23 November 2017

Newsletter Articles

Across the Principal’s Desk…

Final Parades for the year

I wanted to remind the school community about the final parade arrangements for 2017.

Week 9 parade will be held at 9am as this parade includes the 2018 Student Leadership speeches.

Week 10 parade will also be held at 9am as this is our special end of year ACE Award ceremony.

Thanking our Volunteers!

The strength of Windsor is in its volunteers who have worked tirelessly to ensure our children get the best education, our teachers get the most assistance and our community is supported to grow and learn together in a strong and positive environment.

We would like to invite you to a light breakfast to say "Thank you!" for all you have contributed to our school and its community this year.

Where: School Hall
When: Monday 4th December from 7.45am (prior to ACE Awards).
RSVP: submit your RSVP below by Wednesday 29 November

We look forward to seeing you there.

FAREWELL AND WELCOME TO STAFF

As is usually the case, we have a number of staff who will leave or join us in the coming school year. Departing from Windsor at the end of this year are the following:

Ms Emily O’Brien – Emily has received a transfer to Goondiwindi State School. This will be an invaluable experience for Emily and she will no doubt continue to grow as a passionate and enthusiastic educator.
Ms Lorraine Stretton – After 30 years in Education, Lorraine will retire after taking some well-deserved long service leave in 2018. She plans on exploring Scandinavia, visiting friends and family in the United Kingdom and relaxing! We wish her all the very best for the years ahead!
Mr Luke Vearing – will be moving to the Sunshine Coast for a sea change and to enjoy his new home which will be built in 2018.
Mrs Claire Criaco - we’d also like to thank Claire for stepping in to the position of Year 2C teacher during Term 4 and wish her the best for 2018.

In 2018 we welcome the following teachers:

Ms Courtenay Lee, Ms Felicity Hoang, Ms Joanna Horan-Barrick, Ms Lela Sing
Ms Natasha Rowland – Natasha joins us as an Early Years teacher, transferring from Redbank Plains State School.
Mrs Sharyn Hadden- Sharyn will be joining us to undertake work in the area of Student Support across the Year 3 – 6.

Similarly, we welcome all of our new staff to the school and look forward to them sharing their expertise and passion for teaching children and watching them grow.

CLASSES FOR 2018

As mentioned previously, class lists will be advertised from Tuesday 5 December 2017 (both on display boards and on the school’s website). Thank you to the parents who submitted a ‘request for consideration form’ over the past 6 weeks, this process has now closed and the 2018 class lists are in their final stages. It is a very complicated process to balance classes across a range of academic, social and emotional indicators. It is by no means a perfect science and our teachers have spent many hours over the past 8 weeks undertaking this process. **Please note that all State schools are allocated their staffing based on enrolment numbers. Changes ‘may’ need to be made to class lists in 2018 due to possible growth in our enrolments, which are determined on the eighth day of term one 2018. Currently we have planned for 28 classes (based on a predicted enrolment of 695 students). IF we grow to 697 students (or more), we will increase to a 29 class model.

On Wednesday 6 December, from 9.15 – 10.00am, the students will transition to their new class with their 2018 teacher, with the exception of the new prep students. This is not a session where parents are present as we want to give the new teacher the opportunity to just meet their class and briefly get to know them before the holidays.

REPORT CARDS

Report cards for semester two will be emailed home on Monday 4th December after 3pm. Please note that given the large number of reports, it may take several hours for the process to be completed. Should the report not have arrived by the following morning, please email the school and we will see if there has been some technical issue.

Grant Baker

Swimming Carnivals Next Week!

On Wednesday 29th November (Years 3-6) and Thursday 30th November (Prep – Year 2) next week, students will participate in the school Swimming Carnivals. Please see the program of events and approximate times below.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM TIMES ARE AN APPROXIMATE GUIDE ONLY

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.

Prep Swimming Carnival Program of Events (Thursday 30th November)

Year 1 – Year 2 Swimming Carnival Program of Events (Thursday 30th November)

Years 3-6 Swimming Carnival Program of Events (Wednesday 29th November)

Safety Around the School

A reminder that children are not to play on the playgrounds before school. If in the Early Years’ area, students are to wait with their parent/carer before school until the bell rings. No students are to be on the playground at this time. If your child has a younger sibling, please be aware that our Prep and Year 1 students are working hard from the start of school and seeing younger children playing on the equipment outside the classroom windows during class time can be quite a distraction during learning time.

From 8.30am, students are supervised under Main Building (in the warmer months) and near the 5 Keys (in the cooler months). With the exception of before school programs, if your child is to be dropped off to school prior to 8.30am, she/he will need to be enrolled in before school care.

If supervised by a parent/carer, students are welcome to use the play equipment after school until 3.30pm. Helping Hands uses these spaces for their afternoon programming, so it is important that these play spaces are cleared by all students and siblings by 3.30pm.

A reminder also that ball games are not to be played in the quadrangle/around the buildings. This is to help ensure the safety of our staff and students.

‘Save the Children’ Christmas Tree

‘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 in on the last day of school to be placed under the tree at the Christmas concert. We thank you for your past generosity and seek your support again this year to help those less fortunate. For further information about the work of ‘Save the Children’ in Queensland, you can visit the link below.

Student Leadership Process

We have been busy shortlisting candidates for 2018 School Captains/Vice Captains to progress to interviews on Wednesday this week. When shortlisting is complete, these students will give their School Captain Election Speeches on Assembly next Monday, 27th November, followed by staff and peer voting. Students will be notified on this week, after the interview process is complete, if they have progressed to this stage. Following the election of School/Vice Captains will be House Captains speeches on Thursday 30th at 1:50pm, also followed by voting. It has been a long process for all Year 5 students interested in a school leadership positions for 2018. We congratulate them on the manner they have prepared their applications and participated in the short listing process. We congratulate all candidates on their efforts and wish them all the best as we finalise the process this week and next.

Windsor’s Got Talent!

Closed auditions are being held this week and the final performance will be on Wednesday 6th December (Week 10) from 11.40am. Parents are welcome to come and watch the show!

RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOUR & CODE OF CONDUCT

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.

Active School Travel

Every family has received a Windsor State School Active School Travel Map. This map shows different Active School Travel routes, bikeways, crossings and more! There are also suggested routes where you can park outside the 6-8 minute walk radius from the school gate and walk or ride the final part of your journey. Part way is okay! You can download a copy of the map below. This map makes it easy to for parents, students and staff to find their best walking, riding or public transport route to school. Families may also like to use the map on the weekend to re-discover the local area.

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…please get on board!

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!

Master Teacher’s Report

Master Teacher / STLaN Update

Age Appropriate Pedagogies: AAP approaches and characteristics

Using age-appropriate pedagogies in the early years of schooling is important in supporting children to be actively engaged, creative and successful learners. In 2018, all Prep classes will continue using the AAP framework and the year one classes will begin adopting the practices of AAP.

This term, the Preps have been working on letter writing. The classes have set up post offices. Throughout the term they have blended explicit teaching and play based learning to deliver the English, Maths and Geography curriculum. By adopting these approaches, the teachers have been able to collaborate with their students and make them the centre of the learning. It has enabled creative environments to support thinking, learning, engagement and imagination. Rich oral language has been modelled and employed by both teachers and the students.

Playing in the Post Office

Clearing the Post Box

Reading: Comprehension – Compare and contrast within and between texts

Students enjoy searching for clues in the text that are similar and different. They engage in discussions comparing characters, settings, and problems in the text. These discussion and the "search to compare" connects readers to the text and deepens their understanding. Once readers are introduced to this strategy, continued practice and support from home will encourage continued use of this strategy to increase comprehension.

Attached is a parent help sheet for this strategy.

Before school reading:

Please refer to the timetable below for finishing times for all morning reading groups. Year 1 MiniLit with Sue Paul is the only group to finish in Week 9. All other groups finish this week.

There are still vacancies for Parent Interviews for Term 4 Reading Groups on Monday and Tuesday of Week 10. Please email me if you would like to book a time.

Our Playgroup, the Windsoroos

Sadly, it’s the last day of playgroup for 2017 this Friday and we will be saying goodbye to many of our playgroup friends and families as they begin the next chapter of their lives - PREP and the beginning of their primary school journey. The Windsoroos leaving us are certainly ready to begin their formal education.

Below are some of our Windsoroos enjoying the last Transition morning.

Playgroup Fun

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 in 2018. Playgroup will begin in Week 2 on Friday 2nd February 2018.

Enrichment News

CALLING ALL TINKERERS!!!
3D Christmas Ornament Design Competition CLOSES THIS FRIDAY!!!

This is the last week for Tinkercad lessons in the lab. All designs must be sent to me in a .STL format by Friday 24 November. So far I have seen some fantastic designs; Snowmen, Houses, horses with hats, penguins, a cricket playing Santa. I look forward to seeing the incoming designs.

If your child would still like to enter their design or learn Tinkercad, please sign them up via the link below with your details (it is much easier than waiting for your activation code).

As mentioned in the flyer, the top 20 get their design printed. As it is Christmas and a time for giving, I think it is worthwhile that our children are encouraged to think of the less fortunate. For this reason, the winner of the 3D Christmas Ornament Design will have the choice to give $50 to a chosen charity. For example;

• World Vision – A gift that lasts a lifetime
• The Smith Family – Educational program for the disadvantaged
• Salvation Army Christmas Appeal

These are just an example. I am sure there are many other worthwhile causes that we can consider.

Happy Days Windsor Families
Mrs Kemph

Library News

Recently, the Queensland Writers Centre ran a campaign in conjunction with goabillboards to get Queenslanders to share their stories. Mrs Godfrey and Samantha Schraag have run workshops with students in Years 5 and 6 who were interested in having their stories selected for screening on digital billboards around Brisbane.

The challenge was to limit the story to only 8 words! So students had to really focus on their main/idea/event, a character, provoking an emotion in the reader and using punctuation to make it meaningful. The best stories were selected by QWC and Queensland author Nick Earls.

The really excellent news is that out of more than 7000 stories uploaded to the QWC website, seven stories from Windsor students were selected for last Friday for screening. Every billboard had a webcam running 24/7 and I was able to record these in a powerpoint which the students viewed on parade.

Not only did students have some fun and success but the 8word story gave students a chance to show their story to a lot more people other than their teachers.

Pam Godfrey
Teacher Librarian

Helping Hands

Hey Everyone

We would just like to take the time to firstly say thanks to all the beautiful Windsor Families for their support this year! It really has been a year of change and you have all shown amazing willingness to accept these changes and help us out by giving us valuable feedback and contribute to the running of our service and we thank you for everything this year.

We would also like to take the time to say goodbye to our amazing Year 6 cohort, some of you have been here from the beginning and we will miss you all dearly. Most of our Helping Hands have only gotten a year with you, but we are so excited to hear about the young adults that you are going to become, it gives us hope for the future. We wish you all the very best of luck for the future endeavours on which you’re about embark and remember you have got this and to always smile like a monkey with a new banana ;) Here they are enjoying some Minute to Win it Games.

We will be having an End of Year Celebration on Thursday 30/11/17, we extend the invitation to any of the families that have enrolled for Helping Hands in 2018 along with our current families for an afternoon of fun with sausage sizzle, jumping castle and disco from 5.30-6.30pm. We hope to see our beautiful families and to thank them for another amazing year!

We also have our amazing Vacation Care program finalised, we have included our electronic booking forms for you to return to windsor@helpinghandsnetwork.com.au. If you have any questions please feel free to email or call us on 0458 009 761. Spots are filling up fast so get in while you still can. Remember we can take 2018 Preps from 8th January, so be sure to get your forms in as soon as you can!

Hope you all have fun as we approach the end of term.

Cheers
Your Helping Hands Windsor Team

Vacancy- School Crossing Supervisors

A casual position exists for a School Crossing Supervisor at Windsor State School.

Some pre-employment conditions apply. Currently recruiting for 5 days per fortnight however the suitable candidate may be required to work up to five days per week in all weather conditions, 1 hour 30 mins per day on a rostered basis.

The current rate of pay is $28.18 per hour.

Commencement of work for the successful applicant is dependent on:

• The favourable outcome of a health assessment.
• A Positive Notice Blue Card (you do not need to have a blue card to apply for the position)

Closing date for applications: As soon as possible

Completed applications should be returned to:

The Business Service Manager
Windsor State School
Harris Street
Windsor Qld 4030