28 July 2021

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Community Members,

Welcome back to Week 3 of Term 3 everyone! How quickly the term and our NQ ‘Winter’ is progressing.

Today I was privileged to participate in our Academic Excellence Awards Ceremony for Semester 1, 2021 to specifically recognize and celebrate with parents the achievements of our students who have excelled in academic aspects of school life in Semester 1. Achieving high standards of academic performance demonstrates a strong work ethic and ongoing dedication and commitment to the task. I look forward to seeing all students work hard in this new semester to set goals, aim for excellence and continue to challenge themselves to be their personal best. We are continuously proud of the progress and achievement that every single student demonstrates across a range of school life areas – whether academic, sporting, musical, cultural or community service.

I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of teachers, teacher aides, parents and community members in continually supporting our students in their learning journeys. It takes a village to raise a child. Our positive home-school partnerships are an important key to success.

Last week I had the pleasure of attending my first P&C Meeting at The Willows SS. We are very fortunate to have such an active and committed group of parents and community members collaborating to oversee the ongoing efficient running of the OSHC, Tuckshop and fundraising endeavours for the school. I look forward to supporting their planned events for the remainder of 2021 as these are progressively implemented. I will also be collaborating with the P&C over the next two P&C Meetings in Term 3 to gain their input into the Quadrennial School Review process and new School Strategic Plan.

Week 2 saw our Year 3 students demonstrate excellent school representation whilst on their excursion to Billabong Sanctuary – congratulations to all involved. Our Year 6 students successfully commenced some optional activities on Friday afternoons to facilitate positive student engagement and there was a significant positive expression of interest from our school community to the initial BYOx online Expression of Interest parent survey distributed.

If you missed this survey, the link is still live at the link below:

Our first face-to-face BYOx Parent Information Session was held on Tuesday evening and was well attended. There are still three other options for these over the remainder of the term – registration for these is via the Expression of Interest link.

School Visits

• Last week myself, the A/Deputy Principal P-2 and Support Teachers met with NQR Speech Language Therapists regarding the development of a plan to assist the school in further building the skills and knowledge needed to deliver inclusive reading and writing practices. I look forward to us progressing this work and striving to achieve our AIP goal of everyone being a reader and a writer.
• The previously date-claimed Friday, 23/07 visit by Mr Dion Coghlan (Assistant Director-General, Disability & Inclusion) was unfortunately postponed. We look forward to sharing our work in embedding inclusive policy, practices and culture through effective teaching and learning in the near future.

Quadrennial School Review (QSR) – Parent Forum opportunities

As previously mentioned, this term The Willows SS school community will engage in a Quadrennial School Review process to develop a new overarching School Strategic Plan 2022-2025. This process involves extensive consultation with parents, community members, staff and students in order to review the progress made on the current School Strategic Plan over the past four years and look ahead to develop a vision for the strategic direction of the school in future years. I will be hosting two ‘Parent Forums’ during Term 3 and all parents and community members are cordially invited to attend. The dates and times for these forums are:

• Wednesday, 11 August (Week 5): 9:00-10:00am
• Thursday, 19 August (Week 6): 3:00 – 4:00pm

Interested parents are requested to contact the school office on 47991 333 to register their attendance.

2022 ENROLMENTS

Our school is now taking enrolments for the 2022 school year, please get your enrolment forms in early. Should you know of friends or family looking to join our great school, please inform them that they are welcome to contact the school for further information and to obtain an enrolment package.

2021 School Opinion Survey – Parents/Caregivers

This year the Department of Education is running the state-wide School Opinion Survey process for staff, students and parents/caregivers differently. Please take some time to participate in this process. I have included some information below for your reference:

• Families with one or more enrolled children at our school receive one invitation to complete the survey. The parent/caregiver to receive the invitation is selected based on information and email address in OneSchool.
• Participation is by invitation only. There is no generic survey link that can be used by all parents. Each link is unique and can only be used once by the parent. One parent per family will have received the survey link via email.
• The survey will close THIS WEEK on Friday, 30 July.
• The survey invitation email uses the subject line: School Opinion Survey of parents, 2021 - Parents are encouraged to check junk email folders if it can’t be found.

Have a wonderful and productive week.

Warm regards,

Michelle Donn
A/Principal

GENERAL NEWS

GLOBAL TROPICS FUTURE

WILLOWS WARRIORS

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 8.45am in Multi-Purpose Learning Centre

Parents/Guardians are most welcome to attend.

DEFENCE NEWS

HELLO ALL DEFENCE FAMILIES

Week 3 Update:

REMINDER - Come along to the Defence Afternoon Tea which is being held at school this Friday 30th July at 2:00pm in L Pod (Defence room). A representative from Open Arms will be present to discuss their services which are available to all veterans and their families. All parents and caregivers are invited to attend. Please email me on cwhee36@eq.edu.au or call me to register for this event. Please come along to say Hi and have a chat. Flyer is attached.

Some students have been informing me that their Mum/Dad are away or going away soon for the exercise. They have also been saying that they don’t know how long they will be away and are becoming upset and worried about their parent. It is always most appreciated if you can please send me a quick email with any information regarding a loved one who may be away. I can check in at class with students to have a talk about ways to cope during this time. Please remember that you can also call me at school anytime for a chat. If you haven’t been to a Defence Afternoon Tea at school make sure you make it to our next one, it is coming up next week. Bring a friend and small children are also welcome. It a great way to meet friends and it is very informal. See you there.

Postings are starting to filter out to members. If you know you will be relocating this year, please contact me so I am able to support each student with their transition to a new school and deliver a farewell pack before they leave our school. All posting students look forward to receiving their farewell pack to take with them.

REMEMBER OPEN ARMS is available to YOU and your family - Veterans and Families Counselling provides 24 hr support and confidential counselling, group programs and suicide prevention training. Former and current serving ADF personnel and their families can use the service. Call 1800 011 046 for more information. Attached is current flyer with programs available.

DCO is now called DFMS (Defence Families and Family Support). The Townsville office number is 4430 3879. You can find them online at www.defence.gov/members-families, on Facebook @DefenceMemberFamilySupport. The Defence Member and Family Helpline is 1800 624 608. Defence Social Workers are available for you to access at the DFMS office. You will need to make an appointment.

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 a sewing group. Check out their Facebook page to keep up to date with the activities and events held throughout the year. Check availability due to exercise.

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

EVENTS TO REMEMBER

FRIDAY 30TH JULY - OPEN ARMS AFTERNOON TEA FOR DEFENCE PARENTS/CAREGIVERS TO ATTEND, FROM 2PM IN L POD/DEFENCE ROOM. Informal get together. Please RSVP me for dietary requirements. Bring a friend and small children welcome. See you there.

SUNDAY 22nd August - Geckos Father’s Day Fishing Charter from 6am-6pm, Northern Conquest Fishing Charters. Contact Geckos for more information.

TO BE UP TO DATE WITH WHATS ON IN TOWNSVILLE CHECK whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au, follow on Facebook or call 07 4411 7031.

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

DMFS Townsville Office: 07 4430 3879
Need to find them online? New home is www.defence.gov.au/members-families
Defence Family Helpline 24/7 call 1800 624 608 memberandfamilyhelpline@defence.gov.au

Open Arms call 1800 011 046 www.openarms.gov.au

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

DFA (Defence Families of Australia) nth.qld@dfa.org.au

Beyondblue.org.au www.australia.gov.au

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

Kookaburra Kids Tvl- 1300 566 525 www.kookaburrakids.org.au

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, don’t hesitate to phone me anytime for a chat on 4799 1333 ext 323, or e-mail me cwhee36@eq.edu.au.

School is full of learning and FUN for all students when they stay positive. They also develop RESILIENCE SKILLS AND FRIENDSHIPS.

Correna Wheeler
Defence School Mentor

WE ARE ALL SPECIAL AND UNIQUE!

Community Events & Notices

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