22 June 2023

Newsletter Articles

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

I would like to thank the staff, parents and students for a positive finish to the term.

Interschool sport comes to a close

Interschool Sport for the year 5 and 6 students has come to an end for the term. Thank you to the coaches who gave up their mornings and breaks to support students in their chosen sports. A special congratulations to our Year 6 Girls Soccer team who won their division and now will challenge the winners of zone B in the SEQ interschool sport finals. Congratulations Miss Codognotto and girls!

The FUSE Cup: Mario Kart esports competition

Congratulations to our Year 5 and Year 6 esports students for being selected as our final eight to represent Worongary State School at The FUSE Cup held at Emmanuel College on Wednesday 14th June. Students have been undertaking extra practice in getting a good start, drifting, jumping, using items to protect themselves in game and keeping a good race line.

Our students displayed impressive teamwork, resilience, and sportsmanship during the event. They were able to showcase their gaming skills while fostering trust and friendships with like-minded students during a friendly competition. Way to go, Team Worongary!

Kids in Space Showcase

The atmosphere was electric at Griffith University (Gold Coast) as students from our school attended the much-anticipated National Kids in Space QLD Showcase Event on Tuesday 13th June. The program was delivered in partnership between The Andy Thomas Space Foundation, The Australian Space Agency and Makers Empire. This special event provided a unique opportunity for students and teachers to share and celebrate their incredible design thinking projects with an authentic audience.

The room was abuzz with excitement as students eagerly explained their projects to a diverse audience including students from other primary and high schools, teachers, parents, and special guests.

Strings Concert

Thank you to Ms Jones and Mr Ugarte for another brilliant music concert showcasing our amazing talented students. There were so many smiling faces on our families who could see their children’s talents. Thank you to our families for your support, perseverance and encouragement as your children practise at home and at school. This was a great way to finish the term!

Wellbeing Psychologist Community Events

During term 3, we are looking forward to providing support to parents and carers, through the delivery of a number of parent information sessions, addressing resilience, confidence, and anxiety. We look forward to welcoming you to attend these sessions and to answering any questions you may have about resilience, confidence, and anxiety from our school-based Wellbeing Psychologist Ms Julie O’Brien. These times are below:

• Understanding and addressing anxiety in children

Anxiety is a normal part of life and can affect anyone, including children. It can be difficult for parents and carers to know the difference between normal worries and something more serious. We are pleased to offer an information session to help you to build your understanding and skills to address anxiety in children.

During this session, we will explore:

• What is anxiety
• Common anxieties at different developmental stages
• What problematic anxiety looks like
• Why children may be anxious
• Strategies for parents
• Helpful resources and where to go for further assistance?

When: Wednesday 12 July 1.45 – 3.00pm
Venue: F block – ground floor classroom area
Presenter: Julie O'Brien, Wellbeing psychologist
Register: jobri360@eq.edu.au

• Raising resilient children – Online session

Responding to interest from a number of parents who were unable to attend our earlier session. We are excited to announce an online repeat of the "Raising Resilient Children" seminar held during term 2.

Would you like to help your children develop skills and strategies to manage their emotions and overcome challenges? Triple P's Raising resilient children seminar can really help. Learn more about giving your children the know how to tackle problems now and in the future.

This 90-minute session is suitable for parents and carers of children up to 12 years and offers strategies to help children build resilience.

This raising resilient children seminar can help you:

• Teach kids to manage their emotions
• Develop your child's ability to bounce back from disappointments
• Show your children how to express strong feelings in a healthy way
• Raise children who can deal the with stress
• Encourage problem solving and a positive attitude.

When: Wednesday 19 July 6.00 – 7.30pm
Venue: Online
Presenter: Julie O'Brien, Wellbeing psychologist
Register: Please register to be provided information to access the online session jobri360@eq.edu.au

• Raising Confident, Competent Children Parenting Seminar – On site and online sessions

Would you like your children to become more cooperative, independent and capable?

Triple P's Raising Confident, Competent Children seminar helps parents and carers understand more about developing kids' social and life skills, so they can be their best now and in the future.

This 90-minute session is suitable for parents and carers of children up to 12 years and offers strategies to help make family life easier, less stressful - and happier!

Triple P's Raising Confident, Competent Children seminar can help you:

• Get your kids to cooperate
• Develop your child's social skills
• Teach your kids to solve problems and be independent
• Raise kids who are respectful and caring
• Show your child how to set and achieve goals

When: Wednesday 9 August 1.30 - 3.00pm
Venue: F block – ground floor classroom area
Presenter: Julie O'Brien, Wellbeing psychologist
Register: jobri360@eq.edu.au

And again,

When: Wednesday 9 August 6.00 – 7.30pm
Venue: Online
Presenter: Julie O'Brien, Wellbeing psychologist
Register: Please register to be provided information to access the online session jobri360@eq.edu.au

Have a brilliant break and looking forward to seeing you next term.

Regards,
Adam

FROM THE SENIOR DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

Year 6 Camp

Without a doubt, the highlight of week 10 for our Year 6 team has been school camp. Our students spent three days at Emu Gully participating in a range of activities based on historical events and theatres of conflict including WW1, WW2 and Vietnam. These activities focused on experiencing and demonstrating the core character values of Courage, Mateship, Sacrifice and Perseverance.

The core activities include the Western Front, Siege of Tobruk, Bridge over the River Kwai, Tunnel Rats of Vietnam, Hellfire Pass, The Kokoda Track and the Night Walk. To succeed in these physically challenging tasks our students needed to think outside the square, listen to each other and identify strengths within their team. It was wonderful to see our students step up to the task and to lead, communicate more effectively and work as an effective team.

When asked for some feedback this is what some of our students had to say:

“The mud pit was the best! We really had to work together and help each other through it.”
“I liked that everyone listened to me when I stepped up and led the group. I learned that I have leadership skills, it was so cool.”
“I liked how people stepped outside of their comfort zones.”
“We expanded our friendship groups.”
“We did what we thought we couldn’t.”
“We supported each other.”
“We learnt time management, we had to be accountable for ourselves – the push ups helped!! But don’t tell our parents.”
“We had so much fun.”

On behalf of the school leadership team, I would like to acknowledge the commitment of our Year 6 teachers who invested so much of their personal time to ensure that our students had an amazing experience. Special thanks to Ms Williamson for her amazing job organising this camp.

Kristy Hutchison
SNR DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

FROM THE JUNIOR DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff, students and community of Worongary State school for welcoming me so readily into the school community. I have worked across many schools in the South East Region and starting fresh is always challenging – let alone starting in the middle of a term. However, the students at Worongary are just so caring, happy and friendly, and have actively greeted me by name each and every day – what a credit to their parents they are.

I also take my hat off to the staff of Worongary State School as they have welcomed myself and Kristy so warmly and I genuinely look forward to working with every staff member to make Worongary the very best school that it can be. This is an exciting time as we build upon the best of what is already established at Worongary State School.

Kristine Sleeth
Deputy Principal

HEAD OF INCLUSION

Interschool Sport
Girls Soccer Champions

A MASSIVE congratulations to the Year 5/6 Soccer Team who dominated the whole season. They showed strong team-work and were sweet, but fierce. We were so proud every week walking onto the fields because our girls were not only brilliant players, but so polite and caring towards the teams they were playing against. We not only won our division to make it to the Grand Final, but took out the win spectacularly against Marymount College, scoring 5-3.

A huge shout out to the 4/5 Girls who made the most impressive improvement to their skills. I had parents and even teachers from other schools’ comment on how it looked like they were a completely different team by the end of the season. This shows their dedication to practice at lunch times and before school times. WELL, DONE!!!

Your Proud Teachers,
Mrs Donovan, PE Teacher
Miss Codognotto, Coach

WORONGARY STATE SCHOOL 30TH ANNIVERSARY
SATURDAY 21 OCTOBER 10AM TO 3PM