18 May 2017

From the Principal

Zoe Smith

Hello,

Fete planning is underway! These are exciting times!

The first official meeting of the Fete committee was held on Wednesday night. Many parents attended and are enthusiastic about this year being the best Fete ever! The Fete is a massive community event. All school families volunteer their time either prior to the Fete cooking, baking or donating goodies for sale on the day as well as helping out at their class stall for an hour or so on the day. Many hands make light work so please consider how you can help! If you or a member of your family can bake cakes, biscuits, sweets, make jam, we need your expertise to make some yummy treats to sell on the day! More information will come out closer to the date.

A way you can help the Fete right now, is to consider what you could donate for sale at the garage sale. The kerb side clean-up is coming soon so please consider hanging on to anything the school could use at the Fete garage sale! You may also see some amazing items from neighbours on the kerbs near your home, if you can, grab them for us, hold on to them for a month or so and we will get them from you! No junk remember but anything you think we could make money for at the garage sale!

This week we started a consultation process with our class teachers to refine how we will spend the $19,600 that was raised from the Spell-a-thon. We have made the teachers aware the raised funds need to support our Inquiry Approach so they are enthusiastically looking into how they think we can best use the money to purchase resources to support Science, HASS (Humanities and Social Sciences) and the Learning Assets. When all ideas have been received, the leadership team will make the final decisions about what exactly will be purchased and we will order the resources. The P&C have asked we document and photograph what we purchase so the community can see the wonderful things the school was able to purchase from the fundraiser. The teachers and I thank all families who supported the Spell-a-thon and the P&C for allowing the school to use the funds to support our Inquiry Learning Journey!

This week the 18 members of our School Improvement Team (a team comprising of a teacher from each year level, specialist teacher representative, special needs representatives, leadership representatives and our school coaches) met from 3.10pm to nearly 6pm to debrief on how we are progressing as a school in relation to our 2017 improvement focus areas (An Inquiry Approach to Learning, Framing Higher Order Questions and the Introduction of the Spelling Program). We meet twice a term and use an ‘inside out/bottom up’ leadership style to inform school decision making in our focus areas. At this meeting we also had 8 teachers from our own school and two principals from other state schools observe the meeting process to help them see how the voice of the teachers is heard and used to help make decisions in the school. It is important to note that all teachers attended in their own time, they are not paid any more to be on the team or for the use of their personal time to help improve the school. I am so thankful to have so many dedicated and committed teachers who are willing to take a hands on role in working with the leadership team to improve the school. The job of the leadership team now, is to use that rich information to either consolidate what the teachers think is working well so far and/or to reflect on and possibly adapt the things the teachers think are not working as well as they could yet. I have invited our Assistant Regional Director to come and be a critical friend for us as the leadership team work their way through all the feedback.

Don’t forget the Trivia Night is fast approaching. There is a lot of talk around the school about the Disney theme and the costumes teams may wear. We have a team of teachers playing on the night and a handful of other teachers helping to run the bar. It is a great night, lots of fun and very social! Please consider coming along.

Have a great week,

Zoe Smith

Newsletter Articles

From the Deputy Principal

Maree Hass

At our junior assembly this week I spoke about toys that have been coming along to school and causing issues in the playground. I would like to reiterate to parents and ask for your support in ensuring that toys remain at home, specifically spinners, Viacom ooshies and collectable discs. They have been causing some safety concerns and also difficulties around the trading of these items at school.

Date Claimers:

Next school Technology Community Committee meeting – Friday May 19 at 7:50am in the school library. All welcome.

Under 8’s Week is this term and our celebrations will include our annual ‘fun on the oval’ on Friday May 26, 8:45 – 10:45 for our prep to year 2 students. Parents are encouraged to attend. Please see flyer attached.

Waiting List for Prep for 2018 is now open.

Please let any interested people know that forms and information can be obtained from our school office. Families from within our catchment area we also invite you to obtain enrolment forms to begin the process when convenient. 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.

Date Claimer: Prep 2018 information evening – Wednesday July 26 at 7:00pm.

All welcome to attend.

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

Proposed dates for tour: July 18 – August 6, 2017

We have confirmation that 22 students from Taiwan will be attending on the above dates, so we still require more families to host a student if possible. Please see details below.

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.

Junior Assemblies

Parents and care givers are all invited to join us for Junior Assemblies which will be held every second Tuesday afternoon from 2.15 in the hall. These assemblies will be for all Prep to Year 2 classes. Year 2 students have the opportunity to develop their skills of public speaking by taking turns in leading these assemblies and classes also take part presenting items for us all. We also like to recognise birthdays and present awards to students from across all classes.

Below is the calendar for the remainder of term 2 assemblies.

From the Deputy Principal

Lisa McKeaten

2017 International competitions

In 2017 we will be participating in the following competitions in the school hall:

• Digital Technologies 23 May (Yr 3-6) 7.45 start
• Science 30 May (Yr 2-6) Yr 3-6 – 7.30 start/Yr 2 – school time (11.30)
• Spelling 14 June (Yr 2-6) Yr 3-6 – 7.40 start/Yr 2 – school time 11.30
• Writing 13 June (Yr 3-6) Yr 3-6 – 7.45 start
• English 1 August (Yr 2-6) Yr 3-6 – 7.30 start/ Yr 2 school time 11.30
• Mathematics 15 August $8.00 (Yr 2-6) – 7.30 start/ Yr 2 school time 11.30

Let’s get reading!

The 2017 Premier’s Reading Challenge for Prep to Year 9 students runs from 15 May–25 August.

Fuelling imagination and helping develop early language are just two of the benefits of experiencing, sharing and reading books.

By registering to take part in this year’s challenge schools can help to foster a lifelong passion for reading and learning for their students. Parents can also take part by encouraging reading at home.

Help us reach our target of 2.5 million books to be read across Queensland by August 2017.

Visit the Premier’s Reading Challenge website to download suggested booklists and find out more.

Name our Icebreaker competition now open

An Antarctic experience of a lifetime is on offer for the Australian students who win a national competition to name the nation’s new icebreaker. The Name our Icebreaker competition has been designed to engage Australian students from Years 5–8 in Australia’s Antarctic Program and expand their understanding of Antarctica

Cybersafety resource for families

Parents — give your children the knowledge to stay cyber safe with the ‘Meet the Creeps’ website and quiz! The website guides you and your children through online scams, social media pitfalls and cyberbullying.

Find the free parenting support that’s right for you!

The Triple P — Positive Parenting Program now has an online app to help you decide what type of free parenting support is right for you.

In just three clicks you’ll answer two simple multiple-choice questions and be matched with a positive parenting program that suits your parenting needs.

You can find the Triple P Selector at the Triple P website

Money Matters

Anne Nixon

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
• Year 5 Digital Licence $11.00

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.

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

Thank you to the Junior Choir for their performance last week at the full school assembly. It was their first concert for the year and I hope they enjoyed the experience of performing and sharing their voices. I'd also like to thank the many parents and members of the school community who were able to attend. The Junior Choir will be performing at the NAIDOC Day assembly on the last Friday of this term. Further details about this performance will be provided in future newsletter articles.

The Senior Choir is currently preparing for the St Peters Sing Together day on Wednesday 14 June. Information notes with permission slips are being sent home this week. There will be an evening concert from 6:30pm which all choir students need to attend. The cost of $10 which is included on term accounts is to cover the music and we pay this directly to St Peters. The supply teachers for Julie and I to attend and supervise students as well as the bus to and from the venue will be covered by the instrumental/choral music budget. We are aware that there will be a clash with Senior Choir rehearsals on a number of Tuesday mornings when some students will be attending the international competitions. On these days the Senior Choir students involved in the competition are requested to come to a choir rehearsal at first break. Students who are not involved in the competition are requested to attend the normal rehearsal at 7:45am on those Tuesdays. Students involved in the spelling competition on 14 June will have time to complete it then join the Senior Choir to travel to the bus to St Peters. Those students will need to ensure they arrive to complete the test by 7:30am.

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 to our Junior Choir for their lovely performance last week.

Naomi Lindh
Music Teacher and IM Coordinator

Library News

Melanie Hutchinson

GRACEVILLE SS READERS CUP COMPETITION 2017

Exciting News!

After the unexpected cancellation of our school Readers Cup Competition at the end of last term, we have managed to reschedule this very popular reading contest for our Year 5 and 6 cohort.

The GSS Readers Cup Competition will now take place this term in Week 10 (last week of school) on THURSDAY 22 JUNE from 9am.

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 now given the opportunity to read and re-read 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 books and once again actively support their team!

Melanie Hutchinson
Readers’ Cup Co-ordinator
Teacher Librarian

Chappy’s Chat

John Erichsen

It was a little different this week to not be at Graceville State School until Wednesday morning, and I do appreciate all the positive wishes I have received regarding my start at Coopers Plains State School. The reduced days at Graceville will necessitate some changes in how the chaplaincy role is delivered, especially with providing support to students most in need. School administration, in collaboration with teaching and specialist staff, will direct any logistical changes in the chaplaincy role. My aim is to provide as much support and pastoral care to the school community as possible, helping wherever it is most needed.

Last week’s full school assembly was a wonderful celebration of diversity. Our harmony day performances, though a little delayed due to Cyclone Debbie, were so worth waiting for. The Junior Choir did an amazing job and the 4B class item was brilliant. I do hope we see a lot more assemblies with such engaging performances from our students.

This week sees the final week of Interschool sport for this season, so to all teams competing for Grand Final success, I wish you the very best of luck. I know you will do your best, competing hard but maintaining the highest level of sportsmanship and respect for others. To our other teams, enjoy your last game for the season and reflect on how you have developed your skills and understanding of your chosen sport. Success in sport is sometimes found in winning a premiership flag or receiving a ribbon, but it can always be found in doing your very best, encouraging your team mates and enjoying the game no matter what the result.

Next Friday, our school oval will come alive with colour, sound and activity with our Under 8’s celebration. This is a fantastic time where the energy of our younger students is embraced and encouraged. I look forward to seeing parents and caregivers there joining in the excitement of the morning.

Tuesday, June 13, is the date for this year’s Chaplaincy Lapathon, so mark it in the calendar. Information will be sent home with the Sponsorship form once the program schedule has been finalised. It promises to be a great day, with popcorn for sale at first break and a coffee van onsite in the morning for parents and staff. Keep an eye out in coming weeks for more information regarding this event.

Have a wonderful week!

John Erichsen
(Chappy)

Fete News

The secret to the success of our wonderful Graceville State School Fete is simple – it’s a fabulous team effort. And we want you to be part of the team.

In Week 5, we are inviting everyone, including parents, carers and grandparents, to come and meet the Fete Committee members and find out how the big event works. So put it in your diary for Wednesday, May 17, at 7.30pm in the Waratah Room at the school. It’s a great chance to build your networks at the school, make new acquaintances … and, of course, contribute to a wonderful event that helps the school and your children.

Don’t be scared that we will try to sign you up for a major fete job. The big roles are already allocated for this year. This is just an opportunity to catch up with the Fete Committee, to see what we do and discuss any ideas to improve the event.

Don’t miss it!

And check out everything to do with fete on:

Anne Canalese
Fete Convenor

Show off your wares – and talent – at our new Fete Marketplace

We know our parents and students at Graceville State School are a talented lot. That’s why we are calling on you to participate in our new Fete Marketplace at this year’s Graceville State School Fete on Saturday, August 26.

This is the first time we are running the Marketplace – next to the coffee shop – and we are very excited to offer parents and students at GSS an exclusive opportunity to come and join in – free of charge! You are invited to run a stall on the day to sell your arts and crafts, adding to the great range of gifts and goodies we are selling on the day while providing an outlet for talented people to showcase their work.

We know many parents will be busy volunteering on fete day, but if you’d like to run a stall, even for just an hour or two, this is the opportunity you have been waiting for! Unleash your creativity, and sign up!

For more information and bookings, please contact gracevillefetequadmarket@gmail.com

P&C News

*** IMPORTANT *** VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION

The school and the P&C have worked closely to identify and create a strategy to turn around the aging technology in our school. Rather than go down the very expensive route of a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy as many schools are forced to do, the P&C strongly supports a voluntary contribution of $100 per child which started this year. This voluntary contribution route only works if everyone contributes! Contributions are still below 50% of the children in the school. Contributions are voluntary and of course can be part payments. All funds are used for the technology budget of the school. Contributions can be made to the office at any time.

SCHOOL SIGN – Corner Oxley Rd and Acacia Ave

We are looking at an idea to replace the old school sign/notice board on the corner of Oxley Road and Acacia Avenue. The new sign will be a similar size and shape, but will have an electronic colour led screen. The sign will have the ability to display multiple messages and will be easy to update over a 3G connection. There is a business case to consider with an investment into a sign like this being in the vicinity of $25,000. Any thoughts or suggestions welcome. pandc@gracevilss.eq.edu.au

2017 MEETING DATES

At the P&C meeting on 3 May, updated meeting dates for the remainder of 2017 were agreed. For your diaries:

Wednesday 7 June
Wednesday 26 July (morning meeting)
Wednesday 23 August (if required – fete week)
Wednesday 11 October
Wednesday 29 November

UNIFORM SHOP

We are looking for more volunteers in the uniform shop and also in the tuckshop. Any assistance would be very welcome. These businesses do rely on volunteer labour.

LOST PROPERTY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Labelled lost property finds its way back to your children thanks to the work of wonderful volunteers. Are you able to help out for a couple of hours every few weeks? Our lost property team is ready to handover! Please email the P&C if you can help.

And PLEASE label all of your children's belongings with first AND last names!

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 regular meeting of the P&C is to be held in the Waratah Room on Wednesday 7 June at 7:30pm.

CONTACT: pandc@gracevilss.eq.edu.au

Active School Travel

TACO TUESDAY!

(Travel Actively Coming-to-school On)

It was disappointing to see five adults attempting to cross Oxley Road (all at the same time) on Friday 12th May near the school tennis courts after school. Please use the crossing….is it worth taking a risk???

Crossing at Oxley Road

How would you feel if your children tried to cross Oxley Road during peak hour traffic? Have you ever been a motorist and had to slam on your brakes to avoid a child crossing the road unexpectedly?

Children have been observed attempting to cross Oxley Road (particularly in the afternoons), stepping out between parked cars, to walk over to the Memorial Park side of the road! What is more frightening, waiting parents and caregivers are beckoning some of these children across! By encouraging this behavior we are then setting an expectation that even when parents / caregivers aren’t waiting at the other side of the road that it is perfectly ok for them to attempt to cross alone.

In the last few months there have been some “close calls” and even times where the traffic has stopped on Oxley Road to let children cross. While the speed limit is at 40km ph during 2-4 pm, it doesn’t take a lot of imagination to picture the injuries that could be sustained by a child hit by an unsuspecting vehicle.

This behaviour of crossing the road, and putting lives in danger is rather baffling given that we have a crossing on this section of road, and also a crossing over Waratah Road. These crossings are at traffic lights and give pedestrians a perfectly safe way of crossing over to waiting parents / caregivers.

We are all busy and most afternoons there is always somewhere to get too quickly, but for the sake of a few extra minutes out of your afternoon, isn’t it better to teach your children to cross at the crossing so that they can do so safely? As parents we have display behaviors that we want our children to practice.

National Walk Safely To School

Now in its 18th year, National Walk Safely to School Day (WSTSD) is an annual event when all Primary School children will be encouraged to walk and commute safely to school. It is a Community Event seeking to promote Road Safety, Health, Public Transport and the Environment. Help celebrate this fantastic day on Friday 19th May by decorating wearing crazy socks and/or decorating your school shoes.

All active travelers will receive a bonus stamp in their passports on this day so make sure you go to the stamping stations with you passport. For those with decorated socks and shoes you will be given a raffle ticket (at the stamping station) and go in the draw for some cool prizes.

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. The next meeting will be on 20th July @ 10:45am in the Waratah Room. Can you help? Please contact Jo Richards at sajrichards@iinet.net.au for more information.

Tuckshop News

Volunteers for the week commencing Monday, 22nd of May 2017 are -

Thank you to all our volunteers! We couldn’t operate a five day a week tuckshop service without you!

If you are able to help keep our Tuckshop open by volunteering some of your time, whether just for an emergency shift or for a regular monthly spot, please let us know. We are always happy to meet new volunteers and show them the ropes. As the year progresses, many of our volunteers cannot come in due to a variety of circumstances: sick children, change of work times, sick themselves, just to name a few, so we are always looking for people who can step in and help. We’d love to hear from you.

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.

Band folders are available for $15.

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

Donations of 2nd hand uniforms are always appreciated. Good stocks are available for sale now.

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.

Trivia Night