14 September 2016

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL

Happy Holiday

On behalf of all the staff at Worongary State School I wish all our students and their families a happy and safe holiday. Please remember that school recommences on Tuesday 4 October, I'll take this opportunity to remind you that Monday 17 October is a pupil free day. If you need care for this time please contact Helping Hands or your chosen After School Care provider.

If you notice any unusual activity around the school over the holidays please contact School Watch.

School Drop Off Zone and Student Safety

As a parent, you are no doubt aware that children do suffer from 'tunnel vision'. They only see what they are focused on and at times can suffer from 'selective hearing'. The most obvious time that this occurs is straight after school as they head home. Children are focused on getting out of the gate, into cars, crossing roads and seeing their parents and friends after school. I have to say that your car, other cars and other road users are not their first thought. They know the rules, they understand safety, but they are children and behave accordingly.

We have had a couple of near misses just recently with children not obeying road rules, not looking left and right, riding bikes and scooters without a helmet and taking serious risks. When driving near a school (Worongary SS included) be prepared for the unexpected. Keep to the speed limit and keep an eye out for our children.

At home please talk to your child about being safe, looking both ways, taking care and taking their time.

In the drop off zone please keep to the 2 minutes wait zone and please stay with your car. This area is sometimes monitored by Gold Coast City Council and they are authorised to issue fines for incorrect parking.

Please use and teach your children to use the crossings at each end of the car park area. This is once again for their safety and the safety of all drivers. The crossing zone is clearly marked. Drivers are reminded that they must give way to all pedestrians on the crossing. Parents, please do not urge your children to cross at any other point.

Boundary Fences

A trend is starting of children climbing and jumping over the school boundary fences to enter and leave the school premises. This practice is unsafe as well as causing damage to the school property. Please talk to your children about using the correct entry and exit points and definitely do not encourage them to jump the fence to join you. Thank you.

Dojo Awards

Congratulations to all our students who have received their Bronze Dojo Badge. Our target is that every student will achieve this award before the end of the year. A special congratulations to all those students who have received their Silver Dojo Badge and special congratulations to the 8 students who have now received their Gold Badge, and are now working towards their Platinum Badge.

Attendance

Student attendance is an indicator of success at school. While we do recognize that students, just like adults, become ill and are unable to attend some days, it is important that they are present every day they are well. This includes being on time for the commencement of every school day, and remaining until the end of the day. Our times are 9.00 am to 3.00 pm.

If you are unsure of your child's current attendance rate please do not hesitate to contact your class teacher via Dojo or email or in person to find out. Our target is 95% attendance. Students who attain 95% or greater attendance are acknowledged every term.

Prep

Commencing in 2017, Prep is considered to be a compulsory part of schooling. It is therefore a requirement that all children, who will be turning 5 by 30 June 2017 will be enrolled in Prep.

Early or delayed entry to Prep are options which may be considered in specific circumstances and where it is in a child's best educational interests.

Our enrolments are filling fast and I urge parents to make an appointment to meet with me to complete the enrolment process. All children who live within our catchment, or have siblings currently enrolled at the school, will be automatically accepted. All families who live outside our catchment are required to submit a request in writing outlining why they would like to be considered for enrolment. Students from out of catchment will be considered based on the circumstances for the consideration, ie extenuating circumstances relating to special family circumstances. All other applications will be considered on the basis of order of application and interview.

Early entry to Prep

"Children who are younger than the prescribed age for Prep may be enrolled in Prep if:

• they turn 5 years by 31 July in the year of proposed attendance; and
• the principal is satisfied the child is ready for education in Prep, having regard to their attributes (including ability, aptitude, social and emotional competence, physical development, and level of knowledge and understanding).

The principal may also enrol a child in Prep who is younger than the prescribed age if the child:

• has previously started education that is equivalent to Prep in another state or country; and
• is considered ready for education in Prep, having regard to their attributes (including ability, aptitude, social and emotional competence, physical development, and level of knowledge and understanding).

A program is considered to be equivalent to Prep if it is full-time, school based, and has a defined curriculum delivered in the year prior to Year 1."

Delayed entry to Prep for children who have not previously been enrolled in Prep

Parents may delay their child's entry to Prep (and subsequently Year 1) if they feel that the child is not ready to start school. For example, the child is not ready to cope with the social and emotional demands of schooling, or has delayed development. If you wish to take this option please contact the school for an appointment to discuss this and to ascertain your child's readiness for schooling.

Disability review underway

Parents, carers and students are invited to participate in the independent review into the educational provision for students with disability in Queensland state schools. The review is aimed to ensure world-class inclusive education is available to all students. Have your say through the online survey (link below) before 30 September.

Focus on improving quad bike safety awareness

The increasing popularity of quad bikes for recreational and work use has sparked a key initiative by the Queensland Government. The Ride Ready campaign (link below) has been developed to raise awareness of the risks associated with quad bikes and improve rider safety.

Queensland has consistently recorded the highest number of quad bike related hospitalisations compared to other states. By providing resources and tools to improve quad bike safety, Ride Ready aims to reduce the growing rate of serious injuries and fatalities, particularly for children under the age of 16.

Further information about quad bike safety is also available on the Creating Healthier Workplaces website (link below).

Behaviour

Term Focus

Term 3 Week 10 and Term 1 Week 1 Focus

Prep 2017

Important Dates:

Final Prep Parent Information Session

Thursday 6 October 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Get Set for Prep (children will attend 5 sessions)
Thursday 20 & 27 October and Thursday 3, 10 & 17 November
Please look out for more information about these activities in the Get Set for Prep Newsletter

Triple P Parenting Discussion

Worongary State School, in association with Little Explorers, is inviting interested parents to attend a parent discussion group.

TOPIC: Dealing with Disobedience
DATE: Tuesday 18 October
TIME: 5:00pm – 7:00pm
VENUE: Little Explorers, 61 Explorers Way, Worongary

BOOKING: Please register at least 48 hours prior by going to the link below

Go to 'get started'
Go to 'Triple P course 0-12'
Go to 'Discussion Groups' to find the list of events

If you are having difficulties registering, please contact the school.

Jimbelung (Friend) Indigenous Club

It is great to have seen so many students participating in our Jimbelung Club on Thursday mornings throughout the term. Jimbelung means "friend" in the local Yugambeh language. Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children start the morning with breakfast, then head to the oval or courts with our Titan's Teacher Aides, Josh Fauids and Josh Rogers, for some fun games and activities.

The club will again take place next term and we encourage our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to come along to the courtyard outside the staffroom at 8am Thursday mornings.

Speaking Up Competition

What an excellent end to our Speaking Up Competitions, held last week. Our students did an amazing job, with plenty of stiff competition to select the Year Level Winners. Congratulations to the following children

Prep Year Level Winner: Cooper D Prep Maroon
Year 1 Year Level Winner: Xavier L 1 Maroon
Year 2 Year Level Winner: Coco K 2 Blue
Overall Junior Speaking Up Champion: Coco K 2 Blue
Year 3 Year Level Winner: Sienna D 3 Red
Year 4 Year Level Winner: Jaemee P 4 Green

Year 5 and 6 finals will be held this week, with the Year Level Winners for Years 4, 5 and 6 going on to represent the school at the Nerang Alliance Speaking Up Competition held at Nerang State High School on October 12.

Well done to all students who participated in class and in the finals.

What is bullying?

The National Safe Schools Framework defines bullying as repeated verbal, physical, social or psychological behaviour that is harmful and involves the misuse of power by an individual or group towards one or more persons. Cyberbullying refers to bullying through information and communication technologies, e.g. the internet or mobile devices. Conflicts or fights between equals and single incidents are not defined as bullying. Bullying of any form or for any reason can have long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders.

In short, bullying is a repeated pattern of harmful verbal, physical or social behaviour which involves the misuse of power.

Is every conflict between students bullying?

Not all aggressive or harmful behaviour between people is bullying. While conflicts and aggressive behaviour need to be addressed, it is important to be clear when these behaviours are not actually bullying. The definition of bullying has three critical aspects - a repeated pattern, the misuse of power within relationships, and behaviour which causes harm; all three aspects need to be present in order for behaviour to be called bullying.

Year 6 Parent Volunteers Needed – Year 6 Leaving Ceremony Committee

Every year a committee is formed to organise the decorations for the Year 6 Leaving Ceremony and to decide on the Year 6 cake to celebrate our students transitioning to High School. If you are a Year 6 parent who is interested in being a part of this committee can you please email office@worongaryss.eq.edu.au to register your interest in joining the committee. The first meeting will take place at the school on Friday 14 October at 8:15am.

2016 Interschool Summer Sport Competition

As you would be aware, the Summer Interschool Sport competition commenced on Friday 2 September. It is important that all parents are aware that we have very high expectations regarding the Worongary State School Code of Conduct for Student Behaviour. As outlined in the sport contract, if a student receives 3 RTC's within the sport season they will be excluded for the rest of the sport season. If a student receives an external suspension they will be immediately excluded from their sporting team.

Regards Marilyn Moballe, Principal

Curriculum and Pedagogy Coaches

2016 Griffith University Gold Coast Science Competition

Worongary State School took part in the Griffith University Gold Coast Science Competition again this year, one of the largest science competitions in Australia. A wide range of scientific minds planned and produced some curious projects, displaying their knowledge and understanding of science. Congratulations to the following students for successfully completing a 2016 entry.

Special congratulations must go to our award recipients:

Regards Donna Ermer & Megan Taylor Curriculum and Pedagogy Coaches

EXCURSIONS

PLEASE NOTE ALL EXCURSION NOTES ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE
NO LATE PAYMENTS WILL BE RECEIVED.

LEARNING VINE AWARDS

SPORTS RESULTS

2 September

9 September

Tuckshop & Uniform Shop

Tuckshop News

Tuckshop Ordering for Interschool Sports

If you are having Tuckshop for Big Lunch on a day when your team is required to travel to another venue, please be aware that you will need to leave around 12pm and will not be at school when Big Lunch is normally served at 1.30pm.

We are more than happy to make those particular lunches ahead of time, ready for you to take with you around 12pm so please either include a note on your handwritten order, attach a comment to your online order or come and see us at the Tuckshop on these days.

Your co-operation and advance notice will be most appreciated. A special thank you to those parents and students who remembered to let us know the last two weeks without prompting.

Our Thanks

As always we would like to thank our wonderful volunteers for their regular contribution in the Tuckshop. Lizzy, Narelle, Monique, Lynette, Ann-Marie and Tatiana – thank you very much for dedicating your time to help serve the staff and students of our school.

Also a special mention must go out to Mel who saw me struggling to keep up with the demands of a busy Friday morning and rescued me by popping in for what ended up being a couple of hours. Your help got us through the day.

We hope to see you all again next term. In the meantime, have a great break.

Tuckshop Closed

Please remember that as per normal, we are closed on the last day of term for cleaning.

TUCKSHOP CLOSED FRIDAY 16 SEPTEMBER

UNIFORM SHOP

Opening Hours

Monday: 8:00am-9:00am
Wednesday: 2:15pm-3:15pm
Friday: 8:00am-9:00am
Direct Dial number: 5502 4409

Uniform News

Prep 2017

It's not too early to purchase or layby uniforms for next year. Many parents have been up already getting their 2017 preppies kitted out.

Online option is available for future Preps. Uniforms can be taken home by a sibling already at the school or can be delivered either to the office for collection at your convenience or to your future Prep student at the Get Set For Prep program next term.

Interschool Sports Uniforms

Congratulations to all students selected to represent Worongary State School for the upcoming Interschool Sports season. For those who don't yet have them, the following items are available for purchase online or from the Uniform Shop:

Interschool sports shorts (pocketless) $21.00
Footy socks $10.00

Please check with your sports coach or Mr Milne if unsure of which items you need for your chosen sport so you can represent Worongary with pride.

Hair Accessories

Hair accessories are now available for purchase from the Uniform Shop. Come and check them out. They are both attractive and high quality. Products and prices are as follows:

Note: Hairties and clips are for everyday use. Mini Korkers are for use on House Sports Days.

Enjoy the school holiday break everyone. See you next term for the fourth and final round of the year!

Regards Michelle Lee, Tuckshop and Uniform Convenor

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