8 February 2018

From the Principal

Zoe Smith

Hello

We had a fantastic launch for our Whole School Inquiry into ‘What makes an Effective Author’. I would like to thank Mrs Payne, Mrs Freeman, Mrs Martin and the many children who took part in the presentation on assembly. Author visits started this week for Year 3 and 6. Year 6 spent time finding out what author Alexander Robby thinks makes him an effective author. Year 3 met author Allison Paterson who helped them to understand how she has become an effective author. The children and teachers all enjoyed the experience of meeting an author and growing their knowledge of what makes an effective author. Next week Year 2, 4 and 5 will meet their visiting authors.

Don’t forget to RSVP to attend the Evening with author Sally Piper. This is an adult’s only event on the night of 21 February.

Last week a group of teachers and I attended a professional learning event by Professor John Munro. The focus of the session was on learning with the brain in mind. Professor Munro stressed the importance of always tapping into a child’s prior knowledge before bringing in any new learning and then building in regular times to reflect during the learning experience. He also discussed at length the concept of ‘Ways of Knowing’ and introduced us to a taxonomy which we can use to help understand the many ‘ways of knowing’ a child may have or can build up as they learn. It was a very interesting session which helped us to see many links to what we are trying to achieve this year with our focus on children understanding themselves better as learners. We are looking forward to sharing our learning with the wider teaching staff and discussing how the learning can enhance our current practices.

The focus for next week’s whole school assembly is the Active Travel Launch and handing out the badges for our Year Level and Class Reps. We will of course also award our Curiouser and Curiouser and Random Acts of Kindness certificates.

I hope you have a great week,
Zoe Smith

Newsletter Articles

From the Deputy Principal

Maree Hass

Online programs through Student Resource schemes

Mathletics for 2018

We will shortly commence the Mathletics program for this year. It is an online Mathematics program that is individually based and one that students can access at home as well as at school for all students in year 1 to year 6. The cost for Mathletics is $12 per student for the year and invoices have been emailed to all families. 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.

Reading Eggs and Math Seeds in Prep

We are using the program ‘Reading Eggs’ with our prep students. 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.

This is the first year that we will be implementing Math Seeds with our prep students instead of Mathletics. Again it is a very young student friendly program for early Mathematics learning. Both of these programs are part of the prep student resource scheme and the combined cost is $50. Most prep families have paid this subscription, if you haven’t please do so, we will commence using this program with classes.

School Technology Plan and Committee

In 2016 we developed a technology plan for the next 5 years which covers the distribution of devices in the school and planning for the renewal of devices as required. The P&C support technology in the school by providing 75% of voluntary contributions towards technology. I would like to invite any parents who might like to get involved in this committee to come to our first meeting for the year to discuss how things ‘technologically’ are going in the school on Friday April 27 at 8:00am in the school library. We are fortunate that this year we have a computer technician to support us in the school 3 days per week, this is part of a new Education Queensland initiative as last year we had to purchase technician time 2 days/week out of school funds.

Waiting List for Prep for 2019 – opens first day of next term Tuesday April 17.

The waiting list for 2019 will open on Tuesday, 17th 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.

Below is the calendar for term 1 assemblies.

Invite to Author Evening

Money Matters

Anne Nixon

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

Thank you to all of the students who attended their first choir rehearsal this week! Ms West and I really enjoy the opportunity to teach and conduct our keen choral students and are already organising some exciting performance opportunities for our students. We will provide details once they are confirmed. If your child would like to join the choir but did not attend the rehearsal this week they are welcome to join next week. The Senior Choir rehearsals are on Monday mornings with Ms Julie West at 7:45am and the Junior Choir on Tuesday mornings from 7:45am (with Mrs Naomi Lindh). There is a note attached in a link below for any students interested in joining the choir which they can bring with them to the rehearsal. Please note, as there will be several public holidays/PFDs on Mondays, in any week when a Monday Senior Choir rehearsal is missed (due to a public holiday/PFD) we will be requesting Senior Choir members to come to a rehearsal at first break on Friday of that week.

The Senior Strings and Senior Band rehearsals have also resumed this week. Thank you to the students and families for ensuring prompt attendance at the rehearsal. Please contact your child's teacher if they are unable to attend a rehearsal due to illness or an appointment.

2018 Rehearsal schedule

Monday 7:45am Senior Choir (year 4/5/6 students) - Ms Julie West (rehearsals begin in week 3) Tuesday 7:45am Junior Choir (year 2/3 students) - Mrs Naomi Lindh (rehearsals begin in week 3) Wednesday 7:30am Junior Band (year 4 band students) - Mr James Kukulies (please note this will not begin until term 2 in May, with the first rehearsal date TBA) Wednesday - first break - Junior/Beginner Strings - Mrs Ruth Prout (please note this will not begin until term 2, with the first rehearsal date TBA) Wednesday 3:00-4:00pm Senior Band (year 5/6 band students) - Mr Steve Stiller (rehearsals will begin in week 3) Thursday 7:45am Senior Strings (rehearsals will begin in week 3)

Please contact your child's teacher if you have any questions or concerns about your child's involvement in the instrumental program.

Alex Grodecki - agrod3@eq.edu.au
Ruth Prout - rprou5@eq.edu.au (replaced by Dr Michael O'Loghlin for the beginning of term 1 - maol0)
James Kukulies - jkuku2@eq.edu.au
Steve Stiller - sstil2@eq.edu.au
Julie West - jwest269@eq.edu.au
Naomi Lindh - nclos1@eq.edu.au

Thank you to our keen choral and senior instrumental students for their attendance at rehearsals this week!

Naomi Lindh
Music Teacher and IM Coordinator

Uniform Shop

Fiona Fryer

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

Year 6 Commemorative Shirts

All year 6 students are being given the opportunity to have a commemorative shirt. Gold polo shirts are screen printed with class lists on the back and house shirts can be printed for the house captains. You can purchase new gold shirts for $30 and house shirts for $35 from the uniform store or you can use your existing shirts but they have to be in good condition, no holes or pulls.

Printing costs are: $10 per gold polo and $15 per house captain shirt.

Special order forms and information sheets were sent home last week, if you haven't received one the order form and information sheet are attached below. Orders have to be in by the 23rd February, the shirts will then be sent to the printers so no orders will be taken after this date.

Interschool Sports

Interschool sports start week 6 for years 5 and 6, you can purchase the representative shirts from the uniform store for $35.

Size 8 Cook shirts are out of stock but we will have more in 4 weeks.
Size 4 polar fleece are out of stock.

Donations of 2nd hand uniforms are always appreciated, so please keep them coming but can you please make sure that all items are in a good, clean and saleable condition.

Please be advised that refunds will ONLY be given if you have the original receipt and items should not have been washed or worn.

Swimming gear is available including some long sleeve rashies, lycra and silicone swim caps, swim bags and quick dry towels in the house colours.

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 via the teachers pigeon hole.

Email address for school uniform store is:

uniformstore@gracevilss.eq.edu.au

New volunteers would be greatly appreciated, it only requires you to be there from 8.15-9.00am on Mondays, Tuesdays or Fridays, if you think you could help out please send an email to the above address or just come to the store and have a chat.

Tuckshop News

Tuckshop Roster for the week ending Friday 16thof February 2018

Thank you to all our volunteers! We have had a fun first week; it was busy with an all new routine to include the preparation of our new menu and specials! Phew!

TO BUY AT THE TUCKSHOP COUNTER –

Try one of our new tasty Bretzels! Made by one of our Gourmet Graceville Mums, these German baked snacks are delicious, nut, egg, and dairy free. A cross between a pretzel and bread, they are super delicious and a great size for a snack. Try one at the special introductory price of $1.20. They are as good as they look! We sold out this week!!

Also available to at our counter window is Frozen Watermelon – it is very refreshing and only 50 cents! Perfect on a hot summer day! We also sell fresh popcorn in a bag for only 50 cents. ANZAC cookies are available for 50 cents per cookie too.

Fancy a different snack? Try the Roasted Chick Peas or Fav-va Beans for $1.50/bag. They are a very filling snack! Whole fruit such as apples or bananas available for $1. Delicious fruit muffins are also available for $2 each. So much to choose from, take your pick!!

Sushi

Due to an unforeseen change in ordering conditions with our supplier, we are unable to offer Sushi/Vietnamese rolls from Tuesday to Friday as we had hoped. We are now required to fulfill a minimum order requirement. At current order levels, this is not achievable over the four days. We will therefore return to offering sushi/rolls for Tuesday and Wednesday’s only as was previously the case.

Sushi/rolls arrive freshly made from our supplier on Tuesday morning for both Tuesday and Wednesday’s. If you prefer your sushi to be freshly made on the day, order it for a Tuesday. Sushi ordered for the Wednesday will be kept refrigerated from the Tuesday delivery as per our supplier’s instructions.

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

Chappy’s Chat

John Erichsen

After a couple of rainy days last week, it is wonderful to see students out on the oval making the most of the space. While rainy days can make break times a little tricky for appropriate games and play areas, the respite from the oppressive heat has been most pleasant. I would like to congratulate the students for staying safe during those wet weather breaks and making good choices.

On assembly, the students receive reminders about what is expected at Graceville State School. The School’s Peace Code is promoted and explained so that students understand how to act, both in the classroom and in the playground. The Peace Code focusses on the following-

Care for Myself and Others
Speak Kindly
Do the Right Thing
Be Brave
Find Help
Turn Things Around
Be a Peacemaker

This week I want to unpack “Caring for Myself and Others”

In my travels around the school, I witness many students doing a wonderful job in caring for others. Making sure students aren’t isolated and lonely, inviting others to join in lunchtime games and helping an injured student get the assistance they need are just some of the ways I notice this aspect of the Peace Code being acted out. It is fantastic to be part of a school community that looks out for others. However, sometimes students can miss the ‘Caring for Myself’ part and forget to protect themselves. There are times when others can help in caring for you. There are also times when you are the only person who can care for yourself. If a game extends from the oval onto the concrete areas of the school, “Caring for Yourself” means not continuing the game so that you don’t run on the concrete. Letting the adult on duty know about an incident rather than getting angry and lashing out is “Caring for Yourself” You have protected yourself, with a good choice, from any consequences a poor choice could lead to. Others will do their part to look after you at school, but sometimes you are the only one who can make that choice that keeps you safe.

Have a great week!
John Erichsen
(Chappy)

Active School Travel

TACO TUESDAY!

(Travel Actively Coming-to-school On)

The Active School Travel Program would like to welcome all the new and returning parents and children to school and invite you to join in TACO Tuesday. Active Travel days are designated days where we ask everyone to leave the car at home and walk, bike or scoot to school. Can’t leave the car at home, no problem. The program has designed Active Travel maps (see notice board outside the Admin Building) with designated Park and Stride locations around the school. These locations allow those who are unable to walk or roll from home, a place to safely park and walk the rest of the way into school.

The program was introduced to the school in 2012 and was officially named an Active Travel School in 2013. In our first year of the program Graceville was awarded runner up for Active Travel School of the year, and a nominee for School of Excellence in 2014 and 2015. In 2016 Graceville was the runner up for the “Walk of Fame” award, which is a testament to the dedication of the AST committee and the students, and parents who participate in the program each week. The program’s continued success depends on the support from the parents and teachers of the school. As a parent, you are the most influential person in your child's life. They form their behaviour based on the activities that you encourage them to participate in. Introducing lifestyle exercise, like walking and biking to school every day will contribute to your child’s daily activity and help form behaviours that will extend well into their adult years.

Tuesday is Graceville’s designated Active Travel Day (TACO Tuesday), and we hope that Active Travel will become part of your everyday routine. The program would like to invite you to get involved by volunteering to organise a walking school bus for your classroom. Walking school buses are an easy way to participate in the program, meet new people and help reduce traffic around the school. They work just like a carpool but without the car. Parents organise a meeting point, like at one of the Park and Stride locations, and take turns volunteering to walk their classroom to school on Active Travel Days.

And here are just a few benefits of walking to school everyday-

• Reduced traffic around the school
• Walking is one of the best exercises to build strong, healthy bones
• Helps reduce anxiety
• Improves sleep quality
• Improves cognitive performance at school

Using the school “ Pick up / drop off zones”

We understand that there are times where it is not always possible to “actively travel” to school. There are pick up / drop off zones on both Acacia Avenue and Park Road for those times that you need to drive. If you are using these zones we urge you to pay attention to the signage and park / load-unload accordingly. Council does regular patrols of the areas, so if you are parking your vehicle on a yellow line, or stay parked for more than the designated time, you may be fined. By following the line markings on the roads and observing “no standing zones” you will help to improve the safety and visibility for pedestrians and traffic around the school. If we all do the “right thing” we will set a good example to others and to our children.

We need you!!!!!

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 are especially in need of a parent, caregiver or member of the community to head up the committee for 2018, with lots of ongoing support from the current members.

Our next meeting will be Thursday 15th Feb 3pm in the Waratah Room. Please contact Jo Richards at sajrichards@iinet.net.au for more information.

Swimming Lessons

Space is still available to participate in this term’s swim program. To join the entry level group lessons, students must be able to swim one lap of the school pool freestyle non-stop [25m] and be in year one or older. Beginner stroke development, advanced stroke development and squad are on offer from Monday to Thursday for the group lesson format. For all other students a one on one lesson is available with a qualified swim teacher on Saturday mornings. If you wish to join the swim program please call Pete Geraghty [0432407442] to discuss your child’s needs. Adults are also welcome to join the Saturday program if you wish to learn to swim or improve your technique. See you at the pool.....

Community Notices

Graceville Piano Students Achieve Distinctions!

Keyboardkidz, one of Brisbane’s leading piano schools, recently had a few of its students sit for piano exams at the end of Term 4 in 2017. Congratulations to the following students learning at Graceville State School for their stellar results:

Well done to all participants for having a go and doing so well. If your child is interested in learning piano, Keyboardkidz runs lessons out of Graceville State School. Visit the link below to book your two free trial lessons.

TUTORING

Hello Graceville parents and community! My name is Rebecca and I am offering my tutoring services to Graceville families and friends who need some extra educational support. I am a Primary Education student from The University of Queensland and in my final year of study. I have had various experience teaching in schools and grades throughout Brisbane, with the previous school being Graceville, and have worked in child centred environments for the past four years. I can tutor primary school students in all subjects across the board and high school students in English, social studies, modern history, geography and the arts. My email address is rebecca_stillwell991@msn.com, so please don’t hesitate to email if you have any further questions or would like to look into some tutoring for your child.