10 August 2017

From the Principal

Zoe Smith

Hello,

The school is returning to normal this week after three weeks of hosting the Taiwanese Study Tour. I would like to thank Ms Hass for the huge amount of time and effort she put into organising the tour. I would also like to thank our many wonderful families who hosted a student. Ms Hass is now making final arrangements for our school’s reciprocal trip to Taiwan later this term. I am looking forward to the trip!

As you may have heard, Graceville students achieved well in NAPLAN again this year. It is important to understand NAPLAN is just one piece of information we use to help us understand how our students are achieving. We use a range of internal assessment measures throughout the year to ensure our students learning is continually progressing. This year, our Year 5 students achieved amazing results in reading. Our mean scale score in reading was very high as well as our relative gains from Year 3 to 5. Only one private/independent school in QLD achieved higher than us in Year 5 reading! I would like to congratulate our teachers for the high quality teaching and learning that is occurring in the area of reading. Our Year 3 students continue to do well in NAPLAN. Our Year 3 students hit the high target we set for them in reading achievement which is a great effort! Our Prep to Year 3 teachers are working hard to build strong foundations in reading. I would like to congratulate all students and teachers!

This week you will receive a form asking you to make the school aware if your children are intending to return to Graceville next year. Our current enrolment predictions tell us we are on the cusp of gaining a teacher in 2018. We need the most accurate information possible to decide if we will need another teacher, which year level would need the extra class and hopefully find the best possible teacher to suit our school’s needs. Please return the form so we know if you are or are not returning in 2018. All forms need to be returned by 31 August.

Don’t forget the Ekka Public Holiday is next Wednesday 16 August!

Finally, children can attend school in Free Dress next Friday 18th AND they need to donate a chocolate for the Lob-O-Choc stand at the Fete.

Have a great week,

Zoe Smith

Newsletter Articles

From the Deputy Principal

Maree Hass

We have started contacting in-catchment families for 2018 preppies for our initial meeting together. At these meetings please ensure we have completed enrolment forms, original birth certificate and proof of residency in our catchment. Current school families require the enrolment forms together with the original birth certificate please. Also bring your prospective preppie to this meeting. If we haven’t contacted you yet, please pop into the office and make an appointment now.

Date Claimer: our prep orientation meetings will be held on Thursday November 23 when new families will be invited to come to a session at prep, meeting staff and learning more about starting prep at our school.

Wenhua Study Tour: July 18 – August 6

Huge thank you to the school families, staff and students who assisted in making the inbound study tour such a success! The Wenhua students shared their many talents with us at the farewell assembly last Friday and the group flew home to Taiwan on Sunday.

Minzu Study Tour – September 13 – 24

We have now commenced weekly meetings with our 22 year 5 and 6 students who will be travelling to Taiwan later this term. These students are getting excited as they anticipate this experience of life and school in Taiwan for 10 days.

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.

Calendar for Junior Assemblies for Term 3

From the Deputy Principal

Lisa McKeaten

2017 International competitions

We are nearly finished – only the maths to complete!

• Mathematics 15 August $8.00 (Yr 2-6) – 7.30 start/ Yr 2 school time 11.30

HRE for years 5 & 6 this term

All Year 5 & 6 students have received information in regards to the Human Relationships Education Program which students will participate in this term. Parents were also invited to an information session. If you are intending to go please return the RSVP slip to the office. The Parent information session will be held in the Waratah room next Monday 7th August from 7-8pm. Parents are also reminded to give their permission and pay the invoice for their child to attend prior to the 11th August. HRE lessons will be on Fridays (18th, 25th August and 1 September). Both year levels will have an hour long lesson on those days in the first session of the day, due to interschool sport starting on 25th August.

Interschool Sport for Years 5 & 6

Mr Daunt has already sent home the letters about interschool sport and students have chosen their sports for the upcoming season commencing on 25th August. Permission letters and invoices (where necessary for some sports) will be sent home very soon. Last day for half of the invoice for interschool sport will be Friday 18th August. The second half of the invoice will be due by Wednesday 13th September, prior to the holidays.

Life Education

All year levels will again be participating in the Life Education later in the term (1-15 September). Last day for payment is 25th August.

QParent Information

QParent has started! We have sent home student information for families to be able to register. If you have all children at high schools with Q Parents already functioning, please make sure that you use the link that we sent you to register. If you haven’t registered as yet please do so ASAP. It will make payments and accessing details etc. much easier for families. It also makes the invoicing process much easier for us and you, as you will be able to pay for multiple invoices in one hit. Soon there will be the facility to also give your permission for excursions through this system. All excursion dates from now on will also be automatically added to the calendar. Remember that next term you will no longer be able to ring up and pay for invoices over the phone. In person or on B Point/Q Parents will be the only options for you to pay.

Auditions for the Australian Girls’ Choir – Friday 18th August 10.45am in the Waratah Room. See attached flyer. A hardcopy of the flyer is also being sent home with our girls.

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.

We would just like to advise parents that from Term 4 we will not be able to process payments over the phone. You will either need to pay via BPoint, or in the school office.

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

Our choirs and Senior Band are preparing for their upcoming performances at the fete. Regular attendance at rehearsals is very important leading up to our future performance dates (noted below). Some members of the Senior Choir have additional rehearsals to prepare their musical fete item. They have been advised of their times by Ms West and we appreciate their commitment to their parts and this performance. We also have the music workshop for all instrumental music students this term on Wednesday 30 and Thursday 31 August, culminating with a performance on Thursday 31 August at 2pm. The cost of the workshop is $40 to cover the tutors who work with small groups of students to assist them with further developing their skills and musicianship. A letter with further details will be provide to students soon.

We have sent a note and email out to all eligible year 2 and 3 students regarding the instrumental music program for 2018. A link to this letter is also included in this newsletter. If your child would like to be considered for the program please ensure the slip is completed and returned to the school (classroom/office/music room) by Friday 18 August. Please note that any students already enrolled in the instrumental program do not need to complete any forms at this stage. The will have a place in the program until the end of year 6 and only need to complete the student resource scheme form later this year. It is important to note that no swapping of instruments is permitted at any stage. The instrumental teachers will meet with students who would like to be considered for the program later this term.

Upcoming performances

Fete - 26 August
12:00 Senior Band
12:25pm Junior Choir
12:35pm Senior Choir

31 August 2pm - Instrumental Music Concert - all students involved in the instrumental music program will perform at this concert (IMP only, no choir performances)

Members of the school community are warmly invited to our concerts!

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
Naomi Lindh - nclos1@eq.edu.au

We are looking forward to our upcoming performances!

Naomi Lindh
Music Teacher and IM Coordinator

Library News

Melanie Hutchinson

PREMIER’S READING CHALLENGE 2017

Just a reminder that the Premier’s Reading Challenge ends soon. Hopefully everyone has just about finished reading their favourite books for the Challenge.

The Premier asked every child from Prep to Year 2 to read or experience 20 books, Years 3 and 4 to read 20 books, and Years 5 and 6 to read 15 books.

THE READING PERIOD FINISHES ON FRIDAY, 25 AUGUST. All reading record sheets MUST be returned to the Library on or before this date.

Fete News

Ridebands! Rideband! Ridebands! Discounted sales on School24 finish on Friday, 18 August - that's next week! Do it now!

Have you asked your Preppie, Year 1 and Year 2 children about their amazing Art Show canvases? The teachers and students are working so hard on these masterpieces. Please support them by purchasing your child's canvas on School24 until Friday, 18 August. Canvases can also be purchased on the day at the Art Show in the concreted section of the school hall.

Let's fill that POD in the tuckshop carpark. Remember deliveries by vehicle can only be done between 9am - 2pm. The carpark gate is closed at all other times. Weekend drop offs will be arranged. Dates will be announced shortly.

With only 2 weeks until the fete, emails and all sorts of communications will be flying around. Please take the time to read them - they are all important. If there are any duplications of information, please be patient and remember, all of these people are trying to make the best possible fete of us all to enjoy. Get involved and lend a hand to do what you can to help them achieve this fabulous goal.

Thanks.

Anne

Active School Travel

Fete Competition

Don’t forget to get your entries in!

The school fete committee has generously donated some prizes to Active Travel, which is great news for all those students out there who are active on TACO Tuesday! Active travel can be any of the following:

• Walking to school
• Park and stride – parking the car in the designate “park and stride” zones and walking a short distance to school
• Riding your bike or scooter to school
• Car pooling – arriving at school by car with some of your friends
• Public transport

Being dropped off at the front gate does NOT qualify as “active travel”.

In weeks 3-7 of Term 3 (25th July – 22nd August) you will have the opportunity to collect one entry each week when you have your active travel passport stamped at the designated stamping stations. All you need to do is fill out your entry form and put it into the entry box (either at the stamping station or the office). Entries must be received by 23rd August @ 3pm to go in the draw.

There will be one (1) ride band per year level to be given away. If you’re lucky enough to win and have already purchased your ride band, don’t worry we will organise a refund for you.

To win the free toss at the lob-o-choc get together with your class and get as many of your class mates to enter as possible. Its simple, the class with the most entries will win!

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. The next meeting will be held on 12th October @ 10:45am in the Waratah Room. Please contact Jo Richards at sajrichards@iinet.net.au for more information.

Tuckshop News

Volunteers for the week commencing Monday, 14th of August 2017 are -

Thank you to all our volunteers. We really appreciate your help!

We are still experiencing extreme volunteer shortage problems at the moment due to so much sickness and family reasons. Some days we are left with no volunteers and scrambling for emergency help. A giant THANK YOU to those volunteers who have generously fitted in with these unfortunate changes in the roster and who have worked extra shifts to help get the lunches out. We really couldn’t open without you; it’s that simple! We cannot operate our Tuckshop without volunteers.

If you are able to help in the Tuckshop, please let us know what days you may be available to pop in and lend an urgent hand. Call us if you like to see how we are faring or drop us an email at tuckshop.gss@gmail.com to let us know your availability. We will only text you if we are in need of help, and if it is suitable for you on the days we propose.

The Fete is on School24! Purchase your Ride Bands and Art Show (Prep to Year 2) canvases on School24. It’s super easy. Just make sure your children are allocated to a class, or if they are a sibling not at the school, add them as an ‘Event guest’.

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.

Size 4 and 10 track pants are back in stock.

Size 6 and 8 polar fleece jackets are now in stock.

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 and can be emailed to the uniform shop at the below address, 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.

New volunteers would be greatly appreciated, it only requires you to be there from 8.15-9.00. If you think you could help out please send an email to the above address, if you have any questions please ask.

P&C News

FETE

Thank you to all the wonderful effort of all families as the fete draws near. A fantastic contribution from the whole school community is what makes our fete special. A special mention to the fete committee and our fete convenor Anne, who are bringing everything together.

We are looking for new families to join the setup crew and helpers on the day. This is typically a great way for Dad’s to get in and lend a bit of muscle to help setup the stalls. Friday afternoon after school the school begins its transformation ready for Saturday. Sunday morning is also a great opportunity to get in and help return the school to normal ready for Monday morning.

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.

REMAINING 2017 MEETING DATES

For your diaries:

Wednesday 23 August (if required – fete week)
Wednesday 11 October
Wednesday 29 November

CONTACT: pandc@gracevilss.eq.edu.au

Community Notices

Sherwood Arboretum - a bird walk not to be missed 7.00 am Sunday 13 August

A bird walk with an expert guide in Brisbane’s heritage-listed Arboretum is certainly an experience not to be missed.

One of Australia’s leading ecologists, Professor Hugh Possingham, Chief Scientist with The Nature Conservancy, will introduce you to the Arboretum’s stunning birdlife at 7.00 am on Sunday 13 August, starting at the Jolimont Street entry.

Over the past 15 years, 170 species of birds have been recorded in Sherwood Arboretum thanks to its well-protected wetlands, a collection of more than 1000 Australian native trees and the important ‘wildlife corridor’ of the Brisbane River at the front door.

Sunday’s walk will finish with a relaxing morning tea by the river. The cost of just $5.00 for adults (students are free) for morning tea helps support the voluntary work of the Friends of Sherwood Arboretum Association.

Please remember to RSVP as soon as possible by calling (07) 3278 6525 or by emailing info@sherwoodarboretum.com.au.

School Holiday Cricket Clinics

Boys and girls, aged 6 to 17, are welcome to attend Holiday Cricket Clinics conducted by Henschell Cricket Academy Pty Ltd.

These Clinics concentrate on skills and activities for the beginner to the representative player whilst having fun.

Where: Fig Tree Pocket State School, Cubberla Street, Fig Tree Pocket

When: Monday 25 September 2017 to Thursday 28 September 2017 inclusive (4 days)

Times: 8:30am to 12:00pm daily

Cost: $199.00 (Incl. GST) (family rates available)

Contact: email – henschellcricket@bigpond.com or
phone – Brett Henschell 0458 026 224