23 August 2018

From the Acting Principal

Maree Hass

Hello everyone,

Zoe is away on sick leave this week, we hope she has a speedy recovery.

The Fete has finally arrived and the anticipation is growing! I hope you can all make it along on Saturday and that you have checked with your class rep if there is any way to help whether it be before the day or by volunteering on a stall. Don’t forget to catch your child in their class item sometime during the afternoon. The fireworks are always a great way to cap off a wonderful day!

A big thank you to our fete committee who are working tirelessly behind the scenes and on the day as well to make this a fantastic community event. Check out the fete program which is linked to this newsletter.

This week you will receive a form asking you to make the school aware if your children are intending to return to Graceville next year. We need the most accurate information possible to work out staffing and classes for 2019. This is an avenue to also provide information that you believe will be useful in considering placement for next year. All forms need to returned by Friday September 14, that is the last day of week 9 this term.

Over the past two terms we have been reviewing your school’s current Responsible Behaviour Plan with staff and will be bringing the updated plan to the student council next week. We would like to offer an opportunity to parents to come along and review our intended Plan for the next three years at a special session on Thursday September 6 at 9am after drop off. This information session will be held in the Waratah room and you are invited to attend, please rsvp to mhass10@eq.edu.au so we know numbers for set up.

See you at the fete!
Regards,
Maree.

Prep Enrolments for 2019

If you are an in-catchment new family or current school family with a preppie for 2019 I encourage you to now start the enrolment process now by obtaining enrolment forms if you haven’t done so already from the school office. I have started conducting enrolment interviews with families so if you don’t have a time yet, please contact the office for available times.

Date Claimers for 2019 prep families:

Get Set for Prep session 1 – Tuesday October 16, 9 – 10.30am
Get Set for Prep session 2 – Monday November 5, 9 – 10.30am
Prep Orientation meetings – Thursday November 29

Below is the calendar for term 3 Junior assemblies. Everyone welcome, we are on from 2.15pm on these Tuesdays in the hall.

Newsletter Articles

Deputy Principal

Lisa McKeaten

Life Education 2018

The Life Education Program for Prep to year 6 commences on Monday 3rd September and finishes on Wednesday 19th September. Attached is an overview of all of the modules on offer. A detailed program of which module certain year levels will be doing will be included next week. This just gives you an idea of the program.

Father’s Day celebrations

Similar to our ‘flower giveaway’ that we had for Mother’s Day in May, we will be giving away chocolates to our Dads & grandfathers on Friday 31 August before school. Members of the Student Council will be around the school & stationed at gates/entrances on that morning to give away chocolates.

Annual Maths Tournament Monday 3 September

On Monday 3rd September, we will have 20 of our Year 5 & 6 students participating in our Annual Maths tournament. We usually have around 20-25 teams from various schools coming here to participate.

Interschool Sport – Softball, Girls Basketball, Water Polo, Boys touch

Interschool Sport starts on Friday 31st August. We are in the process of finalising the teams and will be sending home invoices for students this week. The last day for payment will be Friday 24th August. Teachers are collecting the permission slips for the various sports. These also need to be returned ASAP.

Swimming for Term 4

Prep, Year 1 & 2 students will be involved in a paid intensive swimming program in Term 4. This program is run by paid coaches in small group lessons. The information about this program will come home in the next few weeks. Payment for the program will be due prior to the holidays.

Year 3-6 students will also be participating in a swimming program with Mr Daunt in their regular HPE lessons, with no cost to parents.

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)
• 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

On Friday our Junior Choir and year 6 students Evie G, Annie H, Tessa K, Toby W and our Choir Captain Megan B went to Milpera SHS to perform at their NAIDOC assembly. Our students sang beautifully and shared the song Yuggera Djarra-na which means 'On Yuggera Country' and includes some local Yuggera language. They behaved very well while walking to and from Milpera and as an audience at their assembly. This invitation also gave us an opportunity to attend their NAIDOC assembly and listen to the Welcome to Country by Gaja Kerry Charlton, watch dances by some of their students and staff, listen to special guest speakers and stories about inspiring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and some of our students were invited to join in with one of the dances on the stage and later their school song. Thank you to our students for proudly representing the school and performing at Milpera SHS last Friday. This was appreciated by Milpera SHS and was a great experience for our students! I’d also like to thank Lisa McKeaten for her administrative support with our music program and attending the excursion with us, and Belinda Martin and Trina Patridge who also attended and supported our students on the day.

We have the Junior Band, Senior Band, Junior Choir and Senior Choir performing at the fete tomorrow. Please see the important information below about the arrangements and times for students to meet with their conductor prior to the performance and the times they will be performing. All of these performances will be held in the hall. Families and members of the school community are warmly invited to attend these performances.

Please find links below to upcoming events. The Uniting Church Arts Fest performance will need permission slips returned to ensure students are able to attend so please either download these or ask your child to come to the music room for a note and slip. There is also an information note regarding the instrumental music workshop which involves all instrumental students, however we do not require a permission slip for this activity as it is part of our school music program and held on our school grounds within the normal school times. If parents are able to assist with serving lunches on either of the workshop days please contact me (nclos1@eq.edu.au).

Upcoming dates for music events:

Fete performances in the hall - please note the important information below regarding your child's time to meet with their conductor:

Senior Band 11:45am - meet Mr Stiller in the music room at 11:15am with your instrument and music (percussion instruments will be in the hall)

Junior Band 12:05pm - meet Mr Kukulies in the Oxley room at 11:45am with your instrument and music (percussion instruments will be in the hall)

Junior Choir 12:25pm - meet Mrs Lindh in the hall from 12:05 (please sit on the carpet area in front of the stage) - make sure you are seated there by 12:15pm (free dress - students do not need to bring anything with them)

Senior Choir 12:35pm - meet Ms West in the Oxley room (or other designated room as directed by Ms West from 12:00pm or after your instrumental performance)

It is very important that if your child is going to be absent from the fete you let their conductor know prior to the day or via email if they are sick on the day. Please also ensure your child meets their conductor at the designated time with their instrument, music and/or anything they have been asked to bring.

• 28 August Junior Choir singing at Junior Assembly (songs from the fete performance)
• 29/30 August IM workshop for all instrumental students - performance 2pm on Thursday 30 August involving all instrumental students (no permission slip required)
• 7 September - Year 6 Senior Choir students to perform at the Graceville Uniting Church "Our World Art Fest" (please note only year 6 choir students are attending this due to the limited performance area) - permission slip required
• 30 October - school music photos (students can bring their instrument in for the photo but this is not essential)
• 14 November - Annual Music Concert 6pm (all choirs and instrumental ensembles performing)
• 28 November - Grandparents' Concert - Junior Choir, Senior Choir and Senior Strings performing for their grandparents'/special guests

Earlier this term some of our instrumental music students attended the Honours or Intermediate West Cent music camps. After completing a successful audition they spent a week with students from other schools learning music and performed at a concert on the Friday evening at Sherwood State School, which their friends and families were able to attend. Our 3 music captains have shared some of their experiences and recollections of the camps below…

Emily R – Orchestra Captain
Honours camp was amazing! The teachers were nice and caring and they taught us new techniques. We had lots of fun with our guest visitors and we learned many things with them. Not only did we learn music, but we played games and made new friends. It was a lot of fun.

Megan B – Choir Captain
Intermediate Camp was really fun but also really challenging. We were able to meet students from lots of different schools and make some new friends. We played our instruments all day and the pieces were a lot harder than they are at school. We also had a talent competition.

Zara M – Concert Band Captain
Hi, I’m Zara McKinnon and I’m in year six and am the Concert Band Captain for 2018. I play percussion and this year I got the opportunity to participate in West Cent Regional Honours Music Camp. At honours camp, the vibes were really chilled and fun but we still practiced hard - 5 hours a day even after dinner! The concert band and strings practiced separately but then after dinner we joined together to create a symphony orchestra. In the concert band section we practised a variety of songs, and were taught by many different conductors and teachers. I also made so many new friends and learnt so many new things. Overall, West Cent Honours Music Camp was a highlight of 2018!

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 (All Beginner String students should now be attending these rehearsals) 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

Library News

Melanie Hutchinson

PREMIER’S READING CHALLENGE 2018

Hopefully everyone has just about finished reading their favourite books for the Premier’s Reading Challenge 2018 as THE READING PERIOD FINISHES THIS FRIDAY, 24 AUGUST. All reading record sheets MUST be returned to the Library before or on this date.

Fete News

And the winner of the Online Purchases of GSS Fete Cash Cards Competition is:

Catherine S with her purchases for her children Tamiris in 5H and Amon Prep F.

Congratulations! Your GSS Fete Cash Card online purchase price will be refunded to your School24 account.

Final Checklist for Fete

1. Have your out your name down on your Class Stall Roster.? We can't do this without you.
2. Returned raffle tickets? Sold, unsold or lost - we need to know. Still 200 books outstanding.
3. Have you received your Ridebands and GSS Fete Cash Cards? They came home this week.
4. Have you checked out updated Class Performance Schedule? Slight changes were needed.
5. Have you donated Grand Bazaar items, Jams, Cakes and Sweets? It's not too late.
6. Come along and help set up on Friday after 9am or 3pm. The excitement is fever pitch!
7. Have a FANTASTIC fete!
8. Lend a hand to put GSS back together on Sunday. Breakfast and coffee included.

That's it. If you see a Fete Committee member in a blue shirt on the day, please remember to thank them. They have put in a huge effort to make this day wonderful for our families and our community. Class Reps are amazing volunteers too. Thank them by signing up on your class stall now.

Thanks for your support and here's to another great GSS Fete.

Anne, Rahul and Shilpi
Fete Convenors

Uniform Shop

Fiona Fryer

Size 10 trackpants are out of stock. The supplier won't have more in until the end of August.

As of 1st July stores stopped providing free single use bags therefore the uniform store will no longer provide plastic bags so please make sure you bring your own if required.

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.

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.

Tuckshop News

Tuckshop Roster for week ending 31st of August 2018

Thank you to all our volunteers!

Like to help? Please email your availability to tuckshop.gss@gmail.com. We would love to see you, and you will love seeing the smiling faces of all the kids! Come on in for just three hours a shift once a month or once a term. It’s so easy!

Active School Travel

BE IN IT TO WIN IT !!!!!! CHOCOLATE and RIDE BANDS!!!!!!!!! …..now we have your attention

The Active School Travel committee would like to remind you that there are two amazing competitions running for the next month, combining actively travelling to school and our fete!

Win one of seven free ride bands by actively travelling to school on Footloose Friday, and filling in a ticket with your name and class, to be put into a box either at the stamping station or in the office. The more times you actively travel the more times you can enter the competition and the better chance you have of winning a ride band. Pre-purchased ride bands will be refunded if you have already ordered a ride band and win!

Win a free toss at the lob-o-choc stall for your whole class!!!!. The class with the highest percentage of students actively travelling to school for the next month will win a free toss to try and win a block of chocolate!

But today we have even more exciting news…..if that is even possible?

Do you find coming to school in your own car, all by yourself boring? Do you fight with your brother or sister? Does your Mum hate sitting in that endlessly long line in the 2 minute zone? Does your Dad hate having to drive around the block when you haven’t arrived and their time is up? Well we have the solution for you.

CARPOOLING!!

For the month of August Brisbane City Council are promoting Carpooling as a great way to actively travel to school. Here at Graceville we would love to see more families carpool. Carpooling can mean you can safely get to school, but Mum or Dad doesn’t have to drive you every day! By sharing the travelling with another family, you get to travel to school with friends, reduce the number of cars on the road and have some fun. If you carpool to school with another family, make a short video of yourselves and you could win some amazing prizes. This competition is called The Candid Carpool Camera Moments competition, and we hope you might have some fun showing us how much fun you can have carpooling to school and promote carpooling to the rest of the school. To give you some idea of just how much fun carpooling is, some of our teachers and admin team have been carpooling too.

So keep an eye out for posters telling you what to do. You will need to collect an official entry form from the office from the end of July and the competition ends on the 5th of September. And it looks like so much fun I am sure you will all want to have a go at making your own Candid Carpooling Camera Moments.

Keep Actively Travelling to School!

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). Without 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 Ruberry (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 Banking

Graceville SS’s school banking day is MONDAY and deposits can be made from 8:20 to 8:40 at the hall kitchen and then via the grey classroom pouches.

Banking will return next week .

Rewards currently available are:

• Twister Power Handball
• Sparkle Glitter Pens
• Glow Light
• Mighty Boom Handball
• Heat Reactor Pencils

Please remember to write your name and class on the rewards redemption flyer as recently we have received some blank ones and have been unable to order the rewards.

School banking is desperate for new volunteers, and as it stands there will be no school banking in weeks 6 and 10 (20 August and 17 September) as there are no volunteers to help. If you have a spare hour after drop off on Mondays please drop by and give us a hand.

Entries close at the end of this term for the Major Prize (a Trip for 4 to Hawaii, USA). You need to make 15 deposits before the end of Term 3 to be in the draw. Terms and conditions are found on the Commbank website.

If your child is not already involved, and you would like your child to participate in the school banking program it is now easier than ever. All that is required is a Youthsaver account with the Commonwealth Bank. Accounts can now be opened either online or at a branch. Once you have an account, the yellow Dollarmite wallet will be posted to you or you can visit us at the hall kitchen to pick one up before school Monday mornings.

Happy Saving!

School Plus

It has been a short week at Before and After School Care, with the Ekka holiday in between however, the children had a fantastic four days! Our brand new white board in our OSHC Room has been one of the week’s highlights. The children have loved using it for games! Due to popular demand, we brought back the sensory Slime activity as several children from each year level had been voting for it each day! This time we had gooey blue slime that some children helped prepare the previous day. The children have also been enjoying our food selections and are happy to see their voted suggestions on the menu. Next week’s program includes Red Noodles, suggested by the children at afternoon tea chat time. We will also be trialling a new group game with grades 2-6 which we hope they will enjoy!

Community Notices

Enrolment Information - Corinda State High School

Corinda State High School’s Enrolment Team will be visiting Graceville State School on Monday 27th August 2018.

Let us assist you with the enrolment and transition of your student into Year 7 for 2019.

Where: Graceville State School, Assembly Hall
When: Monday 27th August 2018
Time: 2.00-3.30pm

What will be available on the day?

• Enrolments Officer available to answer your queries
• Enrolments packages
• Uniform information and questions
• Uniform samples, price lists and order forms
• Excellence program information

If you wish to lodge your Enrolment form on the day, please ensure that you have a copy of your student’s birth certificate, 2 x latest report cards and latest Naplan Report with you.

We look forward to meeting you