16 March 2017

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Thank you to all members of the community for your support and concern for my wellbeing recently. I have now recovered and am enjoying engaging with the whole school community at Windsor State School.

On my return to work, I had the pleasure of attending both the Independent Public Schools’ Principals’ Conference and the State Schools’ Principals’ Conference. These were very informative days with keynote speakers from around the world. It provided an opportunity for all principals to step back and take a look at the big picture for school improvement and leadership. Examining ways, we can ensure our students are reaching their full potential and showing not just achievement but also continued improvement through each and every year of their schooling.

James Nottingham is the founder and executive director of Challenging Learning. His passion is in transforming the most up-to-date research into strategies that really work in the classroom. He challenged the concept that many of our highest achievers are performing well. Stating that often very bright students already know they are smart and clever and are going to achieve anyway and therefore don't apply themselves.

We need to look at the progress that our students have made, particularly the top students and challenge whether that progress is good enough. Each student should demonstrate twelve month’s growth within that period. At Windsor the teachers have developed a data wall, tracking the progress of both student achievement and student improvement for reading. This is the catalyst for professional conversations about reading and how we can move every student forward and ensure growth is at or exceeds expected levels. We look forward to challenging all of our students and monitoring their growth.

Family Picnic

On Sunday the P&C held a Family Picnic on the bottom oval. It was a lovely relaxing afternoon. Students enjoyed three-legged races and other novelty games with the assistance of the year six students. Parents relaxed on their picnic blankets and had a lovely afternoon chatting and catching up with other members of our school community. Many thanks to the Year three parent representatives for organising the event and to the year six students for organising the games.

Jude Fountain
Principal

Windsor Seawolves

On Saturday, the Windsor Seawolves competed in the Ithaca Windsor Oakleigh three way swim meet at Oakleigh State School. The Windsor Seawolves Swimming Club team (children and parents) did an amazing job coming a close second to the very strong Ithaca Creek Swimming Club team.

Thank you to all the swimmers for doing their best, the parents who brought their children along to compete, and the parents who volunteered on the day. A special thank you to Marika Nearhos, Amanda Keane and Mary-Lou Grohn for coordinating the swimmers throughout the event.

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Windsor State School is such a busy place! So much is happening around the school as we approach the end of another full and eventful term. Next Monday evening 20th March, from 7:30pm, the Annual General Meeting of The Windsor State School Parents & Citizens Association will be conducted in the School Hall. At the AGM, all positions will be declared vacant and P&C members will elect a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Prep-2 Coordinator (VP) and a Year 3-6 Coordinator (VP) for 2017. I urge all parents to become members of the P&C and seriously consider what you can do to become more involved in our school community. Our School has a long history of exceptional parental engagement and productive relationships between the P&C, the School and the Department of Education and Training (DET). Step up because “TOGETHER WE CAN!”

Student Leaders, Halogen Young Leaders Day 2017

Over the past fortnight, we have also seen many students excel, both within the curriculum and through extra-curricular activities. On Monday, I had the great privilege of accompanying our School Leaders to Halogen Young Leaders’ Day at the Brisbane Convention Centre. The National Young Leaders’ Day is an annual event founded in 1997 to develop strong leadership values amongst young Australians. The Program consists of keynote talks, multimedia presentations and interactive learning that seeks a range of specific outcomes for young people who aspire to lead themselves and others well. The theme this year was “Together We Can” which reminded students that to achieve big successes, they must work together with others as a team.

This year, our major improvement focus areas are reading and writing. It has been wonderful to watch the children get excited about writing. I am impressed by the persuasive and narrative pieces of writing that we have been collecting. I have awarded hundreds of stickers for sensational ‘Sizzling Starts’; terrific texts with ‘Tight Tension’ and dynamite ‘Dynamic Dialogue’ delivery. Keep up the great work Windsor Writers! I have also enjoyed my learning walks and listening to students across the school working hard on their reading goals, whether they be practising Comprehension, Accuracy, Fluency or Expanding their Vocabulary strategies. Reading frequency has a high correlation and impact on success. Consider the following statistics:

• Student A reads for 20 minutes a day, a total of 1 800 000 words in a year and achieves in the 90th percentile ranking on a standardised test.
• Student B reads for 5 minutes a day, a total of 28 200 words in a year and achieves in the 50th percentile ranking on a standardised test.
• Student C reads for 1 minute a day, a total of 8 000 words in a year and achieves in the 10th percentile ranking on a standardised test.

As I consider the Windsor State School reading data, I reflect on these compelling statistics and what we do as teachers in classrooms to improve. I also remind parents/carers that voracious readers often experience greater success throughout life. Reading to and with your child is extremely valuable. Remember…when it comes to reading, there’s no APP better than a parent’s LAP!

We also have some persistent children coming before school to work with Mrs. Moore and our dedicated teacher-aides on their reading stamina and strategies. Thanks also to Mrs. Kemph for providing opportunities to challenge and extend students at before school program and the BrainWAYS Days of Excellence. STEM club is also extremely popular this term with many applicants for only 30 places. I thank Matt Smail, Myles Cullen, Kellie Robertson and Azadeh Knopf for providing this opportunity, in their own personal time, for students to learn about Science, Coding and Robotics. I applaud all staff and parents for your commitment to improving outcomes for our kids. That is “The Windsor Way” as we know it. I am constantly impressed that, in every classroom, teachers and students are ‘making every minute count’. Students are engaged, focussed and motivated towards success.

Last Sunday, the family picnic went off without a hitch and I really enjoyed seeing new faces amongst the crowd, this event was a great success and a lovely way to spend the afternoon. We also have coming events to look forward to; the annual Petrol ‘Shop for your School’ event next Tuesday evening 21st March from 6:30pm, for the ladies; the P-2 Easter Hat Parade on Friday 31st March at 9am for the kids. A letter will be sent home this week so that Easter Hat preparation can begin in homes around Windsor! Join us for some Easter fun, we may even have a special visitor hop along?

Unfortunately, there will be no swimming for the remainder of the term. The swimming pool is out of action whilst we wait for a new pump to be installed. The Seawolves are currently investigating alternative options and will communicate these to the community ASAP.

Have a happy and successful week, drive safely around the school and say “hi” to our new crossing supervisors.

Matthew Keong
Deputy Principal

ACTIVE SCHOOL TRAVEL

National Ride2School Day Friday 17 March

Bling your helmet/bike/scooter for St Patrick’s Day!

National Ride2School Day aims to show school communities that riding to school is an easy and fun activity. A free breakfast at the hall canteen between 8:00 to 8:30am will be provided for all students who ride, walk, carpool or use public transport to school on Friday 17 March. A prize will be awarded to the best decorated bike kindly donated by 99 Bikes Windsor store. To celebrate the day an extra stamp will also be recorded in each child’s Active Travel Passport.

Volunteers will be needed to help out with this event from 7:30am. If you are able to assist please email Nerida at nerida.thomas@hotmail.com.

Active School Travel – the survey said….

As part of Council’s Active School Travel program, we have surveyed our students over a five day period to find out how they travel to school. The survey results are back and they show that a huge 65% of students are currently driven to school.

This year, our goal is to reduce this number and encourage more students to walk (or Park and Stride), cycle, scooter, carpool or take public transport to and from school. This will not only reduce traffic congestion at the school gate, but also improve road safety, create a cleaner environment around the school and improve our health and fitness.

As parents, think about when you went to primary school – nearly all of us would have walked, cycled or caught public transport. That trend has now reversed.

Our goal for this year is to have more students actively travelling to school – how can you actively travel this week?

WSS Cross Country and Cross Country Training

The Windsor State School Cross Country will be held on Wednesday 22nd March 2017. Further information about the program for the day will be sent home shortly. Please see below for the distances for each age group:

Short Course Fun Run: Preps
One Lap Fun Run – 1000m: 8, 7 and 6 year olds
Two Lap Cross Country – 2000m: 9 and 10 year olds
Three Lap Cross Country – 3000m: 11 and 12 year olds

In preparation for Cross Country, optional training sessions are being held on the bottom oval on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8.00am – 8.45am until Friday 17th March.

HARMONY DAY…wear Orange next Monday!

At Windsor State School, we are celebrating Harmony Day next Monday 20th March on Parade and our wonderful choir will be singing. Remember to wear Orange to school, on Monday, to celebrate Harmony Day. Hopefully we will see a “sea of orange” on Parade.

The message of Harmony Day is “Everyone Belongs”. It is a day to celebrate Australia’s diversity. It is a day of cultural respect for everyone who calls Australia home – from the traditional owners of this land to those who have come from many countries around the world.

Harmony Day is an Australian Government program and coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Since 1999, Harmony Day has been widely celebrated across schools, childcare centres, community groups, churches, businesses and federal, state and local government agencies. Check out the website for more information.

Follow Windsor SS on Facebook & Twitter!

Get the most up-to-date information and school alerts by following Windsor State School on Facebook and Twitter @Windsor_SS

You can also access important school information and alerts, including Facebook/Twitter, via the QSchools app! Download it now and keep informed of everything that is happening at our school.

QParents

Our school also has QParents. Parents will receive an invitation email or letter to register this week. Prep parents will also receive a Student ID card containing an EQ ID number to register.

If you do not receive an invitation (QPAO), please advise Admin ASAP. QParents is one of the ways we communicate with parents, get on board to enjoy the ease and convenience that QParents offers.

QParents is also the means by which parents access Student Reports. It is important to register now as printed reports are no longer sent home at the end of each Semester. Help us become more ‘paper-less’ by registering for QParents now!

RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOUR & CODE OF CONDUCT

Is Your Child Procrastinating?

Research tells us

Recent research has focused on illuminating differences between high and low procrastinators in terms of their emotional states and patterns of thinking. Some kids who procrastinate are likely to have a fear of failure that includes anxiety about meeting the expectations of their parents, teachers, and friends, a lack of self-confidence and assertiveness skills, as well as low self-esteem.

An even larger group of students procrastinate due to the unpleasantness of the task. Rather than worrying about not being successful, these kids are turned off by the boredom and frustration they experience while working on the task. High academic procrastinators can experience more anxiety, and are more likely to attribute their success to external and fleeting circumstances rather than their own ability and effort. They often lack a strong belief in their ability to be successful at the homework they’re putting off, and appear to have less control over their emotional reactions.

Ripping up excuses

If your child keeps putting off doing schoolwork:

• It’s very likely that he or she is pretty talented at making up excuses for why they haven’t done the work.
• They’ve made up the excuse so they don’t have to feel guilty about procrastinating.
• An excuse is often a rationalisation to protect them.
• The most popular excuse is : ‘I’ll do it tomorrow’
• By making an excuse, kids lull themselves into a false sense of comfort and security by imagining the task will be done tomorrow.

Techniques to teach kids who are putting off doing their school assignments or homework

• Knock-out technique. The harder and more boring the work, the better it is to do it immediately. Help to identify the homework where this technique can apply.
• Worst-first approach. Identify the most difficult aspect of homework and do that first. Sometimes kids won’t do the easiest part of the homework due to anxiety about having to do the most difficult. Ask your child to describe what he has to do and tell you which activities are the hardest and make a start on these immediately.
• Bits and Pieces approach. Kids can easily feel overwhelmed by homework, especially if they’re a perfectionist. Encourage them to make a start, and work from there, doing more and more until homework doesn’t seem so impossible.
• Salami technique. Just as salami tastes better eaten in small pieces, so two a large project broken down into simpler pieces.
• Remember-forget technique. If your child is forgetting what to do in homework, teach her that whenever she remembers forgetting to do something, to do at least some of it immediately.
• Five-minute plan. Getting started is easier if kids work on something for five minutes. Ask them to agree to work for another five and then another five. After fifteen minutes, they’ll be well into the homework.
• Switching. Switching encourages kids to learn to take the momentum they’ve gained from doing one activity they enjoy to immediately switching over to one they’ve been putting off. Time playing an app, to time doing homework.
• Premack procedure. As distinct from Switching, the Premack Procedure (names after the scientist who discovered it) involves kids selecting an activity they really enjoy and not allowing themselves to participate until after they’ve finished their homework.
• Referenting. Kids who procrastinate tend to think about the upside of not doing work and the downside of doing it. In Referenting, they reverse this pattern by writing down all the good things that will happen from doing work and all the bad thing from not. This list may need reviewing regularly!
• Establishing a set time. Encourage your child to schedule a set time to begin work ahead of time.
• Establishing priorities. Kids need to know which aspects of homework are most important and which are least. Ask your child to write down all the work due for completion in the next week. Then write down all the things he wants to do after school and on the weekend. Place a 1 next to most important, 2 next to fairly, and 3 next to not very.
• Isolation. Remove distractions, particularly any electronic devices. If they need to use the computer, sit with them and oversee.
• Visible Reminders. These can be printed notes on the bedroom door or electronic reminders. I can do it; Do it now; Put off putting off.

And finally, it almost goes without saying that if we as parents put off doing things we find boring or frustrating, our kids will learn from our example. So, be a good example your kids will learn from – put off, putting it off.

Check out the link below for more expert parenting advice.

ROAD SAFETY

Information provided by the Department of Main Roads and Transport

How to use a supervised school crossing.

All pedestrians, both students and adults, are to wait on the footpath behind the “toe” line. When a suitable gap appears in the traffic from both directions, the supervisor will extend the STOP sign to face the traffic and proceed to the centre of the road with the STOP sign displayed.

The supervisor will ensure all traffic has stopped or is preparing to stop. The supervisor will blow TWO blasts of the whistle to indicate that it is safe for pedestrians to cross.

Pedestrians need to stay within the bounds of the red & white poles or on the white zebra markings until they reach the opposite footpath. When all pedestrians have cleared the crossing, the supervisor will return to the starting position.

For your safety, please take instruction from the crossing supervisor.

Crossing safely at a supervised school crossing

STOP - LOOK - LISTEN – THINK

WHEN USING THE SCHOOL CROSSING PLEASE REMEMBER THESE 4 WORDS TO KEEP YOU SAFE!

STOP- when you come to a School Crossing and there is a Crossing Supervisor, stop behind the yellow line. Stand quietly ready for the next step.

LOOK- at the Crossing Supervisor to see what he/she is about to do. Stand quietly and patiently while waiting for your supervisor to stop the traffic. Get off your bicycle ready to cross. When it is safe your supervisor will walk onto the road to stop the traffic.

LISTEN - for the whistle. When it is safe to cross the road your Crossing Supervisor will blow the whistle 2 times. Walk smartly, do not run across the road. Wheel your bicycle across the road.

THINK- about what you are doing, walk do not run, watch and listen to your supervisor in case of emergency. Your supervisor may put one hand up to stop you coming across the road to allow the traffic to have a turn.

Driver Obligation at a Supervised School Crossing

A School Crossing Supervisor is trained to judge the safest time to stop traffic and enter the crossing. When doing this they try not to inconvenience the motorists any more than necessary.

As a motorist, we must stop when the supervisor places the ‘Stop Sign' at a 45 degree angle into the traffic, and remain stopped until all pedestrians and the crossing supervisor has returned to the kerb when traffic is queueing (e.g.. at an intersection or entry to a car park, do not stop across the crossing environment). Whilst a vehicle is within the red and white barber pole area, for the safety of the pedestrians a supervisor cannot allow pedestrians to cross the road. Always keep the crossing environment clear.

Driver Obligation at a Flagged Unsupervised School Crossing

At times a school crossing may be unsupervised but flagged with the orange banners “Children Crossing”. As motorists, we must stop when there are pedestrians waiting to the cross the road and remain stopped until all pedestrians have reached the kerb.

If you would like more information on this or any other road safety issue, please phone Transport and Main Roads on 1300 360 135 or visit our website.

BEFORE SCHOOL

Children at school before 8:30am should be enrolled in Helping Hands, our before school care program. Between 8:30am and the first bell students are to sit under the main building where they will be supervised by the school leadership team. This is not a time for play. The school offers no supervision of play areas before or after school and parents are asked to help make our school safe by all students not using play equipment before school.

HEAD OF CURRICULUM REPORT

Students are invited to apply the Seven Steps to a stimulus provided each week on parade and place their writing in the Writers’ Box outside the office. Entertaining creative writing has certainly filled the Writers’ Box this fortnight. Our Week 6 winners, Brianna (Year 5) and Claire (Year 5), were very engaging when writing about an invention that would help students. Use the links below to read this great writing!

Although not necessarily taught in the below order, the Seven Steps to Writing Success are:

1. Plan for Success
2. Sizzling Starts
3. Tightening Tension
4. Dynamic Dialogue
5. Show, Don't Tell
6. Ban the Boring
7. Exciting Endings

A top tip for writing a ‘Sizzling Start’ is to start where the action is, not at the beginning of the day when nothing is happening. Begin when the volcano starts oozing lava or as you walk in the door to the big disco competition. You can work on ‘Sizzling Starts’ without even picking up a pencil! Next time you are watching a movie with your child, see how the movie begins with lots of action to grab your attention. Adventure movies are especially good at this.

If you would like to know more about each of the Seven Steps to Writing Success, follow the link below for a description of each step.

Roxanne O’Donoghue
Head of Curriculum

Master Teacher’s Report

Master Teacher / STLaN Update

Reading: Voracious Reading

How can I encourage my child to be a voracious reader and not read the same genre or author?

1) Rereading favourites helps:

• deepen comprehension
• improve fluency

• enhances enjoyment

Children who stay with a certain series do so because of the comfort of the characters, the predictable storyline, and the familiar writing style. Having patience and not forcing the issue can be important, especially for struggling readers. It can mean the difference between creating a confident reader who reads for pleasure and potentially causing long-term damage to a fragile, reluctant reader. Also, many series progress (Magic Tree House for example), so students working through a series may be increasing both reading levels and text complexity.

2) Tantalize them. "If you love that series, you might want to give this one a try!" We also believe it is critical to deeply know your child’s interests and passions.

3) Resources for finding a new book or series once children have completed one.

• Goodreads
• Amazon
• What Should I Read Next?
• Lit for Kids

When children learn to use resources like this, they'll develop a life skill that will last well beyond their time with us.

4) Reading aloud to your child.

Carefully chosen books become pathways to help children become readers who love to read and willingly expand their interests.

Do you struggle with how to make reading aloud magic?

Mem fox has the answer.

Pipeline for becoming voracious readers and expanding vocabulary.

Our Playgroup, the Windsoroos

We are continually welcoming new families to our playgroup which operates on a Friday afternoon from 1:30 -3:00pm. Just a reminder that we only have 2 weeks left this term.

For more information about our playgroup, please click on the attachment below.

We look forward to having fun and growing with you and your child/children at the Windsoroos Playgroup.

Shop for your School 2017

Tickets Still Remain - Be In Quick!

This is your last week to get tickets to our first P&C event of the year for mums, grandmas, teachers and friends Shop for your School. Tuesday 21st March 6:30 pm at Petrol Boutique. 289 Given Tce, Paddington.

Get your tickets now through Munch Monitor, or by completing a form and handing it in at the office.

All welcome! Don’t miss this wonderful night for the women of Windsor. It’s a great opportunity to raise funds for our P&C, as well as mingle with old friends and make new ones.

Raffle Prizes

We have received some absolutely amazing raffle donations from the wonderful community around Windsor State School. If you’re not coming to the event, you can still buy tickets in our raffle to help support our school. Look for the organisers on Wednesday and Friday morning before school at Constitution Road entrance, or purchase any time through Munch Monitor.

Thank you to the following local businesses for your wonderful generosity…

Petrol
Vel Bella
YMCA Bowen Hills
Tiddlywinks Nundah
Laserforce Woolloongabba
Brisbane City Indoor Sports
Flipside Circus
Chipmunks Everton Park
Kings Swim
North Brisbane Dental Care
Pepe’s Newmarket
The Low Road Café
Melt Hair
Haven Beauty and Day Spa
Windsor Day Spa
Stafford Chiropractic & Wellbeing Centre

Volunteers

Thank you to those who have helped out with the event so far. We still need to fill a few roles. If you would like to help, visit the Google spreadsheet and see where you might be able to lend a hand!