14 March 2019

From the Principal

Zoe Smith

Hello,

It is hard to believe there are only three weeks until the Easter Holidays!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our families for the wonderful support shown towards the Student Council Farmer Fundraiser. A total of $2000 was raised! The students are very proud and the funds will make a difference to the lives of children and their families in the outback!

This Friday is National Day against Bullying. We encourage all of our school community to join together and wear something orange on Friday. If you own orange clothing you could wear that, if like me, orange is not a usual part of your wardrobe, you could make an orange ribbon to wear. Please help us raise awareness of the need to eradicate bullying in our society.

I would like to congratulate Jules M, Addie M and Hannah M for making the Eastern Taipans District School Netball Team. The girls will compete in the Metropolitan West Netball trials in April. I wish them all the best of luck. I would also like to congratulate the Graceville Lightning Swimming Club for their great achievement at the Oxley Road Cup! Graceville Lightning was successful in winning the coveted title with each child stepping up and swimming even if it wasn’t their favourite stroke or sometimes even swimming against children older than them. Well done to all of our swimmers!

Don’t forget to let me know about the wonderful achievements of your children! Graceville children experience success in many aspects of their lives and I am happy to share their wide ranging achievements. I do rely on the children or parents letting me know though, so please feel free to email me with any great news you have to share.

Next week, Kath Murdoch, world-renowned Inquiry expert will be working with teachers in our school. At the recent state principal’s conference, we were encouraged to create cultures of inquiry in our schools for all learners – students and adults alike. We have been working with Kath for a few years now and are gradually building a repertoire of leading, teaching and learning practices that support the development of a culture of inquiry in our school. Although we still have a long way to go in our learning, we have been identified as a school which can model the way for others. In week 9, we will be hosting sixty educators from around SE QLD, including regional and central office staff, to share in an educators’ Inquiry Open Day. Our teachers are offering to have guests in their classrooms and/or to come off class and talk about their experiences in moving towards creating a culture of Inquiry in our school. Our ninety Student Learning Ambassadors will play an active role on the day, ensuring our guests see the important role of student voice in learning and modelling the Learning Assets of collaboration and communication! I am so proud of our teachers and students!

Don’t forget the P&C AGM, followed by a general meeting, will be held on Wednesday 27 March. All parents are welcome to attend. At the general meeting, I will briefly share information about our Quadrennial School Review and some of the opportunities for parents to share their voice as part of the process.

Finally, if you are a Year 2 or 4 parent please be aware the Enhancement Class information session will be held in the school hall on Thursday 21 March at 8am. You are welcome to come along and hear more about how the Enhancement classes operate and the process for selection.

Have a great week,
Zoe Smith

Newsletter Articles

Deputy Principal

Maree Hass

Study Tour to Taiwan 2019 – meeting reminder

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. You should also now have received your final invoice, payment is required by Wednesday April 3 so that airfares can be purchased. Also please remember to send through a copy of the photo page of your child’s passport to me as well.

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.

Below is the calendar for term 1 assemblies.

Deputy Principal

Lisa McKeaten

National Young Leaders Day – 1 March

On Friday 1 March myself, Mrs Martin and our 17 Year 6 Leaders attended the Young Leaders Day. We attended a fabulous, motivational day at the convention centre which focussed on “Where students are Inspired to Lead”. It gathers together prominent Leaders from all walks of life to share their experience and wisdom.

We heard from Cate Campbell (Olympic swimmer), Matt Cosgrove (children’s author), Tim Diamond (CEO of Cotton On foundation) and John Coutis (motivational speaker from a disability perspective). All the speakers were very inspirational and the whole day was exciting, noisy and alot of fun for all of us.

Students will be sharing their experiences on assembly next week.

Harmony Day Assembly – Thursday 28 March 2pm

“Everyone belongs at Graceville”

As part of our celebration of Harmony Day (15 March), we have a special assembly planned. It will involve students from our junior choir performing, students from 4/5B, Year 5 & 6 students and other individuals from classes in the school.

Students may like to wear “national dress’ or bring an artefact to show, if they have a different cultural background.

We are also highlighting the National Day of Action against Bullying & Violence. This focus on ‘Bullying No way’ will look at some strategies students can use.

All parents are welcome to attend.

Stand together with us on the NDA

Our school will stand united with every state school in Queensland on the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA) on Friday 15 March.

The NDA is about more than one day. It offers our school the chance to showcase our bullying prevention and student wellbeing programs that are in place every day.

It is also an opportunity for the whole community to stand together to send a strong message that bullying and violence are never okay.

Visit the Bullying. No Way! website for helpful information and parent resources.

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)

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.

Sport News

Wayne Daunt

Congratulations to the students listed below for finishing in the top 5 positions at last week’s cross country event. You are now eligible to attend the Eastern Taipans District cross country event to be held on Thursday April 4. Information regarding that event will be distributed soon.

Spellathon

It’s SPELLATHON time! Spellathon is a fundraising event designed to be both a fun and educational activity for our children. SPELLATHON 2019 word lists and sponsorship forms have been given to children to take home. A copy of documents for each year level are attached to this newsletter.

Spellathon is a literacy based way for our children to help fundraise for our school. There will be lots of fun prizes awarded. Prizes will be based on sponsorship collected and words spelled correctly. Also, all children who spell all their words correctly will be entered into a prize draw for each year level. As well as individual prizes, there will be whole class prizes for the class that raises the most money in each year level.

This fundraising event is second only to the fete in terms of revenue raised for the school. In 2018 we raised over $18 000 - an amazing effort! Last year funds raised by the Spellathon contributed to resources to support the teaching and learning of writing. This will continue this year. Projects like these are of great benefit to all students in the school. Please encourage your friends, relatives and neighbours to sponsor your child and help us make Spellathon 2019 a great success.

Important Spellathon Dates:

Tuesday 19 March SPELLATHON Test Day
Tuesday 2 April Return of sponsorship forms and money

Our sponsors for 2019 are Peter May and Brad Robson from Place Real Estate and Graceville Village Discount Drug Store.

If you need help buying or selling your home, Peter & Brad from Place are the ones to help you. Please contact Peter on 0409543546 or Brad on 0414773437.

For all your pharmacy needs go to Graceville Village Discount Drug Store (incorporating Graceville News) where you get more than just low prices. They are located next to the Post Office in Graceville.

We thank our sponsors for their support of our school and ask that you support them with your business.

If you have any queries please get in touch by emailing: gracevillespellathon@gmail.com

The Spellathon Committee

Proudly sponsored by:

Library News

Melanie Hutchinson

SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB

Scholastic Book Club is up and running again this term, thanks to our fantastic volunteers. This terms issue’s flyer (Issue 2) has been handed out to the classes – to order, just look over the flyer with your child, select the books you want 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 22th MARCH.

Preferred method of payment:

CREDIT CARD payments online, or through the LOOP APP [LOOP: Linked Online Ordering and Payment available via 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 22nd March.

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

Music News

Naomi Lindh

The date for our first performance this year has now been confirmed and the Junior Choir will be singing at the Harmony Day assembly on Thursday 28 March at starting at 2pm. This performance will involve students singing two short songs. Families and members of the school community are invited to attend the assembly. If your child is in the Junior Choir and you have not received a Junior Choir update email, could you please send me an email and I will add your details to the group contact list ( nclos1@eq.edu.au ). We are also in the process of organising performances for the Senior Choir.

Thank you to our senior students who have been attending their instrumental rehearsals regularly.

Please ensure that your child is prepared for their instrumental lesson and rehearsal for senior students. We encourage you to contact your child's teacher if they are experiencing any difficulties with their instrument/practice, as often support at an early stage can greatly assist your child's progress and involvement in the program. We also request that you let conductors know if students are not able to attend a rehearsal which includes choir and instrumental students (email contacts are below).

Please note that in week 9 on Wednesday 27 March there will be no instrumental music lessons due to the West Cent instrumental music auditions. A small number of selected students from Graceville are participating in these auditions as well as students from other schools. Our instrumental teachers are all involved in these auditions therefore normal Wednesday lessons will not occur (on Wednesday 27 March). We apologise for this disruption. Please note that the Junior Choir rehearsal will still occur on this day and it is important for all of our Junior Choir students to attend as we have a performance scheduled for the following day.

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
Wednesday 10:45am - 11:25am - Beginner/Junior Strings (starting during term 2, date TBA) Mrs Prout
Wednesday 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)

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 our music program!

Naomi Lindh
Music Teacher and IM Coordinator (Wednesday - Friday)

Chappy’s Chat

John Erichsen

It was fantastic to see so many dressing up in country attire to support the school’s Fundraiser for Farmers. Denim and checks were seen far and wide as the school embraced this very worthy cause. I wish to acknowledge the Student Council in organising, marketing and holding the day. I am sure there will be some very appreciative farmers, starting their rebuilding process, positively impacted by our support. Thank you to everyone who contributed!

With the heat stepping things up a notch this week, many are checking calendars to confirm that summer has actually finished. Hopefully, these hot days are just the last gasps of hot weather before milder weather arrives. Of course, rain would be most welcome, whatever the temperatures. Given how dry it is, a reminder on saving water where we can is timely. At school, reminding students to make sure the bubblers turn off can be a help. If a bubbler doesn’t turn off or if you notice water leaking, notify Mr Dowling, myself or the office so we can take action to limit any water waste. Thank you for your help with this.

Tomorrow is National Day of Action to Prevent Bullying so I hope to see many wearing orange to support the school’s “Bullying – No Way” policy. At school, our students should feel safe, supported and respected, so bullying of any kind is not tolerated. Join with us, on Friday March 15th, and wear orange as visible support of our anti-bullying stance.

There are numerous district sports trials taking place at this time of the term and I would like to pass on my best wishes for all our students who are trying out for district teams. I know the competition for places will be fierce and these trials can be a source of disappointment. However, if our students do their best and leave the trials knowing there was nothing more they could have done, then they should be extremely proud of what they have achieved. Success is far more than a number, a placing or a spot on a team. It should also be linked to effort and if you give your all, you will always be successful. Even if not on the district team, important lessons will have been learnt and you will have grown as a person moving forward.

Have a tremendous week!
John Erichsen
(Chappy)

Your P&C Needs you!!

The P&C needs your help. Most of the current executive is moving on or will be moving on next year and so we need some new blood to continue the great work of the P&C. Training and support is available and the work of the P&C is a great lot less than Kindy committees you may have been involved in. Perhaps bring along a friend and share the role?

All positions will be vacant at the AGM on 27 March 2019.

See you at the AGM!

Chris Hansen
P&C President.

NOTIFICATION OF GSS P&C Annual General Meeting

The P&C AGM will be held on 27 March 2019, at 7:30pm in the Oxley Room.

A general PandC meeting will follow at the conclusion of the AGM.

Membership

All memberships must be renewed at the AGM. You do not need to attend the AGM for your membership to be accepted. Membership forms for 2019 (attached to this newsletter and available in the office) can be placed in the P&C mailbox in the office, or handed to the Secretary, Karen McNab, prior to the meeting.

Positions to be elected

The positions of President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary are elected at the AGM.

Nominations for Executive Positions can be made by completing the Executive Nomination Form attached to the newsletter and returning it to the P&C, or advising the Principal. If you are interested in finding out more, you can also contact the P&C President.

A brief description of the positions is provided below:

• The President provides leadership and is the accountable officer of the Association. Their role is to act as a representative of the Association, encourage communication between the Association, School administration and the community and encourage participation in the Association. The President will be the Chair of meetings and conduct them in an efficient and timely fashion, being familiar with the rules, constitution and other documents governing Association operations. The President is an official member of the school council for the School, if one exists.
• The Vice-President provides essential support for the President and possibly other members of the Executive Committee. They will Chair those meetings from which the President is absent and carry out any duties that have been delegated by the President. They should also be familiar with the rules, constitution and other documents governing Association operations.
• The Secretary collates the agenda papers for each meeting, (including subcommittee reports) and assists the President in preparing an agenda for each meeting. They prepare and present minutes of the Association’s meetings, record and deal with correspondence in/out as directed and generally organise, record and maintain information pertaining to the activities of the Association.
• The Treasurer has the overall responsibility for the financial management of the Association including all subcommittee accounts. In their role they must comply with the Accounting Manual for P&C Associations in all respects. They prepare an annual budget and Annual Operational Plan for the Association in consultation with other members of the Association’s Executive Committee. It is the Treasurer's responsibility to keep accurate accounts of receipts and expenditure.

Tuckshop

Thank you so much for everyone's time, we have such fun in tuckshop and love getting to know you all. If you have 3 hours spare once a month or term please let us know.

Monday 18th March - Geoff Allen
Tuesday 19th March - Julie Woolfield, Chantell Saddle
Wednesday 20th March - Alex Bentley, Jemima Nelson, Hind Al-Saloom, Kim Smart
Thursday 21st March - Michael Willimott, Jess Myles, Megan O'Donnell
Friday 22nd March - Thua Ma, Jayne Bryson, Fleur McPherson, Lyn Griffiths, Briony Kachab, Estelle Jensen

Have you noticed how fresh the fruit and vegetables are? We now order through local business Superior Fruit & Wendy's Kitchen. The Maniatis family are now at GSS and we are so grateful for their support.

Speaking of GSS family businesses, did you know that all of our bretzels and fruit buns are made by Carolin Holl who owns a local business called Made by Carolin. From week 8 we will be selling Hot Cross Buns and Bunny Rabbit shaped fruit buns lovingly baked fresh by Carolin.

Thank you

Anne & Emma

Uniform Shop

Fiona Fryer

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

Uniform Store Roster

Year 6 Commemorative Shirts

The shirts will hopefully be back from the printers next week and will then be handed out in the classroom.

If your child has made it through to Districts for Cross Country there are Graceville State School singlets you can hire from the uniform store for a fee of $5, plus a $5 refundable deposit.

Size 8 gold shirts are out of stock.
Size 12 Flinders shirts are out of stock.

We have more school colour hair accessories arriving in store next week.

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

Active School Travel

FOOTLOOSE FRIDAY

National Ride2School Day – Decorate your bike helmets

National Ride2School Day is the perfect opportunity for Australian students and school communities to embrace a healthier start and to try walking and riding to school.

National Ride2School Day 2015 will be on Friday 22nd March.

The purpose of National Ride2School Day is to show school communities that riding to school is an easy and fun activity. It is a chance to celebrate and prove it can be done. All Children who actively travel to school on this day will receive a stamp in their passport. Decorate your helmet to be in the running for some great prizes. There will also be a sausage sizzle. Judging of the helmets will be done at the quadrangle between 8:15am-8:30am. Don’t worry if you can’t ride your bike or scooter, so long as you actively travel with your helmet you will go in the draw.

Join other kids across Australia to actively travel on 22nd March. It's a great way to get fit and healthy. Your child will also arrive alert, more attentive and ready to learn. Remember that when riding a bike you are required by law to wear an approved helmet securely fitted and fastened.

While Active School Travel promotes leaving the car at home, we understand that some days this isn’t possible. AST also promotes safe driving around schools. Set an example to others (and your children) by following the road rules and obeying the line markings and signage around schools.

Yellow kerbside lines = NO STOPPING!!!!!!!!!

Please also be sure to observe the signage around the school – loading zones, two minute zones etc. These signs are there for a reason…..TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE AND TO KEEP TRAFFIC MOVING!

Passenger loading zone

Sign on Acacia Ave, Graceville

Passenger Loading Zones allow you to stop for up to two minutes to pick up or drop off your child. This should be enough time to help your child with luggage and seatbelts. While it is preferable that you do not leave your car, you are permitted to do so to walk a young child into school or to collect your child, however you still need to be mindful of the two-minute limit.

Tips for drivers picking up or setting down children:

• Move forward as space becomes available
• Ensure your child watches for their ride and moves promptly to the vehicle
• Always drop off and pick up in a designated passenger zone
• Where possible, remain with your vehicle at all times when using the passenger zone
• Observe the time restriction on the passenger zone – do not overstay
• Make sure passengers use the safety door or the footpath side door when getting into and out of the car
• Do not double park
• Do not park across a pedestrian crossing
• Do not park across driveways
• Do not u-turn close to the school
• Observe part time school speed zones – do not speed

Be courteous to other drivers and school crossing supervisors

For more information visit:

We need you!!!!!

We are very lucky to have the year 5 students involved in Active Travel this year and Mrs Hornstra, Mr Guthrie and Mr Osborn do an amazing job each week with organising the students to ensure that passports are stamped and the AST messages are delivered on assembly (and many other tasks too numerous to list). Without their support this program would not be the success that it is.

The Active School Travel committee is very “Active’ in our community. We have great support from Councillor Nicole Johnston and Michelene Doray, who is the Project Manager for AST in the BCC. Mrs Hornstra and Mrs McKeaten from the school and Paul Rueberry as well as myself. We would like to adopt the P&C model of having someone “Learning the role” from me this year. This person would attend our once or twice a term meetings and do the newsletter article each week as well as attend any school events, if possible. You would be very well supported in the committee if you were interested. We are always after fresh ideas. If you are interested in talking to me about this please email Jo at sajrichards@iinet.net.au or come along to our next meeting at 3pm on Thursday 9th May in the Waratah Room.

School Plus

Exciting news! Our Easter Vacation Program is now out and ready for bookings. We have 9 days filled with lots of fun including excursions to Southbank and the Museum (as well as a small treat), Cupcake Bake-offs and special visitors onsite for our Festival of Colour, Carnival Day and Construction Day incursions and much more! Be sure to book soon so you don’t miss out on the fun! In other news, the children enjoyed week 6 of the school term and joined in on activities including Tug of War, Ripper Tag, Rainbow Noodles in the Quadrangle for this week’s Sensory Activity and lots of Art and Craft. In the coming weeks we will be having a visitor from Bunnings Warehouse, to help us start our Worm Farm and Vegie Garden, located at the front of our building! We can’t wait to start this project with the children!

Community Notices

Graceville State School Tennis Coaching – Term 2

Before School, Lunch Time and After School Coaching will commence from Tuesday 23rd April, 2019.

Enrolments close by 9.00am on Monday 1st April 2019. Spare enrolment forms are available from the School Office, they can also be downloaded from the School Newsletter. To ensure a place in class, forms must be returned by this date to the School Office. Do not return forms to the School Office after this date contact Jim Joyce directly on 0417 771022.

A tennis meeting will be held at lunch time (1st Break) on Thursday 4th April on the School Tennis Court to advise of your lesson time – Please ensure your child attends.

Special Offer – All new students in Grade 1, 2 and 3 will receive a free tennis racquet when joining for the first time.

For further enquiries please contact Jim Joyce on 0417 771022