20 March 2020

From the Principal

Zoe Smith

Hello,

Two weeks to go! At this stage state schools in QLD are still open!

Thankyou so much for your ongoing support as the school manages its way through COVID-19. As the school receives advice from the Department of Education and Queensland Health, we are adapting our practices and processes to ensure we are looking after the best interests of our school community. I am truly sorry for the amount of emails and messages coming your way. I think it is always better to be informed and so I am sending information home as soon as we receive it.

To have a bit of fun, in the lead up to the holidays, we will hold a Free Dress day on Friday 27 March. Students who come in Free Dress can donate a gold coin. All money raised will go to the Student Council.

We are very grateful for the support families have shown for the Spell-a-thon this year. With over 100 children away on the day, we are hoping those families are still willing to donate the sponsorship money. We can ensure the children can follow through with the words on another date. The majority of the money this year is going towards updating and purchasing more readers across the school. Our aim was $20,000 this year and we are hoping COVID-19 does not impact upon fundraising. All donations are welcome!

The P&C AGM and general meeting are still scheduled to go ahead next Wednesday night. An email will inform parents/carers as to how the meeting will take place. We may be able to use an online platform.

I will be sending home a letter with information about P-3 swimming lessons on Friday. This is a letter that has been written in conjunction with our current swimming provider and includes information that is aligned to the Department of Education’s water safety and learn to swim documents. The letter has been written in response to some questions put forward to the school and/or through the P&C about how the school currently provides swimming lessons to children from Prep to Year 3.

Finally, our teachers will be making a decision about how we will provide Parent Teacher Interviews from next week. Please keep an eye out for an email from either myself or your class teacher with changes to our process for Parent Teacher Interviews e.g. may be by phone.

I thank you so much for your continued support as we continue to work together in these challenging times. We are here to help so please contact the school if you need us!

Have a great week,
Zoe Smith

Newsletter Articles

Deputy Principal

Maree Hass

Hello everyone, please take note of date changes listed below and also changes to planned meetings:

Surf Life Saving Presentations on Wednesday March 26 have been postponed at this time to later in the year hopefully.

Our annual ANZAC Day assembly for this year is also cancelled.

Technology Updates for parents – Wednesday April 1 at 8am

THIS WILL NOW HAPPEN VIA ZOOM PLATFORM, PLEASE EMAIL YOUR INTENTION TO PARTICIPATE TO mhass10@eq.edu.au PRIOR TO WEDNESDAY APRIL 1.

We would like to offer a meeting each term for parents to hear about how technology is used within the school and also how devices are distributed and maintained. The first meeting this year will be on Wednesday April 1 at 8:00am (via ZOOM details above, no in person meeting will be taking place)

We are very thankful for the portion of voluntary contributions that goes towards updating and increasing the numbers of iPads and laptops we have at school. Each year we have a budget and plan for purchases depending on contributions received at school. Of course this is a never-ending need as devices go out of warranty and new upgrades are released for different devices.

Waiting List for Prep for 2021 – opens first day of term 3 now on Monday July 13 (NOT Monday April 20 as previously planned)

The waiting list for 2021 will open on Monday, 13th July. 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 term 3. 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.

Lower School Assemblies

Unfortunately Junior assemblies are cancelled until further notice, including our Easter Hat Parade.

Deputy Principal

Lisa McKeaten

Naplan Online Practice Tests next week

Next week we are still planning to do the Naplan online practice tests with all the Year 3 & 5 students. This will happen on Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th March. All the classes will have the practice tests completed on those days. If any students are absent they will not have any opportunity to ‘make-up’ the test at any other time. This is a great opportunity for us to see how our students engage with this type of test. Our current Year 3 students did participate in a very similar test last year, so this process will be another great opportunity for them to practice.

The Naplan tests for 2020 will be conducted in Weeks 4 & 5 of next term, 11-22 May.

Money Matters

Anne Nixon

Student Resource Schemes (SRS) for 2020 are:

• Prep Requirements ($70)
• Reading Eggs for Prep ($25)
• Instrumental Music Programs – Instrument Hire ($100), Percussion Maintenance ($50), Music Participation ($90) & Choir ($40)
• Mathletics On-line registration (Years 1 - 6) ($12)
• Origo Maths (years Prep to 4) ($7)
• Year 4/5 maths levy ($17.50)
• ESmart Digital Licence Yr 5 ($10)

If you have any credits on your accounts, please contact the office so we can apply them to any outstanding amounts. Please note, we cannot just apply any credit to your accounts, without parent permission.

All resource scheme fees were due by Friday 21st February 2020. Please ensure all amounts are paid up to date.

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.

Credit in Account: Credits from 2019 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.

QParents

Anne Nixon

What is QParents?

QParents is a secure, online portal accessible via a free, user-friendly app or web browser created for Queensland state schools by the Department of Education.

QParents enables schools to offer parents secure access to information about their child. Parents can communicate directly with the school and update their child’s address and medical conditions, submit reasons for absences and make online payments for school invoices.

Student information displayed in QParents is recorded in OneSchool.

What information can be accessed?

QParents provides school and student datasets including:

• attendance details
• timetables and upcoming events
• report cards and assessment planner
• invoices and payment history.

Music News

Naomi Lindh

Our choral and instrumental rehearsals and lessons will continue at their usual times. If there are any changes to this Mrs Smith will let families know. Although our assemblies and performances are cancelled or postponed at the moment, we can use this time to sing and play music to continue developing skills and for enjoyment, until it is appropriate for us to schedule performances. Thank you for your understanding with these changes.

Please note that as previously advertised, there will be no Junior Choir or Senior Choir rehearsals in week 10 of this term.

Music Teacher Contact Details...

Mrs Ruth Prout - string teacher and conductor - Wednesdays and Thursdays - rprou5@eq.edu.au
Mr James Kukulies - band teacher and conductor - Thursdays and Fridays - jkuku2@eq.edu.au
Mrs Naomi Lindh - classroom music teacher and choir conductor - Mon - Fri - nclos1@eq.edu.au

Tuesday 7:45am - Senior Choir
Wednesday 7:45am - Junior Choir
Wednesday first break - Junior/Beg Strings (starts in May, date TBC)
Thursday 7:45am - Senior Strings
Thursday 2:50 - 4pm - Senior Band
Friday 7:45am - Junior Band (starts in May, date TBC)

P&C News

We had a great turn out for the first meeting of the year and would love to see new members becoming involved in the P&C this year.

The P&C Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 25 March at 7:30pm. All memberships must be renewed at this meeting and new memberships are welcome. You can also join at subsequent General Meetings if you are unable to make the AGM.

Please complete the membership form attached or collect a hard copy from the office to complete. You can place your form in the P&C mailbox in the office or email it to pandcSecretary@gracevilless.eq.edu.au prior to the AGM. Membership forms can also be submitted at the AGM.

Being involved in the P&C and its activities is fun, rewarding and builds a supportive community for the children, teachers and parents at GSS. There are many roles and tasks – both small and large - that require volunteers and P&C meetings are a great way to stay in touch with what is happening at GSS.

This year, the P&C are also looking for new executive members. Descriptions of what these roles involve can be found here:

You do need to register to access information on the site but it does not cost anything and is really quick and easy.

Meetings are not a huge commitment with only 6 General Meetings held each year in addition to the Annual General Meeting.

If you would like more information about the GSS P&C Association prior to the meeting, or are interested in any of the executive roles, please contact the current President, Chris Hansen at: pandc@gracevilless.eq.edu.au.

Uniform Shop

Michelle Fanning

Polar Fleece and Sports Jacket

Many of the small sizes have sold out over the last week or two due to the cooler weather BUT I have put a rush on my order to get them back asap. Fingers crossed they will arrive Friday morning or at worst next Monday. Apologies for the delay, but with the way of the world sadly everything is being affected.

Hair Accessories

We are due to receive some gorgeous new accessories next week. This will include scrunchies, headbands and hair ties in fun new styles all in the school colours, so keep an eye out!

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

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Michelle

• Donations of 2nd hand uniforms are always appreciated so please keep them coming, but can you please make sure that all items are in a good, clean and saleable condition. We do not accept items bought from other stores.
• 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:

gracevillessuniform@gmail.com

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

Rosters WE 27/03 and 03/04

Only a couple weeks left of term everyone – I know we’re all counting down until holidays.

We just want to let everyone know that in light of what’s happening in the world at the moment as long as school is open we are open!

We always follow strict hygiene practices for prepping and storing food so please be assured that this has not changed, and we are more vigilant than ever. We are parents too and our concern for ourselves and those around us is heightened at this time and we are going above and beyond to ensure we all stay healthy.

We sanitize all benches before the start of day and at the end of day, follow strict handwashing practices and have sanitizer on hand for a double dose of cleanliness and gloves for food prep.

If you are volunteered on for a day and you or your child is not well and you cancel then please know we understand. Your health, our health and the health of all our children is our top priority.

Thanks to everyone who keeps answering our call for helpers – we still need you so please log on and volunteer or email us at tuck shop to let us know when you can pop in and we can place you in the roster.

Don’t forget our new menu item – Sweet Potato Bites

1 serve (2x bites) with accompaniment (choice of Tzatziki, Hommus, Sweet Chilli or Tomato Sauce)

Sweet Potato Bite Wrap – Sweet Potato Bites (2), lettuce, tomato, carrot and cucumber $5.50

Sweet Potato Bite Salad $5.90

Thanks everyone -look after each other and wash your hands!

Alex and Emma
Tuckshop Convenors 2020
E: tuckshop.gss@gmail.com

School Plus

Graceville Weekly Newsletter Week 8

Another awesome week had by all at School Plus Graceville! We have recently started a few new displays at our service that showcase the fun that we have and the friendships we have formed in our sessions. Our ‘Insta Wall’ features an abundance of happy snaps that we have of the children from their time in our care. There are a lot of fun memories made here, so it’s nice to have them displayed in our room for all to see!

We have also created an ‘Appreciation Wall’ that consists of personalised messages that the children have written to each other. These little notes are for letting our friends know why we appreciate them! Feel free to check out the new displays next time you come in.

It is also worth mentioning that our exciting Easter Holiday Vacation Care Program is out now! Be sure to get in early with your bookings as there are limited spaces for children and it is sure to book out!

Feel free to give us a call or send us an email if you have any enquiries. We hope that everyone has enjoyed their week, see you soon!

Easter Swim Clinics

Bookings are now being taken for a swim clinic being held at the school pool over the Easter vacation. This is a morning program. Group lessons consisting of Squad, Advanced Stroke Development and Beginner Stroke Development are on offer. Private lessons for learn to swim students or those who want specialised instruction may also be booked for 20 minutes. You do not need to attend everyday, just let me know your availability when booking. The clinic will be held for 5 days from Monday April 6th until Friday April 10th. To enrol in the clinic please contact Pete Geraghty by email: petegeraghty@hotmail.com or phone 0432407442.