14 March 2018

Newsletter Articles

Across the Principal’s Desk…

Enhanced Assessment and Reporting Processes

In case you haven't had a chance to read the newsflash yet, below is a copy of what I sent out to the whole school community last Friday afternoon re: Reporting. Thank you to the families who have provided me with your feedback. It has been very pleasing to hear that the changes we’re making, are going to have a positive impact on student learning. Please feel free to contact me at school or email me on gbake12@eq.edu.au if you have any questions or queries.

Since the beginning of the year, the staff have been discussing more effective ways to personalise the reporting of student progress with parents and caregivers, something that we feel the ‘traditional’ written report card is lacking. Historical and more recent feedback from the school community around reporting, highlights that the comments on written report cards lack personalisation, tend to be a little ‘generic’ and are sometimes confusing as they include too much ‘teacher talk’. Therefore, as a staff, we are committed to making some enhanced changes to student reporting whilst also increasing formal face-to-face communication with parents and students.

Next week we will complete the first stage of the reporting process and participate in Parent/Teacher interviews. Already, there have been over 580 bookings made for next week’s event. These interviews provide a fantastic platform to discuss student achievements and progress thus far.

At the end of Semester 1 and Semester 2, we will be implementing a ‘new look’ report card with a reduced number of comments. The subject sections (e.g. English, Maths, Science etc.) on the report cards will show the level of achievement and effort only. The report card will be accompanied by a Semester 1, or Semester 2, Curriculum Information that will give an overview of the Curriculum content, skills and learnings from all subject areas. Overall Behaviour achievement and comment will remain unchanged; however, the General comment will be more personalised by the teacher and include affirmations and recommendations for improvement. As usual, the Semester 1 report card will be sent home in week 1 of Term 3.

In Term 3, we will conduct an additional round of formal interviews, but this time the students will also engage in the conversations, thus making them parent/teacher/student interviews. During these interviews, students will discuss Learning Goals and their individual progress/feedback with the opportunity for both teachers and parents to discuss their learning. These discussions will ensure that the remaining 6 months of learning is set up for success and any concerns are highlighted/plans put in place. Students will prepare for this new process in early Term 3. The interview format is still being finalised but the booking process will occur as normal through ‘SessionKeeper’.

** Please note ** That at ANY stage throughout the year (as is the case now), a parent, or teacher, can request a meeting to discuss their child’s academic, behaviour, social/emotional/wellbeing needs. This will not change as honest, transparent and open relationships between teachers/students and parents are paramount!

I am confident that these improvements will ensure individualised feedback is at the forefront of student learning and academic reporting, thus strengthening our productive partnerships and culture of feedback. I will include further information in newsletters and will also be presenting/discussing our new reporting process at the upcoming P&C meeting on March 19.

Sharing and/or buying food for friends

When you send lunches to school with your children, we expect them to either eat the lunch you have provided or take it home so that you know what they have eaten during the day. We discourage the sharing of food so that you know what your child has eaten and that the food they have is suitable for them. With increasing numbers of children in our school with specific food allergies and/or intolerances, this is becoming even more important. This is also the same with purchasing food from the tuckshop. The money students have is for them only and is not be used to buy food for friends. Please remind your child/ren that the food you send/buy is for them and them alone and that they should not be sharing food with anyone or bringing anything that you have not provided for them. Thanks for your attention and support with this matter.

Working with High Performing Teams

This week, the school leadership team will be joining the 15 City Cluster of Schools at our annual conference from Wednesday evening to Friday evening. This is an opportunity for the city cluster to meet and develop leadership skills and review educational programs and practices together. This year we are working closely with educational expert and futurist Mr Tony Ryan on the future of education and learning for students.

It is through this very strong alliance within the cluster, that we’re able to continue to offer really wonderful opportunities to your children such as leadership development programs, High Achievers Program, Mini Festivals to name a few. This cluster has been in existence for some 15 years and has continued to grow and strengthen through our commitment to making it a priority within our region. In fact, it would likely be one of the longest standing and most successful in the state.

During this time, Mrs Jan Moore and Mrs Emma Kemph will share the role of Teacher in Charge of the school, whilst the leadership team are absent.

Have a great fortnight,

Grant Baker
Principal

RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOUR & CODE OF CONDUCT

Pastoral Care: Habits of the Mind!!

There are 12 ways of thinking or attitudes, called Habits of the Mind, that we focus on in Pastoral Care sessions and class, that help young people to be Confident, Persistent, Organised, to Get Along and to become Emotionally Resilient.

When building Confidence in kids, we discuss the importance of these ways of thinking:

Be Independent- thinking that it’s important for you to try new activities and to speak up even if your classmates think you’re silly or stupid. It means thinking that it’s not awful when people laugh at what you do and knowing that “I can stand it”.
Taking Risks- means thinking that it’s good to try something new even though you might make some mistakes.
Accepting Myself- means not thinking badly about yourself when you make a mistake or when someone is mean to you.

When focussing on Organisation, we discuss with children the importance of:

Setting Goals- thinking that setting a goal to do your best in school helps you be successful. It means thinking you have a better chance of achieving good marks and results when short term goals are set.
Planning My Time- means thinking about making sure you understand what your teacher wants you to do before you start working and writing down when homework and projects are due. It means thinking about the different parts of the project or assignment and making sure you plan enough time to get each part done.

When focussing on Getting Along with others, we discuss:

Social Responsibility- means thinking that it’s important to be caring, to try hard to do your best, to be fair to others, to make sure that everyone has the freedom to say what they think and feel without fear, to be honest and tell the truth, to have integrity by making sure that you do what you say you are going to do, to respect others and have nice manners, to act responsibly by making good choices, to sort out problem without fighting, to care about nature, other living things and the environment and to be understanding and include others who are different.
Playing by the Rules- means thinking that by following school rules, school will be a better place to live and learn and that you will stay out of trouble and be more successful if you do. It also reminds children that games are more successful, and there are fewer arguments, when there are rules to follow.
Being Tolerant of Others- means thinking that, when someone is mean to you or is different from you, he or she is not a totally bad person. It means thinking that you need to find out more about the person, to understand them. It also means not wanting to “get back” at the person if they do something wrong by you.
Thinking First- means that when someone acts badly or unfairly, before you take action, you: (a) think of the alternative courses of action; (b) think of the consequences of different actions you can take; and (c) predict the impact your actions may have on the feelings of the other person.

Emotional Resilience means knowing how to stop yourself from getting extremely angry, down or worried when something “bad” happens. It means being able to calm down and feel better when you get very upset. It also means being able to control your behaviour when you are very upset so that you bounce back from difficulty and return to work or play.

For example:

• When someone treats you unfairly, inconsiderately or disrespectfully you can stop yourself from getting too angry and lashing out.
• When you make mistakes, do not understand something, get a bad school report or are teased or ignored, you can stop yourself from getting very down and withdrawing.
• When you have an important test or activity to perform, you can stop yourself from getting extremely worried.
• When you want to meet someone new, you can stop yourself from getting extremely worried.
• When someone is putting pressure on you to do the wrong thing, you can stop yourself from getting extremely worried about what the person will think if you stand up and say “no”!

Positive Habits of Mind that Develop a Young Person’s Emotional Resilience include:

• Accepting Myself
• Taking Risks
• Being Independent
• I Can Do It
• Working Tough
• Being Tolerant of Others

Emotional Resilience results from the development of the self-regulatory skills of:

• Finding something fun to do
• Finding someone to talk to
• Relaxation
• Exercise
• Solving the problem
• Challenging negative to positive self-talk
• Not blowing things out of proportion

These are great discussion starters for parents and children at home!!

CROSS COUNTRY NEXT WEEK

This year, the annual Cross Country is on Wednesday the 21st of March. The longer races will be take place earlier in the day, with the results of these races used to determine the school team for City District trials. The Prep–Year 2 students will join the Cross Country Carnival after first break for their shorter, fun events.

The schedule for the day is as follows:

The presentation of awards and trophies will immediately follow the completion of the cross-country.

Please ensure that all children have morning tea, lunch, a water bottle, a hat and sunscreen on for cross country. Students are encouraged to wear their house shirts on cross country day.

In preparation for Cross Country, optional training sessions are being held on the bottom oval on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8.00am – 8.45am from Wednesday 28th March until Friday 16th March.

SCHOOL PHOTOS

This week, each child will bring home a School Photo letter and ordering envelope. Queensland School Photography will be taking all school photographs on the following dates:

Thursday 22nd of March and Friday 23rd March

Students should wear their correct formal school uniform which is the check shirt or dress, along with black shoes and white socks. They should not be wearing the sports uniform.

To ensure a smooth running day, please note that all photograph orders are pre-paid and PAYMENT ENVELOPES MUST BE RETURNED TO THE PHOTOGRAPHER ON PHOTOGRAPH DAY ONLY – NO EXCEPTIONS. PAYMENT ENVELOPES ARE NOT TO BE HANDED IN TO THE OFFICE OR CLASS TEACHER PRIOR TO PHOTO DAY.

Follow these steps to order:

• Complete student details on the order envelope – please fill in one envelope for each child.
• You may pay by cash, cheque, money order or credit card. If you have two or more children attending you may include the payment in one envelope. Please note clearly in the box provided whose envelope the payment is in as every child ordering photos must hand in their own envelope.
• Online Orders- visit www.qldschoolphotography.com.au to order. Reference number must be recorded on envelope and handed to photographers on the photography day.
• Cheques are to be made payable to Queensland School Photography with your name, address and phone number written on the back.
• Tick the box for the package required.
• Enclose the correct payment (change cannot be given).
• Each student is to hand their individual envelope to the photographer.
• Parents wanting to have their children photographed together, please collect a family envelope from the school office and bring the completed envelope along with your children to the Hall from 7:30am on either photo day. Please note that if you are ordering sibling photos online, online orders close at 4pm the day before photography. Alternatively, please hand your envelope to the photographer with cash/cheque before school on photo day.

If for any reason you are not satisfied with the photos taken of your child, Queensland School Photography will provide a full refund. Queensland School Photography will accept late orders for individuals and group photographs; however a late fee to cover processing will apply. If you have any questions, or wish to place a late group order, please feel free to contact Queensland School Photography customer service department on 3216 6777.

NAPLAN

In Term 2, our Year 3 and Year 5 students will sit the NAPLAN tests. The dates of these tests are outline below:

The 2018 NAPLAN Information for Parents and Carers brochure is available to download below and further information about the NAPLAN tests is also available on the NAPLAN website.

NAPLAN is important, but also a very small part of two hundred days in a school year. Some children may feel anxious or worried about the tests due to the hype surrounding them.

Much has been said and written about NAPLAN. In our experience, if parents or teachers over emphasise the importance of NAPLAN to children, there is great potential for children to become excessively stressed and likely not complete the tests to the best of their ability. Our students complete tests/assessments very regularly, so why treat these tests differently? Please help us reassure the children about the testing, build their confidence and trust in their ability to do well.

Like ACARA, we certainly do not recommend the use of any commercial products, such as booklets and practice tests, to help your child prepare for NAPLAN tests. None of the commercial products currently on the market are endorsed by ACARA and the use of these or services by coaching providers are not recommended by Windsor SS nor ACARA. The best way you can help your child prepare for NAPLAN is to reassure them that the tests are just one part of their school program and to encourage them to simply do the best they can on the day.

Some students may feel anxious about NAPLAN, but it’s up to the adults in children’s lives to help keep NAPLAN in context. It’s a test that is only taken four times in a child’s schooling life – over three days, there are four tests that take around one hour each. NAPLAN tests what students should already know from their everyday learning, and there are no prizes or repercussions for doing well or not so well in the tests. NAPLAN doesn’t test everything that happens in a classroom – it isn’t intended to – but it does look at the critically important areas of literacy and numeracy – skills that your child will take with them to their adult life. (Robert Randall, ACARA CEO, 2017)

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION

This term, you have received a copy of the 2018 Religious Instruction update letter and permission slip to inform you about the religious instruction (RI) arrangements in 2018. This document can also be opened by clicking the link at the end of this article. Religious Instruction for 2018 commenced on Tuesday 6th February.

If you wish to make any changes to your current preferences regarding your child’s participation in RI or other instruction, please complete the bottom section of the form. If there are no changes to be made, there is no need to return the form to the school.

Queensland state schools embrace a multitude of cultural, religious and non-religious beliefs. Under the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006, schools are to provide RI each week if approached by a faith group seeking to provide RI and students of that faith attend the school.

RI informs students about the beliefs and values of a particular religion. It is delivered by volunteers of a faith group using instructional materials approved by that faith group. These materials are not part of the formal school curriculum and are not endorsed by the Department of Education.

All RI instructors must hold a blue card and participate in compulsory Student Protection and Code of Conduct training. RI instructors are only entitled to deliver the RI program outlined below. A school staff member will be present during the delivery of RI.

Participation in RI is not compulsory. Any student (except Prep students) may participate in RI if a parent has given consent and indicated a religion on the Application for Student Enrolment Form or in other written advice to the principal. A parent, regardless of their own faith (if any), may choose to give consent for their child to participate in one of the RI programs listed below.

Any child not participating in RI, or whose nominated religion is not represented within the RI program at the school, will receive other instruction by a qualified member of school staff in a separate location during the time RI is held. Other instruction will relate to subject areas that have already been covered in class.

At any time, parents may provide written instruction to the principal to change their preference for their child to participate in or be withdrawn from RI. If a parent does not update their consent by completing and returning this form, their previous written instructions to the school will continue to apply.

The faith groups that provide religious instructors to deliver the program at our school are listed below, including links to the website for materials to be used in RI at our school:

The aims and objectives of the co-operative Christian RI program is to inform students about the basic beliefs of the Christian faith. Lesson aims and overviews for each of the RI programs to be used in this agreement are available via the link in the table above.

Further details about our school’s RI program and other instruction are available on the school’s website and in the school’s parent handbook. You may also wish to access the Department’s RI policy statement available at the link below for further information.

There is a small charge to cover the cost of the student activity book to be used in RI as listed below. Parents of participating students will be invoiced for the following year level cost:

Year 1: $5.25 Years 2 and 3: $3.45 Year 4: $3.80 Years 5 and 6: $4.95
Please do not make payment until an invoice is issued.

You will also be notified of any changes to RI or other instruction.

Our school’s Christian RI Coordinator Mrs Karen Grenning is available to answer any questions you may have about the program. You can contact Mrs Grenning at grenning@bigpond.net.au or you may make an appointment to meet with her in the school office. Copies of the RI Teacher’s Manuals and Student Workbooks are also available now in the school office for parents to peruse.

If you would like further information about RI or other instruction at our school, or require assistance with completing the form that can be opened below, please contact us at admin@windsorss.eq.edu.au.

ACTIVE SCHOOL TRAVEL- BLING YOUR BIKE!!

National Ride to School Day – Windsor SS celebrates this Friday 16th March 2018!

Bling your bike…helmet…scooter this Friday!! National Ride2School Day aims to show school communities that riding to school is an easy and fun activity. Fruit and iced water will be available at the hall canteen between 8 to 8:30am for all students and parents who ride, walk, carpool or use public transport to get to school on Friday 16 March. All Active School Travellers can go into a raffle draw. Prizes kindly donated by 99 Bike 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 7:45am. If you are able to assist please email Natasha at heard.natasha@yahoo.com.

Remember that when riding a bike you are required by law to wear an approved helmet securely fitted and fastened.

Did you know? It is legal to cycle on the footpath in Queensland (unless otherwise signed) but remember to always keep to the left.

Children can claim their AST prizes by presenting their AST passports at the office after checking by their class teacher. Don’t forget to choose an active way to travel to school that keeps the cars off the road!

HARMONY DAY

At Windsor State School, we are celebrating Harmony Day next Monday 19th March on Parade and our very talented senior choir will be performing. 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. Harmony Day celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.

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.

EASTER HAT PARADE…Coming Soon!

On Thursday 29th March, we will be celebrating the end of term with some fun at the annual P-2 Easter Hat Parade. At this parade, it will be time for a special bunny to visit the school.

This year, the children from Prep to Year 2 are invited to participate in the parade on this morning.

The Easter Hat Parade will begin at 9:15am, will be held in the Hall, and will be finished by approximately 10:15am. Parents, family and friends are welcome to attend. The coffee van will be on site. The parade will feature songs as well as a parade of the fabulous bonnet creations.

The bonnets are to be made at home. Parents are asked to help their child make these bonnets at home. Parents who intend to take children home after this parade, to get away early for holidays, must ensure that children are signed out with their class teachers before leaving the school grounds.

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!

Have you registered for QParents yet?

QParents is a secure app that provides parents of Queensland State School students with a new and exciting avenue of communication with your school. Join the thousands of parents who have already registered to gain 24 hour direct access to your child’s information and communicate with school easily and efficiently.

Don’t have time to go in to school and pay an invoice? Have a family holiday coming up and need to let the school know you’ll be away? Want to have access to your child’s report cards quickly and easily? With the QParents portal, you have access to everything via a single, clear student dashboard.

You can also request updates or changes to student details such as providing reasons for past unexplained absences, advising the school of future absences, notifying the school of changes to student address and medical conditions and viewing and paying outstanding invoices.

Please contact the office on 3866 4333 if you require any further information or assistance.

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.

Musical 2018! Peter Pan Jr.

Students who successfully achieved a part in the 2018 School Musical, Peter Pan Jr, have started rehearsals each week leading up to the event.

Rehearsal take place in the Hall on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons from 3pm-4:15pm.

Only students participating in the musical are permitted to attend rehearsals. Alternative care arrangements for supervision of siblings must be made. Any student present at after school Musical rehearsals, who is not a cast member, will be sent to the office and parents contacted to collect.

Helping Hands

Hello Windsor Parents

Well, we have passed the halfway mark for term one, and are now rapidly heading towards Vacation Care! We have our program out, and are taking booking up to Thursday 29th of March. Kids can look forward to Go Karting, heading out to Redcliffe Beach and a carnival day with other Helping Hands Services! We have a cooking day, and a recycle day where kids can come away with upcycled creations (if you have any interesting old/damaged equipment that could be pulled apart and repurposed, please think of donating it!).

We are open on the Pupil Free Day (16th April), and holding a Mini Inventors day. We’ll have craft and experiments to suit any mind! If you need care that day, please find booking details in our Vacation Care Brochure (see the link below).

A few photos from the last week; Tom shared his cricket shirts with some of the boys for cricket training, making scones for afternoon tea, and enjoying playing with bubbles before a storm!

Thanks,
The Helping Hands Windsor Team

From the Library

Author Visits for Free

Mrs Godfrey won a competition to have the Sydney author, Sue Whiting, come to our school on Monday to talk to the Year 6 classes. She talked about her latest book, and how to write like a professional author. Missing is her 65th book and many students took the opportunity to buy a copy and have Sue sign it.