20 September 2018

From the Acting Principal

Maree Hass

Hello,

A very productive term is coming to an end.

Wednesday we all enjoyed coming to school dressed as a favourite book character to celebrate Book Week. Here is a photo of our staff and their favourite characters!

Through voluntary contributions to date this year we have been able to purchase 10 …… to replace older laptops in our upper school. We currently have $1500 that has come in lately through contributions and will be purchasing 3 iPads to replace older ones in our shared fleet across the school so thank you for voluntary contributions it is never too late to contribute.

A few important reminders for the beginning of term 4 are:

• Year 5 Camp is first week back, Wednesday October 10 – Friday October 12.
• Enhancement nomination forms due into the office by Friday October 12 at 3:30pm. These must be submitted by an adult and require a signature to register receipt. No late forms will be accepted.
• Pupil Free Day is on Monday October 22

Lastly, I hope you all have a safe and great holiday returning recharged for a busy term 4!

Regards,
Maree Hass.

Prep Enrolments for 2019

I have been busy meeting with new preppies and parents. If you do not have a time yet please contact the office to make a time to meet together to discuss your child commencing prep in 2019.

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

Prep uniform selling days are:

29th November 8.00am - 12pm (Prep Orientation morning)
23rd January 3pm - 6pm

Families that are already at Graceville State School are encouraged to come during normal uniform store hours, as the prep selling days are much busier than usual.

Below is the calendar for term 4

Junior assemblies. Everyone welcome, we are on from 2.15pm on these Tuesdays in the hall.

Newsletter Articles

Deputy Principal

Lisa McKeaten

Does your child require medication during school hours?

If your child requires medication while at school, please ensure you complete and sign an Administration of medication record sheet available from the school’s office.

You will also need to provide the school with the prescription-labelled medication in the original packaging with clear directions for its use. The school may request an accompanying doctor’s letter for certain medications.

For more information visit the Department of Education website.

Every second counts around water

Be a super hero and help prevent children from drowning with some tips from Olympic swimmer Mitch Larkin in the latest Queensland Family and Child Commission water safety campaign.

Sadly, tragedy can strike in just a few seconds, so make sure you provide active supervision when your children are near water. Children should be in the direct line of sight of an appropriate adult at all times.

Children under five are most at risk and make up 82 percent of child drownings.

There are a number of steps you can take to keep children safe around water.

Matsuri Brisbane – Japanese Festival 2018

Brisbane Japanese community group, Seinendan Inc. is proud to bring the Japanese matsuri festival to Brisbane. Showcasing Japanese food and drink, cultural activities, performances and more! Save the date in your calendar to experience Japan at the Mount Gravatt Showground this September!

Join the Dots’ to keep children safe online

Bravehearts, in partnership with the Queensland Family and Child Commission, has launched a new online tool for children and young people to help police catch online predators.

Through the tool, children and young people can report suspected online grooming and help police ‘join the dots’ to identify and stop predatory behaviour.

We encourage you to have open conversations with your children about online safety and inform them of the tool to help keep all children and young people safe online.

Review of Naplan for students at home

The Queensland Government is undertaking a review of NAPLAN in the Queensland context, to better understand the impacts NAPLAN is having on learning and teaching within the state.

The first stage of the Review, conducted in June 2018, focused on consultation with parents.

The second stage is now underway, with consultation extending to students, teachers, principals and other key education stakeholders across Queensland.

Queensland students in years 3 to 10 are invited to provide feedback on their experiences with NAPLAN, via an online survey. Students wishing to participate will require the consent of a parent or carer, who can assist with completing the survey at home.

The survey link is available at the link below

This project has received ethical clearance from both the Australian Catholic University and the Department of Education. Further information on the student survey and the Review are provided within the survey link.

Hatchery Crusaders assembly!

Queensland Museum and World Science Festival Brisbane are calling for Queensland students to help raise awareness of the impact of pollution on marine ecosystems.

Under the guidance of Queensland Museum’s turtle expert, Patrick Couper, join the crusade and learn more about loggerhead turtles and the impact of ocean pollution.

Students can get involved by contacting <<school contact>> to register their interest and produce a piece of artwork reflecting their learnings about the impact of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems. Finalist artworks will be showcased during the World Science Festival Brisbane in March 2019.

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

It has been a very busy term in the music department for our instrumental and choir students as well as our music staff. On Thursday afternoon the Senior Choir will be singing 'Calling Me' at the whole school assembly, conducted by me (as Ms West works at another school on Thursdays). It is a privilege to work with the Senior Choir who have been rehearsing their song to prepare for this and a lovely way to end the term. Thank you Ms West and Senior Choir students for your hard work at rehearsals this term and singing at this assembly.

The Junior Band will be performing at the Brisbane Bands Festival on Saturday 27 October at 2pm, but students will need to arrive by 1pm to prepare and tune for the performance. Mr Kukulies will provide further information but please note this date in your calendar Junior Band families. Children under the age of 12 are able to attend the event for free but for children 12 years and older and adults the admission cost is $5 to watch the performance.

The Junior and Senior Choir students have recently been invited to sing at the Chelmer Riverside Church as part of their Christmas Carols evening on Saturday 1 December. This will be an optional event for any students and families who are able to attend and they will schedule our combined choir (Junior and Senior Choir students singing together) at the beginning of the evening which starts at 5:30pm, so children and families can enjoy the evening afterwards. Further information will be provided later in the year but at this stage they are planning it to be an outdoor event with market stalls and a jumping castle. Please note date of this event, Saturday 1 December at 5:30pm, for any Senior or Junior Choir students and families who would like to attend.

All instrumental and choral rehearsals and lessons will resume from the first day/week of next term.

Please ensure the expression of interest for a place in the instrumental music program has been returned, if your child is in year 2 or 3 and is interested in learning an instrument next year. The form is attached in a link below if you have not received a copy.

There are additional performances for the Junior and Senior Choir next term as well as the instrumental students. Please ensure these events are in your diaries as students thoroughly enjoy sharing the music they have been learning and songs they have been singing with their families!

We wish all of our students and families a happy and safe holiday! Thank you for your support and involvement throughout this busy term!

Upcoming dates for music events:

• 27 October - Junior Band performing at the Brisbane Bands Festival at 2pm - arrive by 1pm
• 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
• 1 December - Community Carols Evening at the Riverside Church in Chelmer 5:30pm - combined Junior and Senior Choir performance for any students and families who are able to attend (optional performance)

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
Wednesday - first break - Junior/Beginner Strings - Mrs Ruth Prout
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

Uniform Shop

Fiona Fryer

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

Prep selling days are:

29th November 8.00am - 12pm
23rd January 3pm - 6pm

Families that are already at Graceville State School are encouraged to come during normal uniform store hours, as the prep selling days are much busier than usual.

We have new school colour bows in store now for $5 each.

Interschool sports has started and we have the Representative shirts in stock.

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

WE NEED MORE VOLUNTEERS, PLEASE!!!! The uniform store lost some valuable volunteers at the beginning of this term 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

THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEERS! WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR HELP!

Tuckshop Roster for Week 1 Term 4, 2018

Tuckshop volunteers for week 1, can you please email your confirmation that you are available to attend as soon as possible. Thank you!

Please look for an email in the holidays regarding the new roster for Term 4. There are quite a few amendments to accommodate changes to volunteer availabilities.

The Tuckshop is run by two part-time Convenors and relies on a volunteer service to keep open five days a week. It is P&C run, and not a catering or take-away food service. It relies on you, our volunteers and users of the Tuckshop, to keep up and running. To stay open five days a week and keep our prices reasonable, we rely on your help. Without more volunteers we are facing reduced opening days next year, if not beforehand.

We have volunteer shortages on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays next term. Can you help? Term 4 is traditionally a busy term and our roster is already looking like swiss cheese.

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. You’ll meet new people, it’s fun and so easy and you will feel great knowing you’ve helped!

Holiday Swim Clinics and School Term 4 Swimming Program

A great way to get your children ready for the 4th term swim program is to join the holiday swim clinics being held at the school pool. All ability levels are catered for with learn to swim, stroke correction and squad classes on offer. The first clinic will be held from Monday 24th of September to Friday 28th and the second clinic from Monday 1st of October to Friday 5th. You do not need to attend everyday of the clinic as long as you mention your availability when enrolling. If you are joining for the first time please call Pete to discuss your child's ability and needs. Children in holiday school care may also join the program as staff are able to bring students to the pool and pick them up after their lesson. If you have inquired about the clinics already and have not received a confirmation email from Pete Geraghty please send another email to make sure you are included in the schedule. My swim school is always looking for good teachers so if you know anyone interested in working at Graceville pool who is qualified or interested in becoming a certified swim teacher please put them in touch with me. Please direct all inquiries to Pete Geraghty via email [petegeraghty@hotmail.com] or phone 0432407442.

Term 4 Swim Program

Bookings are now being taken for the 4th term swim program. This will begin the first week after the holidays from Monday October 8th. All students will begin the term in the SAME ABILITY LEVEL as term 1 as a starting point. During the course of the term the coach may move students to different levels where appropriate.

To join the entry group class of Beginner Stroke Development (BSD), children must be in Year 1 or older and be able to swim 25m freestyle non stop. Any children not of this age or ability may enroll in private lessons on offer Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings.

Spaces are limited, so to avoid disappointment, respond to this email asap with your preferred days and available times. Feel free to contact me via return email or phone if you have any questions (ph: 0432407442).

Beginner Stroke development will run Mon to Thurs from 3 pm til 3:30 pm. Advanced stroke development will run from 3:30 pm til 4 pm on the same days and this will be followed by Junior squad and squad from 4 pm. If you are new to my swim school YOU WILL NEED to call me directly to discuss your child's ability and needs.

A terms and conditions agreement will be given to all the new students at their first lesson. This needs to be signed and returned no later than the 2nd lesson. Those who have enrolled previously do not need to complete a new agreement as the terms and conditions are unchanged and it is an ongoing agreement whilst participating in my Graceville swim school. Please advise if you would like another copy of the T's and C'c. Parents will be invoiced for the term once the program is settled.

Please send me ALL YOUR AVAILABLE DAYS and times and also days and times you are DEFINITELY NOT AVAILABLE. You will receive an email regarding your booking which will need to be confirmed by you before the commencement of the program .

See you at the pool.
Pete Geraghty

School Plus

The second last week of Term 3 has been extremely busy, exciting but also sad! One of the week’s highlights was the Sensory Snow activity. The children enjoyed putting ingredients together to create a substance that looked and felt like snow! The only difference about the “fake snow” was that it wasn’t ice cold or melting! Another highlight was a cooking experience, the children enjoyed helping make the Pizzas for afternoon tea.

On Wednesday, the children, staff and parents farewelled our Coordinator Anita, with an afternoon celebration and huge cake! The children said their goodbyes and thanked Anita for all her efforts and memories over the last four years and enjoyed the cake and ice blocks provided for the farewell. Anita will truly be missed, and we wish her all the best on her new journey!

There is much excitement regarding the last week of term 3 and anticipation of our fun Vacation Care program, be sure to check out the program and book in fast as spaces are filling!