22 July 2021

From the Principal

Zoe Smith

Hello,

I hope you enjoyed the winter holiday break! Don’t forget to make sure your child/ren have a jumper at school (named please) as the weather will be chilly and windy for the next month or so.

I would like to thank you all for wearing masks in the school grounds especially where you are unable to socially distance. We will wait and see what the rest of the term may bring.

There is a public holiday and a student free day this term. Please put the following dates in your calendar. Ekka public holiday – 11 August and 3 September Student Free Day.

How often do you check in on the use of your child’s social media accounts? I strongly urge you to have a conversation with your child about which social media they are using, the way they are representing themselves (name) and the photos they are posting. We recently had a chat with our local police who warned us of the growing use of social media and gaming platforms of criminally minded people seeking to access children. As a school we have both internal and external talks about the use of social media and cyber bullying. Most use of these platforms and apps happen at home. We hope you can make the time to talk with your child about how they are using social media and gaming and how they are representing themselves online.

Parent Teacher Interviews are fast approaching. Teachers will invite any parents/carers who have questions about their child’s report card to meet with them around week 4. These are not mandatory interviews, they are set up specifically for those parents who want to discuss aspects of their child’s report cards with the class teachers. Keep an eye out for the invitation from your class teacher if you have specific questions relating to the report card.

The new furniture for our Year 3 and Junior Enhancement classes arrives Friday! We are so excited! Our Year 3’s will trial the use of future focused classrooms which have furniture specifically designed for flexible learning. All new schools are now being furnished with the ability for flexible learning and so we are thankful to the P&C for making this investment in a trial to see how we can move towards more flexible learning in our school. The school has also chipped in some funds to extend the trial into a small number of other classrooms for teachers who are interested in moving to more flexible learning in their classrooms. Although they will not get a whole new set of furniture for their classroom, they will get some items of furniture which will help them trail and experiment with aspects of flexible learning.

Finally, the Spring Fair is fast approaching. I know class reps will be seeking volunteers to help in the lead up to the Fair and/or on the day. I am managing the student market and it will be worth coming along! There will be around 60 stalls with close to 110 students taking part! I have seen the prototypes of all items that will be sold and can say there are many fantastic items for sale. Please start putting cash aside for the markets. The student markets will be cash only. Items will be sold for whole dollar amounts. Most items are under $15 however there are some items worthy of over that amount and so please be aware that there are some items for up to $30. We have some very talented designers and artisans amongst our student body!

Have a great week,
Zoe Smith

Newsletter Articles

Acting Deputy Principal

Belinda Martin

Cairns Tour 2021

After two years of planning and a destination change, we finally made our inaugural tour of Cairns come to fruition and it certainly did not disappoint! 85 students and 9 teachers made the early flight for a week of action-packed memorable experiences. The Turtles, Quokkas and Wombats had hardly any rest by visiting some spectacular scenery and taking part in may educational excursions such as the Dreamtime Walk at Mossman Gorge, Kuranda and snorkelling at Fitzroy Island. Activities that tested our fears and saw us rise to the challenge were celebrated. Thank you to our dedicated staff and our wonderful students who were outstanding role models for our school. It was such a fantastic trip and we would love to do it all again….. well, maybe I’ll sit out of the Leap of Faith jump!

2022 Prep Information Night 28th July 7pm

Enrolment Forms should now be completed and submitted for your child to attend Prep at Graceville State School in 2022. Our Prep Information Evening to be held on Wednesday, 28th July at 7pm in our hall.

Due to our COVID safety guidelines that are in place we have limited numbers that can fit within our hall requirements. Therefore only 1 parent from each family will be able to attend this event. No children will be required to attend for this evening and we thank you in advance for helping us to meet these guidelines. Please remember to stay home if you are unwell on the night.

If you would like to secure your seat at the session then please use the link below to make your booking:

If requiring assistance to make a booking using the link above please call our office or email mmitch108@eq.edu.au or read the instructions here at the link below. We are looking forward to meeting you and getting you “Prep” ready!

After the Prep Information night we will commence Prep interviews in term 3. Bookings will be online 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.

Junior Assemblies @ 2PM

Parents and care givers of those hosting or performing a class item are invited to join us for Junior Assemblies which will be held every second Thursday afternoon from 2.00pm 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 3 for assemblies and other important dates:

Acting Deputy Principal

Matthew Jordan

Health Reminder

If your child displays any of the following symptoms they must go and get a COVID test:

• Fever
• Respiratory symptoms
• Coughing
• Sore throat
• Shortness of breath
• Runny nose, headache, muscle or joint pains

The following is directly from the COVID guidelines:

Any child or adult who is showing signs of illness COVID or other illness must stay home and go and get tested if they have COVID symptoms.

If a child is showing signs of illness or feeling unwell at school parents or carers will be contacted to come and collect the child.

Music News

Naomi Lindh

Welcome to term 3! Last term at a senior assembly, Mandi S played a piece on the piano which was one of the pieces she performed (via a recording) for the Carmel Clavier international piano competition. Mandi was a finalist and has now been awarded first place in this competition for her age category. I would like to congratulate Mandi and acknowledge this significant achievement. Well done Mandi S!

Next week the West Cent music camps will be held for students who were successful with their auditions earlier this year. We hope our attending students enjoy this experience! Our IM teachers will not be taking lessons or rehearsals next week on Wed/Thurs as they will be attending the camp. Rehearsal and lessons on Friday will go ahead as usual. Students will have the opportunity to focus on their musical skills at our IM workshop. Information will be sent out to instrumental music families regarding the workshop which is planned for week 4, on Thursday 5 and Friday 6 of August. Due to the guidelines we are not able to invite parents/carers/families to attend this concert, however we look forward to sharing this music with them at a later stage.

Please ensure that your child attends rehearsals regularly, unless they are unwell. If they are absent due to illness, please send an email to your child's conductor so they are aware of the absence. We appreciate your support in ensuring students attend rehearsals regularly, as it assists them with building their skills and repertoire, and preparation for performances which is important for the entire ensemble/choir.

Thank you for supporting your child's involvement in the music program!

Event Schedule

Week 3 - West Cent Camps - selected students who have completed a successful audition - no IM lessons or rehearsals on Wed/Thurs in week 3.

5 and 6 August - Instrumental Music 2 day workshop - all IM students - this will conclude with a concert for students/staff. Due to space parents/families will not be invited to this concert and music performances will be held for families to attend later in the term.

Spring Fair - Choral and ensemble performances which we are able to schedule and information about it will be provided prior to the event.

Rehearsal schedule for 2021

Monday 7:45am - 8:30am - Junior Choir (students in years 2 and 3) - in the music room
Tuesday 7:45am - 8:30am - Senior Choir (students in years 4 - 6) - in the music room
Wednesday 7:45am - 8:30am - Junior Strings (this is for second year string students) - in the music room
Thursday 7:45am - 8:30am - Senior Strings - in the music room
Thursday 2:50pm - 4:00pm - Senior Band - in the hall
Friday 7:45am - 8:30am - Junior Band - in the hall

Music teacher contact details

Alex Chin - String teacher and conductor (Wednesdays and Thursdays)
email: axchi4@eq.edu.au
James Kukulies - Band teacher and conductor (Thursdays and Fridays)
email: jkuku2@eq.edu.au
Naomi Lindh - Classroom music teacher and choral conductor (Monday - Friday)
mail: nclos1@eq.edu.au

Chappy’s Chat

John Erichsen

As the westerly winds arrive, accompanied by chilly mornings, we know it must be Term 3 and our attention turns to the Spring Fair. Planning and preparation is well under way but now we will see some movement around the schools as details are checked and resources inspected. This is a very exciting time for our school and we need to appreciate all the hard work that goes on, behind to the scenes, to make the day such a wonderous celebration of our school.

Our District Athletics representatives had a very successful meet earlier this week, with several making it through to the Regional Trials. We wish them well in their endeavours to progress to the State Carnival.

As lockdowns increase around our country, we, in Queensland, are fortunate to be able to continue to move around and catch up with family and friends. I am sure it is no longer taken for granted when once it might have been. It is wonderful that we can still have parents on the school grounds, while other parts of the country are back in remote learning. Thank you to all the parents wearing masks while on school grounds and social distancing where possible.

Next week will be especially exciting for our year 5 students with a wildlife incursion in the hall on Tuesday and then their Kokoda Challenge on Thursday. I am sure there will be some great opportunities for those students to gain knowledge and understanding while overcoming some new challenges.

As I move around the school I am hearing some amazing accounts of the Creative Generation performance last week. The commitment and dedication of our C Gen staff and students is clearly evident. Well done to everyone involved and I hope you had an awesome experience along the way.

For those looking for a little extra motivation over the next month or so, we have the Tokyo Olympics followed by the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Both of these events will showcase the best of human athletic achievements, while highlighting the strength of human spirit. I hope you find some moments of true inspiration in the coming weeks for whatever challenge is next in your journey.

Have a brilliant week!

John Erichsen
(Chappy)

Uniform Shop

Michelle Fanning

Hi everyone!

Welcome to week 2 of Term 3! I hope you had a chance to have a little R&R over the school holidays.

NAME YOUR UNIFORMS

Just a reminder to please name ALL of your school uniforms. During winter we see a huge increase in lost property especially with Polar Fleece jackets, Sports jackets etc. We would love all items to get back to their owners!

LOW STOCK

I am currently waiting on Gold Polo Shirts in sizes 6, 8, 10 and 12. I'm hoping they will arrive next week.

Shorts in size 6 are on their way also.

HAIR ACCESSORIES

Headbands are back! My order finally arrived, so I have a few new cute styles including hair ties that arrived this week so check them out online or pop into the store.

OPENING DAYS AND TIMES FOR TERM 3

We will remain APPOINTMENT ONLY as well as having the online store for easy ordering. The appointment days are Tuesday and Thursday each week from 8:15am – 10:15am

BOOKING APPOINTMENTS ONLINE

There is an option when booking online for new families joining us to make a 20 minute appointment to allow time for trying on uniforms etc. The usual 10 minute appointments will apply for current families who know what sizes and items they are after.

For any reason you cannot make your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible via the uniform store email or call the school office to leave a message.

When visiting the store, enter and exit the school grounds through the Oxley Road gate near the tennis courts. The uniform store is located just to the left of the courts.

To book an appointment click on the following link

ONLINE STORE

The uniform shop has an online store, so if you already know the sizes you're after you can order and pay online with ease. All uniform items can be found online except for 2nd hand garments. Items ordered online will be passed on to your child’s teacher

The online store can be found on the link below

DONATIONS

We are always grateful for donations of 2nd hand uniforms that are in a freshly washed, saleable condition. We also ask that any donations are SCHOOL BRANDED ITEMS ONLY, so no items from any outside stores.

If you were thinking of going through the wardrobes, please do! When donating, please either drop them in on a Tuesday or Thursday morning when the store is open, or you may leave them with the ladies in the office any other day. Please DO NOT leave bags at the uniform store if it is closed.

Thank you for your generosity and understanding.

• Please be advised that refunds will only be given if you have the original receipt. Items should not have been washed, worn and any tags must still be attached.
• We encourage customers to use their EFTPOS or credit cards when purchasing.

The email address for uniform store is www.uniformshop@gracevillepandc.org.au

Thanks everyone!

Michelle

Tuckshop News

Tuckshop News 2021 – week 3 & 4

Welcome Back! Here we go into term 3 and already it’s flying by!

We really need volunteers please! Wednesday to Friday has seen our order numbers double and that’s a lot of wraps and party pies to make in just a few hours!

Please sign up using the link below – or just pop in after drop off or while you’re waiting for reading groups! Your 1/2 hour of bagging some pizzas or Anzacs cookies is a huge help to us. We would love to see your face pop up at the window and little ones are most welcome!

Simply click on the link below and pop in your name or just drop on by.

SignUp.com:

Term 3 - MENU NEWS

Remember orders close at 8am everyday so get in early to ensure it goes through in time.

Monday – Fried rice
Wednesday – Sushi order on Monday by 12pm for Wednesday delivery
Thursday – Beef and Chicken Burgers

Beef lasagna is now available daily and Mini Spinach and Ricotta Sausage Rolls are perfect for our much cooler weather and are the perfect sized winter warmer snack!

We have also added Carrot Cake mini muffins to the menu @ $2.30

Thank you to all our regular drop in and volunteers that answer our call every week/month/term. We look forward to seeing you this term and also can’t wait to see some new faces pop in and just help out for as long as you can.

If you have any questions or concerns and you’d like to speak with us please email tuckshop@gracevillepandc.org.au or pop in for a quick chat we’d love to hear from you.

See you at Tuckshop!

Alex and Emma
Tuckshop Convenors 2021

P&C News

!!VOLUNTEER HELP NEEDED PLEASE!!

As the Fair Committee moves into the final phase of planning for the Fair we need more volunteers to come forward from the school community to help with the Fair operations in the run up to and on the day of The Spring Fair. We need:

• A Bookings Coordinator
• A Compliance Officer
• An Operations Coordinator

Full support and guidance will be provided by the committee to these volunteers but we just need extra capacity and more hands on deck! If you have been thinking about helping out but not come forward, or wanting to get involved but not able to make the commitment yet, this is your chance to join the committee and make a real difference. The GSS Spring Fair needs you! Please email Faith at Fete.convenor@gracevillepandc.org.au to get started right away!”

Spellathon

Unfortunately, Spellathon class prizes washed out last week on Friday 16 July, but they will be replaced by an alternative class prize for those who missed out.

It was such a great start to the day with the sun shining and classes 2H, 1H and Prep FK all bouncing, jostling and racing their way through the obstacle course. I did hear "this is the best day ever" at least once amidst the laughter and exuberance!

Unluckily the wet weather that blew over made the giant, inflatable, obstacle course unsafe to use and 3/4 CS, 4L, 6A and 5/6 EH all missed out due to the rain. An alternative prize will be organised for these classes in liaison with the leadership team at school and their class teachers. There'll also be some ice-blocks for the class coming your way!

Voluntary contribution

The P&C are again supporting the voluntary contribution scheme in 2021. Voluntary contributions are payments made by families and collected by the P&C on behalf of the school, with all funds transferred directly to the school. This year the amount is set at $100 per student, but we understand this may not be affordable for all families, so we encourage you to make whatever contribution you are comfortable with. 75% of funds raised will be dedicated to improving and maintaining IT resources and the remainder will be spent on other learning resources.

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

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

Tennis Term 3

TENNIS HOT SHOTS –LIMITED PLACES STILL AVAILABLE FOR TERM 3!

Limited places are still available for term 3 tennis lessons.

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!

Community Notices

Hounds Graceville Touch Football Association are hosting a JUNIOR Touch Football Summer competition

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

Summer Season 2, 2021 Competition Information

• ‪Start: 29/08/2021
• Finish: 21/11/2021
• For ages U6–U18
• Fees start from $10.00 per person per game or $135 for the season inclusive of your very own Hounds playing singlet
• To register to Hounds as an Individual player follow this link -:

• Queries and team
  nominations to: houndstouch@gmail.com

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