24 May 2023

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Pride

2023 Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) Focus Areas:
Educational achievement
Wellbeing and engagement
Culture and inclusion

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Community Members,

Welcome to Week 6 of Term 2 – Congratulations to our instrumental, choral and dance students who performed so successfully at our Whole School Assembly last Friday. We are very proud of all their achievements and loved the opportunity to see them perform for their peers. Thank you to Tricia Winter for her coordination of this with Fiona Coleman, Cat Rowbotham, Teagan Maher, Alix Hansen and our wonderful Instrumental Music Teachers.

This week we have a number of special events and extra-curricular activities/excursions occurring. Not only do we have Year 3 Billabong Sanctuary Excursions, Year 5 Excursion (selected students) to Thuringowa SHS Drama Performance and Year 6 Excursion to Kirwan SHS Drama Performance – we also have our much awaited Under 8’s Celebrations on Friday afternoon. Please ensure you keep up to date with school communications around events to avoid disappointment for you and your child.

Star 106.3 is after the School of the Year where one lucky primary school will win $10,000 for a project that enhances their facilities and/or service delivery.

Once registered, it will be up to the Townsville community to vote for each school’s project so that Star 106.3 can find the top 5 schools. The Star 106.3 panel of judges will then determine which school project will win the $10,000.

The Promotion will run as follows:

Entries open Monday, May 15 at 9:00am and close on Tuesday, June 6 at 9:00am.

Public voting opens on Tuesday, May 23 at 4:00am via the Star 106.3 website and closes Wednesday, June 7 at 4:00pm. Voting can be completed through this link . Votes can be submitted once per day from each email address.

Finals Week is Monday, June 12 - Friday, June 16 where the Star 106.3 breakfast crew will broadcast live from each of the 5 finalists’ schools. The winner will be announced on Friday, June 16.

Our Entry (only 50 words allowed)

To win $10 000 would be invaluable to TWSS! We would purchase more sporting equipment and sets of soccer nets for our five ovals. This would provide additional opportunities for our 937 students to increase their outdoor fun, fitness and engagement with friends, creating a happy and safe playtime for all.

We would love our staff, student and parent community to support our nomination for sporting equipment by voting for us many times over the coming weeks!

Safe School Travel (Safe ST) Committee Meeting #1

Following a number of staff, parent and community concerns expressed about the safety of students as they transition to and from The Willows State School, particularly along Bilberry Street and Sandstone Drive, a SafeST Committee was re-established and the first meeting with all key stakeholders held on Monday as a first step in developing solutions for The Willows State School.

School road safety is a matter that requires whole of community awareness and commitment. Improving the safety of school travel for all children is reliant on the involvement and engagement of schools (including Parents and Citizens Associations), local government (Townsville City Council) and state authorities such as the Department of Education Infrastructure Team, Queensland Police Service, Transport and Main Roads (TMR) and bus operators. I sincerely thank all the representatives from the listed organisations who engaged in our first meeting so proactively. Each representative has committed to follow up actions over coming weeks, whether that be about education, enforcement, engineering and planning research or community use surveys.

This week in our newsletter I will focus our road safety community awareness on Two- minute loading zones.

Two- minute loading zones

Two- minute loading zones around schools are installed for parents to pick up and deliver their children quickly and safely.

Unfortunately, they are often misused by motorists who park and stay longer than the allocated time or leave their vehicles to enter the school. This can lead to traffic problems as motorists queue to enter the loading zone and end up blocking the flow of traffic. This causes people to get impatient and take risks.

Often motorists are unaware of the implications of overstaying the regulated time. Police will visit schools periodically during the year. Motorists could receive a traffic offence/parking notice if found to be parking in marked areas longer than the times on the signs.

Chaplaincy Week – Chaplains wanted!

This week is Chaplaincy Week. Chaplaincy Week is an opportunity to celebrate the work of Scripture Union (SU) chaplains working in schools across Queensland and making a positive difference in each of their communities. Unfortunately, Scripture Union is finding it difficult in recent times to recruit new chaplains for a number of schools. Please refer to the flyer and vacancies listed below and contact Dan Dubbeld, NQ Field Development Manager, if you are interested in finding out more information about the role.

Inter-School Cross Country

Congratulations to all our students who represented The Willows State School at the Inter-School Cross Country Trials held yesterday afternoon. We are pleased to advise that Shae O’Brien (1st in U12 Girls) and Azaylia Ahoy (7th U10 Girls) have been invited to be part of the Townsville representative team to trial for the Northern squad.

The Willows State School Attendance Strategy – Every Day Counts!

Students are encouraged to come to school on every day they are well enough to attend. Our current whole school attendance YTD is 91.5%. We are committed to maximising learning days for all students to ensure the best possible learning outcomes can be achieved.

Why does school attendance matter?

Regular school attendance gives students a better chance at life. Students achieve better when they go to school all day, every school day because:

• they have increased access to learning opportunities
• they maintain friendships
• they stay connected to the curriculum progression
• they develop self-efficacy as a learner
• they have better long-term life outcomes.

Check out the Queensland Government’s ‘Every Day Counts’ website for some great books and animations with student, Jimmy, and his dog, Sam, regarding attending school!

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) Fortnightly Rule Focus: Kind Words – Gentle Hands

Over Week 5 and 6 of Term 2 our PBL school focus will be 'Kind words – gentle hands'. At The Willows State School students use kind words and gentle hands to show that they are safe, respectful and responsible both in the classroom and playground. Students will identify ways that they can use safe gentle hands and how they can match this with kind words.

We encourage students at TWSS to take responsibility for their own actions and words as everyone has the right to feel safe at school.

Your continued support in also enforcing these expectations with your child is much appreciated.

Have a wonderful Autumn week. Our next newsletter for Term 2 will be issued on Wednesday, 31 May.

Warm regards,
Michelle Donn

Principal

General News

TEACHING OF READING – PARENT INFORMATION SESSION

PEEK AT PREP

U8’S DAY

Upcoming Events

Year Level Parade Times

Positive Behaviour Learning

Defence News

HELLO TO ALL DEFENCE FAMILIES

What a lovely change in the weather so far, the mornings and days are crisp and a pleasant change to the heat. This week I was fortunate to receive some beautiful crocheted blankets from Women Veterans Network Australia. Ramon Fenton who was involved in the Postcards of Honour has gifted a couple of blankets to our Defence Room. Thank you, Ramon and ladies this kind gift is most appreciated. The blankets will be kept in our new area “Rest N Relaxation Corner” in the defence room in L Pod. Students who are feeling emotional or just want to chill out away from the noise of busy school days are welcome to come and experience this quiet area. Please remind students to come along and check this out if they are missing a loved one or just want to relax and maybe read a book. It will be a very cosy, warm area.

I believe that we may be experiencing a time when members will be moving around due to exercises or training. Please contact me with any worries/concerns that your children may be experiencing. This could be due to loved going away, loved one not well or impending departure of a loved one. This information will assist teachers when they notice changes in a student. Support measures can then be put in place.

If you have arrived this year, remember that you can access Education Support through defence for tutoring. The member must complete these forms and they can be accessed at ADF Pay and Conditions Manual or you can contact DMFS Helpline on 1800 624 608 for more details. This scheme gives students access to 14 hrs of tutoring for Maths and English which must be applied and used within 18 months of posting into a new location. Give me a call to discuss further.

The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay will be arriving in Townsville on Saturday 27th May. The relay has begun in France and is a 6-month journey worldwide to pay homage and acknowledge veterans’ families. The torch will travel over 50 000km with 45 Legacy Club Stops Worldwide. The torch is in Darwin now and on its way to Townsville soon. The Townsville Relay starts at Lavarack Barracks and finishes at Jezzine Barracks come out and say Hi! Afterwards there will be a festival. See The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay 2023 website for more details. Looking forward to seeing you at this event.

Open Arms has released their Group Programs for January to July, so check out their website at OpenArms.gov.au for all the details. Kookaburra Kids is in Townsville, this organisation supports kids living in families that are affected by mental illness. For more details on activities, contact Hannah Galliner on 0484 544 451 or check out the website

For what’s coming up-DON’T FORGET to Register NOW to receive newsletter and updates at dmfs.townsville@defence.gov.au or follow them on facebook.

Geckos Family Centre-North Queensland is at Lavarack Barracks and is open to drop in. Weekly organised events plus a huge brand-new playground area outside, stop in and meet the friendly staff for a chat and a cuppa. Follow them on Facebook or phone them on 07 4411 7031 for more details.

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

DATES TO REMEMBER

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

Music News (The Pitch)

PE News

Sporting Schools Clubs Term 2

This term, thanks to the sporting schools grant, we have been able to engage our students with 4 local sports bodies. The NRL, AFL Queensland, Townsville Hockey and Townsville Gymnastics.

These sports send coaches in one lunch time a week to engage the children in their respective sports to give the children a broader knowledge of that sport and to introduce the children to sports they may never have tried otherwise.

The clubs will run for 5 weeks up until Week 9.

Here is a snapshot of the first week.

Sport: NRL
When: Mondays 11:00-11:40am
Year Levels: 3, 4, & 5

Sport: Hockey
When: Tuesdays 11:00-11:40am
Year Levels: 3 & 4

Sport: AFL
When: Thursdays 11:00-11:40
Year Levels: 5 & 6

Sport: Gymnastics
When: Fridays 11:00-11:40
Year Levels: 1 & 2

Willows Warriors News

Prep News

It has been a very busy week in Prep this week. The Preps have been busy completing assessment and showing evidence of some great learning across all subject areas.

In English, we have been continuing to show learning of how to retell parts of a story to present our planner to our friends. We have taken part in whole class and small group discussions around familiar books including The Little Red Hen and Lost and Found, as well as demonstrating how to be a confident speaker.

We have also continued our phonics work to read and write sentences!

In Maths we have continued to explore different ways to sort 2D shapes based on their characteristics including curved and straight sides, number of sides and corners.

Year One News

The Year 1 students have had an action-packed couple of weeks. We have had some excellent writing in English as we complete our character description of Mr Wintergarden from the book, Rose Meets Mr Wintergarden.

In science, the students are learning to describe the effects of physically changing a material to make a boat that floats. We are hearing some wonderful ideas and predictions as students share their observations.

The students had a visit from the staff at RACQ who taught us all about road safety. The students made wonderful contributions and found this presentation very entertaining and informative.

On Friday it was so great to see so many of our amazing Year 1 students reach 75 stars! We had a really fun Disco where the students displayed some super cool dance moves. Prizes were won, games were played and we danced, danced, danced!

Year Two News

This term in English, Year 2 has been exploring characters. Students read, viewed and listened to a variety of stories to explore how authors and illustrators represent characters with words and images. We identified character traits, such as their appearance, thoughts, actions and qualities in the texts and created character profiles. Students compared how similar characters are described in two different versions of the same story, Cinderella and Cinder’s Rox and chose their preferred character. They are writing a text to express their preference for one character and will give reasons using evidence from the stories.

Year Three News

Science

For Year 3 Science, the students have been investigating and grouping living things based on their observable features. They have also been learning the difference between living and non-living things. This has been achieved by learning that living things often have young, are able to move, grow, respond to stimuli and take on nutrients. Last week and this week, the students in Year 3 have/are going to have the opportunity to learn more about the different groups of animals (mammals, insects, arachnids, amphibians, reptiles, fish and birds) by touching different features of them. The photos below show the students in 3F with some of the features of different animals. The students are very excited to consolidate their learning with an excursion to Billabong Sanctuary which is happening this week!

75 Stars

On Thursday the 18th of May, the students who have received 75 stars or more on their star charts were given an opportunity to celebrate their positive behaviour. The students were very excited to choose between playing iPads, making a paper plate fish, participating in play dough play and board games in addition to outdoor play. The students spent the afternoon with big smiles on their face as they engaged in their chosen activity with their friends.

Year Four News

Year Five News

This term in English (Unit 2), the Year 5 students have learned to interpret and analyse information from a feature article about cane toads. To help them with this task, Grace from the Biosecurity Department of the Townsville City Council came to speak to the students about cane toads. We all learned a lot of interesting information about these creatures and their impact on the environment.

Now the students are using their knowledge and understanding of feature articles (text structures, language features and visual features) to write their own feature article about Flying foxes. They will be persuading an audience to believe their point of view (positive or negative) about these creatures and if they should be left alone or be relocated from a residential area, similar to Dan Gleeson Park in Kirwan. To help the students with background knowledge of Flying foxes, we were lucky to have Katrina, also from the Townsville City Council, attend our school and share information about these animals.

As a cohort, we would like to sincerely thank both Grace and Katrina for coming out to our school, sharing their time and expert knowledge on both of these topics – it was much appreciated.

Year Six News

The School’s PBL focus for the last fortnight was “Kind words, gentle hands.” Students explored how our words (positive or negative) affect those who have had these words directed at them.

They also explored the idea that whilst apologising for saying something you didn’t mean when going through a rough time can be helpful in fixing our mistakes, it also still can have a lasting effect on the other person’s feelings.

6B used a “Toothpaste and Cardboard Heart” activity to emphasise their understanding of the power of our words.

The toothpaste activity was a popular activity used to teach the children about the impact of their words on others. The activity involves squeezing out toothpaste from a tube onto a plate and then asking the children to put the toothpaste back into the tube. The children will quickly realize that it is impossible to put the toothpaste back into the tube. This activity is used to teach children that once they say something, they cannot take it back. The toothpaste represents the words we use to talk to people and the effect it has on people’s feelings.

Community News

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