29 May 2020

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S PRIDE

Welcome to the first week of full school attendance for Term 2. It is fantastic to see all of our students return to school and we can be absolutely proud of the resilience that each of our children have demonstrated as we re-introduce school life with changed ways of working. Parents/Carers, your support over the past weeks and this week has been absolutely sensational and we thank you for your continued understanding as we continue to follow the directives and guidelines necessary to protect the health and safety of students and staff through the Covid-19 pandemic.

With all classes re-established, our timetables for Instrumental Music lessons start to take shape. How wonderful it is to see these lessons continue throughout the first part of this term online. The creative photo competitions and engagement in the online lessons was exceptional. We look forward to re-establishing our other musical programs when restrictions lift. Thank you to our instrumental teachers for the top work throughout this time.

Students across Prep-Year 6 have wasted no time. They are ready to learn and they are happy to be back in their classrooms with their friends and teachers. Our teachers continue to work intensely in the subject areas of English, Mathematics, Science (and one other subject area) as outlined in the letter sent home on 27th May, 2020. This letter also outlined the assessment and reporting decisions in line with the Department of Education Training Assessment and Reporting Guidelines for Semester One in State Schools. I have included this information below as it is important that we all understand these decisions and when we can expect the academic report card for student for Term 1 learning.

During Semester 1, there was a significant disruption to our normal school routines due to the pandemic. As a result of this, there will be modifications to how we report on your child’s learning in Semester 1, aligning to the Academic Reporting Requirements for State Schools. Academic reporting involves communicating information to parents, carers and students about student achievement and progress for each learning area and subject undertaken, at a point in time. This is consistent with academic reporting across Queensland state schools.

At The Willows State School, Semester 1 reporting will include student achievement and progress for English, Mathematics and Science and one other learning area that was completed in Term 1, selected by the teachers of each year level. This is listed below for each year level.

Academic reports will be distributed in Term 3, 29 July. These will be sent to the email that is recorded in our OneSchool System. Please ensure that you have updated any personal details that may have changed.

This week we held our first full school assembly through Microsoft Teams. It was great to see all of our classes connect and we look forward to continuing to provide online assemblies with our students in the weeks to come. These assemblies provide a great forum for us to celebrate the fantastic behaviour and learning of The Willows. Great work students and staff!

I would like to thank all of our staff. Our staff have put forward a mighty effort so far this term to continue the teaching and learning programs, respond to the guidelines and directives necessary for school opening and continue to connect with their students through multiple platforms of learning. This has not been easy, but the team at The Willows work cohesively and collaboratively to make our school the best it can possibly be. Congratulations The Willows!

As we head towards the last part of the term, I sincerely thank our parents and carers for your continued patience, support and co-operation. Updates around Covid-19 will continue to be emailed out to parents/carers as any necessary changes occur. Your positive partnership with our school is greatly appreciated.

I am continuously proud of every student at our school and the many hearts that make our school a great place to be!

Kind regards,

Helen McCullough
Principal

UPCOMING EVENTS

General News

P and C News

TUCKSHOP

From this Friday 29/05/2020 Tuckshop will be open both breaks.

Preferred method of purchase is through Flexi-Schools.

Menu is available on Flexi-Schools.

Positive Behaviour Learning

Well Being

How to Help Your Child Cope With Change Positively

2020 has certainly been a year in which the pace of change in the world continues to increase. We have seen many disruptions in our lives or in those we know of, that may have had a huge impact upon us socially, financially, medically, mentally or professionally.

Unfortunately, the changes that have occurred worldwide and in Australia have been beyond our individual control. As humans, we seek control and use our experiences to establish expectations about how things in our life are likely to unfold. These expectations provide a sense of control. Change is challenging because it disrupts our expectations. It creates a new reality that does not match the expectations we have created.

The stress of change can manifest in different ways for different children. Many children become extra clingy and seek out more hugs, more stories before bed and more attention in general. It’s also not unusual for children to regress at such times.

Here is a list of ways to help children cope with the stress of change:

1. Give advanced warning. Discuss changes before they occur, where possible
2. Keep as much the same as possible. Try to keep as normal a routine as possible.
3. Answer all their questions. Depending on a child’s age, they may have many questions. Answer them as honestly and as age appropriately as possible.
4. Expect that some regression may happen. At times of change, children may regress to earlier behaviors. This is normal—strive for patience.
5. Be accepting of grieving. A child may go through a process that looks a lot like grieving as they navigate the new circumstances. Be patient and supportive.

Of all the factors that contribute to adapting to change, the single most important factor is resilience. Resilience is the capacity to absorb high levels of change and maintain high levels of performance. When resilient people face the ambiguity, anxiety, and loss of control that accompany change, they tend to grow stronger from their experiences rather than feel depleted by them.

Tips for building resilience in children

1. Make connections. Teach children how to make friends and develop empathy. Encourage them to be a friend in order to get friends.
2. Teach children to help others. Children who may feel helpless can be empowered by helping others.
3. Daily routine. Following a routine can be comforting to children, especially younger children who crave structure in their lives. Encourage children to develop their own routines.
4. Take a break. Although it is important to stick to routines, endlessly worrying can be counter-productive. Show children how to focus on something besides what’s worrying them.
5. Self-care for children. Teach children the importance of making time to eat properly, groom themselves, exercise and rest. Children need ‘down time’ to relax, so make sure that not all free time is filled with a scheduled activity.
6. Goals. Teach children to set reasonable goals and move toward them one step at a time. Moving toward that goal and receiving praise for doing so will focus children on what they have accomplished.
7. Nurture a positive self-view
   Help children remember ways that they have successfully handled hardships in the past and how this can help them handle future challenges. Help children learn to trust themselves to solve problems and make appropriate decisions.
8. Be optimistic
   Even when children are facing very painful events, help them look at the situation in a broader context. A positive outlook enables children to see the good things in life and keep going even in the hardest times.
9. Self-discovery
   Change and tough times are often when children learn the most about themselves. Help children to see that this is a good time to find out “what they are made of.” Change can be scary for young people, help them to see that change is part of life.
10. Make home a safe haven
    Home should be a haven. Ensure home is the constant, safe and emotionally secure place in a child’s life.

Adapted from:
How we adapt to change; Resilience Alliance
How to help you Child Cope with Change Positively; A fine parent
Helping Children Deal with Change and Stress Positively; Bright Horizons
Helping Children Adapt to change; Peaceful Parent Institute
10 Strategies to Help Children Develop Resilience; Generation Next

Narelle Thomas
Guidance Officer

Defence News

HELLO TO ALL DEFENCE FAMILIES

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL everyone! It was wonderful to greet all the smiling faces last Monday as all year levels returned to school. Some of the younger students have found it a little challenging walking into school by themselves but I must say they have been awesome and parents should be very proud. I am continuing to check in with students at school to monitor their progress. Please remind students that at present Kids Club is closed but I am hoping that it will be open for all defence students soon. If you are having concerns about your child settling in, please contact me and the teacher for a chat. Remember parents, it is now your time to take TIME OUT FOR YOURSELF. When the children go to school do something for yourself, take a walk, read a book, do yoga or Pilates, have a coffee and chat to a friend or do some cooking. Try something new or do an activity that makes you feel relaxed. You are special and valued so take care of yourself. Have a look at the BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS FOR PARENTS flyer.

If you have any questions, please call me at school or email any day of the week. Any questions regarding postings and deployments, please contact me anytime during school hours. Don’t forget to check out RESILIENCE IS MY SUPERPOWER flyer which is attached. It is great, positive reinforcement for children. You could print the flyer and stick it to child’s door.

Here is a list of 9 Mental Health Activities to do with your Children. It is worth a look.

Useful sites

DCO are offering some activities so please check the DCO Townsville Updates Page for more details. Please remember to sign up to the mailing list for what is happening for defence families at dco.townsville@defence.gov.au

Call Defence Family Helpline 1800 624 608 or Open Arms 1800 011 046 with any questions.

Tutoring Assistance -There are changes to the EAS forms for families to access tutoring for students who have posted in to a new school. You can ring the Defence Family Helpline 1800 624 608, visit DCO website or collect the forms from me.

For more Information go to the link below:

If you have a partner who has or will be Deployed and your child is not coping with the change, please send an email or call me to discuss your concerns. This time can be very traumatic for a child who is missing this special person. I can talk to them and we can put some ideas and strategies in place to assist with coping at school and home. Remember the 3 “R”’s RULES, RITUALS AND ROUTINES. Please also remember talk to the classroom teacher.

EVENTS TO REMEMBER

STROLL THE STRAND - Please RSVP for Thursday 11 June @ 10.00am and include your name, the number of adults and children you would like to register and a mobile phone number. As part of our COVID Safe Plan, we will need to take address details on the day. To attend this activity, you must register.

COFFEE AND CONVERSATION - Please RSVP and include your name, the number of adults and children you would like to register and a mobile phone number. As part of our COVID Safe Plan, we will need to take address details on the day.

Where: Grand Central café, Little Fletcher St, City. We will be seated in the spacious, undercover outdoor area to observe social distancing requirements.

When: Thursday 2 July from 10.00am - 11.00am.

JCU Virtual Information Session - Wednesday 3 June open the door to new opportunities, new careers and new beginnings by attending the JCU Virtual Information Session from the comfort of your own home.

RSL Employment Program - The RSL Employment Program can work with partners of current and former serving ADF members to support their search for a fulfilling new career. This may include:

• Career counselling
• Training and development (including scholarships for tertiary or vocational education)
• Help translating your skills for the job market
• Help interpreting selection criteria, writing CVs and application letters and social media profiles
• Interview skills
• Connections to employers.

Follow Defence Community Organisation on Facebook so you will be the first to know when the event is posted. Another option is to register for notifications on our Eventbrite page so you will never miss a DCO Townsville event

DON’T FORGET to Register for DCO mailing list NOW at dco.townsville@defence.gov.au

Defence Family Helpline 24/7 1800 624 608

Open Arms call 1800 011 046

Mates4Mates – Email: townsville@mates4mates.org or call the Townsville FRC on 4771 9600

Café now Open from 9am-12.30pm everyday, welcome to attend for a chat and look around

DFA (Defence Families of Australia) Chandelle Derham 0418 796 561 nth.qld@dfa.org.au

Geckos Family Centre-Nth Qld Lavarack Barracks Contact for enquiries on 4411 7031

Kookaburra Kids Tvl-Louisa Calvert 1300 566 525/0410 896 923

Defence Holidays NQ 07 4725 3842 at Lavarack Barracks opp Gym admin@defenceholidaysnq.com.au

If you notice any changes with your child, please be sure to contact the class teacher and/or myself so we can best support them at school. My hours are Monday to Friday 8:00am-3:30pm, phone me anytime on 4799 1333 ext 323, or e-mail me cwhee36@eq.edu.au.

My Aim is to assist and support defence students at school by developing their RESILIENCE, CARING, FRIENDSHIP AND TRUST.

Have a great week.

Correna Wheeler
DSM Defence School Mentor

RESILIENCE IS MY SUPERPOWER
I BELIEVE IN MYSELF,
I CAN MAKE GOOD CHOICES,
I ALWAYS DO MY BEST.

Music News (The Pitch)

Prep News

In PYROW we have been learning all about 2D shapes. We have been naming them and discussing their characteristics, making them with play dough, creating pictures and sorting shapes.

In English this term we have been learning about Retells. We have read the story 'Lost and Found', and have been busy writing about the characters, the sequence of the story and enjoyed some guided Penguin drawings.

Year 1 News

In maths this week we have been learning to give and follow directions to familiar locations. We have been having a great time using a variety of different position and movement words!

Year 2 News

It is lovely to welcome back all students and fill our classrooms with happy faces. We are excited to see the next few weeks unfold as we work together to ensure all children are welcomed and move back into learning from where we left it. Over the last few weeks it was great to see so many samples of learning on our discussion boards and also in the classroom. All year 2 teachers appreciate the time taken for all parents in this time and are happy to be moving back to normal school routines. This week we will check in with all students and continue to plan accordingly to ensure smooth transition back into classroom learning.

Year 3 News

Geography in Year 3

In Geography, we have been learning that there are many countries/places of Aboriginal peoples throughout Australia. We have also learnt that different symbols can be used to represent different characteristics of places. We see some of these symbols in Indigenous artworks which are often used to tell the artists story.

Both of our students learning at home, and students learning at school loved creating stories using these symbols.

We also loved learning about the Torres Strait Islands. Students observed the islands from an aerial view using google maps and even learnt the song ‘Taba Naba’.

Year 4 News

YEAR 4 VIRTUAL CLASSROOMS

Year 4 students at home and at school, have all been accessing the Blackboard Collaborate lessons being taught by the teachers at school. We have had an average of 80 students online each day. All students at school have had the opportunity to wear their headphones, listen to the teachers online and type their answers into the chat box. Students at home have had the opportunity to interact, via the chat box, with their Year 4 peers at school. It has been an exciting time for teachers, seeing so many of our students on this digital platform at the one time.

Here are some photos of the students at school doing a Geography lesson online at the same time as the students at home.

These photos show the students all playing the online Maths Game called “Maths Prodigy.” Thousands of Maths questions are being answered every day as our students work their way through the levels.

Year 5 News

This Week in Year 5!

In year 5 Science this week, we did an exciting investigation called ‘Exploring Craters’ to further our understanding on what causes craters and how they are formed. We had a variety of materials to form our ‘moon’s surface’ and used plasticine balls of differing sizes to test and measure the diameter of the crater and how far the impactor rays were projected.

No, we are not baking a cake… We are doing a Science Experiment.

We had to determine the variables that had to stay the same, the one that we were going to measure and the one that we were going to change to ensure we were conducting a fair test. We also had to make predictions on what we thought was going to happen in our investigation. It was lots of fun even though our classrooms smelt like a cake baking for days due to the materials that we used.

Our largest ball made the biggest crater with the largest diameter and much longer impactor rays.

It was great to see photos from home of students conducting their own experiments and having fun with Science too.

Year 6 News

News from Year 6

Year 6 have been keeping very busy both on line and at school! We would like to share some of our amazing work that we have been doing in some areas of our learning.

English

We have been learning all about persuasive techniques advertisers use to persuade a target audience to buy their product. These include language features such as alliteration, metaphors, repetition, cohesive devices, evaluative language, noun groups and expressive verbs. Here are some of our fabulous holiday destinations that our Year 6 students have created.

Science

In science we have researched non-renewable and renewable types of energy and how they are transformed into electricity. We are able to choose the most efficient and sustainable form of energy to use depending on the place. Here are some examples of our extensive research.

PBL

Year 6 are all bucket fillers and have been learning about how important it is to be a bucket filler rather than a bucket dipper. We know so many ways we can fill a bucket and we try and bucket fill every single day with our kind words and actions.

Community Events & Notices