29 March 2017

From the Acting Principal

Lisa McKeaten

We are almost there – end of the big term! We are all eager to start our holidays, staff and parents.

Last week was very busy with Parent Teacher interviews. I hope you took the opportunity to come along for these important discussions. I know the teachers certainly get a lot out of these meetings and face to face is always a very effectively way of communicating and also to develop relationships.

This term we have accomplished many things. We have all focussed on continuing our “Inquiry” journey across each year level and in each class. We have been developing our skills at framing quality Higher Order Questions. This work will continue to be one of our focus areas for this year. Another part of our Improvement agenda is focussing on spelling across the school. All teachers have been involved in professional development and planning sessions this term in order for us to have a big focus on spelling starting in Term 2. This will be done in every year level using ‘Words their Way’ resources.

Our other focus for this year is to develop our skills and knowledge of “The Learning Assets”. We have had whole school assemblies to promote the Assets of being a: collaborator, self-manager, communicator, thinker and next term – researcher. Teachers and students have been developing these skills. I encourage you to explore these skills and what they mean at home. Consistent use of common language at home and at school is vital to gain a deep understanding in adults and children.

Date Claimers:

Next term we will be holding parent information sessions about some of these topics. In Week 2 we will be having a session on ‘Curiosity & Powerful learning’ (repeated from last year) 26th April 6-7.30pm. A letter will come home in Week 1 about this event. In Week 4 we will be having a session about ‘Inquiry & the Learning Assets’. This session will be presented twice: Tuesday 9 May 1.30-2.45pm & Wednesday 10 May 6-7.30pm. The last session will be in Week 6 ‘Higher Order Questions’. Two sessions will be held: Tuesday 23 May 1.30-2.45pm & Wednesday 24 May 6-7.30pm. Add these dates to your calendar!

Spellathon

This term we have also had our Spellathon. At our Whole School Assembly on Thursday 27 April we will be announcing the winners for each class and year level. Each year the P&C runs this very successful event raising funds which go back into the school to support our Inquiry journey in the areas of Science and the Humanities subjects (History & Geography (P-6), and Civics and Citizenship & Business & Economics (5&6)).

Keep watch on our school these holidays

With the holidays fast approaching, we need local communities looking out for our schools. 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.

Anzac Day

There have been some changes to ANZAC day services in our local area this year. There will now be a march at Graceville but it will run from the Train station in Appel Street along to the Croquet Club through to Memorial Park.

Unfortunately the number of volunteers required to run so many services on ANZAC day are also dwindling. To ensure our Graceville service is still able to take place, Zoe has agreed that the school will take on some extra responsibility to help the RSL on ANZAC day itself. I will be calling for volunteers early next term to help set up and pack up chairs, shade structures etc. for our community ANZAC service. Any support you can offer will be greatly appreciated.

Our school Anzac Service will be on Monday 24th April starting at 10.15am in the hall. We hope to see there.

I would like to wish everyone a relaxing and safe holiday. Enjoy the break! Hope it is dry!

Newsletter Articles

From the Deputy Principal

Maree Hass

Happy holidays to everyone as we head into Easter vacation!

It has been a busy first term as our young students have settled into school life in Prep and for others made the transition to new classes and year levels. We all need a break to refuel, relax and prepare for term 2, enjoy and stay safe.

Prep – Reading Eggs

Please see separate information coming home this week about the program ‘Reading Eggs’ which our prep students will participate in commencing in term 2. This online program is designed to motivate and excite students about reading and will be a useful addition to assist our classes in the reading process, which we view as one of the most important things for our preppies to learn as it unlocks all other areas in learning. Some families may already have a subscription, if you do please let your teacher know about this. School subscriptions are vastly cheaper for parents and students have access both at school and at home. Also with a school subscription, teachers can track student progress and achievement.

Technology Update

Thank you to the families who have paid their voluntary contribution this year thus far. 8 new laptops and 10 desktop computers which will update old technology in classrooms and our computer lab have arrived! I will post some photos when these arrive in classrooms.

Date Claimers:

Monday April 24 – our school ANZAC Day ceremony will take place at 10.15 in our school hall and families and friends are welcome to attend this special occasion.

Year 4 parents please be on the lookout for a letter to request assistance for the school ANZAC morning tea. Our year 5 parents have helped in this area for some years and considering that they play a huge part in the catering for year 6 graduation I am looking to other year levels to assist with both ANZAC day and Remembrance days’ morning teas. I also need a few parents who can give some time on this day, this year Monday April 24 to the set up and serve the morning tea in the hall. Some older community members really do enjoy participating in this annual school event so it is nice that we can offer them morning tea after the ceremony here at Graceville.

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

Waiting List for Prep for 2018 – opens first day of next term Tuesday April 18.

The waiting list for 2018 will open on Tuesday, 18th April at 8:00am. Please let any interested people know that forms and information can be obtained from our school office from that date which is the first day of next term. Families from within our catchment area we also invite you to obtain enrolment forms to begin the process when convenient after the start of term 2. For in catchment families a birth certificate and proof of residency in our catchment is required along with the completed enrolment form.

Graceville State School recognises as its prime obligation the provision of access to an appropriate educational service for students resident within this community as defined by its local catchment area.

Please visit the following link which details our school enrolment management plan and also provides a link to the catchment area for Graceville State School:

This site also outlines the process for placing your child’s name on our waiting list if you reside outside of our catchment area.

2017 Outbound Study Tour to Taiwan

Term 2 meeting for parents and students will be on Thursday April 27 at 7pm in the Waratah room.

If a parent is unable to attend please let me know so that forms can go home that need to be completed early next term.

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

We still need more school families to volunteer to host a student.

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.

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.

From the Acting Deputy Principal

Tracy Freeman

As the end of the term is near, I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all the parents and students that I have seen in my travels over the last three weeks in the Acting Deputy Principal role. It is a pleasure to see student’s participating in lessons, actively using the Learning Assets and completing work to a high standard. It really is a lovely school community to be part of. I hope you all have a safe and fun filled holiday and I look forward to seeing you all next term!!

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 e.g. 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.

Every day counts at school

The Department of Education and Training has a range of free resources to promote the importance of going to school, every day.

Research shows that school attendance leads to positive student outcomes, and can help children to build social and emotional skills.

The Every day countsm campaign, developed with the input of Solid Pathways students, features popular footy players, including Johnathan Thurston, Sam Thaiday and Greg Inglis. Resources include an animation, comic book, dedicated website and online posters of the footy players.

Check out the resources and see if you can spot some of your favourite NRL footy players — visit the Every day counts website (everydaycounts.eq.edu.au)

Money Matters

Anne Nixon

Term 2 statements will be sent home this week. Please note that the final instalment for interschool sport is due by Friday 31st March.

Preps will see a new charge on their file for Reading Eggs. Can you please fill in the Student Resource Scheme note coming home this week and return it to either the office or your class teacher.

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)
• Reading Eggs (Prep only) $22.50

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.

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. If this is not done, your child might not be able to attend the activity.

Music News

Naomi Lindh

Our Junior Choir will be performing at the Harmony Day assembly on Thursday 30 March at 2:10pm. Families and members of the school community are welcome to attend.

The year 2/3 choir has had a busy term singing and learning songs for their first performance. We will be starting new songs next term so if your child is interested in joining the choir (for students in years 2 and 3), they are welcome to join at the beginning of next term, with rehearsals on Friday mornings at 7:55am.

This week from Monday - Wednesday the Westcent Honours Choral Camp was held, culminating in a concert on Wednesday evening. The Graceville SS students attending the Honours Choral Camp are Amy P, Ruby D, Annabelle H and Evie G. We would like to congratulate these students for their successful nominations. Ms Julie West was fortunate to attend the camp on Monday as part of her professional development as well as supporting our students. We hope the students enjoy their experience at the camp and the performance at the concert.

Please note due to the rehearsal on Thursday (during the school day) and assembly performance, there will be No Junior Choir rehearsal on Friday 31 March.

The Senior Choir will be performing at the ANZAC Day ceremony on 24 April at 10:10am. Families and members of the school community are invited to attend the service.

Next term the Junior Band will rehearse before school on Wednesdays at 7:45am. Mr Kukulies will inform parents via a letter which week the Junior Band rehearsals will begin. The Beginner/Junior Strings will rehearse on Wednesdays at first break starting in week 1 of term 2.

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

Thank you for your commitment to the music program this term and the Junior Choir and Senior Choir for their performances! On behalf of the music department I would like to wish you all a safe and happy holiday! Lessons and rehearsals will resume again in week 1 of next term, including Senior Choir on the first Tuesday of term 2.

Chappy’s Chat

As families prepare for the school holidays and all the excitement associated with school breaks, our thoughts turn to those in North Queensland who have been significantly impacted by Tropical Cyclone Debbie. Extreme weather events are unpredictable and dangerous, leaving many people displaced and/or isolated for extended periods of time. While armed and emergency service do an incredible job in providing support and shelter to those impacted by the cyclone, there is still a long period of time, post- Debbie, where rebuilding physically and emotionally must take place. We are a long way from the impact zone of this event, but many of us will know friends and family who live in that area. Keeping in contact with those in the area, including after the event has passed, can be a very real help to those trying to put their lives back together. Sometimes, just knowing we are in someone’s thoughts can be added strength to keep us going a little longer when things are tough. If you have family and friends in that part of the state, I hope they are well-prepared and stay safe. Hopefully supplies and essentials like power and water are impacted for the shortest time possible.

With the track of the cyclone heading south, we can expect some more wet weather late this week and for the start of the school holidays. For those travelling, wet roads and holiday traffic can be a poor mix. If you are on the roads, please stay safe, drive to the conditions, reach your destination and enjoy well-deserved time with your friends and loved ones. I hope these holidays will be a refreshing time for you and your family.

Over the holidays, the Easter long weekend will be celebrated and I hope it is a great time for your family, regardless how you spend that time. Somewhere in the Easter message and the chocolate eggs, I hope we can all remember the really important things at this special time of the year. No, I am not referring to the Masters golf at Augusta, but instead that families, friends, love, hope and the new opportunities life brings, should be embraced and passionately.

Have a truly amazing holiday and I look forward to seeing you back here in term 2.

John Erichsen
(Chappy)

Tuckshop News

Anne, Amanda and Ally

Last week of Term 1 is already here! Thank you to all our volunteers who got us through the term. It has been busy. Last week’s order numbers steadily increased and looked just like this:

Volunteers for Term 2 in the week commencing Monday, 17th April 2017 are -

We look forward to seeing you in Term Two! Have a safe and happy holiday.

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. There is an information page and login guide on the Graceville State School website, under P&C and the Tuckshop, if you need any help.

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

Uniform Shop

Fiona Fryer

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

All House Shirts (Cook, Kennedy and Flinders) are available in size 4 and up.

I have in stock 1 size 10 long sleeve gold shirt for $35. This is the last one and these shirts are specially ordered so be quick as no more will be ordered until later in the year.

Band folders are available for $15.

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

The Year 6 shirts have been sent to the printers and they will go to the classrooms when they are ready.

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

If you would like to volunteer in the uniform shop please send an email to the above address, if you have any questions please ask, your help would be greatly appreciated.

Fiona Fryer
Uniform Shop Convenor
Graceville State School

Graceville State School Tennis Coaching – Term 2

Before School, Lunch Time and After School Coaching will commence from Thursday 20 April 2017 (during the first week back after the holidays).

Enrolments close on Thursday 30th March 2017. Spare enrolment forms are available from the School Office, they can also be downloaded from the School Newsletter. To ensure a place in class, forms must be returned by this date to the School Office. Do not return forms to the School Office after this date contact Jim Joyce directly on 0417 771022.

Special Offer – All new students in Grade 1, 2 and 3 will receive a free tennis racquet when joining for the first time.

For further enquiries please contact Jim Joyce on 0417 771022

Holiday Tennis Clinic

We will be running a Tennis clinic at West Brisbane Tennis Centre from Monday 10th to Wednesday 12th April 2017. Time: 8.30am -12 noon each day Cost: $135

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

Thanks

Jim

Holiday Swim Clinic

Bookings are now being taken for 2 holiday swim clinics being held this Easter vacation. The first from Monday April 3rd til Friday April 7th and the 2nd clinic from Monday April 10th til Friday April 14th. Squad , stroke development and learn to swim classes are on offer everyday of the 2 clinics. Those in school care may participate in the program as well, with staff members able to take the children to the pool for their lesson and pick them up after. It is not necessary to attend everyday of the clinic so just state your availability when booking. All inquiries are welcome. Please contact Pete Geraghty by phone [0432407442] or email [petegeraghty@hotmail.com]