Dr Carmel McGrath

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL)

Congratulations to Prep L who are our first class to win the ‘Kookie’ Class of the Week award. The class award is given to the class with the most amount of Kookie awards during the week. Mrs Burridge and Preppies were thrilled to take our new ‘Kookie’ soft toy mascot to their class for the week. The class were also given Kookie’s journal so that they can record what Kookie does during the week. I know the class are very excited about recording their adventures with Kookie. 

Quadrennial School Review Update

Our QSR process is moving along well with David Curran attending last week to meet with Student leaders to review their data, with Teacher Aides and Teachers, as well as an interim meeting with the committee. Following David’s parent session and review of parent feedback to date, our parent survey has been reviewed and will be extended to gain greater input and ideas. Thank you to Catherine Allen, Melissa Page and Kristy Naggs who spend time developing a more detailed survey in order to gain greater information from our parents.

This level of consultation occurs every 4 years and I encourage all parents to take this opportunity to provide input. The newly drafted survey is attached for your use. 

Please also note that the final committee meeting will be held on Wednesday 18 September now – changed from Tuesday 17 due to Community Spirit awards ceremony.

Lockdown Drill

Over the next fortnight staff and students will review the school’s inclusion procedures with the termly Lockdown Drill. Parents and visitors are reminded that it is our school security procedures that all persons entering our school premises during the school day should:

• Sign in at the office
• Be aware of student protection mandatory training
• Be aware of our Asbestos Awareness information
• Present Blue Cards
• Take and wear a visitor lanyard which should contain either your current blue card or the receipt copy of the mandatory training)

In case of school evacuation or inclusion drills, visitors must make themselves known to the staff member they are working with and that person will report their presence as part of our procedures.

2020 Prep Enrolments

Thank you to all families who are spreading the word about our 2020 enrolment interviews. We now have 58 students enrolled for next year and expect this number to grow into next term. Our playdates are beginning and continuing into next term and our Open Day for new preppies and their families will be held on Tuesday 29 October 9-10:45am.

2019 Annual Community Spirit Award

Applications close Friday 30 August so please don’t miss the opportunity to nominate someone who has done some extra-ordinary work for our school community.  Nomination forms attached.   

Canberra

Next week Year 6 students and staff (Mr Lawrence, Ms Zayn Al-Abidin, Mr Rafter, Ms Siebhur, and Mrs Bradley) will be attending their Canberra excursion, from Tues 3- Fri 6 Sept. Teacher aide Mrs Olley will also support the group while in Canberra. Teachers will share photos during the trip and these will be forwarded to parents through our schoolzine program. I am sure the staff and students will once again enjoy the many activities and learning opportunities during their excursion.

ICAS Science

Parents are reminded that students participating in this year’s ICAS Science competition should go to the computer lab in A Block on Friday 30 August at 7:45am for an 8am start. Thank you to Ms Chambers and Mr Rafter for facilitating the online competition. 

On Thursday 22^nd August, Miss Zayn al-Abidin accompanied the 6 Project Leaders to work together with our Kelvin Grove College Mentors to further develop New Farm’s 2019 Legacy of a School Flag. Launch date is planned for October 15^th. Great work team!

Swooping Birds- Brisbane City Council has erected some swooping birds sign around the school perimeter. Please be aware over the next few months there is the potential for the magpies in our school areas to be nesting. Please remind your children to wear their school hats while walking to and from school. No specific areas in the school grounds have been identified as yet. Please let the office know of any issues with swooping birds.

https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/clean-and-green/natural-environment-and-water/biodiversity-in-brisbane/wildlife-in-brisbane/living-with-wildlife/swooping-birds

Toilets- A block junior girls- Painting will commence in the next couple of weeks. This process will take approximately two days. Teachers will direct the girls to the senior girls toilets or to the Hall toilets for the duration of these works. Unfortunately these works were unable to be completed during the holidays.

Masterplan 2019

Design workshop for new learning centre- by invitation only

As part of the planning for our new learning centre, the Department of Education is hosting a design workshop with the school and local community.

A date has now been confirmed for the workshop: Wednesday 11 September, 2019. Registration will open at 12.30pm with the workshop commencing at 1.00pm.  

The design workshop provide an opportunity to review the master plan and consider design options for the new building before construction commences in 2020.

The departments expressions of interest from parents/carers, neighbours and staff is now closed.

Holiday works- please be aware that the school will be conducting several essential works over the holiday period. If you are not booked into Jabiru the school/grounds remain closed to all visitors. Works include- Tree trimming, plumbing, blind to be installed, painting and electrical works and pool maintenance.

Parent Volunteers and Visitors to the school – Signing in at the office.

Reminder to all Parents, Carers and Visitors to our school.

All volunteers need to sign in and out at the office prior to going to your child’s class to attend activities. This includes classroom helpers and tuckshop volunteers.

The Mandatory Training for Volunteers and Visitors needs to be completed prior to attending class activities and class excursions.

Playgrounds closed after 3.20pm- Please be advised that all school playground are closed for general use after 3.20pm. Jabiru will access these areas for any students registered and sign in for care after school.

School Watch

The School Watch Program is a partnership between Education Queensland, the Queensland Police Service and the State Government Protective Security Service.  It aims to reduce criminal activity in Queensland schools and encourages everyone to look out for after-hours crime in our schools.  If you see anything suspicious, please don’t attempt to intervene.

Call the School Watch number – 13 17 88

Summer Sport Gala Days (Term 4)

Early term 4, Year 5 and 6 students will be attending City District Gala Sport Days.  These days are part of the curriculum time allocated to inter-school sport.  As such, there is an expectation that all students take part unless medically unfit to do so.  All year 5 and 6 staff will be coaching teams and accompanying students on the day.   If your child has an injury please contact your class teacher to discuss.  

This week, all students will be briefed on the upcoming gala days and will be given options of soccer (girls and boys) or netball (girls only). Please discuss with your child their choice of sport, and encourage the values of taking part and being part of a team.

BAND PROGRAM POSITIONS AVAILABLE

The instrumental music recruiting process for students wishing to be in the band program in 2020 has begun. Following the departments policy current year 3 students can apply to participate in the band (woodwind, brass, percussion) program beginning in 2020.

Could you please check that you have received the "expression of interest" form?  The form was emailed to all year 3 parents in week 4 and also given to students by their year 3 class teachers. If you wish your child to be considered for the selection process you need to complete and return it to the office before the end of this term, Friday the 20^th of September.

The class teachers and the office have spare copies.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

BAND PROGRAM: Colin McIntyre, senior instrumental music teacher.

email: cmcin13@eq.edu.au

Looking forward, Colin.

SCHOOL HOUSE RASHIES AVAILABLE

Available in school house colours (red, yellow, green)

Sizes available: 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 (limited quantities available)

Price: $49.95 each

Features:

• Queensland designed and made 
• Sustainable fabric - 80% Recycled Nylon (using a regenerated nylon thread made from discarded fishing nets and plastics recovered from the ocean) 
• UPF50+ 
• Ultrachlorine resistant
• Outstanding quality fabric for shape retention and durability
• Soft feel fabric
  

THE TUCKSHOP IS OPEN 4 DAYS A WEEK

The tuckshop is open on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday.

Here are our daily specials:

• Monday - homemade pies and sausage rolls
• Wednesday - pasta and pizza
• Thursday – sushi, sushi bento box and pumpkin soup
• Friday - sausage sizzle and nachos

We also have some new items available for ordering – garlic bread, banana bread and apple slinky’s!

Orders need to be placed for sushi and the sushi bento box by the Monday prior.

TUCKSHOP HOMEBAKE STALL

We are holding a Homebake Stall on Wednesday 4 September from 2.30pm – 3.30pm to raise money for equipment.

Please drop off any baked donations to the tuckshop prior to 2pm and please let please label the ingredients.

MONEY OWING

We still have a considerable number of students owing money to the tuckshop, some from previous years. Could you please come and check with us to see if you child’s name is on the board. 

TUCKSHOP VOLUNTEERING

Thanks to 6L & 6Z for helping out this week and all our regular volunteers that help us out.

Week 8 – 5R & 5C

Week 9 – 4/5F

Week 10 – 4W

TERM 4

Week 1 – 4C

Week 2 – 3D

Week 3 – 3T

Week 4 – 3W

Week 5 – 2A

Week 6 - 2MB

Week 7 – 2P

Week 8 – 1/2N

Week 9 – 1F

Week 10 – 1G

Have a great week,

Vanessa, Rachael, Leanne & Tarnya

We have an enormous amount of lost property currently awaiting collection.

If you have not claimed these items by Thurs 17 September these items will be either disposed of or donated back to the uniform shop. Lost Property is located under A Block near the uniform shop.

Please remember to name your children’s clothing, this makes retuning these items much easier.

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