17 September 2021

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal

I am absolutely blown away by the staff and students of the school! What spectacular performances based on the theme of gratitude/happiness over the matinée and evening performances.

I would like to sincerely thank the efforts of the teachers, teacher aides and support staff who assisted students to perform in our hall. Many many hours were spent by these staff in and out of school hours to create their class performances.

Parents – thank you for your assistance with props and supporting your children’s worries in presenting to an audience. For some students, and adults also, performing to a large crowd is very daunting. Your attendance was also fantastic!

I would like to thank the office staff for the support in ticket distribution and ensuring we continued to meet COVID guidelines. There were many phones calls to the office with clarifying questions and they continued to ensure all families had the opportunity to attend.

I would like to thank Mr Clancy and Mrs Buttigieg for the technical support and helping our performing arts equipment was used to its full potential. The lights and videos were amazing!

Finally, I would like to thank Mrs de Watteville Doe for leading this whole event! Her leadership and organisation was brilliant. Thank you for getting this event over the line and your support to staff and students over the last two terms was huge.

For us, to show our gratitude to the community, we decided to donate all proceedings from door entry to the Nerang Neighbourhood Centre. This totalled $791.25

The smiles on the staff, students and parents truly highlighted the success of these performances. Congratulations again to all involved and I am sure

Regards,
Adam

PREP 2022 ENROLMENTS

Do you have a child or friend/neighbour whose child is celebrating a birthday (turning 5 by the 30 June, 2022) between and lives in the Worongary State School catchment area (Link to Catchment Map)

If so, then now is the time to be contacting us to secure a place in our supportive transition to Prep program – ‘Get Set for Prep!’.

Regards
Shiree Salazar
Junior Deputy Principal

Save the Date

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 4 Week 2

Theme – Going to Big school

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

LAST CALL TO LEARN A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT IN 2022!

Last week our Senior Strings and Senior Band students performed for our Year 2 and 3 students respectively.

Students entering Year 3 in 2022 are offered the opportunity of learning a Stringed instrument (violin, viola, cello & double bass)

Students entering Year 4 in 2022 are offered the opportunity to learn a Band instrument (woodwind, brass and percussion)

Each child, in Years 2 and 3 received an ‘Expression of Interest’ form with the view to learning a musical instrument in 2022. This is the first step. In Term 4, the Instrumental Music Teachers will meet with interested students to determine the best fit instrument for each child – this might not be their first choice but certainly an instrument that we feel they can be successful on.

Learning a musical instrument is a large commitment. We expect students to stay in the program for at least one year. To be successful students will need to commit to attending lessons and doing home practise. Dojo is our teachers main form of communication, with lots of resources being posted to this platform. Make sure you have Dojo, so you don’t miss any important announcements!

THANK YOU MISS BUCHANAN AND WELCOME BACK MISS AUCHERE!

This year, Miss Kerri Buchanan has overseen the Band Program at Worongary. Kerri has done an amazing job, communicating with families, setting up reward systems, teaching the children new skills and drawing out each child’s musicality. Miss Buchanan is leaving us at the end of this term to take over the Nerang High School Band Program and we wish her every success in this role.

We will welcome back Miss Auchere in Term 4 and hope to see baby Margaux often!

THANK YOU FAMILIES AND STUDENTS

As the term draws to a close, I would like to thank all the students and their families that make Worongary a great Music school!

Whilst we haven’t always been able to rehearse and do scheduled performances this term, we have had a lot of fun! The effort and enthusiasm of the students has been incredible! I look forward to a huge term of Music, next term.

Band and Strings students – don’t forget about your instrument over the break. Take it out of its case often! Put on a mini concert for your family! Play your ensemble pieces! Put on Smart Music and experiment with the functions! Listen to your pieces on a device! Be musical each and every day!

Rehearsals and lessons will recommence in Week 1 Term 4!

Have a great break!
Yours in Music
Ms Katheryn Jones kjone416@eq.edu.au

Konnichiwa!

Over the last month I have been trying to get to know my lovely students through introductions done the Japanese way by roleplays. Students have been practicing their names (namae) age (sai) and grades (nen sei) to another.

Fun Japanese Fact: Did you know that you should never write on Japanese business cards as it is considered rude?

All students now have the Japanese hiragana alphabet of 46 letters which I encourage them to learn, play games and test themselves in preparation for high school. In my class, we learn by whole body actions as saying, writing, acting and role play to help with memory retention. Try writing in the air, acting out the sound through a story as we do in class!

I have also created a ‘Japan Club’ for years 5 and 6, on Wednesdays from 11 to 11.25 where cultural activities including bonsai, origami, puzzles, anime, Japanese recipes and books are done together. My bonsai trees offer students a unique cultural lesson by learning vocabulary whilst enjoying a 5 min ‘brain break’ at the end of the lesson.

Fun Japanese Fact: Did you know that bonsai means potted tree and came from China 2000 years ago as evident by tomb paintings from the T ’ang Dynasty?

Doomo arigatoo gozaimasu (Thank you)
Kim Rochelle-Brown
Japanese Specialist

Kim Rochelle-Brown
E/LAD Teacher
Ormeau Woods State Primary School

P&C NEWS

P&C General

Two Executive members of our WSS P&C were provided the opportunity to attend P&C QLDs 'Strategy & Adaptation' State Conference 2021. This professional development conference consists over 2.5 days in Brisbane, nominated executives attend many information 'breakout' sessions between the hours of 7am to 5pm. We also had the opportunity in other sessions to liaise and network with other school P&Cs across the state. Breakout session topics were a mixture of P&C Leadership & Best Practise, Rengage and Reinvent Tuckshop Operations, Grant Writing, exploring fundraising events, engaging volunteers, HR support and Social Media communication- Just to name a few :).

We also had some opportunities in between Breakout sessions to speak to the plethora of sponsors at the state conference. These sponsors are supply companies, Fundraising companies and Uniform companies- again just to name a few. We gained an amount of knowledge from this development opportunity, shared some of our knowledge amongst other P&C executives who attended and verified that we are on the right track with our recent restructure of WSS P&C operations.

Our Secretary Katie, was invited by P&C QLD to be a guest speaker at the Leadership and Best practise session, and she did amazingly. Her knowledge of the legislation in which all P&Cs are required to adhere to is no less than outstanding.

We thank the P&C Committee for providing the opportunity for us to attend and to broaden our knowledge and obtain better deals for our Business operation expenses.

We would also like to clarify any misinformation or understanding of the funding for our two executives to attend this Conference. It is classed as Professional Development by our Governing Agency P&C QLD, the funds used to enable our executive members to attend, are invested by our P&C Operations and not that of our School Community Fundraising efforts. All P&C Operation funds are injected back into our P&C day to day operations, development and viability. We would also like to remind our community that this was not a leisurely weekend, and that it was a packed 2 full days of learning and development. Each executive who attended gave up their personal time and entire weekend with their families/friends, to further develop their skills. All members of the WSS executive team are volunteers who have their own work and family commitments to juggle. They volunteer many, many hours over the year/s, hold the passion, commitment and drive towards the goal; to better the school experience for our students at Worongary State School.

UNIFORM STORE

We are expecting to receive our embroidered school hats very soon. We have had plain (non embroidered) maroon wide brimmed hats available for purchase in the interim.

To date we are still on track, and getting closer to receiving our much-awaited uniform order, due to arrive late September/early October. Currently our uniform store is closed for the remainder of term 3. If you require anything urgently, please email the P&C at pandc@worongaryss.eq.edu.au or order online, as all online orders will be processed weekly during school term. If by chance you observe that you cannot get a certain item online through schools shop online platform - then we are out of stock of that item and it has been removed from the selection. We do not keep any extra stock external to the online quantities.

Our back to school orders for January are still on track to arrive in time for our January sales. Which is great news! We will advise when they arrive and we are looking forward to being able to operate as 'business as usual’ real soon. If you wish to contact us please do so via email at uniforms@worongaryss.eq.edu.au

TUCKSHOP NEWS

We understand that the restructure has taken longer than originally anticipated, however please understand with the disruption of constant restrictions and lockdowns due to Covid, advertising, interviewing and choosing the right candidate for our school Tuckshop. In addition, finalising all procedures and policies required within the tuckshop operations, painting and reorganising. We can finally advise that the tuckshop is reopening on the first Thursday at the start of term 4. EXCITING! We hope to release the new menu and ordering platform over the school holidays. Stay Tuned!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

We recently put a call out to our community on our WSS P&C Facebook page asking if any of our school community are in the position and interested to become a volunteer so we can re-open and remain open 5 days a week.

We will require volunteers for the hours of power between 9am- midday and possibly for a short period between 1:45-2:15pm. If you are available for an hour or so a week, fortnight or month, we would kindly accept any assistance. All volunteers must complete the schools volunteering requirements located on their Website, a free online food handling course (takes minimal time, however is required). We have created a volunteer handbook for your information and perusal.

Again, you need not be available every week etc, but if you are in the position where you could assist on a regular basis weekly, fortnightly or Monthly, we would be ever so grateful. Please email your interest to tuckshop@worongaryss.eq.edu.au

COOL SCHOOL PROJECTS- Playground.

We would like to advise the community, we have decided to halt the development planning stage for the Playground. We have the fundraised amount of $55,000 available to purchase additional equipment for our current playgrounds. However, we have been advised of a grant that has just opened and it's an opportunity which we cannot refuse, if successful, we could triple our money fundraised and get even bigger and better equipment items for our playgrounds. We have also booked more appointments with playground developers since attending the state conference. It really is an Opportunity we are going to jump at!

AIR CONDITIONING

The WSS P&C past and present alongside our school community, for a number of years we fundraised nonstop towards the installation of air conditioning. As a result of everyone's efforts we were able to install a number of air conditioning units within our school, however we had many more to go. When the QLD government announced that they will fund the installation of air con in all state schools, we were relieved, excited and dubious of the Government announcement. It was announced that Worongary would be one of the first schools to get Air conditioning, this is mainly due to the WSS P&C following the installation specifications (and there were many!) required from Education Qld and our government. That is something to be very proud of.

Then the dreaded Covid hit our shores. It has taken a further (almost) 2 years since that announcement and we can proudly advise that Worongary State School was successful last June/July School Holidays to get the air conditioning completed. Although we are still awaiting small added extras to fulfil the required specifications, they are believed to be completed this week.

YEAR 6 GRADUATION

Graduation Signature items and gifts store has been launched last week for our Year 6 families to purchase keepsake items. The WSS P&C struggled to initially find a good selection and quantity of graduation gifts to complete the same fundraiser opportunity as last year. Covid is becoming a thorn in product supply. However, we have finally been able to secure a range of items to start this amazing fundraiser. Yes, this is a fundraiser event that will be put towards the 2021 WSS year 6 Graduation Ceremony. If you wish to order a graduation Keepsake, please go to the link below to make your purchases. For personal delivery to your child's classroom, please ensure you write your child's name and class number in the notes section. If this is a surprise gift, please ensure you advise us also in the note section and we will contact you via phone.

To ensure we get the graduation gifts in time (this is assured) ALL ORDERS MUST BE PLACED PRIOR TO THE 15th OCTOBER 2021. No late orders will be accepted, as this would greatly jeopardise the on-time distribution. If you know other Families outside of our school that wish to purchase Graduation Keepsakes, please share the link and get them to write additional information in the notes section.

FUNDRAISING

We recently had our Father’s Day Stall, Wow, there were some amazing and thoughtful students that chose very wisely and lovingly for their special person. We hope all dads, carers, special persons and father figures had a great Father’s Day weekend and loved those special gifts chosen for you.

IN PARTING

We would like to thank our school community for your patience and understanding of all the disruptions of the P&C Operations this term. We assure you it will be worthwhile.

Please keep safe and well over the up-coming School holidays. Fingers Crossed we get the opportunity to do as many vacation activities as possible and not be affected by ANY Covid restrictions and lock downs. Remember to travel safely, be generally safe & healthy and wear a mask. We hope to see you all in Term 4.

Monday – Friday 8.00 am – 4.30 pm

Excluding Public Holidays

For children to be eligible for free public oral health services they must:

• Be Queensland residents or attend a Queensland school; and,
• Be eligible for Medicare*; and,
• Meet at least one of the following criteria:
  - be aged four years or older and have not completed Year 10, or
  - be eligible for the Medicare Child Dental Benefits Schedule, or
  - be referred by Community Child Health Nurse (Lift the Lip Program), or
  hold, or be listed as a dependent on, a valid Centrelink concession card, or
  - Children in Out of Home care

*Eligibility for Medicare includes holders of green or blue Medicare cards but excludes yellow Medicare cards which are issued to visitors from countries with reciprocal health card agreements.

Further information on public funded oral health services can be accessed via URL:

Friday 3rd of Sept was a Student Free Day and School Plus Worongary was open celebrating Everyone’s Birthday! The children enjoyed making streamers and party decorations and food including cakes, chocolate crackles and fairy bread. The children enjoyed party games including a gigantic Pass the Parcel, Musical Chairs and Pin the Tail on the Donkey.

School Plus has been recognizing Child Protection Week. We have been extending on our Braveheart’s Dittos Safe Adventures program by using the Ditto board game. We have also promoted White Balloon Day and we have been collecting donations. We feel so proud to display our artwork on the National Child Protection Week poster, know it is being shared across Australia in this important week!

Father’s Day was a focus last week with children wanting to make cards and gifts for the special males in their lives, fathers, grandfathers, uncles and step-parents. The Children made Rocky Road, lolly-jars, cards and other beautiful heartfelt gifts and messages.

See below some other fun we’ve had recently!

We’re very excited for the upcoming September Vacation Care period. Don’t miss out on all the fun we have planned, book now to secure your spot!

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