28 October 2016

From the Principal

Zoe Smith

It is hard to believe we have been back at school for one month already and only 6 weeks remain of the school year! As you can imagine things are now starting to get very busy at school.

Over the next two weeks I will be finalising the staffing situation for 2017. Thank you to the families who returned the class placement forms or returned phone calls from the office. The information we now have tells us we can staff the school with 31 teachers again next year. We know we have one new teacher starting at the school next year who is likely to take a place in Year 4-6. We have been made aware Mr Dempsey will not start the year with us and is unlikely to return next year. He is enjoying his time as an Acting Deputy Principal and would like to follow this career path. I have been told we will be informed if Mrs Davey is returning to start the school year by early next week. I am hoping to assign teachers to year levels by the end of next week so teachers can start discussions about class placements.

The first classes we always establish are the Enhancement Classes. I will be sending letters home to all families who nominated for positions in the classes next Wednesday. The letters are sent via Registered Post. If you are not home or have a post office box, I suggest you check in at the post office or your post office box Thursday and Friday afternoon of next week.

The school leader process for 2017 has started this term. At assembly on Thursday afternoon, the nominees for School Captain and Vice-Captain Positions were announced. The nominees will present a 3 minute speech to the student body at a special Whole School Assembly on Thursday the 3rd of November. The assembly will start at 1.50pm. All parents and friends are welcome to come along and listen to the speeches. The elected School Captain and Vice Captains will be officially announced at assembly on Thursday 10th of November.

The Study Tour Information night is fast approaching. If you have a child in Year 6 or Year 5 and are interested in them taking part in a Study Tour to Taiwan in the September school holidays next year, please come along at 6.30pm on Wednesday the 9th of November to hear all about it. At this stage Ms Hass and I will attend with the students. This is an exciting opportunity!

Finally, World Teachers Day is Friday. If you read my newsletter on a regular basis, you will know I have high regard for our teaching staff. They are a hardworking and dedicated group of teachers who are engaged in continual growth and development. It is very hard to ‘learn on the go’ and this year has been especially tough as we entered our first year in the Curiosity and Powerful Learning project. I am proud of our teachers! I hope you can help me make our teachers aware of how much we appreciate them!

Newsletter Articles

From the Deputy Principal

Maree Hass

Year 4-6 Swimming Carnival

Technology plan for Graceville

If there are any parents who would like to become involved in discussions around the types of technology and how it is utilised in our school you are welcome to attend a meeting on Friday November 4 at 7.45 am in the Waratah room. We have recently conducted an audit of technological devices in our school, how they are being used and are developing a plan for the future. The P&C have contributed $18,000 this year to supporting us in purchasing new devices to upgrade old technology we currently have. Details of how this is being used will be discussed.

Please email me if intending to come for catering. mhass10@eq.edu.au Thank you.

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 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 couple of 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.

Study Tour to Taiwan 2017

We will hold an information meeting on Wednesday November 9 at 6.30pm in the Waratah room. Information to share will be around cost of participation, intended dates, the school in Taichung we will be hosted by. I also have a short movie showing the last study tour we went on to Taiwan so you get a picture of some of the experiences your child would be participating in.

Last visit we had mostly year 7 students with some year 6’s participating, it would be up to families to decide on your own child’s readiness to participate in this very rewarding experience.

We are anticipating a return visit from Future Heir Bilingual Elementary School in August next year as we further develop our relationship with this school.

From the Deputy Principal

Lisa McKeaten

This Friday, 28th of October is “Day for Daniel” where all students are encouraged to wear red shirts to school in recognition of child safety and protection.

Wear Red and Educate is the theme of ‘Day for Daniel’ as schools, kindergartens, businesses and community groups across Australia take action and conduct child safety activities in their local communities to help in ‘Keeping Kids Safe’.

The objectives of ‘Day for Daniel’ are:

• To raise awareness about child safety and protection and to promote a safer community for children.
• To educate children regarding their personal safety and empower them to RECOGNISE, REACT and REPORT.
• To honour the memory of Daniel Morcombe.

Friday is also World Teacher’s Day. This is an opportunity to thank our teachers at Graceville who like our school motto “always strive to excel”.

During last term, a letter was sent home to families regarding the school’s implementation of SMS notification system and asking for updated mobile phone details. If you have not returned this form to the office already, please do so as soon as possible. It is important that the school office has the correct contact details for parents in case of emergencies.

Money Matters

Roberta Harycki

Welcome to Term 4 of excursions. Your child’s permission proforma and family statement has been distributed. Families will only receive a statement if year levels have newly added excursions for this term, your account is in arrears and/or contains a credit balance.

Credit in Account: (e.g. -$10) – This means your account has a credit of $10. Do not pay this amount but please let office staff know how you wish to use your credit by nominating which excursions are to be paid.

Sorry, our financial system does not automatically match to outstanding invoices.

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.

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.

End of year scenario – If your family account is in credit and your child is not continuing at Graceville in 2017 with no other siblings to roll the credit over to next year, then please complete a Request for Refund or donation to school funds if you wish.

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

Our instrumental and choral students are busy rehearsing for their final performances/concerts later this term. We are looking forward to sharing our music with families, friends and members of the school community. Please ensure your child continues to attend lessons and rehearsals regularly in preparation for these concerts.

Wednesday 16th of November – Evening Concert 6pm - all choir and instrumental students will be performing

Tuesday 22nd of November (please note date change) - Oxley Senior Citizens' Concert - Senior Choir and Senior Strings (during school day, bus to be paid for by instrumental/choral program); concert at Oxley Senior Citizens' Hall 10:30am

Wednesday 23rd of November – Grandparent’s Concert at 10am - all choir students and the Senior Strings

Thank you for supporting the music program.

Library News

Melanie Hutchinson

Our annual BOOK FAIR started this week and we are off to a great start!

We have created an enjoyable opportunity for your whole family to get excited about books and reading. Everyone will find wonderful books and other exciting products to purchase at the Fair.

We hope you will attend.

Book Fair is open each day 8 – 9 am and 3 – 4 pm until Wednesday morning 2nd of November.

Everyone is welcome! And remember all purchases benefit our school library.

Active School Travel

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

Melbourne Cup
Decorate your School Hats

To celebrate Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday 1st November (which also happens to be TACO Tuesday) decorate your school hats for the hat parade!

There will be lots of great prizes to be won so get busy decorating! Breakfast will be provided by Cr Nicole Johnston from 8:15am in the Quadrangle. Judging of the hats will commence at 8:30 also in the Quadrangle. We look forward to seeing you there……don’t forget to bring along your passports to get your active travel stamps!

Helmets

Helmets are compulsory for riding bikes and scooters and recommended for riding skateboards. Wearing a helmet will help protect your child against serious head injuries.

Here are tips for finding the safest helmet for bikes and scooters:

• Make sure that the helmet is made to Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 2063:2008 for bicycle helmets. Look for the Australian Standards label.
• Take your child with you when buying a helmet to make sure it’s properly fitted.
• Do the ‘push test’ to make sure the helmet is a snug fit. If you can push the helmet backwards, forwards or sideways once you’ve done up the clips, it’s too big.
• Don’t buy a second-hand helmet – there’s no way of knowing if the previous owner has damaged it in an accident.
• Always replace helmets after an impact or accident.
• A skateboarding helmet should protect the back of your child’s head, so a bike helmet is the wrong shape for skateboarding. There is no Australian Standard for skateboarding helmets. You can still use the tips above to get the right fit.

Grown-ups must wear helmets too. It’s a legal requirement and sets the right example for your child.

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

“Full speed ahead”, was the command as SS Graceville powered through the growing swell of the Term 4 waters. On board, the crew were busy preparing for ‘Operation School Disco’. Supplies were plentiful, in case there was need to set in for a lengthy engagement and finishing touches were being made on the logical details regarding the deployment of personnel for Wednesday evening.

Some weary marines were back at their posts on Monday following a successful mission last week, where they infiltrated a beach camp sight, and rescued 85 cadets from the horrible fate that would await them. Initial surveillance confirmed that the cadets were at the mercy of camp leader AJ and subjected to hardships such as surfing, body boarding, orienteering, raft making, canoeing and mountain biking. Thankfully, all cadets were rescued from this living nightmare and returned back home, just in the nick of time.

It is hoped that ‘Operation School Disco’, which will take place under the cover of darkness, will also be a successful venture and all personnel will return safely to the SS Graceville. There is some doubt as to whether a 100% success rate will be possible this week as there are rumours the School Chaplain is stuck in the 70’s and 80’s, musically. It may not look good but not all hope is gone. Following ‘Operation School Disco’, there should be some calmer waters for the next few days as on board personnel set themselves for the upcoming sorties where assessment and reporting will be targeted in a full scale onslaught.

Until the next communication, may your week be a positive one and remember “no one gets left behind”.

Over and Out!

P&C News

WORLD TEACHERS DAY

This Friday, 28th of October we celebrate World Teacher's Day. Graceville State School is just so blessed with a group of professional, passionate people who work with our children every day. The parents and wider community are very thankful for these special people and the P&C arranged a little token of appreciation for the teachers to enjoy in the staff room.

TECHNOLOGY

Further planning work has been continuing this week. The school leadership team and teachers have been working together on surveying needs/wants for technology in the classroom and school generally. A wider meeting with staff and parents will be organised by the school leadership team (look for details in the newsletter) to develop the technology plan. The plan will be delivered to the next P&C meeting to discuss how we may go about funding and delivering. It is likely that a levy in the form of a voluntary contribution will be needed to stem the flow of the aging technology in our school and deliver on the technology plan. 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. This is just a few weeks before the end of school it will be a great break up party for you! Tickets are available via the Tuckshop ordering system School24, under Tickets.

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.

P&C MEETING

The next meeting is Wednesday 30th of November 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

Parent’s 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 19th of November from 6.30pm.

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

Uniform & Stationery

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

Prep selling days:

Wednesday 2nd November 3pm to 6pm
Tuesday 8th November 3pm to 6pm
Tuesday 15th November 8.15am to 10.45am during Orientation sessions

Families already at Graceville State School are encouraged to come during normal uniform store hours for their Prep needs due to these selling days usually being busy days.

If you have a small child wanting a dress for next year smaller than the size 2 available, you need to come in and specially order them asap.

NEW SKORTS ARE COMING BY MID NOVEMBER.

Pants built in under a skirt embroidered with GSS in gold on skirt.

Most of your swimming gear is available from the uniform store, including swim caps, bags and quick dry towels in your house colours and others.

Friday sport shirts and football socks are in stock.

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

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, Amanda and Ally

Volunteers for week commencing Monday, 31 October are:

Be sure to thank them when you see them; they are wonderful to volunteer their time to make lunches for your children.

Of course, any questions or concerns, please come see us at the Tuckshop or drop us a line at tuckshop.gss@gmail.com

School Plus

In the final week of Term 3 and during the September School Holidays, the Graceville School Plus Outside School Hours Care Service (OSHC) underwent a Quality Assessment and Rating Audit with the Office of Early Childhood and Care.

This is a formal assessment process that all OSHC services and childcare centres must undertake approximately every 3 years under the National benchmark for the quality of children’s education are care services across Australia. It involves an inspector observing the operations of the service over several days and providing a report of the quality of programming and practice, safety, the physical environment, staffing arrangements, relationships with children, community partnerships, leadership and service management. The service is then rating as either “Working Towards”, “Meeting” or “Exceeding” the National Quality Framework.

We are very pleased to advise that School Plus Graceville OSHC received an overall rating of “Exceeding”.

Between 15-20% of Outside School Hours Care services, Australia wide, achieve this high level rating. We would like to congratulate Anita, Sinead and their team at Graceville OSHC, as well the School Plus Support Office Team on such a great result.

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

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 below for further information.

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.

Craft Market and Car Boot Sale

WHEN: Sunday October 30th 2016
TIME: 7:00am – 12noon
WHERE: Oxley State School Oval, Cnr of Oxley Road and Colwel Street Oxley

FREE ENTRY for shoppers!

Contact Narelle on 0412 240 503 for further details.

This event features a wide range of stalls offering arts and crafts, trash and treasure, furniture, collectables, plants, fruit and veg, new and used toys, books, clothes, shoes and lots more. Hot and cold food and drinks available. Toilet access available.

Sherwood District Meals on Wheels

Do you know someone who is having difficulty shopping for food or cooking?

Sherwood District Meals on Wheels is able to help. Our volunteers deliver meals to the suburbs of Chelmer, Graceville, Sherwood, Corinda and Oxley. Our $10.00 meal pack ($9 if eligible for government subsidy) includes soup, a main meal, juice and dessert. The meals are nutritionally prepared for us by our supplier Nutrifresh and are delivered daily by our friendly volunteers between 9 and 10 am. The meals can be delivered fresh or frozen allowing more flexibility for the clients. Special dietary needs can also be catered for.

Who is Eligible?

• People who are 65 or older
• People who are having difficulty preparing meals for themselves or shopping
• People who have a disability and their carers
• People recovering from hospitalisation or illness

Volunteers

Volunteering for Meals on Wheels is a satisfying experience as we enable people to maintain their independence by continuing to live in their own homes. We provide a friendly daily contact for people, many of whom may be isolated or frail. We welcome new volunteers to either do a delivery run to people in their homes one morning a month (starting around 8.45 am and usually finishing shortly after 10 am) or to help in our kitchen by packing the meals for delivery.

If you know someone who needs help with meals or you would like to volunteer, please contact Donna at Meals on Wheels on 33797715 or email: sherwoodmow@gmail.com.

Graceville Railway Station Upgrade

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

Corinda State High School – Art in Print Workshop

Corinda State High School is hosting a one day Art Workshop ‘Art in Print’ on Thursday, 1st of December. Open to Years 4-6 students; please refer to the information and registration form attached.

Sherwood Arboretum – Bird Walk

This is a great opportunity to enjoy Sherwood Arboretum’s wonderful birdlife with a bird walk at 6.30 am on Sunday 6 November.

One of Australia’s leading ecologists, Professor Hugh Possingham of The University of Queensland will be your guide for this bird walk, starting at the Jolimont Street car park.

The walk finishes with a relaxing morning tea by the river. The cost of just $5.00 for adults for morning tea helps support the voluntary work of the Friends of Sherwood Arboretum Association (FOSA). Please RSVP by calling (07) 3278 6525 or emailing info@sherwoodarboretum.com.au.

Sherwood Arboretum has a well-deserved reputation as an excellent site for bird watching, thanks to its wetlands, including two lakes and three protected islands, a riverfront bushland corridor and an impressive collection of over 1000 Australian native trees. Over the past 15 years, 170 species of birds have been recorded in this 91-year-old Arboretum, one of Brisbane’s botanical treasures.

Cerebral Palsy Swim Club

Please see attached flyer regarding the Cerebral Palsy Swim Club being run by The University of Queensland.

If you know anybody that may be interesting in taking part please get in contact with Iain Dutia from the University as per the below contact details.

Iain Dutia, Physiotherapist and PhD Candidate at the University of Queensland
Email: i.dutia@uq.edu.au
Phone: 0497 333 020