Dr Carmel McGrath - Principal

Year 6 Leaders’ Induction Ceremony

Congratulations to all Year 6 students on receiving their student leadership badges at our Induction Ceremony on Monday. We were pleased to see so many families in attendance and thank our special guests the Honourable Trevor Evans, Andrew Kilgour from New Farm RSL and Belinda Hill representing our P&C.  Class teachers Fatima Zayn Al Abidin and Hayden Lawrence did a wonderful job preparing the students for the ceremony which was enjoyed by all. 

P&C AGM – Tuesday 12 March 6-7pm All welcome!

 Professional Development

Leaders In Learning

This week our Year Level Coordinators, Lesley Burridge, Julia Forsberg, Cristian Arredendo, Philip Davies, Rachel Fletcher, Steve Conde and Fatima Zayn Al Abidin, will attend the first of 4 Leadership Professional Learning Days. The series of sessions focus on building the leadership capability across our school. This week’s session ‘Leading Highly Effective Staff Teams’ focuses on the key aspects of highly effective teams. Teamwork is essential in our busy school. The better that people work together and are aligned, the better outcomes the school will achieve. Highly effective teams are more efficient, effective and consistent.

Phonemic Awareness Workshop

Seven of our Prep and Yr 1 teachers will be attending a whole day Phonemic Awareness workshop on Saturday 30^th March. This workshop provides instruction in daily teacher-led oral word play activities to help students develop the decoding skills essential to become proficient readers. Working together in this way demonstrates commitment towards improving the consistency of programs within our school.

 Reading in Classrooms

This week the leadership team will be visiting various classes during reading time to support teachers with feedback and coaching on their programs and student learning.

They will also release teachers to enable them to watch other teachers during reading time. This is a positive way for teachers to learn from one another and develop more consistent high yield strategies.

 Traffic Around Our School

Thank you so much to everyone who has been helping improve the smooth running of our drop off and pick up areas. The processes were established in consultation with our P&C and our neighbours as part of our ongoing Master Planning and Traffic Management planning. Staff volunteer for these duties, but we need everyone’s cooperation with our procedures for this to be successful.  The school’s LOOK OUT program will soon be on our website for your reference.  These expectations are also outlined in our school Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) matrix which was compiled after lengthy consultation in 2018. 

Arriving: Over the past week I have noticed the majority of children being ready to get out of their cars with their belongings and drivers should not leave their vehicle.  This really speeds up the process, so thank you. If you do wish to get out of your car and enter the school, please use an alternate area, such as Hawthorne or Annie Streets.

Leaving: Students should also enter the car from the curb side only as entering from the driver’s side has caused a great deal of concern for student safety. We ask that drivers do not get out of their vehicles in these pick up or drop off zones. If you feel you must, please try to arrive early and find a park in an alternative area, but please beware of yellow lines.

 Full School Review

On 28^th, 29^th March and 01 April we will be participating in our Full School Review.  Every Queensland state school is reviewed by the School Improvement Unit (SIU) at least once every four years.  These reviews are an important part of how the department supports and monitors schools.  The review team will be in our school during this period visiting classes, talking with staff, student leaders, parents and our community and school partners. 

 By the end of the review the team will present us with their findings and make recommendations for our next 4 year period. This dovetails nicely into our Quadrennial School Review which is also scheduled for this year.  With the Review Findings we will then develop our new 2020-2024 School Strategic Plan.  This plan informs the Annual Improvement Plan which forms the planning for our annual budget.

 To register your interest in participating in our review, please contact admin@newfarmss.eq.edu.au or email the SIU at siumb@qed.qld.gov.au

 Also see facts sheet attached.

 School Photos – Monday, 18^th March

• Y1 EXCURSION - Nudgee Beach – 20-21^st March
• Harmony Day – Thursday, 21^st March
• Full School Review (SIU) – 28 March – 1 April
• Last day of Term One – Friday, 5^th April
• Friday 19 April– GOOD FRIDAY
• Monday 22 April – Easter Monday
• First Day Term Two – Tuesday, 23^rd April

Get involved in the School Banking program.

 New Farm State School is excited to offer the Commonwealth Bank School Banking program to all students.

School Banking is a fun, interactive and engaging way for young Australians to learn about money and develop good savings habits. Children who deposit money into their Youthsaver account through School Banking earn Dollarmites tokens, which they can save up and redeem for exciting rewards.

 The rewards available during 2019 are:

 * Scented Stackable Highlighters 

* Snowy Origami Set                 

* Icicle Slapband Ruler 

* Yeti Fluffly Notepad 

* Arctic Owl Fluffy Keyring

* Scratch Art Cards

* Water Skimming Bounce Ball 

* Polar Pencils & Pencil Toppers

 School Banking is also a great fundraiser for our school. Our school receives a Regular Savers Contribution of $5 for every 10 deposits processed per student as well as an Annual Contribution which is based on the number of students who made at least one School Banking deposit in the prior year.

 Getting involved in School Banking is easy!

 All you need to get involved in the School Banking program is a Commonwealth Bank Youthsaver account. You can open an account for your child in one of two ways:  

1. Online

Visit commbank.com.au/schoolbanking and click on the link to open a Youthsaver account. 

2. In branch

Visit a Commonwealth Bank branch with identification for yourself and your child, like a driver’s licence and birth certificate.

 If your child has an existing Commonwealth Bank Youthsaver account they can start banking straight away. They just need to bring their deposit in every week on School Banking day using their Dollarmites deposit wallet. 

 School Banking day is every Friday (except for the first and last Friday of each term). Each week you just need to hand in your bank book between 8.15 - 8.45am outside the Library.

 If you would like to know more about School Banking, please ask for a 2019 School Banking program information pack at banking on Friday morning or visit commbank.com.au/schoolbanking

 For further information, please contact Belinda Hill on bjyates12@hotmail.com

Congratulations to Oliver H, Asher L, Elyse T, Erin K, Isabella W, Will T, Zari D and Trey K for representing New Farm State School proudly at the City District Swimming Trials last week.

Everyone showed great enthusiasm, brilliant swimming and excellent behaviour throughout the swim meet.

Best of luck goes to Erin and Trey who had some impressive results – progressing on the Metropolitan North Regionals later this month.

Erin came 1^st in 50m Butterfly, 3^rd in 50m Freestyle and 50m Backstroke, 4^th in 100m Backstroke and 6^th in 50m Breaststroke.

Trey came 1^st in 50m Butterfly, 3^rd in 50m Freestyle and Breaststroke and 4^th in 50m Backstroke. Swim fast!

The national championships for Track and Field in School Sport will be earlier than usual this year as they are being held in Darwin. This has had a domino effect of making regional and district events occur earlier to adjust. Regionals are early in Term 2.

Our District is currently debating the creation of a Mini Meet to enable competition between schools assist in the nomination process. The details of that will be passed on when they are known.

For preparation we are offering a before school coaching with Mr Rainbow on Wednesday mornings before school (8am arrival at the school oval).

 An initial meeting for interested students will be held this coming Wednesday morning 8 am (Oval) to outline the expectations and seek interest.

 It is likely to follow a schedule of different track and field event sessions.

 If your child can not attend the meeting but wish to be involved could they inform their class teacher of their desired events to train for (e.g. shot put, sprints) to be passed on to Mr Rainbow.