22 April 2022

From the Principal

Zoe Smith

Hello,

Welcome to Term 2! I hope you enjoyed a relaxing Easter break.

We are excited to get the new term underway and look forward to seeing you all in and around the school in the weeks to come.

As you may be aware, the first three weeks of school all start with a Public Holiday. Children do not come to school on Monday 25 April and Monday 2 May.

As we start Term 2, there are some slight changes to COVID isolation requirements.

• A child or staff member who tests positive for COVID is still required to isolate for 7 days.
• A child or staff member who is a close contact and who has not had COVID before, is still required to isolate for 7 days.
• A child or staff member who is a close contact and who HAS tested positive to COVID within 12 weeks prior, is not required to isolate and can attend school.

It is important to understand that children who are showing any signs of illness are not allowed to attend school until the symptoms have cleared. A child who is noticed to have signs of illness will be sent home with a RAT and asked to return when all symptoms of illness have cleared. We are very grateful to our families who despite the inconvenience, are keeping their children at home if they show signs of illness and/or who arrive in a timely manner to pick up their child if they get a call from the school. Don’t forget if your child suffers from seasonal hay fever, asthma or something similar, it is a good idea to get a doctor’s certificate with the symptoms described. The school will continue to implement the ventilation strategies that were advised as a result of the audit in February.

On ANZAC Day we encourage you to join the community in the service at Memorial Park. The service in the park starts at 7.30am however your child may wish to join other school students in a march from the Graceville train station to the park. If children would like to join in the march, they need to wear their school uniform, including a school hat and meet us at the Graceville Train Station (school side) at 7am. The March starts at 7.15am. A hat will be very important as we may be standing in the sun for up to an hour and a half. A water bottle is also a very good idea.

Next Thursday 28th, our school is hosting an Open Day for educators from the South East Education Region. We will have 80 guest educators who will attend professional learning in the hall for most of the day. Due to this, parking around the school will be more limited than usual in the morning only. Afternoon pick up will not be impacted as our guests will be leaving by 1.30pm.

Finally, you will receive some information very soon about the Spell-a-thon which will take place at the end of May. This is an important fundraiser from which all money raised goes directly to purchasing resources to help support and develop literacy. Last year the school was able to purchase new readers to be used in the lower school and purchase sets of class readers for the upper school which are more engaging for our students to read. The teachers are always keen to have updated and interesting reading resources or great anchor texts for them to use that are related to and support areas of the wider curriculum.

Kind Regards,
Zoe Smith

Newsletter Articles

Deputy Principal

Lisa McKeaten

Naplan Year 3 & 5

Year 3 & 5 students will participate in Naplan testing online (except for the Year 3 Writing which will be on paper, handwritten).

All classes will participate in practice tests in the last couple of weeks of Term 1.

The actual Naplan tests will run over a 2-week period – 11-21 May.

For more information please have a look at the website:

Teachers can speak with you about Naplan during your Parent/Teacher interview if you have any concerns or questions.

If you are intending to withdraw your child from one of more of the Naplan tests

or your child requires adjustments made for them, due to a disability, please ask the class teacher for appropriate forms.

All Staff & students are invited to join us next Monday Anzac Day

Graceville Memorial Park Service – Sherwood-Indooroopilly RSL Sub Branch

7:00am - Assemble at corner Appel St and Verney Rd East
7:15am - March off down Verney Rd E onto Oxley Rd to Graceville Memorial Park
7:30am – Service at Graceville War Memorial, Graceville Memorial Park, 173 Oxley Rd, Graceville

Students to wear school uniform and hats! (please remind your class before the end of the week)

Out of Catchment Enrolments

Applications to be considered for an Out of Catchment Enrolment at one of our great state schools in the Oxley Road Cluster (Corinda SS, Graceville SS, Oxley SS and Sherwood SS) are now open.

Please go to the school websites to check if you are an ‘out of catchment applicant’ for the school of your choice.

Please understand that putting your name onto a waiting list, does not mean that you are guaranteed a placement.

Graceville State School works closely with the schools and principals from each of schools in the Oxley Road Cluster in order to best support our education community.

Thank you for your support of state school education.

Deputy Principal

Maree Hass

ANZAC Day

As a school we will be commemorating ANZAC Day with a fully school assembly over zoom on Tuesday April 26.

Under 8s Week

We will be celebrating Under 8s Week this year on Thursday May 19 with fun and activities on the oval for our prep to year 2 students, 9 – 10:30am and being outdoors hopefully in the sunshine, all parents are welcome to attend and join in the fun!

P-2 Assemblies this term

Our fortnightly assemblies will be done over zoom in individual classrooms to start off the term. When we can change back to meeting in the hall I will let everyone know.

Preparing for Prep 2023

Our Prep waiting list for out of catchment has opened. The waiting list must be completed in person, no forms can be sent out or received by email.

Please visit the following links which details our school enrolment management plan and also provides a link to the catchment area for Graceville State School:

In catchment families may now obtain enrolment forms from the office and commence this process. Remember that when returning these forms that 2 sets of ‘proof of residency’ documents will be required as well.

Prep Information evening for 2023 will be on Wednesday July 20 at 7pm in our school hall.

Prep interviews will then follow for the rest of term 3. Bookings will be online via a link to be given out through the Information session. These meetings will 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 using our online booking system also which will be live from July 20.

Session 1: Tuesday Oct 18 OR Thursday Oct 20, 9 – 10:00am Focus on Fine Motor Skills
Session 2: Tuesday Nov 1, 9 – 10:00 Speech and Language Development
Session 3: Monday Nov 14 OR Wednesday Nov 16, 9 – 10:00am Focus on Reading

Prep Orientation meetings: Thursday November 24

Meet the class session: Thursday December 1, 9 – 10am

Music News

Naomi Lindh

Welcome back to the new term! We hope all of our students and families had a relaxing holiday and Easter. Thank you to all of the students who have returned to lessons and/or rehearsals this week. As the weather becomes cooler and we will continue to have some windows/doors open for ventilation during our early morning rehearsals, we strongly encourage students to bring a jacket or jumper with them so they are comfortable during their rehearsals.

We hope our students enjoy returning to school and music lessons/rehearsals this week!

Our rehearsal schedule and teacher contact details are listed below. If your child is not able to attend a rehearsal, please contact their conductor.

The music rehearsal schedule for 2022

Monday 7:45am – Senior Band (in the school hall)
Tuesday 7:45am - Senior Choir (interested students in years 4 - 6 - in the music room)
Wednesday 7:45am - Junior Strings (in the school hall)
Thursday 7:45am – Senior Strings (in the school hall)
Friday 7:45am - Junior Choir (interested students in years 2 - 3 - in the music room)
Friday 7:45am – Junior Band (starting in term 2 in May - in the school hall)

Music Teacher Contact Details

Alex Chin - Instrumental Music Teacher - Strings - Email: achin4@eq.edu.au
James Kukulies - Instrumental Music Teacher - Band - Email: jkuku2@eq.edu.au
Naomi Lindh - Classroom Music Teacher/Choir Conductor - Email: nclos1@eq.edu.au

Chappy’s Chat

John Erichsen

Welcome back everyone! The slight chill in the mornings signals that Term 2 is here and with it a full 10 weeks of exciting learning opportunities in a myriad of fields. From learning more about ANZAC Day and Harmony Day, to school Athletics, Year 6 camp and the Cairns experience, students will be presented with wonderful chances to strengthen their understanding and deepen their knowledge. We hope this term is successful for all in meeting their learning goals, strengthening friendships and journeying where skills, interests and passions lead.

As we head into this coming long weekend, we will commemorate ANZAC Day, where we stop the hustle and bustle of life to remember and reflect on the incredible sacrifices made by so many during times of war and conflict. Sacrifices made to restore peace and protect our way of life. Sacrifices made to defend countries and ideals. Sacrifices made to free the oppressed and raise hope. Sacrifices made by men and women who answered the call.

I hope you are well rested in preparation for the term ahead and all it will bring. I trust the holiday break was filled with positive experiences, shared with family and friends. May the memories of those times enrich your soul and last a lifetime.

Have a great week!

John Erichsen
(Chappy)

Uniform Shop

Michelle Fanning

Hi all!

Welcome to week 1 of our 2nd term.

I hope you had some time for a little r & r after a crazy Term 1!

WINTER STOCK

We are well stocked with winter uniform at the moment so please feel free to make an appointment or order online. Fabric shortages are still an issue in Australia so please don’t hesitate to buy in case of further delays.

YEAR 6 COMMEMORATIVE SHIRTS

After a long wait for Gold Polos to arrive, I can now go ahead and organise the Seniors and House Captains shirts.

Year 6 students are given the opportunity to purchase a Commemorative Shirt to celebrate their final year of Primary School. Gold Polos, long sleeve Gold Polos or Rugby Shirts are screen printed with artwork and the class lists on the back. House shirts (for House Captains only) are able to have their House shirts printed with “House Captain".

Gold Polos can be purchased for $30, l/s Gold Polos $35 Rugby Shirts $33 and House Shirts $35. Existing polos and Rugby shirts that are in excellent condition with no holes, pulls or stains can also be used for printing.

Printing costs:

$10 per item on Gold Polos, l/s Gold Polos and Rugby Shirts
$15 for “House Captain” printed on House Shirt

The best way to order is via our online store. Please remember to add your child’s name and class. When ordering via your phone, please add your child’s details next to your name.

You're also welcome to make an appointment on a Tuesday or Thursday and pay in person.

ALL ORDERS MUST BE MADE BY MONDAY THE 2ND OF MAY

Should you have any queries please email me at the below address.
uniformshop@gracevillepandc.org.au

LOW STOCK / OUT OF STOCK

We are running low on size 6 shorts, size 10 sports jackets and we’re out of stock of quite a few sizes in the House shirts.

I have re ordered all of the above so if there was an item you would like to pre order, please email me at the address below so I can pop your name in my order book.

DONATIONS

Could donations please be given during opening hours only or handed in at the office if absolutely necessary. Please do not leave bags outside the uniform shop. Thank you.

DRESSES

Please note that due to fabric issues we now have limited stock in our dresses . We have now sold out of size 2’s and 4’s.

I will not be ordering any more in the near future so if you know you would like a dress, please don’t delay.

OPENING DAYS AND TIMES

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 passed on to their teacher.

PLEASE NOTE – When buying online please add your child’s FULL NAME and CLASS on the FIRST page. Thank you.

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, saleable condition with no tears or holes 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.

PAYMENT

We encourage you to use Eftpos or credit cards when purchasing.

REFUNDS

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:
uniformshop@gracevillepandc.org.au

Thanks everyone!
Michelle

Tuckshop News

Welcome Back! Here we go into Term 2 and we can only hope that it rolls a little smoother than last term. We hope everyone had a lovely break and you are as ready as we are to tackle the term ahead.

A new term means a new call out for volunteers! We are so crazy busy on a Wednesday/ Thursday/ Friday with 150 plus orders on these days. It is impossible to do this by ourselves.

If you can manage a few hours, please jump onto Qkr! and add yourself to the volunteer roster. If our orders keep growing and we don’t have volunteers to help we may need to consider capping our order numbers! If you don’t want to see this happen, then please sign up and help out.

Use the Volunteer Menu in the Qkr! App – we would love to see some new faces!

Any spare time you have would be greatly appreciated.

Menu News

We are still having a few supply issues with some of our products. So again, this term please be patient if one of your favourites goes missing, we promise to get it back asap or find something similar to replace it with.

Also due to the overwhelming love of Chicken and Beef Burgers we are going to separate the items and have them available on different days.

As such our weekly specials will now be:

MONDAY – Fried Rice
TUESDAY – CHICKEN BURGERS
WEDNESDAY – Sushi (to be ordered by Midday Tuesday)
THURSDAY – BEEF BURGERS

Reminders

Please be mindful that

• Cutoff time for ordering is 8am every morning
• Sushi orders must be in by 12pm Tuesday for Wednesday delivery (remember to order through the Sushi menu)
• If your child is sick please cancel the order before 8am on your app, if it is after that time please call us and we can help
• The Oops I forgot menu is not to be used for placing orders if you don’t make 8am cut off. We don’t always get the chance to check the menu in time before first break so your child might miss out. The menu is only to be used when life happens, and lunch gets left at home or unforeseen circumstances at school.

As always, 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 2022

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