25 October 2018

From the Principal

Zoe Smith

Hello,

I would like to wish our Teachers a HAPPY WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY for Friday! We are lucky to have hard working and highly capable teachers who care about our students as people and learners. I would like to acknowledge and thank our teachers as we celebrate World Teachers’ Day.

This Friday is also Day for Daniel. Children can wear a red shirt to school. We will also show our support of the day by tying red ribbons along the fence on Oxley Road. Day for Daniel is a good opportunity to talk with your children about ways to stay safe both in and outside of our community.

Next week our school will be hosting a group of Preservice Teachers from Hong Kong University. The Pre service teachers will spend a week learning from our teachers and observing lessons in the classrooms. On Tuesday, we will have an official visit from the Dean of Education at Hong Kong University, Professor A. Lin Goodwin, and Assistant Dean Dr Gary Harfitt. We look forward to welcoming all of our international guests and hope they enjoy their time learning from and with us.

If you are interested in hearing some young leaders speak, you are welcome to attend our 2019 School Captain Nominee Speech afternoon next Thursday from 1.50 -2.45pm. I wish all nominees the best of luck! The nominees will also take part in a 15 minute interview with myself and Ms Hass on Friday. I would also like to wish the best of luck to our Student Learning Ambassador Leader nominees for 2019, who will also participate in interviews next Friday.

Finally, don’t forget the Student Council Great Barrier Reef fundraiser is on Tuesday next week. Children can come dressed in a sea theme. The Student Council would like to try and raise $2500 for the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and so they are asking for ‘more than a gold coin donation’, if you can afford it. All funds will help save the Great Barrier Reef!

Finally, the school leader, sport and music photos are on next Tuesday. Students in photos will need to either wear school uniform to school and then change into their costume OR wear their costume and bring a school uniform to change into for school photos. Mrs McKeaten organises the school photos so please contact her if you have any questions.

I hope you have a great week,

Zoe Smith

Newsletter Articles

Maree Hass
Deputy Principal

Tie a red ribbon on our fence!

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.

Hong Kong Professional Visit to Graceville

Next week we will be welcoming 12 undergraduate student teachers from Hong Kong who will be shadowing our teachers here at Graceville for a week to learn about our practices and see classes in action. This will be an excellent learning opportunity for all, if you see one of our visitors around the school please say hello.

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 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

Lisa McKeaten

Sports & Music Photos – Tuesday 30th October

Sports & Music photos are coming up on Tuesday 30 October. Students involved in one of our choirs, bands or orchestra will be included as well as any children who have been representatives in District, Regional or State Sporting teams. Any student who represented the school at a District sporting event doesn’t get included in our photo schedule. There are just too many children.

A message about ‘My Health Record’

The Australian Government wishes to remind all Queenslanders that a ‘My Health’ record will be created, unless you tell them you don’t want it.

It’s an online summary of your key health information that will be created automatically.

However if you have questions, or wish to opt out, please visit the My Health Record website or phone 1800 723 471 before 15 November.

Tuckshop Day – 2 November 2018

Our tuckshop provides a great service that serves healthy food to help our students learn and engage throughout the school day.

The efforts of our tuckshop workers and the many volunteers who support our students and our school have been tremendous this year.

On Tuckshop Day, Friday 2 November, say a special thank you to this wonderful team of people.

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

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:

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

LIBRARY NEWS – BOOK FAIR

Our annual BOOK FAIR started this week and we are off to a great start! We have created an enjoyable opportunity for your whole family to get excited about books and reading. Everyone will find wonderful books and other exciting products to purchase at the Fair. We hope you will attend.

Starts: Wednesday afternoon 24 October until Wednesday morning 31 October

Open: Before school 8 – 9 am & after school 3 – 4 pm

Everyone is welcome! And remember all purchases benefit our school library.

Melanie Hutchinson
Teacher Librarian

Music News

Naomi Lindh

This Saturday 27 October the Junior Band will be performing at the Brisbane Bands Festival at 2pm - students need to arrive by 1:10pm. Please ensure that the permission slip has been returned to Mr James Kukulies for Junior Band students to attend. We wish the Junior Band and Mr Kukulies well for the performance and thank them for their efforts preparing for it. 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.

All of our instrumental and choral students are preparing for the annual evening concert which is scheduled for Wednesday 14 November at 6:00pm. This is a formal concert and we request that students wear full school uniform. It is an excellent opportunity for students to share their music with families and members of the school community and to listen to each other perform. Please note this date in your calendars. All instrumental and choral students need to attend this concert and perform with their choir/ensemble.

Senior Choir students, please note that as there was a pupil free day on Monday the Senior Choir will rehearsal will be on Friday at first break in the music room. This is the arrangement included in the letter given to students and families at the beginning of the year whenever there is a public holiday or PFD on a Monday of that week.

The Junior and Senior Choir students have been invited to sing at the Chelmer Riverside Church at 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 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.

The Ignite Choir have invited our students to participate in a colouring in competition. Please note the links attached for further information about the competition and the colouring in sheets. The completed sheets can be delivered to the music room by Friday 3 October and they will be used as part of the decorations for their Children's Magical Musical concert at 3pm on Sunday 11 October at Sherwood State School. Please note that our prep students will participate in the colouring in competition during our classroom music lessons. If any students in years 1-6 would like to participate in it further information and the sheets are included in the links.

• 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

Naomi Lindh
Music Teacher and IM Coordinator

Chappy’s Chat

John Erichsen

Chappy’s Chat

With clouds clearing and warm days returning, swimming lessons will be even more popular with our students than usual. Given the lifestyle in this part of the world and our proximity to bodies of water, it is so important that our children know how to be safe in the water. School swimming lessons in primary school will cover many aspects of life aquatic, including stroke development, breathing techniques and most importantly, water safety and life saving techniques. Some students, unsure of their ability in the pool can find these lessons daunting, but I encourage parents and caregivers to support total student participation in swimming lessons. Students are often surprised by just how much they improve, if they are brave enough to try.

Yesterday, I attended a Scripture Union Queensland Chaplaincy Training Day, with other chaplains in the South Brisbane area. Earlier this year, when the Federal Budget was announced, The Federal Government linked the increased focus on Bullying to the permanent funding for Chaplaincy in Australia. As more of this Bullying focus is unpacked, I hope to be able to share some resources with the school community.

On Friday, we celebrate World Teachers Day and honour the amazing work our teaching staff do as educators and mentors. 12 years ago, when I first started at Graceville State School, one thing I quickly noticed was how teachers truly viewed the students in their classes. I heard so many teachers speak about “their” students and realised the personal investment they make constantly throughout the year to maximise the school experience for those students. I hear this term used every day and see the ownership teaching staff have of their children. I also see the care and concern in teachers’ eyes. Our teachers are a very special group of people.

Personally, I would like to say a huge thank you to all our teachers for their professionalism, commitment and investment in the lives of our students.

Have a great week!

John Erichsen
(Chappy)

Uniform Shop

Fiona Fryer

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

HELP!!! WE NEED MORE VOLUNTEERS FOR NEXT YEAR, PLEASE!!!! The uniform store lost valuable volunteers this year and will be losing more than half at the end of this term so we really need more people to help out for next year or we won't be able to be open as often as we are. 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 I would really appreciate it, just send an email to the address below or come to the store and have a chat, hopefully see you soon :)

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.

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

Interschool sport 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

Tuckshop News

Tuckshop Roster for week ending 2nd of November 2018

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS!.

NEW TO TUCKSHOP – DELICIOUS FRUIT BUNS!

Just added to the menu is a delicious ‘specially baked for Tuckshop’ fruit bun. Made by our talented Graceville Mum who also bakes our beautiful bretzels, it’s a great healthy snack option. The soft fruit bun contains raisins, dairy and egg but is nut free. Try one for only 80 cents! You can find it in the snacks category online or available to purchase at the counter.

NEXT WEEK – TAKE A PEEK!!

Next week we will sell a NEW SPECIAL on WEDNESDAYS! PASTA SALAD!!

It’s a refreshing and filling favourite for summer and contains lots of tasty goodness. Our Tuckshop special Pasta Salad contains pasta twirls, cherry tomatoes, cucumber and carrot with a tasty Tuckshop made dressing of olive oil, apple cider vinegar and Dijon mustard - simply delicious! Still at our special price of $5. As with our other salads, the Pasta Salad will be available to add optional extras such as chicken, ham and tuna, pineapple or corn, for an additional cost. Look out on School24 for it this week to order for Wednesdays only.

Starting in November we will be selling Gingerbread People! Specially made for Tuckshop to fit in our amber category, and made by our talented baking Mum, they are delicious and a fun addition for Term 4! Lookout for them on School24 to order and available to purchase at the counter.

Like to help in Tuckshop? Please contact us by email to tuckshop.gss@gmail.com

Active School Travel

Melbourne Cup – Decorate your hat

On Tuesday 6th November we will celebrate Melbourne Cup with a special AST day where we ask you to decorate your school hat and join us for juice and fruit in the quadrangle. There will be prizes for the best dressed hats! So get decorating.

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 Michelene Doray , 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.

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

In week 2 of the final term, we have introduced something new that our parents, children and staff have loved! School Plus now has a huge white board displayed either inside or at the front of our door with any updates, the programs and menus along with photos of the children and what they have been getting up to during their time with us! Although we had a rainy week, the children enjoyed a number of activities including, the sensory snow activity, active games in the hall and craft and inside play. Over the coming weeks we are looking forward to more exciting changes including new equipment/furniture in our OSHC room!

Community Notices