7 June 2018

From the Acting Principal

Maree Hass

Hello,

I would like to thank all of those wonderful class reps who came to the fete meeting last Wednesday night. The fete is progressing well in its planning thanks to a team of very well organised parents led by our convenor Anne. Please be ready to raise your hand to assist these representatives making or preparing items and signing up on the day to serve on a stall. It is so true that ‘many hands make light work’! Besides being a wonderful community event on Saturday August 25, all funds raised go towards supporting the school and our students.

I am busy preparing for our Study Tour from Taiwan which will be July 27 until August 11 at Graceville. We heard today that 18 students will be coming, 14 girls and 4 boys which is quite a surprise. We do need more homestay places for girls so please consider having a student to stay for these two weeks, it is a wonderful experience for not only our visitors but also for our families as well. Two of our families are hosting for a second time which is great, thank you but we need more. Please email me any questions or drop in and see me for more information. mhass10@eq.edu.au

This year we are reviewing our school’s Responsible Behaviour Plan. Teachers have been meeting together to discuss what we currently do and any ways in which this can be made even better. During term 3 we will be asking for parent feedback on our Plan so if this is something you might be interested in please watch out for further information later. Students will also have an opportunity to have their say as well.

Finally, weeks 8 and 9 in Term 2 are usually busy for our teachers as they work long and hard outside of school hours writing report cards. We would greatly appreciate your understanding during this busy time for teachers as response times to requests for meetings or emails may be longer than usual. Report cards will be emailed out during week 11 this term.

Just a reminder on these cool mornings which turn out quite warm. Please ensure that all clothing is clearly labelled so that lost property can more easily be returned to owners. Our Rotary students are doing a fantastic job at sorting the mountain of lost property and getting it back to owners, no names makes this job quite difficult.

Have a great week,
Maree Hass.

Just some important information for Prep to year 2:

Date Claimer: Prep 2019 Information evening will be held in our school hall on Wednesday July 18 at 7pm. We now also have pamphlets in the office with other dates for 2018 such as the Get Set for Prep and Prep Orientation sessions.

Waiting List for Prep for 2019 – opened at the beginning of this term.

The waiting list for 2019 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. 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 2 Junior assemblies. Everyone welcome, we are on from 2.15pm on these Tuesdays in the hall.

Newsletter Articles

From the Deputy Principal

Tracy Freeman

Over the last couple of weeks, I have been busy visiting classrooms and working with teachers. I had the pleasure of working with students in 5O and seeing how they are approaching written tasks. Mr Osborn has been working hard to build the skills of writing within his students. I was so impressed at the level of vocabulary and ideas that came through the writing that it got me thinking…

Why do we like to write at Graceville State School?

I inquired into this and many students reported they enjoyed the process of writing. They felt it was a time that was creative and fostered the sharing of their ideas.

Amazing Year 5O Authors – Writing to the picture

Through the mist they saw a girl running. This girl, Dutchess, this muggle girl, she stole the gem of creation. Running to the gem of destruction, I said “We must stop her, before she ends humanity”. “Agreed” Justin said. The mist shimmered, the image disappeared - Talon H

The glow of the egg blinded Amber causing her to turn away. It started to crack and open. She had her mouth wide open in surprise. Earlier that day, Amber noticed peculiar shades of white on the egg instead of the usual shade, pure white - Indigo

This is an example of one of the many wonderful learning experiences taking place within our school every day.

From the Deputy Principal

Lisa McKeaten

2018 UNSW (University Of New South Wales) competitions:

• 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)

Students who have been entered in any of these competitions need to make sure that they are present on the appropriate day.

For the Digital Technologies competition, we had a large number of students not attend before school. Please make an effort to get your child here before school (Years 3-6). With the tests that take a longer time to complete, I can’t guarantee that they will have adequate time during the lunch break to complete them. We don’t want to interfere with class time to complete these tests, except for the Year 2 students, who are new to this experience.

Camp Quality will be visiting us on Friday 8 June!

The Camp Quality Puppet Show will be visiting us:

• 8.45 – Prep & Yr 1 classes
• 9.45 – Yr 2 & 3 classes
• 11.30 – Yrs 4-6

I would recommend you discussing this with your child, especially if children have siblings, family members or friends dealing with cancer. Also inform your child’s class teacher if you are concerned about how they may react to the puppet show.

Parents are most welcome to attend any of the performances in the hall.

Money Matters

Anne Nixon

On Monday 4th June, we received a Bpoint payment using voice recognition. If you have made this payment, can you please contact the office, so we can allocate your payment.

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)
• ESmart Digital Licence Yr 5 ($10)

All students involved in these programs must return a completed SRS form.

VOLUNTARY PARENT CONTRIBUTIONS

Your valuable contribution to this school’s Learning Targets is most welcome.

$100 single student.

You can either pay the Voluntary Contribution in the office, or by direct deposit into the school bank account referencing the payment “VC” with your child’s name. Our bank account details are

BSB: 064-111
Account Number: 00090051
Account Name: Graceville State School

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

Naomi Lindh

Congratulations to the Senior Strings and Senior Band for their performances at the Fanfare competition last week. The Senior Strings were awarded a Gold for their performance and the Senior Band is currently waiting for their result (as they had been included in Division 1 rather than Division 2). We greatly appreciate the efforts of the teachers and students and support from families to prepare for this performance. Students remained at the Fanfare competition for the entire session which they performed in, providing them with the opportunity to hear other ensembles which is a fabulous experience for them. Our conductors, Mrs Ruth Prout and Mr Steve Stiller were proud of the performances and behaviour of the Senior Strings and Senior Band.

I would like to schedule a quick Junior Choir rehearsal for those who are able to come early on Thursday 21 June at 8:15am in the hall prior to the NAIDOC assembly. The Junior Choir will be singing at the NAIDOC assembly, currently scheduled for 9:00am on Thursday 21 June. Parents and members of the school community are warmly invited to attend this assembly and performance. The Junior Choir will be singing a song which has been written by Elders and leaders as well as Indigenous and non-Indigenous students from schools in the local area. The four students from our school who attended the song writing sessions will also be involved in the presentation and singing of the song. I have been fortunate to be part of this exciting experience, attending the song writing sessions for this project as well which was part of the Reconciliation in Qld Schools project and 2018 Commonwealth Games. This is one of a number of reconciliation activities which has taken place, with the song developed for use by students and teachers in schools.

On 22 June we have a choir incursion organised, with composer and experienced conductor Stuart Gillard attending. On this day the Junior Choir and Senior Choir will have the opportunity to learn songs he has composed (with him working with each choir separately) and the day will culminate with a concert at 2:15pm. Families and members of the school community are warmly invited to this choir concert on Friday 22 June at 2:15pm. Choirs will perform songs with their school conductor as well as our guest conductor and composer, Stuart Gillard, at the performance. Please ensure your child has paid their choir levies to enable them to attend the incursion. We have spare student resource forms in the music room which your child can collect at our next rehearsal if they did not receive one earlier this year ($30 for annual membership).

2018 Rehearsal schedule

Monday 7:45am Senior Choir (year 4/5/6 students) - Ms Julie West Tuesday 7:45am Junior Choir (year 2/3 students) - Mrs Naomi Lindh Wednesday 7:30am Junior Band (year 4 band students) - Mr James Kukulies (please note this will not begin until 9 May at 7:30am in the music room) Wednesday - first break - Junior/Beginner Strings - Mrs Ruth Prout (rehearsals begin in week 3, 2 May in the music room for Junior Strings and the Beginner Strings will join them later in the year) Wednesday 3:00-4:00pm Senior Band (year 5/6 band students) - Mr Steve Stiller Thursday 7:45am Senior Strings

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
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

Chappy’s Chat

John Erichsen

If any doubt lingered about winter’s arrival, the freshness of the mornings this past week confirmed winter is indeed alive and well. Thankfully, the winters in Brisbane are quite mild compared to many other parts of the world. However, it is that time of year when jumpers can be removed and forgotten once the day warms up. Ensuring clothing is clearly named assists greatly in the process of reuniting jumper and student. It also helps minimise the breeding of jumpers in lost property.

Well done to year five and six students for a successful season of Interschool sport! Skills improved, understanding of the game increased and many opportunities for positive communication and effective collaboration were experienced on the sporting fields. Individually, each student experienced the need to be good self-managers under the pressure of competitive sport. I hope the lessons learned over the past 10 Fridays will assist our students on their exciting journey of discovery and growth. I would also like to thank the parents who were able to get to sport to support the Graceville teams. The atmosphere is always better with interested spectators looking on and voicing their support and encouragement.

In week 10, the Chaplaincy Lapathon will take place. Wednesday, June 20, will see our school oval alive with activity as students participate in a fun and healthy activity. In the morning, there will be a coffee van on site, so warm beverages are available from approximately 8.30 until 10.30am.

Have a fantastic week!

John Erichsen
Chappy

Uniform Shop

Fiona Fryer

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

Polar fleece jackets and rugby shirts are available now in store.

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. Also please be aware that if you paid by credit card you will need that card for the refund.

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 in the main office.

Email address for school uniform store is:

uniformstore@gracevilss.eq.edu.au

WE NEED MORE VOLUNTEERS, PLEASE!!!! The uniform store lost some valuable volunteers at the end of last year and will be losing more at the end of this year so we really need more people to help out. At the moment it would require you to be there from 8.15-9.00am on Monday, Tuesday or Friday each week, if there are more people willing to lend a hand then it wouldn't have to be every week. So, if you think you could spare some time and help out that would be great, just send an email to the address below or come to the store and have a chat, thank you.

Tuckshop News

Tuckshop Roster for week ending 15th of June 2018

A BIG THANK YOU to all our volunteers! You are absolute stars and we couldn’t get the lunches made without you!

Don’t forget we have sushi and rice paper rolls available to order for Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Delicious and freshly made each day by our local supplier Cilantro Fresh, they must be pre-ordered before 12pm on Mondays.

Should you need to, you can cancel an order up until 8.30am on the day of your order. If you miss this cut-off please ring the school office as soon as you can to let us know; sometimes we haven’t yet prepared your lunch! (Sushi and rice paper roll orders cannot be cancelled as they are pre-ordered in. If your child is sick on the day of your sushi/rice paper roll order we can refrigerate and save it for you the next day).

If you need to contact us please send us an email at tuckshop.gss@gmail.com or come in and see us in the Tuckshop.

Active School Travel

Our Active School Travel Day is Friday.

School zone speed limits

When you are entering a school zone, you will see a school zone sign. The sign will tell you the:

• reduced speed limit
• times when this limit is in place.

School zone speed

The following speed limits apply in school zones:

• 40km/h on roads where the normal speed limit is 50/60/70km/h
• 60km/h on roads where the normal speed limit is 80km/h
• 60km/h or 80 km/h on roads where the normal speed limit is 90/100km/h
• 80km/h on roads where the normal speed limit is 110km/h.
• The most common school zone speed limit is 40km/h.

School zone times

The standard times that most school zones apply in Queensland are 7–9am and 2–4pm.

Some council areas have different school zone times. Contact your local council to find out if your area has different zone times—or check the school zone speed limit signs near you.

When you are entering a school zone that operates outside of the normal times, you will see a flashing light school zone sign.

When you are entering a school zone that operates all day (for example, 7am–4pm) because the school has a split campus where children often cross the road throughout the day—you may see a flashing light school zone sign.

Source https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/rules/schools viewed 28th May 2018

We need you!!!!!

We are very lucky to have the year 5 students involved in Active Travel this year and Mrs Hornstra who does an amazing job each week with organising the students to ensure that passports are stamped and the AST messages are delivered on assembly (and many other tasks too numerous to list). With out their support this program would not be the success that it is.

The Active School Travel committee is very “Active’ in our community. We have great support from Councillor Nicole Johnston and Leesa Munro , who is the Project Manager for AST in the BCC. Mrs Hornstra and Mrs McKeaten from the school and Paul Rueberry (Prep parent who has come on board this year) as well as myself. We would like to adopt the P&C model of having someone “Learning the role” from me this year. This person would attend our once or twice a term meetings and do the newsletter article each week as well as attend any school events, if possible. You would be very well supported in the committee if you were interested. We are always after fresh ideas. If you are interested in talking to me about this please email Jo at sajrichards@iinet.net.au

School Plus

Week 7 of the before and after school care program incorporated Reconciliation Week. The children enjoyed the activities including “The Yarning Circle” that was placed outside, where they sat and played some indigenous instruments, dot face painting as well as colour in sheets, drawing flags and a beautiful dot art hand painting.

In addition to the Reconciliation based theme, the children also participated in other activities including Tissue Paper Pictures, Box Robots and Paddle Pop Puppets. This week’s sensory activity “Rainbow Spaghetti “was quite popular with the bright colours, texture and challenge of sorting out the mixed colours. A major highlight for this week was the arrival of our new sports equipment! The children enjoyed gymnastic tricks on the soft gym mats and group games playing with Grip Ball, Scoop Ball and Trampolines. Next week’s program is even more exciting with two themed days celebrating World Environment Day and World Oceans Day. The children will be enjoying activities on both days such as a Nature Scavenger Hunt and a sensory activity Sea Foam.

Trivia Night

Ever wondered what it was like to ‘Rock around the Clock’ and hang out with Ritchie and the Fonz in ‘Happy Days’ or ride along with Clint in ‘Rawhide’? Do you ever wish that you lived in the era of ‘Call the Midwife’, Elvis Presley or the Beatles, or had a house that looked like June Cleaver’s?

Come dressed in your favourite theme of the era and decorate your table of 10 to match!

6:30pm
Saturday 16th June
Graceville State School Hall
Tickets: $20 per person or $200 per Table of 10
Includes:

• A bottle of wine/beers per table
• Additional drinks available at the bar
• Pizzas available for purchase on site

Prizes on the night for Best Dressed Male/Female/Table
Heaps of Raffle Prizes also to be won!

There will be ‘games’ on the night so start saving your gold coins!

The Trivia Night Committee are always looking for sponsors and prizes, if you or your company would like to be involved, please contact Juanita Bennett for details (aajbennett1@bigpond.com).

Trivia Night – like the Fete – is looking for someone to take over. Unless someone comes forward to learn the ways of Trivia Night – 2018 will be the last one! We are also looking for someone to take over the ‘brains’ of the night in Question Writer. If you are interested or want to know what goes on behind the scenes, please contact Juanita ASAP so that wisdom can be transferred!!