17 February 2022
Newsletter Articles
From the Principal
On behalf of the school, it is my absolute pleasure to welcome you to Term 1, 2022. I am, once again, very much looking forward to working with all members of our school community and wish both continuing and new families a fantastic year. 2022 brings many amazing projects, events, excursions and offerings to our students. It will be an amazing year!
Class Changes
As mentioned last year, and in the letter sent home on 4 February, we may be required to change classes due an increase or decrease of enrolments throughout our school. We are currently reviewing classes in the upper school due to an increase of students within particular year levels. On 16th February, we were required to inform the Department of Education our enrolment numbers within the school and make staffing adjustments from the enrolments. We will be in contact with year levels to discuss classroom changes shortly.
Communication with staff
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. I suggest all families to download the following to stay informed:
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Class Dojo |
QSchools |
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QParents |
School Facebook Page |
COVID-19 Plan Term 1
Thank you for such a smooth start to the school after the government announced its Back to School Plan (7 February to 4 March) and as such, we will be following the directives within this, making the necessary adjustments for our context.
Mask wearing is mandatory for all parents/carers and visitors to the school
- Mask wearing is encouraged for students from Years 3-6.
- Parents, carers and visitors are strongly discouraged from being on school grounds.
- Parents/carers of Prep and Year 1 students are able to come on site to drop off and collect their children. Please ensure you maintain physical distancing throughout the school. Please leave the school grounds as soon as possible.
- Parents/Carers of vulnerable students in Years 2-6 are permitted on site. Students from Years 2-6 are to be dropped off and collected at one of the staffed gates on Delta Cove Drive.
- Suspension of excursions, assemblies and large gatherings.
- We will be limiting Face to Face meetings on school site for parent interviews and parent meetings
- If your child is sick or showing any cold or flu like symptoms, they must remain at home.
- Students who develop any cold or flu like symptoms while at school, will be sent to the isolation area and will be seated in a well ventilated area until a parent/carer collects them. It is so important that if you are called to collect your child, that someone is able to collect them. Parents/carers will be given a Rapid Antigen Test to check your child when you go home.
Loading Zone Tips
Loading zones have been installed at our school to help parents and carers safely drop-off and pick-up their children. For these zones to work effectively and achieve a safe environment for children parents and carers need to:
- Involve your child, ask them to stay at the designated pick-up point and look for your car.
- Remember to stop your vehicle as close as possible to the front of the loading zone to allow other parents and carers easy access to the zone.
- At the loading zone either stay in the car or within three meters of the car. Avoid placing school bags in the car boot, this increases the time required to pick-up/drop-off.
- Pick-up and drop-off children only by the car's kerb side doors. Remember do not double park, having your children move between cars is dangerous.
- Delay arriving at the school in peak times, even by five minutes – it can make a big difference to the amount of congestion.
- If there is no availability in the loading zone or your child is not at your designated pick-up point, go around the block and try again. Let your child know that this may happen.
- Pick up your children in a safe location, rather than the most convenient spot. Always obey the signs and markings - you cannot stop at a no stopping sign, bus zone sign or where there is a yellow painted line.
- Observe the parking signs and speed limits around schools – they are designed to keep your child safe.
- Respect other drivers, school staff/volunteers and school crossing supervisors. Do not lose your cool – be patient and set a good example.
- Reduce the large numbers of cars needing to park at school by:
- Car pooling with other families.
- Using school bus transport (subsidies may apply).
- Walking or cycling with your child to school one or more days per week.
- Parking a short distance and walking the rest of the way – it is great exercise and helps teach your child road safety rules.
- Once old enough, allow your child to walk or cycle to school.
Looking forward to an amazing 2022!
FROM THE MUSIC ROOM
WELCOME to MUSIC in 2022!
Welcome to all returning and new Worongary families! By the time you read this every child at Worongary will have been to the Music Room for their first lesson of 2022. Ask them, what did they learn? What did they enjoy? Music is everywhere in our world and in Classroom Music we learn to understand the elements of music developing a rich vocabulary to talk about and experience music.
EXTRA MUSIC @ WORONGARY
At Worongary there are many and varied musical opportunities for students. Every student at Worongary experiences one x 30minute music session each week, but did you know, these other opportunities exist?
- Music Excellence classes – Year 6 by application
- Worongary Voices (formerly known as Senior Choir) – Singing Years 3 – 6
- Worongary Piccolos (formerly known as Junior Choir)– Singing Years 1 – 2
- Band - Instrumental Music Years 4 - 6
- Strings – Instrumental Music Years 3 – 6
If you are interested in joining one of the above-mentioned programs, please Dojo or email Miss Jones in the Music Department.
REHEARSAL SCHEDULE TERM 1
Band (Advanced) Rehearsal –
Monday 7:45am in the Band Room
Strings (Advanced) Rehearsal – Tuesday 7:45am in
the Band Room
Worongary Voices – Wednesday 7:45am – 8:45am in
the Band Room
Worongary Piccolos – Thursday 7:45am – 8:45am in
the Music Room
Music Excellence – Friday during class time
COMMUNICATION
The Music Department uses Class Dojo as its main communication tool.
Please check Dojo regularly for updates or to ask a question.
We are looking forward to a fantastic year of musical activity! Have a wonderful week!
Ms Katheryn Jones kjone416@eq.edu.au
Instrumental Music Teacher Strings and Classroom Music Teacher
FROM THE JAPANESE ROOM
Hi All,
Konnichiwa!
I would like to introduce myself to Worongary SPS as your LOTE, Japanese teacher, where I taught years 5 and 6 in 2021.
My background covers over 30 years of teaching Japanese both here and in Japan, where I lived in Tokyo. I received 2 scholarships to live and study in Japan which now gives me unique experiences to share with my students from travel, culture, food and daily life. I have also taught in schools, universities, TAFE and proudly served for the RAAF as an Education Officer.
I hope to bring a love of language and culture to Worongary through bonsai which I am happy to incorporate into the lessons as part of the cultural aspect in the Australian curriculum.
I will re-introduce ‘The Japan Club’ where students get to practise their language skills at morning tea. Students can ask for extra help, play Japanese games, learn cultural activities as bonsai, cooking (recipes only), anime colouring and explore the lifestyles of the Japanese.
I look forward to teaching your son/daughter and hope they enjoy all the amazing aspects of learning a foreign language.
Doomo arigatoo gozaimasu.
Thank you.
Kim Rochelle-Brown
B. Teach (Japanese) B. Ed (Japanese) Dip Bus, Cert. IV Trainer &
Assessor- LLN, Dip Leadership Management, Dip Project Management, Cert.
Public Safety (Defence)
Japanese Teacher (sensei)
P&C NEWS
We're back for another school year, Woohoo! Welcome Back to everyone within our school community, old & new. We are excited for a new year and hopefully it proves to be better for everyone than the last two years!
So, what is the purpose of the P&C?
Firstly, The P&C consists of a group of dedicated volunteers; Parents, grandparents, members of the community all working together for a purpose. We are always happy to welcome any new members/friends, whether it be regularly or a one off for events/activities, as we know some people "do not necessarily have the time; they generally have the heart"- (Elizabeth Andrew)
There are a few things we do, although Covid restrictions have hindered us for some time. We like to create a sense of community & connection through our activities, help to be a parent voice within the school, work in collaboration with the school in providing feedback and support on school policies and activities.
Another, is to raise money to put back through the school to better the school experience by providing additional resources that enhance learning for our students - working together for our children. This contribution of funds is raised through our businesses: the tuckshop and uniform store, in addition to fundraising activities/events, like the Colour Run, Mothers/Father’s Day Stalls, Discos and many other fun-fundraising activities.
There is a lot of truth in the sayings "many hands make light work''.... Although, we must say, It's pretty good work. Being a part of something that is to do good, seeing those happy faces and hearing the laughter from the students within our school... Simply amazing! Come be part of the team this year...2022, we need you!
We had the unfortunate news where we had to say farewell to our Tuckshop Convenor, Jess from Term 4 2021. She absolutely loved her time here at Worongary SS Tuckshop. Jess leaves with a heavy heart, and absolutely loved the position at Worongary State School. However, Jess & her family have been given an opportunity that has been a lifelong dream, albeit bad timing for us, it is an offer she couldn't refuse. We wish you the best in every aspect of your next journey in life. Words cannot express our appreciation of what you have created in Term 4 2021.
However, the WSS P&C have been able source a tuckshop convenor and we are excited to welcome Mr Paul Gissing and Ms Caitlin Williamson to our WSS P&C Tuckshop.
Paul comes with qualifications in Commercial Cookery, and has been working in the hospitality industry, as a chef, for nearly 20 years. Paul is a devoted father to his 10-year-old daughter, and has decided to choose a better work life balance where he can work school hours and have school holidays off to spend as a family. Hence why he has joined our Worongary State School Community Family. We welcome Paul and look forward to indulging in his cuisine.
We also have a new Tuckshop Assistant Caitlin Williamson. Caitlin is already a Worongary SS School Community Family member and has now joined us in the Tuckshop. Caitlin holds a Certificate 3 in hospitality and has been working within the Tuckshop Environment for some time. She loves being part of the community and is looking forward to being part of the Worongary School Team. We welcome you to our team.
UNIFORM STORE
Unfortunately, due to the result of Covid regulations and untimely surgeries for our WSS P&C Team, the Uniform store hasn't been able to be opened as much as we have liked. However, we have a lovely member of our community and previous P&C Executive, Di, who has kindly stepped up and volunteered to assist whilst the others are 'out of action'. The uniform store will be open for the next fortnight 8 am till 9:30am for over the counter purchases and online order collections. Otherwise all online orders will be collated, and either dropped to the child’s classrooms or office on the Thursday or Friday of those weeks.
Unfortunately, at this time, we cannot guarantee the uniform store opening thereafter for a period of 3 weeks. Apologies for this at this time. If circumstances change, we will inform you via our Worongary SS P&C Facebook page.
Senior Shirts
As per WSS P&C Facebook Post on 9th February: - In 2021, Yr 6 senior shirts were topic of discussion at our P&C Meeting regarding the student protection, privacy & Media Concern (advertisement) of student names on the rear of the senior shirts, compared to a memento/keepsake of the school experience. There were discussions about all options, and two optional designs have been created in addition to the previous senior shirts design. The ultimate decision lies with Education QLD and the WSS School leadership team. We are currently awaiting confirmation and approval of which senior shirt design that adheres to the policies behind student protection, privacy & media consent. Once this confirmation & approval is complete, the WSS P&C will advise all Yr 6 senior student families of when the shirts can be ordered, and they will be available on the QKR! App for purchase soon after. We understand that many of the Yr 6 students & families are eager to obtain the senior shirts. WSS School & WSS P&C work collaboratively in ensuring risk assessments, compliancy to policies & procedures are taken, and ultimately ensuring the safety of our students is paramount. Please bear with us whilst we must complete this process.
CONTAINERS FOR CHANGE
We have new fancy blue collection wheelie bins from Express Recycling for 2022 and a new Term 1 Goal - All money fundraised through the containers for change is directly going towards purchasing STEM specific educational library books for our new STEM Innovation Centre coming to WSS.
To help fundraise, if every student at WSS could bring in 5 x eligible recycling containers (10c refund) on every collection date we could fundraise up to $6710.00 per year! That would be outstanding! If you are interested in making a change and being part of the change, please check out the Worongary SS P&C Facebook page for collection dates and details for term 1.
QKR! App
Uniform and Tuckshop Online ordering is available via the Qkr! App only- WSS School Tuckshop, under recommendation by P&C QLD and Education QLD are minimising the exposure to cash handling on our premises. Therefore, all tuckshop orders need to be conducted through the QKR! App. The only over the counter purchases available are for frozen treats at second break playtime.
Please remember to update all student QKR profiles with their NEW class for 2022.
Yet to set up with Qkr???
- Download Qkr from your app store
- Search for & select Worongary State School
- Create a profile for each of your children
- Add one or more payment cards
You're ready to order!
TO BE IN THE KNOW:
if you want to know about upcoming fundraising events or activities, P&C Meetings, Tuckshop or Uniform store news, please ensure you become a member of the Worongary SS P&C Facebook page. Stay tuned for this year fundraising news!
Community Notices
