Worongary State School eNewsletter

3 February 2021

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal
Save the Date
HEALTH ROOM
GUIDANCE OFFICER
From Read and Grow Update
From Music Room
Community Notices

From the Principal

On behalf of the school, it is my absolute pleasure to welcome you to Term 1, 2021. Once again, I am looking forward to working with all members of our school community and wish both continuing and new families a fantastic 2021! 2021 brings many amazing projects, events, excursions and offerings to our students. It will be an amazing year!

Staffing

I would like to welcome some new staff to Worongary State School.

Shiree Salazar – Deputy Principal (P-2)
David Barclay – LOTE teacher
Lauren Howden – Year 4 teacher
Kerri Buchanan – Band teacher

I am really excited about the possibilities this dynamic team will bring to our school in 2021. I trust you will join with me in welcoming all of our new staff to our school.

It also gives me great pleasure in recognising staff who are starting new positions or roles at Worongary State School.

Lara Melrose – Acting Deputy Principal (Year 3-6) for Term 1
Danielle Janes – Inclusion teacher (Year 5-6)
Kaia Clarke – Engagement teacher (previously behaviour teacher)
Marg Haebich – Year 5 teacher (previously pedagogical coach)

It gives me great pleasure welcoming back a number of familiar faces to our teaching team. We welcome back the following teachers who will be working across our school community this year.

Rianne Wilson – Year 5 teacher
Christine Evans – Support teacher

We are still currently seeking and advertising for a STEM teacher to lead our school and we look forward to appointing a teacher soon.

I feel very honoured and privileged to lead and work amongst all of our experienced and dedicated staff members.

Communication

We will continue to keep up informed and up to date with information from the school. If there are any issues, please speak to the class teacher first, then contact the office via phone or email if you require further assistance. The office email is: office@worongaryss.eq.edu.au.

Class DOJO is a great tool for communication and rewards in our school. To can utilise this via the app on your smartphone or via your computer. Staff can add messages for the whole school and individually for the class parents.

Teachers have already started giving out Class Dojos to the students and have posted on their classes. Dojo is a great use of communication for our staff to parents. Also, Dojo’s are rewards that are given to students towards Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum badge awards that are presented on school assembly.

I suggest all families to download and connect to the following platforms to stay informed:

Class Dojo

QSchools

QParents

Worongary State School Facebook Page

COVID-19 Plan Term 1

Thank you for such a smooth start to the school and your support over the last two weeks.

In line with the Queensland Education COVID-19 Industry Plan 2021 and Worongary State School’s Plan we will be adhering to the following restrictions and guidelines for Term 1:

Staying off campus if sick.
Avoiding arriving on site prior to 8:30am for delivery and 2:45pm for collection. Prior to 8.30am, please utilise before school care ( https://schoolplus.com.au/index.php/enrolments/schoolplus-new-families )
Physical distancing of 1.5m.
All family members and visitors, other than you, must sign in before entering the grounds. (You, as parents and carers do not need to sign in as your contact details that may be required for contact tracing are already stored in our school database).
Have only one parent or carer to drop off and collect children
Leaving as soon as practical after delivering or collecting your child.
Using electronic means of communication with your child’s teacher where possible.
Wearing a face mask if a distance of 1.5m cannot be maintained. Please note that under the guidelines, children and teachers do not have to wear masks.
Using public facilities like the park alongside the school to congregate (with physical distancing) to catch up with other families.
Regular handwashing and hand sanitising, particularly before and after eating, and after going to the toilet
Increased cleaning of school classrooms, particularly high-frequency touch points such as water fountains and bubblers
Regular cleaning of playground equipment and play materials

We appreciate your understanding in regards to these guidelines and restrictions. It is our goal to increase parent activities and presence at events in 2021. We will keep the community updated should these change and evolve.

Morning drop off areas:

Staff will be supervising designated areas from 8:30am each day. Please refer to the school map below for your reference.

These areas are:

Prep – outside Prep A (Note: if dropping off your child and leaving, please inform teacher aide on duty in the yellow vest)
Year 1 and 2 – Junior Under Cover Area
Years 3 to 6 – Central Games Area

Whilst in the above areas, students are not to be playing on any equipment before school and to wait quietly.

School Assembly

Assemblies for all students have recommenced

Senior School Monday afternoon 2:30pm
Junior School Tuesday afternoon 2:30pm

Due to the restrictions on the number of adults we are able to have in the hall, only parents of students receiving rewards will be invited. Parents will receive invitations to assemblies directly from their classroom teacher.

Leadership Ceremony

Our 2021 Leadership ceremony will be conducted at 9:30am on Friday 19th February. This ceremony celebrates our students who will be undertaking leadership roles in 2021. In the very near future, all parents with students being acknowledged on this day will receive an invitation to this event ensuring we adhere to COVID19 guidelines.

Parent Information Session

Our school will be holding its annual Parent Information Session on Wednesday 17th February from 3:15pm. To assist all parents to attend these sessions, class teachers will hold two identical meetings in their classrooms. These sessions allow class teachers the opportunity to share with parent’s vital information such as class structure, rules and routines. Please note that the intention of these meetings are not individual Parent-Teacher Interviews. Due to COVID19 guidelines we are currently working on a plan and this will be communicated to the community shortly.

Please note that formal Parent / Teacher interviews will take place on Wednesday 24th March.

At Worongary State School, we value open and respectful communication. I strongly encourage all parents to contact your child’s class teacher if you have any questions, queries or problems. By working together, we can make our school a place of learning and enjoyment for all students, staff and visitors.

Kind Regards,
Adam Brandt
Principal

Regards Adam Brandt, Principal

Save the Date

Parent Information Evening

Wednesday 17 February @ 3.15 pm

Year 3-6 Leadership Ceremony

Friday 19 February – 9.30am in school Hall

Invites will be sent to relevant families.

HEALTH ROOM

Over-the-counter medications

The Department recognises that all medications, including over-the-counter (OTC) medications, e.g. paracetamol or alternative medicines, may be drugs or poisons and may cause side effects. As such, schools are required to receive medical authorisation from a prescribing health practitioner (e.g. doctor, dentist, optometrist, but not a pharmacist) to administer any medication to students, including those bought over-the-counter.

Whilst parents may administer OTC medications to their child without medical authorisation, they are aware of the child’s complete medical history, and are able to provide ongoing, direct supervision for the course of the child’s illness. Due to these circumstances, a parent is also more likely to recognise if their child is having adverse effects and requires immediate medical attention.

The student’s prescribing health practitioner also has the knowledge of the child’s medical history to determine the appropriate OTC medication to administer and is therefore able to determine dosage and provide advice regarding potential side effects or interactions with other medications.

For these reasons, OTC medications will only be administered to students at school if medical authorisation has been received.

SECOND-HAND UNIFORMS WANTED

We are in desperate need of second hand polo shirts in sizes 10, 12 & 14 for our senior school students. If you are having a sort out over the holidays we would very much appreciate your hand-me-downs. We have plenty of smaller sizes for our junior school students should they need them.

UNDIES

We are always in need of undies – especially for little girls. Any hand-me-downs would be greatly appreciated.

THANKS
Kath Welch

GUIDANCE OFFICER

I am the Guidance Officer at Worongary SS and I would like to take the opportunity to welcome you all back to school this year.

2020 was a challenging year for many people but many good things did come out of it. Many people got to increase their skills in using a number of technologies, many strengthened their connections with their friends and families and we saw multiple examples of people’s generosity to and care for others in their community.

I am looking forward to continuing to work with students, their families and school staff in an effort to help our young people to maintain their health and wellbeing and to be happy and successful in their endeavours at school and outside of school.

Should you wish to discuss concerns and aspects of Guidance Officer Assistance for your child you are able to make an appointment through the Office. I am available at the school every Monday, Thursday and Friday.

Kathy Bellamy (Guidance Officer)

From Read and Grow Update

You’re invited to attend our FREE Read and Grow Program with your 3-5 year old children

When:	Tuesday 9am to 9.45am Starting: Term 1 Week 3 (9 February to 30 March)
Where:	Prep A Classroom (Worongary State School)
Who:	Parents and their children (3-5years)
Attendance:	Email Katie Huggard – khugg2@eq.edu.au

Come along and meet other parents and children – all welcome, even if not attending Worongary State School

During the session, we read stories, sing songs and complete activities learning about pre-reading skills in readiness for starting school.

Due to COVID restrictions, you MUST book prior to attending as we have a maximum number of 10 participants we are allowed. Please email to book your place NOW!

Katie Huggard: khugg2@eq.edu.au

Regards Katie Huggard, Prep Teacher

From Music Room

WELCOME TO WOROGARY MUSIC 2021

Welcome back to all our returning students and families and also our new students and their families!

Worongary is a great music school! Everybody is a musician at Worongary. 2021 will be a great year of Music.

ALL STUDENTS IN YEAR 3 & 4

All students in Years 3 & 4 will be required to learn the recorder as part of the Performing strand of the Music Curriculum. Students will be required to bring their recorder to each music lesson. Students will also be required to practise the skills taught at home. Many activities will be posted on Class Dojo. Please set aside a quiet space for your child to practise their recorder. Most importantly, be POSITIVE and ENCOURAGING! Learning a musical instrument is a great challenge. With practise and encouragement, students will master skills like ‘making a nice sound’

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC BAND AND STRINGS

This year we welcome Miss Kerri Buchanan to our Band Program while Miss Auchere is on maternity leave. Miss Sarah Larmor is returning as our String Program Extraordinaire.

Most students will meet their Instrumental Music teacher in Week 3. Please ensure that all forms and levies are returned/paid so we can make a quick start. The timetable is as follows:

STRINGS – MONDAYS
BAND – TUESDAYS

If your student is new or perhaps missed out on a place in the Instrumental Music Program, please Dojo Miss Jones with student name and preferred instrument. The Instrumental Music Teachers we then look at ensemble balance, lesson sizing’s and available instruments to see if we can accommodate your request.

CHOIRS – JUNIOR & SENIOR

New recruits are always welcome at choir! There is no cost to join the choir, simply come to the Music Room.

JUNIOR CHOIR (YEARS 1 & 2) rehearse before school THURSDAY 8am starting this week (Week 2)

SENIOR CHOIR (YEARS 3,4,5,6) rehearse before school WEDNESDAY 8am starting this week (Week 2)

QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS

If you have any questions or concerns about Classroom Music, Choirs, Strings or Band please Dojo Miss Jones or Miss Buchanan (Band) or Miss Larmor (Strings).

Yours in Music

Ms Katheryn Jones kjone416@eq.edu.au

Tuckshop News

TUCKSHOP AND UNIFORM SHOP

Online Ordering Profiles Must be Updated for 2021

Just a reminder that online ordering profiles need to be updated manually by parents each year. Now that you know your child’s new class, please remember to update their online ordering profiles to ensure that orders are sent to the correct place. Please note that Tuckshop and Uniform Shop online ordering profiles must be updated separately.

If you haven’t already used online ordering and would like to give it a try, you can register an account with Schoolshop Online by following the links on the school website or by inputting Worongary in the search box at schoolshoponline.net.au

Key things to note about online ordering are:

Online ordering is great for busy parents. Orders can be placed online at your convenience.
The cut off time for Tuckshop Online Ordering each day is 9am so if your mornings are busy try ordering in advance the night or even the week or month before!
Any Uniform orders placed online will be processed the next day. A yellow note will be sent to your child’s classroom via the Tuckshop basket to advise when it is ready for collection from the Tuckshop. Please let your child know to keep an eye out for the yellow note.

Tuckshop News

Opening Hours

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

Helpful Hints and Reminders

There are no EFTPOS facilities in the Tuckshop. We accept cash only via the Tuckshop Basket system and over the counter. Online ordering is available as the alternative to cash.
ACCOUNT SYSTEM: As per P&C QLD regulations, we are unable to provide credit to anyone and thank you in advance for not asking, as refusal may offend. We are however able to accept cash payments in advance to hold on account, in preparation for those days that just won’t run smoothly, eg. child leaves their lunch at home or you miss the 9:00am online ordering cut off time. Please note that this an account held directly with the Tuckshop and is completely separate to your ‘Schoolshop’ online ordering account. We are unable to access your Schoolshop Online account or any funds you may have in your e-wallet.
FORGOTTEN LUNCH? Please do not call the Tuckshop directly unless you have already set up a credit account as per the previous bullet point. If for some reason you realise that your child has no lunch at school, you have the option to either bring some lunch in yourself or arrange for a family member to do so. If neither of these options are feasible, please contact the school administration office who will arrange for a basic emergency lunch to be provided to your child.
The Over Counter Sales Menu – Key Things to Note
- The Over Counter Sales Menu is available for 15 minutes at each break during the play time only for students in Years 1-6.
- All items are priced at $3.00 or less so our float is accordingly minimal. Denominations larger than a $5.00 note will not be accepted at this time.
- Children are not permitted to share money or buy for friends.
- For students in Prep, frozen treats can only be purchased via the pre-ordering system, either online or manually. Due to year level zones, older siblings are unable to purchase over the counter to deliver to Prep students.
Please refer to the back page of the menu for additional information, such as how to order Tuckshop.

At this stage, there are no menu changes for 2021 so please continue to use the 2020 menu you have at home. A copy of the menu is also included here for your convenience. If a printed copy is required please feel free to stop by the Tuckshop to collect one, or send a note with your child to have one sent home.

Volunteering

For any Mums, Dads, Grandparents and Carers interested in becoming a Tuckshop volunteer on a weekly, fortnightly or even monthly basis, we encourage you to come visit us and find out more. There is always something to be done in the Tuckshop and if you love a fast paced and fun environment, this could be for you.

Please call on the number above or stop by and speak to myself or Jasmine to find out more.

“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they have the heart”
-Elizabeth Andrew

UNIFORM SHOP

Opening Hours

Monday: 8:00am-9:00am
Friday: 8:00am-9:00am
Direct Dial number: 5502 4485

Online Ordering Profiles Must be Updated for 2021

Seniors Shirts for Year 6

Thank you to our Year 6 parents and students for getting your Seniors Shirts order forms in so promptly. The cut-off date for ordering has now passed and once the classrooms are finalised (after day 8), I will be placing the order with our supplier right away to ensure we receive delivery of the shirts as soon as possible. The shirts usually arrive early in Term 2.

Pre-Loved Uniforms

We currently have a decent supply of pre-loved uniforms in stock, in particular shorts. If you’re struggling to keep up with the washing and would love some extra items to get you through the week, come up and see what’s available.