23 November 2016

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Term 4 is flying by! It’s Week 8 with only three weeks until the end of the 2016 school year. The next three weeks will be action-packed with learning, assessment, reports and special events to celebrate another successful year at Windsor State School.

This week, we are busy shortlisting candidates for 2017 School Captains/Vice Captains to progress to interviews on Wednesday. When shortlisting is complete, these students will give their School Captain Election Speeches on Assembly next Monday, 28th November, followed by staff and peer voting. Students will be notified on Thursday this week, after interviews, if they have progressed to this stage. Following the election of School/Vice Captains will be House Captains speeches on Wednesday 30th at 1:50pm, also followed by voting. It has been a long process, since camp, for all Year 5 students interested in a school leadership position for 2017. I congratulate them on the manner they have prepared their applications and participated in the short listing process. I congratulate all candidates on their efforts and wish them all the best as we finalise the process this week and next.

Christmas is a very special time of the year for all children. ‘Save the Children’ works to support families, throughout the Christmas season, to ease the worries of financial pressure. Each year we, as a school community, give generously by placing a gift under the school Christmas tree so that others can enjoy a happy Christmas. Traditionally, each family provides a present to be placed under the tree and, this year, these will be donated to ‘Save the Children’ at our final Christmas concert. Please wrap the present and write on the tag the gender and age of the intended recipient. Next week, the Christmas tree will appear outside the office; however, presents can also be brought on the last day of school to be placed under the tree at the Christmas concert. I thank you for your past generosity and seek your support again this year to help those less fortunate.

Our final week of the school year will begin with our Annual Awards Assembly on Monday, 5th December from 9:00am. Parents will be notified if children are receiving ACE Awards so that they can make arrangements to attend the presentation. Year 6 are off to celebrate the end of primary school at “Splash” on Tuesday 6th and all class parties/clean-up will be on Thursday 8th December. Individual teachers will communicate with parents around celebratory plans for their class. This is a free dress day with a gold coin donation to be donated to our World Vision sponsor child.

On Friday, 9th December we will hold our annual Christmas concert around 9:30am. A sausage sizzle will be held after the concert and parents can take children home from the concert. Children remaining at the school will be supervised in groups whilst our staff make final security plans and clean up before the holidays.

We will still be starting the New Year with approximately six hundred and eighty students. Our staffing model indicates we will be staffed for twenty seven classes, with a real possibility of twenty eight, at present. As usual, the school will not release class lists until Monday, January 16th, 2017 when they will be on display in the E-block windows. After Day 8, 2017, we will know of any changes to class arrangements. Our new Prep students will be notified of their classes, via a special letter in the mail, before Christmas.

Over the remaining three weeks, students will be completing assessment in order for Teachers to finalise Semester 2 Reports. Please remember that compulsory school attendance continues until the end of Week 10, Friday 9th December. Teaching, Learning and Assessment carry on until the last day of school. It is essential that students are at school each day to avoid missing explicit teaching of important content and concepts. There is a misconception that school “winds down” in the last few weeks of the year. Certainly, there are organisational tasks that need to be completed before the holidays begin; however, students are engaged in learning every day including when end of year activities commence. Even one day off can disadvantage your child and create gaps in their learning.

Next week we also have our Swimming Carnivals. Weeks nine and ten of school are often the hottest of the year so it is important to remember our sun safety policy, particularly at the pool next week. Please make sure that children are covered in high protection sunscreen each day, wear the school wide-brimmed hat appropriately and have water bottles clearly named so that they can refill regularly. During swimming season, being sun safe is even more important! Students must wear a sun protection shirt to the pool for the swimming carnivals.

To say thank you to our dedicated and supportive community, the staff decided to reinstate Movie Night this Thursday from 5pm-8pm. We would like to invite all parents to bring your kids along to watch two PG movies, “Minions” and “Alexander and Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day”, whilst we adults gather to enjoy some ‘quiet’ drinks on the Hall Terrace. We have had to make a last minute change of movies due to strict copyright laws that prevent us from showing current releases. These movies are slightly shorter which means that the evening will be over earlier than expected at 8:00pm. Please note, if your child attends Movie Night, they must be accompanied by a parent/guardian and remain in the Hall, supervised by teachers, until collected. Movie Night is Thursday 24th November from 5:00pm-8:00pm, to avoid clashing with Sea Wolves Swim Club on Friday nights this term. We have made Movie Night an early night to enable everyone to be fully prepared for the 10th annual Summer Soiree on Saturday 26th November, from 6pm, in the Hall. Tickets for the Soiree can be purchased via Munch Monitor or at Admin. As always, the Summer Soiree will be a great event featuring outstanding entertainment. I look forward to seeing everyone at these events to celebrate a great year.

In 2017 we also welcome back Mr. Stephen O’Kane to the role of Principal. Mr. O’Kane has been working as an Assistant Regional Director this year and is looking forward to returning to Windsor after a period of secondment. I look forward to working with Stephen again next year and thank Mrs. Roxanne O’Donoghue for her outstanding work as Deputy Principal in his absence.

Matt Keong
Principal

School Council Update: eLearning Plan

As part of the Quadrennial School Review process, in 2015, the community identified the integration of a wide range of digital technologies to implement an innovative approach to curriculum delivery as one of two major school improvement priorities for development. In February this year, the School Council and DET endorsed the Windsor SS Strategic Plan and Annual Operational Plan. Throughout the year, the School Council and staff have been in the process of working on a draft ICT (Information & Communication Technologies) “eLearning” plan which will outline current and future requirements.

You would be aware from previous communication that ICT costs are always increasing. Technology advances quickly. Whilst we try to provide quality up-to-date ICT resources, within the constraints of our annual school budget, this is only achievable with community support (e.g. voluntary contributions) and fundraising. The eLearning plan will involve significant financial investment, hardware and software, for direct use in classrooms in the coming years.

Each year, the school commits a significant amount of funding to ICT as well as equipment replacement/upgrade. For instance, in 2015, the school committed $65,000 to upgrade the wireless network, purchased laptops and an iPad for every teacher to use for professional development and explicit instruction as we approach the full rollout of the Australian Curriculum: Digital Technologies 2016-2018.

In 2016, the school ICT budget has upgraded the main school server; employed a technician for two days each week; purchased iPads and apps for use in the classroom; replaced interactive projectors and upgraded computers and printers in Admin. This year, to date, $40,000 has also been generously donated through the voluntary contribution scheme and has purchased laptops; interactive projectors, more iPads, robots and other peripherals.

Currently, every teacher in the school has one iPad which is used to connect to their classroom’s Interactive Whiteboard (IWB) or projector for explicit instruction and other activities. The school has also trialled eight (8) pods of five (5) iPads in some classrooms across the school. The teachers in these classes were required to submit a proposal as to how these devices would engage students and enhance/improve learning opportunities. These teachers have been coaching and mentoring other teachers across the school in 2016. We also have a small number of additional iPads for borrowing to supplement our existing fleet.

In 2017, we are keen to expand so that every class benefits from a pod of 5 iPads. This will mean that each class can either access a small pod or, at times, share larger numbers of iPads across the year level. However, to do this effectively, we will need some financial support from the P&C. Last week, the School Council sent a newsflash inviting parents/caregivers to the P&C Meeting tonight, Monday 21st November at 7:30pm in the Library, where we can outline the draft eLearning plan and a proposed financial commitment for consideration by the P&C Association.

Windsor SS School Council

Scott Lawrence (Chair), Angela Moore (Secretary), Matt Keong, Russ Napier, Lee Davis and Katrina Smith.

White Ribbon Day Challenge!

Take a Stand against Domestic Violence!

Last year, a challenge was sent out to all fathers in our school to stand up and show their support for White Ribbon Day by doing the ‘school run’ on November 25. This year, I again challenge all the men in our community, determined to stop violence towards women or children, to come to Windsor State School on Friday 25 November to drop off the kids and purchase a white ribbon for $2.00.

White Ribbon is the world’s largest movement of men and boys working to end men’s violence against women and girls, promote gender equality, healthy relationships and a new vision of masculinity. A nation that respects women, in which every woman lives in safety, free from all forms of men’s abuse.

On Friday November 25, I ask all men to take a stand to show their children, their wives or partners that we want to work towards stopping violence against women so that all women and children can live in safety, free from violence and abuse. On this day I ask all fathers to bring their children to school and walk them through the gates. Our male staff will be there to greet you and give you a white ribbon, the symbol of Australia’s only national, male led campaign to end men’s violence against women. You can join us for a coffee at the hall, or just wear your ribbon to work and spread the message: Real men do not harm women and children.

QT Mutual Bank’s Graduate to Greatness program

QT Mutual Bank is proud to deliver the Graduate to Greatness program to Queensland primary school students. The program will be delivered to Year 6 at Windsor State School in the coming weeks and is designed for these students as they transition to secondary school, helping them navigate the challenges the change brings.

This program is delivered by Eric Bailey and addresses issues such as self-esteem, bullying, motivation and coping with change in a manner that’s both engaging and understandable for preteens. Eric is a motivational speaker who draws on his difficult upbringing in South Central Los Angeles and how it led to his successful career in professional sports delivering powerful and inspiring keynotes that inspire children. QT Mutual Bank hope students will feel inspired by their time with Eric and take away key messages from the Graduate to Greatness program.

Respectful School Communication

Over the last few years, communication between the school, teachers and community has become much easier with improved technologies, such as email and social media. As a society, we are now inundated with information and communication, all the time, which is positive but can also impact people’s well-being. As a school, we endeavour to keep parents informed about teaching, learning and special events as much as is humanly possible. However, as imperfect human beings, we also have limitations and sometimes errors are made. We thank you for understanding that there may be times when a breakdown in communication occurs unintentionally due to the complexity of our school environment.

As our school values are all about RESPECT, please be mindful that teachers/school staff are not available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week and have a right to their personal time. Communication outside of school hours and on weekends may go unanswered until appropriate times. Emails that arrive immediately before school, or during valuable teaching/learning time may not be even seen until 3pm. It is not unreasonable to allow 48 hours for an email reply to arrive from teachers/staff during the school term.

If there is an emergency, or you need to contact staff urgently, please phone Admin on 3866 4333 during school hours.

Planning Classes for 2017

We are well underway with our planning for the 2017 school year. I urge all families to ensure they have returned their enrolment intention form as soon as possible. Early in the new term, we will begin our individual class plans for 2017. Our teachers use their knowledge of students, their educational and developmental needs in planning fair and equitable classes for the new school year.

Parents who believe they have information that needs to be shared about their child’s development may email me at Matthew.Keong@eq.edu.au with this information. Please ensure the subject line of the email is: Classes 2017.

Requests for individual teachers and the need to be with friends are not required nor considered.

OSHC Helping Hands Network

Helping Hands Network is the supplier of Out of School Hours Care at Windsor State School. Parents should be aware that, each term, Helping Hands Network provide a significant financial contribution directly back to the school, dependent on the number of families who utilise the service. This financial contribution directly supports student learning outcomes.

The service operates as a community partnership with the School, Parents and Children to provide all Out Of School Hours Care needs (i.e. Before School, After School and Vacation Care). Helping Hands actively cooperate with government agencies, schools and parents to make the use of the service and payment of fees convenient and affordable while providing exceptional value to our school community.

Student Absences: Every Day Counts!

Every Day Counts – students should be attending school every day as it is vital to their educational outcomes, employment options, future earning capacity and general well-being. From Day 1, Term 1 2017, our school will continue to contact parents as soon as practicable on the day if a student is not at school and we don’t know why. If you are advised by the school that your child is away without a reason, please contact us as soon as possible by calling our absence line 3866 4360 or our landline 3866 4333 to let us know where your child is. We will follow-up with parents if no response is received.

If your child is going to be away or late for school it is extremely important for you to make contact so your child’s absence can be recorded correctly. There are many ways for you to contact us regarding your child’s absence from school. You can contact the school in the following ways:

• Absence line – 3866 4360
• Email – admin@windsorss.eq.edu.au
• Land line – 3866 4333
• QParents – you can notify us of a daily/future absence

Contact details

There are many times when we may need to contact parents and carers. Do we have your most up to date contact details? If not, please contact the school on 3866 4333 or email admin@windsorss.eq.edu.au so that we can update our records. These details include parent/carers’ name, address, phone numbers, email address and emergency contact details. Please remember to contact the school if any of these details change.

Deputy Principal’s Report

Literacy Legends!

Windsor State School students have continued to impress with their reading and writing this term! On Parade this week, the Honourable Grace Grace presented certificates to 124 students from Prep – Year 6 for their participation in the Premier’s Reading Challenge this year. The Premier's Reading Challenge is an annual statewide initiative for schools. It is not a competition, but rather aims to improve literacy and encourage children to engage in reading for pleasure and learning. Congratulations to all the readers who took part in the 2016 Premier's Reading Challenge!

This year, the Student Leaders began the initiative of the WSS Writers’ Box. Throughout the year, this box has been bursting with wonderful writing from students from Prep – Year 6. The creativity of these entries is always impressive and it is always a tough job to choose the winners each week, with so many great entries to choose from!

This week, the two pieces of writing that I had the pleasure to read on parade were from Kalen (5B) and Ilai (3B). Using the provided stimulus picture of a boy covered in mud as a prompt, these students let their imaginations run wild. Use the links below to open these great narratives. The Hebrew version of Ilai’s writing has been included, along with the English translation. Well done to every student who has put an entry into the Writers’ Box this year.

Roxanne O’Donoghue
Deputy Principal

Pastoral Care Focus

Do the Hi 5:

• Ignore
• Talk Friendly
• Walk Away
• Talk Firmly
• Report

Ignore

• Pretend you didn’t hear it.
• Do not make eye contact.
• Maintain positive body posture (calm, confident).
• Think positive self-esteem statements.
• Count to five in your head slowly.
• Take deep breaths.
• WE CAN USE ROLE PLAY TO SHOW WHAT IGNORING LOOKS LIKE, SOUNDS LIKE AND MAY FEEL LIKE.

Talk Friendly

• Use a calm voice.
• Maintain eye contact.
• Confident body language.
• Maintain relatively close body proximity.
• Use "I" statements – I feel . . . . when you . . . . . because….
• WE CAN USE ROLE PLAY TO SHOW WHAT TALKING FRIENDLY LOOKS LIKE, SOUNDS LIKE AND MAY FEEL LIKE.

Walk Away

• Stand tall, head up high.
• Mouth closed.
• Look confident.
• Do not use eye contact.
• Walk somewhere, preferably towards a congested area or to a safety zone (teacher).
• Do not look back. Walk confidently, don’t run!
• WE CAN USE ROLE PLAY TO SHOW WHAT WALKING AWAY LOOKS LIKE, SOUNDS LIKE AND MAY FEEL LIKE.

Talk Firmly

• As per Talk Friendly.
• Use an assertive voice, slightly raised.
• Tell them to stop it.
• Re-state your “I” statement. e.g. I said . . . .
• State the consequences of continued bullying.
• WE CAN USE ROLE PLAY TO SHOW WHAT TALKING FIRMLY LOOKS LIKE, SOUNDS LIKE AND MAY FEEL LIKE.

Report

• Walk away and tell a staff member.
• Go to a safety zone.
• Bystanders - support and report.
• Report, report, report until somebody listens.
• WE CAN USE ROLE PLAY TO SHOW WHAT REPORTING LOOKS LIKE, SOUNDS LIKE AND MAY FEEL LIKE.

We always actively discourage retaliation, because when people retaliate they make themselves part of the problem. Children need to be aware that, even as a victim of bullying, choosing to retaliate to a bully can often result in serious consequences for themselves also.

Success occurs when children can not only talk the talk but walk the walk.

Swimming Carnivals Next Week

On Wednesday 30th November (P-2) and Thursday 1st December (3-6) next week, students will participate in the school Swimming Carnivals. Please see the program of events and approximate times below.

Please ensure your child brings a refillable water bottle, hat, sun-shirt, sunscreen, togs, towel (two towels for Years 3-6 is better!) and appropriate footwear to wear when travelling to/from the pool. It is absolutely essential that children come to school wearing sunscreen and reapply regularly throughout the day.

The school tuckshop will be open for ordering on the day as usual; but, there will be NO CANTEEN OPEN AT THE POOL THIS YEAR.

Program of Events: Prep (Wednesday 30th November)

9.00am - After rolls are marked in the classrooms, everyone moves to the Pool
9.15am - Welcome / Explanation of Events
9.25am - 15m Freestyle (Red, Orange, and Green Bands in that order)
10.00am - 15m Noodle Races (Red, Orange, and Green Bands in that order)
10.30am - Approximate finish (depending on how long it takes to finish races)
10.45am - Close/move to classrooms and lunch

Program of Events: Years 1 -2 (Wednesday 30th November)

11.00am - Everyone moves to the Pool
11.15am - Welcome / Explanation of Events
11.25am - 15m Freestyle Year 1 (Red Bands Only)
30m Freestyle Year 1 (Green and Orange Bands only)
12.15m - 15m Freestyle Year 2 (Red Bands only)
30m Freestyle Year 2 (Green and Orange Bands only)
1.10pm – Lunch
1.40pm - 15m Backstroke Year 1 (Green and Orange Bands only)
15m Backstroke Year 2 (Orange and Red Bands only)
30m Backstroke Year 2 (Green Bands only)
2:30pm - 15m Noodle Kick Year 1&2 (Time Permitting: All Coloured Bands)
3.00pm - Close

Program of Events: Years 3-6 (Thursday 1st December)

9.00am - Everyone moves to the Pool
9.05am - Welcome / Explanation of Events
9.10am - Championship Backstroke All Ages
30m Backstroke Year 3 - Year 6
60m Backstroke Year 3 - Year 6
Championship Freestyle All Ages
30m Freestyle Year 3 - Year 6
60m Freestyle Year 3 - Year 6
(House Swim)
11.00am - Morning Tea
11.40am - Championship Breaststroke All Ages
30m Breaststroke Year 3 - Year 6
60m Breaststroke Year 3 - Year 6
Championship Butterfly All Ages
30m Butterfly Year 3 - Year 6
60m Butterfly Year 3 - Year 6
(House Swim)
1.10pm – Lunch
1.50pm - 4x30m Relays Year 3 - Year 6
(House Swim)
3.00pm - Close

Windsor’s Got Talent!

Have you got a talent that you want to showcase? Preparations are now underway for the annual Windsor’s Got Talent! Nominations have now closed and auditions will be held this week, with the final performance on Wednesday 7th December (Week 10) from 11.40am. Parents are welcome to come and watch the show!

The Breathe Project

Just Breathe…These simple words have been flying around our school this week along with one simple breathing technique. This technique aims to enhance mindfulness and wellbeing and reduce stress and anxiety.

The Breathe Project is an independent health promotion initiative empowering youth, schools and communities with one simple breathing technique. The project teaches students and teachers how to practically use this technique and integrate it into the classroom.

This term, Breathe Project Founders Kat & Bodhi dropped in to educate Windsor SS students and teachers on how to breathe correctly and they also encourage parents to join the project. More information is available at:

QParents

Our school now has QParents. Parents should have received an invitation email or letter by now and it’s great to see that so many parents have registered already.

If you have not received an invitation, please advise us immediately. QParents will soon become an integral part of how we communicate with parents. Get on board to enjoy the ease and convenience that QParents offers.

Help us become more ‘paper-less’ by registering for QParents now!

School Stuff

There are three simple methods for filling orders through Schoolstuff:

• ONLINE: Go to the link below at any time to place your order. You can either have your order despatched to your chosen address or it can be collected from our warehouse. Orders are despatched on Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays.
• PHONE: Call us on 33917000 and we will place the order for you.
• RETAIL STORE: Visit our store at 81A Caswell St East Brisbane for an instant service. Our staff will pick and pack your order for you while you wait. The store is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays 9am -4pm throughout the year, including school holidays.

Master Teacher’s Report

Master Teacher Update

Reading

Before school Reading Intervention

Just a reminder that all my reading intervention programs: Mighty Meteors (Year 3), Shining Stars (Year 2) and Shooting Stars (Year 1) finished last week. Over the next two weeks, I will be assessing my students and conferencing with their classroom teachers. During Week 10, I am offering Parent Interviews, to discuss your child’s reading progress. Please email me convenient times, if you wish to have an interview.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all parents, whose children attended my before school reading programs, for their continued support, commitment, punctuality and persistence in ensuring that their child arrives on time for their early morning reading session. It has been a pleasure working with your children.

Below are some ideas that you can use at home to make authentic learning experiences part of your child’s home lives. (Boushey, G., & Moser, J. (2014). The daily 5 (2nd ed.). Portland, ME: Stenhouse.)

Ideas to foster children’s interest in independent reading:

1. Find out what kinds of books your child likes to read.
2. Plan a weekly trip to the public library for the whole family.
3. Obtain individual public library cards for each family member.
4. Learn about the I-PICK method to help your child choose good-fit books (Boushey & Moser, 2014).
5. Subscribe to a children’s magazine to share as a family.
6. Establish a family togetherness time to encourage nightly reading.
7. Model interest in literacy by reading side by side with your child/children.
8. Talk about well-loved books that you enjoyed when you were growing up.
9. Help research nonfiction topics that interest your child.
10. Have your child/children read about places that the family might visit.

Ideas to encourage children to write at home:

1. Set up a writing table with a variety of pencils, markers, and papers.
2. Encourage your child to help create a weekly or monthly family newsletter.
3. Have your child write lists for upcoming visits to the grocery store.
4. Encourage and help your child to create stories or books about family experiences.
5. Place a note in child’s lunchbox or backpack, and invite them to respond.
6. Give your child a clipboard and pencil and send them on a word hunt around the house.
7. Involve your child in writing a nightly message such as “Today we had pasta for dinner.”
8. Take photos of a family activity and ask your child to write about the pictures.
9. Interest your child in meteorology and ask them to write about the weather each day.
10. Encourage your child to write letters and cards to grandparents and other relatives.

Ideas to give children the opportunity to read to someone at home:

1. Act as individual reading partners for your child.
2. Encourage siblings to have fun reading to each other.
3. Invite visitors to be “Read to Someone” partners with your child.
4. Take turns reading the frames of a newspaper comic strip with your child.
5. Learn about and attend special events such as Reading Time at the library.
6. Encourage your child to record themselves reading a favorite story.
7. Gather books of jokes and riddles for your child to read to family members.
8. Have your child read recipes out loud during meal preparation or baking.
9. Participate in a family reader’s theater performance with your child.
10. Ask your child to read you a bedtime story - a fun role reversal.

Ideas to give children the opportunity to listen to reading:

1. Schedule a nightly read-aloud of a child-selected bedtime story.
2. Have children’s recorded books available for long car rides.
3. Use iPads, mobiles and computers to listen to stories.
4. Use nursery rhymes or poems for your child to read along with.
5. Invite a mystery reader (relative, neighbor, or babysitter) to share a story.
6. Find out how to download children’s e-books from the local library.
7. Invite children to follow along with song lyrics as they listen to music.
8. Register your child for weekly story time sessions at the local library.
9. Use different character voices as you read favorite stories.
10. Plan a poetry night and read fun poems aloud.

Ideas to give children the opportunity to do word work at home:

1. Make a simple word work area at home with shells, beads, clay, and magnetic letters.
2. Ask your child to write messages to family members using word work materials.
3. Invite your child to collect interesting words on a home word wall.
4. Have your child use magnetic letters on any metal surface to write their names, words, sentences, and more.
5. Have fun with interesting words by doing a children’s crossword puzzle together as a family.
6. On a regular basis, play popular word games that help children expand their vocabulary eg I spy, Scrabble, Boggle, Concentration, Tic-Tac-Toe…….
7. Challenge your child to find certain types of words (compounds, words with a certain prefix or suffix, and so on) in a newspaper or a magazine.
8. Look up an unknown word in a print dictionary or an online dictionary.
9. Write an interesting word for each day of the month on the family calendar; encourage your child to use the featured word in speaking or writing on that day.
10. Keep a jar of overused words written on slips of paper; pull one out and encourage your child to substitute more interesting words for it. For example, make substitutions for overused words such as nice, said, good, and went.

Writing

Writing Highlights

This week, we are showcasing work from students in year 5 and year 4.

Our Playgroup, the Windsoroos

Next Friday, we are showcasing our playgroup. Some teachers from Bracken Ridge State School are visiting, as they are investigating ways to set up a Playgroup at their school and are wanting some ideas. News about our great Windsoroos is travelling far and wide!

Exploring Sea Animals at Windsoroos

Just a reminder that we only have two weeks left. Windsoroos finishes on Friday 2nd December 2016.

Donations for the Windsoroos

We would like to thank the families who have kindly contributed cooking utensils for our sandpit.

Jan Moore

Helping Hands