25 June 2020

From the Principal

Zoe Smith

Hello,

We have made it to the end of what has been a very unusual term! Thank you so much for hanging in there and supporting us along the way.

On Monday the Term 3 Operating Guidelines for Queensland State School were released to schools. Most aspects of schooling have been clarified however there are still some things which cannot be finalised until further announcements are made as related to the Roadmap.

To help you understand the school’s gradual return to ‘normal’ across Term 3, I have written a letter detailing our response to the guidelines for weeks 1-4. I will update the information again in week 3 with information about week 5 and beyond. I have sent the letter separately as I am aware not everyone reads the newsletter.

As you may be aware, a few of our staff are taking some long-term leave and will not be returning for the remainder of this year. I would like to wish Mrs Lambrides a lovely long break and we look forward to seeing her back to start next year. I would also like to wish Mrs Bourke the best of wishes as she takes time off to support a family member and then most likely continues her leave to have some well-earned rest until mid-next year.

Mrs Nixon our Business Manager (BM) will also be taking leave for the first 4 weeks of Term 3. Mrs Jenny Deans will be our BM in her absence.

If you are having time off over the holidays I hope you can relax and enjoy time with your family.

See you next term,

Zoe Smith

Newsletter Articles

Deputy Principal

Maree Hass

Happy holidays everyone, it has been an interesting term and we look forward hopefully to getting back to normal little by little during term 3.

Preparing for Prep 2021

Some key dates have changed this year due to COVID-19.

Our Prep waiting list will open on Monday July 13 from 7:45am at the office, please observe social distancing when lining up. The waiting list must be done in person, no forms can be sent out or received by email.

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:

Prep Information for 2021 will be given out on Wednesday July 22, this will be online this year and not at a large group meeting in the hall. More details on how to access this will come later.

From Wednesday July 22, in catchment enrolments may be done and enrolment forms can be collected from our school office or emailed out upon request.

Prep interviews will then follow for the rest of term 3. Bookings will be online this year via a link to be given out through the Information session. These meetings will still be face to face at school for 30 minutes, please bring your child to this meeting. Completed enrolment forms and Prep Profile will be required at the interview.

Term 4

Get Set for Prep proposed sessions

At this stage we will plan to proceed with face to face sessions although we will have to wait and see health and safety directives to come. Families must RSVP for these sessions either by email or phone as we have limited number of spaces for each session.

Session 1: Tuesday Oct 20 OR Friday Oct 23, 9 – 10:30am Focus on Fine Motor Skills
Sesion 2: Thursday Oct 29, 9 – 10:30 Introduction to Speech and Language Development with our School Speech Language Pathologist
Session 3: Tuesday Nov 10 OR Friday Nov 13, 9 – 10:30am Focus on Reading

Prep Orientation meetings: Thursday November 26
Meet the class session: Thursday December 3, 9 – 10am

Deputy Principal

Lisa McKeaten

We are all looking forward to having a lovely holiday. I hope it is restful and you get out and about this break!

Next term we are looking forward to starting some of our ‘normal’ activities. Religious Instruction classes, Junior & Senior Choir and our Instrumental Ensembles will all commence in Week 3 next term. More information about all of these activities will be communicated to families in early Term 3. Interschool Sport will also re-commence sometime in Term 3. Dates to be confirmed.

Money Matters

Anne Nixon

This week we will be sending statements home to parents so you can see what credits and invoices are on your child’s accounts. If you have a credit on your account please contact the office via email (admin@gracevilless.eq.edu.au) or call on 3716 2777, if you wish to apply the credits to any invoices you may have.

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.

Library News

Melanie Hutchinson

PREMIER’S READING CHALLENGE 2020

Literacy is at the heart of a student’s ability to learn and succeed – at school and for life. An enjoyment of books not only encourages an active imagination but allows the reader to learn about their world and develop literacy skills.

The Premier's Reading Challenge (PRC) aims to improve children's literacy, cultivate a passion for literature and encourage children to read widely for pleasure and learning.

That is why every student is encouraged to participate in this year’s 2020 Premier’s Reading Challenge. The Challenge is open to students in Prep to Year 6 and is running from 11 May until 28 August.

The Premier is challenging every child from Prep to Year 2 to read or experience 20 books, Years 3 and 4 to read 20 books and Years 5 and 6 to read 15 books.

Student Reading Record Sheets have been handed out during library time to all students. Children who take up the challenge and read the required number of books will receive a signed participation certificate from the Premier herself. Parents and caregivers can play a big part by encouraging everyone to be part of this positive initiative.

Please ensure your child keeps a record of every book they read or experience. Books and e-books may be selected from our school library, your local library, home libraries and/or reading resources at school.

I hope many students will join in on this wonderful journey of reading and learning!

Premier’s Reading Challenge Coordinator

Chappy’s Chat

John Erichson

Chappy’s Chat

As this incredibly different school term wraps up, we head into the school holidays having learned much about learning. Many have found that learning is more enjoyable with friends around. Some have discovered that intrinsic motivation is a skill they have not yet fully developed when it comes to study and academia. Others have realised that a quiet classroom with less students is the perfect setting for improved results. Teachers have quickly worked out that their classroom with all the students back is preferred for their workload and stress levels. Some parents had their suspicions confirmed that they were correct in not choosing teaching as a vocational path. Maybe we all learned that there are many simple life’s pleasures that can be easily taken for granted. Catching up with friends, going out for a nice meal, taking the family to the park and visiting family are just a few which I know I value a little more since COVID restrictions were implemented. Maybe these holidays are the perfect time to continue reconnecting with friends and loved ones.

The final week of Term 2 is not without its big moments. Spellathon class movie prizes and a Teddy Bear’s picnic will add some fun flavours to this final week. This has been a challenging term for everyone, with many massive adjustments and logistical changes, so finishing the term in a flurry of fun won’t hurt at all.

I wish all school families a wonderful two weeks. For those travelling, take care on the roads and stay safe. For those staying closer to home, enjoy the break from the school routine and have fun together. I look forwards to catching up with everyone next term.

Have an amazing two weeks!

John Erichsen
Chappy

P&C News

Fundraising

Who missed cross country this year? What about lap-a-thon? The children have missed so much fun this year, but the P&C are looking for some ways we can bring back the fun.

One option being investigated is a fun run or colour run to be held on a school day in term 3. The P&C are looking to organise some ice creams, drinks and food for sale and some other fun elements as part of the event.

If you, or someone you know, would like to further develop this idea with the school and organise this event please get in touch with pandcPresident@gracevilless.eq.edu.au. You could even get a group of friends together and run it as a team with extra helpers on the day as required.

It would be great to see some extra fun organised for the children in Term 3.

Spellathon

At the spellathon assembly this week our winning fundraisers were lucky to receive vouchers from some local businesses which regularly support Graceville State School, Bim Bam Boom and L!ck Ice Cream. There were also National Geographic Kids subscriptions and QBD bookstore vouchers in the mix. Almost $13,000 was raised and this will go towards purchasing reading and writing resources for your children.

If you think this is a valuable contribution to the school, please consider helping organise the spellathon next year. Organising the spellathon is a manageable job normally contained to term 1. It involves helping to distribute word lists and sponsorship forms in liaison with a contact at school, obtaining a small level of sponsorship (with the help of others on the P&C), collecting and/or banking funds raised (although many payments are now made electronically) and the fun bit - helping organise prizes for the first, second and third highest fundraisers in each year level, as well as prizes for the classes which raised the most money in each year level.

If you’re interested in helping organise the spellathon next year, please contact pandcPresident@gracevilless.eq.edu.au.

Uniform Shop

The uniform shop will be opening on Tuesday and Thursday mornings in term 3. If you wish to visit the uniform shop on these new days, you can make an appointment through the following link

If you are unable to visit the shop or you already know what your child needs, you can order and pay online through the following link below and it will be delivered to your child’s classroom.

Tuckshop credit with School24

The P&C have decided to move to a new online ordering system starting from term 4 in 2020. The new system will be much easier to use and we will provide more details in term 3. In the meantime, any families that have an existing credit with School24 should try and use this up in term 3 to minimise disruption during the changeover.

Voluntary Contribution

Voluntary Contributions are payments made by families and collected by the P&C on behalf of the school with all funds raised transferred directly to the school. This year the P&C has decided to use 75% of voluntary contributions to replace the current ageing fleet of desktops, iPads and laptops at Graceville State School. Rather than implementing a Bring Your Own Device scheme, which requires families to purchase devices for each child, our school aims to provide the technology resources our children need to learn. This will result in much lower costs to individual families. The remaining 25% will be used to purchase learning resources to support the school’s focus on writing.

We appreciate this year has been difficult beyond measure for so many families and for our whole community. As a result, the P&C will be unable to hold many of its regular fundraising activities in their usual format. Our children’s needs for learning resources at school, however, continues to grow.

We are asking all families who are able to make a Voluntary Contribution to do so again this year. The Voluntary Contribution scheme is again $100 per student. While this is much less than the cost of a laptop or iPad, we understand this amount is still not affordable for all families, particularly at this time, so we also encourage families to make whatever contribution they are comfortable with.

Payments can be made by electronic transfer to the P&C (see below for details) or via the Online Uniform Shop below:

Account name: Graceville State School P&C Association
BSB: 064-111
Account number: 00900130
Ref: VC “Child’s name”

Containers for change

Did you know that the Graceville State School P&C are registered with Containers for Change? You can drop off your bottles at any Containers for Change depot and quote our ID, and your funds will automatically be credited to the P&C. The closest Containers for Change depot is located at 78 Andrew Street, Rocklea and our ID is C10055214.

Uniform Shop

Michelle Fanning

OPENING DAYS AND TIMES FOR TERM 2

For the remainder of Term 2 the uniform store will be open for appointment only on Thursdays and Fridays from 8:45am – 9:45am. When visiting the store, please enter and exit the school grounds through the Oxley Road gate near the tennis courts.

The uniform shop now has an online store, so if you already know what your child needs you can order and pay online and it will be delivered to your child’s classroom.

The online store and appointment bookings can be made via the following link -

OPENING DAYS AND TIMES FOR TERM 3

Until we hear of further restrictions being lifted, we will remain appointment only as well as having the online store for easy ordering. The appointment days however will change in Term 3 to Tuesday and Thursday of each week from 8:45am – 9:45am.

WINTER UNIFORM

All sizes of the new sports jacket, polar fleece and rugby jerseys are in stock. We have track pants (in a quick dry fabric and a cotton lining) and leisure pants (a cross between a track pant and stretchy leggings) for girls. We also have a bootleg lycra jazz pant on sale for just $5 a pair. Stocks are limited.

• For the remainder of Term 2 we will be cash free and only accept cards when purchasing.
• Please be advised that refunds will ONLY be given if you have the original receipt and items should not have been washed or worn.

Email address for school uniform store is:

gracevillessuniform@gmail.com

Thank you all for your ongoing support and understanding during this time. Have a great break!

Michelle

Tuckshop News

Hi Everyone

Well we finally made it to the end of term – it’s certainly been a bumpy one!

Thank you to everyone for all your help and support this term. We really cannot do this without all our lovely volunteers.

We hope everyone has a great break. If you’re lucky enough to be going away then travel safe but to everyone we hope you all stay safe over the holidays and look forward to seeing you when we return.

Volunteers are required for next term so email us at tuckshop.gss@gmail.com with your availability or sign up through school24 the link below and click on volunteer roster. Whether you can help for 1 hour or 3 we still need you. Break times are now split so anytime you can pop in to help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks everyone – stay safe and see you next term.

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

School Plus

Welcome back to all families! We have missed all the friendly faces that we have returning to us after lockdown! We have been hearing lots of funny stories about home schooling with Mrs. Mum and Mr. Dad! We have been operating at a limited capacity over the past few months but have been making sure things have been as normal for the children as possible. We decorated the service for Mother’s Day, making them feel special on their day! We even made them cookies with extra love and care.

We recognised Reconciliation Week by doing Aboriginal art and writing stories that we are now displaying in the service.

Our new ‘Kinship Tree’ is one of our proudest projects we did with the children over the past month. It is a new wall display made with natural resources. We have placed family photos up that some of the families have brought in for us to display. If any of our families are yet to bring in a photo we encourage you to please do so.

We have started a pen pal project with another School Plus OSHC service and have been getting to know our new friends through handwritten letters!

We hope everyone has been staying safe and are having an easy transition back from home schooling. As always, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to pop into the service or give us a call!

Tennis

TENNIS HOT SHOTS – ENROLMENTS FOR TERM 3 NOW OPEN!

Enrolments are now open for term 3 tennis coaching.

ENROL ONLINE at the link below.

PRIVATE AND SEMI-PRIVATE LESSONS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.

Should you have any questions please contact Tennis for Kids on info@tennisforkids.com.au or 0408 187 741.

ALL NEW CHILDREN ENROLLING IN TERM 3 WILL RECEIVE A FREE JUNIOR TENNIS RACQUET!

Tennis For Kids is a FairPlay activity provider and therefore can accept Government FairPlay Vouchers

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JUNE/JULY SCHOOL HOLIDAY TENNIS COACHING CLINICS

MONDAY 29TH JUNE, TUESDAY 30TH JUNE & WEDNESDAY 1ST JULY 2020

School Holiday Tennis Clinics are now open for enrolments. Positions are available for all school students aged between 4-14 years.

CLINIC 1 – RED BALL STUDENTS (RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN 4-7 YEARS OF AGE)

8am – 10.30am at Graceville State School (Oxley Rd, Graceville)

CLINIC 2 – ORANGE/GREEN BALL STUDENTS (RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN 7-12 YEARS OF AGE)

2pm – 5pm at Graceville State School (Oxley Rd, Graceville)

Coaching clinics are suitable for everyone as children are divided into groups according to both age and ability. Each session includes plenty of coaching and games, with coaches ensuring regular breaks and snack time, especially for the littlies!

Holiday Clinic positions are limited - so please enrol early to avoid disappointment!!

For further details or to enrol, please click this link - https://tennisforkids.com.au/holiday-programs/ or contact Tennis For Kids at info@tennisforkids.com.au or on 0408 187 741

Community Notices

EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT:

Hounds Graceville Touch Football Association are seeking expressions of interest for a JUNIOR Touch Spring into Summer Super Six Series!!

This is a fantastic opportunity for individual participants or existing teams (league, union, touch football) to come along, learn some touch basics and play some touch football as a team in our junior competition.* ALL ARE WELCOME!

Spring into Summer Super Six series Competition Information*

• ‪Start: 26/7/2020
• ‪Finish: 30/8/2020
• For ages U6–U18
• Fees start from $10.00 per person per game
• Complete the enclosed EOI https://www.trybooking.com/BJYCN at your earliest convenience (closing date of 26 June)
• Queries to: houndstouch@gmail.com

Please share with your school networks and get involved in Touch Football this spring!

*Contingent upon sufficient registrations

Kind regards,
Melissa
For Hounds Touch
0402489775

QLD REPRESENTATIVE SCHOOL SPORT.

Good afternoon all,

With the reboot of School sport in Term 3 Met West Region have sent through confirmed sports for trials. Also confirmation the Cross Country and Track and Field WILL NOT be going ahead for 2020. There are some dates that are still yet to be confirmed. The dates listed below are for the state championships of each respective sport.