25 January 2023

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Pride

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Community Members,

Welcome to the 2023 school year

It is with great pleasure that I welcome everyone to the 2023 school year at The Willows State School. I trust that the summer vacation has provided an opportunity to relax and refresh whilst spending quality time with family and friends. A very special welcome to our new students and families – thank you for choosing The Willows State School – we will continue to strive to provide a quality education in a supportive school environment where Excellence is the Standard.

It was wonderful to see the large number of families who took the opportunity to deliver school booklist items to classrooms last Thursday afternoon and participate in BYOx laptop onboarding as had been advertised through school newsletters in Term 4. It certainly made the first day of school a little smoother for everyone.

REMINDER: There will be no school on Thursday due to the Australia Day Public Holiday. School resumes on Friday, 27 January.

2023 Staffing Update

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome new and/or returning staff to The Willows State School in 2023:

Returning Staff: Kayleigh Ginard, Chloe Murray, Ann-Marie Rowe, Kacey McArthur

New Staff: Ebonie Chidley, Hannah Shaw, Ria Simonsen, Kailee Whitehead, Shimika Crisp, Sam Cracknell, Keira Bickerton, Wayne Chellingworth, Catherine Rowbotham, Zania Bimrose, Karly Chaillon, Zara Daniel

Student Leader Positions – 2023

Congratulations once again to our Student Leaders for 2023. Students will be formally inducted into their leadership positions at an Investiture Ceremony to be held on Friday, 10 February.

School Captains: Kiowa Quenault, Alfie Williams
School Vice-Captains: Stephanie Hodgkison, Tye Mooney
Music Captains: Natasha Hall, Olivia Taggart
Thunder Captains: Blake Dowd, Joshua Nagy
Cyclone Captains: Jackson Mulder, Bryella Shields
Lightning Captains: Quinn Bull, Taare Caspani
Heatwave Captains: Vernon Daisy, Lily Sibley-Sampton

Curriculum, Teaching & Learning in 2023

This year our school’s explicit improvement agenda will continue to focus on enhancing reading and writing standards for all of our students whilst delivering quality education in the eight learning areas of the Australian Curriculum – English, Maths, Science, Technologies, The Arts, Health and Physical Education, HASS and Languages (French for Year 5 and 6).

The first two weeks at The Willows SS is a key time for teachers to build relationships and establish classroom and school rules, PBL routines and expectations with students. It is vitally important that students return for the new school year as soon as possible and remain in full and regular attendance if well enough to do so.

Our annual ‘Parent-Teacher Meet & Greet’ will be held on Tuesday, 7 February from 3:15-4:15pm. This will be a great opportunity to meet other parents and staff whilst also learning more about what your child will be learning. Please note that Term 1 Curriculum Overviews for all year levels will also be distributed through the school newsletter next week.

Administration of Medication in Schools

1. Does your child need medication during school hours?

If your child needs to take medication at school, please provide the office staff with:

• a completed and signed Consent to administer medication form;
• the medication in its original container; and
• medical authorisation (eg. the pharmacy label, or a letter from the doctor, or a completed and signed health action plan).

For further information, please refer to the Information for parents/carers and health practitioners .

If you have any queries, please contact the office

If my child has to take medication at school, how will the doctor know what paperwork the school needs?

When you next visit your child’s doctor (or other health practitioner), you could give them a copy of the Administration of medications in Queensland state schools: Information for parents/carers and health practitioners .

This document explains what advice they need to provide to help the school to safely administer medication to your child.

2. Easy medication packaging

If your child takes tablets or capsules each day, you can ask the pharmacist to pack them individually in sachets, blister packs or bubble packs.

This packaging is known as a ‘dose administration aid’ (or DAA) and has the pharmacy label instructions as part of the packaging.

When medication is packaged in a DAA it can make it easier for the school to safely store and administer it.

Please note: A pill case (e.g. a weekly medication organiser) filled by yourself is not a DAA and is not something the school is approved to use.

3. Medication safety at school

If your child requires medication at school, there are some things you can do to help:-

• Only provide medication that has been medically authorised.
• Check that the medication hasn’t expired.
• Provide medication in the pharmacy packaging.
• Hand medication to the school in person.
• Collect unused medication in person.
• Provide a pill-cutter if tablets need to be halved or quartered, or arrange for the pharmacist to package the medication using a dose administration aid.

Supervision Before School

Main gates to the school grounds in Sandstone Drive and Bilberry Street are unlocked each day at 8am. Any student P-6 who enters the school grounds from 8:00-8:15am must go to the Main CPA (directly behind Administration Block) where there is adult supervision. There is no playing on equipment before school. From 8:15am, supervision of students is split into different areas – Prep-Year 2 in the Junior CPA and Year 3-6 in the TCBC Hall.

Modifications for the first 2 weeks for P-2 ONLY

For the first week of school ONLY, Prep students can head straight to Prep classrooms after 8:15am in the morning for supervision prior to school. In Week 2, Prep students will then transition to the Junior CPA for supervision from 8:15am. In Week 2 ONLY, Year 1 and 2 students will remain in the Main CPA for supervision from 8:15am. Usual procedures as outlined above will commence from Week 3.

Supervision after school – Stop, Drop and Go

Families making use of our Stop, Drop and Go drive-through zone in Bilberry Street are requested to ensure all traffic rules and regulations are followed to ensure safety for all students, community members and staff. Staff supervise children waiting to be collected in this area. Parents are requested to clearly display their surname card on their car front dash to enable our staff to efficiently call their children to the collection point. New surname cards will be distributed to the eldest in the family this week.

Equity and Excellence – launch of new state-wide Education Strategy

The Department of Education has this week launched a new state-wide education strategy, Equity and Excellence: Realising the potential of every student. Equity and Excellence builds on the successes of the past and leads into the future with a clear vision for a progressive, high-performing education system. It links to the national commitment to equity and excellence in education outlined in the Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration – that all children and young people are confident, creative, lifelong learners active in their community. The three priority areas of Equity and Excellence will inform the focus of The Willows State School 2023 Annual Implementation Plan:

Educational achievement
Wellbeing and engagement
Culture and inclusion

Class Arrangements – Pre-Day 8

As of today, we have 923 students effectively enrolled and distributed across 38 P-6 classes. School funding and staffing arrangements will be definitively finalised after the Day 8 Enrolment Census on 2 February. Parents are reminded that all class arrangements are considered temporary until that time. Any class changes necessitated by Day 8 processes will be communicated to parents in writing and occur as soon as is practicable after the census date.

2023 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, approved by the P&C. Please see the Parent Information Sheet regarding Voluntary Financial Contributions. If you wish to make a voluntary financial contribution to the school, please pay at the school office.

School Facilities Update

We have had some facilities maintenance and enhancements occurring over the summer vacation. This has included:

• Annual alarm panel testing
• Annual whole school carpet cleaning
• Annual pest control
• Annual check/preventative maintenance on locks
• Air conditioning replacements

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.

It is vitally important that the newsletter is engaged with as it is our primary source of communicating key school messages, events and timelines.

P&C

The first P&C Meeting for 2023 will be held on Tuesday, 21 February. Meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:00pm in the TCBC Conference Room. All parents are most welcome to attend. Your support is vital to ensure fundraising initiatives can occur. The P&C is also a forum in which you can contribute ideas to the enhancement of the school.

All executive positions will be declared vacant at the P&C AGM to be held on Tuesday, 21 March.

Transition statements for 2023 Prep students – school transition email address

All parents of 2023 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 the school’s Student Absence Line on 4799 1366, phoning the office or emailing the school on admin@thewillowsss.eq.edu.au. 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.

The Willows State School 2021-2023 Student Code of Conduct

The Student Code of Conduct clearly sets out the student behavioural expectations of the school, support mechanisms available to assist students to develop appropriate behaviours and guidance on the application, where required, of disciplinary consequences. This document is available on our school website (under Quick Links) and provided to newly enrolled students and their parents.

Have a wonderful week – our next newsletter will be issued on Wednesday, 1 February.

Warm regards,

Michelle Donn
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 20th to the 27th February. 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:

Students attending the program pay $7.00. Permission letters were sent home today. Please return them as soon as possible. Payment of $7.00 will be invoiced to you and full payment must be made by the 16th of February.

SCHOOL DENTAL VAN

Dental forms have been sent home with each student in Prep.

If you are new to our school and would like the opportunity to go to the School Dental Van, forms are available from the office.

The Offer of Dental Treatment is not compulsory and is an individual decision for each parent.

If you would like to access this service, please do so as soon as possible.

*Please note that the school dental van will be moving on to another school on Thursday the 23rd February, 2023.

Upcoming Events

Year Level Parade Times

Positive Behaviour Learning

Permission Forms

LIFE EDUCATION

Defence News

A BIG HELLO TO 2023 AND WELCOME TO ALL DEFENCE FAMILIES

Hi everyone, my name is Correna Wheeler and I am the Defence School Mentor at TWSS.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and a safe trip here (if you have just arrived).

Welcome to our amazing school and I look forward to meeting all new families and students. Starting a new school can be very overwhelming for everyone, so I can be contacted through the office if you have any concerns/worries regarding your children or just want to chat. Always remember to stay positive at school and take each day as it comes. Settling in to a new school will take time and perseverance, but it will happen. Call me 4799 1333, e-mail cwhee36@eq.edu.au or you are welcome to drop by my room in L Pod for a chat, Monday to Friday.

During the next couple of weeks, I will be walking around the school in the mornings and afternoons so come and say Hi. I will also be visiting classrooms to meet and say Hi to all the Defence students. This check-in process with students is a great way for me to get to know the new students and they have the opportunity to get to know me. Students also have access to my Kids Club/Defence Room open every day in L Pod at break times. Students are welcome to visit for a chat or make a craft activity, read a book, play Lego and meet new friends.

Education Assistance is also available for students who may require tutoring to support their learning, details below. Next week I will give the details on Welcome Party for students and Welcome Morning Tea for parents this term at school. Mark on your calendar, Saturday 11th February for the Welcome and Information Expo, flyer below.

DON’T FORGET to Register NOW to receive newsletter and updates at dmfs.townsville@defence.gov.au or follow them on Facebook for events, morning teas and social gatherings for Defence families.

CONTACT OPEN ARMS on 1800 011 046 for support also.

If you have posted into Townsville this year or in the last 18 months you 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 then 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. 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

DATES TO REMEMBER

Coffee Connections Jan/Feb Watermark Hotel – Tuesday 31st January

To kick off 2023 in style, we’re heading to Watermark Hotel at The Strand. Come along and meet other spouses and get to know your friendly Family Liaison Officers, Meagan and Kim. If you are new to Townsville or have been here a while, everyone’s welcome! If you know of someone posting in and may not be on our mailing list, flick them the link so they can register to attend. Coffee Connections is a recurring event, held on the first Tuesday of each month. To register for future events, check out our Eventbrite page , follow the DMFS social media platforms or send us an email to subscribe to the DMFS mailing list.

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

Where: Watermark, The Strand
When: Tuesday 31 January 9:30am-11:30am
Registration: Eventbrite - Coffee Connections

DMFS Welcome and Information Expo – Saturday, 11th February

Defence Member & Family Support Townsville invite ADF members and families to our Welcome and Information Expo!

Discover what the Townsville region has to offer you and your family with over 100 exhibitors including local community and sporting groups, Government organisations and other service providers.

Where: Townsville Stadium, Murray
When: Saturday 11 February, 10:00am-1:00pm
Registration: Eventbrite - DMFS Welcome & Information Expo

Photographs will be taken at all DMFS events. Please let our staff know if you do not want your family to be photographed. Photos may be used on our social media channels or in a DMFS publication.

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 – office is at the Nathan Business Centre or 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 is currently under renovation

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