23 March 2017

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Dear Parents/Carers and Community

Congratulations to all students who participated in our Annual Fun Run and to those students who were competing to participate in the next level of competition. It was excellent to see the team spirit of our houses and the support of our students throughout the morning. A special thankyou to Ms Deuble and Miss Williams for organising this event.

Our school Rock Band has had lots of chances to play at our school to the various visitors and at our Junior Assembly. The Rock Band is an absolute credit to the students and Mr Schimke. We look forward to other opportunities to showcase these talented students at our school. You rock!

The last fortnight has been an exceptional display of our student learning progress and achievement. Our offices have been filled with our youngest learners sharing their reading and writing achievements. In a short 8 weeks at school we have a number of our Prep students rocketing in reading and writing sentences with growing independence. Congratulations to our Prep students and our Prep Teachers and support staff.

The School Improvement Unit Reviewers spent 4 days at our school last week. Across the 4 days 100% of staff, a significant number of students and parents participated in conversations about our school. Our review was a positive experience, honouring the work of The Willows of the past 4 years and providing suggestions for further improvement into the future. These suggested strategies will be considered in the next part of forming our 4 year School Strategic Plan (2018-2022) through the Quadriennial School Review process.

Our direction for 2017 are:

• Reading
• Writing
• High quality implementation of Australian Curriculum (please see website update)
• Positive Behaviour Learning

We have targets for all of our students at The Willows. Our students bring their ‘A Game’ each and every day and receive excellent teaching through our staff. We believe that as a school we can achieve 90% or more of our learners achieving Reading Targets and C or better in their learning areas of English, Maths, Science, Technology, History/Geography, Music/The Arts, Health and Physical Education and LOTE (Japanese for Years 5 and 6).

Positive Behaviour Learning is a system approach to managing behaviour. Our students and school community are expected to follow the three school rules: Be Safe; Be Respectful; Be a Learner. It is excellent to see that these rules and the expectations at our school are followed by the majority of our school population. The Responsible Behaviour Plan outlines the strategies that we use at our school. This plan was endorsed at our P and C Meeting earlier this year and available on the school website.

Our school attendance target is 95% and we are currently exceeding this target! Well done The Willows! Top work!

Currently our website is getting some tender loving care. We are updating our information regularly so please check into the website regularly and also QApp which gives notifications of the website updates. A school’s website is the point of call for all official school information. If you come across anything old or outdated, please let our front office know so we can edit and amend this.

Being the last newsletter for the term, I wish you a safe and well deserved break. See you in Term 2!

Kind regards

Helen McCullough
Principal

DATE CLAIMER

STUDENT WORK SAMPLES

Don’t Let the Pigeons Play in the Toilets!

By Liliko, Year 1

Year One in PY/1Zon are writing an innovation on the classic ‘Pigeon’ stories. Through the story they have to develop a character and ensure that the words and pictures match to develop this character. They have to have an introduction, ask a question, make offers and give commands. Great job Liliko!

YEAR 6 CAMP

Our year 6 students had a fantastic time at Echo Creek. A big thank you to the staff at Echo Creek Adventure Centre who ran many of the activities. The ultimate favourites were the challenge course and laser tag. Our teachers also had a great time.

YEAR 5 ARTISTS

Year 5 have completed several art pieces this term. The abstract faces were inspired by Pablo Picasso. The students had to use plenty of colour and outline their work using black pen. The dragon eye sketches were inspired by our fantasy story writing in English. Each piece can take several hours to complete as we use a step by step approach. We certainly have some budding artists!

ASSESSMENT AND ACCESS TO COMPUTERS

Many of our students are completing assessment at the moment. Just a reminder that the computer lab is available every morning from 8, to 8.40am except Wednesday. If your student need to access a computer or a quiet place to work on assessment please encourage them to attend.

Every year, schools have helped make Earth Hour the incredible event it is. Schools across Australia have been some of Earth Hour’s biggest supporters with thousands of teachers and students contemplating the importance of our environment for an hour.

At The Willows we will also be contributing to earth hour by discussing the importance of environmental awareness. Our year 3 to 6 classes will be going without for an hour.

This small but powerful gesture sends a resounding statement to our community that we are committed to environmental awareness and change for the future of our planet.

How are our classes contributing for an hour?

For more information please go to the following website

The Willows State School has chosen to partner with Life Education, a specialist health education provider. The Life Education Mobile Learning Centre will be at our school in the first week of term 2. Information and permission forms have gone out to students in prep, year 1,3 and 6. Life Education is a health promotion charity, and the largest non-government provider of health and drug education to children. They work in partnership with schools to enhance and reinforce children’s learning about nutrition, the benefits of physical activity, staying safe online, the health impacts of smoking and alcohol, and strategies to cope with peer and social pressures. Life Education is about prevention through education – providing children with important knowledge, skills, confidence and self-esteem to help them live a healthy, safe life. Life Education is well known by its mascot ‘Healthy Harold” the giraffe.

This year or students will do the following programs. Reminder that forms and payment are due Tuesday the 28th of March. Students in year 2, 4 and 5 will have the opportunity to participate in Life Education in November.

LOST PROPERTY

Lost property will be displayed on Monday 27th March from before school until end of second break. Please remind your student to go and have a look if they have lost anything this term. All un-named property at the end of the day will be sent to a charity.

STUDENT ABSENCES

It is an Education Department requirement to send a text message to parents whose student absence is unexplained. At The Willows State School we do this by 9:45am. To avoid getting a text message for a student absence, you can notify the school in several ways. The easiest, quickest and preferred ways to notify the school of a student absence are:

• Ring the student absence line 4799 1366 – this is an easy way to notify the school if your child is away sick. You can leave a message any time of the day or night.
• QParents – If you are registered with QParents, you can notify the school of an absence through QParents.

Other ways are:

• Ring the school office after 8am
• Send an email to the teacher or leadership team

CODE OF CONDUCT TRAINING

All parents assisting in the classroom are required to complete Code of Conduct Training each year. We are holding the next training session on Wednesday 29th March at 2:10pm in the TCBC Conference Room. Please contact the office if you will be attending.

SAUSAGE SIZZLE

The tuckshop will be closed on the last day of term – Friday 31st March. There will be a sausage sizzle with proceeds going to Chaplaincy. Order forms have gone home. Cost per sausage is $2.50. Please return order forms by 9.30am Tuesday 28th March.

PERMISSION NOTES

Permission notes must be returned to the office along with any payment required if you wish your child to attend the activity.

Invoices may be paid online via QParents or BPoint as listed on the invoice. Please ensure that if you pay online, the permission slip is sent to the office the next day so the permission and payment can be matched.

P&C NEWS

Hi Everyone,

The P&C held their Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Monday (20th March), and it was well attended, with well over 20 interested parents and staff in attendance! All of our executive positions and sub committees were declared vacant and elections held.

Congratulations to our new executive team:

Jason Curtis (President)
Kylie Allison (Vice President)
Wanda Austin (Treasurer - continuing)
Nicky Smith (Secretary)

A huge THANKS to our outgoing executive members, Damien Helander, Ali Cavanagh and Tanya Eddy, for their tireless work over the past year. The new committee will be continuing their good work on streamlining our processes and meetings so that we can focus on school direction and strategy with the school leadership team.

In other news, the P&C are working with the school on how to fund some big changes and improvements to the computers and technology around the school. $60,000 has already been committed to upgrading the wireless network across the school, and more work (and money) is required to upgrade our computer labs and rollout new laptop resources to help keep our focus on technology.

Initial planning also is underway for our yearly Fun Fair. If you'd like to be involved and help out, please be in contact!

Don't forget to like our Facebook page (search for The Willows State School P&C) for information about the P&C and other general school items. We'll be shouting out soon for volunteers to help at our Mother’s Day Stall in term 2.

See you round!

P&C Committee

TUCKSHOP NEWS

The Tuckshop would like to thank all the volunteers that have helped out over the term. These include, Allanah Collett, Krystel Hahn, Donna Ross, Michele Walker, Juana Scott, Lesley Venema, Anita Hodgkison, Christine McCurley, Tanya McKinnon, Gaynor Pyman, and Steffan Johnston. We really appreciate all your efforts.

As it is end of term, there will be items that will be unavailable, as we try and run the stock down. Tuckshop is closed the last day of term Friday 31st March.

A special mention goes out to Karen Sullivan, who has been working in the tuckshop for 14 years, has decided to call it a day and go on a new adventure. All your hard work, efforts and loyalty will be missed. Thank you for being such a dedicated staff member. We wish you well in your travels.

Enjoy the well-earned holidays. Look forward to seeing you all back next term.

Cheers

Rosie, Karen and Megan

DEFENCE NEWS

Hello to all Defence Families

Week 9 is already here, so that means Term 1 is almost over. It has been a busy term and I am sure that students are looking forward to the school holidays. Like to wish everyone a fantastic 2 weeks break and have a very Happy Easter, hope you get lots of chocolates. Enjoy the family time together and see everyone in Term 2.

We will be holding our Anzac Day Ceremony next term in week 2 on Monday 24th April. To celebrate this I am holding an Art for Anzac Day competition here at school. All students and staff are encouraged to make, draw or create a piece of art. This is a great opportunity for the budding artist to show off their talents to the school. It will be awesome to see all pieces of art on display here at school. Entries close on Friday 21st April. Use the holidays to get started. Can’t wait to see the art work.

Don't Forget: Families get the chance to tell Defence what they think about military life

Being a member of the ADF is a unique experience, not only for the individuals in uniform, but for their parents, partners and children who are also asked to accept the unique challenges associated with military life.

ADF families have the opportunity to provide feedback about their experiences and views on service life through the 2017 ADF Families Survey. This year’s survey will focus on partner employment and support services available for Defence families.

If you are a partner or parent of a permanent ADF member or a permanent ADF member looking after dependants on your own, tell Defence about your experiences in the ADF Families Survey.

The survey should only take about 15-20 minutes to complete and is online at:

• Defence Community Organisation www.defence.gov.au/dco
• Defence Families of Australia www.dfa.org.au

The ADF Families Survey opened on 1 March and will close on 31 March 2017. The results are expected to be available in mid-2017.

EDUCATION ASSISTANCE SCHEME

All defence families can access financial assistance for education costs incurred as a result of postings. Students may be entitled to up to 14 weeks of tutoring in any subject that has been identified by the school as representing a gap in learning. We may reimburse fees for tutoring required to fill any gaps in understanding or curriculum caused by changing schools. Please see me if you would like a copy or you can ring the Helpline for updates 1800 624 608

Are you on the DCO mailing List?

Join DCO Townsville mailing LIST NOW if you want to receive all updates from DCO.

Contact them directly at dco.townsville@defence.gov.au or phone 07 4753 6539.

If you have any enquiries or require assistance, the Defence Family Helpline operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can be contacted on 1800 624 608 or email defencefamilyhelpline@defence.gov.au

Townsville Gone Troppo Newsletter

DCO Townsville's Gone Troppo Newsletter is available to view on the DCO website and click on the latest edition to download

DATES TO REMEMBER

THE LOST DIGGERS OF VIGNACOURT EXHIBITION is on display at The Pinnacles Gallery from 24th February-30th April.

April is Autism Month. Information sessions are available with new speakers. Please read flyer attached.

1RAR Band is performing at the Holy Spirit School on Sat 25th March at 2.30pm. Read flyer for more details.

LET’S GET TOGETHER AT CHIPMUNKS

Come and meet other defence families, have a coffee and a chat with the children on Mon 27th March from 9.30-11.30.

CONTACTS

Defence Community Organisation is available to all Defence members and their families.

Contact Defence Family Helpline operates 24-7 on 1800 624 608.
Mates4Mates (Family Recovery Centre) 40 Anne Street – 4771 9600
Support and Mental Health Services for ADF Families
Townsville Community Mental Health- 4433 3000
Centacare-4772 9000
Relationships Australia-1300 364 277
Veterans and Veterans Families – 1800 011 046 www.dva.gov.au/vvcs (eligibly criteria applies)
DFA Defence Families of Australia – 1800 100 509 www.dfa.org.au
National Delegate for Northern Queensland - nth.qld@dfa.org.au

Remember I am available anytime from 8:00am until 3:00pm, Monday to Friday.

Parents are very welcome to stop by L Pod or contact me via email or phone. Students can call into L Pod throughout the day.

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

Happy Easter and Safe Travels to All

Correna Wheeler