9 May 2019

Domain and email change

Please be aware that due to the upcoming domain name change our school website address is now:

This domain name will also affect email addresses so please ensure that the following email addresses are updated in your contact lists:

• principal@gracevilless.eq.edu.au
• admin@gracevilless.eq.edu.au
• newsletter@gracevilless.eq.edu.au
• pandc@gracevilless.eq.edu.au
• bsm@gracevilless.eq.edu.au
• prepyear@gracevilless.eq.edu.au

Newsletter Articles

From the Acting Principal

Lisa McKeaten

I hope everyone enjoyed the recent public holidays. I certainly makes our term even busier for everyone when you lose days and have a lot to get through, especially this term with assessment and reporting. Our learners will need to be well organised self managers so that they are keeping up with what is expected of them.

We have NAPLAN next week for our Year 3 and 5 students. Parents are encouraged to make sure that your children are as well prepared for the days (Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday) as possible. I suggest you have a good routine happening next week for our learners. We want to ensure that everyone feels relaxed and ready. Getting good sleep, sustaining breakfasts and lunches at school and possibly limiting technology usage and TV watching a bit next week so that children are in a confident, calm state ready to do their best work. We obviously want our learners to do well but more importantly, we want them to feel relaxed about the process and not anxious or upset. Our staff will be doing everything possible to reduce stress for any learners who may be a bit worried. I am sure you have already had conversations with teachers if you have any concerns.

It is important to have children at school for the NAPLAN testing days if humanly possible. There will only be next Friday to ‘make-up’ the tests if any are missed. If any children are sick on any day/s we are happy to try to get tests done bearing in mind we don’t want to overload them if they are not 100%. I encourage you to communicate with the class teacher if required.

Lastly, please have your children at school in plenty of time to start the day, especially for next week so they feel ready for the testing.

Deputy Principal

Maree Hass

I hope you have all had an excellent start to term 2. I had a great trip overseas and am right back into the swing of things this term.

Prep Fine motor group

Our lovely prep staff are currently holding some extra sessions outside of school time with some of our preppies to practice and hone their fine motor skills. The children are having an enjoyable time and I would like to thank these members of staff for conducting these sessions in their own time benefiting students in this way.

Study Tour 2019

We will be hosting a Study Tour from Taiwan, from Minzu and Wenhau Elementary schools this year. The dates will be July 26 until August 10 for two weeks. Please as a family start to think about if you are able to offer a place to host one of these students. It is a rewarding opportunity. We are expecting a group of approximately 20 students with 2 tour escorts. If you are interested and able to host a student please return the expression of interest or email me a response at mhass10@eq.edu.au I will shortly hold an information session after school and an evening time to give information so that families can make a decision. We need to shortly commence ‘blue card’ applications if parents don’t have one to be a host family. This is free and sent off at school. Please email me any questions that you may have about the study tour and hosting.

Waiting List for Prep 2020 – opened at the beginning of this term.

The waiting list for 2020 is now open. Please let any interested people know that forms and information can be obtained from our school office. Families from within our catchment area we also invite you to obtain enrolment forms to begin the process. 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 below 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.

Date Claimer: Prep 2020 Information evening will be held in our school hall on Wednesday July 24 at 7pm.

Below is the calendar for term 2 Junior assemblies. Everyone welcome, we are on from 2.15pm on these Tuesdays in the hall.

Acting Deputy Principal

Tina Cousins

This week I am fortunate to have been given the opportunity to embark on a personal inquiry into the role of Acting Deputy Principal. I have enjoyed getting into the classrooms to see what the students are learning and how their own inquiry journeys have helped to spark new learning.

Trivia Night – Saturday 1st June 2019

“Back 2 the 90’s” Trivia night on 1st June looks to be a very popular event, with maximum table numbers being reached. Trivia night is always one of my favourite evenings and I am always amazed at the effort and creativity of our parents and community members.

School Photos – Thursday 13th June 2019

This year we will be having our School Photo Day on Thursday 13th June. Envelopes with the online ordering information will be coming home soon. Year 6 will have a whole year level photo at 8:45am and we ask that they are on time, so that they don’t miss out on this last photo of their primary schooling. Students are asked to please wear their yellow school shirt and blue shorts/skorts or school dresses. House shirts should not be worn on photo day. Hair accessories and socks should be in school colours.

Human Relationships Education - Parent Information Night Years 4-6

Tuesday 25th June 2019

There will be a parent information night about Graceville’s HRE sessions that run in term 3, for years 4-6. This will be held in the Waratah room on 25th June at 6 pm. Notes will be sent home soon with more information.

In 2019, Year 6 students have the opportunity to participate in the Rotary Community Awards. Parents and students are required to attend an information session on Friday 17th May, 8am in the hall. Permission notes will be provided at the information session and will need to be returned by Thursday, 23rd May.

Sorry Day Ceremony Choir

Benarrawa Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Solidarity group invites adults and children of all ages, stages and abilities to join two choir rehearsals.

Thursday 9th May from 6-7pm
Wednesday 22nd May from 6-7pm
Sherwood Uniting Church (corner of Sherwood Rd and Thallon St)

It is free to join!!! The performance will be singing two songs at the Sorry Day Ceremony, 7am Sunday 26th May at the Sherwood Arboretum.

RSVP: Megan Thomson
mthom143@eq.edu.au

Notice of Tender for Tennis Courts

Notice is hereby given that Graceville State School is seeking expressions of interest for the non-exclusive use of its tennis court facilities for conducting tennis lessons/coaching services.

Interested parties are to contact the school office for information packs. Ph: 3716 2777.

The pack will be available from Monday 13th May 2019. The closing date for all quotes to be received at the office is Friday 24th May at 3pm.

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. We will be starting to send Term 2 accounts next week.

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

We have a number of upcoming performances and events organised for this year. There is further information about those organised for this term below. Please also note the dates of performances organised for this year. We greatly appreciate the assistance of parents and families with ensuring their child arrives on time for rehearsals/lessons and with the appropriate equipment in preparation for our upcoming events and performances.

The Beginner Strings have been invited to attend a workshop at Sherwood State School on Tuesday 18 June. This will be for beginner string students only. Further information will be provided soon but we will be requesting parents to drop their children at Sherwood State School for the workshop and collect them at the end of the day. The workshop will include a concert (at Sherwood State School) at approximately 2pm which parents and members of the community are welcome to attend.

The Senior Choir will be attending the Sing Together Day at St Peters on Tuesday 18 June and an evening concert. A letter will be provided to students closer to this event, but please note the date as it also includes an evening concert at St Peters (on Tuesday 18 June). We need all Senior Choir students to attend to make the most of this exciting performance opportunity so we ask families to ensure students are able to attend. Students will come to the Sing Together Day, then return by bus in the afternoon. They will be asked to come to St Peters for the concert which is currently scheduled for 6:30pm. The Senior Choir will also be performing at the Junior Assembly on Tuesday 11 June prior to their St Peters performance.

The Junior Choir will be performing at the special NAIDOC assembly on Thursday 20 June. Details of the assembly starting time will be provided once it has been finalised. If your child would like to join one of our choirs, they are welcome to attend the next rehearsal.

Please contact your child's instrumental or choral conductor if they are not able to attend a rehearsal (email contacts are listed below) or if they are experiencing any issues with their lessons.

2019 Rehearsals Venue - Music Room

Monday 7:45am - 8:30am Senior Choir (year 4,5 and 6 students) Ms West
Tuesday 7:30 - 8:30am - Junior Band (starting in term 2 on 21 May) Mr Kukulies
Wednesday 7:45am - 8:30am - Junior Choir (year 2 and 3 students) Mrs Lindh
Wednesday 10:45am - 11:25am - Beginner/Junior Strings (starting in term 2 with junior string students only on 1 May, then beginner strings will join these rehearsals later in the term) - Mrs Prout
Wednesday 2:50pm - 4:00pm - Senior Band - Mr Stiller
Thursday 7:45am - 8:30am Senior Strings - Mrs Prout

Music teacher contact details...

Alex Grodecki - agrod3@eq.edu.au (at Graceville Thursdays)
Ruth Prout - rprou5@eq.edu.au (at Graceville Wednesdays and Thursdays)
James Kukulies - jkuku2@eq.edu.au (at Graceville Tuesdays)
Steve Stiller - sstil2@eq.edu.au (at Graceville Wednesdays)
Julie West - jwest269@eq.edu.au (at Graceville Monday/Tuesday)
Naomi Lindh - nclos1@eq.edu.au (at Graceville Wednesday/Thursday/Friday)

Important dates to note...

11 June - Senior Choir singing on Junior Assembly
18 June - Senior Choir attending St Peters Sing Together Day (bus leaves at 8:30am sharp)
18 June - Senior Choir evening concert at St Peters - 6:30pm (All Senior Choir students)
18 June - Beginner Strings Workshop (beginner students only - all day at Sherwood SS with a concert at approximately 2pm)
20 June - Junior Choir singing at the NAIDOC Assembly
24 August - Fete performances - Junior Band, Senior Band, Junior Choir and Senior Choir
28/29 August - Instrumental Music Workshop
29 August - Instrumental music concert at 2pm involving all IM students (no choir performances at this concert but all students who learn an instrument at school will perform at this concert with their ensemble)
13 November - Annual Music Concert 6pm - all choral and instrumental music students will be performing at his concert
27 November - Grandparents' Concert - students in the Junior Choir, Senior Choir and Senior Strings will perform at this concert for their grandparents'/special guests

We look forward to our upcoming events and performances.

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

Library News

Melanie Hutchinson

SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB : TERM 2

Scholastic Book Club is up and running again this term. This term’s issue’s flyer (Issue 3) 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 17th MAY.

Preferred method of payment:

CREDIT CARD payments online, or through the LOOP APP [LOOP : Linked Online Ordering and Payment available on 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 17th of May.

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

SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB 2019 PROMOTION:

Scholastic is offering a FREE BAG and a PRINTABLE PERSONALISED CERTIFICATE via email to each child on their second order for the year, regardless of the Issue. On their third order for the year (regardless of the Issue) each child will receive a FREE POSTER and BOOKMARK with their order. On their fourth order for the year (regardless of the Issue) each child will have the OPTION TO SELECT A FREE BOOK. There is no minimum spend on this promotion program.

Chappy’s Chat

John Erichsen

Our year six students returned from camp last Friday a little weary but with great memories of a fun- filled experience. High ropes challenges, leaping off poles, a team challenge obstacle course and crate stacking were just some of the camp adventures. Parents should be very proud of the students’ behaviour and willingness to embrace challenges. Even the trials of finding shoes, although more difficult than one would expect, didn’t prevent students from having a great time.

This Friday is the commencement of the Interschool Sport program for year five and six. Skills will be improved, understanding gained and teamwork built over the next 8 weeks. On the competitive field of battle, our students will experience the highs and lows that sport can provide. My wish is that each student finds success this sport season and learns that doing your best to assist your team is enough to feel proud of your efforts. The result on the scoreboard might add to the celebrations but it isn’t the only measure of success.

Trivia Night is not far away and should be an excellent evening. I hope you have got your booking in as I believe the maximum number of tables has been reached. Plans are well under way regarding themes, costumes and some might even have started preparing for the quiz part of the night. I am looking forward to seeing you there.

Next week, our year three and five students will sit their NAPLAN assessments. I know our students are incredibly capable and will do very well. However, that doesn’t mean there won’t be some nerves about this testing. School staff will support students through this process and parents can contribute by encouraging plenty of sleep the nights before testing and a good, healthy breakfast on test day mornings.

Have a wonderful week!

John Erichsen
(Chappy)

Active School Travel

Please take note of your speed when travelling around the school and especially on Oxley Road. Remember 40 KM PH during 7-9am and 2-4pm on School days!

2 Minute Drop Off/Pick Up Zones
(Acacia Avenue – near front gate & Park Road – near back gate)

How they work?

The sign says 2 mins.

If you are one of the 3 cars at the start of the line you need to move on and go around the block if your child isn’t at the car after being in this position for 2 minutes. Please be mindful of others in this line and move on as fast as possible.

Only the first three cars are to have children exit or enter the car. The rest must wait until these cars have moved on, then move up to the front of the zone and stop. Then your children should enter your car.

The driver is not to leave the car at any time while in this line. Helping get bags out of the boot is OK – but having a conversation with other drivers, walking parents or going into the office is not acceptable and disrupts the flow of traffic.

It is not acceptable to move up on the right hand side past waiting cars to park up ahead of waiting cars. Be patient and wait your turn.

Wait for the car in front to move forward first, or leave the line.
Do not park over the safe crossing area or driveways at any time.
Please don’t encourage your children to disregard the instructions of staff on duty. e.g.calling them to enter your car when you are not one of the first 3!

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 Osbourne 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 Ruberry 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.

Tuckshop News

Thank you to our wonderful volunteers; we are having quite a busy term already with everyone enjoying the hot food and our tasty new muffins. Have your children tried the pasta that we have on a Tuesday? A Napoli sauce (tomato, onion, carrot, herbs) served on spiral pasta with cheese on top. A side of garlic bread makes it the perfect lunch.

Thanks again to next week's helpers:

Monday 13/5 - Geoff Allan, Amy Gower
Tuesday 14/5 - Joni Armbruster, Lauren Thomson,
Wednesday 15/5 - Jo Armstrong, Jane Garner, Neena Barwick
Thursday 16/5 - Lowri Doble, Bec Collett, Roxanne Flannagan
Friday 17/5 - Nicola Playle, Estelle Jensen, Liz Fourie, Helen Beauchamp

Anne & Emma

Uniform Shop

Fiona Fryer

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

Cross Country

If you hired a singlet from the uniform store, please don't forget to return it to receive the $5 deposit back.

Size 12 Flinders shirts are out of stock.

We now have size 2 house shirts in stock. By the end of this term everyone should know which house they are in.

We have a new delivery of hair accessories. There are headbands, hair ties, bows and clips all in the school colours.

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 in but can you please make sure that all items are washed and in a good 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 address below. 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.

School Plus

Week 2 of the school term was quite an exciting one with a special visit from Rachel from Bunnings Warehouse who helped us build our Worm Farm! With much success with our garden thus far, the children were ready and eager to start a new project. Rachel educated the children on everything about worms! They made their own worm farms which they got to take home, there was much excitement when everyone got to show loved ones their new pets!

Aside from the worm farm, the children also enjoyed a number of other activities including marble paintings, soccer, hula hoops and music and much more! Lastly, School Plus will also be introducing a Homework Club which will run for a longer period of time. We currently have homework in our main room from 5pm onwards each day however, we are in the process of allocating another space, with a longer period of time and staff assigned to help support the children with their school work. That’s a wrap with week 2, watch this space for more exciting news!

Community Notices