28 May 2021

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal

Under 8’s Day

It was a wonderful to see the joy on the students, and staff, faces at the Under 8 Day celebrations. Students participated in a range of activities indoor and out of the classrooms in our junior school. A huge thank you must go to the teachers for their efforts in organising the many activities to engage and excite the students on this day! On the schools Facebook page, there are some videos highlighting the day.

Cooler Schools Program

Today I met with the team who will be installing air conditioners in the remaining classrooms in the school that do not have them. Unfortunately, there will be some disruption to some classes during this time and those classes impacted will need to be relocated whilst the air conditioners are being installed. From the meeting today, the goal is to start the project in the beginning of July 2021 and be completed by the end of the month.

I again thank the P&C for starting the installation of air conditioners throughout the school over the last few years to support the students and staff in the school.

STEM Update

Worongary State School has been successful in receiving a grant to host a community engagement event during National Science Week. Our STEM teacher is excitingly planning for this event and I look forward to sharing more details soon!

Kind Regards,
Adam Brandt
Principal

Attention Prep parents:

Playing our part to build a national picture of child health

This term, our school, along with thousands of others across the country will begin preparations for the fifth Australian Early Development Census (AEDC).

The AEDC gives us a national picture of the development, health and wellbeing of children in their first year of full-time school. Since 2009, the census results have helped communities, schools and governments plan services and develop better policies to target support for children and families.

Children don’t miss any class time, and parents/carers don’t need to supply schools with any new information for the census. The AEDC gives us data at a school and community level - it isn’t an assessment of individual children.

In the previous 2018 AEDC, our school profile indicated that between 2012 to 2018 there has been significant improvement in 3 of the 5 domains. These domains were Physical Health and Wellbeing, Social Competence, Communication skills and general knowledge. In line with our School Improvement Plan our focus at Worongary State School continues to support and monitor our students development within the Language and Cognitive skill domain.

Some teachers have also noticed that completing the assessments made them more aware of the needs of individual children and the class as a whole and that the census results are useful in planning for transitions to Year 1 and developing class programs.

Participation in the AEDC is voluntary. Parents/carers don’t need to take any action unless they choose not to include their children in the census. Please notify the school or your child’s class teacher if you do not wish your child’s information to be included as part of the 2021 census.

To find out more about the census and how communities are using the data to help children and families visit the AEDC website at the link below:

If you have any questions, you can contact Shiree Salazar, Deputy Principal Prep to Year 2.

Regards Shiree Salazar
Deputy Principal

Save the Date

Are you wishing to volunteer at school?

At Worongary State School, we value community involvement and appreciate the volunteers who come into our school to help in classrooms, run extra-curricular activities, and volunteer in our tuckshop.

If you are looking to volunteer there are a number of ways you can get involved:

• Class Teacher requests for volunteers
• Connecting with the P&C
• Advising the School office

Before volunteering, it is important that our community members know the expectations of conduct and student’s protection. These elements are compulsory for any person, whether a staff member, contractor or volunteer, to know and understand.

There are two avenues you can take to complete this mandatory training:

1. Hardcopy: please visit our school office to collect a copy of the Mandatory All -Staff Training Program
2. Online: you can download the Mandatory All-Staff Training Program-Key Messages Guide through the following address:

Mandatory All-Staff Training program - Key messages guide

Volunteers, contractors and visitors must complete this process annually and be able to present the Record of Completion anytime they are visiting a departmental site.

Instructions:

• access the Mandatory All -Staff Training Program (either online or a hardcopy)
• review the information
• complete the declaration and fill in your details on the Record of Completion section which you will find on the last page of the guide
• the supervisor, manager or principal of the location you are visiting will verify the completed declaration and finalise the Record of Completion with a signature and date (and school stamp if you are visiting a school)
• retain the verified Record of Completion section. It will be recognized at schools and departmental sites for 12 months.

Check with the supervisor, manager or principal at the location you are visiting for guidance and the additional information, as per the induction list above that you need to be aware of while working at their department site.

Further information: Key message fact guide

Behaviour

There are so many ways we can show our children what life can be at its best and what they can aspire to become at their best.

Be a good role model.
Love your children as the separate unique individuals they are.
Show affection.
Be mindful of your interactions.
Praise your child.
Give children the opportunity to be responsible for themselves.
Create opportunities to work side-by-side with your child.
PBL Focus Behaviour weeks 7&8 term 2
Showing Respect
Practice Honesty and Accept Consequences

Telling the truth isn’t always natural for children. They know honesty is the best option, but sometimes that means disappointing an adult. Children may not tell the truth to avoid punishment or protect their friends. Teaching children to be truthful in their actions and words helps them develop healthy relationships and be seen as trustworthy.

As adults, when we know someone is honest, we can trust them, but it can take children some time to connect the two. Children are prone to exaggeration, which may seem innocent enough, but as they get older, this can lead to mistrust and related social issues. By encouraging our children to own up to their actions we are developing lifelong skills to be respectful, honest and to manage or choices and behaviours.

Once again NAIDOC is held during our winter break.

Heal Country, heal our nation.

On Thursday, 10 June 2021

Didjeribone Performance for Prep-Year 5. Ancient music fused with 21st century digital technology and cultural anecdotes. With numerous opportunities for both individuals on stage and whole audience participation, Didjeribone is a uniquely Australian music experience accompanied by both personal and ancestral stories. Prep-Year 2 show is at 12.45-1.45 and Yrs. 3-5 at 2.10-3pm.

On Tuesday 15th June 2021 9-11am Glen Barry will be supporting our Year 6 students and our Indigenous students to create a series of artworks with the theme Heal Country. This is a great opportunity for our children to learn about respect for country and each other.

Kind Regards,
Ms Kaia

Health Room

FROM THE HEALTH ROOM

We have recently lent some of our hot & cold packs out to injured students who left the health room with their parents. Could these packs please be dropped back into the office at your earliest convenience.

Thank you.

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.

From the Health Room.

From Read and Grow Update

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

Starting: Term 2 Week 2 (27 April to 15 June)

Term 2 theme is “Transport”

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

Hello Everyone

Do you have any unwanted toys at home? Is it time for a clean and de-clutter?

The Year 1 and 2 students would greatly benefit from any donations (Lego, dolls and clothes, blocks, cars, Duplo, games, puzzles, skipping ropes, ANYTHING!). We have a very successful break time, social skill play program in place and would appreciate adding to our activity resources. Play is very important at any age and through this program many junior friendships have been developed and built, resulting in lasting positive relationships. It has also been a great way to encourage and include students who have difficulty making friends, or joining into a group.

Some of the potential benefits of play are:

• taking more responsibility for certain behaviours
• developing coping strategies and creative problem-solving skills
• self-respect
• empathy and respect for others
• alleviation of anxiety
• learning to fully experience and express feelings
• stronger social skills

Play can also encourage the use of language or improve fine and gross motor skills.

Any donations accepted. Can you help?

Thank you
Kerrianne Sullivan
Inclusion Support P-2 /Senior Experienced Special Education Teacher

A BIG thank you to Woolworths Nerang for supplying all of the fruit for the under 8’s day, from the Prep and Year 1 – 2 students.

The Year 5’s generated design ideas to produce a space lander to safely contain an egg from a dropped height.

The classrooms were buzzing as the students used their materials, tools and techniques in the production of the lander. The landers were then evaluated and reflected on.

From Music Room

Did you know?

1. Music study develops critical life skills.
   We all want children to grow up happy and successful. Studying music develops perseverance, intrinsic motivation, creative problem-solving, adaptability, and teamwork — all keys to a successful and happy life!
2. Parents are an essential component in student’s musical success.
   At the early stage of your child’s musical development, it is crucial to support your child by guiding them how and when to practice. When discussing music, set aside quitting as a potential option.
3. Approach music study with a long view.
   Students benefit directly from a mindset that assumes studying music is a long-term thing. They can be free of the clutter of deciding if they will continue to play and get on with the joy of exploring how they will get better at performing. As the parent, you set the tone in your family for the place of music study.

NERANG ALLIANCE WORKSHOPS - ADVANCED BAND AND STRINGS

In collaboration with our neighbouring schools, we have organised for two full day workshops for our continuing Band and String students. These workshops will be held at Nerang State High School and conclude with a concert for families and friends at 2:00pm. There is no cost but the permission form does need to returned to Miss Jones, and parents will need to arrange transport for their child to and from Nerang State High School.

BAND WORKSHOP: Tuesday June 1 8:30am – 2:30pm

STRINGS WORKSHOP: Thursday June 10 8:30am – 2:30pm

END OF SEMSTER CONCERTS – ALL INSTRUMENTAL MUSICIANS AND CHOIRS

In Week 9, Monday June 14, commencing at 3:30pm in the School Hall, all of our Instrumental Musicians and Choral Singers will perform in ‘An Afternoon of Music’ Semester 1 Twilight Concert.

This concert will be ticketed and numbers capped as per the current Covid Directives for musical performances. Students in the Instrumental Program and Choirs will be issued with an Information Sheet this week which will enable parents to reserve two tickets per family for the concert (no cost involved). We look forward to showcasing skills learnt this term at this concert.

UPCOMING NAIDOC PERFORMANCES - JUNIOR AND SENIOR SCHOOL

Early in Term 3, WYNISS a Torres Strait Islander Music, Dance and Cultural group is coming to Worongary! There will be two performances for all children in the Junior and Senior School and not to be missed!

A permission form and invoice was emailed home last week. If you require a ‘hard copy’ of the Parent Information please Dojo Miss Jones or your child’s classroom teacher.

UPCOMING EVENTS SUMMARY

ENSEMBLE REHERSALS SCHEUDLE TERM 2

Please be on time so rehearsals can start promptly. It is an expectation that all students in the program attend ensemble rehearsals. If your child will not be attending, please Dojo the appropriate music teacher in advance.

ADVANCED STRINGS (YEARS 4 -6) rehearse before school MONDAY 7:45am – 8:45am
BEGINNER STRINGS (YEARS 3) rehearse MONDAY 2:10 – 3:00pm (odd weeks)
ADVANCED BAND (YEARS 5-6) rehearse before school TUESDAY 7:45am - 8:45am
BEGINNER BAND (YEAR 4-5) rehearse after school TUESDAY 3:00 – 3:40pm
JUNIOR CHOIR (YEARS 1 & 2) rehearse before school THURSDAY 8am - 8:45am
SENIOR CHOIR (YEARS 3,4,5,6) rehearse before school WEDNESDAY 8am – 8:45am

Yours in Music
Ms Katheryn Jones kjone416@eq.edu.au

P&C NEWS

TUCKSHOP NEWS

We would like to give a big shout out to some amazing people who have volunteered some of their time in our tuck shop over the past few weeks (and a big shout out to our tuckshop convenor Michelle). We thank you for your big heart and kind contribution of time in assisting with prepping, cooking, baking and serving during the operations of our Worongary State School Tuck shop. We appreciate you!

As wonderful as these volunteers are, we are still very lean on volunteers and need more.

If you're able to volunteer, whether it be for just half an hour per day/week/month or whatever you can spare, we would be really grateful for the extra set of hands and would love to meet you.

We would also like to apologise that the new menu has not yet been implemented into the tuckshop. We so desperately want to, however, with minimal volunteers (sometimes nil) we do not want to put any added pressure on our tuckshop convenor, who has supplied a service on days with nil assistance. A school Tuckshop thrives on volunteers, this helps in the general operations and service and to also keep costs at a reasonable and affordable level for our School community. Hence why we are trialling operating only for the first break on a Tuesday only. No over the counter sales during second break or tuckshop orders for second break will happen on this day. This allows some valued time for the convenor to complete necessary duties of cooking, baking, ordering, stocktaking and thorough cleaning.

Did you know? Most Tuckshops of our school capacity, run with one paid employee and rely on volunteers to provide a 5 day a week service. In our current trajectory with volunteers within our tuckshop, we may have to look at minimising the service to operating for first break only, a couple of times a week. Parents of our school children do not require a Blue card to volunteer at our tuckshop. However grandparents/aunties/ older adult siblings do. We are happy to assist you with this. Worongary State School do have a strict policy that any volunteers must complete the 'Voluntary Mandatory Training' prior to volunteering within the school. This is located on the schools website: scroll all the way to the bottom where you will see the 'Volunteer Mandatory Training' Hyperlink

CONTAINERS FOR CHANGE

Thank you to our school community who keep on supporting the recycling program and donating your eligible containers to the school P&C. All proceeds go directly into our Cool School Initiative projects. Only a few more collection dates left this term, please go to the Worongary State School P&C facebook page for more details. We also have more orange collection bags in stock. Please let us know if you require any to take home.

SCHOOL BANKING

Unfortunately, our school banking is ending earlier than the Government's finishing date. The last day for school banking is Friday 28th May 2021. Families who currently do school banking can continue to do so by either banking online or through the youth saver Commonwealth Bank App or, alternatively, entering your local CBA Branch. We would like to thank the school banking community and our volunteers for supporting WSS School Banking.

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION WEEK

Last week, 17-21 May 2021 was volunteer week. This week is dedicated to Thanking our volunteers that have assisted the WSS P&C throughout the year. We thank you and appreciate you more than you know! Elizabeth Andrew was quoted saying "Volunteers DO NOT necessarily have the time, they have the heart" and another from an unknown author "Volunteers are not paid. Not because they are worthless, because they are priceless". No words will ever suffice the gratitude we have for you! A massive thankyou from the WSS P&C.

P&C APPRECIATION DAY- Friday 21 May 2021

Did you know? The WSS P&C executives are all volunteers themselves, most work either full or part-time, run a household and have other family commitments themselves. So, it is even hard for them to volunteer at times, however they do...a lot! We all have the same goal, we want to work towards providing a better school experience for our children at Worongary State School. We are a small team of dedicated volunteers; Tracy B the President, Katie H the Secretary, Rob P the Treasurer and Lisa G the Vice-Treasurer. We Thank all current and previous serving executive members for everything you do and have done for Worongary State School.

PRIZES UPDATE- COLOUR & SLIME SPECTACULAR

The WSS P&C are almost finished with ordering the prizes for our amazing and MonSTAR fundraisers. As soon as it is finalised Australian Fundraising will courier the Prizes to the WSS P&C, they will be collated and distributed to the classes. We will keep you posted on their arrival and their distribution.

We would like to thank all the parent Volunteers, Teachers and staff at Worongary State School for your support and assistance throughout the planning and execution of the Colour & Slime Spectacular event for 2021. We Thank you!

We would love to give a massive shout out to one of our School Community Businesses Spectrum Accountants, Southport who proudly donated the obstacle- Foam machine & Bubble machine to our Colour & Slime Spectacular event. Needless to say, the Foam Machine was a big hit for all ages!

P&C MEETING NEWS

Our WSS P&C held a meeting on Wednesday 12th May 2021. As a result of this meeting the executive team grew by one member. We would like to welcome our new secretary Katie H to the team. Katie has previously held the President position and has been an active P&C Member for many years. She has 4 boys, 3 of which have been, or are current students at Worongary and the youngest yet to reach that milestone. Our current serving Vice President Tracy B has stepped up to fill the shoes of the WSS P&C President role to ensure the WSS P&C is still able to continue. Our little team is growing, however, the Vice-President role is now vacant and available. Could you be our next Vice President?

The next P&C meeting will be held at the staff room of the Admin building at Worongary State School on Wednesday 9 June 4:30pm. We would love to see some new faces who share the same interest to better the School experience for all our students/children. Hope to see you there.

Cheers
Tracy

EXCURSIONS

Community Notices

Choose how to add this event to your calendar:

Apple Calendar iPhone, iPad, Mac - Download .ics file

Outlook Desktop Outlook - Download .ics file

Android Calendar Android devices - Download .ics file

Other Calendar Google Calendar, Yahoo, etc. - Download .ics file

Download Event