8 November 2017

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal

Each year our school completes a School Opinion Survey. This survey seeks feedback from our students, parents and staff. Last week I was delighted to receive the results of the 2017 School Opinion Survey. While there are areas of our school’s performance we can address through targeted strategies, I am very pleased by the fact that more than 99% of our students were satisfied with the school’s expectations (my teacher expects me to do my best) and 97% of our students were confident that their teachers help them to do their best. In addition, we would like to thank our parents who completed the survey for your feedback. Similarly, our parents reported a great level of satisfaction with how approachable our teachers are when raising concerns (97%). Over the next few weeks, our leadership team will be working to better understand the information contained in these reports and develop an action plan that will support our school’s continual growth.

2017 – 2021 Strategic Plan – Collaborative Learning

In the last edition of the Pipeline, I outlined the outcome of our recent Full School Review. Over the past month our school’s leadership team has been privileged to lead our teaching staff through a number of processes that will sharpen and narrow our school’s reading improvement agenda. The school’s response to the Priority Support Review will be outlined at this week’s Parents’ and Citizens’ Association monthly meeting. Next Friday we will welcome Mr Alan Whitfield to our school to review our first three months and offer support and suggestions to improve our work in the areas of reading and leadership.

In addition to devising this action plan our school’s leadership team has been working to develop our school’s 2017 – 2021 Strategic Plan. This plan (when compete) will be the foundation of all we do in our school over the next four years. I am pleased to confirm that our plan will be aligned to four critically important foundation principles. The principles are:

• Successful Learners
• High Performing Teams
• Quality Leadership
• Collaborative Community Partnerships.

These guiding principles will provide the framework and standards for how we will strive to implement highly effective learning experiences for all of our students. It will also provide clarity on how we as a school will proactively respond to addressing the needs of our students and our community. This is a very exciting time for our school community as the work we do today will change the future of our students.

I will also outline our 2017 – 2021 Strategic Plan - Collaborative Learning at our school’s Parents’ and Citizens’ Association meeting on Wednesday. Parents who are unable to attend this meeting and would like to hear about our plans are invited to contact the office and book an appointment with me.

2018 Class Parent Requests

I wish to thank the parents who have taken the time to write to me regarding your child’s attendance at Worongary State School in 2018. Over the next four weeks, our staff will be working hard to ensure we commence the implementation of a plan that will support a smooth and efficient transition into the 2018 school year. I again seek the assistance from all parents to notify the school office if:

• Your child is not going to be attending our school in 2018
• You know other children who will be attending our school in 2018
• You have not enrolled your child in prep for 2018.

This information is vital as it may save our school from re-structuring classes and teachers at the beginning of the school year. I also welcome feedback from you regarding whom your child works well with and whom they do not. I invite parents to write a letter to me outlining any concerns that you may wish us to consider in this decision making process. I sincerely thank all of the parents who have already taken the opportunity to provide me with feedback about your child’s 2018 class placement.

All parental requests must be received by the school by no later than Monday 20 November. To ensure confidentiality all correspondence of this nature should be addressed to the Principal and forwarded to the office in a sealed envelope marked ‘Private and Confidential’.

Day for Daniel

On Friday 27 October, all of our staff, students and volunteers joined together on the oval to acknowledge the 'Day for Daniel'. This event is the Daniel Morcombe Foundation National Day of Action on child safety and protection. It was the largest child safety awareness day of its type in Australia. Participation in this year’s event was at record levels with approximately 2,800 schools and hundreds of businesses taking part. The focus of this event was to raise an awareness of three key strategies that our students can consider to keep themselves safe. These strategies are:

1. Recognise – Listen to your body’s clues
2. React – Run to a safe place or say NO!
3. Report – Tell an adult why you feel unsafe.

Students and staff were encouraged to wear a red shirt and give a gold coin donation to the Daniel Morcombe Foundation. The donations that the foundations receive from the Day for Daniel directly fund the #KeepingKidsSafe activities for an entire year. I wish to thank all of our parents and students who supported this year’s event. Together we raised over $650 towards supporting this incredibly worthy foundation. These funds will go a long way to supporting the foundation to continue their very important work. Thank you to ‘Beautiful White Doves’, and the Mynott family for organising the doves that were released at the ceremony.

Oztag

Following the Daniel Morcombe ceremony, I had the pleasure of supervising the Year 6 students during their Oztag interschool school sport competition. I wish to acknowledge all of our Year 6 boys for their sportsmanship and assistance. Having never stepped on an Oztag field I was a little nervous. This was made worse when I was handed the whistle and asked to referee the games. To our students credit they not only helped me to understand the rules but also accepted a few of my inexperienced decisions with respect and understanding. Well done boys and thanks for a great afternoon!

Senior Adventure Playground

Construction on our Senior Adventure playground has started this week. The area is being cleared of the current structure, levelled and edged before the climbing equipment can be constructed. The final design includes climbing frames, slippery slides, talking tubes and stepping stones. Student Council members had an opportunity to have a say in the final design, and it will be exciting to see the finished product, ready for the new year.

Prep Swimming

Swimming lessons for our Prep students will take place Monday – Thursday in the final two weeks of school. Students will be travelling by bus to Swim Fit Nerang with the total cost of $68 due by Friday 17 November.

Behaviour

Term Four Focus:

Being a Good Friend
Respecting other people’s feelings
Respecting other people’s property
Play fairly

Positive Behaviour for Learning Weeks 6 and 7

Second Step Weeks 6 and 7

Our Behaviour focus at school for the next two weeks is Play Fairly and Respecting Others’ Things. When children are involved in an environment where fair play is emphasised, they experience how important it is to treat others fairly. Teamwork, taking turns, and sharing all reinforce social skills that help children interact successfully at home, school, and playtime. You’ve probably heard cries of, “That’s not fair!” a time or two in the recent past. Let’s face it: Life doesn’t always seem fair, especially to our young people. Once they adjust their thinking, however, they can understand and appreciate the simple fact that fair doesn’t always mean equal.,

Simply put, fairness isn’t about everything being equal, but about levelling the playing field so that people get what they need when they need it. Once students understand and can discern between equality and equity, they can glean examples from their everyday life.

Here are some ideas for those times when your child is finding it tough to play fair:

• Take your child out of the game and talk calmly and clearly about what you expect from their behaviour. Let them know what they can do to play fairly. For example, ‘It’s important that everyone follows the rules and the rules say that you can only have one throw each turn’. You can also let them know that it’s hard but important to play fairly.
• Talk to your child about their feelings of frustration and what they should do next time. Before your child plays the next game, you could reinforce previous positive conversations about the importance of participation and having-a-go.
• Remind your child that games are about having fun, not about winning or losing. Try to give feedback that focuses on the fun of the game, not who won or lost.

Respecting others’ property

We need to model and teach our children the importance of asking to use things. If your child is taking and/or damaging the belongings of others, it does not mean that they are a bad child or that they soon graduate to more serious deviant behaviour. It simply means that you must teach your child how to respect the belongings of others, and the earlier that you teach them how to do so, the easier it will be to correct this very common behaviour.

Here are some other guidelines to follow:

• Do not make a huge deal about items that are taken without permission. If you do, your child will only be learning a very effective way to get your attention. Instead calmly talk to them and explain how others feel when their belongings are taken without asking permission. Make sure to connect it to your child’s experience by involving them in a similar scenario. “How would you feel if Max took your favourite item?” When you talk with your child in such a manner, you are helping them develop empathy, which serves as a strong basis for the development of good social skills.
• Teach your child how important honesty is to you. Have your child immediately return the item that was taken or tell the owner about the damage. Do not do this for your child. Practise ahead of time what your child will say. Do not jump to explain what happened – let your child try on their own, even if they get shy or start to cry – just give them a chance to express what has occurred.
• Try to get the owner of the item to tell your child how he or she feels about what happened. Then ask your child to repeat back what was said. Emphasise that you know your child did not make a good choice this time, but now they know how others feel when their things are not respected.

Gold Coast City Council Pet Smart Show

Our Prep and Year One students had a great time at the GCCC Pet Smart Show. They learned how the family can be pet smart, with Gee Cee Dog and Cee Cee Cat. The children joined in with interactive songs focusing on responsible pet ownership and safe behaviours when interacting with pets. Thank you to Matt, Letitia and Riley from GCCC for a great show.

Before School

A reminder to parents that there is no supervision at school prior to 8:30am. If students arrive before the 8:50am bell, please remind them to go directly to Central Games where there is a teacher on duty from 8:30am. Students will remain seated in Central Games until they are dismissed at 8:50am. At this time, students move to their classrooms to get ready for learning, which begins at 9:00am.

If students are waiting with parents or a carer outside of classrooms, please remember that there is no play before school. This helps to settle the children and make sure they are ready to begin their learning. Students are not permitted on any play equipment before or after school.

School Concerts

This year we will be holding our two biennial concerts for each of the sectors of the school (junior and senior school). Junior school’s concerts will be held on Thursday 23 November at 6:00pm and a matinee concert on Friday 24 November at 1:30pm. Senior school’s concerts will be a matinee concert on Thursday 23 November at 1:30pm and an evening concert at 6:00pm on Friday 24 November. Students will be performing at both matinee and evening shows.

Tickets cost $8.00 plus booking fee per person and are available for purchase up until Wednesday 15 November at 9.30am from an online booking system via the following links:

Reporting on Student Achievement

This semester all report cards will once again be sent out electronically. Please ensure that your email address is current with administration. It is important as parents and guardians prepare to receive the Semester One report cards for 2017, that there is a clear understanding of how we report on your child’s academic, behavioural and effort in the key learning areas of schooling. It is also imperative that we have a common understanding about the expectation of where children should be in accordance with the Australian Curriculum. Please be aware that report cards will be emailed on Thursday 7 December.

Reporting in Prep

Reporting in Years 1 & 2

Reporting in Years 3 - 6

What Level Should Your Child Be Achieving

All teachers report to a set of standards as outlined in DET P-12 Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Framework and ACARA.

As you can see from the definitions above, the majority of students are and should be achieving at a C level. This means that they are interacting and achieving at the expected level for their age and developmental capacity.

Positive Productive Communications

Please remember that it is important that we continue to build upon the wonderful rapport that has developed 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.

Interschool Sport – Contract

As previously mentioned, in order to participate in Interschool Sport, all parents and students were required to sign a contract. It is important that all students and parents are reminded that if a participating student receives two RTC’s within the sporting season (between the dates of trials to the last game) they will miss a week of sport. If a participating student receives a third RTC they will be removed from the Interschool Sport Team. No refund will be given for behaviour exclusion.

Year 6 Leaving Ceremony – Parent Committee Update

As is the tradition at Worongary State School, we will be once again asking for parent volunteers to become part of the committee that helps with the decoration of the School Hall, Foyer and celebration cakes for our Year 6 students Leaving Ceremony. On Wednesday November 1, the Year 6 Leaving Ceremony Parent Committee held their second meeting. It was fantastic to have a team who demonstrate such enthusiasm for ensuring that the 2017 Year 6 students will have an amazing send off at the end of this year. The committee is busy planning decorations to celebrate our wonderful students. This year the Year 6 Leaving Ceremony will be held on Tuesday 5 December

Upcoming Excursion - Year 6 Big Day Out

Our end of year celebration for Year 6 Students, Big Day Out, will be held on Wednesday 6 December. Big Day Out is an exciting day where Year 6 Students spend the day at Wet & Wild with their Teachers and Support Staff. It is requested that in preparation and in the lead up for this event, that you discuss with your child the importance of demonstrating positive and appropriate behaviour at school and in school activities (such as Interschool Sport and Excursions). All Year 6 students will be placed on a behaviour contract in the weeks prior to Big Day Out and their opportunity to attend this activity will be reliant upon them demonstrating positive behaviour choices.

2018 Student Leaders

Worongary State School is dedicated to developing leadership opportunities for students. A leadership framework currently exists within the school that caters for all levels of leadership from Year 3 onwards. In the coming weeks we will be calling for leadership appointments for the following positions in 2018:

• School Captain and Vice Captain
• House Captains
• Music Captain
• LOTE Captain
• Playground Leaders

Year 5 students have been given information about these roles, and all applications are due back to Mrs Ready by 3pm Friday 10 November.

Regards Landon Dare, Principal

Learning Vine Awards

Finance

NEW PAYMENT METHOD

Education Queensland schools will no longer be able to accept Credit Card payments over the phone or take card details for processing on the next payment day as this is not Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard compliant.

To make credit card payments for school invoices, please use either QParents or BPoint.

If you have not already joined QParents, please accept the invitation that has been emailed to you. The turnaround time for approval is approx. 24 hours, after which time you will be able to view information pertaining to your child including invoices awaiting payment and details about invoices previously paid.

The option to pay invoices over the phone using BPoint IVR (Interactive Voice Response) is also available, however invoice details will be required. Parents call 1300 631 073 and enter their CRN, amount and credit card details to complete payment. At the end of the call you will be provided with a unique payment receipt number.

Please remember that late payments will not be accepted. Invoices not paid by 10am on the due date will be deleted and not available for payment.

STUDENT RESOURCE SCHEME 2018

At this time each year we prepare the Student Resource Scheme (SRS) documents for the next year.

Invoices for the 2018 SRS have been generated. Families who have students in high school with email as the preferred option for contact received their invoice/s by email. All invoices are available on the QParents website. Full information about the SRS is available on the school website including cost break-downs for all year Levels.

All returning students will require their WSS pencil case and WSS green utility bag for the 2018 school year. New items can be purchased from the office if required.

If wishing to pay via Centrepay please make an appointment with the Business Manager via the school office.

STUDENT RESOURCE SCHEME 2017

The due date for SRS payments this year was Friday 16 June. Thank you to those families who have paid the SRS in full for their children. We have a number of parents who have not adhered to their commitment as per the signed SRS Participation Agreement. For the remainder of this year any student with outstanding SRS fees will not be eligible to attend excursions, camps and payable school activities including Inter-School Sport.

Students with unpaid SRS fees will have their access to the scheme suspended until full payment has been made as per Section 29 of the Participation Agreement.

Students will be ineligible for SRS 2018 if there are any outstanding fees for 2017.

Regards, Charmaine Johnson, Business Manager

From the Music Room

The Worongary State School Instrumental Music Program would like to invite you to our end of year "Music Recital" on Tuesday 14 November at 3.30pm in the School Hall.

Please come along and support our very talented and hardworking Concert Band and String Ensemble Students perform for the last time in 2017.

Kind Regards, Cindy Ashton, Instrumental Strings

From the Year 3 Students

The Year 3 students have been investigating poetry. They have been learning how language features and vocabulary choices are used for different effects. Here are examples of some poems written by our Year 3 students to express feelings on a topic.

SPORTS RESULTS 27 October & 3 November 2017

Excursions

  

P&C News

Mum’s Movie Night

A big thank you to all the ladies who attended our Mum’s Movie Night and helped to raise funds for air conditioning. We had an amazing night watching A Bad Mom’s Christmas, with lots of great company, fun and laughter. I hope everyone enjoyed their night out.

Kind Regards P&C

Tuckshop & Uniform

Tuckshop News

Opening Hours

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

Tuckshop Day

Friday 3 November was ‘Tuckshop Day’ and Jasmine and myself were acknowledged by many people for the work we do here at Worongary State School. We would like to extend our thanks to those who recognised this day and made us feel appreciated. In particular, our thanks go out to:

WSS Administration for arranging the delicious breakfast and announcement
Graham and Anne for the lovely surprise gift
Our incredible P&C Executive for the yummy lunch
and Prep Red for all the amazing letters and pictures. We were so impressed with your writing and drawings that we decided to share a picture of your efforts right here.

Thank you all for making our day!

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 for Year 6

Year 6 Seniors Shirts for 2018 are now available for ordering. This shirt is included as part of the everyday uniform for Year 6 students only. Hard copies of the order form have already been sent home with current Year 5 students. If you did not receive an order form, you can download the attachment here or collect a new form from the Uniform Shop or Admin Office.

The final date for ordering and paying for these special shirts is Monday 5 February, 2018. All other important details are on the order form.

How to Order Uniforms for Prep 2018

Option 1: Purchase at the Uniform Shop

The Uniform Shop is located upstairs from Central games in Modular F. Uniforms can be purchased here during opening hours listed above.

Please note that for your convenience, the Uniform Shop will be open at the following times on the last Get Set For Prep day, Thursday 16 November:

For those attending the 8:45-9:15 session: 8:45am – 9:15am
For those attending the 8:45-9:15 session: 10:00am – 10:30am
For those attending the 8:45-9:15 session: 12:45pm – 1:15pm

These times are either before or after the Get Set for Prep sessions, to allow you to bring your child along for sizing.

Option 2: Purchase Online

Online purchasing is available for future Preps. Go to the school website and follow the link to Uniforms Online where you can set up an account. If you choose to purchase online, the following collection options are available:

Please add a note in the comments section to let us know your preference.

If you have any queries please call the Uniform Shop during the opening hours outlined above.

Regards Michelle Lee, Tuckshop and Uniform Convenor

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