16 September 2021

From the Principal

Zoe Smith

Hello,

The Spring school holidays are now upon us! I can’t wait, September is my favourite month of the year!

I would like to thank our school community for their support this week. We appreciated your understanding as we managed a challenging situation in the school. The safety of our children and staff will always be our highest priority.

We would like to wish Mrs Maunder and her family all the best as they prepare to welcome a new member to the family. Mrs Maunder will return late next year.

Next term we welcome Ms Anna Denobriga to take over from Mr Arnold. We wish Mr Arnold all the best as he embarks on an exciting journey as an author. Mr Arnold will be back to start the 2022 school year.

We are very pleased to announce that Ms Hass will be returning next term. Ms Hass is fit and well and looking forward to returning to work four days a week in Term 4.

We have a big Term 4! Year 5 and Year 4 camps take place in the first month and Spring Fair is planned for Saturday 6 November. Please save the date as we would love your support on the day.

Don’t forget Monday 4 October is a public holiday. Next term starts on Tuesday 5 November.

Please stay safe and we will see you back next term.

Zoe Smith

Newsletter Articles

Acting Deputy Principal

Belinda Martin

Term 4

Get Set for Prep proposed sessions: Focus on Reading, Focus on Fine Motor Skills, Introduction to Speech & Language Development

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 using the booking system (same as above) and select the sessions you wish to attend as we will have a limited number of spaces for each session. Please

Session 1: Wednesday Oct 20 OR Friday Oct 22, 9 – 10:30am Focus on Fine Motor Skills
Session 2: Thursday Nov 4, 9 – 10:30 Introduction to Speech and Language Development with our School Speech Language Pathologist
Session 3: Monday Nov 8 OR Friday Nov 12, 9 – 10:30am Focus on Reading

Prep Orientation meetings: Thursday November 25

Meet the class session: Thursday December 2, 9 – 10am

Junior Assemblies in term 3 @2pm

Hopefully with restrictions ending this weekend we will be able to resume our junior assemblies in week 8 to celebrate the achievements of our students with class awards and Gotcha certificates. I’m sure the children have been proudly bringing home their certificates to share with you. 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:

Deputy Principal

Lisa McKeaten

Date Claimer: Sports and Music Photo Day Tuesday 26th October
The new Date for Public Holiday to replace Ekka Wednesday is Friday 29th October

Swimming Term 4

We have organised our swimming program for Term 4. With the COVID requirements for cleaning of the pool change rooms between lessons (when required), we have worked out what is possible. We are offering swimming to all year levels this year. In Term 1 we had Year 2 and 4 participate in swimming lessons. We will have intensive swimming lessons in small groups for our Prep & Year 1 students. This will incur a cost to families. Hopefully these will commence in Week 2 next term.

Mr Daunt will take swimming lessons with our Year 3, 5 & 6 students. Letters for permission and invoices have been sent out. Invoices for Prep and Year 1 need to be paid by the beginning of Term 4.

Music News

Naomi Lindh

Our IM workshop has been rescheduled for week 1 of next term, on Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 November. Instrumental teachers have emailed the letter regarding the workshop to parents this week. Unfortunately due to our hall space and restrictions we will not be inviting parents or members of the school community to this concert.

This week we are emaiing letters to parents of year 2 and 3 students regarding our instrumental recruitment process for 2022. If your child is currently in year 2 or 3, it is essential for an expression of interest form to be returned for them to be considered for a place in the program. Next term instrumental teachers will meet with all of the students who have returned an expression of interest form as part of the recruitment process.

Please note that the Senior Choir rehearsal will be held on the first week of next term as usual, which will be the first day of the term, due to the public holiday.

We are planning to have our Junior Choir, Senior Choir, Junior Band and Senior Band perform at the Spring Fair. These performances will be held in an outdoor area. Times will be provided next term once they are finalised. Please note that these performances will also only be possible in fine weather and if restrictions permit, however we hope they will be able to happen. Additional performances for the string and band students are also being organised for next term at an assembly performance. We will be inviting one parent/guest per child to these assembly performances in lieu of an evening concert this year, due to restrictions. Instrumental teachers will send for their details out early next term regarding these performances. Recordings will also be made of our choral and instrumental students performing and sent home for students to share with their families.

We hope all of our students and family have a relaxing holiday!

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) email: nclos1@eq.edu.au

Chappy’s Chat

John Erichsen

As Term 3 nears a conclusion, many in the school community will be appreciative of the holidays. Even being able to ditch the school morning routine for a couple of weeks will relieve some of the demands this busy time of year brings. We all have fingers crossed regarding Covid case numbers, restrictions and lockdowns. Whatever your plans for the two weeks, please ensure you are staying safe and keeping abreast of updated news in your area.

Next term will be starting quickly with Year 5 and 4 camps, Interschool sport, swimming lessons and lots of action in preparation for the Spring Fair. From there the term will be full speed ahead towards, assessment, reporting and end of year functions. Don’t forget to take a breath these holidays, refresh and reset for the flurry that will be Term 4, 2021

Wishing families safe travels and wonderful times with families, friends and loved ones. Have a fantastic two weeks and I look forward to catching up next term.

John Erichsen
(Chappy)

Uniform Shop

Michelle Fanning

Hi all!

Welcome to week 10. Term 3 is almost over and the last few months of another school year are just around the corner.

PLAN AHEAD WITH AN APPOINTMENT

Term 4 is extremely busy with many new Prep parents and other new families needing attention. Stock flies out the door in record time so to avoid missing out and waiting periods, you can easily book an appointment ahead of time via the link below.

OPENING DAYS AND TIMES FOR

TERM 4

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

For any reason you cannot make your appointment time, please cancel online asap so others don’t miss out. When visiting the store, it’s important to enter and exit the school grounds via the Oxley Road gate near the tennis courts. The uniform store is located just to the left of the courts.

ONLINE STORE

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

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

DONATIONS

We are always grateful for donations of 2nd hand uniforms that are in freshly washed clean, saleable condition. We also ask that donations are our SCHOOL BRANDED ITEMS ONLY, so no items from any outside stores. Thank you for your generosity and understanding.

• We encourage you to use Eftpos or credit 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, worn and any tags should still be attached.

Email address for school uniform store is:

Thanks everyone. I hope you all enjoy a little R&R over the school holidays.

Michelle

Tuckshop News

Hi Everyone

WE MADE IT! Hard to believe we are at the end of another term and the last term for 2021 is just around the corner.

Once again THANK YOU to our small crew of volunteers that have carried us through this term. Every week this term has been bigger than the week before and we are so very grateful for the familiar faces and new faces we have seen to help get lunch to the school community every day.

Term 4 is always our busiest term so please if you have any spare time look out for the sign up link next term and pop in and give us hand. We’d love to see you! Walk ins welcome!!

Have a fabulous break everyone – stay safe and healthy!

We look forward to seeing everyone’s smiling faces again next term on Tuesday 5th October.

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

School Plus

The Graceville Lightning Swim Club

The Graceville Lightning Swim Club is back!

Come and join us for a fun season of Friday night swimming! Swim club starts back on 8th October, 6pm and runs every Friday night through Term 4 and Term 1, 2022.

Who can join?

Anyone over the age of 5 can join and swim. Gain experience racing in the pool against your friends in a fun and supportive environment. Assisted swims are provided for the younger swimmers until they feel confident on their own.

2021/22 membership prices have been reduced and start at only $50 for our younger swimmers for the entire season!

And Friday night dinner is sorted - enjoy a burger or sausage from the BBQ or a drink from the canteen. And don’t forget the lollies for the kids!

All are welcome to come along to one of the club nights to check out the action. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to the pool!

Visit the link below or email secretary@gracevillelightning.org.au for more information.

Community Notices

The Interschool Tennis Cup was held on Sunday 12th September at the David Turbayne Tennis Centre, East Brisbane.

The event is a participation-based grassroots tennis event run by our school tennis provider – Tennis For Kids. Open to all children who have received tennis coaching (from any coach), the event was a great opportunity for kids to play alongside their friends and represent their school.

Nine schools participated on the day and Graceville State School was represented by 21 players across Red, Orange and Green Ball divisions.

All the kids demonstrated wonderful sportsmanship and represented the school with honour. And for the record we are pleased to announce the following results for Graceville State School…….

Red Ball Division (Grade 1-3) – FOURTH
Orange Ball Division (Grade 4-5) – THIRD
Green Ball Division (Grade 5-6) – FIFTH
Overall School Result - FOURTH

Congratulations to all our representatives – Not only on the result but also on your sportsmanship and behaviour on-court.

Coding Classes