1 March 2017

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL

I am not in the school for the week commencing 27 February 2017, Mrs Kelly Ready will be in charge in my absence. From Sunday to Wednesday I shall be on the Sunshine Coast undertaking a Peer School Review and on Thursday and Friday I am attending the biannual State Wide Principals’ Conference.

Worongary State School will be receiving a Peer School Review later this year, so my experience undertaking a review of another school will be very interesting and useful to our school.

Year of Growth

As you know 2017 has been named our ‘Year of Growth’. It is inevitable that our children will grow in height and knowledge, they will grow into teenagers and then adults and they will grow through life, through design and through experience. We are teaching our students, your child, the power of ‘yet’.

The importance of learning to have a growth mindset, to be open to making mistakes and learning, of being willing to see a different perspective or point of view. We can only grow if we are willing to let go of our preconceived ideas and be open to new ideas and ways of thinking, of allowing ourselves to have the strength to say ‘I don’t know YET’ or ‘I can’t YET’.

I challenge you, as an adult, to practice a growth mindset, it is important that we model what we want our children to learn.

2017 School Improvement

Each year schools identify 2 or 3 areas to focus on to improve student outcomes. We review school data and review the culture of the school. For 2017 we have identified the following 3 areas for development:

1. Personalised learning for all with a focus on Literacy and Numeracy, differentiation for those students who require learning support and those students requiring extension
2. Positive Behaviour for Learning
3. Expert Educators and Support Team

We are working towards maintaining and expanding on our excellent student NAPLAN and assessment results. As 2017 progresses you will be informed of the strategies that are in place and being implemented to ensure that Worongary State School continues to provide your children, our students, with the best possible outcomes for their future.

Volunteer Training

Last week a large group of parents, grandparents and friends attended the first of this year’s Volunteer Training sessions. It was very pleasing to see how many people attended. These information sessions provide all our volunteers with the knowledge of their responsibilities while they are at Worongary State School to ensure that our children are secure and safe while at school and in our joint care.

If you are interested in helping in our school please keep your eye out for details of the next session.

Student Leadership Ceremony

From top to bottom – Mollirose – Vice Captain, Natania – School Captain, Stavros – School Captain & Surya – Vice Captain.

Congratulations to all the 2017 Student Leaders who received their badge of office last Friday at the Annual Leadership Ceremony. Our new school captains presented excellent speeches enjoyed by all in attendance. We all look forward to working with these exciting young people.

Some very excited leaders looking forward to the year ahead.

Read and Grow

Read and Grow is a fun interactive story sharing program for parents and children. Throughout the program we will learn to listen, sing songs, share books and play together. This is a great way to develop your child’s oral language skills and help prepare them for school. Time 9:00 am, Tuesday mornings. This is a 6 week course, but you are welcome to join in anytime. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like some more information.

Colour Run

Details will be coming out soon about a new P&C Fundraiser “The Colour Run”. This will held on the last day of this term. Students from Prep – Year 6 will get sponsorship to participate in the run. Students will gain prizes based on the amount they raise. Mrs Ready, Mrs White and I will be running if year levels raise pre-set amounts, these amounts will be disclosed shortly.

Parents are encouraged to participate and to be sponsored too. Sponsorship can be performed online too.

Attendance

As always it is of paramount importance that children are ‘in class, on task and learning’ every day. If you are having difficulty getting your child/children to school please do not hesitate to contact Mrs White Years Prep-2 and Mrs Ready Years 3 -6 or Mrs Bellamy the Guidance Officer.

You will have noticed that we are now using a new SMS messaging system to notify you if your child is not at school. This new system has the added benefit of you being able to respond to the SMS immediately. Thank you to everyone who is taking advantage of this new facility. QParents also gives you the ability to monitor your child’s attendance and to explain their absence.

Congratulations to Years 5 and 6 on your improving attendance.

If your child is going to be absent for greater than 10 days due to an illness or other reasons please apply for an ‘Exemption from Attendance’. This means that your child’s absence will not be recorded on their attendance record.

Learning Vine Awards

Congratulations to all the students who have received a Learning Vine Award this fortnight.

Seedlings Program

The P&C, under the guidance of Mrs Audrey Mates-Bills is looking to start The Seedlings Program aimed at educating, involving and developing responsibility in our children to create a healthy community and flourishing new generation.

After realizing that 20% of Australia children are overweight, we think, as a community, we could do something about it!

We are planning to move and improve our school vegetable garden and create a fruit tree orchard right here next to the hall.

Many things will come to play to achieve much needed results:

• Parents’ Workshops with professional speakers, which will be held regularly at school after kids drop off
• A gardening club could be created for lunch activity (depending on staff availability)
• Before and after school vacation care, Helping Hands could also use the vegie patch and help look after it
• Fruit and vegetables could be introduced to students regularly, possibly at assembly.

To get this done we need your help!! We are looking for a small team of volunteers. You will find that you can have fun with us on working bee days and just to enjoy a little gardening with your own children.

Our first Working Bee Day is planned for Sunday 19 March from 9.00 am to 11.00 am so bring your shovel and gloves to create this new amazing space for our children. Please contact Audrey Mates-Bills to let her know you are able to come to the Working Bee and to see how else you can get involved on 0416 085 762.

Positive Productive Communications

Please remember that it is important that we continue to build upon the wonderful rapport that is developing between your child, the class teacher and yourself. If you have any questions, concerns or feedback, your first point of communication should always be with the classroom teacher. Most things can be addressed in this manner, and it allows teachers to have the opportunity to build upon their constructive interactions with parents. It also displays an appropriate level of respect to the classroom teacher, who is spending the majority of the day with your child. These productive and respectful communications will continue to support your child’s learning and success at school.

It is important that parents/caregivers are aware that the program of instruction begins at 8:50am and attempting to raise things with your child’s teacher at this time is not productive for the class, likewise 3pm daily can also be an issue due to possible staff or committee meetings the teacher may have to attend, or other commitments. The school diary is an excellent communication tool for small questions or concerns as is DOJO. If you feel that you wish to discuss a matter in person, please request an appointment time with the classroom teacher.

If you wish to volunteer within your child’s/grandchild’s classroom, you will need to have undertaken the volunteer training provided by our school and be respectful of the teachers wishes regarding whether they require volunteers in their room and the time and tasks they assign for this to be undertaken.

Benowa State High School Expo Evening

The Year 7 2018 Expo evening for students entering Year 7 in 2018, will be held on Wednesday, 1 March 2017 from 4.30pm to 6.30pm. In catchment enrolments will open for Year 7 2018 – enrolment packs will be available at the Expo.

Applications for Excellence and Merit Programs will open and parents/caregivers will be able to register online through the school’s website from 4.30pm.

Applications for Academic French Immersion, STEM, Waldorf, Sport and Cultural (Music, Drama, Dance and Visual Art) Scholarships will also open from 4.30pm.

Regards Marilyn Moballe, Principal

BEHAVIOUR

Our focus for week 6 is Being Safe and Respectful in the Playground.

Learning and practicing appropriate social behaviours are important steps in a student’s educational experience. These expectations are introduced and practiced beginning with the first day of school and continue throughout the year. Students will be acknowledged and rewarded for exhibiting the expected behaviours. In order to achieve our objectives and goals, it is necessary for our students to conduct themselves in a safe, orderly manner to create an effective learning environment. Congratulations to our 2017 playground leaders who are also assisting staff in organising activities for our junior school students. Please discuss with your children our safety rules for the playground

1. Always play safe by being careful and showing courtesy.
2. Never run around or push and pull others while near playground equipment. Keep your hands and feet to yourself. Physical contact and verbal abuse will result in disciplinary action.
3. Don’t go too close to the front or rear of moving equipment; instead, walk out around it.
4. Wear your school hat. Drink plenty of water.
5. When you get off equipment make sure there isn’t anyone in the way.
6. Take turns and get in a line when more than one person wants to use a piece of equipment. By sharing, everyone will get a turn. No holding places or butting in line.
7. Ask the staff member for help if there is a problem or someone is hurt.
8. Only play in the designated areas.
9. Have fun …enjoy the game.
10. Invite someone who is playing alone to join in.

Bus Reminders

Recently there have been some inappropriate bus behaviours and the bus company has notified us due to safety concerns. Some students have been throwing food and constantly out of their seats. There have been students using inappropriate language, as well as a number of students not paying. The students have been spoken to at school by staff to remind them of safe and expected behaviours. Please discuss with your children who catch the bus

• all students must show their bus pass or pay as they get on the bus
• for safety all children must be seated and are not permitted to move or change their seats
• food must not be eaten on the bus

Regards Ms Kaia, Behaviour

CURRICULUM CORNER

Hello Everyone,

I introduced myself in the last Pipeline and most newsletter weeks I will endeavour to write something about Curriculum matters and student learning. As stated, I am very passionate about Reading and children learning to read. This week, I’ve included the following information from the Source: teacher.acer.edu.au about reading.

“The Power of a Good Book

It doesn’t matter what age you are, there’s nothing quite like losing yourself in a good book. But, did you know that reading for enjoyment is also associated with higher academic achievement? A recent large scale study concluded reading for pleasure has ‘a powerful influence on children’s learning’, particularly in developing vocabulary, but also on spelling and maths skills.

Looking at things from the child’s perspective offers a different story. 4 out of 10 children aged 6 to 11 didn’t want their parents to stop reading aloud to them. The main reason was because it’s special time with their parent (78 per cent), but 65 per cent also said reading together was fun, 48 per cent said they were to listen to books that might have been too hard for them, 36 per cent said they simply liked the fact they didn’t have to do the reading by themselves, and 35 per cent said they liked to hear the different voices or talk about the books with the person doing the reading. “

When it comes to picking out books students want to read for fun, they want to do the choosing.

So, in a nutshell, we need to provide our kids with opportunities to read books they are interested in and read aloud to them for fun. Visit our school or the local community public library to get you started.

Assessments

We have been conducting PAT assessments for Reading and Maths across the school over this past week from Year 1 to Year 6. The majority of students have been completing these on line and so far everything has been running smoothly with all students being able to access the testing.

So what are the tests? They are one tool designed to measure academic achievement, just like you would use a tape measure as a tool to measure height or a stopwatch to measure time. This is not the only tool we use to ascertain students achievement, however it helps inform us with another piece of the puzzle.

Why are we doing it and what will we be doing with the data?

The purpose of this school assessment is to find out where the students are on their individual learning pathway, so that teachers can then better guide each student along their respective pathway. It’s the teaching, not the assessment, that raises standards. Remember that assessment is merely a tool that teachers can use to measure progress and help guide their teaching. It informs us as to where students are at and where to next?

Until next time……

A great big thank you to everyone for your support whilst I have been finding my way around the school and getting to know you.

Regards

Leslie ward
Head of Curriculum

LIBRARY NEWS

Our first book club of the year will be underway shortly. Book Club ordering brochures will be delivered to your students in week 7.

Regards, Jann Connor, Teacher Librarian

SPORTS REPORT

Oceanic District Swimming Trials

2017 swim squad minus a few

WOW! What an amazing day had by the Worongary swim team. We had 13 swimmers participate in the Oceanic District Trial on the 16 February held at Pizzey Park Pool. All swimmers swam at their best and achieved personal best times and placings. We even put in a mixed age/gender relay team at the end of the day which was great fun. A special mention to Riley R on such a momentous day in the pool. Riley placed 4th in Freestyle, Backstroke, Butterfly and 1st in Breastroke which takes him through to the next level. Riley was also named Runners Up Age Champion in the 10 Boys Division. Worongary is very proud of your achievements and of all our swimmers who participated on the day. You all represented our school with great sportsmanship.

Our Fabulous Relay Team

Our swim team for this year comprised of Phoebe A - Jayden D - Mason H - Wyett J - Jarrell L - Tameya L - Rayzah N - Tavarna P - Jaemee P - Riley R - Tara T –

Interschool Sports - Winter

The last trials for interschool sport were held on Friday 24 February and those students who have made a spot in their chosen sport will soon be bringing home paperwork for you to complete with your student. In this paperwork will be the associated cost along with the Code of Conduct contract and uniform policy. Good luck to those who trialled. Round 1 commences in week 1 of Term 2. Payments are due by Fri 14 April for internet/BPoint/QParents and Tues 18 April by 10.00 am at our payment window. Students will not be eligible to play Round 1 if their payment has not been received by these dates.

Upcoming Events:

22 March - Junior and Senior Cross Country

Regards, Mel Smith, PE Teacher

Excursions

P&C

P&C AGM

We would like to inform you all that our P&C Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 14 March. The meeting will commence at 5.00 pm in the school’s staffroom followed by the General Meeting after. Anyone wishing to attend is welcome.

School Banking

Any parents/carer’s wishing to open a new Youthsavers account for school banking they can now be opened online so it’s much quicker and easier, you can do so by following the link below:

2017 Reward Items:

Cyber Handball - Term 1
Colour Change Markers – Term 1
3D Chalk Set – Term 2
Tablet Case – Term 2
Smiley Emoji Keyring – Term 3
Volt Handball – Term 3
Pencil & Tech Case – Term 4
Epic Earphones – Term 4

Health Room

As we have welcomed many new little students to our school, so does the recurrence of little accidents. Our health room is always looking for spare undies for our juniors and all hand-me-downs are welcome. We are in very short supply of boys’ and girls’ undies and would welcome any spares. Thank you.

Tuckshop and Uniform Shop

*****ONLINE ORDERING PROFILES MUST BE UPDATED FOR 2017*****

There are still some online orders coming through with 2016 classes on them. Now that you know your child’s new class, please update their online ordering profiles to ensure that orders are sent to the correct class. Note that Tuckshop and Uniform Shop online ordering profiles must be updated separately and if parents have separate online accounts, these also need to be updated separately.

Tuckshop News

Opening Hours

Monday-Friday: 8:30am-2:00pm
Closed: Entire last day of each Term

Tuckshop Basket Competition

To encourage respect of the Tuckshop baskets and subsequent hygiene for food ordered, we are currently running a Tuckshop Basket Competition. Classes get points for bringing their baskets up to the Tuckshop on time in the morning and extra points for keeping them in a clean and tidy state. In the last week of the term, we will present the classes with the highest points in both Junior and Senior school with a Frozen Treat Medley as a reward for their efforts.

We would very much appreciate it if you would discuss this with your child/ren so they can understand the importance of a clean Tuckshop basket and get excited about earning a delicious treat for their class.

Easter Meal Deals

We will once more be offering Easter Meal Deals later in the Term. Watch this space in the next Pipeline article for details.

Morning Sales

Please note that the Tuckshop has a small float to start us off in the morning, so we would appreciate if parents could have small notes and change if using the tuckshop at these early times. . Finding change for multiple $20 and $50 notes in the morning has been an issue lately.

Over the Counter Sales

We would like to remind you of the following points in regards to Over the Counter Sales:

• Over the Counter sales are available to students in Grades 2-6 only. If your child is in Prep or Grade 1, online ordering or manual ordering on a bag is the only way to order.
• Over the Counter sales are available at Big Lunch only.
• The highest denomination we accept from children at over the counter sales time is a $5.00 note. If they present anything larger than this, unfortunately they will be unable to purchase.

No Lunch

If you realise that your child has left their lunch at home or you have forgotten to order for them, please do not call the Tuckshop directly. We are unable to provide credit to anyone and refusal may offend. Instead, please contact the school through the administration office as they will be able to assist with emergency lunch arrangements for your child/ren. Thank you for your understanding.

Uniform Shop News

Opening Hours

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

Seniors Shirts

Seniors’ Shirts have now been ordered and are expected to arrive early in Term 2.

Interschool Sports

Footy socks and Interschool Sport shorts have now arrived so come on up and kit your child out in the correct uniform so they can represent our school with pride this season.

Kind regards,

Michelle Lee
Tuckshop/Uniform Convenor

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