5 September 2018

Newsletter Articles

WindsorFest

Only a week and a half to go now! Who’s excited? The committee certainly are!! This is a long section, but has HEAPS OF GREAT INFORMATION, so please keep reading, thanks!!

How You can Help

• Volunteer to sell Raffle tickets THIS SAT 8th Sept - volunteer roster . Thanks to those that have already done a shift on previous days!

• Buy Raffle tickets and share the link - https://www.rafflelink.com.au/windsorfest2018/ . Raffle tickets will NOT be sent home this year, so please make sure you buy some online!!
• Donate Soft Drinks – 375ml cans of name brands (we really need Coke, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, we have plenty of other varieties), please put in the Hall storage room
• Donate Chocolates – all wrapped chocolates, blocks, bars and share packs, please send to the classroom
• Donate Side Show Alley prizes – place in the box outside the office
• Volunteer for a stall on the day – see previous email with all the online sign-up links
• Make items for the Sweet Stall – contact Kathryn on gokatgo@hotmail.com
• Bake for the Cake Stall – contact Belynda on belyndanichols@hotmail.com
• Make Jam, Chutney, Relish or similar items – contact Belynda on belyndanichols@hotmail.com
• Make items for the Craft Stall – contact Jen on windsorfestcraft@gmail.com

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 WindsorFest Convenor, Mary-Lou Grohn on amgrohn@hotmail.com .

Bulky Goods Drop Zone

The Hall will be open at the following times so you can drop off your gazebos, tables and eskis. Other items such as chutneys, jams and sweets may also be dropped at these times, however we will not accept baked good this early as storage is an issue.

• Sat 8th Sept 11-1pm and 4:30 – 5:30pm
• Sun 9th Sept 9am – 12noon

Jams, Chutneys, Sweets & Baked Goods

If anyone is making items for WindsorFest, please remember all items need to be labelled and list the ingredients. We have a sticky label template below and we will soon have a label that you can print and attach with string/ribbon.

Who was the keen Spicy Tomato Relish maker?

We have jars of Spicy Tomato Relish in the Hall, but we don’t know the ingredients. If the keen relish make could please contact Belynda on belyndanichols@hotmail.com

Raffle

Instead of sending a book of raffle tickets home this year, we’ve gone digital. Please take the time to go online, check out the awesome prizes and buy some tickets. Why not even share the link on social media and get your friends to buy some too!

Raffle tickets will NOT be sent home, please purchase online!

Rides Tickets

Ridebands are 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 the P-2 playground area on Wed 5th (morning), Fri 7th (afternoon), the week before WindsorFest or from the Ride Ticket Marquee on the day (all collection 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.

All details of the rides on offer and the height restrictions are on the ticketing website , so take a look

Rides Included in the Rideband

Windsor P&C Stalls

We have a large number of P&C run stalls, so make sure you visit them on the day or even volunteer for an hour or two (refer to the email sent on 27th August for links to all the volunteer sign-up sheets).

Every hour you volunteer you will receive a “Ride Fast Pass”, which enables your child to go to the front of the rides queue (with a valid rideband or ride ticket) instead of lining up. Remember, you need to have a valid rides ticket to use the “Fast Pass”. How many kids do you have? How many hours do you need to volunteer?

Don’t forget we will also have a few external vendors on the day. You will still be supporting the P&C by buying from them, so share the love! This includes QRoasters Coffee, so you don’t need that morning coffee at home, get a professional one at WindsorFest.

Silent Auction

We have an awesome variety of silent auction prizes up for grabs on the day. Make sure you check them all out beforehand, work out what you want, then visit the stall and make a bid on the day!

Every dollar spent on the silent auction is pure profit to the P&C and goes straight towards cooling the classrooms!!

Entertainment & Activities

There will be heaps to keep the whole family entertained all day at WindsorFest. We have rides, facepainting, crazy hair, a Haunted House, stage performances and our Gold sponsor, Garry Jones Harcourt Solutions will be bringing a balloon twister from 11-3pm.

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.

Attend our Final Meeting

We will have a final planning meeting on Monday 10th September at 7pm in the School Hall.

Website & Facebook

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

Across the Principal's Desk...

2018 NAPLAN results have been released

Over the weekend our ‘preliminary’ 2018 NAPLAN data was released. As you can see by the graphs below, Windsor students have performed better in the ‘Upper Two Bands’ than the State and Nation across many of the Literacy and Numeracy domains.

I am sure you would have heard the recent discussions in the media, that results across Queensland and Australia have been lower than expected, especially in writing in Year 5 and Year 9. Over the past 10 months at Windsor, we have begun a variety of research based ‘high yield' work in relation to writing (including coaching), which I know will yield results in time.

NAPLAN results are released each year for parents as a report and summarises your child’s performance. I have not been informed as yet when these will be distributed, but I anticipate it will be very soon. These results give parents and students an understanding of how the student performed academically against the state.

Each student’s results are reported against the NAPLAN assessment scale. It is important to note that:

• a common scale is used for years 3,5,7 and 9 which allows student achievement to be measured against the same scale throughout their schooling, and
• reporting bands range from Band 1 to Band 10, the higher the band, the greater the complexity of skill assessed.

The diagram below shows the reporting band range for each year level. The ‘National Minimum Standard’ (NMS) is defined for each area as the second lowest Band for a year level. A student at the NMS has typically demonstrated the basic elements of literacy and numeracy needed at their year level.

I have included below an information brochure for parents about the NAPLAN student reports. I will highlight and discuss our results and strategic actions during the upcoming P&C meeting in September.

The Queensland Government is undertaking a review of NAPLAN in the Queensland context, to better understand the impacts NAPLAN is having on learning and teaching within the state.

The first stage of the Review, conducted in June 2018, focused on consultation with parents.

The second stage is now underway, with consultation extending to students, teachers, principals and other key education stakeholders across Queensland.

Queensland students in years 3 to 10 are now invited to provide feedback on their experiences with NAPLAN, via an online survey. Students wishing to participate will require the consent of a parent or carer, who can assist with completing the survey at home.

The survey link is available using the link below.

This project has received ethical clearance from both the Australian Catholic University and the Department of Education. Further information on the student survey and the Review are provided within the survey link.

Supporting our Farmers

Thank you to our amazing Student Council for promoting and leading the schoolwide support for the ‘Drought Angels’ charity last week. The dress as a farmer day was well supported by many schools and workplaces throughout Australia last week. It is a very worthy cause and hopefully our community has helped in some small way to alleviate the burden our country communities are experiences at present. $1000 was raised on the day!! Well done to everyone involved!!

Book Week

I would like to thank Ms Godfrey, our Library captains, staff, students and families for organising and supporting the various Book Week activities recently. It was fabulous to see all of our school supporting the event at the recent Book Week parade and sharing their favourite books. Your support and involvement certainly helps ensure that reading is celebrated and seen as an essential life skill that we all enjoy and participate in. Well done!

Celebrating Windsor’s Support Staff

Last week our school celebrated the wonderful contribution that our office staff, ICT systems technician and grounds staff make to the running of our school. Their work supports efficient school operations and safe learning environments for students and teaching staff, which is vital for improving student outcomes and developing positive school communities. On behalf of the Windsor State School community, thank-you for your valued contribution to our wonderful school.

Grant Baker
Principal

RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOUR & CODE OF CONDUCT

The Importance of Play in the Parent-Child Interaction

As parents, we know that play is important work for young children, but how important is play to the parent-child interaction?

A recent study conducted by researchers at West University of Timisoara in Romania, has found that different forms of play help both in the harmonious development of the child, as well as the parent-child interaction, if parents involve themselves in forms of play with their children. These forms of play include creation play (spontaneous initiation and development) construction play (prefabricated materials), didactic play (blends play with learning), movement play (contributes to general physical development) and sportive play (more complex physical development and development of cooperation, team spirit, resilience etc.).

The study affirmed that play is the foundation that contributes to development, wellbeing, socialisation, learning, creativity and imagination. All children, regardless of sex, ethnic, cultural or social background, will involve themselves in play. Every child needs to play in order to develop and to form his/her individual personality. The playful atmosphere signifies freedom and joy, a withdrawal from the realms of reality and stepping into the world of imagination and of the impossible, which can become possible.

The importance of playing with our children is fundamental in the construction of the parent-child relationship, in the understanding of the child and in gaining the child’s trust. Play can also be used by the parent as an efficient and pleasurable means of educating and disciplining the child.

Key messages:

• A low involvement by the parent in the play activity with the child means a low level of quality interaction between the two.
• Play helps a child interact with their environment, providing possibilities to develop their capacity to use their senses.
• Play in itself involves a plan that implies purpose and rules, so that a child can realize a certain action that produces satisfaction.
• Up to school age, play is affirmation for a child.
• Play offers children a sum of impressions and experiences that contribute to the enrichment of knowledge of their world and life.
• Children enhance their capacity to understand complex situations through play.

Things you can do:

• Get down and dusty. Dig in the garden, try water play or rolling in grass.
• Rather than buy play dough, Google a recipe and let your child help you cook up a saucepan full.
• Give children space and time to use their imaginations.
• Have toy free days.
• Encourage tactile play for younger children, or playing shops for older kids, incorporating numeracy and literacy.
• Invite other children over for play days.
• Allow children to sort any conflict themselves, rather than step in and mediate.
• Make good use of park and playground time.
• Take nature walks together, collecting leaves, feathers, stones. Pack a clip board. Kids love clipboards.
• As a family, play board or card games together, especially for older kids.
• Monitor electronic devices in favour of creative play.

Source : The importance of play in the parent-child interaction, Runcan, Petracovschi & Borca.

Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences 46 (2012) 795-799. www.sciencedirect.com

Takeaway from Professor Michael Bernard:

The more a parent engages in play activities with their child, the better the quality of their interaction will become. Play gives kids opportunities to make sense of their world and when we interact with our kids in play, we as parents have the chance to bond, get to know our children, and share their wonder and creativity. We can also help to instigate fun activities to enhance their physical development, and social-emotional learning.

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

ENROL NOW FOR PREP 2019!

Have you got a child born between 1 July 2013 and 30/6/2014? Enrol them now for Prep!

As our school is officially at capacity, our Enrolment Management Plan must be totally enforced. We can only offer places to students in our catchment area.

Places in Prep for 2019 are limited to 100 students, unless more students live in our catchment area. We no longer provide students in the Lutwyche Gordon Park area with guaranteed enrolment. Please check that you are in our school catchment online, at:

I ask all parents currently at the school with siblings due to start school in 2019 to ensure enrolment forms are completed as soon as possible.

Playground Before and After 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.

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.

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.

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:

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!

Last week, on Wednesday 29th August, we encouraged all student to actively travel to school and take part in the “AST Scavenger Hunt”. Check out the photos at the school’s Facebook page Active School Travel Scavenger Hunt photos

All students in the school were given a ‘checklist of things’ to find on their way to school that morning. When they found items on the list, their job was to tick them off! Lots of students participated in the fun as they actively travelled to school that morning!

On the day, we also had a competition to see who could take the ‘coolest photo’ of themselves actively travelling to school. The winners will be announced and receive a prize at next week’s parade, Monday 10th September. Well done to all students who participated in the fun!

Walking Wheeling Wednesday EVERY Wednesday! Let’s get active Windsor!!
The classes with the most Active Travellers last fortnight are:
Week 6&7: 5C, 3B and 3E
Congratulations!
Last fortnight, 74% of people actively travelled to school. Well done!

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.

ENRICHMENT NEWS

QAMT Pilot Competition

Last Thursday 2 teams participated in a QAMT Maths Quiz competition at Eagle Junction State School. Teams took part in 5 rounds of questioning: Estimation, Knowledge, Written Problems, Speed, and Individual questions. After a tie-breaker, Windsor Team 2 (Jake, Joel and Maya) came 3rd. Well done to Max, Gemma, and Oscar for their efforts.

QA Online Critical Research Program

Last week nine year 5 and 6 students were introduced to a new ‘virtual’ classroom where students from around Queensland come together to learn ways to critically analyse web-based research. It was exciting to see the students navigate around their new school, meet others students and get used to the protocols of online learning.

Lunch Time Activities

The Enrichment Room / Maker Space is open on certain days for certain year levels. Year 2 and 3 are welcome on Tuesday first break and year 4 and 5 students are welcome on Wednesday first break. Activities include Design Thinking Challenges, robotics, Lego and much more.

ICAS – Parent Access to Student Results

As mentioned in the last newsletter, we will hand back the ICAS results as they arrive rather than waiting for them all to arrive back. If you would like to further analyse your child’s results you can access their details through the ICAS website and the student portal link. The website is linked below. Each certificate comes with a yellow cover letter that informs you of their score in each area tested. On this yellow letter, you will find your child’s TAP-ID and PIN just after the Comparative Performance graph. This will allow you to gain access to their results as well as the questions they had to answer. It may be worthwhile to show your child these results and discuss areas that may need further explanation. This will certainly help them when they participate next year.

Free dental check-ups and treatment available now!

Regular dental check-ups and early preventive care are an important part of good oral health.

The mobile dental clinic is currently at your school. We can provide your child/children a dental check-up and any necessary treatment – all free of charge! A parent/legal guardian or carer must attend dental appointments with all children under the age of 15 years.

There have been some changes to who we can now offer dental care to. The following children are eligible for our service now:

• ALL Students 4 years of age through to year 10
• Students in Years 11 and 12 who have a current Centrelink Card, Healthcare Card or Pension Card
• 0 – 3 year olds whose parents have a current Centrelink Card, Healthcare Card or Pension Card
• 2 – 17 year olds who are eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS). To check your eligibility visit the website at my.gov.au or phone 132001

This offer of care is an opportunity to provide your child with more timely access to public dental care and we also now have the ability to offer more regular recalls for children who attend our service. Children in all classes have been issued consent or registration forms. If you want your child/children to receive free dental care please return this form as soon as possible. Once we receive this form we will arrange an appointment for a dental examination.

Siblings who do not attend Windsor State School and are eligible can be booked in as a family group so please let our staff know when they contact you if you wish for them to be seen also. At this stage, families who have returned forms and have been processed will be contacted in alphabetical order. Spare forms are available at the school office.

Thank you

Eloise Gannon Foundation

Thank you to the wonderful staff and families of Windsor State School for your generosity with your support of The Eloise Gannon Foundation. Together, with the merchandise sales, the gold coin donation and the staff morning tea you raised over $2,000. A big thank you to Mary Lou G for the beautiful cakes that were baked for the staff morning tea. This is a very special day in our calendar, and it is times like this that you truly see the Windsor spirit.

Touch Rugby League

Off Season Training: Touch Rugby League

TRL will run sessions throughout the off-season at Emerson park for any players that want to keep up their fitness, maintain core skills have a bit of fun and make some new friends. The program is open to all boys and girls aged 6-11 - you do not have to be a member of Valleys to attend.

About TRL Juniors...

TRL (Touch Rugby League) is a fun, non-contact sport for children aged 6-11. Coaches focus on teaching your students to kick, catch and pass to their teammates in a friendly, fun, team environment, with support every step of the way.

Why Play TRL?

TRL focuses on your students to deliver a fun, safe and professionally run sport which is accessible to all!

1. Non-Contact Rugby League
2. Emphasis on Fun
3. Trainings on Wednesdays form 5-6pm and Games on Friday from 5-6pm

Wilston Norths Junior Cricket Club’s Friday Night Cricket at Gibson Park, Stafford:

Woolworths Master Blaster (7-11years) (formerly Super 6’s)
12 Oct to 22 March (17 Weeks), 5pm to 7.30pm, Boy's $280 and Girls $150 (inc BBL Cap and Club Shirt)

Woolworths Junior Blaster (5-7years) (formerly In2Cricket)
19 Oct to 30 Nov (8 Weeks), 6pm to 7pm, $130 (inc Junior Blaster Pack)

Registrations are OPEN at the link below look for 'Wilston Norths'.

All welcome - boy’s and girl’s (there are Girls Team Only )- round up your friends and enjoy a relaxing, friendly Friday night.

“Just love my drive home from work knowing we’ve got Friday night Cricket - the kids are happy, the siblings have fun running around in a safe environment and we get to enjoy a casual evening (no cooking) with friends”

Email admin@wnjcc.com.au should you have any questions or call 0498 988 340.

#playcricket #australiasfavoritesport #girlsplaycrickettoo