11 May 2018

Newsletter Articles

DATE CLAIMER

PRINCIPAL’S NEWS

Dear Parents, Carers and Community

As a school community we should be feeling proud of the daily teaching and learning at our school and the extra-curricula offerings that we provide are extensive and high quality. We have seen a significant shift in the achievement, progress and student behaviour and I thank each and every parent, carer and community member that contribute actively and positively to our school culture.

It is excellent to see our parents getting involved in handing out our positive “WOW” slips each morning, reinforcing to students alongside supervising adults the high expectations we have for student, staff and community behaviour. It is a great feeling to see parents excited about doing this. Thankyou!

Positive Behaviour Learning (PBL) is a framework for promoting and reinforcing positive behaviour that we expect to see at The Willows. Our school rules SAFE, RESPECTFUL, RESPONSIBLE are attached to a set of expectations across several areas of school life – these are visible on the signage across the school and are explicitly taught to students at our school.

Attached to positive behaviour in the classroom is the “Reach for The Stars” incentive. Students have a target of 75 stars to be eligible to participate in the 5 week reward for their year level. It is excellent to see students tracking and aiming for participation in these rewards. Great job students!

During the last election our school was promised $400 000 for shade structures. Planning meetings have occurred with the Regional Infrastructure Team around this much needed initiative for our school. This is a significant financial commitment for our school and we certainly welcome this additional money for our students. Once further information is provided, I will take this information to our P and C Association.

On behalf of the students, staff, parents and community we wish all of our Year 3 and 5 students all the best on May 15-17 students as they sit the annual NAPLAN testing schedule. We know that you will all try your best and do a great job! Parents of Years 3 and 5 we have attached the information brochure to our newsletter for your information. Any questions, please see either Cameron Tod (Year 3 DP) or Tricia Winter (DP Year 5) or your class teacher.

Please join me in wishing Libbie Kutuzov (Chappy) all the best in her new ventures. Libbie has advised that her last day with us is in week 5 (Thursday). Over the last few years, Libbie has worked with many students, staff and families and we thank her for her contribution to our school.

I will be working with Scripture Union in the next couple of weeks to recruit and select a chaplain for our school in the future. I will keep you informed as this process is undertaken.

Have a great fortnight everyone, see you at our P and C Movie Night (tonight 11 May!)

Kind regards

Helen McCullough
Principal

RESPECT OUR STAFF

RESOLVING ISSUES SCHOOL FACT SHEET

BEFORE SCHOOL PROCEDURES

In the morning at The Willows, we are supervised from 8am in the Main Covered Area. The students are expected to be seated and following instructions from the student leaders and staff. To help our students we ask that parents and family members model the following behaviours at our school

• Sit quietly
• Listen to the speakers
• Follow instructions
• Keep noise to a minimum

We appreciate you being a part of our Respectful community and modelling our expectations.

The Outside School Hours Care facility is an option for parents to book/use and parents/carers who have early starts and late finishing times are encouraged to access this facility.

ATTENDANCE

Every student in our school is important to us and we are committed to providing personalised education suited to their needs. The very first step in that is maximising learning time and we believe that if students attend every day and every learning minute of the day we are improving their opportunities for academic success.

Students can come to school from 8am. If they arrive at 8am they go to the Main CPA. At 8.15am year 3, 4, 5, and 6 students are escorted by at teacher to TCBC. Students are expected to be at school in the classroom ready to start work at 8.45am. Students who are late to school are encouraged to complete any work missed in their own time. Please note that lateness and early departure have an impact on student learning.

THE WILLOWS WAY IS 100% ATTENDANCE.

Just a little bit late doesn’t seem much but did you know…….

YEAR LEVEL PARADES

This year our students will have year level parades weekly and full school parades as scheduled on our school calendar.

Note the time and place for all year levels.

Prep – Monday 8.45 am in Junior CPA
Year 1 – Monday 12.50pm in Junior CPA
Year 2 – Tuesday 8.50am in Junior CPA
Year 3 – Monday 2pm in TCBC Conference Room
Year 4 – Tuesday 2.30pm in TCBC Conference Room
Year 5 – Mondays 11.40am in TCBC Conference Room.
Year 6 – Mondays 2.30pm in TCBC Conference Room.

Parents/Guardians are most welcome to attend.

APPOINTMENTS WITH STAFF

Throughout the course of any day and week, the administrative and teaching staff of The Willows have significant commitments to the Teaching and Learning of our students. If you are needing to see one of the staff, please help us by arranging an appointment time at a mutually beneficial time. This can be done by contacting our office, email or by talking with us.

MOBILE PHONES

Please ensure that if your child has to bring a mobile phone to school, that the phone is clearly marked with the student’s name and handed to the school office. This will ensure that the correct phone is returned to the correct student.

PREP ENROLMENTS 2019

Enrolment packages are now available from the office for Prep aged children for 2019. Eligible children must be turning 5 before 30th June 2019.

If you already have other children enrolled at our school you only need to bring the child’s Birth Certificate to collect your package.

If you don’t already have children enrolled at our school you will need to bring the child’s Birth Certificate as well as proof of your residential address, which can be a lease agreement or rates notice.

Please see our office staff for an enrolment package today.

CHAPPY CHAT

Hello to the wonderful school community.

I would like to take this opportunity to say a BIG THANKYOU AND FAREWELL to you all.

As of May 18th I will no longer be the chappy at The Willows SS. I will be sad to leave this beautiful community. Parents, thanks for trusting me with your kids. Teachers, thanks for allowing me into your classrooms and students.

Thankyou for:

Saying “Hi Chappy!”

Always greeting me with a smile or a high-five,
Inviting me to play handball and other games,
Involving me in your great conversations,
Asking me interesting questions,
Listening to me,
And allowing me to be a part of your school experience.

I wish you all the very very best. I know that each of you have something special you are meant to bring to our world, so do that, with all your might and courage.

Thankyou and see you later,

Chappy Libbie (aka Chap Chap, Chapster, Mrs Chop, Chappy Lily and more).

P&C NEWS

Ladies Cinema Movie Night

The P&C are excited to bring to our Willows family (especially the ladies) a Ladies Cinema Night at Reading Cinemas on the 20th May, screening "Life of the Party".

Please save the date, let your friends know, and make it a ladies night out. Perhaps you could bring your mum or mother-in-law as a belated Mother's Day outing?

The cost is $25 a ticket, and this includes lots of yummy finger food and a special gift bag upon entry.

Tickets are available for purchase from the tuckshop. Tickets are limited, so you'll have to be quick.

Movie screens at 6.15. Finger food will be served at 5.30pm.

Here's an overview of "Life of the Party" - Dumped by her husband, long time housewife Deanna (Melissa McCarthy) turns regret into reset by going back to college. Winding up at the same school as her daughter, Deanna plunges headlong into the campus experience, embracing the fun, the freedom and the frat boys.

Sounds like a great movie and a great ladies night out!

And of course, if the men want to come along too, they are more than welcome.

Entertainment Books and Class Ice-cream Cake Party!

We are selling the popular Entertainment™ Books, to raise money for our School. The Books sell for $60, and the P&C get to keep $12 for every one we sell.

The Entertainment™ Books are available as a Book (with a gold card and vouchers) or as a Digital Membership that puts all the offers on your smartphone to redeem at the touch of a button.

The Entertainment Book is in Partnership with Baskin-Robins who have offered us the opportunity for all classrooms to participate in your student’s chance to win an Ice-Cream cake party. Whichever classroom sells the most memberships will win, so don’t forget to get the students to select their classroom when purchasing online, and feel free to share amongst your family and friends!

Each classroom must sell a minimum of 10 memberships to be eligible to win - Good luck!

Once ordered online, if you opted for the book version, they will be available to collect from the office or the OSHC.

If you did not receive an order form in your child’s bag, you can collect one from the office or OSHC, and collect your book immediately (or an email will be sent to you for the digital version).

Trivia Night

The P&C have a trivia night in the works, planned for the 4th August. This is a first for our school, and if you have any expertise or advice to share, we’d love to hear from you. We’d also love to hear from any businesses that may be able to assist with prize donations!

Bunnings Sausage Sizzle

We have secured two dates later in the year for a sausage sizzle at the Northshore store. We are in need of a cold room – if anyone happens to have one (or knows of one) to loan us, please let us know!

Contact Us!

Like us on Facebook to keep up to date with school and P&C events. (Search for The Willows State School P&C.) You can contact us sending a pm to the page. Alternatively, you can contact us via email at willowspandc@gmail.com

P&C Meeting

Our next P&C meeting is on the 12th June 6pm in the TCBC Conference Room. Don’t forget you can bring the kids if you need to!

See you round!

DEFENCE NEWS

Hello Defence Families,

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL MUMS. Wishing you a great day with family and loved ones.

As from the 18th May I will be away on leave until the end of term. I will be returning back to school on 16th July, which is the first day of Term3. In my absence Loretta Nawrocki who is the DSTA at Good Shepherd Catholic School will be filling in and overseeing all defence students and programs. Loretta has many years’ experience in the role. If you wish to contact Loretta you may do so through the office or stop by L Pod to see her. Loretta will be available Mon, Thurs and Friday from 8:45am-3:00pm. Please make her welcome.

3 way conversations were held at school recently. Just a reminder if you have been posted into Townsville this year that your child/children may be eligible for EAS (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 Maths and English subjects that has been identified by the school as representing a gap in learning. You have 18 months from starting at a new school to access and complete the tutoring. This scheme is very beneficial for students. Please see me if you would like assistance to complete the form or you can ring the DEFENCE HELPLINE on 1800 624 608.

Please remember to call or e-mail me if a parent is going to be away due to a deployment. I rely on your communication to me so I can best support the student during this most challenging time. I appreciate all those parents who have been e-mailing me in regards to parent being away on deployment or courses/training. It is always helpful and beneficial to know those students and be able to best support them and regularly communicate when they may be feeling sad, lonely or just not coping. Defence Community Organisation is available to all Defence members and their families. Defence Family Helpline operates 24-7 on 1800 624 608 or e-mail defencefamilyhelpline@defence.gov.au or Contact VVCS on 1800 011 046 for support.

Thanks to the many defence students who have participated in the Creative Arts Competition-Life of a Military Family in Townsville. The students were invited to join me at break times to create a piece of art. It was exciting to see so many students participating, being creative and having fun. The art will be displayed at MTQ on Wednesday 16th May from 4:00pm-6:00pm where the winners will be announced at 5:00pm. Prizes will be awarded. You are welcome to join in the occasion. Flyers attached.

If you want to know about upcoming DCO programs, events, and activities or information about events and services in the wider North Queensland community you need to be on the mailing list. E-mail DCO office in Townsville dco.townsville@defence.gov.au and leave details, name, member name, address, email, mob/home number, children’s names. Form attached.

Deployments are a part of the Defence Force family lifestyle. PLEASE LET ME/TEACHER KNOW IF A LOVED ONE IS GOING AWAY. The impact of a parent’s absence due to a deployment can have a huge impact on the whole family, especially children. Sometimes, children lack the language to communicate or understand their feelings and can often express themselves with behaviour that is inappropriate or out of character. At TWSS we aim to support students during parental absence due to a deployment. Make sure you let your child’s teacher and DSTA know if you or a partner will be away for an extended period of time. Having this knowledge will go towards supporting the student at school.

Are you on the DCO mailing List?

Join DCO Townsville mailing LIST NOW if you want to receive updates from DCO. Contact them directly at dco.townsville@defence.gov.au or phone 07 4753 6539.

DATES AND ACTIVITIES TO REMEMBER

HOLLYWOOD THEMED CHARITY BALL-FUNDS RAISED TO MATES4MATES

IMPORTANT NUMBERS AND CONTACTS FOR YOU TO ACCESS.

Defence Community Organisation is available to all Defence members and their families. Defence Family Helpline operates 24-7 on 1800 624 608 or e-mail defencefamilyhelpline@defence.gov.au

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 (VVCS) – 1800 011 046 www.dva.gov.au/vvcs (eligibly applies)
DFA Defence Families of Australia – 1800 100 509 www.dfa.org.au
National Delegate for Northern Queensland - nth.qld@dfa.org.au

AVAILABLE from 8:00am-3:30pm, Monday to Friday. Call by for a chat or call me anytime on 47 991 333 (ext. 323) or send me an email Correna cwhee36@eq.edu.au

Correna Wheeler
Defence School Transition Aide