15 November 2018

From the Principal

Zoe Smith

Hello,

We had another great week at the school!

Our whole school inquiry into ‘What makes an effective author’ is progressing very well. Most year levels have now experienced their author visit and used their research skills to inquire into our big question. I have been lucky enough to attend three of the author sessions and thoroughly enjoyed both the information shared by the author and listening to the questions asked by the students which reveals new learning for them. Classes will now start to make meaning of the information gathered and see how it can build on their first thinking of what makes an effective author. Our teachers and students are genuinely excited about this wonderful experience! I am looking forward to the evening with Sally Piper next Wednesday 21 February.

On 28 February, the P&C are hosting their first meeting of the school year. The meeting will be held in the morning and we hope parents are able to come along. Last year the P&C trialled a mix of morning and night meetings to help enable more access to P&C meetings. The morning meetings were well attended and so we would like to continue with some morning meetings this year. As part of the first meeting of the year, I will spend around 20 minutes sharing the Annual Plan of the school and an overview of the school budget for 2018. Last year parents found the information I shared quite interesting and it gave them greater insight into how schools operate. Most parents who attended the session went straight in and paid the voluntary contribution as they could see how needed the support of the school community is to enhance the school. I welcome all parents and carers along to the first P&C meeting of the year. We will make sure tea, coffee and morning tea treats are available for those who come along!

I would like to congratulate Mrs Belinda Martin, Mr William Guthrie, Mrs Angela Harrison, Ms Kerrie Burn and Mrs Elizabeth Gillespie for being accepted into the Harvard University, Project Zero course on Making Thinking Visible. These staff will lead the way for us in understanding how to make student thinking and learning more visible at Graceville. I applaud their enthusiasm and commitment especially as most of the learning and work will take place outside of school hours. An online learning platform will enable them to engage with educators from around the world. It is wonderful to see our teachers intrinsically motivated to keep learning and growing and I can’t wait to hear them share their learning with the rest of the staff.

Have a great week,
Zoe Smith

Newsletter Articles

Deputy Principal

Lisa McKeaten

Let’s stand together against bullying and violence

Our school is proud to say ‘Bullying. No Way!’ with schools across Australia on Friday 16 March to mark the 2018 National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence.

By standing united we can all help deliver a powerful message that bullying and violence are never okay.

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

Get the discussion started with helpful information and tips available on the  Bullying. No Way!

Every day counts at school

The importance of a team effort in achieving school attendance is the main theme in The adventures of Jimmy and Sam the Dog animation and comic book series, developed by the Department of Education.

NRL star Sam Thaiday plays Sam the Dog, with a cameo appearance by Johnathan Thurston, plus former Queensland Firebirds netballer Beryl Friday.

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

Head to the  Every day counts website

2018 International competitions

All students in Years 2 - 6 will soon be invited, via email, 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 2018 we will be participating in the following competitions:

• Digital Technologies 8 May $8.00 (Yr 3-6)
• Science 29 May $8.00 (Yr 2-6)
• Spelling 13 June $11.00 (Yr 2-6)
• Writing 14 June $17.00 (Yr 3-6)
• English 31 July $8.00 (Yr 2-6)
• Mathematics 14 August $8.00 (Yr 2-6)

All participating students will need to indicate if they are entering by Wednesday 14 March. Payment for these competitions will be invoiced for each competition. Unfortunately with the invoices, they all will be sent as individuals unless you are on Q Parent, you can simply pay for all of them in one transaction. All competitions will be non-refundable as they are pre-paid.

Get Started Vouchers — funding to help your child participate in sport

Joining a sport or active recreation club can be great for your child, but sometimes the costs can get in the way.

For families genuinely needing some help with club fees, Get Started Vouchers are available each year in Term 1 and Term 3.

You can apply for a voucher if you have a Centrelink Health Care Card or Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card or if you receive a link to a voucher from a registered referral agent.

The voucher covers the first $150 of membership or participation fees.

Applications open Wednesday 24 January 2018.

Get involved in the Bridge Award program

The Bridge Award program is an exciting youth development program for young people aged between 11-and-a-half and 25 years.

It provides an opportunity for students to get involved in something different and to challenge themselves. It’s a great way to get active, make new friends, help others and learn new skills.

There are two levels: Level One and Level Two. To achieve each level, participants will complete an Adventurous Journey and regularly commit to three ongoing sections: learning a Skill, participating in a community Service and taking part in Physical Recreation.

The program can be customised to each student who can choose their own activities and set their own goals.

It is also a great introduction for the many young people who progress on to the Bronze level of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award (from 14 years).

It is easy to get involved. Drop by and see our Award Leader, [insert Award Leader’s name] at [insert office details].

Find out more at the  Queensland Government website

From the Deputy Principal

Maree Hass

Online programs through Student Resource schemes

Mathletics for 2018

We have commenced using Mathletics and students will have received their log on and passwords. 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. Please note that there is still 2 more weeks to pay the amount of $12 if you haven’t done so, after this time and the account is still unpaid we will have to take those students off program access.

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.

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

Thank you for your payments for excursions and resources to date. Statements will be emailed home on Friday to enable parents to see what is currently outstanding. If you do not receive one, please contact the office for a copy.

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 2018 are:

• Prep Requirements ($70)
• Instrumental Music Programs – Instrument Hire ($100), Percussion Maintenance ($50), Music Participation ($80) & Choir ($30)
• Religious Education Program ($10)
• Mathletics On-line registration (Years 1 - 6) ($12)
• Origo Maths (years 3, 4 and 5) ($6)
• Year 4/5 maths levy ($17.50)

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 single student.
Credit in Account: Credits from 2017 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

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.

Music News

Students in the Junior and Senior Choir were given blue student resource scheme forms this week. If your child has not received one please ask them to come to the music room to collect them. They will need to be returned to the office or music room. We request that you return these ASAP and our administration will invoice families for the $30 levy. If your child would like to join the choir but have not attended the rehearsal yet 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). 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.

Thank you to our senior instrumental students who have resumed rehearsals. Regular attendance at these are an essential part of the instrumental program and we request that parents contact their child's conductor if they are unable to attend a rehearsal. All students in the instrumental program need to have completed an orange resource scheme form. Many new and continuing students received these last year but if you have not completed and returned it, please ask your child to collect one from the music room or the office.

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 music 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

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 have been sent home, if you haven't received one, the order form and information sheet are attached below.

Orders have to be in no later than 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.
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

WE NEED MORE VOLUNTEERS, 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 23rd of February 2018

Thank you to all our volunteers! It’s been a busy start to the term with a steady flow of orders in the Tuckshop. We’ve noticed an increase in the salad options in this hot summer weather!

TO BUY AT THE TUCKSHOP COUNTER –

Popcorn is only 50 cents and a great snack to buy either online or over the counter. ANZAC cookies are available for 50 cents per cookie too.

Want something refreshing on a hot day, then try the frozen watermelon for only 50 cents.

Bretzels are selling fast too, very tasty and popular at our introductory price of $1.20.

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 vanilla blueberry or apple muffins are also available for $2 each. So much to choose from, take your pick!!

Sushi

Sushi/Vietnamese rolls are available to order on Tuesday and Wednesday’s. These must be ordered by 12pm on the Monday for that week. We had a big order for this week for both days, thank you! This meant sushi was delivered fresh for each day.

Please note that once you have placed a sushi/rolls order, your order cannot be cancelled. We order sushi from our supplier as per customer requirements and it is ordered specifically for your child. It cannot be cancelled if you change your mind or have a sick child from school. If you do have a sick child on the day that you have ordered for, please let us know and we will keep it for you the next day or you can make arrangements to pick it up or for a sibling to have it. If sushi orders are cancelled, unfortunately it will eventually mean we will be unable to provide Sushi/Vietnamese rolls in the Tuckshop as we are unable to cover the costs of cancelled orders.

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

Library News

This week, our library got into the Valentine’s Day spirit with many students going on a Blind date with a Book.

They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover! So the library has tried to play matchmaker. Each blind date book was wrapped in ‘oh so secretive’ brown paper and students didn’t know the ‘identity’ of their blind book date until they got home. Was it fiction or non-fiction? Funny, informative, an adventure or a mystery?

With each book a 'Rate your Date' slip was placed inside – after reading the book students have to simply say what they liked (or didn’t like) about their book date (don’t worry you won't hurt our, or its, feelings!). Remember to return the book to the library and give your slip to Mrs Hutchinson.

We are hoping this will be a great way for students to experience new authors and/or new genres. Some students will be out of their comfort zone and will hopefully read something they may not normally borrow from the library.

More importantly, we hope students may possibly find a wonderful book that will make them fall in love with reading all over again!

Chappy’s Chat

John Erichsen

You know the weather has been warm when the expected 31° and 32° for the weekend is viewed as a ‘cool change”. Keeping hydrated is essential on these hot days and water bottles are never far away at the moment. The late afternoon storms may bring a small window of respite but hopefully we miss all of the nasty stuff. Perhaps, the ice and snow of the Winter Olympics will prompt some cooling vibes over the next few days.

Last Thursday 17 students represented our school at the District Swim meet. District boundaries have changed this year so it was a different experience for our competitors. There were some strong performances on the day and several Graceville State School students will be competing at the Regional meet, held at Chandler next week. We wish them all the very best of luck of expect the Regional meet will be a wonderful experience for all.

It has been very pleasing to see students at break times being effective self-managers. This learning asset and the accompanying behaviour can flow into all parts of life and sets students up for positive experiences from their good choices.

Wishing school families good luck in beating or escaping the hot spell and have an awesome week!

John Erichsen
(Chappy)

ACTIVE SCHOOL TRAVEL

TACO TUESDAY!
(Travel Actively Coming-to-school On)

We were lucky enough to have a visit from the Brisbane City Council on assembly Thursday 15th to launch the Active School Travel Program at Graceville.

Starting from Tuesday 27th you will be able to collect stamps in your passports as you actively travel to school.

Active travel is:

• Walking
• Riding
• Rolling or scooting
• Catching public transport
• Walk and stride – park the car a few streets away from school and walk the rest of the way

Active travel is NOT:

• Being dropped off at the schools drop off zones

Very soon you all students will receive new passports via their teachers and you need to keep these somewhere safe in your bags to bring along each Tuesday.

There are some great prizes for those who reach their stamping targets, look for the stamping station in the quadrangle outside the school hall on the 27th Feb.

Throughout the year we will have lots of fun events where you can get involved and earn bonus stamps and great prizes. Our first event of the year will be Friday 23rd March for National Ride to School Day. Don’t worry if you can’t ride….just be active! More info to follow in the newsletter.

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.

Please contact Jo Richards at sajrichards@iinet.net.au for more information.

Schools Plus

The last two weeks at BSC and ASC have been all about getting to know our new friends in both sessions. We have been playing lots and lots of group games to help us with this.

On Tuesday morning, we had a massive “rock, paper, scissors” show down between the boys and the girls. This was a very noisy game as the entire service got involved. The girls won in the end but it was a very narrow victory. I am sure the boys are looking forward to a rematch this week. Bring it on!

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

Brigidine College Open Day

YOU ARE INVITED TO AN OPEN MORNING
on Monday 5 or Tuesday 6 March 9.30-10.30am
at Brigidine College, Indooroopilly
Your local Catholic Girls’ Secondary College

DON’T MISS OUT – Enrol now for Year 7 2020 and 2021

OFFER YOUR DAUGHTER THE CHANCE TO SUCCEED AT BRIGIDINE
and to be a part of a strong academic tradition balanced
by the wellbeing philosophy of Strength and Gentleness.

ACT NOW. Phone 3870 7225 to book, as places are limited.
To secure a prospectus pack contact
enrolments@brigidine.qld.edu.au
or go to www.brigidine.qld.edu.au for more information.