22 August 2018

Newsletter Articles

Across the Principal's Desk...

Prep enrolments for 2019

From 27 August through to 7 September, we will be commencing our Prep interviews for Prep 2019! We currently have approximately 85 students enrolled for next year... but there may still be more. We don't want anyone to miss out on the upcoming information events and Prep transition mornings!

Have you got a child born between 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014? Have you completed your Enrolment Form yet?

Please click on the link below to complete your Prep Enrolment Form online and drop it in to the School office as soon as possible.

Leaving Windsor in 2019??

As we begin planning for our 2019 classes, I would request that if your child/ren are not returning to Windsor in 2019 (with the exception of the year six students of course), I would appreciate it if you could submit this information via the link below as soon as possible. Thank you for assisting us with our 2019 planning.

Learning Isn't always Easy...

One of the greatest gifts you can give your child is the ability to feel ‘uncomfortable’ in their learning, whether it be at school, home or in any social situation. What we tend to want to do for our children is to shield them from the pain of struggling, to make things that bit easier and in some cases remove all barriers so they pretty much have an easy ride through school and life.

Is this the reality of the world and what we experience in society and work? Most certainly not. We have all had to struggle in some way to get where we are and finding ourselves in the ‘learning pit’ is absolutely a critical aspect of our own character development.

At Windsor, we absolutely want students to experience challenges, struggles and for want of a better word ‘failure’, as through this comes new learning and growth on so many different levels. Talking to your children about being in the ‘learning pit’ and using this model for almost any aspect of their development reaps enormous rewards when you are confronted with them ‘giving up’ or demanding that you do it for them. I regularly discuss being in the 'learning pit' with staff as we will always experience cycles of change and innovation with our teaching and learning and be faced with 'new things' to learn and embrace.

We all simply want the best for our children at Windsor, yet sometimes we are actually our own worst enemy, thinking that if we are like the team sport of ‘curling’ where the competitors brush the ice away to make a smooth path for the curling stone, doing the same for our children metaphorically speaking, we can actually deskill them significantly in how they navigate life’s complexities and challenges.

Using every situation that comes before a child as a potential learning opportunity can be time consuming and arduous, yet the children I have seen who are adept with understanding how to problem solve are often the most resilient when they move on to more complex situations like high school, university and the workforce.

Thanks to the many parents who view challenges and sometimes difficult situations as learning opportunities. Being a parent is not about being your child’s best friend. It is not an easy role, but it is full of great rewards when you have helped them to navigate life’s challenges by being their ‘guide on the side’.

NAPLAN Year 3 & 5 Individual Student Reports

We are yet to receive the NAPLAN Year 3 and 5 individual student reports. As soon as we do receive them we will distribute them to the students.

School Opinion Survey - closes 24 August

If you haven’t already completed the survey there is still time to have your say about what this school does well and what can be improved.

If you have not received your invitation letter or require further information, please contact the school office or visit the Education website

If you have already completed the 2018 School Opinion Survey, thank you for taking the time to provide your valuable feedback.

WindsorFest

Volunteers needed to sell raffle tickets!!

We have 2 days to sell tickets at Bunnings, Stafford THIS WEEKEND, 25 and 26 August, and 2 days at Lutwyche City on Saturday 1 and 8 September. This is a reduced number of days than our last fair to make it less onerous for volunteers. Ideally we need 2 children (with a parent) per shift as children are the best sellers particularly in their formal school uniform. We find the younger children are hard to resist! However the older children are very helpful in counting the money and working out the change.

Shifts are only 1.5hrs, please put your name against your preferred shift in the volunteer roster.

Can you Make Jam or Chutney?

We have jars! Any help making jams, chutneys or similar items would be appreciated. These will be sold as part of the Cake Stall. Email windsorfest@windsorsspandc.com.au to arrange collection of jars, if you need them.

Do you like Counting Money?

Do you have experience with handling and counting money? We will need people who have experience with money on the day of WindsorFest to help our Treasurer count the takings and get it bundled up ready for the bank. All enquiries should be directed to the WindsorFest Treasurer, Kirsty Taylor on kirstymtaylor@hotmail.com.

Donations

We will not be asking for as many donations this year as previous years, so please help out where you can. We only need 2 things and our shelves are looking a bit bare:

1. Soft Drinks: We’re after cans of soft drink in the 375ml size. Please avoid homebrand/plain brands as they don’t sell. Look for the specials as they come up at the supermarkets, to minimise your spend! Please take these directly to the hall storage room, there is a shelf marked “WindsorFest Soft Drinks”.
2. Chocolates: All kinds of wrapped chocolate blocks, snack size bars and share packs. These are for the lob-a-choc stall and need to be able to sit on a wire grid surface so flat bottomed chocolate bars are the best. These will be collected in each classroom by the teachers, hopefully they don’t get the 3pm munchies!

DON'T WANT TO LUG AROUND HEAVY ITEMS?? NO WORRIES, HOW ABOUT DONATING SOME CASH INSTEAD:

EFT transfer your donation to:

Windsor SS P&C Association
BSB: 064-114
Acct No: 00900697
Payment Ref: WFest Donate

Unlimited Ridebands Now on Sale!!

Ridebands are now on sale through trybooking! Get your rideband for UNLIMITED rides all day from 11am – 4pm at the discounted pre-sale price of $35 each ($40 on the day). The discounted price will be available until 10pm Fri 14th Sept and the bands can be collected from school the week before WindsorFest or from the Ride Ticket Marquee on the day (specific dates and times will be included in a confirmation email after purchasing your rideband).

We will NOT be selling ridebands in the schoolyard, so make sure you go online to purchase and take advantage of the pre-sale price.

Individual ride tickets will be sold on the day for $6 per ride.

Rides Included in the Rideband

Crafters and Artisans of Windsor - The WindsorFest Craft Stall needs your talent (and your goods!)

The Craft Stall is a highly anticipated regular at our school fairs that provides a wonderful opportunity to showcase the talent that exists in our community, whilst raising important funds for the P&C.

We would love those who have talents with yarn, fabric, paper, glue, wood, glass, clay or any other art or craft medium to donate just a few items for us to sell.

We have identified about nine key categories of items which we are intending to focus on:

• Bags
• Christmas
• Baby, Kid & Toys (though this we have to be VERY careful with)
• Homewares
• Jewellery
• Ladies wear
• School-themed (or coloured!)
• Giftware

For more information, please contact the stall convenor, Jen Allen, on windsorfestcraft@gmail.com.

Side Show Alley Prize Donations

Please keep a look out for new items that can be used as prizes for the WindsorFest Sideshow Alley Prize Stall. People play side show alley games to win prize tickets, save those tickets up and they claim a prize of varying value/size. We will have prizes for just 1 ticket right up to extra-large sized prizes worth 30+ tickets.

Prizes worth 1 prize ticket are things like gel pens, a small pack of hair accessories (like 2 or 3 ponytail holders) etc. with values of up to $2 or $3. We need a range of items, item sizes, and multiples of one type of item are fine. Sometimes you can get better deals if you buy a bunch of one thing, if you ask the sales people. Prizes don’t have to be only toys. Hair accessories, stationery, board games, sports gear (balls, handballs, jump ropes), inexpensive jewellery (like little earrings, fun bracelets), and outdoor gear (small torches, backpacks), are all great prizes. We would rather prizes be good quality - something that might last and you wouldn’t mind seeing your own child bring home from a school fair!

Please place the items in the cardboard boxes labelled “Prize Stall” at the School Office.

Lend a Hand with No Effort!

Do you have the following items you can lend us for WindsorFest?

• 3mx3m Gazebo
• Eski

If so, please contact the WindsoFest Convenor, Mary-Lou Grohn on amgrohn@hotmail.com.

Dog Parade

Wilston Vet will be hosting a dog parade again this year. There are 5 categories, however you can only choose one to enter:

• Dog with the waggiest tail
• Dog with the shiniest coat
• Dog with the best trick
• Dog most like owner
• Best dressed dog

A registration form must be filled out and returned to the school office by Monday 10th Sept. Download the form below, or pick one up at the school office.

Website

For more information about the event and what’s happening, check out our website:

or follow us on facebook:

We thank-you for your support.
WindsorFest Committee

RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOUR & CODE OF CONDUCT

“When it comes to stress, there’s an undeniable fact: we all need some level of stress to function as a human being. However, when that level of stress becomes ‘distress’ then we need to learn new ways to cope and manage our emotions and our workload. The secret to stress management is to understand what makes us feel stressed (stressors), learn to recognise the symptoms of stress, and then find strategies and/or develop ways to adjust our responses to stress to keep it at a manageable level. Of all the jobs we undertake, parenting in particular is about learning on the job. That means it’s going to be a very steep learning curve at times. There are plenty of guide books to consult, but who’s got time to sit down and read three chapters on getting baby to sleep while the crying continues or go online to discover how to stop bad behaviour when the kids have lost it totally?

Expect stress at times – it’s all part of the job description.”

Read Professor Michael Bernard’s full article at the following link:

For more information and resources on positive and effective parenting, visit:

School Opinion Survey…last chance to complete!

The annual suite of School Opinion Surveys is conducted 30 July to 24 August 2018. All families, school staff and a random sample of students will be invited to participate. We encourage you to take this opportunity to have your say about what this school does well, and how this school can improve.

Access details for the Parent/Caregiver Survey have been sent home with students. School computers will be available, upon request, for parents/caregivers who are unable to complete the survey at home.

Survey queries or requests for translations can be directed to admin@windsorss.eq.edu.au or (07) 3866 4333.

Welcome Student Teachers!

Over the coming months, we welcome a number of Student Teachers from both Qld University Technology and the University of Southern Queensland. This is the largest cohort of student teachers that we have ever had at Windsor SS. These students will be working with their wonderful mentor teachers across the school to complete their course requirements.

We welcome them all to Windsor and with them every success.

PACER – Canberra Trip

Our Year 6 students are currently undertaking an education tour of the national capital, Canberra. The students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational programs with a focus on Australia’s history, culture, heritage and democracy. This includes visiting Parliament House, Old Parliament House, the Australian War Memorial, the National Archives and more!

The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government is contributing funding of $60 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards those costs. The rebate is paid directly to the school upon completion of the excursion.

INSTALL THE SCHOOLZINE ‘SZAPP’ ON YOUR PHONE?

Our newsletter is now available each fortnight either via email or by accessing the Schoolzine app. Details on how to download the app are available on the attached file.

Any families who are unable to access either the emails or app, please contact the school office.

NAIDOC Week

As NAIDOC Week was during the school holidays, we will be celebrating NAIDOC Week at Windsor State School in Week 8 this term. Parents and families are invited to attend a special NAIDOC Week parade on Monday 3rd September at 2.00pm. During the week, special guests will be visiting the school as part of our NAIDOC Celebrations. Our student NAIDOC Ambassadors, Dominic and Lucy, will assist with the organisation and facilitation of our NAIDOC Week celebrations.

FAMILY EDUCATION SESSIONS

Please find below information about Family Education Programs that are being facilitated in the school Hall during Term 3. Please note that if you register for a session, it is to be attended by the child and at least one parent/carer.

These family sessions will take place on the following dates and will cover:

True Relationships and Reproductive Health (True), formerly known as Family Planning Queensland, delivers family education sessions that are aimed at developing open and healthy communication about relationships and sexuality between parents/carers and children. These sessions provide age appropriate information to help build children’s self-esteem. The purpose of these sessions is to facilitate open communication about sexuality between you and your children.

All sessions are provided by trained experts and are designed to cater for specific ages and year levels. However, if you would prefer your child to attend a session that is suggested for a year level other than their own, you are able to register for that session.

There are limited spaces available for these sessions so please indicate as soon as possible your intention to attend. The cost will be $17 per student. Please follow the links above to complete the relevant digital Expression of Interest form as soon possible as we only have 30 spaces per session available. An invoice for $17.00 will then be issued to the first 30 families to complete the online form.

If you have any questions please contact me at the school or contact True Relationships and Reproductive Health directly on 3250 0240 or check out their website at the link below.

Team Eloise – Wear Pink on Friday 24th August

Our fabulous staff at Windsor State School are once again showing their support and getting behind the Eloise Gannon Foundation and joining Team Eloise in the 2018 Bridge to Brisbane (B2B) on Sunday, 26th August. For those of you that aren’t aware, Eloise is the daughter of Nikki Gannon one of our administration team. The Foundation was founded to honour the memory of Eloise Gannon who, at 15, died unexpectedly due to a cardiac arrhythmia. One of the Foundation’s main goals is to raise awareness of Sudden Cardiac Death in our youth. For more information regarding The Foundation and their objectives please visit the link below.

On Friday 24th of August, the Windsor School Community will also have an opportunity to show their support. We will be having a WEAR PINK day, with a gold coin donation. There will also be the opportunity to purchase some TEAM ELOISE items. Merchandise will also be available for purchase before school on Friday in the Early Years precinct. Alternatively, if you would like to make a donation and support Team Eloise for the B2B please visit the link below.

Jump Rope for Heart

Windsor State School is participating in the Heart Foundation Jump Rope for Heart program and we would love your support! The House Captains are running this exciting initiative. Heart Foundation Jump Rope for Heart is an exciting and non-competitive program which encourages children to become more active through skipping, learning new skills and raising vital funds for heart research and community health programs. We also receive 10 per cent of the funds raised to use here at school. Jump Rope for Heart is also a great way to encourage children to get involved in our community and support Australia’s leading heart health charity, the Heart Foundation.

If you choose to register your child online, a secure fundraising page will be created as soon as you register, and you can then share this link with as many people as possible. This is an easy, safe way for your child to monitor their progress, receive bonus prizes and even receive sponsorship from family and friends who are further afield. Please be mindful of Cyber Safety when setting up your child’s registration page. For example, you do not need to display full name/s or photos on your child’s sponsorship page.

As students raise money, they not only help support the Heart Foundation and the school, but they are also rewarded with exciting Thank You Prizes! These include skipping ropes, soccer balls and even trampolines and flying cars! Thank you for joining us in the fight against heart disease!

The list of Thank You Prizes can be viewed at the link below

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.

AST Scavenger Hunt!

In Week 7, on Wednesday 29th August, we encourage all student to actively travel to school and take part in the “AST Scavenger Hunt”.

All students in the school will be given a ‘checklist of things’ to find on their way to school that morning. When you find something on the list, tick it off! When students arrive at the school gates, the House Captains will there collecting the scavenger hunt lists. It is really important that a student’s name is on the sheet.

On this day, we are also having a competition to see who can take the ‘coolest photo’ of themselves actively travelling to school. The winners will receive a prize at the following parade. You can enter your picture by emailing it to Mr. Keong at admin@windsorss.eq.edu.au.

If mum and dad decide to upload it to their Facebook, make sure you use the hashtag #activeschooltravel.

A Scavenger Hunt checklist will be sent home or you can download and print it here:

Walking Wheeling Wednesday EVERY Wednesday! Let’s get active Windsor!!

The classes with the most Active Travellers last fortnight are:

Week 4&5: 1B, 1D and 1C
Congratulations Year 1!

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!

Illegal and dangerous parking

Parking rules and regulations are used throughout Brisbane to maintain the safety of all road users and pedestrians and also to ensure that street parking is available for all to use.

An illegally or dangerously parked vehicle, is any vehicle parked outside of Brisbane City Council's parking rules and regulations or any vehicle that maybe creating a public safety problem.

A vehicle that is parked illegally or dangerously can be issued with a parking fine or even towed.

Report illegal parking

To report an illegal or dangerously parked vehicle or if you think your vehicle has been towed, phone Council on 07 3403 8888.

Illegally parked cars around the school will be reported to Brisbane City Council every time!

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.

BULA

Thank you to the wonderful Windsor Community who enthusiastically donated a range of books and classroom supplies for me to take to Fiji earlier this month. This wonderful treasure chest was presented to the teachers of Ratu Asaeli Rokovucago Memorial School in Sote Village. The teachers were overwhelmed with your generosity and were very thankful for these gifts. Vinaka and Thank you from Maria McCamley