9 March 2017

From the Principal

Zoe Smith

Hello,

This will be my last newsletter piece for the term as I head off on a family holiday! I will be returning for the start of Term 2. Mrs McKeaten will be the Acting Principal in my absence.

The Enhancement Class Parent Information session was held on Tuesday morning. Mrs Bourke explained how the Enhancement classes operate and the process for Expressions of Interest for the classes for 2018. It is very important to note all Expressions of Interest MUST be provided to the office by Wednesday 29 March. An adult must provide the form to the office and sign a register to ensure the form has been accepted by the office staff. Only families who provide an Expression of Interest form through the office, by March 29 will be considered for a place in the classes for 2018. As a parent, you then have two terms to make a final decision about whether to go through with the formal nomination process at the end of Term 3. All families who express an interest for their child to take a place in the classes must also enrol their children to take part in the University of NSW tests this year. We use this data as a piece of standardised assessment to be used in the selection process. As a school, we will also do a Pre NAPLAN test with the Year 2 students who have expressed an interest in the class. This will take place the end of Term 3 and is used as another piece of important data for consideration in the selection process. Each year we have families who do not provide the required documentation to office on time, it is important to note, it is parent’s responsibility to ensure the process is followed and documentation is provided on time. Children will not be considered if the forms are not provided to the office by Wednesday 29 March.

The Fete committee are in desperate need of an electrician to help at the Fete. It would be wonderful if we had a parent, carer or even grandparent who was qualified and could volunteer their services. The Fete Committee are willing to offer platinum sponsorship to any person willing to volunteer their services for this important role. If we cannot find someone we will need to pay an electrician which will eat into the profits made from the Fete. If you can help, or know someone who can help, please let us know and we will be happy to pass on your details to the Fete committee.

The Spell-a-thon is next Tuesday! All funds raised go directly to support our Inquiry learning approach in either Science, Humanities and the Social Sciences or the Learning Assets. We have so many resources to support this work and so all funds raised will be greatly appreciated.

Finally, don’t forget Parent Teacher Interviews are being held in week 9. It is a great opportunity to talk with your child’s class teacher.

I hope you have a great three weeks in the lead up to the holidays! I know I will!

See you all next Term,

Zoe Smith

Newsletter Articles

From the Deputy Principal

Maree Hass

Study Tour Proposal – From Minzu Elementary School in Taiwan to Graceville State School

Thank you to those who have replied that they are available to host a student – we do need more families – please read below.

Our school has again been approached by Education Queensland International to host a Study Tour of approx. 20 students from Taiwan beginning July 11 for 2 weeks. Graceville has hosted a few study tours now from Taiwan in past years. This year we will host Minzu School’s visit and do a return visit by Graceville to this same school in September this year. We have 22 students who will be participating in this outbound study tour.

All experiences have been wonderful for our staff and students as two very different cultures met and while our students had greater exposure to native Mandarin speakers the students from Taiwan were immersed in the English language daily here in Australia.

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. Families who host a student will be funded $200 to assist in covering the costs in providing for a visiting student.

There are many benefits in participating in a study tour including:

• Our students get to experience other cultures
• Friendships are formed which last for many years
• Learning is enriched for all students
• Students enjoy sharing their daily lives with students from another country
• The school benefits financially.

If there are any questions that you may have about being a homestay family please email me or call the office to speak with me.

I look forward to hearing from interested families.

Mathletics Reminder

Mathletics Online has commenced for this year. The cost for Mathletics is $12 per student and invoices have been sent home. Your class teacher can inform you more fully about Mathletics and how your class will be using the program this year. Each student will then receive their own personal log on and password to access the program for both at school and at home.

Payment needs to be made by Friday March 10 if you haven’t done so by now.

Date Claimer: next school Technology Community Committee meeting – Friday May 5 at 7:50am in the school library. All welcome.

Junior Assemblies

Parents and care givers are invited to join us for Junior Assemblies which will be held every second Tuesday afternoon from 2.15 in the hall.

Below is the calendar for term 1 assemblies.

From the Deputy Principal

Lisa McKeaten

Road safety

I just wanted to remind parents and guardians who are picking up in the afternoons about a couple of issues which have occurred recently:

• There have continued to be people parking in the 2 minute zones (front & back gates) who are ‘sitting’ in those zones for much longer than 2 minutes
• 2 minute zones - This is not a parking zone, you are not permitted to leave your car. There needs to be a quick flow of cars in both zones.
• Crossing Oxley Road – Please use the lights! We have seen lots of parents crossing Oxley road between the traffic. We have even seen traffic which has stopped to let parents and students cross. Not only is this practice very dangerous but you can also get fined! It also may give your children the message that they can do that when you are not around. Be a good Role Model!

Let’s ‘stand together’ against bullying and violence!

Our school is proud to say ‘Bullying. No Way!’ On Friday 17 March we will stand united with schools across Australia for the 2017 National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence.

Taking a stand together will deliver a powerful message that bullying and violence is never okay.

We strongly encourage parents and carers to have open and honest conversations with their children about bullying in all forms.

To get the discussion started with helpful information and tips visit the Bullying. No Way! website.

2017 International competitions

All students in Years 2 - 6 will be invited to participate in the International competitions run by the University of New South Wales.

Any students in Years 2 or 4 whose parents are intending to apply for the Enhancement classes are required to enter their child in the English, Maths & Science competitions.

In 2017 we will be participating in the following competitions:

• Digital Technologies 23 May $8.00 (Yr 3-6)
• Science 30 May $8.00 (Yr 2-6)
• Spelling 14 June $11.00 (Yr 2-6)
• Writing 13 June $17.00 (Yr 3-6)
• English 1 August $8.00 (Yr 2-6)
• Mathematics 15 August $8.00 (Yr 2-6)

All participating students will need to indicate if they are entering by later in the term. Payment for these competitions will be included in your Term 2 account. All competitions will be non-refundable as they are pre-paid.

These competitions are valued by us and parents but they do take a considerable amount of time out of class, for often the same groups of children, so this year we will be conducting the competitions before school, as much as possible. Running these comps at another time, eg. lunchtime, is not in the best interests of the students. This may mean that for that week your child may have to miss eg. Senior choir or an Instrumental practice, but it would only be very infrequently. We do have to run the tests on the day indicated above, unless children are sick or absent. If this occurs we try to make-up the tests in the day or 2 after, if possible. We will confirm the times as the comps get closer. We would probably expect students at school ready to start at 7.45am.

NAPLAN testing – Term 2

On Tuesday 9, Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 May, students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will take part in the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy, or NAPLAN, as it is commonly known.

Skills that will be tested include: reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy.

These tests are done here at school and are considered just another part of the curriculum.

It is important for you and your child to know that NAPLAN is not a pass/fail test. It simply looks at what level students are achieving in literacy and numeracy against National Standards and compared with student peers throughout Australia.

NAPLAN cannot be studied for and students are not expected to do so. The best way you can help your child prepare for NAPLAN is to let them know that it is just a routine part of their school program, and to urge them to do the best they can on the day.

All students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 are expected to participate in NAPLAN testing. Please ensure that if you have a child in Years 3 or 5 that they are in attendance during that week in May. Please avoid booking holidays or appointments during those days. If you can’t avoid those days eg. specialist appointment, please try to make it in the afternoon. All testing will be completed by 12.45 on those days.

Later in the year we will send you an individual student NAPLAN report that you can use to view and monitor how your child is progressing.

More information is available on the NAP website.

If you have any concerns, please contact the class teacher or myself.

Library News

Melanie Hutchinson - Teacher Librarian

GRACEVILLE STATE SCHOOL READERS’ CUP COMPETITION 2017

This term Year 5 & 6 students will participate in the annual GSS READERS CUP. Teams will compete against each other in the Readers Cup competition on THURSDAY 30 MARCH at 9.00 am in the HALL.

Readers’ Cup is a competition that promotes the reading of books and rewards students who do well at reading. Just as good sports people receive rewards, then good readers will receive accolades and prizes for competing at reading.

Teams have already been formed and students are currently reading the SIX selected stories (Specky Magee - Felice Arena; Dragon Dawn - Carole Wilkinson; Hatchet - Gary Paulson; Spaghetti Pig Out (from ‘Uncanny’) - Paul Jennings (short story); Little Squirt (from ‘Unmentionable’) - Paul Jennings (short story); Amy and Louis - Libby Gleeson and Freya Blackwood (picture book).

Points are scored on the day by answering rounds of questions on each book as well as answering rounds of general knowledge questions on reading and books.

Families are asked to encourage their children to read the required stories books and actively support their team!

SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB

We are hoping to get Book Club back up and running again at Graceville this year. However, to do this we need some volunteers who would be able to co-ordinate this program. Book Club is usually run once a term, and there is plenty of training and guidance to help you organise this event each term.

If you are able to help out and would like to learn the ropes please contact the school library.

CONTACT CLUB VOLUNTEERS

A great big thanks to those who helped out at the last Contact Club. We had a large turn out, and now have a heap of brand new library books to add to the collection. The children are so excited! Teachers were also appreciative of the new resources that they are now able to access and use in their classrooms.

There are always books to cover so if you are able to come in for the next club meeting that would be fabulous. Mark your calendar - Wednesday 29th March.

PE

Wayne Daunt

Cross Country

Cross country training for those children that are interested will be held every Tuesday & Thursday morning in Graceville Memorial Park from 7.45am. Students need to meet Mr Daunt under the D block building at 7.40am and will be escorted over to the park.

Swimming

Congratulations to the following swimmers for being chosen in the Met West swimming team to compete at the State Championships at the end of March – Raphael D, Harvi M, Elliot R. Well done boys and we wish you every success at the Qld titles.

Money Matters

Anne Nixon

Thank you for your payments of excursions and resources to date.

All excursions and events require payment and a permission form to be returned by the due date or your child will not be permitted to attend.

Student Resource Schemes (SRS) for 2017 are:

• Prep Requirements ($60)
• Instrumental Music Programs – Instrument Hire ($100), Percussion Maintenance ($50), Music Participation ($30) & Choir ($30)
• Religious Education Program ($10)
• Mathletics On-line registration (Years Prep - 6) ($12)
• Origo Maths (years 3, 4 and 5) ($6)

All students involved in these programs must return a completed SRS form.

VOLUNTARY PARENT CONTRIBUTIONS

Your valuable contribution to this school’s Learning Targets are most welcomed.

$100 per student.

Credit in Account: Credits from 2016 rolled over to this year can be applied to 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 ticketed excursions are non-refundable.

Payment of account days:

8am-3.00pm - 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

Please ensure when paying via BPoint, that you log onto to the following website. You must put the entire website address as this has the biller code.

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.

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 a number of upcoming performances for our choirs noted below:

Please note date change - Thursday 30 March - Junior Choir (Year 2/3 students) - singing at the Harmony Day assembly - 2pm assembly will start

Saturday 18 March - Senior Choir (Year 4-6 students) - Voices from the Trenches Concert starting at 6pm. Please note audience members will need to purchase tickets to attend. Further information is available from Ms West (see email details below) - Senior Choir members need to return permission slip if attending

Senior Choir performing at the ANZAC Day ceremony on 24 April at 10:15am

Thank you to parents who have contacted their child's teacher if they have been unable to attend a rehearsal. We encourage regular contact with instrumental teachers/conductors, particularly if you have any concerns about your child's involvement in the program. Contact details are noted below. Next term the Junior Band will rehearse before school on Wednesdays at 7:45am and Beginner/Junior Strings will rehearse on Wednesdays at first break.

Music staff email contacts

Alex Grodecki - agrod3@eq.edu.au
James Kukulies - jkuku2@eq.edu.au
Ruth Prout - rprou5@eq.edu.au
Steve Stiller - sstil2@eq.edu.au
Julie West - jwest269@eq.edu.au

A small number of students will be undertaking an audition for the Westcent music camps on Tuesday 21 March. Parents of students invited to audition have been notified via their child/instrumental music teacher. Please contact your child's IM teacher if you have any questions about the auditions.

We are looking forward to our upcoming choir concerts.

Naomi Lindh
Music Teacher and IM Coordinator

Tuckshop News

Volunteers for week commencing Monday, 13 March 2017 -

Thank you to our wonderful volunteers!

Tuckshop is operated as an online ordering system. If you need to open a Tuckshop account, please visit school24.net.au and use Graceville’s School Registration ID: 25314963 and follow the prompts.

If you have any questions or concerns, please see us at the Tuckshop or drop us an email at tuckshop.gss@gmail.com.

ACTIVE SCHOOL TRAVEL:

TACO TUESDAY!

(Travel Actively Coming-to-school On)

On Tuesday 7th March we saw the official launch of our TACO Tuesday Active Travel program. It was great to see so many students at the stamping stations getting their stamps after actively travelling to school. Thank you to Ms O’Brien and the student council for organising our stamping stations. Remember there are many different ways to qualify as an active traveller.

WALK – walk all the way to school

PARK AND STRIDE – too far to walk from home? No problems……park your vehicle a short distance from school and walk the rest of the way to school (see attached map for suggested parking)

RIDE or SCOOT – dust off your helmets and get on your bike or scooter and roll to school

PUBLIC TRANSPORT – reduce congestion by catching the bus or train

CAR POOL – reduce the number of cars at the drop off zones by getting together with other school families and carpooling to school

National Ride2School Day 17th March – Decorate your bike helmets

National Ride2School Day is the perfect opportunity for Australian students and school communities to embrace a healthier start and to try walking and riding to school.

The purpose of National Ride2School Day is to show school communities that riding to school is an easy and fun activity. It is a chance to celebrate and prove it can be done. All Children who actively travel to school on this day will receive a stamp in their passport. Decorate your helmet to be in the running for some great prizes. We will be giving each student with a decorated helmet a raffle ticket in the prize draw. Don’t worry if you can’t ride your bike or scooter, so long as you actively travel with your helmet you will go in the draw.

Join other kids across Australia to actively travel on 17th March. It's a great way to get fit and healthy. Your child will also arrive alert, more attentive and ready to learn. Remember that when riding a bike you are required by law to wear an approved helmet securely fitted and fastened.

Using the school Pick-Up-Zone

We recognize that it isn’t always possible to actively travel to school and that each day many students are collected from the Pick-Up-Zones on Park Road and Acacia Avenue. Last year in response to parent concerns and feedback we made a number of changes to how the pick up zone is to be used, and these changes have been rolled out on Acacia Avenue and we will be rolling them out on Park Road this year.

These RULES are designed to:

• Keep our students and families safe and reduce any accidents or incidents
• Help with the flow of traffic around the school at peak times
• Assist our wonderful crossing supervisors to help them do their jobs safely which keeps our community safe

With this in mind we all need to “do the right thing” for this to work – We understand that sometimes we are in a hurry or get frustrated, however, not adhering to signage or road markings puts everyone at risk. We also understand that caregivers, grandparents, and friends also use the pick up zones. If you can take the time to familiarize yourself with the procedures, and pass the information on to any family members, this will assist us to get you moving quickly and safely on your way.

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. We meet once a term and plan one key event a term. Parents run our committee with three staff members so we are in much need of additional support. Can you help? Please contact Jo Richards at sajrichards@iinet.net.au for more information. Alternatively please join us, Thursday 20th April at 10:45am in the waratah room– details will be available in the school newsletter.

SPELLATHON

SPELLATHON Test Day is next Tuesday 14 March! Hopefully the children have been working hard on their spelling lists and have almost learnt their words. There is still time to encourage your child to become involved and to seek sponsorship from family, friends and neighbors. PLEASE ENSURE YOUR CHILD BRINGS HIS/HER SPONSORSHIP FORM TO SCHOOL ON TUESDAY 14 MARCH SO THE TEACHER CAN ENTER THE TEST RESULTS. The envelope will be sent home again so children can collect their sponsorship money from their sponsors. Children need to return the sponsorship form by Tuesday 28 March to be eligible for prizes. If your family has not received the Spellathon 2017 word list and sponsorship form then please find copies for each year level 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 spells 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 2017 Spellathon a great success.

Important Spellathon Dates:

Tuesday 14 March : SPELLATHON Test Day
Tuesday 28 March : Return of sponsorship forms and money

Proudly sponsored by:

Chappy’s Chat

Chappy’s Chat

This week we celebrate International Women’s Day and we recognise the important role women have in our communities. It is also a time where we consider areas of gender inequality that still exist and look for avenues of change. A primary school setting seems a good place to start, given the high percentage of female staff and the greater number of mums who are able to assist with school based activities such as reading groups, sports days and excursions. Perhaps, given how just active many women are in the primary school setting, we perhaps are one area of community that is leading the way in the recognition and appreciation for the part women play in our world. We hope all the women in our school community feel that their efforts are valued and acknowledged. Not just this week but always. Thank you so very much!

Last week the cricket fans amongst us experienced a very rare treat when our test side won a test on Indian soil. This victory was most unexpected with almost everyone predicting a 4- nil series loss. One thing to come out of this surprise result was a terrific illustration that if you try your hardest and do your best, you just never know what success is within reach. I hope as a community we can role model and educate this to our young people. Instant reward and instant gratification seems the new norm and striving for something with perseverance and resilience appears less common these days. Of course, success isn’t always identified by a winning score or even a test result. Sometimes it is found in personal growth in a certain area or in overcoming a tricky situation. Other times success could be found in rising above a challenge. I believe success is always found when we do our best. I hope our children discover the real meaning of success and build positive habits into their daily behaviours. As a very wise but forgetful fish advised us – “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming”.

Our year five and six students commenced their Interschool Sport season last Friday, where they will be competing against other local schools in a number of sports. There will be many skills learnt and developed over the season, and practice sessions are a good opportunity to work on those skills. Girls’ soccer practice takes place on Friday mornings at 8:00am across the road at Graceville Memorial Park. It is tricky to find a time that works for everyone, so if that clashes with other commitments please don’t stress. The training sessions are not a prerequisite for playing on Friday afternoons.

Recent snapshot- In addition to the general pastoral care and support …

Before school duties, Girls soccer training, supervising swimming lessons, prep reading groups, facilitate hall games at first break, sound system crew training and set up for assemblies, referee year 2 soccer at 2nd break, interschool sport, front gate duty. Set up sound system for Enhancement class meeting before school and attend Local Chaplaincy Committee meeting.

Have an amazing week!
John Erichsen
(Chappy)

Uniform & Stationery

uniformstore@gracevilss.eq.edu.au

School Holiday Tennis Clinic

Community News

Holiday Workshops for Brisbane Kids!

Over the Easter school holidays, Speak Up Studio is holding a series of wonderfully creative workshops! Our workshop program includes workshops in drama, art and craft, musical theatre, film making, and science!

Speak Up workshops allow students to build confidence, be creative, and feel positive about speaking up!

• April (week one) from Monday 3rd April - Friday 7th April
• April (week two) from Monday 10th April - Wednesday 12th April

A few of our fantastic workshops for Brisbane kids include, Minecraft Pixel canvas craft, Sing!, Beauty and the Beast, Moana craft & musical theatre, Friendship charm craft, Design-a-droid, Fantastic Beats drama, Thrift Shop Music Video Making, and many more!

For more information or to register please visit www.speakupstudio.com.au
Email: info@speakupstudio.com.au or
Phone: (07) 3367 8572