2 November 2018

From the Principal

Zoe Smith

Hello,

It is hard to believe next week sees the half way mark of the term! We are about to enter the busiest period of the school year as we wrap up 2018 and start planning for 2019.

As you may know, our Business Services Manager (BSM), Mrs Nixon, is on unexpected extended sick leave. Unfortunately, we have been unable to find a replacement for the duration of her absence. We have been very lucky that schools around us have offered to help by loaning their BSM to us for a day here and there so we can try to keep on top of the essentials of the role. We would greatly appreciate your understanding when communicating with the office staff, given our current situation, as their workloads have increased dramatically and there are many things they cannot follow through with until the visiting BSMs have actioned their parts. I am in constant communication with region in trying to find a more suitable solution.

I would like to thank Mrs Annette Curnow, a grandmother of students from our school and experienced and knowledgeable literacy consultant, for providing some professional learning for our staff on the pupil free day last week. We are very grateful to Annette for ‘gifting’ us her time and wisdom, to help us on our journey to improve writing at Graceville. It really was a lovely connection and we valued the time Annette spent with us.

In the next few weeks, information will be provided to schools about Chaplaincy in schools for 2019 onwards and our P&C will be asked to vote on whether they would like a Chaplain to remain in the role at Graceville. To ensure parents have a thorough understanding of the role of Chaplaincy at Graceville, the P&C have asked if the school can hold an information session. In the weeks after the information session, we may need to hold a special P&C meeting to vote on the continuation of Chaplaincy at Graceville. This is an important juncture point for the school and we would like parents who have an interest in voting at the P&C special meeting, to do so with a full understanding of how Chaplaincy operates at Graceville. I will send a specific message with details of the information session date out very soon. It is important to note, we will not be voting at the information session, only sharing information about how Chaplaincy operates in the school. The date for the proposed special P&C meeting, which will include a vote, cannot be released yet as we have not been provided with the documents or timeframe for voting. It is my understanding the details will be released by the Federal Government very soon. If you have a specific interest in this topic, please ensure you keep an eye on school communication over the next few weeks.

Finally, don’t forget the school will be holding a Remembrance Day service on Friday the 9th at 10.15am. All families and friends are welcome to attend.

Have a great week,

Zoe Smith

Newsletter Articles

Maree Hass
Deputy Principal

Friday October 26 was Day for Daniel

We had many red ribbons tied on our Oxley Road fence line to show support and recognize this day, thank you for sending these along to school.

Hong Kong Professional Visit to Graceville this week

We have 12 visitors this week from Hong Kong across various classes in our school, observing curriculum, teaching and learning in an Australian school. Yesterday the Dean and Assistant Dean from the Faculty of Education at Hong Kong University also visited to see our classes in action.

Study Tour to Taiwan 2019

The study tour is open to students who will be in year 5 and 6 in 2019.

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.

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.

All families and community members are invited to attend this school assembly. Poppies are on sale before school at the front and back gates, metal badges are $5 and poppies are $1.

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

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

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:

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

CONTACT CLUB

The Contact Club meets this Wednesday 7th of November in the Library straight after drop-off or reading groups. Please come along, there are plenty of books to cover!

All are welcome, no experience necessary, the contact is super easy to use, and tea and coffee supplied! Like to join us to cover and chat, just come along to the library or email contactclub@gmail.com. See you there!

Music News

Naomi Lindh

Congratulations to Mrs Kukulies and the Junior Band for their performance at the Brisbane Bands Festival on Saturday. The Junior Band will receive feedback on their performance via a digital adjudication and on the day, they were awarded a Gold. This has been a fabulous opportunity for the Junior Band and an excellent result for their hard work. We would also like to acknowledge and thank families for their support with rehearsals and practice throughout the year as well as taking their children to the performance.

Rehearsal changes in week 6 due to the evening concert:

Monday 12 November - Senior Choir as usual at 7:45am
Tuesday 13 November - Junior Choir as usual at 7:45am

Wednesday 14 November - all instrumental ensembles will set up and rehearse during the school day to prepare for the evening concert as well as the Junior Choir. There will be no Junior Band rehearsal before school, no Junior/Beginner Strings during first break and No Senior Band after school - however all of these groups will rehearse with their conductor in the hall during the school day so they will NEED TO BRING THEIR INSTRUMENT AND MUSIC AS USUAL. Senior Strings will also rehearse during the school day so please ensure that ALL INSTRUMENTAL STUDENTS BRING THEIR INSTRUMENT AND MUSIC TO SCHOOL ON WEDNESDAY 14 NOVEMBER FOR IN SCHOOL REHEARSALS ONLY.

Thursday 15 November at 7:45am - Senior Strings will rehearse as usual to prepare their pieces for the Grandparents' Concert.

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. Mr Kukulies will be taking long service leave during weeks 6 and 7 of this term so Mr Stiller will rehearse with the Junior Band on 14 November during the school day and conduct them for the evening concert.

Please find links below for the Grandparents' Concert information letter for families and invitation for guests of our Junior Choir, Senior Choir and Senior String students. Our choirs and Senior Strings are looking forward to this concert and shared morning tea.

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.

• 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 - notes attached in links
• 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

Last Friday we celebrated World Teachers Day and it was wonderful to get around the classrooms and see just how appreciated the Graceville State School students and families made the teachers feel. As a community, we place a high value on the education of our students and we value the dedication and efforts from our school staff. A strong partnership between school and home is a great foundation for student learning and future successes.

The interesting journey that is ‘lifelong learning’ is an integral part of the culture of Graceville State School. This is very evident when speaking with students. Often students will refer to The Learning Assets when discussing tasks or activities. How well they can articulate the task, the next step and the end goal is most impressive. I look forward to watching our students continue to grow as they travel along this exciting path.

On the subject of culture, this week the findings of independent reviews into Australian Cricket were released and they were quite sobering. Without unpacking this Pandora’s Box, one important reality rings true from events leading to these reviews. Without constant reflection and honest assessment, the slope can be a very slippery one. One area Cricket Australia has to redefine is what is success? It can’t be just about winning. At school and at home, I trust we do a better job of ensuring we have healthy cultures. What are our measures of success? Do we value the journey as much as we value the outcome? Do we lift others up? Do we care for the individuals? I certainly hope so.

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 News

Tuckshop Roster for week ending 9th 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.

THIS WEEK – TAKE A PEEK!!

This week we began selling 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

Well done to all the schools active travellers! At the beginning of the year we had 47% of the school travelling actively. Now we have reached an amazing 62%! Our target is 65% so we are very close. We would like to encourage all our students and their families to actively travel on Fridays…..it’s easy!!!

Walk – enjoy the beautiful spring mornings and walk to school. Maybe you can arrange to meet up with friends and walk together.

Park and stride – if it’s too far to walk, park your car a few streets away (see the park and stride map) and walk a short distance to school.

Roll – get on your scooters or bikes and roll into school

Carpool – reduce the number of cars on the road and fill up those empty seats in your car. Join other students and families and carpool to school!

Public Transport – catching the train or bus is a great way to actively travel and reduce congestion around our school.

Remember….if you are dropped off in the schools drop off zones this DOES NOT count as active travel.

So lets go Graceville……can we get 65% ?????

Melbourne Cup – Decorate your school 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, muffins and fruit in the quadrangle. There will be prizes for the best dressed hats! So get decorating

Parent Survey

Soon you will receive a survey from the Brisbane City Council in relation to the Active School Travel Program. There will be one survey per family. We encourage you to complete and return the survey by the due date. Please write your name and contact number on the form, as all surveys received will go into the draw to win a voucher for Three Girls Skipping that has been generously donated by Cr Johnston. You’ve got to be in it, to win it !!!!

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.

School Plus

Week 3 of the last term started off with a Student Free Day. School Plus was open and ready to celebrate with the day’s theme being “Birthday Celebrations” (where we celebrated all of the children’s birthdays)! The day was filled with much excitement, because who doesn’t like birthdays and cake! The children loved the huge Parcel we had, as well as baking the birthday cake for afternoon tea time! We did lots of other party themed activities including funny face balloons, musical chairs and cupcake birthday craft.

The rest of the week the children enjoyed activities including helping with cooking, making kites and Halloween masks in craft, rope mazes in the playground and so much more! One of the week’s highlights was definitely the giant game of soft dodgeball set out in the middle of the oval!

Next week our OSHC room may have a bit of a makeover, as our new equipment/OSHC room has arrived! The children and staff are excited to see the new changes and what it’s going to look like!