Principal’s Newsletter Article 180319

P&C AGM – thank you to all parents and community members who attended our AGM.  I am pleased to announce that our current executive were re-elected and will continue on in these important roles through 2019. I am very grateful for the continuity and ongoing support of the P&C. Our executive for 2019:

• President, David Armstrong
• Vice President, Janelle Moody
• Treasurer, Belinda Hill
• Secretary, Sheroo Wadia

I am also very thankful to Laura Watson who has once again taken on the role of Fete Convenor. Thank you also to all our parent and fete reps who are doing the important work of sharing information and organising for our school events. Your volunteering is very much appreciated.

Inner City North State Secondary School

Principal Sharon Baker of the new secondary school attended our AGM last week and presented the parents with an update on the progress of building works and development of the school. Sharon reported that the build is on track and will be ready to open for the first Year 7 intake in 2020 as planned. She has now appointed her Deputy Principal and is very happy to have parents contact them for any enquiries. 

Contact Details:

Sharon Baker, Principal, Phone:  0457 537 488, Email:  sbark40@eq.edu.au

Nathan Maddox, Deputy Principal, Phone:  0477 727 497, Email:  nmadd2@eq.edu.au 

Trinity Commons

Last week I met with staff overseeing the community development programs being established in the newly renovated ‘Trinity Commons’ precinct in Church Street, Fortitude Valley. There are opportunities for partnerships with our project groups and to support the open day on the 31^st March with a senior choir performance. Further information will be shared as the details are confirmed.

LOOK OUT Program

This week I have attached the school’s LOOK OUT program information for all families. Being part of the program means you understand the rules of the program and are able to display your family name tag on your visor so that staff know who you are dropping or collecting. Thank you to everyone for showing courtesy and patience.

See attached Program and Registration forms.

Look Out News

Look Out Registration Form

Full School Review

Thank you to the parents and community members who have agreed to participate in our Review this week either on Thursday 28 or Friday 29 March. The Review team will be in our school until Monday when we will be presented with their findings and recommendations for our next 4 year period. This work will inform both the school and the P&C strategic planning for 2020-2023.

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

• Y1 Excursion - Nudgee Beach – 20-21^st March
• Harmony Day – Thursday 21^st March
• Full School Review (SIU) – 28 March – 1 April
• Wed 27^th March – Cross Country
• Tues 2^nd April – P&C Meeting
• Wed 3^rd April – 9-12 years Field Events
• 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

• Sport Days

With the National Track and Field schedules being brought forward, this has meant three of our annual Sport events will now be held on the following dates:

Cross Country Trials

Field Events Carnival

Track Carnival

Please sign and return the permission form sent yesterday via email no later than Friday the 22^nd of March.

Parent Letter & Permission Form

Cross Country & Fun Run Program

Athletics Field Program

Athletics Track Program

The new ICT (Information and Communication Technology) Student Consumables and Resources Scheme

In the last week, parents/carers were sent paperwork identifying that the school has introduced a new ICT Student Consumables and Resources Scheme

The P&C supported this new levy in a meeting last year and subsequently the P&C set the fee at $50 per child.  This information was published on the Year1-6 booklists at the end of last year.  When the Prep Information Morning occurred last year, this information was not mentioned. It was also not mentioned within the Prep Student Resource Scheme.    We apologised for this oversight.

Over the past few years, the school has spent considerable amount of money to get ahead of the curve for replacing old hardware and to implement meaningful STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) /STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Maths) activities across the school.  STEM / STEAM is not just robotics, coding and green screens, it is construction of knowledge through doing.  Therefore consumables are needed.  This is an area that the school still needs support across the school.

Allowing students to design, make & appraise projects is where the most valuable learning occurs.  The resources needed for this learning can be expensive and are consumables.  Whilst the school budget has covered hardware etc, the P&C voted to set a levy in order to purchase consumables and ‘kit out’ the Maker Space thus allowing all children to access it.

The levy will be used to provide student and subject resources and consumables for the STEM / STEAM program where the core curriculum is extended through provision of practical learning experiences and materials eg green screen wearable resources and screens, art supply kits and construction resources for design, make and appraise within STEM / STEAM, charging stations for iPads and robotics, and extension of robotic resources.  At the start of last year, the school had very limited resources that supported this type of learning.

Through Howard Gardner’s research on learning styles, students should be exposed to the same topic through a variety of methods.  STEM / STEAM activities embeds Gardner’s research at multiple points

Over the Christmas holidays, a dedicated Maker Space area was built in A-Block where classes can play, learn and create their knowledge in all sorts of areas of the Curriculum.  All classes have already made use of the area and all students are engaged in the class activities.  Throughout the year, teachers and their class will be working with the STEM Coach to extend everybody’s knowledge of the technology and resources to show what is being taught in the classroom in different ways.

To start the process off, specific classes each week have been producing a 1-2min video about the social skill / PBL focus for the week.  This is being displayed on assembly and then becomes a permanent resource for the classes to use throughout the year.  Classes have the option to use any of the resources in the Maker Space to produce their video for the school.

Each term, 4-6 classes will specifically work with the STEM Coach on specific class activities around the year level curriculum.  This varies across the year levels and even within the year levels, depending on the skill knowledge of the teachers.

As a school, we have started this journey to empower our students to not just be consumers but be creators.

STEM Coach

John Rafter, STEM Coach

How often do you wake up in the morning feeling cranky after a restless night’s sleep?

The same effects of lack of sleep are experienced by both the young and old. Like adults, children need adequate amounts of sleep to be able to stay focussed, engage with school work and deal appropriately with all the challenges faced throughout a day. Sleep is one of the three basic needs important to our wellbeing.

Here is a handy guide from the Sleep Health Foundation:

Ultimately you can assess if your child is getting enough sleep at night by observing how they function and behave during the day. Lack of sleep puts their body into a sleep deficit which can create a cycle of fatigue draining their mental and physical resources.

Developing a regular sleep schedule and routine for your child will ensure their bodies are well rested in preparation for each day. A bed time routine to help your child unwind for sleep may include:

• A warm bath
• No electronic usage at least one hour before sleep and no devices in the bedroom at night
• Light snack and/or warm non-caffeinated drink e.g. milk
• Set time for bed each night
• A bedtime story or three!
• Slow breathing – taking 3 to 10 calming breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth
• Writing down any worries on their mind and two or three things to be grateful for.
• A night light can comfort young children when the lights go out

Sleep is a really important daily activity in which we can teach our children good habits for life. Sleep remains important throughout our lives for both our physical health, to facilitate the repair and building of new cells, and for our mental health, to help us minimise our risk for mood disorders such as anxiety and depression.

Sandy Chambers

Support Teacher: Literacy and Numeracy

English as an Additional Language / Dialect Teacher

This year NFSS Yr3 and Yr5 students will be completing the NAPLAN tests online.

To help both parents and students to prepare for this change in format, we will be hosting an information session at 3:15-3:45pm on Tuesday 2^nd April. The session be approximately 30 minutes in length. Location - B Block Classroom.

Information that will be discussed will cover topics such as:

• Dates for 2019 NAPLAN Online
• NAPLAN tests – 4 tests in total, equipment, testing processes & procedures
• Preparation – including Practice Tests, public demonstration site, what’s happening in class time
• Adjustments, exemptions and parent withdrawals
• Process for making up tests – if absent or late on test day
• FAQs – Question/Answer Time

We encourage all parents and/or carers to attend the session so everyone can feel comfortable and confident in the lead up to and throughout the NAPLAN experience. So we can organise and advise on an appropriate location to host the session, please rsvp your intention to attend to ymcgr0@eq.edu.au by Friday 29 March.

Please see attached NAPLAN brochure for further information.

naplan-online-information-brochure-for-parents-and-carers

John Rafter & Rachael Siebuhr

NAPLAN Coordinators

Harmony Day is to Celebrate Cultural diversity. This year Harmony Day/week will be held on Thursday 21 March 2019 during week 8 of this term and our theme is that “Everyone Belongs”.

Students are required to wear regular school uniform for the day.

The following outlines the process applying for Track and Field from New Farm SS Sports Days through to the Met North trials.

It is important to note that for School Sport purposes competition ages are based on the calendar year of birth, e.g. 9 Years includes those born in 2010, for competition in 2019.

In 2019 we have an unusual circumstance with Track And Field for the year.

School Sport Australia 10-12 Years Athletics National Championships are being hosted by the Northern Territory (NT).  In keeping with the climate in NT they usually host outdoor events between March and September. In 2019 they will host the Championships from 16-21 September. As a result of this the State Committee will hold the State Championships in Brisbane on 15, 16 August 2019 and Metropolitan North Track and Field Selection Trials on 4 and 5 June 2019 at the University of Queensland Athletics Facility.

For this reason City District is not having a full Athletics meet in 2019, and is conducting a Mini Meet for the 100m and 200m events only (10-12 Years). This is a smaller staffed event and is being conducted purely to determine qualifiers for those events to submit our District’s nominations to the Metropolitan North Regional trial.

The District has determined due to this restrictive timeline and staffing constraints that 9 Year-old events will not be conducted for 2019. This has only been an age group in the past District track and field carnivals for participation and experience in a reduced number of events, as no 9 Years competition occurs at Regional trials.

Our 9 Year old students at New Farm will continue to receive recognition and awards in all events at our Track and Field Sports Days!

New Farm SS competitors for the 100m and 200m (10-12 Years) at the District Mini Meet will be selected by placing 1^st or 2^nd at our Track Day. For all other events they will progress to the Metropolitan North Carnival via district selection. They will have their result sent to District if it meets the qualifying standard, and then the District will select the top 4 competitors to advance to the Regional trials

Important Dates/Process

WEEK 9 HOMEBAKE STALL

The next Tuckshop Homebake Stall will be held on Wednesday 27 March from 2.30pm.

We would love any baked donations! If you are able to do some baking for us, please drop them off at the tuckshop before 2pm and please label the ingredients.

Thanks so much and we look forward to seeing you at the stall!

VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED – TRACK CARNIVAL (Wednesday 24 April)

We are looking for some volunteers to help us out on the Track Carnival day with taking lunch orders down to New Farm Park and also selling snacks and drinks. If you are able to help out, please come and see us at the tuckshop or please email Vanessa (nessa.vickery@gmail.com)

HOT CROSS BUNS

We have Hot Cross Buns for sale in the tuckshop! Cost is $1.50 and they are toasted and lightly buttered. You can order via flexischools or over the counter.

TUCKSHOP VOLUNTEERING

Each week one class will be responsible for finding volunteers to help out on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  Each class will get a turn at volunteering and this will run in rotation throughout the year.

Thanks so much for 6L helping us out last week and for 5R for helping us out this week!

Here is the roster for the remainder of Term 1.

Week 8 – 5R

Week 9 – 5C

Week 10 – 4/5F

Here is the roster for the first half of Term 2

Week 1 – 4W

Week 2 – 4C

Week 3 – 3D

Week 4 – 3T

Week 5 – 3W

We are also looking for volunteers who are happy to be placed on a back up register to provide homebake and/or tuckshop help. Please come and see us at the tuckshop if you are able to help.

TUCKSHOP OPENING HOURS

The tuckshop is open on Monday, Wednesday & Friday

We have different specials available on each of those days:

• Monday - homemade pies and sausage rolls
• Wednesday - pasta and pizza
• Friday - sausage sizzle and nachos

In addition to that, we have a great range of sandwiches, salads, snacks and drinks. Please see the menu’s below!

You can order via Flexischools (up until 8am) or over the counter (up until 9am). We accept cash and EFTPOS over the counter.

First and second break (if we are open) - come to the counter for fruit, snacks, cookies and drinks!

Please note - Flexischool orders must be placed by 8am on the day of order.  If you have placed an order and your child is not at school a refund can be made by notifying Flexischools by 8am of that morning.

Vanessa, Rachael, Leanne & Tarnya

TENERIFFE, BINKINBA & MERTHYR UNIFORM ITEMS

With the Inter-House Fun Run, Field Events Carnival & Track Carnival coming up soon, I wanted to let you know that there are house colour t-shirts and reversible bucket hats (navy blue/house colour) available for sale at the uniform shop.

• House colour t-shirts $10 (sizes 4 and up)
• Reversible bucket hats (one size only, however you can adjust them)

Uniform Shop Opening Hours

Term 1 - Tuesday & Wednesday (8.00am – 9.30am)

Term 2 - Wednesday (8am – 9.30am)

PLEASE NOTE - You can also order via Flexischools, however orders need to be placed by 12pm on the Tuesday, to receive the order on the Wednesday.

Tom 1-2N

Hendrie 4-5F

Lohitha4-5F

Claudia 4-5F

Savannah 6Z

Anna 6Z

Caden 6Z

Congratulations!

Well done to Trey and Leni, who gained selections to the City District Football (Soccer) teams.

Both the Boy’s and Girl’s teams will compete in the Metropolitan North Regional Carnival, on the 1^st and 2^nd of May, at Aspley State High School.

Good luck to both your teams!

     

The Little Lifesavers program is a great introduction to surf lifesaving for children aged 5-11 years and they will learn vital water safety skills they can keep for life.

We have our last Little Lifesavers Program for the 2018/2019 summer season coming up in the April School Holiday’s at Southbank (Monday 8^th – Friday 12^th April 2019) from 8am to 10am each morning.