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

The Debating Club @ New Farm State School

 The students competed in their final Evening Debate for 2018 on Tuesday 27 November and they had to battle it out against their parents.  The students' chosen topic was "that mobile phones should be banned".

The teams included:

The P&C are happy to announce that there will be food available from 5pm - 8pm for the  Christmas Concert Tuesday 4 December. Located at the netball court area.

 We have two vendors coming:

• IndiMex, a food truck that provides "Funky Indian with a Mexican Twist". For details on their menu, visit their website http://indimexonwheels.com.au/brisbane-food-truck-menu/
• The Ape Cart from local favourite La Macelleria with a range of delicious gelato and sorbet flavours http://www.lamacelleriagelateria.com/
• Eftpos facilities available

IndiMex will be selling non-alcoholic drinks however we do ask you to bring your own water bottles (refillable at the water bubblers) to save on plastic waste.

Please remember that no food or drinks are allowed in the Hall and please make sure you put all rubbish in the bins provided.

We hope you enjoy the food and the Christmas Concert.

Regards

NFSS P&C

Thank-you to all of the amazing parent helpers and fabulous school staff who made our swimming carnival a fun day despite the heat!

Lottie really enjoys doing ballet and works really hard as a result she was accepted into the Queensland Ballet Company Academy in January this year.  As one of 22 girls selected, she has undertaken one class per week of extra training.

We received an email inviting her to attend a 6 week intensive ballet program run by the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in New York City.  This was the result of a three-day masterclass/audition held earlier this term. 

Lottie has always been very quiet about her achievements in ballet, and we would like to congratulate her on her achievement, and wish her every success in the future.

We’ve been looking at the work of photographer Charles Freger, who photographs traditional pagan costumes all over the world. We talked about traditions and rituals, and how as artists we can draw on our experience or invent our own tradition!  Using recycled materials, we’ve been creating masks inspired Freger’s work.

TUCKSHOP HOMEBAKE STALL THIS WEDNESDAY

The Tuckshop Homebake Stall is on this Wednesday 5^th December from 2.30pm. Baked donations welcome – drop off at the tuckshop on Wednesday morning, please label the ingredients.

MONEY OWING

Please remember to check the board to see if you have money owing to the Tuckshop. We still have a lot of students with outstanding amounts.

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

The tuckshop will be having a limited menu for lunch ordering on Friday 14 December. We will have available sausage sizzle, drinks, home bake and $1 snack items (pretzels, Japanese rice crackers & popcorn)

WE NEED JARS

We are looking for jars that we can use for chutney and jams. If anyone has any medium sized jars (preferably label free and washed) that they are able to donate to the tuckshop, we would love to have them.

EFTPOS NOW AVAILABLE

We now have EFTPOS available at the Tuckshop!

WEEK 9 TUCKSHOP ROSTER

Thanks to 2M for volunteering this week in the tuckshop as well as all our regular volunteers. We really appreciate your help.

Monday:

Counter - Kunjang, Laura

Baking – Katharine, Rowena

Wednesday:

Counter - Chris, Persia

Tuckshop - Chris, Persia

Baking - Nikki, Katharine

Friday:

Counter - Teo, Celine

Tuckshop - Laura, Chiaki

Baking - Katrina, Kelly, Renee, Ash

HOUSE SWIM RASHIES ARE NOW AVAILABLE TO BE PURCHASED!!

• Cost is $49.95 and payment options are cash or EFTPOS via the Uniform Shop.
• Details

• 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

3rd Space Charity Drive

A big thank you to all who contributed towards the 3rd Space charity drive. We raised a huge amount of items and over $350 in cash and all donations have been collected by Rob from 3rd Space on Wednesday morning. A huge thank you to the student leaders who went around collecting the items and helped with the packing; Jarrah, Mackenzie, Ingrid, Leila, Ishi, Jaime and Zara.                                                         

School holidays are almost upon us

During this period empty schools provide an opportunity for criminal activity, becoming targets for unlawful entry, arson, stealing, graffiti and property damage – all of which become a cost to the community.

 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

 Let’s work together to help create safer school communities.

 If you have information for police, contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form 24hrs per day.

 You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, by calling 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.

Vacancy- Casual School Crossing Supervisor

On behalf of the school community, we would like to say thank you and farewell to Jyothsna who has worked on our road crossing this year.  She has helped many students and families cross the road safely and always with a smile. We will miss you!

A position now exists for a Casual School Crossing Supervisor at New Farm State School.

 The School Crossing Supervisor may be required to work five days per fortnight in all weather conditions.  The hours of work for the School Crossing Supervisor are 1 hour and 30 mins a day and comprises 1 hour in the morning and 30 minutes in the afternoon.

Current crossing time:  7:55am – 8:55am and 2:55pm – 3:25pm

 The current rate of pay is $30.34 per hour.

 Commencement of work for the successful applicant is dependent on:

 The favourable outcome of a health assessment.

• A Positive Notice Blue Card (you do not need to have a blue card to apply for the position)

 Closing date for applications: by Wednesday, 5 December 2018.

 Completed applications should be returned to:

Elena Anderson

Business Manager

New Farm State School

Cnr James and Heal Streets

NEW FARM  Q  4005

 Or you can contact Elena with any enquiries during school hours on 3358 7333.