31 August 2022

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Pride and Key Messages – Michelle Donn

2022 School Explicit Improvement Agenda (EIA):
Every Student is a Reader and a Writer – Aim for the ‘A’
Inclusivity: Everyone Counts!
Wellbeing and Engagement for All

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Community Members,

Welcome to Week 8 of Term 3. Last week we were absolutely impressed by the amazing staff and student Book Week performance collaboration, as well as the creativity and innovation shown by students and their caregivers in the design and development of costumes. This week we will hold our final whole school assembly for the term on Thursday - the focus will be on providing some of our Eisteddfod students with an opportunity to perform in front of their peers, whilst also inducting our new Adopt-a-Cop, Constable Nate Heyboer, into his role in our school community. The P&C are also running their annual Father’s Day Stall this week in the TCBC Conference Room – there is a wonderful array of very well-priced gifts available for that special male adult in our students’ lives.

Australian Teacher Aide Appreciation Week – (29 August – 2 September)

This week is Australian Teacher Aide Appreciation Week. It is a time where we acknowledge and celebrate all our support staff for their valuable contributions to the effective and efficient running of our school. Their hard work and dedication make a significant difference to our students, teachers and the school community.

I would sincerely like to thank all The Willows State School support staff for the important work they do each and every day. We would not be able to support our students to achieve their learning and wellbeing goals without you.

At The Willows SS we have a tradition of celebrating all school employee group appreciation days on the same day. This year it will be on Friday, 28 October (Term 4, Week 4) during State Education Week.

NQR Principal Business Days

On Wednesday and Thursday last week I attended the 2022 NQR Principal Business Days. There was a strong emphasis on instructional leadership and the implementation of systematic curriculum delivery for every student in every classroom. Our A/Regional Director, Kylie Smith, put forward four key leadership challenges/expectations to all Principals:

• Have a clearly documented and accessible Whole School Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Plan (CARP) aligned to the P-12 CARF and Australian Curriculum
• Enable every teacher to do rigorous ‘Before’ moderation in (at least) English prior to commencing teaching
• Engage in quality external moderation
• Implement academic case management in English as part of the moderation cycle.

3 Way Conversations – Parent-Teacher-Student Meetings – Tuesday and Wednesday NEXT WEEK

There has once again been significant interest in our 3 Way Conversation bookings for next week. These meetings are held twice per year – once each semester – and are an important component of developing home-school partnerships focussed on student learning. On Tuesday afternoon, our Year 3-6 staff will engage with their parents/caregivers and students who booked a meeting time, whilst Wednesday afternoon will be for booked Prep-Year 2 meetings. Please note there are some modifications to this timetable around individual teacher availability. All meetings will be held in individual classrooms. If you are unable to attend on this occasion, please make contact with your child’s class teacher or the school office to coordinate an alternative meeting time if required.

Extra-Curricular Activities – Eisteddfod

Over the coming two weeks, a large number of our students will be participating in Eisteddfod performances. I wish all of our participating musicians and singers the very best and look forward to sharing news of their achievements in future newsletters. I know they will represent our school with pride. Thanks to our Music Specialist Teacher, Mrs Fiona Coleman, and our Instrumental Music Teachers for their passion, energy and commitment to helping develop our young musicians and singers to be the very best they can be.

Capability Development - Cluster Moderation

On Monday afternoon, teaching staff from The Willows SS met with their cluster colleagues from Weir SS and Rasmussen SS to engage in Cluster English Curriculum Unit unpacking (‘Before’ Moderation) for Term 4. This was a wonderful opportunity to engage in professional conversations with our colleagues to ensure consistency of understanding about student achievement on English summative assessment tasks against aspects of the Australian Curriculum achievement standards. We look forward to continuing this collegial work in Term 4 when we conduct the ‘After’ Moderation process.

DATE CLAIMER: State-wide Student Free Day – Friday, 2 September (Week 8) – THIS WEEK

As in previous years, please note there will be a Student Free Day (SFD) on Friday, 2 September (Week 8, Term 3). Teaching staff will be engaged in professional learning on this day. There will be no school for students on this day. Please ensure supervision is organised for your child.

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, phoning the Student Absence Line on 47 991366 or emailing admin@thewillowsss.eq.edu.au . Students are encouraged to come to school every day they are well enough to attend – so much new learning occurs every day. We have 12 school days left in this term and plenty of learning to still be achieved each day. Our whole school attendance % currently sits at 87.7% YTD, striving for 90%+.

2023 ENROLMENTS – NOW OPEN FOR ALL YEAR LEVELS

Our school is now taking enrolments for the 2023 school year - please get your enrolment forms in as early as possible. Should you know of friends or family looking to join our great school, please inform them that they are also most welcome to contact the school for further information and to obtain an enrolment package.

Prospective 2023 Prep students and parents/caregivers may like to consider attending a Willows Warriors Pre-Prep Program session on a Wednesday to support the transition and orientation process to school. Please contact our school office to obtain further information about this free program.

DATE CLAIMER: FINAL 2023 BYOx Program Parent Information Session – Tuesday, 6 September 4:45pm

Only one further Parent Information Session has been scheduled. Families are required to make a firm commitment to participate in the program by the end of Term 3 to facilitate class and teacher planning in Term 4. Please contact the school to request further information or to book in for a Parent Information Session if needed.

REMINDER: 25th Anniversary Memorabilia – now available until sold out from school office

• Magnetic Pins - $5
• Coolers - $8
• Personalised Pavers – varying prices depending on size selected – see front office if you require a form.

COVID-19 Positive Cases notification to school community

Over the past week 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.
• 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.

To all our dads, father figures, grandads and fatherly friends - have a wonderful Father’s Day on Sunday. We hope you are spoilt - you certainly deserve it.

Thank you for your ongoing positive partnership with us in your child’s education.

Our next newsletter for Term 3 will be issued on Wednesday, 7 September.

Warm regards,

Michelle Donn
A/Principal

Upcoming Events

Positive Behaviour Learning

Defence News

HELLO and WELCOME TO ALL DEFENCE FAMILIES

Week 8, thank you to all families who are participating in the ADF Equip Parental Absence Program - Thursday 1st Sept is the last session. If you have not registered to attend on the QR code CAN YOU PLEASE DO SO NOW! This is how Defence Head Office know who is participating and after the course is over, they may send a survey for you to give your feedback on the program. You can collect students this Thursday from L Pod at 4.45pm - access will be through the gate on Bilberry Street. See you then.

Kids Club is busy with many students calling to play a game with friends or to make a craft piece to take home. We have been making cards and items for Father’s Day this Sunday. HAPPY DAD’S DAY TO ALL, have a wonderful day with loved ones. Please remind students to come down to L Pod at playtime to make an activity or just play a game with friends. It is great to see so many smiling faces.

I will continue to visit students in class for a chat while their loved one is way. If you are struggling at home with emotions, please contact me at school for a chat or email me and I will call back. Life is busy and we sometimes require support to get through the rough patches.

OPEN ARMS have released their timetable of programs for the second half of the year. Attached is a list of all programs available. Contact OPEN ARMS on 1800 011 046 for support and to reserve your spot.

Geckos Centre at Lavarack Barracks is now open for business so pop in to see their new premises.

If you are posting out this year, please call the office and let me know when and where you are moving to. I have attached a factsheet and checklist for you on how to prepare for your move to a new location. These sheets have very useful information on moving so give them a read. Please give me a call or email with any concerns.

If you just posted into Townsville this year or in the last 18 months, your children may be eligible for Education Assistance. This is available for students who move to a new school due to a posting. You have 18 months to apply and use the Education Assistance. If you have posted in this year and would like your children to benefit from some extra tutoring, you can do so NOW. Just contact the Defence Member and Family Helpline 1800 624 608 or email education.supportprograms@defence.gov.au for the form. I have copies of the Education Assistance form at school that I can have the teacher sign and return home with student upon request. One hour of tutoring per subject (Maths and English) for up to 14 weeks can be accessed. Reports are no longer required to access this service. Please contact me if you have any further questions about the form. This is a valuable resource to assist students with their learning and therefore assist with their transition into a new school. This builds self-confidence and resilience in children. I am always available to answer any questions about your student’s transition into their new school. You can ring the Defence Family Helpline on 1800 624 608, visit DMFS website or collect the forms from me. For more information go to www.defence.gov.au/PayAndConditions/ADF/Chapter-8/Part-4/Div-2.asp

TO BE UP TO DATE WITH WHATS ON IN TOWNSVILLE CHECK whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au

DON’T FORGET to Register for DMFS mailing list NOW at MemberandFamilyHelpline@defence.gov.au or follow on Facebook for updates.

DATES TO REMEMBER

COFFEE CONNECTIONS Thursday 1st September - ADF members and families in Townsville, we’d love to see you at Grandmas, North Ward for this month’s Coffee Connections. Whether you’ve been in Townsville for a while now, or have just arrived, everyone’s welcome.

This is a self-funded activity. Attendees are responsible for the cost of purchasing/providing their own food and drinks. Children are welcome under parent/guardian supervision.

Where: Grandmas, North Ward
When: Thursday 1 September from 9:30am - 11:30am
Registration: Eventbrite - Coffee Connections

TROPICAL FRIDAY BAREFOOT BOWLS (ADULTS ONLY) Friday 2nd September - Couples and singles, mums and dads, and other adult family members are invited to join us at barefoot bowling adults-only fun night out.

Enjoy a social evening with barefoot bowls and a BBQ on us. While the name of the game is barefoot bowls, socks / thongs / completely flat soled shoes are permitted on the green. While we’d love to see your brightest tropical themed outfits, please keep in mind that the bowls club dress rules require neat casual clothing and no singlets.

Where: Cutheringa Bowls Club, West End
When: Friday 2 September from 6:30pm
Registration: Eventbrite - Barefoot Bowls

IMPORTANT - Contacts

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

DMFS Office at Nathan Business Centre on Ross River Rd, call 07 4430 3879

Open Arms support former and current serving ADF personnel and their family members can use the service also call 1800 011 046 www.openarms.gov.au

Mates4Mates – Townsville FRC 4771 9600 townsville@mates4mates.org

Café now Open from 9am-12.30pm every day, you are welcome to attend for a chat and to have a look around.

The Oasis Townsville for Ex-ADF Community in Townsville hello@theoasistownsville.org.au

Dirty Books Café – 1 Staging Camp Avenue, Oonoonba – 07 4759 8777

DFA (Defence Families of Australia) – NQ Delegate Larissa Ostermann 0418 796 561 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 or contact Hannah Galliner 0484 544 451/1300 566 525

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

My hours are Monday to Friday 8:00am-3:30pm. Please phone me anytime for a chat on 4799 1333 ext 323, or email me cwhee36@eq.edu.au . I look forward to meeting you.

Correna Wheeler
Defence School Mentor

YOU’RE TURTLEY AWESOME DAD, HAVE A WONDERFUL FATHERS DAY.

P and C News

Father's Day Stall - Monday 29 August - Thursday 1 September

Our annual Father's Day stall is happening in Week 8 just before Father's Day on Sunday 4 September. This fundraiser is an opportunity for your child to purchase a gift for their father, grandfather or other important person. We love seeing the thought that goes into each child's gift. Our affordable range of gifts are priced from 50c to $10. More information and your child's class times will be sent home in a note this week.

Don’t want to worry about sending cash to school on the right day? VOUCHERS are available to purchase on the home page of the Flexischools app for the Father’s Day stall. Vouchers can be purchased in amounts of $5, $10 and $20 until THIS Friday August 26 at 12pm.

WE NEED YOUR HELP! These stalls simply cannot run by themselves. If you have an hour to spare during the stall times, please let us know by email or visit our volunteer sign up page:

Colour Explosion School Fun Run – Wednesday, 14 September

Get your white t-shirt ready! The big day is coming! We are so excited to host our Colour Explosion School Fun Run. If you have not received your Colour Run fundraising note and booklet, please email the P&C.

Next P&C Meeting

Our next meeting is Tuesday 13 September at 6pm in the TCBC. All are welcome to attend. Contact the P&C by email pandc@thewillowsss.eq.edu.au .

Music News (The Pitch)

Willows Warriors News

Willows Warriors

Last week we made our own costumes for book week.

Prep News

On Friday we celebrated Book Week. It was fantastic to see so many children dressed up in their favourite characters from books. Thank you to all the effort you put into organising costumes! We enjoyed watching the performance and then did a parade in our costumes. Throughout the day we listened and enjoyed many stories.

In English, students are finishing up writing their 4-lined rhymes. Next, we will be reciting our rhymes to our peers.

In PYD TRE, we have started using picture prompts and writing stories based on the picture. The students are using their imaginations to create their own stories.

Year One News

In Year One, we are learning to retell an Aboriginal cultural story. As part of this unit we have been using interesting word to make vivid sentences to use in our retells.

In Maths, we have been measuring counting.

Last Friday, we had great fun dressing up as our favourite book characters.

Year Two News

In Year Two, we have started our new English unit! We have been learning about information reports and understanding the text structure. Students have been pulling out key information about the sugar glider to construct their own informative text. They have been working hard to create compound sentences and to use expanded noun groups in their writing to communicate factual information. Students have created a supporting image of the sugar glider and have labelled it using noun groups.

Year Three News

This term has been filled with exciting events including Book Week, our school Fun Fair and our 25 Year Celebration and time capsule opening. Students were able to see the contents of the time capsule when it was on display in the TCBC. They liked looking through past school work and enjoyed the video of how it was dug up by Mr Rose. A great cinematic experience.

Last week, E pod got exciting news that we won lunch with our Principal for having the cleanest area. We had amazing food catered by our Tuckshop. We would like to thank them very much.

This term in Science, students are using their scientific knowledge to learn about heat and how it can be transferred. Students are about to undertake an experiment which will hopefully solve the problem of the best way to transfer heat to a s’more. Here they are feeling the difference between warm water and ice-cold water on their hands.

3A NIE has been best buddies with PYD TRE this term. We have helped each other to read books in the library and have also shared and listened to stories that we wrote ourselves.

Year Four News

English

Year 4 have been busy reading and enjoying the quest novel "Victors Quest". Teachers, along with the students, analyse the guide to making judgements to see where they can tick off their work. The unit for English this term focuses on responding to "Victors Quest", looking at how authors uses language features to engage and create plot tension. As students work through the story, they engage in blogging on teams to share their thoughts and ideas about the author's use of language features, how Victor's character has changed throughout the journey and how the author develops plot tension. Year 4 students engage in a variety of ways to understand the text and are ble to synthesize and link their response. We hope you enjoy the different techniques used to expose and teach this unit to all our unique and wonderful Year 4 students.

Year Five News

Year 5 students have been learning about multicultural Australia during Health in Term 3. Each class focussed on different cultures and explored their food and physical activities. 5D LES celebrated French culture including eating crepes and playing soccer.

Thank you to Chappy Brooke Sorbello and Defence Teacher Aide Correna Wheeler who supported the event.

Year Six News

Curriculum:

Over the last couple of weeks, Year 6 students have been practising their assessment for English. This consists of presenting a rehearsed speech on an author’s style and participating in a panel discussion whereby panel members ask a variety of questions to deeply analyse and evaluate the author’s individual style. This year, Year 6 students are exploring Elizabeth Honey texts, namely “45 & 47 Stella Street” and “Don’t Pat the Wombat”.

Book Week Parade:

Year 6 students enjoyed getting dressed up for the annual Book Week Parade. This year, many students came dressed as a character from a Roald Dahl book. We had characters from “Charlie and The Chocolate Factory”, “The Witches”, and “Matilda” to name a few, as well as a range of other awesome and creative costumes!

Sports Rotations:

Each Friday, Year 6 classes have been participating in sports rotations. These include AFL, Rugby League, Hockey and Netball. These sessions seek to teach students the basic skills of each sport, and are an amazing, fun way to finish off a busy week of school!