16 February 2022

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Pride

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Community Members,

Welcome back to Week 2 of the 2022 school year. Students have been settling back into classroom and playground rules and routines extremely well and we thank you for your continued partnership with us around this.

It is also pleasing to note how well our students are abiding by our Student Dress Code (a component of the Student Code of Conduct 2021-2023).

Our BYOx classrooms last week successfully navigated the challenges of ‘onboarding’ to the school network 110 home devices. It was also wonderful to see even our newest school members (Preps) displaying considerable growth in independence across the week.

There have been a number of notes issued home over the past week as we establish permissions for a range of upcoming school events. Please ensure you are aware of payment/permission return dates so your child is not disappointed.

Term 1 Year Level Parades

Please be advised that until at least March 4 (current end to Back to School Plan restrictions) all year levels across P-6 year will conduct online Parades. There will also be no whole school assemblies, parent volunteers on site or large event gatherings until after this date.

Thank you for supporting us as we abide by the most recent restrictions enforced through the Premier’s Back to School Plan from 7 February-4 March. I will continue to issue updates as required via email (schoolzine) and our official school Facebook page.

2022 Voluntary Contributions - $40 per student and $80 per family

The costs of providing instruction, administration and facilities for the education of students enrolled at a school are met by the State Government. Voluntary financial contributions are used by the school to provide an enhanced educational service and to supplement resources available for student learning, recreation and comfort.

The Willows State School has maintained a consistent level of voluntary financial contributions for the past few years. Please see the Parent Information Sheet regarding Voluntary Financial Contributions later in this newsletter. If you wish to make a voluntary financial contribution to the school please pay at the school office.

BYOx in Years 4-6

This year we have introduced BYOx (laptop) classes to The Willows State School in years 4, 5 and 6. All classes are currently at full capacity, but we look forward to building this program each year.

Safe School Travel for all

Travelling to and from school can be a very busy time – especially in wet weather. At the start of the year it is also additionally hectic as new families and students establish entry and exit points. Parents are respectfully asked to assist our staff in keeping their children safe by reminding students:

• Roads and footpaths are not a place to play – look out for traffic all the time and only cross roads at the designated SAFE school crossing points supervised by a ‘lollipop’ person
• At STOP, DROP and GO wait for parents to pull into the loading zone in their cars – staff will call students by surname to enter cars when parked in the zone and it is safe to do so. Surname cards were re-distributed at the start of the school year. Should you require one to display on your car dashboard please contact the school
• When riding scooters and bicycles wear protective equipment correctly
• When travelling in a car, remember to put on your seat-belt in an age-appropriate seat
• When travelling by bus, remain seated at all times and show respect to the driver

COVID-19 Positive Cases notification to school community

Over the past few weeks we have continued to be notified of positive test results for COVID-19 in our school community.

May I remind you to continue to:

• monitor yourself and your family for COVID-19 symptoms that can include fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, headache, fatigue, diarrhoea, vomiting or nausea, loss of smell and/or taste.
• stay home if displaying any symptoms, or feeling unwell. You should attend your local Queensland Health testing clinics where students are prioritised to get a free rapid antigen test (RAT).
• Continue to follow all Queensland Health advice.

If students become symptomatic while at school, you will be contacted to collect them. You will also be provided with a free rapid antigen test (RAT) to administer at home.

If your child tests positive to COVID-19, please follow Queensland Health guidelines for reporting the test result, isolation and quarantine.

More COVID-19 related information is available from www.health.qld.gov.au

REMINDER: Administration of Medication in Schools

Any children attending school requiring the administration of medication by staff at school will need their parent/caregiver to deliver their medication and any associated Health Plans to the school office and complete an Administration of Medication at School Form prior to any medication being able to be administered.

2022 Class Arrangements

As of today, we have 906 students effectively enrolled and distributed across 37 P-6 classes. School funding and staffing arrangements will be definitively finalised after the Day 8 Enrolment Census completed TODAY. I anticipate there will be no changes to our school staffing and class structures.

Home-School Communication

Our school newsletter, Willows Pride, is issued weekly each Wednesday of the school term. The newsletter is emailed, uploaded to the official school facebook page and uploaded to the school website: https://thewillowsss.eq.edu.au/. It is vitally important that the newsletter is engaged with as it is our primary source of communicating key school messages.

The Willows SS 25 Year Anniversary Celebration - 2022

This year The Willows SS will be celebrating its 25 Year Anniversary. Any support that can be offered for the 25 Year Anniversary Planning Committee would be much appreciated. Please contact the school or P&C to find out how you can be involved. The next 25 Year Anniversary Planning Committee Meeting will be held at 5pm on Tuesday, 22 February. Many hands make light work.

Transition statements for 2022 Prep students – school transition email address

All parents of 2022 Prep students are requested to share their child’s Kindergarten Transition Statement with the school should they not already have done so through organising permission with their kindergarten to share. Transition statements provide very useful information about children’s progress and support needs and assist teachers in planning to cater to their students. Kindergarten Transition Statements can be emailed to: transitions@thewillowsss.eq.edu.au

Student Absences – 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 4799 1333, emailing or sending a message. If your child is absent from school on any given day and we are unaware of the reason for the absence an SMS will be generated asking you to contact the school regarding your child’s absence. Due to the current impact of COVID-19 Queensland Health requirements regarding quarantine and isolation attendance whole school reward schemes will not be operating in Term 1 and will be reviewed for Term 2.

Have a wonderful week – our next newsletter will be issued on Wednesday, 23 February.

Warm regards,

Michelle Donn
A/Principal

General News

Life Education

The Willows State School has chosen to partner with Life Education, a specialist health education provider. The Life Education Mobile Learning Centre will be visiting our school for Year 1, Year 3 and Year 6 from the 24th of February to the 2nd of March. They will be engaging with all of our students over the year in some exciting and memorable learning experiences, which are aligned with the Australian Health and Physical Education Curriculum.

Life Education is a health promotion charity and the largest non-government provider of health and drug education to children. They work in partnership with schools to enhance and reinforce children’s learning about nutrition, the benefits of physical activity, staying safe online, the health impacts of smoking and alcohol and strategies to cope with peer and social pressures.

Life Education is about prevention through education – providing your child with important knowledge, skills, confidence and self-esteem to help them live a healthy, safe life. They use up-to-date technology and teaching methods, and engage the students through interactive games and activities. Healthy Harold the giraffe, their much- loved mascot, helps to deliver their message to primary school children.

What your child will learn…..

Year 1 –

Year 3 –

Year 6 –

Students attending the program pay $7.00. Permission letters will be sent home on the 7th of February. Please return them as soon as possible. Payment of $7.00 will be invoiced to you and full payment must be made by the 21st of February.

Voluntary Contributions

Willows Warriors

Upcoming Events

Positive Behaviour Learning

Defence News

HELLO and WELCOME TO ALL DEFENCE FAMILIES

What a busy couple of weeks it has been! Meeting and welcoming new students is underway. It has been a pleasure to meet students and have a chat about school and moving experiences. Please remind students that Defence Room/Kids Club is open both breaks in L Pod for them to call in. Parents can talk to me at school or call the office to chat about any queries or concerns you may be having. My door is always open.

Update on planned activities for Term 1 - Meet and greet for new students and Defence Parents afternoon tea, have been postponed until further notice. Information regarding new dates will be in the newsletter. Thank you for your understanding.

Tutoring Assistance-Education Education Assistance Scheme is available for families to access tutoring for students who have posted into a new school. You can access tutoring up to 18 months from when you move to a new school due to a posting. Ring the Defence Family Helpline 1800 624 608, visit DMFS website or collect the forms from me. For more information go to the link below:

WELCOME TO YOUR NEW LOCATION There is an amazing online resource available for ADF members and families to find information regarding where to go, what to do and what to see in your new posting location. Go to the link below for loads of information. A must see.

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 groups. Check out their Facebook page to keep up to date with the activities and events held throughout the year: Geckos Family Centre

Follow on Facebook or call 07 4411 7031.

DON’T FORGET to Register for Defence Members Family Support mailing list NOW at MemberandFamilyHelpline@defence.gov.au or follow on facebook for updates

The DMFS Townsville office would like to welcome their newest staff members to the team:

Education Liaison Officer-Jessica Stark
Family Liaison Officer (part-time) – Kim Lazarevic
Defence Social Worker – Jacqui Belsak
Defence Social Worker – Mary Pearson
Military Support Officer (Army) – MAJ David Long; &
Military Support Officer (RAAF) – SQNLDR Lisa Power
They’ll be out and about soon enough, so if you haven’t met them already, they’re looking forward to meeting you soon!

IMPORTANT

Defence Family Helpline 24/7 1800 624 608 Need Help give them a call

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

DSNG Defence Special Needs Group 1800 037 674 www.dsng.org.au

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

Geckos Family Centre-Nth Qld Lavarack Barracks Contact for enquiries on 07 4446 1238 or follow on facebook.

Kookaburra Kids Charity Organisation Mental Health Service 1300 566 525 www.kookaburrakids.org.au

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

The Oasis Townsville for Ex-ADF Community in Townsville, hello@theoasistownsville.org.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 . Look forward to meeting you.

Staying positive about school assists with developing RESILIENCE SKILLS AND FRIENDSHIPS.

Correna Wheeler
Defence School Mentor

Music News (The Pitch)

Willows Warriors News

Welcome to our Willows Warriors program.

We will be commencing our Warriors program on 9th March 2022 pending the Premier’s back to school update.

Day – Wednesdays 9:00 – 11:00 or 12:30 – 2:45

Bring along – a healthy snack, wide brim hat and water bottle.

Target audience – Children who will be eligible to attend Prep in 2023 (born 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018).

At Warriors we participate in reading, counting, music, art, outdoor activities, and much more.

Prep News

What an amazing first week we have had in prep! All of the students are doing such a great job and are settling into their classrooms. We have been working really hard to remember all the new rules and routines at school.

In PYTRE, we have spent a lot of time getting to know each other, making friends and have been working on learning the names of the students in our class. We have been practising writing our names, learning sounds and counting.

Year One News

Welcome to Year 1

The Year 1 children have started the year off well, and are beginning to settle into class routines.

In English, we have been learning about how to comprehend and respond to imaginative text, also known as a narrative. We have been talking and writing about why we read narratives and their special structure.

Today 1Tro went to the library with their Year 5 buddies. We enjoyed choosing and reading books with our buddies.

In maths we have been learning all about ‘teen’ numbers. Ask your child what they know about ‘teen’ numbers. They might say:

* That teen numbers are numbers between 10 and 20.
*That all teen numbers have one group of ten and some extra ones.

Life Education

Year Two News

In English this term, Year 2 students are writing a new imaginative narrative for the character Lucy Goosey. Students will be exploring the use of simple and compound sentences to add impact to their writing. This week, 2E THO have been using the text ‘Too Loud Lily’ to develop their simple sentences, ensuring they have correct sentence structure and punctuation. In 2D MAH, students have been revisiting the narrative structure (orientation, complication, resolution) and writing a retell of ‘Too Loud Lily’.

Year Three News

Welcome to Year 3 at The Willows State School. We are very excited that we have already had such an amazing week with our new students, and are looking forward to a great year. We have 5 classes so far with 6 teachers; Miss Nielsen, Miss Davies, Mrs Swensen, Mrs Johnston, Ms Ashworth and Mrs Gatehouse. We sent out emails earlier introducing ourselves and sharing our emails in case you have any questions. If you did not receive these emails but would like our email addresses, then please let the office know.

This term in Year 3, we’ve already kicked off with some persuasive writing for English. We are trying to persuade Mrs Donn to let us go on an excursion. From what we have read so far, I think we will be able to persuade her! The students are already using high modality words and evaluative adjectives in their paragraphs.

In Maths, this term we will be covering number, measurement and chance. In Science we are learning about living things. In HASS we are learning about our unique community with a focus on ANZAC day. In Health we are learning about managing change and emotions. I hope everyone had a restful holiday so that we can show focus and determination to strive to be excellent.

Life Education

Year Four News

Welcome to Year 4! Teachers in Year 4 are Miss Faulks, Miss Crowell, Miss Slatter, Ms Bala and Miss Provan. We are looking forward to teaching and getting to know all students in Year 4.

During Term 1 we will be learning about the following concepts:

• English - Investigating the author’s language in the awesome text, The Twits;
• Mathematics - Learning about identifying and explaining chance events, odd and even numbers multiplication, division and angles;
• Science - Investigating properties affecting the use of ochre;
• HASS - European exploration and settlement;
• Health - Etiquette and online protocols.

Year Five News

Wow! After a shaky start to the 2022 school year, things are in full swing in Year 5. Class routines are well underway and a lot of fantastic work around the Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) framework is evident in all classrooms. The current whole school focus Stay Cool, Know the Rules is an appropriate goal as teams work together to build relationships and develop expectations within all learning environments at The Willows. New play areas and classroom locations have meant new experiences for many of our Year 5’s, but all are adapting to their new locations easily.

Staying Cool and Knowing the Rules means to me:

“Listening to and understanding what is being said.”

“Encouraging my friends to play in the correct play areas where we are safe.”

“That we can have fun in a safe place.”

“Respecting my teachers and friends by letting others learn.”

Great job Yr5. We cannot wait to see what else you have in store.

Curriculum Overview - What’s on in Term 1?

Hands on Wildlife

Year Six News

Introducing the Year 6 Team

The Year 6 Team would like to take this opportunity to welcome everyone back to another jam-packed year at The Willows State School. This year’s Teachers include:

5/6F EVA – Mrs Erin Evans
6A DIB – Miss Kylie Dibnah
6B TYE – Ms Rachelle Tyers
6C DAV – Mr Aaron Davies
6D MAR – Miss Katherine Marano
6E SMI – Mrs Christianne Waters (Monday and Tuesday) and Mrs Lenna Smith (Wednesday to Friday)

We have all hit the ground running and have already begun conducting Science experiments in class. In Science, we are learning to plan and conduct an investigation into reversible and irreversible changes, including identifying variables to be changed and measured, describing potential safety risks, identifying improvements to methods and constructing texts to communicate ideas, methods and findings.

Last week 6DIB did an experiment to determine what effects heat from the sun have on different materials. We identified potential safety risks and made suggestions as to how to reduce these risks. We followed a method and recorded scientific observations which we used to draw conclusions.

Starting temperature 33 degrees Celsius.

Finishing temperature 46 degrees Celsius.

After 10 minutes:

Observations

The sun began melting the ice immediately by producing condensation on the ice. Water droplets began to surround the base of the cube causing the ice to spin until it was fully melted. It took nine minutes and forty-six seconds to fully melt.

As the butter melted, little bits of unmelted butter broke off. As it melted it became transparent and darker as condensation appeared on the butter. It slowed down in the melting process after initial burst. At the end of ten minutes the butter did not fully melt, leaving a circular shaped piece of butter in the middle of melted butter.

This is just a snippet of the work that we will be participating in during our Science Unit this term. We look forward to working will all of the year 6 students and their parents this year.

Life Education

Community Events & Notices

Townsville Hockey

Upper Ross PCYC - Judo