16 June 2017

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Welcome to the final fortnight of our semester! What a fast 6 months back at school it has been and so many positives for us to celebrate.

The last term has brought a culmination of hard work on behalf of teachers around extra-curricular activities that have benefitted a vast majority of our learners. Thank you to all teachers and staff who have been actively involved in the organisation, preparation and implementation of these events: Under 8’s Day; Reader’s Cup; Author’s Visits; Stories Galore; Student Council Free Dress Day; Rockband performances and NRL Development Cup. Our students and families are very fortunate to have dedicated teams and people to provide these events.

The next 2 weeks sees a number of extra curricula activities taking place – School Disco, NAIDOC, NRL Development Cup, Choral Workshops and Music Gala Night. We look forward to seeing parents/carers and community at our school.

At our school we highly value Learning. This is a significant rule at our school and extends to all members of our team including our staff.

Over the last three weeks we have had a number of our staff involved in professional learning (within their classrooms). We launched an Instructional Coaching Cycle which has been a powerful professional learning initiative at our school and aligned directly to a whole school approach to coaching and to the learning support model and in turn some significant student gains.

Over the past 3 weeks I have been so lucky to get into classrooms and teach, co-plan, co-reflect and co-assess student learning. It has been very refreshing and I have absolutely enjoyed learning alongside teachers. The work of our students and releasing the learning so they are thinking, writing, reading and being challenged has been the best part of my weeks! Once a teacher, always a teacher…we truly have the best job!

One of our highlights in our day being out and about in classrooms is seeing the success of our learners in their Reading, Writing and other subject areas. Over the past term we have been implementing the Australian Curriculum in all 8 Key Learning Areas and our students have absolutely thrived in the challenges of Dance, Visual Arts and Technology. I am sure that there have been many art pieces come home and students are very proud of their work. Well done students and teachers! It is great to see these areas of our learning being enjoyed.

As this is our last newsletter for the term, on behalf of The Willows team we wish you a safe and relaxing holiday. See you in Term 3!

Kind regards
Helen McCullough
Principal

TALK ABOUT IT

Dear Year 5 Parents/Guardians,

This year we are offering students the option of engaging with Life Education”Talk About it” program regarding puberty. The school recognises that you are the primary educator of your child on issues surrounding their sexuality, however we believe we can work together to help children stay safe by encouraging healthy attitudes. The TALK ABOUT IT program by Life Education includes information on puberty incorporating physical growth and emotional changes, relationships and the concept of self. It is designed to help students understand and cope with this important phase of development. The lesson being conducted will focus on the physical, social and emotional changes experienced during puberty, and helping students understand and cope with this important phase of development.

This program will be run Week 1 Term 3 from Monday the 10th to the 14th of July. These lessons will be taught by an experienced educator from Life Education and will be part of the Year 5 Health Unit. The classroom teacher will accompany their class and will also be present to assist. All students will initially be together and then boys and girls will be split to discuss more specific issues relating to the management of puberty. The cost of this program is $10 per student and all money is due by the end of this week.

Please note that payments close Wednesday 21st June.

Life Education is also offering a free Parent Information session on Tuesday the 11th July 5.00pm. This will be held in our TCBC Conference Room.

If you have any queries please contact Patricia Winter in the office.

WALK SAFELY TO SCHOOL

A huge thank you to all our families for their participation in Walk Safely to School last week. We had an excellent turn out and it was great seeing our parents, brothers and sisters and family pets joining in. We would also like to thank our P & C and Woolworths (The Avenues) for their kind donation of fruit and muffins to feed our hungry walkers.

LOST PROPERTY

Lost property will be displayed on Monday 19th June from the start of 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.

SCHOOL PHOTOS

School photos will be taken on Wednesday 19th July and Thursday 20th July. Envelopes were sent home this week. Please check with your child if they have not given an envelope to you.

Please note that payment can only be made by cash or online (for students with a pre-printed envelope). Sibling photos can only be paid by cash. Please place the correct money in the envelopes. The school is only a collection point for the envelopes and is unable to accept EFTPOS payments or give any change.

Sibling photo envelopes can be picked up from the office.

Envelopes need to be returned on or before photograph day.

Check that your child’s details are correct on the envelope and make any corrections in red.

PREP ENROLMENTS 2018

Enrolment packages are now available from the office for Prep aged children for 2018. Eligible children must be turning 5 before 30th June 2018. Please bring the child’s Birth Certificate and Lease/Rates Notice when you pick up your package. Enrolments are due by 21st July.

Please see office staff for an enrolment package.

Congratulations to Mason G who was the winner of the Prep shirt.

LATE ARRIVALS

If your child is arriving at the classroom after 9.00am, they MUST be signed in at the office. The office will give your student a LATE NOTE which will override the absence on their class roll. Failure to do this may result in an SMS text message being sent to you stating that your student is away for the day. Your co-operation in this important procedure would be much appreciated.

CHAPPY CHAT

Sausage Sizzle

The tuckshop will be closed on the last day of term – Friday 23rd June. 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 20th June.

Have a wonderful day!

From,
Chappy Libbie

LIBRARY NEWS

Scholastic Book Club/ Book fair

Our Book Fair was a huge success once again due to the work of Michelle Wooster and all the families who made purchases from the wide selection of books sent to our school by Scholastic.

3 cheers for Michelle Wooster (school volunteer) who singlehandedly organises and coordinates Book Club and Book Fair.

All profits go directly to our school library to purchase new books and resources.

We sold $4595 worth of books, posters and novelties. Our commission included $836 in cash to purchase books and resources from Scholastic in the future and a selection of books (photo) valued at $632 from the Book Fair.

NQ Regional Reader’s Cup – 2017

Readers’ Cup challenges students to read widely, work collaboratively in a team and continue developing a love of reading. It allows readers to compete at a regional and state level similar to sporting competitions and to meet other students with an equal passion for books.

Congratulations to Grace Q, Charlie S and Maddie L who almost won the Regional Readers’ Cup competition last Thursday night. The girls represented their school magnificently on the night and are to be commended for their thorough preparation and outstanding team work.

Charlie S, Grace Q and Maddie L represented TWSS at the NQ Regional Readers’ Cup Competition.

Author Visit – Debra Abela

Award winning author Debra Abela visited The Willows last Wednesday receiving a rapturous reception from some of our year 4, 5 and 6 students who attended her presentation.

Deb showcased her latest book Theresa: A New Australian using her book trailer and selections from the novel. The book was inspired by her dad who was born in a cave in Malta during one of the heaviest bombing raids of WW2.

Debra’s talk was stimulating and thought provoking.

Award winning Author – Debra Abela
Author Visit - Debra Abela (Reflections by Year 6)

'I loved Deb Abela's presentation because she is so funny and very enthusiastic.' Peppa

'When we went to visit with Deb Abela, I found her to be funny and very convincing. She has a nice positive attitude that persuaded me to read her books.' Verity

'I liked it because it was funny and educational.' James

'Deb Abela is really cool and funny.' Kimmy

'The author visit was funny, exciting and very interesting because we were told very fascinating stories.' Amina

'Deb Abela has great books and is very funny.' Sophie

'The Deb Abela visit was an inspiring and very funny experience.' Lily

Overdue Library Books

Please return all overdue library books this week. Lost/damaged books must be paid for at the office. Overdue notices will be sent out this week. Please contact the teacher librarian if there are any concerns.

Sarah Platt
Teacher/Librarian

TEMPORARY PART-TIME TEACHER AIDE POSITION

An Expression of Interest has been called for a Temporary Part-time Teacher Aide - starting date 10 July 2017 and finishing on 24th November 2017. Details of this position are:

Prep to year 6

24 hours 15 minutes per week over 5 days with extra ADO hours to be worked each day. (These ADO hours allow for 2 week’s pay in the September holidays). Hours per day are set and not negotiable.

Playground duty or other duty included each day

10 minute paid break and 30 minute unpaid break each day

Closing date for this position is Monday 19th June at 3:00pm. Interviews will be held for this position.

A one page Expression of Interest can be either delivered to the school office or emailed to the Business Services Manager, Christine Shann cshan14@eq.edu.au

• The Child Protection Reform Amendment Act 2014 requires the preferred applicant to be subject to a working with children check as part of the employment screening process. The department is legally obliged to warn applicants that it is an offence for a disqualified person to sign a blue card application form. Further details regarding the blue card system is available at the link below:

• Confirmation of employment is conditional upon the preferred applicant being issued with a Blue Card from the Public Safety Business Agency (PSBA).
• A criminal history check will be initiated on the successful applicant.
• A serious discipline history check may be initiated on the successful applicant.
• A non-smoking policy applies in Queensland government buildings, offices and motor vehicles.
• If the successful applicant has been engaged as a lobbyist, a statement of their employment is required.
• You may be required to complete a period of probation in accordance with the Public Service Act 2008.
• Staff are required to actively participate in consultation and communication with supervisors and management regarding health, safety and wellbeing issues and comply with all provisions of the relevant workplace health and safety legislation and related health, safety and wellbeing responsibilities and procedures developed by the department.
• You will work for an organisation that values its people and promotes leadership and innovation. We respect professionalism, embrace diversity and encourage a balance between work and life commitments.
• Departmental employees are required to acknowledge they understand their obligations under the Queensland Government Code of Conduct and the department’s Standard of Practice and agree to align their professional conduct to these obligations.
• All roles in the department are responsible for creating, collecting, maintaining, using, disclosing, duplicating and disposing of information, as well as managing and using communication devices (for example email, internet and telephone) and public resources (for example computers and network resources). Staff must undertake these tasks in accordance with the department’s information management policies and procedures (for example recordkeeping, privacy, security and email usage).

TUCKSHOP NEWS

The tuckshop will be closed Friday 23rd June all day.

We would like to thank the continual support of our volunteers. We hope you see you all back next term.

Hope all families have a great holidays and see you all back in term 3.

Cheers The Tuckshop Ladies.

P&C NEWS

Fun Fair

Another reminder about our upcoming Fun Fair. Keep 25th August free, and come along for a great night of entertainment and fun. If you know of any businesses looking for exposure who would like to help or donate, please contact Tanya on tmeddy@bigpond.com

Our popular Tombola store will be running again, so please start collecting jars, giving them a wash, removing the labels, and filling them with non-perishable goodies!

Busy Term 3

Term 3 looks to be a busy one for the P&C, with our Fun Fair, Father’s Day Stall and planning for our 2018 book packs kicking off. If you’re keen to lend a hand in any way, please let us know.

Tuckshop

A big shout out to the Tuckshop Staff and Volunteers, for their help in our catering functions this week, and for the help with the disco!

Our Tuckshop Convenor, Rosie, is taking some maternity leave at the end of this term. Good luck Rosie!

Next P&C Meeting is Tuesday 11th July, 6pm.

See you around.