22 February 2019

From the Principal

Zoe Smith

Hello,

Next week I will be attending the Director General’s Principals Conference. Every two years, all Principals in QLD assemble to hear important messages that inform the direction of education in our State. I am curious to hear the key messages and how they may impact upon our work at Graceville. Mrs McKeaten and Ms Hass will be available in my absence.

Don’t forget the first P&C meeting of the year is next Wednesday night. I will return from the conference to participate in the P&C meeting. Along with many other important conversations, a motion will be put forward to seek P&C support for Chaplaincy to continue at Graceville State School. The meeting starts at 7.30pm.

Last Friday, a group of our teachers attended a Professional Development day, hosted by Griffith University, on Critical and Creative Thinking. Our own thinking was opened up significantly especially in the area of creative thinking. The work we are doing in encouraging curiosity and inquiry in learning was affirmed and we could see how embedded aspects of critical and creative thinking are in our teaching and learning now. We did take away some great next steps for how we can improve creative thinking in particular in our school. The teachers were full of enthusiasm for how they could try and implement the new ideas in their lessons!

Next Thursday is a Whole School Assembly. The focus of the assembly is aligned to our school improvement focus area of writing. Over the course of the next few years, our students will come to understand ‘we all have something to say’ and writing is one great way to share our thinking. We will help our students to connect more purposefully to what they write to ensure more relevance to their lives and hopefully more enjoyment when writing. All parents are welcome to attend Whole School Assemblies. It would be lovely to see you at 2.10pm next Thursday.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many parents who have already paid the voluntary contribution. We greatly value the support you have shown to teaching and learning at Graceville State School. As you know 75% of the money goes directly towards the purchase of ICT devices in the school and 25% goes towards our focus on writing. Ms Hass is very excited as she can now start to order iPads and laptops to support learning in our classrooms. Ms Cousins and Mrs Hutchinson are equally excited as they can start purchasing some amazing texts, full of rich language that can be used as models of great writing for our students. Of course, we can only purchase what we can afford and so I encourage families to consider paying the voluntary contribution this year. We accept voluntary contributions at any time of the school year.

On Friday 8 March, the Student Council will host a fundraiser to support farmers. Students can come to school in free dress or dressed in the theme of ‘the country’. The minimum donation is a gold coin. At the Student Council meeting this week, the students hoped our families could dig deep to support the famers in need and consider donating more than a gold coin if they could afford it. All donations will be gratefully accepted.

Finally, I would like to apologise for a mix up in dates for the Cross Country. The Cross Country will be held on Wednesday 6 March.

I hope you have a great week,
Zoe Smith

Newsletter Articles

Deputy Principal

Maree Hass

Study Tour to Taiwan 2019

To the parents of our 22 students going to Taiwan in September I have sent a group email this week, please check and let me know if you didn’t receive this so I can ensure you are part of that group and receiving information in this way.

Our first meeting this year will be on Wednesday March 20 in the Waratah room at 7pm. I will have a package of forms for completion which are very important so please let me know if you are not able to attend this meeting.

Super Self-Managers

What wonderful Self-Managers we have in the lower school! Full school assembly kicked off our school introduction to one of our learning assets – Self-Manager last week and this week at Junior assembly we had some of our students in Prep and year 2 share how they are super Self-Managers at home and at school. It is such an important skill and we talk about being responsible, resilient and reflective when using this asset.

I did have to give a couple of reminders to our students about remembering to walk on concrete and to remain sitting during eating times, all of these falling under our self-manager asset.

Here are our super Self-Managers from Prep F and 2G!

Augie wrote: “When you do jobs around the house you don’t always need a reward. You feel good because you have helped out. I put my uniform on in the mornings, I tie my shoes, pack by bag, I brush my teeth and my hair. I put dirty clothes in the clothes basket and sometimes do my homework without being told. I also feed our dog Ollie Lolly and my fish.”

Adelaide wrote: “At home I have been a good self-manager by getting myself ready for school. At school I have been a good self-manager by listening to the teacher and doing my work quietly. At school and at home I learn from by mistakes.”

Prep Vision Screening

Information went home on Tuesday regarding free vision screening by Queensland Health.

Good vision is important for a child’s educational, physical and social development. Vision screening is therefore vital in early childhood, particularly for conditions such as ‘lazy eye’, which if not detected early can lead to blindness.

A Registered Nurse will be visiting the school in week 9 of term 1 to commence vision screening for all Prep Year children. If you wish to have your child participate in this vision screening program, please complete and sign the consent form sent home with your child and return this to your child’s class teacher as soon as possible. You will be advised in writing of the outcome of your child’s screening. These forms must be returned to school by February 27.

Prep Blocks!

Thank you so much to the families who have come forward to offer to help with sanding and maintenance of the wooden block sets in our prep classrooms. Your help is greatly appreciated!

Waiting List for Prep for 2020 – opens first day of next term Tuesday April 23.

The waiting list for 2020 will open on Tuesday, 23rd April at 8:00am. Please let any interested people know that forms and information can be obtained from our school office from that date which is the first day of next term. Families from within our catchment area we also invite you to obtain enrolment forms to begin the process when convenient after the start of term 2. For in catchment families a birth certificate and proof of residency in our catchment is required along with the completed enrolment form.

Graceville State School recognises as its prime obligation the provision of access to an appropriate educational service for students resident within this community as defined by its local catchment area.

Please visit the following link which details our school enrolment management plan and also provides a link to the catchment area for Graceville State School:

This site also outlines the process for placing your child’s name on our waiting list if you reside outside of our catchment area.

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.

Mathletics for 2019

Subscription for the year needs to be paid by Friday March 1.

We have commenced 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 you should have received the invoice for this activity. Your class teacher can inform you more fully about Mathletics and how your class will be using the program this year. Each student should have received their own personal log on and password to access the program for both at school and at home.

Spending on Technology

Thank you to those families who have paid their voluntary contribution for 2019. 75% of contributions this year go towards upgrading our student technology devices in the school including iPads and laptops which are shared across classes. We are also busy this year preparing to incorporate Digital Technologies into our curriculum program in 2020.

To date we have $6150 which will be used to purchase much needed new iPads.

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.

Staying safe during extreme weather events and natural disasters

In Queensland, the weather during summer can be unpredictable. As always, but particularly during these times, the safety of our school community is paramount.

To keep safe, we remind parents to:

• keep students at home if conditions pose a threat to their ability to travel safely to school
• advise the school of any absence due to extreme weather or natural disaster – this will not be recorded as an absence on student report cards
• if necessary, liaise directly with your child’s bus company for changes to bus routes and/or timetables
• stay informed by checking the School Closures website (closures.det.qld.gov.au/) or following the Department’s Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/QueenslandDepartmentofEducation) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/QLDEducation) accounts.

If our school is closed, any children already at school will be looked after until they can be safely picked up.

Every day counts at school

Our favourite school boy Jimmy battles many challenges in turning up to school every day, but with a supportive team behind him, he realises he can overcome any difficult encounters he faces. In The new adventures of Jimmy and Sam the Dog animation and comic book series, developed by the Department of Education, Jimmy tackles some nagging doubts: will he back himself and enter the robot competition? Will he face up to the school bullies?

Check out this instalment of Jimmy and Sam the Dog and find out. Once again, NRL legend Sam Thaiday plays the cheeky dog Sam, and Johnathan Thurston makes a cameo appearance rockin’ the decks at the school disco.

Head to the Every day counts website to watch the animation and download the comic.

Follow Education on Instragram

The Department of Education is now on Instagram.

Instagram is a social networking app made for sharing photos and videos from a smartphone.

Follow @qldeducation to see the great things happening in Queensland state schools.

Get Started vouchers help students participate in sport

Get Started vouchers assist eligible Queensland school students with membership fees, to join a sport or recreation club. Those eligible can apply for a voucher valued up to $150. Round 13 applications open Wednesday 6 February 2019.

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.

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.

Music News

Naomi Lindh

Why should your child be involved in the choral or instrumental program? Here is a link which gives some insightful information on the impact of singing and/or learning an instrument on brain development and IQ. Further information is available online by Dr Anita Collins in the second link.

Thank you to the many enthusiastic students we have had attending our choir rehearsals over the last couple of weeks. The Junior Choir will be singing at a special Harmony Day assembly later this term. Currently 28 March is tentatively scheduled for this assembly. The Senior Choir will be singing at a Junior Assembly next term, with the date TBA. If your child is interested in joining the choir and has not attended a rehearsal, they can come to the next rehearsal (see below for the schedule). We offer students who enjoy singing the opportunity to attend rehearsals and sing with their peers, learn a variety of different songs and perform at school events throughout the year (usually in school time with a couple of exceptions including the fete and end of year evening concert). Please find our choir information note attached and ensure that the slip has been returned to your child's conductor.

If you do not have a copy of your child's timetable for their instrumental music lesson and would like one, please email their teacher and request a copy (email contacts are below).

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.

2019 Rehearsals Venue - Music Room

Monday 7:45am - 8:30am Senior Choir (beginning in week 3 on 11 February) (year 4,5 and 6 students) Ms West

Tuesday 7:30 - 8:30am - Junior Band (starting during term 2, date TBA) Mr Kukulies

Wednesday 7:45am - 8:30am - Junior Choir (beginning in week 3 on 13 February) (year 2 and 3 students) Mrs Lindh
10:45am - 11:25am - Beginner/Junior Strings (starting during term 2, date TBA) Mrs Prout
2:50pm - 4:00pm - Senior Band (beginning in week 3 on 13 February) Mr Stiller

Thursday 7:45am - 8:30am Senior Strings (beginning in week 3 on 14 February)

Friday - no rehearsals

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

Thank you for supporting your child's involvement in our music program!

Naomi Lindh
Music Teacher and IM Coordinator

Chappy’s Chat

John Erichsen

On last week’s full school assembly, students presented a fantastic item to highlight some important aspects of our Self Manager learning asset. The bar for these presentations has been set high and I anticipate more great presentations on future assemblies. Resilient, responsible and reflection may never look the same again. Well done to everyone involved!

Congratulations to all students who represented Graceville State School at last week’s District Swimming Trials. All competitors performed strongly against some quality swimmers and should feel very proud of their efforts. Several of our students were successful in making it through to the Regional swim meet and we wish them all the best.

As I visit classrooms, I am excited about the interesting learning taking place. Our students are certainly engaged in their learning and keen to participate in opportunities to contribute. It is also wonderful to see many of the school’s Learning Assets on display in how students respond to challenges in their lessons.

This year’s Cross Country event is not far away so parents wishing to attend should highlight Wednesday March 6 in their diaries. The students always provide a great spectacle with so many giving their all and doing their very best. I am sure any parents able to attend will be the richer for it. I hope to see you there.

Have a great week!

John Erichsen
(Chappy)

Uniform Shop

Fiona Fryer

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

Uniform Store Roster

Year 6 Commemorative Shirts

Order forms have to be in by this Friday 22nd February!!!

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 at the beginning of term, 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.

Tuckshop News

Thank you so much to all of our volunteers who give a few hours a month or term, without you we can’t keep it running.

Tuckshop has been slowly ramping up with more and more orders coming through. For those of you who are new to the school, all orders are to be done before 8:30am on the day of ordering, through School24 online. Our school id is 25314963.

Did you know that we have wraps, sandwiches and subs? Tuna, corn and mayo is a favourite and the garden salads with hot chicken is ridiculously delicious. The falafels on wraps, subs or salads are very popular and you can choose to have them with humus, tzatziki or sweet chilli sauce.

Thank you!
Anne and Emma

Active School Travel

Footloose Friday

As part of the Active School Travel program, students who walk, cycle, scooter, car pool or catch public transport to school on FRIDAY can earn great rewards.

Once a week on FRIDAY students who actively travel get their passports stamped. When students reach target trips in their passport, they are eligible for an Active School Travel reward.

There are lots of great rewards for your children so join us and actively travel on FRIDAY to earn stamps and great rewards.

Starting from FRIDAY 15TH FEB you will be able to collect stamps in your passports as you actively travel to school. Passports will be distributed to prep and new students ASAP.

Active travel is:

• Walking
• Riding
• Rolling or scooting
• Catching public transport
• Walk and stride – park the car a few streets away from school and walk the rest of the way

Active travel is NOT:

• Being dropped off at the schools drop off zones

Stamping stations will be located:

• At the gate near the tennis courts
• In the quadrangle outside the hall
• At the bottom gate near Out of School Care

We were lucky enough to have a visit from the super cool AST Crew on both the junior and senior assemblies last week to launch the Active School Travel Program at Graceville. We met Rider, Walker and Scoot as they reminded us of many ways to travel safely to school and delivered that all important message….

Throughout the year we will have lots of fun events where you can get involved and earn bonus stamps and great prizes. Our first event of the year will be Friday 22nd March for National Ride to School Day. Don’t worry if you can’t ride….just be active! More info to follow in the newsletter.

We need you!!!!!

If you have a few spare hours a month to help us run this fantastic program we are looking for volunteers to join our Active Travel Committee.

Please contact Jo Richards at sajrichards@iinet.net.au for more information or come along to our next meeting at 3pm on Thursday 21st Feb in the Waratah Room.

School Plus

The children have continued to enjoy their time at School Plus, with week three of the school term providing lots of opportunities to create and have fun with friends. With Valentine’s Day happening during the week everyone had the chance to make Valentines Cards. The children also enjoyed other craft activities throughout the week, with box forts and finger paintings being immensely popular. Other highlights throughout the week included Tug of War, Hula Hoop Showdown and Ripper Tag! There’s plenty for everyone to look forward to next week including another sensory activity in Spaghetti Worms, along with Dog ‘n’ Bone Hockey, Rope Mazes and Leaf Paintings!

Swimming Term 1

It is not too late to join the swim program. 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’s 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.

I 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

CATHOLIC PARISH OF CORINDA GRACEVILLE SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM

Expressions of interest are open for those parents who are considering enrolling their children in the local Catholic Sacramental Program (Confirmation, First Eucharist and Penance).

An information night will be held on Wednesday, March 27th, for parents who would like to find out more about our Sacramental program and the process for enrolling their children in the same.

The 2019-21 program - run by the Catholic Parish of Corinda Graceville – is for all children who are baptised and have turned 8 years of age by July 1, 2019 (usually Grade 3 children and above), regardless of which school they attend.

The mandatory parent information night will be held from 7.00pm at Christ the King Church, Churchill Street, Graceville on Wednesday, March 27th. If you have yet to do so, to express your interest in attending the information night simply email the Sacramental Program Coordinator at the following address :- sc.corindagraceville@bne.catholic.net.au.

Your correspondence will be acknowledged with a confirmation and a copy of the agenda for the evening. Those that have already expressed interest will be automatically sent the agenda.

Enrolments for the Sacramental program will officially open following the March information session. Enrolments for the 2019/21 program will close 27 April, no exceptions.