14 February 2019

From the Principal

Zoe Smith

Hello,

We are in full swing now and excited about the term ahead!

On Friday 8 March, the Student Council will be holding a fundraiser to support the farmers who are experiencing drought. Children can come dressed in a ‘farm/country’ theme on the day and bring a donation. All donations will go directly to registered charities who are supporting farmers and their families manage in drought conditions. Although the minimum donation is a gold coin, the Student Council are happy to accept larger donations.

I would like to take this opportunity to share some exciting news about a Graceville student. Angus C has been selected to play for the Australian Under 10 boys Futsal Team. Angus will travel to New Zealand in October to represent his country. What an amazing achievement! It is always wonderful to hear about our students’ success in all areas of their life so please send me an email if you have exciting news to share!

On Friday, or school is hosting a professional development day on Critical and Creative Thinking. We have three presenters from Griffith University leading our learning. We have invited representatives from other schools to attend and so parking may be tight around the school. We apologise for any inconvenience it may cause for parking on Friday.

Don’t forget you are all welcome to attend the P&C meeting at 7.30pm on Wednesday 27 February. It is still a few weeks away so you have plenty of time to make arrangements for care if needed!

Have a great week,
Zoe Smith

At the P&C meeting on 27 February, a motion will be put forward for the P&C to support the continuation of Chaplaincy at Graceville State School. The school requires P&C support to make an application for funding to continue Chaplaincy. The school held a number of information sessions about Chaplaincy at the end of last year to help parents understand the role of Chaplaincy at Graceville. In the lead up to the P&C meeting on 27 February, the school will host one final information session to allow any new parents or parents who were unable to attend the sessions last year, to learn more about Chaplaincy. If the motion is passed at the P&C meeting on 27 February, the school will put in an application for funding to continue Chaplaincy at Graceville for the next three years. All parents are welcome to attend P&C meetings, only those who have previously applied for membership may vote on a motion.

The information session about Chaplaincy will held on Thursday 21 February from 8.15 – 8.45am.

Newsletter Articles

Deputy Principal

Maree Hass

Mathletics for 2019

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 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?

No one has responded yet so thought I would give it another week to see if there are any people out there who could help us.

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.

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.

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 we had our first Junior and Senior Choir rehearsals for the year and all of our senior IM students resumed ensemble rehearsals. All interested students are welcome to join our choir. 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). Singing in a choir also provides an opportunity for children to develop self-confidence, friendships and an improved feeling of wellbeing. Through participating in different events, students can develop a deeper understanding of and connectedness to our community. If your child did not attend the choir rehearsal this week but would like to join they are welcome to come next week. Please see our rehearsal times and conductors below.

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.

We hope students enjoyed their choir and/or instrumental rehearsals this week

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

Naomi Lindh
Music Teacher and IM Coordinator

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.

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.

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 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 as well as our usual menu we have special items on offer?

Tuesday – Napolitana Pasta; Homemade Napolitana sauce served over pasta twirls with grated cheese on top.

Wednesday – Pasta salad; pasta twirls, cherry tomatoes, cucumber and carrot with a tasty Tuckshop made dressing of olive oil, apple cider vinegar and Dijon mustard.

**Optional extras such as chicken, ham, avocado, tuna, pineapple or corn available for an additional cost.

Sushi and Rice Paper rolls; These are made offsite and must be ordered by Monday 12pm

Thursday - Healthy hamburgers; Lean beef patties with lettuce, tomato, tomato sauce and a slice of cheese in a bun. (Please note that hot dogs are not available on a Thursday)

Friday – ICE CREAM CONES; Vanilla ice-cream in a crunchy cone. These are available for grades 1 to 6 only and can be ordered through school24 or your child can bring $1 and buy one directly from tuckshop. (Sorry preppies, next year!)

School Plus

Week two of the school term was filled with many different and exciting activities. The children have been enjoying the early weeks of the school term and are continuing their fun at School Plus. One of the week’s highlights was the Sensory Cloud Dough activity that the children made up themselves. They also enjoyed other activities including craft, where they have been loving anything involving painting! Cricket and playground ropes have been the week’s most enjoyed outdoor activities. The preps are still full of energy and are excited about Group Game time where they are joining in on lots of different fun games including Duck Duck Goose. Next week’s program includes making Playdough, Water Pipes and Ripper Tag!

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….

STOP
LOOK
LISTEN
THINK

For more information please visit the link below

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.

Community Notices

Sherwood Arboretum bird walk – Sunday 24 February 2019

You’re invited to discover some of Brisbane’s top birds!

Professor Hugh Possingham, The Chief Scientist with The Nature Conservancy, will introduce you to Sherwood Arboretum’s birdlife at 6.00 am on Sunday 24 February 2019, starting at the Jolimont Street entry.

Over the past 20 years, some 170 species of birds have been recorded in the heritage-listed Arboretum thanks to its well-protected wetlands, a collection of more than 1000 Australian native specimen trees and the ‘wildlife corridor’ of the Brisbane River right at the front door.

Our bird walk finishes with an enjoyable morning tea. The cost of just $5.00 for adults (students are free) for morning tea helps support our voluntary work in the Arboretum.

Please remember to RSVP by Wednesday 20 February or as soon as possible by email to info@sherwoodarboretum.com.au or by calling us on 3278 6525.