7 February 2019

From the Principal

Zoe Smith

Hello,

It is amazing to think we are now two weeks into the new school year!

I would like to thank the class teachers for hosting Parent Information Sessions this week. There are still a few Parent Information Sessions to go next week which I would highly encourage you to attend.

All of our teachers and students started the year inquiring into what they would like learning to look like, sound like and feel like in their classrooms this year. Teachers and students are now using the information to co-construct a Learning Agreement that will set the tone for learning in 2019. We introduced this process last year and the teachers provided amazing feedback about how the children started to see themselves as learners as the year progressed. Initial feedback from teachers so far this year, is that the children have remembered both how they like to learn and the environment they like to learn in, and so the starting place for co-construction the Learning Agreements this year is far more advanced.

You may have noticed our teachers have been off class for parts of the school day over the past two weeks. All of our class teachers take part in a process called Collaborative Planning each fortnight. Collaborative Planning is a time when all teachers for the year level are off class and engaged in joint discussion and planning for their year level. Collaborative Planning helps us to maintain a level of consistency in learning across a year level. The focus of our Collaborative Planning sessions this year are writing and inquiry in HASS and Science. We also use some of the time to analyse student evidence of learning progress in the areas of reading and spelling. The same relief teacher will replace the class teacher each fortnight while the teacher is out of the room.

Our first Whole School Assembly will be held next Thursday afternoon. The focus of the assembly is helping the children to understand the dispositions a person would have if they were a good Self Manager. I will also be handing out the badges to Year 6 students who have been selected for Year level and Class Representative positions. We invite you to come along and join in the fun as we learn more about how to be a better Self Manager!

I hope you have a great week,

Zoe Smith

Newsletter Articles

Deputy Principal

Maree Hass

Enjoy some photos of our buddies who helped our preppies find their way during the first week of school. Thank you!! Prep students have settled in amazingly well, there’s a lot to learn when you come to big school!

Mathletics for 2019

We will shortly commence the Mathletics program for this year. It is an online Mathematics program that is individually based and one that students can access at home as well as at school for all students in year 1 to year 6. The cost for Mathletics is $12 per student for the year and invoices will be coming home very soon. Your class teacher can inform you more fully about Mathletics and how your class will be using the program this year. Each student will then receive their own personal log on and password to access the program for both at school and at home.

Reading Eggs in Prep

We are using the program ‘Reading Eggs’ with our prep students. This online program is designed to motivate and excite students about reading and will be a useful addition to assist our classes in the reading process, which we view as one of the most important things for our preppies to learn as it unlocks all other areas in learning. Some families may already have a subscription, if you do please let your teacher know about this. School subscriptions are vastly cheaper for parents and students have access both at school and at home. Also with a school subscription, teachers can track student progress and achievement.

Can you help with our prep blocks?

We have some issues with the large wooden block sets in our prep classrooms. They were originally oiled and are now very dirty and the day to day contact is turning them black. If there are any parents or grandparents out there who would be able to take some blocks home and sand the surfaces it would be greatly appreciated. If a prep parent please see your prep teacher if you are another family in the school please drop in and see me. Thank you.

Junior Assemblies

Parents and care givers are all invited to join us for Junior Assemblies which will be held every second Tuesday afternoon from 2.15 in the hall. These assemblies will be for all Prep to Year 2 classes. Year 2 students have the opportunity to develop their skills of public speaking by taking turns in leading these assemblies and classes also take part presenting items for us all. We also like to recognise Birthdays and present awards to students from across all classes.

Below is the calendar for term 1 assemblies.

Deputy Principal

Lisa McKeaten

NAPLAN testing (Years 3 & 5)– 14, 15 & 16 May 2019

On Tuesday 14, Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 May, students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will take part in the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy, or NAPLAN, as it is commonly known.

Skills that will be tested include reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy.

These tests are done here at school and are considered just another part of the curriculum.

It is important for you and your child to know that NAPLAN is not a pass/fail test. It simply looks at what level students are achieving in literacy and numeracy against National Standards and compared with student peers throughout Australia.

NAPLAN cannot be studied for and students are not expected to do so. The best way you can help your child prepare for NAPLAN is to let them know that it is just a routine part of their school program, and to urge them to do the best they can on the day.

All students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 are expected to participate in NAPLAN testing. Please ensure that if you have a child in Years 3 or 5 that they are in attendance during that week in May. Please avoid booking holidays or appointments during those days. If you cannot avoid those days eg. Specialist appointment, please try to make it in the afternoon. All testing will be completed by 12.45 on those days. Any missed tests will be made-up on Friday 18 May only.

Later in the year we will send you an individual student NAPLAN report that you can use to view and monitor how your child is progressing.

More information is available on the NAP website:

Money Matters

Anne Nixon

Student Resource Schemes (SRS) for 2019 are:

• Prep Requirements ($70)
• Reading Eggs for Prep ($25)
• 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 2, 3 and 4) ($6)
• Year 4/5 maths levy ($17.50)
• ESmart Digital Licence Yr 5 ($10)

This week, if you have students in grades 1 to 6, you will have received either one or multiple maths resource forms. It would be greatly appreciated if these forms are returned to the office by Friday 8th February 2019. This will enable all parents to be invoiced by Friday 15th February 2019.

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.

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 2018 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

This week some of our instrumental students have returned to lessons and all students will have started lessons for the year by week 3. Next week our Junior and Senior Choir rehearsals will begin. Rehearsal details are included below as well as a link to the note which has been sent out for students interested in joining one of our choirs. All keen singers are welcome to join. Students can come to a rehearsal or two then decide on whether they would like to continue as a member of the choir.

As you may have noted from the Newsletter last week, all of our instrumental teachers who worked with our students in 2018 will continue to work at our school this year, but there may be a change of teacher for some of our woodwind/brass students, as Mr Grodecki and Mr Kukulies both teach brass and woodwind. Timetables should have been given to either students/teachers/parents. If you have not received a timetable and are aware of your child's teacher, you can email them and request a copy of the timetable to be sent to you. (please note email details below)

Mr Kukulies will teach all year 4 beginner band students and some year 5 and 6 students. He will be at our school on Tuesdays this year, so Junior Band rehearsals will be held on Tuesday mornings at 7:30am and they will start during term 2 (date TBA). Please note the days/times and starting dates of instrumental rehearsals below, with senior rehearsals resuming next week. All students in the IM program are expected to attend their ensemble rehearsals regularly as a member of the instrumental program and the email contacts of conductors are written below. Please contact your child's conductor if they are unable to attend a rehearsal or are experiencing any difficulties with their instrument/practice, as support at an early stage can often make a significant difference.

Thank you for supporting your child's interest and involvement in music!

2019 Rehearsals

Venue - Music Room

Music teacher contact details...

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

HPE-Cross Country

Wayne Daunt

The school cross country will be held on Wednesday March 6, in the Graceville Memorial Park. The event is open to all children from our Prep classes through to the Year 6 students.

The children from Year 4 upwards (born 2009 and earlier) can choose to compete in a cross country event run over 2km (10yrs) or 3km (11 & 12yrs) or a fun run event (1km). Children who wish to possibly compete at the district cross country (available for children aged 10-12yrs) must run in a cross country event, not a fun run event. The approximate times for each event are listed below. Please note these times are approximates only and are to be used as a guide only, the event could be several minutes earlier or later depending on the organisation on the day.

TIMETABLE

SESSION 2

Training – parents please note that for those children that are interested there will be training sessions (30-40 min) held before school every Tuesday and Thursday morning from 7.45am in Graceville Memorial Park. These sessions are available to ALL children. Students must wait outside of the Administration Building and will be escorted to the park by Mr Daunt. Training sessions will commence on Tuesday February 12.

Chappy’s Chat

John Erichsen

While the overcast skies and some showers have been very welcome this week, our thoughts are with those further north who are displaced and will have lost so much in the floods. Our community has experienced how devastating floods can be and we understand all too well the need for support from many to help recover and rebuild. For those with family in the Townsville region, it is a very concerning time. Of course, there are other areas up north that have received welcome rain and are feeling very positive about the future. As the song says… This is Australia.

It was wonderful to see our Prep students enjoying break time with their buddies last week, to help them settle in to the school processes. This connection with buddies is a very strong one and provides younger students a naturally formed friendship with an older student they know who can assist them at times when they need a little help. This week, our Preps fly solo which should be fun for everyone.

Next Wednesday, our district swimmers will head to Yeronga Pool to compete in the District Trials. The qualifying times for this meet are very tough so it is impressive to make it. I wish all our swimmers the best of luck and look forward to seeing them do their best next week.

Have a wonderful week!

John Erichsen
(Chappy)

Graceville Lightning Swim Club

Come Join our Fun Friday Night Swim Club @ Graceville Lightning

Your children might have come home and spoken to you about our fabulous Friday night swim club after seeing our Club Captains present at assembly this week. Every Friday night during Term 4 and Term 1 Graceville Lightning Swim Club is open. Our club is looking for new members. Our club is dedicated to helping people improve their swimming through regular swim meets and fiving them the opportunity to participate in competitive racing through larger swim meets.

Your children will compete with others who swim similar times in a race length that suits them. The aim is to improve swim times each week and improve the length of the swim your children qualify for. A typical Friday night starts with a free swim and the canteen opens, after that, we have the assisted race for the children who are still not sure about racing. Then we get onto the racing! We offer 15m, 25m, 50m, 100m and 200m in all strokes and we do offer an individual medley.

It’s a great Friday night for parents as you get the opportunity to socialise and have a night off from cooking. We offer a very well-priced BBQ and canteen. This is a great opportunity for your children to participate in swim races and improve their overall swimming performance.

If you are not sure about joining Graceville Lightning, then come along this Friday night and see what it is all about. If you would like more information, would like to join or would like to come along and check us out then, contact Heidi Marshall or Annie Chand on either president@gracevillelightning.org.au or secretary@gracevillelightning.org.au

Uniform Shop

Fiona Fryer

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

Uniform Store Roster

Year 6 Commemorative Shirts

All year 6 students are being given the opportunity to have a commemorative shirt. Gold polo shirts are screen printed with class lists on the back and house shirts can be printed for the house captains. You can purchase new gold shirts for $30 and house shirts for $35 from the uniform store or you can use your existing shirts but they have to be in good condition, no holes or pulls.

Printing costs are: $10 per gold polo and $15 per house captain shirt.

Special order forms and information sheets were sent home this week, if you haven't received one the order form and information sheet are attached below. The shirts will be ready by the end of March and will be handed out in the classroom, I will confirm the exact date later.

We have school colour hair accessories in store now.

As of 1st July 2018, 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, 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

New volunteers would be greatly appreciated, it only requires you to be there from 8.15-9.00am on Mondays, Tuesdays or Fridays, if you think you could help out please send an email to the above address or just come to the store and have a chat.

Email address for school uniform store is:

uniformstore@gracevilss.eq.edu.au

New volunteers would be greatly appreciated, it only requires you to be there from 8.15-9.00am on Mondays, Tuesdays or Fridays, if you think you could help out please send an email to the above address or just come to the store and have a chat.

Tuckshop News

Tuckshop Roster for Week Three 2019!

THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING! If you cannot attend, please let us know as soon as possible

2019 TUCKSHOP ROSTER – Thank you to those people who have newly signed up to volunteer for Tuckshop this year. We are looking forward to meeting you! And thank you also to our existing volunteers; we look forward to welcoming you back!

We are still in need of a few more volunteers. Please send us an email at tuckshop.gss@gmail.com or drop a volunteer form into the P&C box in the school office to let us know when you can help. We need your help to stay open five days a week.

Volunteering is only three hours once a month or term from 8.30am until 11.30am. You’ll meet new people, have a laugh while preparing the student lunches and help keep tuckshop prices reasonable. Many working parents volunteer in the tuckshop, they use flexi-time, rostered days off or work part-time and find just a few hours per term to come in and help. It’s satisfying work with a happy outcome; the students love to collect their tuckshop class buckets and buy a treat at the tuckshop window. Give it a try!

Anne and Emma
Email: tuckshop.gss@gmail.com

Term 1 Swimming Program

Swim lessons will start at Graceville State School first week of Term 1 from Friday February 1st. Group lessons will begin the 2nd week of term from Monday February 4th. All students who have participated in the swim program will begin the term in the SAME ABILITY LEVEL as term 4 unless told otherwise when rejoining the program this term. 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. To help me make this schedule I need an hour time frame to work with. This program is from 3 pm until 5:20 pm on Fridays and the Saturday program is from 8 am until midday. So if you want a Friday time slot you would say for example between 3 pm and 4 pm. It is impossible for me to give everyone a lesson straight after school so if you live nearby , maybe it is best to go home after school and return for the 4 pm until 5:20 pm timeframe. The best response I can receive is that you are available ANYTIME.

Spaces are limited, so to avoid disappointment, respond to this message asap with your preferred days and available times. I am unable to respond to email queries over the next week but am able to answer any question by phone (ph: 0432407442). Talk to me... Do not text. Call me to discuss all.

An attachment with the first draft of the schedule has been included in this message (you may need to scroll to the bottom). Information regarding the 3 levels of group/squad classes is contained in the attachment.

The scheduled program may change due to over demand or lack of demand for any particular class.

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 you join the program. Please forward this email to any friends or family who would be interested in joining the program. Everyone is welcome.

See you at the pool.

Pete Geraghty
0432407442

Community Notices

GO SPORTS Coaching Term 1 :

Join us for all the FUN!!Learn a new game or improve skills.

NETBALL: Grades 1-4(1-2,3-4) on Wednesday 7.45-8.30am commencing 13th February.
CRICKET : Grades 1-4(1-2,3-4) on Wednesday 7.45-8.30am commencing 13th February.

To Register go to the link below and click on Register now.

”Help support Townsville Appeal”

Hi Everyone,

As you know there have been devastating floods in North Queensland especially around the Townsville area. Many of you will remember the amazing community spirit that we experienced in the local area when we were faced with the same in 2011.

Wendy from Graceville Fine Goods and Deli is organising a collection for the residents of Townsville and has put a shout out to our local community. For those of you that don’t know Wendy, she has a huge heart and is always the first person to jump to action when others are in need. I thought it would be worth sharing her message to see if anyone would be able to contribute over the next couple of days. She has a specific list of items and the drop off point is Graceville Fine Foods and Deli on Bank Road. Please see Wendy’s request:

Ok, so I'm still trying to lock in transport to Townsville but it's looking extremely positive so I'm just going to get this ball rolling and start our........

"Help support Townsville" appeal.

Graceville Fine Foods will be the drop off point as of tomorrow, Tuesday 5/2/19.

We are helping "Food Relief NQ" and all our donations will go directly to them as they are the people on the ground and will distribute to the people that need them the most.

My gorgeous friends Mick & Meggsy in Townsville are my contacts and I will work with them to make this all happen.

We are collecting the following items.

• Children's toys
• Nappies
• Formula
• Cleaning products
• Pet food
• Non-perishable food
• Toiletries
• Non-perishable snacks
• Bottled water

Seeing people in need breaks my heart so I'm going hard to collect as much as we possibly can.

As soon as it's safe to start travelling to Townsville we will load up and move out.

I know I ask a lot of you and you know I truly appreciate everything you've always done but I just can't stand by so please give as much as you can.

Could you also "share" this post as well so everybody knows where to donate.

I hope we can help

Regards
Heidi