7 December 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 the final week of the 2022 school year. We are certainly on the countdown now with just 2 school days before the Summer holidays. The latter part of this week will continue to be busy with a range of special events such as our 75 Stars Reward sessions, Silver Celebrations, Year 6 Pizza Party and Excursion and Year 6 Rite of Passage. Last week eligible P-6 students participated in a range of GOLD Reward activities – thank you to all staff for their amazing coordination of these. It was also quite overwhelming to see the huge number of parents who turned out for our P-3 Christmas Concert last Friday morning – thank you for your support.

Congratulations Class of 2022

Congratulations to the Year 6 class of 2022 who formally graduated from The Willows State School on Tuesday. We wish you all the very best for secondary school and your future endeavours. No matter where your path takes you I trust you will always remember the values (Safe, Respectful, Responsible) instilled into you at The Willows SS. I look forward to hearing of your adventures and achievements into the future. Remember, Excellence is the standard.

Semester 2, 2022 Report Cards

Report cards have now been emailed to the addresses recorded in OneSchool as receiving correspondence. If you have not received your child’s report card, please contact the office to confirm arrangements.

Academic Excellence Awards – Semester 2, 2022

Today I was privileged to participate in our Academic Excellence Awards Ceremony for Semester 2, 2022 to specifically recognize and celebrate with parents the achievements of our students who have excelled in academic aspects of school life in Semester 2. 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 2023 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.

2023 Staffing Update

The following staff will be leaving us in 2023:

• Samantha Carter
• Sarah Platt
• Teresa Swenson
• Emmaleen Korosec
• Celena Gulliver
• Zara Daniel

I sincerely thank all of these staff for their commitment to the learning and wellbeing of students at The Willows State School over time and in 2022. I wish them all the very best in their new locations and endeavours. I also wish to welcome some returning and new faces to our staff in 2023 - Kayleigh Ginnard, Ebonie Chidley, Hannah Shaw, Ria Simonsen, Shimika Crisp, Sam Cracknell, Kailee Whitehead, Keira Bickerton, Catherine Rowbotham and Chloe Murray.

Our wonderful Schools Officer, Mr Stephen Rose, is also taking some very well-deserved leave. Following an EOI we welcome Mr Daniel Brandon to the role for Semester 1.

I am pleased to advise that our full-time 2023 Guidance Officer will continue to be Courtney Chisnall.

Reminder: School finishes for the 2022 school year on Friday, 9 December. The school office will re-open on Monday, 16 January, 2023.

2023 Booklists

These have now been made available on the school website and school Facebook page and emailed to each year level to the email addresses recorded in OneSchool for parents and caregivers. Hard copies have also been distributed. Please contact the school office if you are unable to access these.

2023 Class Teacher Meet and Greet, Stationery Pack Drop Off

The first day of school for students in 2022 is Monday, 23 January.

Families are most welcome to come into school the previous week on Thursday, 19 January, 2023 between 2:00pm to 3:30pm to locate their child’s 2023 teacher and classroom (lists and maps will be displayed), meet the teacher and drop stationery packs off. This is a great way to remove some of the ‘busy-ness’ and anxiety often associated with the first day of a new school year. It would be appreciated, if possible, that families take advantage of the opening of school classrooms on Thursday, 19th January, 2023.

2023 BYOx Onboarding Sessions (if needed) – Thursday, 19 January 2023

BYOx IT onboarding support: 2pm – Year 4
BYOx IT onboarding support: 2:30pm – Year 5
BYOx IT onboarding support: 3:00pm – Year 6
*BYOx program siblings are welcome to attend any session together

Please remember however, as with every year, no class grouping is definitively able to be finalised until after Day 8 when classes may change due to varying enrolment numbers and subsequent staffing allocation adjustments by the Department of Education.

2023 ENROLMENTS – OPEN FOR ALL YEAR LEVELS

Our school is still taking enrolments for the 2023 school year, please get your enrolment forms in prior to the school holidays if possible. Should you know of friends or family within our enrolment catchment zone 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.

Our next Bulk P-6 Enrolment Session will be held on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 from 2:30-5:00pm. Appointments can be made through the school office.

Is your Prep-Year 5 student transferring to another school in 2023?

We would appreciate notice if your child, or children, will be transferring to another school in 2023. Please inform the office by phone on 47 991 333 or email admin@thewillowsss.eq.edu.au as soon as possible.

REMINDER: Please collect your child’s medication from school before the end of year

Remember to collect your child’s medication from school before the holidays begin. Advice about storage of medications such as asthma inhalers and adrenaline auto-injectors (for example, EpiPens) is available at the NPS Medicinewise website . Please also check expiry dates before bringing medications back to school after the holidays.

Emergency Response Plan

As we are heading into the holidays and there is the potential for all sorts of calamities to occur across the break (such as pandemic responses and cyclones), it is timely that I remind the community to keep abreast of all school communication channels (school email, school Facebook page and SMS system) as these will be used to communicate any alternative arrangements that may be needed.

Help keep a watch on our school these holidays

With the holidays fast approaching, your support in looking out for after-hours crime in our school is appreciated. If you see something suspicious, please don’t attempt to personally intervene. Call School Watch on 13 17 88 and let the local police or State Government Protective Security Service deal with the matter. The School Watch program is a partnership between the Department of Education, the Queensland Police Service and the State Government Protective Security Service which aims to reduce vandalism, theft and arson in Queensland schools.

Sometimes you just need someone to talk to. Parentline can help!

Parentline is a confidential phone and webchat counselling and information service. They offer FREE counselling and support for parents and carers in Queensland. If all counsellors are busy on calls parents are given the option to leave a voice message and a counsellor will call back.

Parentline works with you to:

• Help you work through what is worrying you
• Identify and strengthen ways to increase family wellbeing
• Find other services and information to help you

Parentline is open 8am-10pm, 7 days a week. 1300 30 1300 or visit the link below.

Happy Holidays – Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere thanks to the staff, parents and students of The Willows State School. Thank you to our teachers, teacher aides, administration staff, groundsmen and cleaners who work hard every day to make The Willows SS a great school. Our staff, P&C and parent volunteers take on a myriad of roles and volunteer hours of unpaid labour to help give our students the very best opportunities. All of these people make a valuable contribution to the life and positive culture of the school and I thank them for their support over the past year in making so much of what we offer possible.

I would like to wish everyone in The Willows State School community a wonderful festive season with family and friends and look forward to working with everyone again in 2023. Keep happy, healthy and safe.

Our FIRST newsletter for 2023 will be issued on Wednesday, 25 January, with Thursday, 26 January the Australia Day Public Holiday.

Warm regards,
Michelle Donn
Principal

Upcoming Events

Positive Behaviour Learning

Defence News

HELLO and WELCOME TO ALL DEFENCE FAMILIES

WOW, Week 10 already! It is hard to believe that another year of school is nearly over. We are all starting to get ready for the holidays and Christmas is so close. I would like to say thank you to all the amazing children I have worked with and had the pleasure to get to know here at school. You are all beautiful and hold a special memory with me. I would like to wish everyone a Wonderful Christmas and a Very Happy Holidays.

To those families who are leaving us for the adventure of another city and students who are to join a new school, may I wish you all the happiness along the way. As you grow may you be positive and learn to enjoy each day as it comes. Remember what you have learned from your time here and take this knowledge with you to your new school. You are welcome to contact me when you settle into your new school as I am always interested in knowing what you think of your new school. Remember to seek out your DSM at school.

To all Year 6 students, stay positive and learn from your experiences. Some students may feel overwhelmed with moving to high school and this is normal. Remember to meet your High School DSM and have a chat as this may assist with the transition. I want to wish you all the very best with your transition and to always be open to change, ask questions, have fun and be positive at your new school. We will miss you all.

I look forward to seeing those who are staying here again in 2023 and farewell to those that are leaving, I will miss you all.

This term, as part of the 2022 DSMP End of Term Reporting, I am required to send home a link for Defence Families. If you wish to complete this survey, please scan the barcode below. Thank you for taking the time to complete as your responses are greatly appreciated.

CONTACT OPEN ARMS on 1800 011 046 for support. Open Arms is only a phone call away and available to support children and families.

Defence Family Helpline 1800 624 608. They are open 24/7 so if you need Help anytime give them a call.

Education Assistance 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 students 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 the link below.

Geckos Family Centre at Lavarack Barracks is available for families to access. Check Facebook for availability and schedule. Weekly groups, school holiday activities and special events are happening. BE QUICK, call them on 07 4411 7031 for more details.

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

2023 RSL QUEENSLAND PARTNER SCHOLARSHIPS - As the partner of a current or former ADF member, you’ve been paramount to your family’s stability. Now it’s time to green light your career aspirations or have the chance to upskill with an RSL Scholarship.

“WELCOME TO TOWNSVILLE” is on Saturday, 23rd February at Townsville Stadium, Murray Sporting Complex. Starts from 9am-12pm. Get information on vehicles, regos and licenses and electoral rolls. Stalls with community sports, recreation groups, employment and recruiting agencies. There’s no need to register or get tickets just turn up. See you there.

Check DMFS newsletters or Facebook for details of Coffee Connections and upcoming activities.

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

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL. ENJOY YOUR TIME AND MAKE SPECIAL MEMORIES WITH FAMILY AND FRIEND.

Willows Warriors News

Farewell Willows Warriors – Hello 2023 Preps

Last week we had our Willows Warriors Christmas Party. It was wonderful to see so many of our Warriors and their significant grown up, come to participate in our final Warriors for this year. It has been the greatest pleasure to see all our Warriors grow in confidence and school readiness. What a wonderful, amazing year we have all had!

Prep News

What a magic time we are having in Prep – children and teachers! We’ve been designing houses and furniture for Elves. Messy play was a hit and very messy! We have also found our “inner rock star” for the Christmas Concert. All the Prep team would love to wish all our families a very special Christmas and a wonderful new year.

Year One News

Technology

We have been very excited to work with different technologies throughout the year.

We used the laptops to create a PowerPoint for our disgusting sandwich procedures in English. Some of us even learned to do transitions and animations with our PowerPoint.

We have been using class sets of laptops and ipads to complete our work.

Year Two News

Year 2 students have been having lots of fun as the year comes to an end. They have been working hard to complete their end of year assessment and we are so proud of their efforts. This term the students have been able to cool off at swimming lessons at the Kirwan Aquatic Centre. The behaviour demonstrated at the pool was outstanding! Well done students!

Gold Star BINGO BONANZA! Well done to the students who have not had a major all year and got to attend the Gold Star Bingo Bonanza. The students had a wonderful time and they all won prizes.

Congratulations to all of the wonderful performers at the P-3 Christmas Concert. The students sang beautifully and were so entertaining. Thank you to all who attended and made the concert a success.

Year Three News

We are wrapping up for the year. Assessments are done. From all of us Year 3 teachers, I would like to say a big ‘thank you’ for the parent support and a sad ‘we will miss you in our class’ for all of the children. What a great year it has been! The kids and us teachers have been determined to ‘finish strong.’

To end the term and prepare for the holidays, we had a surf lifesaving presentation to teach us about water safety at the beach.

In Week 9, we celebrated the amazing achievements of those students who received no majors all year!! Year 3’s and 4’s played a game of trivia with lots of prizes and heaps of fun. A big congratulation to all of those students!

Have a happy holidays!

Year Four News

What an amazing year our students and teachers have had in Year 4. It has flown by way too fast. The last 2 weeks focus for PBL: Finish the year strong. Classroom teachers have enjoyed working with all students to deliver a variety of activities/worksheets/discussions to promote and support a positive end to the year. Enjoy some photos of how we celebrated and promoted this focus.

I am excited to share some PBL enjoyment for our GOLD STAR rewards. This was an exciting and enjoyable event for all students who made the PBL rewards. The Year 4 students were invited to a trivia morning with lots of questions, games, prizes and lollies. It was awesome to see all students enjoy the event, cheer each other on and work collaboratively in their teams. The use of Kahoot ensured students were accessing technology and also hands on party games providing a challenging and engaging reward. Every child in the reward received a prize or treat. Year 4 teachers have been proud of the progress throughout the year and how students have positively developed socially and emotionally.

Enjoy your holidays and see you all next year.

Year Five News

Year Six News

The countdown is on leading into all the final activities and graduation for 2022! Students in 6/5B TYE have been busy getting creative as they combine text and images to transform an informative text into a narrative text on an issue of sustainability for a younger audience. Students are loving putting together their children’s narrative based on a sustainability issue of their choice. Assessments are wrapping up and emotions are flowing as Year 6 students prepare for their transition from primary school to high school. Excitement all around in Year 6!

All of the Year 6 teachers are sad to be saying good-bye to the Class of 2022. We wish you all the very best for secondary school.

Community News

GECKO SPORTS HOLIDAY PROGRAM

WILLOWS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH – KIDS HOLIDAY CLUB