9 November 2018

From the Principal

Zoe Smith

Hello,

We are officially half way through the last term of the school year! We have 5 very busy weeks to go!

As we enter the last part of the school year, I would like to remind parents to follow the road and parking rules around the school. The most important thing is the safety of our children. This means sometimes we have to be patient and mindful of our impact on others at peak times. Please be mindful of where you park and how you drive around the school.

Next week we will be offering a number of information sessions on Chaplaincy. The focus of the sessions will be on how Chaplaincy currently operates at Graceville and the proposed new focus on the prevention of bullying as part of the role of the Chaplain. We encourage parents with an interest to learn more about how Chaplaincy operates at Graceville to attend one of the sessions. The sessions are as follows:

• Wednesday 14 Nov - 2.20 -2.50pm
• Wednesday 14 Nov – 5.20 – 5.50pm
• Friday 16 Nov – 8-8.30am

If you would like to attend one of the sessions please RSVP to the school office by 9.30am Wednesday 14 November.

As part of the preparations for class placements, we will ask students to provide the names of five peers they think they would like to learn alongside in 2019. It is important to note, this is a shift from previous years where we have asked for the names of friends they would like to be with. The question we are asking for 2019 is a learning focused question, which aligns with our movement towards children understanding what it is to be a learner. Of course, we also take into consideration the class placement forms families filled out in Term 3. We hope to have classes released on Tuesday 11 December.

I would like to thank Mr Daunt and Ms Bailey for volunteering their time to train and support a team of girls from Graceville State School at a touch football competition last weekend. The girls played well, were great sports people and most importantly enjoyed themselves. I also appreciate the feedback and kind words emailed in by parents in appreciation of Mr Daunt and Ms Bailey. The teachers were touched by the kind words. Thankyou and well done to all!

Our annual music concert is next Wednesday night from 6pm. It is a good night and I am always left feeling humbled by the progress of our musicians. As we are in the hotter months of the year, I suggest parents bring along a fan to keep themselves cool. It can be hot in the hall with so many people. It is also important that children attending (not performing or after their performance) remain with their parents during the night. There is no supervision outside of the hall.

I hope you have a great week,
Zoe Smith

Newsletter Articles

Maree Hass

Deputy Principal

Study Tour to Taiwan 2019

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

We had in formation session on Wednesday this week and now the next step is to decide on a firm ‘intention to participate’ and provide a $200 deposit by the end of this term.

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 question please send me an email mhass10@eq.edu.au.

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.

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

Religious Instruction this Term + End of Year Service

Our RI classes will cease on Friday 23rd November. Our End of Year RI service will be held on Friday 30th November in the hall from 2.00-2.30pm. All students who have permission to attend RI classes will participate in this service. All welcome!

Read about the great work happening in Queensland state schools

Did you know that approximately a quarter of all Queensland state schools are reviewed by the department each year?

The reviews are undertaken by the School Improvement Unit (SIU) and are a great way for schools to receive feedback on what they’re doing well and where they can improve.

The SIU recently published its latest annual report, which presents findings from the 295 school reviews conducted in 2017. The report highlights practices that are contributing to the ongoing improvement of Queensland state schools.

For more information, download the fact sheet or the report at www.schoolreviews.eq.edu.au.

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.

For more information visit the Queensland Family and Child Commission.

Hatchery Crusaders assemble!

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.

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.

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

GRACEVILLE SS BOOK FAIR

A big THANK YOU to our wonderful school community for your fantastic support of our annual LIBRARY BOOK FAIR! This year’s event was great fun and a terrific success!

The students and their families enjoyed the opportunity to buy books for themselves, their families and friends.

We earned a generous amount of commission to help purchase wonderful NEW books and many essential educational resources for the library collection as well as other resources for the classrooms. It was a tremendous effort from everyone!

SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB

Scholastic Book Club is up and running again for the FINAL TIME this year.

This term’s flyer (Issue 8) has been handed out to the classes – to order, just look over the flyer with your child/children, select the books you would like and mark them on the order form on the back of the flyer.

Then ORDER ONLINE WITH THE CORRECT PAYMENT, by the closing date FRIDAY 16TH NOVEMBER.

Preferred method of payment:

CREDIT CARD payments online, or through the LOOP APP [LOOP : Linked Online Ordering and Payment available in the link below or download the LOOP Apple or Android app]. The order forms do not need to be returned to school.

If paying by credit card on the phone or with a cheque made to Scholastic Australia, return the order form to the school library by FRIDAY 16TH NOVEMBER.

NO CASH ORDERS PLEASE – GRACEVILLE STATE SCHOOL IS RUNNING A CASHLESS BOOK CLUB.

Music News

Naomi Lindh

All of our instrumental and choral students are preparing for the annual evening concert which is scheduled for next 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.

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.

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.

There is also a link below for a letter regarding the Community Carols evening at the Chelmer Riverside Church on Saturday 1 December at 5:30pm, with choir students requested to arrive at 5:15pm. 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. 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.

• 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

Uniform Shop

Fiona Fryer

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

HELP!!! WE DESPERATELY 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 are out of stock of large size hats, hopefully new stock will be in in a couple of weeks.

We are out of stock of size 6 and 8 gold polo shirts, new stock will arrive beginning of next week.

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

Swimming lessons have begun; you can purchase lycra and silicone swimming caps, bags and towels in various colours.

Interschool sport Representative shirts are 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 and Uniform shop Convenor - Casual Positions

The P&C are looking for two candidates to fill casual positions urgently before the end of the school year. The casual convenor position will be trained in both businesses. This position is to work with, and fill in on short notice with existing convenors. Expressions of interest and job descriptions are available by emailing the P&C on pandc@gracevilss.eq.edu.au

Tuckshop News

Tuckshop News

Tuckshop Roster for week ending 16th 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. Only 80 cents; 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!!

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. Add optional extras such as chicken, ham, tuna, pineapple or corn for an additional cost. Wednesdays only.

From November we are selling Gingerbread People! Specially made for our amber category by our talented Graceville baking Mum, they are delicious and a fun addition for Term 4! And only 80 cents, look for them in the snacks category and available to purchase at the counter.

We are losing some of our much-loved Year 6 Mums and Dads at the end of the year and need to fill their roster shoes. Some of these volunteers have given their time to Tuckshop for over 10 years! They all started with no experience, just a willingness to help and a fun attitude. They certainly made a huge difference to our Tuckshop and to the school. Very much appreciated and we will miss you!

If you would love to be part of our school community, meet new people along the way and help our school, Tuckshop volunteering is just three hours once a month or per term. Please contact us by email to tuckshop.gss@gmail.com.

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.

Rewards currently available are:

• Twister Power Handball
• Sparkle Glitter Pens
• Glow Light
• Mighty Boom Handball
• Heat Reactor Pencils
• Slushie Maker Cup
• Zoom Flying Disc

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.

In 2019 School Banking at Graceville is looking for a new co-ordinator. If you interested in taking this on please either come visit us on a Monday morning at the hall kitchen or contact the office for more information. Without a new co-ordinator, there will be no school banking in 2019.

Happy Saving!

School Plus

On Monday Week 4, the first few children walked in to our OSHC Room with much excitement and huge smiles on their faces! “This looks spectacular” one of the children yelled with joy. They absolutely loved the room makeover with some new furniture and play equipment. The room has a few different distinct zones including home corner, construction, craft and a quiet zone near Squirtle’s Tank. There are a few more new toys that we will slowly put out in the coming weeks. We have been capturing these fun memories and displaying them on our whiteboard for parents and families to see. Although inside was the place to be this week, the children also enjoyed outdoor activities including an obstacle fitness course and tug of war out on the oval. Watch this space for more exciting updates on our School Plus adventures and changes