11 August 2016

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

The Willows Fun Fair

The P&C have been feverously working to make this year’s Fun Fair the best ever. From first thing in the morning the rides and slides will be setting up on the oval, so this area will be out of bounds. If you haven’t already got your rides and slides wristband, make sure you pay for them by Wednesday 24th August to save money. Unfortunately I will be in Brisbane at a State Principal’s conference, however Mr Tod is making himself available for the dunking machine. Make sure you get a few good dunks in on Mr Tod. Enjoy the Fun Fair!

NAPLAN

This week individual student NAPLAN reports were sent home. The Willows students and staff have worked hard to continue our improvements across all areas, in particular Reading. The results we have achieved this year have been pleasing, especially in year 3. This is a direct result of focused students, quality teaching and parental support.

The national report released yesterday confirm what we have seen across many other local and statewide indicators — the hard work of Queensland teachers and students is paying off. Our strongest results were in the Year 3 and Year 5 cohorts, where Queensland achieved some of its highest ever rankings against the national minimum standards (NMS). Highlights of Queensland's NAPLAN results include:

• ranking first nationally in Year 3 Grammar and Punctuation (the first time that Queensland has ever ranked first in a test area)
• ranking second nationally in Year 3 Reading and Numeracy
• ranking second nationally in Year 5 Grammar and Punctuation
• ranking second nationally in Year 7 Spelling.

While NAPLAN is only one piece of the assessment puzzle, and there are a wide range of views about the role and purpose of national assessment, it does give us an opportunity to reflect on what effect our efforts are having on each student's performance in skills necessary for everyday life: reading, writing, spelling and numeracy.

Car Safety

Will you please be careful when picking up students in the afternoon? The safety of our students is everyone’s responsibility. Please park in signed parking spaces. There are a number of people who are flirting with the law and placing everyone’s safety at risk by not using established pick up areas.

Guinness World Records attempt - World's largest practical science lesson

Students across the state from grades 5 to 10 have been invited to the Brisbane Exhibition and Convention Centre to break the Guinness World Records title for the largest practical science lesson.

Over 2500 students will be attending from all over Queensland. Five year 5 students, Sophie F, Kiara W, William B, Sarah S and Corey P will be attending on behalf of The Willows State School. Look out for them on the news on Friday night.

Regards Chris

Science Expo

STUDENT RECORDS UPDATE

Please remember to return your Student Records Update form if you have not already done so. This will ensure that your student/s information is up to date. If you have misplaced the form contact the office for another copy.

BOOK WEEK AUGUST 20 -26

The theme for Children's Book Week this year is 'Australia! Story Country' - Celebrating iconic picture books from over the last 70 years! (August 20 – 26, 2016)

The Book Week theme poster - 2016 was created by celebrated Australian artist, writer and filmmaker Shaun Tan. His quirky and vibrant illustration is a wonderful celebration of 70 Years of the CBCA (Children’s Book Council of Australia) Book of the Year Awards.

Shaun Tan says:

My idea for this poster was very simple: to create the kind of CBCA poster I would have loved to see as a child, either in a library or on my own bedroom wall. Even back then I had some awareness that Australian children’s literature was particularly special and original: crazy, amusing, thought-provoking, and filled with memorable characters and places both weird and familiar. When it comes to unfettered imagination, Australia truly is a ‘story country’, as it has been for many thousands of years.

Our focus in the library is to rediscover the picture books that have featured over the years in the CBCA Book of the Year Awards. We encourage all children this year to revisit old favourites, connect to our past and above all embrace Australia: Story Country.

Suggested Children’s Book Week activities.

• Read the books and find the characters referenced on the poster. (Each class will receive an A3 black and white version of the CBCA poster)
• Create a poster (similar to Shaun Tan’s) of books that they have read, that they think are important or that they love. Remember to include the 2016 Book Week theme, CBCA logo and name. Entries will be on display in the library and we will acknowledge participation and award prizes to those children who have put lots of thought and effort into their poster. Please submit posters by the end of August.

ASSEMBLY

The next assemblies are ….

• Senior Assembly (3-6) on Friday the 12th of August.
• Junior Assembly (P-2) on Friday the 19th of August.

YEAR 5 CHARTERS TOWERS TRIP

Our year 5 students have received permission forms for their upcoming excursion to Charters Towers. In year 5 students investigate the colonial period in Australian History. They focus on significant events such as the gold rush and they go to Charters Towers to further their knowledge and understanding of that era. They view some of the equipment used and even get to try their luck at gold panning. They also visit a Miner’s cottage and do the Venus Battery guided tour and the museum tour. The following classes go on these dates.

Payment & permission slip are due on Wednesday, August 17.

P&C NEWS

FUN FAIR

The Fun Fair is on Friday the 26th of August 5pm -9pm. This is our schools biggest fundraiser for the year. Any donations or assistance with the Fun Fair is appreciated. They can contact Tanya Eddy by tmeddy@bigpond.com

We would appreciate help from parents in setting up the Fun Fair from 9am on the Friday. Don’t forget that teachers also need help with running the stalls, so please contact your child’s teacher and let them know when you will be available to help.

We are low on donations for our spinning wheel. We would appreciate any donations of alcohol (bought into office by parents), boxes of chocolates or new toys.

For the tombola stall we need clean glass jars filled with wrapped lollies, chocolates, hair ties, pencils etc.

If you're donating a cake to the cake stall please deliver it to the school on the morning of the Fun Fair. The cake must be labelled with the cake ingredients. A note was sent home with students containing the label. Please contact the office if you require additional labels.

The Tuckshop will also be looking for volunteers to assist during the Fun Fair.

P & C MEETING

Our next P&C meeting is next Wednesday 17/08/2016 at 6.30pm in the OHSC building. New faces always welcome.

Thanks

P&C Committee

DEFENCE AND MOBILE FAMILIES

Welcome to All Families,

To commemorate the service of our Vietnam Veterans and acknowledge the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, the RSL community link in Brisbane issued schools ‘Thank you’ cards for students to write a personal message of thanks and remembrance. Students from Year 6 took part in an informal discussion about the Vietnam War and Australia’s involvement. Students then brainstormed some ideas to write in their cards. See a beautiful example from our School Captains Bella and Denzil below.

Cards will be presented to the Veterans on 18th August 2016 for Vietnam Veteran’s Day 2016. Congratulations to those participating students for your thoughtfulness and lovely words, I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.

DEFENCE SPOUSE PT CLASSES

If you are looking to get fit and socialise at the same time try the Defence Spouse PT classes. Every Wednesday @ Geckos Centre 6.30pm $5 per person.

POSTINGS

Postings are beginning to trickle through more regularly this term. Many students have already let us know they are expecting to post out at the end of 2016. Please ensure you inform the office, your student’s teacher and defence aides. We like to ensure the students and their families are well supported during what can be a tough time. Additionally, if you require any information regarding a new posting locale or simply a chat please call in and see Correna and Louise.

Term 4 will see individual and personalised farewells for students along with a fun group get together to farewell all our friends.

YOUTH HUB COURSES FROM ‘ME TOO’

These courses are for children looking to learn life skills such as social skills, anger management and other coping techniques. The ‘Me Too’ team consists of a psychologist and social workers. You can get inspired with the ‘CREATIVE’ group, fitness and discipline with boxing classes or feed the soul at the living skills and social group ‘US TOO’. See attached flyers for further information

THE YOUNGER HEROES CAMPS

The Younger Heroes' is a program designed to bring a returned serviceman or woman and his/her child, on a four-day camping program on a private property at the base of Mt Warning in Northern NSW. It is about sending a positive message for the child to assist with building resilience, realising their own inner physical and mental strength and learning to appreciate the work of their father or mother all through elements of physical fitness, group activities and shared experiences. For further information regarding the camps please refer to the attached flyer.

LAVARACK OPEN DAY 3 SEPTEMBER

Details of the Trail Run and Open Day has altered slightly from previous correspondence. Please have a look at the new flyer attached.

TUTORING

Education Allowance Scheme – Remember it’s never too early to begin tutoring, you have 18 months from your posting date to take advantage of the Education Assistance. Don’t leave it until it’s too late. Tutoring can begin at any time of the year for students so be sure to take advantage of this scheme before your 18 months ends.

Well done to all those students who have got straight into tutoring, we know you will be well rewarded for all your hard work. Remember to get tutoring started soon so you do not miss out on entitlements. This assistance is very valuable for your children. Most children find it builds confidence and they enjoy it very much. This scheme is aimed at minimising the disruption to a child’s schooling, caused as a result of a defence posting. Reimbursement can be provided for tuition for primary and secondary students within the first 18 months of enrolment at the new school. The entitlement is 14 weeks at 1 hour per week per subject. Forms are available online or from the DSTA here at school. There is a list of teachers available for tutoring before and after school. Please ask your teacher or email your DSTA for further details

KIDS CLUB

Thank you to the families for the donation of boxes and bits and pieces for collage and construction. Pet rocks will be arriving soon. Kids Club is held every Monday and Tuesday during FIRST break on the verandah of the Outside School Care building. Kids Club is filled with exciting activities ranging from colouring in, board and card games, trucks and cars, and various craft activities each week.

Kids Club is a great way for children to get to know each other in a friendly, supervised environment. Please encourage them to come along and have some fun. They are welcome to bring a friend with them.

DEPLOYMENTS AND ABSENCES

Please make sure you let your Teacher, the Office and DSTA know if you have a member away. We like to ensure all students are supported during what can be a challenging time and allow them the chance to share their experiences with other students going through similar events. Additionally, if you are having difficulties or would like a chat, come in and see us or contact us via phone or email.

Please find attached details of the POCKETS of LOVE that is a lovely thing for family to do while a loved one is away.

CONTACTS

Defence Community Organisation is available to all Defence members and their families. Contact can be made on 1800 624 608 24 hours.

Veterans and Veterans Families – 1800 011 046

DFA Defence Families of Australia – 1800 100 509

National Delegate for Northern Queensland - nth.qld@dfa.org.au

Remember Louise and Correna are available morning and afternoon. Parents and students are very welcome to stop by L Pod (behind OSCHC building) or contact us via email or phone as listed below.

The Office on 47 991 333 or via e-mail - Louise on lwhit325@eq.edu.au or Correna Wheeler cwhee36@eq.edu.au

Kind Regards,

Louise White and Correna Wheeler

½ VIOLIN FOR SALE

There is a ½ violin for sale for $100. Please contact Erin on 0408 127 776.