job of running the rotational activities. Mr Daunt also deserves a huge thank you for all his work in preparing for the sports day and ensuring processes are in place to enable the day to run so smoothly. I think all those excited children with smiling faces highlighted that the day was a great success.

I hope families enjoy next Monday’s pupil free day, especially the Year 5 families who will be busy preparing for the school camp next week. I am sure many students are already excited about going on camp, even if they have a concern or two. This is the first school camp experience for our students and it promises to be a great adventure. It can be a time of wonderful memories and flourishing friendships. It will also be an opportunity for our students to display their leadership strengths in a variety of activities and in a very different environment. I am sure many young leaders will, by their actions, put their hand up as a strong candidate for next year’s leadership positions. There is bound to be many exciting tales shared when students get home next Friday afternoon. Not to mention one or two weary children.

The weather is certainly warming up and keeping hydrated at school is a must. Please encourage students to drink plenty of water as the temperatures rise. This time of year often sees an increase in the number of students suffering from headaches. Children often wait until after they play before grabbing a drink, so hopefully encouragement both from home and here at school can help them lessen the chances of dehydration.

Enjoy a fantastic week!

Uniform & Stationery

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

Get ready for swimming this term 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.

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

Tuckshop News

Anne, Amanda and Ally

First week over and we continue to feed the hungry hoards.

Volunteers for week commencing Monday, 17th of October are:

Be sure to thank them when you see them; they are wonderful and our school wouldn't have a 5 day a week tuckshop without them.

Have you noticed the changes to the drinks and ice blocks menu? Slowly we are changing the menu towards the Queensland Government’s Healthy Food Choices. This week we have Milo milk drinks, Apple and Mango popper juices, and Berri Quelch Fruit stick ice blocks joining the menu. Stay tuned for more changes as the term continues.

Of course, any questions or concerns, please come see us if you need to or drop us a line at tuckshop.gss@gmail.com

P&C News

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.

TECHNOLOGY

We will be discussing the state of technology in our school at our P&C meeting this week. 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.

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.

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.

NEXT MEETING

The next meeting is this Wednesday 12 October 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

Creative Generation

Creative Generations – State Schools On Stage 2016 National Broadcast

It’s time to relive the CGEN experience all over again this weekend. Creative Generation will be broadcast on Channel 10 on the 15th October at 1:30pm. Who knows you may even to be able to spot some of our Graceville Super Stars in the mix.

Don’t forget to tune in on Saturday 15th at 1:30pm.

School Banking News

Just a reminder that due to the pupil free day and a school banking co-ordinators meeting, there will be no school banking on Mondays for Term 4, Weeks 1-3.

School banking will resume in Week 4 - Monday 24th of October.

Student Disco News

Parent Disco News

The last P&C event of the year is set to be a cracker! An Old School disco break up party. Dust off your 80s gear from the trivia night and come along for a great night. Saturday 19 November, 6.30pm.

Tickets are $20 and available for purchase on the Tuckshop ordering system under 'Tickets'.

Swimming News

Group lessons are on offer before and after school on weekdays. To enter group lessons students must be in Year One or older and able to swim 25 meters freestyle non-stop.

All other students may book a private one on one lesson after school on Fridays or Saturday mornings. Students in after school care may also join the program as staff can take the children to the pool and pick them up after their lesson.

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

Chess Club

School Plus

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 for further information.

Catholic Sacramental Program

We are pleased to advise that expressions of interest are now open for those parents who are considering enrolling their children in the local Catholic Sacramental Program (Confirmation, First Eucharist and Penance).

An information night will be held on Thursday, October 27th, for parents who would like to find out more about our new Sacramental program and the process for enrolling their children in the same.

The 2017-19 program, run by the Catholic Parish of Corinda Graceville, is for all children who are baptised and have turned 8 years of age by January 1, 2017 (usually Year 3 children and above), regardless of which school they attend.

The parent information night will be held from 7.30pm at Christ the King Church, Churchill Street, Graceville on Thursday, October 27th. To express your interest in attending the information night simply email the Sacramental Program Coordinator: sc.corindagraceville@bne.catholic.edu.au

Your correspondence will be acknowledged with a confirmation and a copy of the agenda for the evening. Enrolments for the Sacramental program will officially open following the October information session.

Australian Girls’ Choir Open Day

The sound of music will be alive on Sunday October 23rd as the Australian Girls’ Choir (AGC) is having their Open Day. All school aged girls are invited to come along, join a trial class, attend an information session and find out more about the AGC.

For more information, phone 1800 338 142 or visit:

Sherwood Community Festival

The Sherwood Community Festival is a free family event, sponsored by Brisbane City Council, which each year keeps getting bigger and better. This year it will be held on Friday, 11th November, from 5.30 pm to 9.30 pm. There will be a section dedicated to a huge variety of food stalls, plus other market stalls, rides and live entertainment!

Attractions include:

• Free rides for the children
• Petting farm
• Market and Food stalls
• Live entertainment including bands, choirs, dance troupes
• Nativity play – complete with live camels
• Raffle with some amazing prizes. Tickets are on sale outside Sherwood Woolworths on Saturday 22/10, Saturday 29/10 and Saturday 5/11, plus they can be purchased on the night from the information desk.

For more information, please log on to the event website:

Game On Australia

Student-Free Day Sports Program Monday 17th October

What to do with the children on the upcoming pupil-free day? Enrol them in Game On Australia’s multi-sport program. Lots of sports, games and activities on offer.

Years: Prep - Year 6. All abilities welcome.
Where: Christ the King Primary School, 7 Randolph Street Graceville.
Times: Activities from 9:00am-3:00pm
Operators: Game On is organised and run by qualified HPE teachers and coaches
For full details and to register online, visit:

West Brisbane Asperger Support Group – Free Seminar

Date: Thursday October 20th
Time: 7pm - 9pm (Please arrive ready to start the meeting at 7pm)
Venue: St Matthew’s Church Hall (cr. Sherwood & Oxley Rds. Sherwood)
Speaker: Edi and Angela Rodda - Sibling and Mum
Topic: “Impact on siblings in an ASD family"
Cost: Gold coin appreciated

Edi Rodda Bio:

My name is Edi, I am a 15 year old high school student and my younger brother has ASD and ADHD. I have gone through my childhood trying to find support and wisdom, a guiding light who understands what it is like to have an autistic sibling. The dynamic between a sibling and an autistic child and a parent and an autistic child is very different, and google just wasn't helping.

I founded an online support group titled "Siblings of Autism" to support other people in my position. I have been posting fortnightly for almost a year now and am very much looking forward to speaking at the support group.

The link to "Siblings of Autism" can be found here:

Positive Parenting Program – Free Seminar

Professor Matt Sanders, founder of Triple P, will be presenting a free parenting seminar on 'Raising Resilient Children' at Ironside State School on Tuesday, 18th October from 6:30-8:00pm.

Graceville Railway Station Upgrade

New information regarding the current Graceville Station Upgrade which impact the surrounding areas on the train line at night and on weekends. Please read attached notification from Queensland Rail.