17 October 2018

Newsletter Articles

Across the Principal's Desk...

Student Free Day – Monday 22 October

Just a reminder that this coming Monday (22 October) is a Student Free Day and school will not be open. Helping Hands will be on site as per usual providing outside hours care. On this day, the staff will be engaging in a variety of professional learning opportunities focused on Literacy (Writing), curriculum programming and preparation.

Phase 2 of ‘Cooling Our School’ (Air Con) is now complete

Over the September school holidays, air conditioning was installed into the three Prep demountable classrooms (Phase 2). This now means that we have 13 classrooms (out of 29) that are fully air conditioned and a further 3 classrooms and our hall that are partially air conditioned. This takes the total classrooms to 16 out of 29 classrooms! What a tremendous achievement!! I would like to thank the P&C and Windsor’s wider school community for their generous donations and ongoing support towards the P&Cs ‘Cooling Our School’ initiative.

The School Council, along with the P&C Facilities sub-committee, are working very hard behind the scenes for the remaining classrooms in Constitution and A Block (the main building) to be air conditioned over the Christmas holidays as the Phase 3 component of the ‘Cooling Our Schools’ initiative.

An alternative entrance into school

With Officeworks now not being in the building, we have been able to open up an additional entrance to school. The two images below show how parents/carers can park in the carpark and then walk up in between the pool/loading dock garage doors to enter the school. To ensure the safety and well-being of everyone, orange bunting has been erected in two places. One is to keep students out of the garden areas behind the building and the other is near the carpark to ensure cars are kept in the front carparks and not driving/parking on the new walkway into the school grounds.

Massive Equipment Auction

As of 30 September, Officeworks vacated the building at the bottom of the school grounds. When they departed, they left behind a significant amount of shelving and storage equipment for the school to keep/sell or dispose of. The school will be conducting an online 'silent auction' for the disposal of these assets. After obtaining feedback and guidance from numerous Valuer and Auctioneer companies throughout the week, bids will start from $10,500.

As previously communicated, the items will be available for inspection between 11:00am - 12noon on Tuesday 16 October and Wednesday 17 October (Officeworks building, cnr Constitution and Lutwyche Roads). The online 'silent auction' commenced over the past weekend and will close at 2:00pm on Thursday 18 October, 2018.

Farewell to Jim in the tuckshop!

As I announced on assembly on Monday, very soon we will say ‘farewell’ to Jim in the tuckshop who is leaving to pursue other adventures outside Windsor. I would like to thank Jim for his dedication and efforts that he has put into the school tuckshop over the past 2 years. Your warm and friendly personality, along with your scrumptious pikelets, will be missed by all! We wish you the very best in the future! Ms Christine Nation, who has a number of years of experience in high school cafés and tuckshops, will be taking over from Jim. We welcome Christine to her new position at Windsor and look forward to working with you.

2019 Year 1 and Year 2 Booklists

In 2019, the school will purchase in bulk all student booklist requirements under the Student Resource Scheme initiative. The cost of the scheme for 2019 will be $150 per student. Parents must agree, or decline, to participate in this initiative by completing, signing and returning the necessary form.

This week, a 'Student Resource Scheme' participation/agreement form was sent home with all students who will be in Years 1 and 2 in 2019. Please return this form to the office no later than Friday 26 October 2018. Invoices for participating students will be sent out after this date. We would like all Resource Scheme payments finalised or payment plans established no later than Friday 16 November (Week 6).

Please note: Parents who choose not to participate in the Resource Scheme are responsible for providing their child/ren with all items that would otherwise be provided to the student by the scheme as detailed on the Year level booklist, to enable the student to engage with the curriculum. A copy of the individual year level booklists are attached below. As you will see by the booklists below, the Resource Scheme will save families between $30-$45 when purchasing the full booklist. Please contact Ms Robyn Wiseman on 3866 4333 if you have any questions about the 2019 Student Resource Scheme.

2019 Year 3 – 6 booklists will be released over the next few weeks.

Grant Baker
Principal

School Zone Parking

Windsor State School has been included on a list of priority schools for inspection during term 4.

Council officers will be undertaking proactive patrols throughout the term to ensure drivers are adhering to the local parking conditions.

Please refer to the attached letter from Brisbane City Council for further information.

Deputy Principal’s Report

Gala Days

Sport is an integral part of our school curriculum. The next three Fridays of Term 4 are Interschool Sport Gala Days. Each student in Years 4-6 must pay $13 per day, for each Gala Day, and have returned a completed permission slip to participate in Gala Days. It is crucial that the buses leave on time so that students do not miss games, so we ask that all Year 4-6 students arrive at school promptly on these mornings. Supervision will be provided from 8.30am. We will begin boarding the buses at 8.50am and the buses will be unable to wait for late arrivals.

Please remember to send sunscreen with your child to reapply throughout the day. It is important that they take responsibility for their personal sun-safety. All students must also bring their own full water bottle and hat.

At this stage, the Gala Days for this term are Friday 19th October, Friday 26th October and Friday 2nd November.

If a Gala Day is cancelled due to weather, parents will be notified via email and Facebook as soon as possible.

The sports are:

• AFL (played at O’Callaghan Park, Zillmere)
• Girls Touch (played at Shaw Park, Wooloowin)
• Boys Touch (played at Gibson Park, Stafford)
• Cricket (played at Shaw Park, Wooloowin)
• Baseball (played at Hendra All Stars)
• Flipperball (played at various locations)

In order to attend, the online Permission/Medical Form must be completed.

Date Change - Day for Daniel

Due to Gala Days, Windsor SS will acknowledge Day for Daniel on Thursday 25th October instead of Friday the 26th October. For a gold coin donation, students are invited to wear red to school on this day to support the Daniel Morcombe Foundation. The foundation aims to help raise awareness about child safety and protection. It aims to help empower children to Recognise, React and Report if they feel something is not right.

This is not just a ‘Free Dress Day’. If your child does not wish to wear red to school on this day, they are to wear normal school uniform. Wearing red could be anything from a complete red outfit to a red hair ribbon!

Date Change - National Bandanna Day

Due to Gala Days, Windsor SS will also recognise National Bandanna Day on Thursday 25th October instead of Friday the 26th October. Bandannas will be on sale for $5.00 before school near Constitution Building Monday-Wednesday of that week and Student Councillors will go around to each class to sell any remaining bandannas on Thursday 25th October. The money raised from the sale of the bandannas goes to Canteen, to help support young people living with cancer.

RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOUR & CODE OF CONDUCT

Resisting peer pressure: teaching kids how

What is peer pressure?

Peer pressure is all about fitting in. It’s about acceptance. It’s about conforming to a certain dress code, behaviour or preference. Kids of any age can either apply peer pressure or be influenced by their peers. Some kids want to fit in, others want to do what others are doing and some kids just want what others have. There are those kids who don’t recognise peer pressure for what it is and there are others who are so super-sensitive, they crumble under the weight. It’s important that as parents, we teach our kids what peer pressure is and isn’t. This is especially important for younger kids, so that they know how to recognise it, and how to react.

Peer pressure can be positive

Peer pressure often gets bad press, but peers can play an important role in our kids’ lives. Hanging out with other kids of similar age (or older) provides opportunities for friendship and acceptance. Kids learn about social skills and how relationships are formed and kept. Within a peer group kids can find encouragement, ask for advice, share experiences and benefit from other kids who set a good example and show leadership. In a positive peer group, kids will often cotton on to another’s risky behaviour or silly decisions and be quick to say so.

… ‘but everyone else is doing it’…

Kids often give in to peer pressure if they’re led to believe this is the only way they’ll keep their friends. A child who is easily influenced may look to others to follow their lead, and think it must be OK because everyone else is doing it. Once at school, kids are quickly into all things ‘cool’ – language, clothes, electronic devices and toys. As kids get older, peer pressure can be more subtle: cool kids wear this wristband, so let’s laugh at the ones who don’t, let’s not let him into the group.

If we’re hearing ‘everyone else is doing it’, or ‘everyone else has one’, and ‘it’s unfair that I don’t, can’t, am not allowed’…it’s time to sit them down for a little chat.

Ways to help our kids handle pressure

When kids are coached in how to stand up to negative peer pressure, their confidence soars. They can recognise peer pressure for what it is and have the courage to say no.

We can help our kids by:

• Building their self-esteem
• Offering genuine praise when it’s appropriate
• Role modelling responses
• Teaching ways to say no and feel comfortable
• Encouraging independence, including developing good decision making skills
• Keeping home communication lines open
• Talking about our own experiences

Kids who are comfortable in their own skin usually do better at resisting peer pressure. They know their opinion matters, that true friends can take no for an answer, and that walking away from risk taking behaviour is good thinking. They’re also the kids who know how much they mean to us, and how much they matter.

(Source: https://youcandoitparents.com.au/ go to the website to read more or to register for YCDI Parents).

Jump Rope for Heart – FINAL WEEKS

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!

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.

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.

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

The classes with the most Active Travellers last fortnight are:

Week 10, Term 3 & Week 1, Term 4:
3A, 3B and 1D!

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!

Follow Windsor SS on Facebook & Twitter!

Get the most up-to-date information and school alerts by following Windsor State School on Facebook at the link below 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!

WindsorFest 2018 Thank You

A welcome and a thank you in WSS Tuck Shop

On behalf of the Windsor State School and P&C, the Retail Subcommittee would like to welcome Christine Nation to the position of Tuckshop Convener. She brings with her a wealth of knowledge from previous tuckshop and food business experience and a passion for healthy and delicious food for kids.

We take this opportunity to thank James Fardon for his incredible efforts in the position of Tuckshop Convener since January 2017 where he was critical to the implementation of our Smart Choices compliant menu. We wish Jim all the best in his future endeavours.

Look out for a new menu to be launched in week four based on the feedback we have received from the school community – we know you are going to love it! We are also looking forward to returning to five days of service.

Christmas Card Design Competition

Trevor Evans MP, Federal Member for Brisbane, is once again running his Christmas Card Design competition for junior primary school students.

This year’s theme is “Australian Animals at Christmas”. Students should draw their design in the space provided on the attached entry form.

The winners will each have their artwork featured on Trevor’s Christmas card which is sent to the entire Brisbane electorate, as well as each receiving a family pass movie pack to enjoy.

As well as an overall winner, there will be additional winners for each of the categories of Prep/Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3 students.

Please make sure entries are scanned in colour, and returned to the Office of Trevor Evans MP by Friday 2 November 2018 (either by email to trevor.evans.mp@aph.gov.au or mailed to PO Box 143, Albion DC, Qld 4010).