3 March 2021

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Dear Parents, Carers and Community,

Over the last 5 weeks we have come together as teams to improve student writing and I am in awe of the fantastic work that our teachers and students do on a daily basis. This week, our collective efforts and work will be presented at the Regional Principal Learning Day and I am proud to present our schools’ progress, improvement and achievements. Thank you to all members of The Willows team who answered the call out for examples to showcase our school improvement journey.

Behind the scenes of our school there are many hearts that make our school. The constant focus on being an excellent school are made possible by the collective effort and leadership of all team members. It is fantastic to come to work and see and hear the extraordinary positive and uplifting vibe that places students at the heart of our work…exactly where they should be. I hear enthusiasm and pride across our school and strong connections with our students and families forming. Congratulations team!

Over the last couple of weeks, we have had several visitors from multiple services come to our school to scope new work and upgrades to facilities. These visitors have been impressed with our school presentation, the improvements to our physical environment and the friendly, approachable and happy people that they have met along the way. This is affirming feedback for our school community and again I thank our Parents and Citizens Association and our school partnerships for working with me and our team to make our school a fantastic learning environment for all.

This week we have a number of school leaders from remote schools (Doomadgee, Mt Isa etc) visiting our school. These school leaders are taking the opportunity to come and see The Willows and talk with some of our staff about our school improvement journey. Specifically, we will be visiting some of our classrooms to show the progress with the use of learning walls and our student writing across the Australian Curriculum. This is part of their leadership professional development and I am looking forward to touring them and talking with them. I am sure that you will make all visitors feel part of our school while they are here.

Please take the time to read our class and specialists contributions to our school newsletter this week.

Kind regards,

Helen McCullough
Principal

GENERAL NEWS

SCHOOL PHOTOS

WILLOWS WARRIORS

VOLUNTARY FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION

UPCOMING EVENTS

Year Level Parades

Prep – Mondays 8.45am in Junior CPA
Year 1 – Mondays 8.45am in Junior CPA
Year 2 – Tuesdays 8.45am in Junior CPA
Year 3 – Tuesdays 2.40pm in Multi-Purpose Learning Centre
Year 4 – Mondays 2.40pm in Main CPA
Year 5 – Mondays 2.40am in Multi-Purpose Learning Centre
Year 6 – Tuesdays 8.45pm in Multi-Purpose Learning Centre

Parents/Guardians are most welcome to attend.

Positive Behaviour Learning

Defence News

HELLO ALL DEFENCE FAMILIES

Week 6 already. Hope you are all well and enjoying the weather. The week has been busy checking in with students in class to say Hi and following up with new students. If you are having problems with children not feeling settled, worried about friendships or missing a parent, please contact me so I can discuss some strategies with students. Remind them they are welcome to attend Kids Club at both breaks to meet new friends and have fun or I can have a chat with them. A reminder that due to Covid restrictions, DCO are having a Virtual Welcome online. You can find them on Facebook to register and be a part of this new event.

Tutoring is available for students under the EAS who have moved to a new school due to a posting. Extra support may be all that is required to support students to achieve the results they desire. If you wish to apply please refer to (PACMAN Chapter 8, Part 4, Division 1), contact the Defence Family Helpline on 1800 624 608 or contact me for a copy of the paperwork. Upcoming events for families are in the Dates to Remember below. Always register if you are interested in attending.

Position Vacant - a position exists for a DSM at Pimlico State High School. If you are interested, please contact the Pimlico State High office for more details.

Australian Military Wives Choir Townsville

The AMW Choir welcomes wives, partners, girlfriends, mothers, daughters, sisters and female ADF members. If you love to sing, we’d love you to join us. No auditions or experience required.

For more info, or to register your interest, contact Michelle at coordinator.townsville@amwchoir.com

Geckos Family Centre at Lavarack Barracks is a tri-service facility providing services, support and activities to enhance family resilience in the North Queensland Defence Community. Geckos offers a range of formal and informal activities catering to Defence members, partners and families such as playgroups, parent groups, boot camps, yoga, and sewing group. Check out their Facebook page to keep up to date with the activities and events held throughout the year: Geckos Family Centre

Some parents have been sent to different locations to support borders for an unknown period of time. This can be a difficult time and if your child is experiencing some separation anxiety please inform teacher and myself so we can best support them. Conversations are an important part of a child’s learning. I have found some practical tips for starting conversations with children. Let me know how it worked for you.

WELCOME TO YOUR NEW LOCATION There is an amazing online resource available for ADF members and families to find information regarding their posting location. Go to the link below for loads on information about your new location. Must see.

Deployments or going away to support Covid and this can be a very challenging time for all involved. While your partner is deployed and you are at home with the children, there may be times when you feel like a single parent. Though the situation is temporary, there are financial, emotional and day to day adjustments you will need to make as you adjust with this deployment. I have information I can give to you to assist at this time. If you inform me before the deployment starts I can support and check in with you child at school during this emotional rollercoaster. Remember the 3 “R”’s RULES, RITUALS AND ROUTINES. Also talk to the teacher. Check DCO website for more details.

RESILIENCE IS MY SUPERPOWER flyer is attached. It is great positive reinforcement for children. Print it out and stick it to your child’s door.

Please remember to sign up to the mailing list for what’s happening for defence families at dco.townsville@defence.gov.au or to register collect a sheet from me.

EVENTS TO REMEMBER

March 10th - Walk & Talk

Our Walk & Talk walking-fitness group will take off again in March!

Meeting on the footpath in front of the Fish Inn at the Rockpool, we’ll walk to Tobruk Pool and back so make sure you wear a sturdy pair of walking shoes and bring a water bottle.

There’s plenty of parking available along Howitt St, and in the Jezzine carpark.

And while there’s a lot to love about our tropical climate, no-one enjoys sunburn and insect bites, so bring a hat, sunscreen, and insect repellent. In the event of adverse weather, our walk that day will be cancelled.

March 13th – Tropical Pool Party

Cool down with us at our Tropical Pool Party! Grab your togs, towel, sunscreen and energy for an afternoon of swimming, splashing and sliding at the Northern Beaches Leisure Centre.

With free entry, enjoy a free sausage sizzle and drink and an afternoon out with friends and family. Bring a picnic too if you’d like or the Centre’s kiosk will be open for you to purchase other food and drinks (coffee!) as well. It’s sure to be a fun-filled afternoon!

Numbers are limited and RSVPs close Sunday 7th of March.

March 26th ‘Tropical Fridays’ – Adults Only Dinner Night Out

Fancy an adults-only night out? Then meet us for dinner on the deck at the Townsville Yacht Club! Our Tropical Friday themed dinner is sure to be lots of fun so get in the spirit by wearing your tropical-Friday threads – the brighter the better!!Tickets are essential and are limited to two per registration.

Tuesday 30th March Coffee Connection– EASTER!

TO BE UP TO DATE WITH WHATS ON IN TOWNSVILLE CHECK

Follow on Facebook or call 07 4411 7031.

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 www.openarms.gov.au

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) 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

My hours are Monday to Friday 8:00am-3:30pm, phone me anytime for a chat on 4799 1333 ext 323, or e-mail me cwhee36@eq.edu.au

School is FUN for all students by staying positive and developing RESILIENCE SKILLS AND FRIENDSHIPS.

Correna Wheeler
Defence School Mentor

NOT ALL LEARNING CAN BE SHOWN BY PUTTING PEN TO PAPER.

Music News (The Pitch)

Prep News

English

In English preps are learning to respond to and retell a familiar story to peers. Students will know they have been successful when they can, retell the story thinking about events including the Beginning, Middle, End. When they can match words and pictures to show their thinking. When they can explain what they like and dislike about their familiar story and share a personal connection to the story. And when they present their ideas using a clear and loud voice and eye contact.

Mathematics

In Mathematics preps are learning group familiar objects based on common characteristics. Students will know they have been successful when they can sort objects into groups thinking about, using their senses to explore objects to sort (see, touch, hear) use common characteristics (colour, shape, size, texture) and Sort/re-sorting a group of objects in different ways. Preps have also been learning to make patterns.

Science

In science preps are learning to explain and describe how the weather affects them and other living things. Students will know they have been successful when they can, explain how the weather affects them and other living things thinking about, how clothes change when weather changes, what activities are suited for weather conditions and understand the weather changes.

75 Star Rewards Activity

To celebrate getting 75 stars, preps had an outside play activity session. There were dress ups, blocks, chalk drawing, hoops, balls, dinosaurs and many more things to play with. Everyone had lots of fun.

Year 1 News

In year one science, students have been responding to questions and making predictions about how a habitat can change and how a change in a habitat will affect the living things, practising using appropriate scientific language in their answers.

Year 2 News

In Visual Arts this term, Year 2 have been exploring ‘imaginary’ and ‘real’ artworks. In particular, we have looked at The Sleeping Army May Stir artwork. From this, students have created their own artworks using different lines and patterns.

Year 3 News

This term, students in year 3 will be developing their understanding of place value, problem solving how to use units of measurement, and reasoning with chance and data. Students across the cohort have been focusing first on their understanding of place value. Students have had opportunities to recognise, represent and order numbers, and add and subtract numbers.

We had a great time in 3/4 D, during the meet and greet, going on a 3-digit scavenger hunt to find numbers through QR codes. The students had a lot of fun, especially when they made their parents race around the classroom to find all 11!

We have been matching number digits to words and MAB models, representing them using place value frames and drawings, and showing them on number lines.

As we prepare for our assessment, students have been given opportunities to add and subtract numbers. Students have been taught different strategies that they can use to solve problems, such as the split strategy, jump strategy, compensate strategy or the vertical algorithm. Students have a chance to refine these skills and to find one that suits them best.

Year 4 News

Year 5 News

Year 5 have been busily working on their Science unit - Survival in the environment.

In this unit students analyse the structural features and behavioural adaptations that assist living things to survive in their environment. They understand that science involves using evidence and comparing data to develop explanations. Students investigate the relationships between the factors that influence how plants and animals survive in their environments, including those that survive in extreme environments, and use this knowledge to design creatures with adaptations that are suitable for survival in prescribed environments.

Year 5 students will be attending an incursion at the conclusion of Term 1 based on our Science unit. Keep an eye out for information coming home.

Year 6 News

The Term is in full swing now with students in 6DAV being fully aware of the routines and practices that will enable them to demonstrate leadership within the school community. Our class has already taken their first step toward leadership by creating a set of colouring in pages for the lower school that teach them about our fortnightly PBL focus. Keeping hands, feet and objects to self. 6DAV distributed these pages to participating classes in Year 1, 2, 3 and 4. We look forward to seeing the results of this competition at the end of the week. 6DAV has especially enjoyed being the ambassadors for this PBL focus and it has caused many students to discuss how their own behaviour affects the lower school. A very focussed time in Year 6!

During the beginning weeks of Term 1, students in Year 6 have been working on writing an entertaining and engaging short story. Throughout this unit, students have been looking at a variety of popular authors and analysing the techniques they use so they can adapt them in their own creations. 6DAV has worked tirelessly during English to execute their targeted feedback and become familiar with their Guide to Making Judgements. As a result, many students are able to determine what their next steps are as they combine their brilliant imagination with technical elements to be successful in English.

Community Events & Notices