11 October 2018

From the Principal

Zoe Smith

Hello,

I hope you enjoyed the Spring holiday break! I had a wonderful extended holiday in Japan. I arrived home on Tuesday and I started back at school on Wednesday. My first few days back were on Year 5 camp at Noosa Northshore. What a great way to start the Term! I would like to thank Ms Hass for taking on the Acting Principal role in my absence and Mrs Martin for backfilling as Acting Deputy Principal.

Zoe

Newsletter Articles

Deputy Principal

Maree Hass

Hope you all enjoyed the holidays!

Just a reminder that ‘Enhancement nomination forms are due into the office by this Friday October 12 at 3:30pm. Nomination forms must be submitted by an adult and require a signature to register receipt. No late forms will be accepted.

Friday October 26 is the annual ‘Day for Daniel’ when students may wear red shirts to show support and recognize this day. We are also going to work with other schools along Oxley Road this year to have our students each tie a red ribbon on our fence which will provide a very visible show of support in this initiative to keep our children safe. If possible please send a piece of red ribbon, any width about 20cm in length to school enabling your child to participate.

Please remember that Monday October 22 is a Pupil Free Day.

Study Tour to Taiwan 2019

We have been invited by Wenhua Elementary School in Taiwan to visit on a Study Tour in September next year. Wenhua has visited Graceville for a couple of years in their annual study tours that we host and on our own study tour in 2017 while we were hosted by Minzu Elementary School, we did make a day visit to Wenhua school.

The study tour is open to students who will be in year 5 and 6 in 2019. To make the trip worthwhile we require at least 15 students to participate.

We will hold an information meeting on Wednesday November 7 at 6.30pm in the Waratah room. Information to share will be around cost of participation, intended dates and the school in Taipei we will be hosted by. I also have a short movie showing the last study tour we went on to Taiwan so you get a picture of some of the experiences your child would be participating in.

It would be up to families to decide on your own child’s readiness to participate in this very rewarding experience. If you have any questions prior to November 7, please send me an email at mhass10@eq.edu.au A deposit will be required by the end of the 2018 school year along with an intention to participate form signed off.

Get Set for Prep sessions this term

Starting school is an important time in the lives of children and families. A positive start can help your child develop a lifelong love of learning and this is our goal for your child at Graceville.

We will be providing the following opportunities for your family to familiarize yourselves with our school and give an insight into areas of learning and development.

Get Set for Prep session 1: Tuesday October 16, 9 – 10:30am
Focus on Fine Motor Skills (for parents and children)

Get Set for Prep session 2: Monday November 5, 9 – 10:30am
Focus on Reading (for parents and children)

Each session will start in our hall and children will need to bring their hat. Please ensure you have sent an email to Prepyear@gracevilss.eq.edu.au to register your participation so that we can accommodate attendees.

Our prep orientation meetings will be on Thursday November 29 with further class placement and meeting information in a letter to arrive shortly before this date.

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.

Remembrance Day Commemoration – our school will be holding its annual service on Friday November 11, at 10.15 in our school hall. Poppies will shortly go on sale at our school entrances before school, so watch out for this. All families and community members are invited to attend our school assembly.

Below is the calendar for term 4 Junior assemblies.

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

Lisa McKeaten

Deputy Principal

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.

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.

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.

Library News

Melanie Hutchinson

BOOK FAIR IS COMING…

It’s that time of year again - the school library is hosting its annual BOOK FAIR!!

In Week Three, from Wednesday 24th October – Wednesday 31st October, Book Fair will take place in the LIBRARY.

It will be huge for everyone – there will be lots of fabulous books from publishers all over the world, with exclusive titles and great-value books for every child’s reading interest and level, so don’t miss out! (Don’t forget books make fantastic gifts - come in and get your Xmas shopping done early!) Remember, every purchase you make the library earns a percentage to gain great books and other resources for our library and classrooms.

So, if you love bringing children and books together, help us celebrate reading with our students and the school community. Keep an eye out for the Book Fair Flyer which will be sent home shortly.

BOOK CLUB

Please be aware that we will not be running Book Club Issue 7 through the school due to the upcoming Book Fair. However, anyone who wishes to order from this brochure can view it and place orders online.

We will participate in the final Book Club (Issue 8) in the last few weeks of term.

Melanie Hutchinson
Teacher Librarian

Music News

Naomi Lindh

Welcome to term 4! We hope you all had a lovely Spring holiday and are feeling refreshed for the busy term ahead.

Thank you to the Senior Choir and Ms West for performing the song 'Calling Me' at the final assembly of last term. As Ms West works at another school on Thursdays I conducted the choir for this performance. It was a pleasure to work with our Senior Choir students and Ms West and I would like to thank them all for their lovely singing and preparation for the performance.

The Junior Band will be performing at the Brisbane Bands Festival on Saturday 27 October at 2pm, but students will need to arrive at the venue (Centenary SHS) 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 prior to the event but at this stage they are planning for 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 and please note that parents/carers are expected to stay at the venue for the performance and supervision of children immediately before and after it.

Thank you to all of our instrumental and choral students who have attended their lessons and rehearsals this week. It is important that students attend rehearsals and lessons regularly to prepare for our upcoming performances and we appreciate support from parents with this. Please contact your child's teacher if you have any concerns about their progress. Email addresses are included below.

Over the next two weeks our instrumental teachers will meet with students who have expressed an interest in the instrumental music program for 2019. If your child has returned a slip and has not met with an IM teacher by Friday 19 October please contact me so we can ensure they are included in the recruitment process.

• 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) (parents/carers to remain at venue)

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

Thank you for supporting our music program!

Naomi Lindh
Music Teacher and IM Coordinator

Chappy’s Chat

John Erichsen

Chappy’s Chat

Welcome back everybody! I trust the holiday break was a time filled with positive experiences and moments to treasure. I look forward to hearing about holiday adventures over the next week or so. Our Year Five students start the term off in a flourish of activity, heading off to camp this week. This camp, in a wonderful setting provides students with fantastic opportunities to highlight their leadership qualities. This camp can be a great opportunity for aspirational student leaders to step up and display the character and qualities we need our leaders to have.

In a world that sometimes promotes charisma over character and sensationalism over substance, authentic leadership can be difficult to find. Leadership isn’t always about being the first, the best or the loudest. Good Leadership is rarely about being the one in the spotlight. There are times when leaders are forced, by circumstances, to be front and centre but is not their focus. Great leaders are inclusive, accepting of other ideas and keen to see others excel. The best leaders use their influence and position, not to push others down but instead to lift them up. This is the type leadership I expect we will see on camp. I believe the best leadership happens when the focus is outward not inward. When we are motivated not by what can we do be successful, but rather by what can we do to help others find success, we are starting to become a good leader.

This term will no doubt race by and soon we will be saying goodbye to our Year Six students as they prepare to transition to High School. This is a very exciting time for them, but we can also expect a little apprehension amongst the excitement. They will leave the familiar and enter the unknown. Their position at school changes from knowing almost everything to being the one asking all the questions. In this time of uncertainty, coupled with the reality of losing some friends to different high schools, our students can have their moments of feeling overwhelmed. At home and at school we need to understand what this time means and provide the best support and assurance we can.

This term the Oxley Corridor Chaplaincy Services are hosting a fundraising dinner. The details are on the flier below including how to reserve a seat or table. With some Olympians, Commonwealth Games athletes and Chang Poching from last year’s The Voice in attendance, it promises to be a fantastic night. Don’t miss out!

Have a great week!
John Erichsen
(Chappy)

Uniform Shop

Fiona Fryer

Welcome back to term 4!!!

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.

I will be ordering gold shirts next week, if you have a special order for a long sleeve polo shirt please could you let me know ASAP, no later than Wednesday 17th October, the shirts will then be delivered by late November. I will also be ordering house shirts for delivery in January again if you would like a long sleeve version I will need to know by next week.

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

Swimming lessons have started for term 4; you can purchase lycra and silicone swimming caps, bags and towels in various colours.

Interschool sport 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 last 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

Tuckshop Roster for week ending 19th of October 2018

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS!

Thank you also to those who answered our calls for help to fill our vacant tuckshop roster spots for this term.

At this stage we have one spot on Tuesday 13/11/18 and another on Wednesday 5/12/18 left to fill. Please let us know if you can help by email to tuckshop.gss@gmail.com

Term 4 Swimming 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 enrol 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 two weeks of Vacation Care was filled with much excitement and many adventures. The first day started off with an excursion to the movies. The children loved the train ride to and from the venue as well as the movie ‘Christopher Robin’. The following day was another great excursion to the Arts Theatre for ‘Alice in Wonderland’ another thoroughly pleasing excursion! The first week was filled with lots of fun and exciting activities.

One of the biggest highlights in Week 2 was our excursion to Boggo Road Gaol. It was a very interesting and educational excursion enjoyed by children of all ages! Everyone also had fun creating their own ‘Wanted Posters’ when we arrived back.

The two weeks flew by and the children have been able to make some great memories with their friends.