4 August 2021

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Pride

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Community Members,

Welcome back to Week 4 of Term 3 everyone! We are now into our final ‘Winter’ month – it hardly seems like Winter arrived at all in Townsville this year.

This week we welcome back Mrs Amanda Souter from LSL and say a big thank you to Ms Kayla Hawkins for stepping into the DP P-2 role during Mrs Souter’s absence. Ms Hawkins will now return to her Head of Department role.

Week 3 saw our students demonstrate excellent school representation and have an amazing time whilst at the Challenge Games – congratulations to all involved in making this excursion a success. We also welcomed visitors from Open Arms to speak with our parents/caregivers – thanks to Mrs Correna Wheeler, our Defence School Mentor, for her coordination of this.

I was very fortunate last week to also have the opportunity to view some exceptional examples of Prep student writing. How far our Prep students have come in just 6 months of schooling! Their knowledge of letters and sounds is well developed and it is wonderful to see their obvious pride in themselves as being readers and writers.

2022 BYOx Program – for Year 4, 5 and 6 students in 2022

At last week’s BYOx Parent Information Session, parents were provided with the Student/Caregiver BYOx Charter, BYOx Device Specifications and BYOx Program Commitment Forms for perusal. Families are not required to make a firm commitment to participate in the program until the end of Week 1, Term 4. Three further Parent Information Sessions have been scheduled. If you missed the first BYOx Parent Information Session and wish to attend one registration for the repeated sessions is via the survey link below:

Extra-curricular activities

Congratulations to our Senior Rugby League Team who put in an outstanding effort on Monday night in Game #1 of the Les Stagg Cup. The team defeated Annandale SS 22-4 and displayed both great pride in representing their school and excellent sportsmanship. Information regarding their next round will be communicated once confirmed.

I would also like to wish our students participating in the Garbutt Magpies tournament this week all the very best. Thank you to the staff involved for your commitment to training and coaching our teams to be the best they can be. This coming Saturday also sees our musically talented students showcasing their skills at a community event – thank you to our music teachers for your ongoing support and encouragement of our school’s exceptional music program.

COVID-19 Update - Health, Safety & Wellbeing Information

The situation in South-East QLD arising across last week-end was also a timely reminder to us all about continuing to reinforce and maintain all COVID-Normal conditions – hand sanitisation, adult social distancing, reinforcing coughing/sneezing into elbow/tissues and not attending school if unwell.

Should any additional changes be required to school operations by Queensland Health these will be communicated via the usual Schoolzine, email and Facebook school communication channels.

2021 Parent/Caregiver School Opinion Survey (SOS) – NOW EXTENDED

Emails regarding 2021 Parent/Caregiver School Opinion Survey participation (with a unique link) have been distributed by the department to email addresses in OneSchool. Only one parent per family will receive the survey link and it can only be completed once. The survey was originally scheduled to close LAST FRIDAY, 30 July, but has now been extended for a further week until THIS FRIDAY, 6 August.

Supervision prior to school

Parents are reminded that staff supervision commences at 8:00am. Learning commences at 8:50am. Before school care is available through The Willows SS Outside School Hours Care service should care be required prior to 8am. Care is available at The Willows SS OSHC from 6:30am if needed. This service is operated by the P&C. Please contact the OSHC Service on 47 23 7748 or email willowscare@bigpond.com if you are interested in seeking further information about this.

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.

The Willows State School Attendance Strategy – Every Day Counts!

School attendance is compulsory under the Education Act. If children are going to be absent from school for any reason parents are requested to inform the school by phoning 47 991 333 or emailing admin@thewillowsss.eq.edu.au. Students are encouraged to come to school every day they are well enough to attend.

We have an AIP goal to achieve whole school attendance at 93% across 2021. After Term 3, Week 3 we are sitting at 91.5% YTD.

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.

Have a wonderful week.

Warm regards,

Michelle Donn
A/Principal

General News

STUDENT COUNCIL FUNDRAISER

WILLOWS WARRIORS

Upcoming Events

Year Level Parade

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 – Tuesdays 8.45am in Multi-Purpose Learning Centre
Year 5 – Mondays 2.40pm in Multi-Purpose Learning Centre
Year 6 – Tuesdays 8.45am in TCBC Conference Room

Parents/Guardians are most welcome to attend.

Positive Behaviour Learning

Defence News

HELLO ALL DEFENCE FAMILIES

Week 3 Update. We’ve had a busy week at Kids Club completing some 70 defence students handprints. The activity was for defence students to make a handprint and answer ‘For me, being part of a defence family means …?’. The handprints will be on display at the Thuringowa Library from 6th August. Ask your child if they did a handprint and if so, it will be on display. Lots of fun and interesting comments from students.

Thank You to all parents who attended the Open Arms presentation last Friday afternoon. It was very interesting to hear the services and programs that are offered through Open Arms to all Defence members who have served or are currently serving and their families. Their services include 24 hr support and confidential counselling, group programs and suicide prevention training. To enquire if you may qualify for assistance please call 1800 011 046 anytime or call the local office on 4723 9155 you can also contact me with any questions. Attached is current flyer with programs available.

Posting are being communicated to members, if you know you/and your family will be moving on 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. Students can become very emotional leading up to their move and have lots of questions for you. A great resource is this amazing on-line resource at the link below. It is packed with loads of information about your new area/city. All posting students look forward to receiving their FAREWELL PACK and Signature Bear to take with them. If I am not informed I cannot support or make sure they receive their Pack.

Defence Families Australia (DFA) is the official body appointed by the Government to represent the views of Defence Families. What they do - inform the Government and Defence on the needs of ADF families (DFA team members are partners of current serving members), advocate on behalf of families across a range of issues, provide a forum for families to raise issues and concerns, inform families on assistance and services available. Do you need someone to advocate for you, reach out to Nth Qld delegate Larissa Osterman on 0418 796 561, nth.qld@dfa.org.au or on Facebook.

DCO is now DFMS (Defence Families and Family Support) Townsville office call on 07 4430 3879. Online you can find them at the link below, Facebook @DefenceMemberFamilySupport. Defence Member and Family Helpline is 1800 624 608. Defence Social Workers are available for you to access at DFMS office. Appointment required.

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. 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 collect a sheet from me.

EVENTS TO REMEMBER

3CSSB Spouses & partners morning tea – Wednesday 4th August

10FSB Coffee and cake catch-up - Thursday 12th August

Geckos’ Mums, Bumps & Bubs – with Mum2You – Tuesday 24th August

COFFEE CONNECTIONS Thursday 5TH August - Fancy a coffee and picnic in the park this month? Come join us at The Treehouse on the Strand. The café is opposite Tobruk pool and depending on the weather and how many youngsters attend, we’ll head across the road to ANZAC Park for a picnic in the park and games. The Treehouse incorporates the café as well as an ice-creamery, pizza and fish-n-chip shop. Picnic tables & blankets and board games like hopscotch and checkers can be provided so bring the kids!

NEW DMFS Book Club EOI - After receiving a few new enquiries, and as our original after-hours book club is full, we’re considering running a second book-club during school/business hours here at the DCO Townsville office, located in Aitkenvale. To gauge a 2nd book-club’s viability, if it’s something you’d be interested in, could you please complete our Mentimeter survey online:

Geckos’ Sunset Cruise – 16th October – tickets on sale 5th August - Geckos is calling you aboard to enjoy a night of great company whilst Sealink spoils you with a private function admiring the sunset on the water, overlooking the night lights of Townsville City, The Strand & Magnetic Island.

This event is for persons over the age of 18yrs only.

What is included in your $50 ticket (usually $95):-

• 2-hour sunset cruise: 16th of October, 5pm - 7pm
• 1 x welcome drink for each guest
• Antipasto platters
• Live entertainment

Tickets open on Thursday the 5th August via the link below (Please note this event is for persons over the age of 18yrs only.)

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

BEING TOLD YOU ARE APPRECIATED IS ONE OF THE SIMPLIEST YET MOST INCREDIBLE THINGS YOU CAN HEAR.

Music News (The Pitch)

Prep News

This term in English, Prep Rowe are learning all about Rhyme. We are learning to write a 4 line rhyming story, identify rhyming words in stories and be able to state why they rhyme.

In HASS this term, we have been discussing how special places have features. One of these special places is our classroom. Below is a map of the classroom a student drew.

Maths for Term 3 has included talking about the days of the week and which activities we do on those days.

The children had fun identifying the rhyming words from our Mr McGee story.

A great piece of writing from Prep Rowe.

Year One News

This week we have been very busy working and starting our assessment.

We have started to develop our new characters in English. We have had to think up some different character traits and match them to actions that would fit into the Willy the Wimp book series. We have also had to design and draw what our new character would look like.

Part of our assessment is to participate in an interview to explain some of the choices that we have made when completing our characters and we have been learning how to answer our interview questions and practise taking turns.

In Maths we have been telling the time to the half hour and hour as well as examining the duration of evens. Please help your child by practice with them to tell the time, using both an analogue and digital clock.

Year Two News

This term in Science, the Year 2 Students are exploring Living Things. Students have been learning to describe and represent the changes to a living thing in its life stages. In particular, over the first few weeks of this term some students have been learning about and discovering the life stages of the ‘Broad Bean’. These students have been studying its stages from a bean pod to the beans shooting and growing tall! Students have had a wonderful time exploring and tracking these living things!

Year Three News

The Year 3’s have had a busy start to Term 3! We have ventured to Billabong Sanctuary where we learned a lot about animal adaptations, habitats, conservation as well as stories of the Dreaming. We all had a brilliant time and loved the opportunity to step out of the classroom and into the great outdoors!

In English, this term, we have been enjoying reading ‘The Lorax’ by Dr. Seuss. We have transformed our classroom to immerse ourselves in the story with our very own Truffula Trees. For their assessment, students have to retell the story from a character’s perspective, reflecting on what life was like before the Once-ler arrived and how he impacted the land after his arrival. Will they be the Lorax, the cute Brown Bar-ba-loots, the fluffy Swomee-Swans, or, the playful Humming fish? We cannot wait to see the amazing performances and costumes!

Year Four News

In HASS this semester, year 4 students will be answering the inquiry question ‘How can people use environments more sustainably?’.

They will explore the concept of place, find locations, characterise types of environments, examine the connections between people and the environment, investigate sustainability and propose actions for caring for the environment.

During our NAIDOC week celebrations, one of our students shared a dreamtime story ‘The Curlew and Seven Sisters’. We also participated in a colouring competition focusing on Heal Country and congratulations go out to the winners from year 4 and our very own winner from 3/4 D, Elijah Traynor.

Our 3/4D class have become the best of buddies with PYMUR. Last term, on Tuesdays, we took the preppies to the library to read them stories. We finished the term with a few partner games which were a lot of fun and showed how much the 3/4's are at being helpful. This term we are developing their ICT skills by taking them to the computer labs.

Year Five News

Lighting the way through term 3

In year 5 this term we are working hard to investigate light. A key focus is on how light travels and how it can be reflected. The students will have the chance to create a light maze in a shoe box. This will require the students to use a torch and mirrors to make light travel through a shoebox that has walls inside and to exit out the other side.

The students have been learning about how light travels in a straight line. For this, the students were given a torch and three shields each with a hole in the middle. They needed to make sure the shields were lined up correctly allowing the light to travel through all three and shine on the solid surface.

Year Six News

What a fantastic lot of fun and learning we have been having this term in year 6. We have started off the term engaging in analysing letters written in a historical context in preparation of writing our own letters to a student of the future. Students have been engaged in offering suggestions on what topics will pin their writing to 2021.

In Science, we have been learning about natural disasters and whilst a lot of the learning has been theory, we have still engaged in some fun investigations creating a cyclone in a bottle, using ice and warm water to investigate convection currents and making out own anemometers to measure wind speed.

In Maths, students are enjoying the art that we can create using cartesian plan co-ordinates and learning new mathematical vocabulary such as reflection, translation and rotation.

We have also started our fortnightly activities and students are engaging in their choice of activities including cooking, craft, orienteering, drama games and sport. There has been a lot of excitement amongst students and it is great to see some students going out of their comfort zone and trying something new.

Year 6 High School Enrolment (2022)

Community Events & Notices

SAVER PLUS

BROTHERS CRICKET CLUB

INTRODUCTION TO WATER SKIING