23 February 2018

From the Principal

Zoe Smith

Hello,

We are now half way through the term! It is hard to believe!

We had a great night on Wednesday with Sally Piper, author of Grace’s Table. It was wonderful to see so many members of our community in attendance. It was a very interesting and enjoyable night and we especially appreciate the participants who took the time to provide written feedback for us to use as part of our whole school inquiry into ‘What makes an effective author’. If you would like to provide feedback, but could not attend the night, we have three simple questions for you to consider:

Question 1. List some skills that an author needs to be effective.

Question 2. What disposition would a successful author have?

Question 3. What do you hope that your child will learn as a result of our whole school approach to writing?

If you would like to provide feedback, please email admin@gracevilss.eq.edu.au and we will include your feedback for consideration. I would like to thank the P&C for their support of the event. It is so wonderful to see the community supporting the development of curriculum, teaching and learning!

The P&C meeting is next Wednesday morning, 28 February in the Waratah Room at 9am. If you are interested in hearing about the school Annual Plan and learning more about our school budget, I will be presenting them both at the P&C meeting. Feedback from parents in previous years has lead me to believe the session is quite interesting! Other discussion points will be Q Parent and Chaplaincy. We will have tea, coffee and some morning tea treats available. I hope you can come along!

Next week our teachers will be starting a process of what we call TRIADS. In TRIADS, teachers work and learn together in small groups. The focus of our learning is on ‘How we can set Challenging Learning Tasks to enhance student curiosity, learning and achievement’. Teacher’s watch each other teach and provide feedback on what they see and hear. The TRIADS are followed up with coaching to help the teacher enhance their classroom practice based what they learn from the process. Mrs McKeaten, Ms Hass and I relieve the teachers while they take part in the process. We love getting in to the classrooms, practicing our own skills and spending time with the children.

I hope you have a great week,
Zoe Smith

Newsletter Articles

Deputy Principal

Lisa McKeaten

*NEW* 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! website.

NEW* 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.

*NEW* 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.

NEW* 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].

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 only 1 more week 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.

On a technical note from the providers of Mathletics:

Has your browser blocked Flash?

Mathletics provides an excellent experience on desktop browsers. Recently, some browsers have adjusted their default settings to block Flash, which may cause you problems when running our older Mathletics platform and some portions of the new platform. This can be easily overcome by adjusting your browser’s settings to allow Flash to run.

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.

Money Matters

Anne Nixon

Thank you for your payments for excursions and resources to date.

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

Thank you to the students and families who have been attending instrumental or choir rehearsals. Students in the Senior Strings and Senior Band need to ensure they are attending their rehearsals regularly, as it is a compulsory part of being in the school instrumental program. The Senior Band rehearsals are for all year 5 and 6 students who play band instruments (woodwind, brass and percussion), with rehearsals on Wednesday afternoons from 2:50-4pm with Mr Steve Stiller. The Senior Strings rehearsals are for all students in the senior string program (who have lessons on a Thursday) and the rehearsal is on Wednesday mornings at 7:45am in the music room. If your child is unable to attend a rehearsal please send a note or an email to your child's conductor (see email contacts below).

All instrumental music students should have completed an orange student resource scheme and return it to the office ASAP. Some of these may have been returned at the end of last year, for this school year.

Students in the Junior and Senior Choir were given blue student resource scheme forms last 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.

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 or if they are unable to attend a rehearsal.

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

Library News

Melanie Hutchinson

Graceville State School library staff invited students to be brave and go on a BLIND WITH A BOOK this past Valentines’ Day.

Well what a HUGE SUCCESS! Over 200 children checked out a book that was individually chosen and wrapped just for them. The students didn’t know what book was inside, but I’m pleased to say many children discovered their next great read and/or a new favourite author!

Thank you to those students who have already returned their ‘Rate your Date’ slips – it was great to read the results. This will also influence the library’s future book collection choices.

The Blind Date idea was to intrigue and surprise students with a book they might not otherwise read. And even though it meant we had to wrestle with a lot of brown wrapping paper – anything that puts books into children’s hands makes us very happy!

Melanie Hutchinson
Teacher Librarian

It’s SPELLATHON time! Spellathon is a fundraising event designed to be both a fun and an educational activity for our children.

Spellathon is a literacy based way for our children to help fundraise for our school. There will be lots of fun prizes awarded. Prizes will be based on sponsorship collected and words spelled correctly. In addition, children who spell all their words correctly will be entered in a prize draw for each year level.

This fundraising event is second only to the Fete in terms of revenue raised for the school. In 2017 we raised over $19,000 - an amazing effort! Last year funds raised by the Spellathon contributed to resources for the school’s Humanities and Social Sciences program. This year funds will go towards resources supporting the teaching and learning of writing. Projects like these are of great benefit to all students in the school. Please encourage your friends, relatives and neighbours to sponsor your child and help us make Spellathon 2018 a great success.

Watch out for the SPELLATHON 2018 word lists and sponsorship forms which will be given to the children to take home next week!

Please show your support by encouraging your child to help our school. Involve your families, friends and neighbours by asking them to become sponsors. The sponsorship your child receives will be a real incentive for them to learn their words.

Important Spellathon Dates:

Tuesday 13 March: SPELLATHON Test Day
Tuesday 27 March: Return of sponsorship forms and money

Our sponsors for 2018 are Peter May and Brad Robson from Place Real Estate and Graceville Village Discount Drug Store.

If you need help buying or selling your home, Peter & Brad from Place are the ones to help you. Please contact Peter on 0409543546 or Brad on 0414773437.

For all your pharmacy needs go to Graceville Village Discount Drug Store where you get more than just low prices. They are located next to the Post Office on Oxley Road in Graceville.

We thank our sponsors for their support of our school and ask that you support them with your business.

If you have any queries please get in touch by emailing: gracevillespellathon@gmail.com.

The Spellathon Committee

Fete News

The GSS fete is a spectacular annual event that celebrates our school and community. Our kids love it and it raises funds for important projects in our school. Last year we raised over $80,000 to contribute towards the installation of more solar panels to power our school and direct School funding to important educational projects rather than paying the power bills.

The fete is planned, co-ordinated and run by a committee of dedicated parents on a volunteer basis. We run the committee on a 3 year cycle which works along the following lines:

A year to learn - where you are an apprentice,
A year to do it - you're in charge, and
A year to teach it - you have an apprentice to teach and hand the role over to.

This year our fete committee is in the "Teaching It" cycle which means we need new dedicated and generous volunteers to learn these roles and then make them their own.

First and foremost we need 2 Sponsorship Co-Ordinators right away. Our current co-ordinator has to hand off this role immediately due to work commitments. She is however, available to complete a handover right away. If you think you could help in this role please contact her at gss.fete.sponsorship@gmail.com right away.

There are many other roles that need to be covered and the more volunteers we get the more we can share the load. Roles that need to be covered from this year, and the email addresses you can contact if you are interested in finding out more about them are:

Fete Convenor gracevillefete@gmail.com
Food Stalls Convenor (2 positions) gracevillefetestalls@gmail.com
Non Food Stalls Convenor (2 positions) gracevillefetestalls@gmail.com
Bookings Co-Ordinator gracevillefete@gmail.com
Student and Parent Market Co-Ordinator Gracevillefetequadmarket@gmail.com

Excitingly, we have already filled the Quad Market Co-Ordinator and Graphics Co-ordinator roles for 2018. Woohoo!

On a serious note, the fete cannot operate without these position being filled by committed individuals. If there is no one to teach these roles to in 2018, this will be the last GSS Fete. If you don't want to see that happen, please contact the above emails addresses ASAP.

Uniform Shop

Fiona Fryer

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

YEAR 6 COMMEMORTIVE 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 by this Friday 23rd February, the shirts will be sent away to the printers so NO orders will be taken after this week.

INTERSCHOOL SPORT

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, new stock of all house shirts expected 5th March.

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 2nd of March 2018

Thank you to all our volunteers! We have had a lot of movement with our volunteers and we need your help. Volunteers are required on both Wednesday and Thursday, if you can help please contact us at the Tuckshop on tuckshop.gss@gmail.com. We are very busy preparing the healthy choices lunches!

Have you tried one of our specials? On Tuesday we sell a vegetarian Napolitana pasta, on Wednesday a vegetarian Quesadilla (a mix of beans, tomatoes, corn and cheese in a toasty wrap slice), and Thursday is Hamburger day. Each sell for $5. Sushi and Rice Paper Rolls are also still available by pre-order for Tuesdays and Wednesdays (order by 12 noon on Mondays).

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. Greek yogurts in either berry, passionfruit or mango flavours are $2.20 and very tasty. So much to choose from, take your pick!!

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

This afternoon, Thursday February 22 at 3pm the Graceville State School Chaplaincy Committee will hold its first meeting for the 2018 school year. The meeting will be in the 2EH classroom and interested parents are welcome to be part of chaplaincy at Graceville State School. The Chaplaincy Committee, works very closely with the Principal to deliver a chaplaincy role that is accepting, inclusive and sensitive to all school families. Chaplaincy at Graceville State School, is a very practical support role, working with administration and teaching staff in all areas of the school experience. Helping with Prep reading groups and other classroom activities, participating school sport and excursions, cooking lunches for Music Program Workshop students, assisting to audio/visual requirements on special events, supporting P&C events such as the Trivia Night and Fete and facilitating FUN FRIENDS and FRIENDS FOR LIFE resilience building and anxiety prevention programs are all part of chaplaincy at Graceville State School.

The Local Chaplaincy Committee work behind the scenes to support the work of chaplaincy in the school and fully appreciate the support of the school community. Any parents wishing to find out more about the chaplaincy committee are welcome to make enquires via the school office. Alternatively, interested parents can join us at one of our meetings, which occur on a monthly basis. Of course, feel free to see me in passing or arrange a meeting to find out more information. From a personal perspective, it is a great privilege to be part of this school community, working with school staff and parents to provide as positive, caring and safe school experience for all our students.

Next week, the Interschool Sport program commences for our year five and six students. As well as developing their sporting and team work skills, our students will have opportunity to learn some powerful life lessons on the competitive sporting fields. I am reminded of a passage of the Rudyard Kippling poem, “If”, that hangs on the wall leading to the Centre Court of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. It reads,

“If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster; and treat those two impostors just the same.”

I think if those words can be powerful for the best tennis players in the world, perhaps there is something in them for us on our sporting fields of battle.
I hope our students find success on the sporting field this season, including on the scoreboards but even more importantly, within themselves.

Have a great week!
John Erichsen

ACTIVE SCHOOL TRAVEL

LAUNCHING 27th FEBRUARY

As part of the Active School Travel program, students who walk, cycle, scooter, car pool or catch public transport to school on TUESDAY can earn great rewards.

Once a week on TUESDAY students who actively travel get their passports stamped. When students reach target trips in their passport, they are eligible for an Active School Travel reward.

There are lots of great rewards for your children so join us and actively travel on TUESDAY to earn stamps and great rewards.

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

Stamping stations will be located:

• At the gate near the tennis courts
• In the quadrangle outside the hall
• At the bottom gate near Out of School Care

We were lucky enough to have a visit from the Super super super cool AST Crew on assembly Thursday 15th to launch the Active School Travel Program at Graceville. We met Rider, Walker and Scoot as they reminded us of many ways to travel safely to school and delivered that all important message….

STOP
LOOK
LISTEN
THINK

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 or come along to our next meeting at 3pm on Thursday 15th March in the Waratah Room.

Schools Plus

Last week at Before School Care, Jacob (our music extraordinaire) organised for the children to compete in rap battles. However, these rap battles had a bit of a twist to them. Instead of “roasting” one another as rap battles are most famous for, the children had the task of finding something to complement each other about. Three boys and three girls were lined up to face one another at a time and from there the battle commenced with each boy and each girl paying one another a compliment. This was a very feel good experience and not one child was dismissed to school without a smile on their face.

Community Notices