Goondi SS Newsletter 12th May 2021
From the Principal
Dear Parents and Carers,
At Goondi SS and across the country this week, Year 3, 5 and 7 students are in the midst of NAPLAN testing. The tests include Language Conventions (spelling, punctuation, grammar), Writing, Reading and Numeracy.
Goondi students have been working hard in class as our fantastic teachers deliver the Australian Curriculum. We have been very proud as we watch them having a go and attempting all aspects of the assessments regardless of difficulty. As always our Goondi 5 key “Work Hard and Participate” has certainly been alive and well in Years 3 & 5!
In the weeks leading up to NAPLAN, teachers have been ensuring that students understand the concepts and have the necessary skills to successfully complete the tests. They also expose students to the different test formats so that they are not daunted by the tasks required of them. NAPLAN is not directly taught at our school because the concepts which the tests cover, are a part of the normal curriculum which is provided in every classroom, every day. This means that the students have worked on all concepts they may be presented with in a NAPLAN test.
Although NAPLAN testing has been in the spotlight on many occasions, it is important to remember that it is a “point in time test”, and that much of the school year remains (two and a half terms) for students to continue to learn and achieve year level expectations. This year, there will be no publication of school ‘league tables’ and schools will be better able to examine their own data for feedback about what to work on and what to celebrate.
As you may know, at Goondi we use the NAPLAN results to monitor the effectiveness of our teaching programs and to gauge the distance travelled by cohorts of students, but it is only one part of our overall student assessment.
I wish our students in Years 3 and 5 every success as they engage in the NAPLAN tests this week.
This term, we are looking forward to the return of our Spell-a-thon fundraiser supported by our Goondi P&C and also our 2021 Athletics Carnival. Both of these events could not take place last year due to the pandemic.
We look forward to a busy but productive time for the Goondi community. It is great that we are able to reconnect with our families and carers this year. We do ask that parents please continue to participate in and encourage good hygiene practices and social distancing as per the Queensland Chief Medical Officer’s advice.
Regards,
Peter Begemann
Principal
Other School News
SPELL-A-THON
The school’s major fundraiser is making a return for 2021. Spell-a-thon word lists and sponsorship envelopes will be handed out to all students on Friday 21st May.
As this is the first event in 2 years, we ask that you help your child to participate by encouraging them to learn their words and gain sponsorship. It is an opportunity to improve your child’s spelling ability while at the same time supporting our school and P&C. Of course, there are great prizes in the form of iPads.
All students who return sponsorship will be placed in a draw for an iPad. Two iPads will be drawn.
The two highest fundraisers in P-2 will win an iPad each, as will the two highest fundraisers from Years 3-6.
All students who achieve 100% in their spelling test and participated in the Spell-a-thon, will be awarded a special Spell-a-thon medal.
There will also be a number of class awards. The class that has the highest percentage of students with a perfect score will receive a trophy to be displayed in their classroom throughout the remainder of the year. There are two categories; P-3 and Yrs 4-6.
The class that raises the most amount of sponsorship will be rewarded by the P&C with a pizza afternoon.
May we stress to parents and caregivers that the school and P&C do not encourage or recommend door knocking to gain sponsorship. Students should seek sponsorship from family and friends. If door knocking is to occur, a responsible adult must accompany students at all times.
PRE PREP PROGRAM
At this time of year, we begin to plan our Pre-Prep Program. The Pre-Prep Program is run in Terms 3 and 4, the year before the child commences Prep. By attending the Pre-Prep program once a week, for a 2-hour session, the children gain new skills, make friends, become accustomed to the school routines and get to know the staff.
More details about the program will follow in coming newsletters. So that we have an idea of numbers, we encourage parents to come into the office and complete an “Expression of Interest” form as soon as possible if their child will be 4 years of age by the 30th June, 2021.
Is your child, or a child you know, eligible for Prep next year? We are taking enrolments from new students and for students who have brothers or sisters attending the Goondi State School. Siblings of existing students will automatically be offered a place in our 2022 Prep classes.
We are also taking Expressions of Interest for children who live out-of-catchment and want to attend Goondi State School. If there are vacancies, these students will also be offered a place in our 2022 Prep classes.
Come to the office as soon as possible with your child’s details to complete an Expression of Interest form even if you are in-catchment. Our Pre-Prep program will begin in early September.
DISTRICT CROSS COUNTRY
The district cross-country was on Friday 7th May at Warrina Lakes. Selected 10, 11 and 12 year old students from our school took part and we are proud to tell you that 8 Goondi students won places in the Innisfail district team to contest the Peninsula Championships later in the term.
INTER-HOUSE ATHLETICS
Training for our Inter-House Athletics Carnival to be held later this term has already begun. This year, we are looking forward to the carnival as it was one of the many events that had to be cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19.
Wed 16th June – 200m, 800m, shot put (9-12 years)
Fri 18th June – Carnival – (sprints, high and long jump, ball games, relays.)
Student of the Week
Week 2
Week 3
School Calendar
TERM 2 CALENDAR
School Events
Tue-Thurs 11th-13th May – NAPLAN Testing
Thurs 13th May - Bravehearts 'Ditto' Show (P-3)
Tue May 18th – Beginner Band Workshop at ISC
Mon 17th May- P&C Meetings at 5.30pm
Mon 21st Jun – P&C Meetings at 5:30pm
Sport Events
Wed 16th Jun – Inter-House 200, 800m, shotput
Fri 18th Jun – Inter-House Athletics Carnival
Prep News
NEWSFLASH “Homework reading and spelling has started!!!”
Please remember to do the reading and spelling with your child and return daily.
In Maths we are learning about weight. We are using scales to measure weight.
In Writing, Prep students are writing about Jack and Jill. We are doing guided and independent writing using sentence starters… First, Next and Then.
“My Family” posters are due back to talk about in class. Please send your poster in with your child.
The climbing wall has been repaired in the playground and is very popular. At lunch break the students are also loving the sandpit now the rain has stopped. Our behaviour on parade is outstanding.
Regards Prep Staff
Year 1 News
Wow! It’s Week four already.
This week we are writing a narrative about The Big Bad Wolf. We have written a character description and have also looked at synonyms for bad and sneaky. Hopefully we will read some of these words in the students narratives. We are also using adjectives to make our writing more descriptive and exciting. In Spelling our focus sound is the long 'e' sound.
In Maths we are learning how to identify numbers on a blank number line. We are interpreting different types of graphs and answering questions. Also we will be investigating problems that have more than 2 steps and writing number sentences to match these problems. We are continually practicing our basic addition facts on a daily basis and I must say we are getting so good at answering them quickly.
In Science we are learning how to strengthen objects in preparation for our assessment.
Have a great week! Hayely, Rose and Fiona
Year 2 News
What an exciting few weeks we have had in Year 2 as we get stuck into Term 2.
In English we are continuing on with our Information Reports on Australian animals. We have learnt information, recorded notes and constructed them into paragraphs. This week we are finishing off our reports about wombats.
In Maths we are working hard on telling time to the quarter hour, adding money, problem solving and dividing shapes and numbers into halves and quarters.
We are finishing off our Science for the Term. Students have been learning about the importance of water as a resource and designing posters to help save water.
All our best, Miss Mollenhagen, Mrs Hollywood and Mrs Spataro.
Year 3 News
NAPLAN week is finally here. Thank you to everyone for your support in preparing your child for this week. Students have started the tests with a very positive attitude and are well equipped for the questions.
Once this week is over, we focus on finishing the term with good grades for our report cards. We will have a change of genres and explore a Poetry Unit. In this unit students will delve deeper into language and use nouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs and little bit of rhyme. Make sure you ask your child to share their poems with you.
Maths next week will investigate statistics and probability concepts. These will be tested in Week 6 after some consolidation in Week 5. The 6 times table, rainbow facts and doubles plus 1 are our number fact focus for the next two weeks.
In Technology, students have started working towards their assessment of creating a guessing game with 3 questions. Their questions can come from the subjects of Mathematics, Science or English. We look forward to seeing what they create.
Until next time, Robyn, Janelle, Paula and Lizette.
Year 3/4 & 4 News
The first couple of weeks of Term 2 have been very busy in 3/4B and 4A. With many public holidays we have been working hard to fit everything in. However, all subject studies are underway and the student’s progress is beginning to show, particularly in English where many students are demonstrating a keen interest in our novel Tom Appleby: Convict Boy and in Genre Writing using accurate historical details of the life of a convict in the 1700’s. Very soon, we will be introducing our Speaking Task which will invite students to investigate their own family history and identify a person of significance to present to the class.
In other news, our school Spell-a-thon is fast approaching with word lists being handed out next Friday 21st May. Year 3 and 4 students will have 100 words to learn and will be tested on Friday 4th June. We will be practising as much as possible in class and for homework but any extra practice you can do at home will help. The class with the highest amount of fundraising will win a pizza party… YUM!
Finally, congratulations to all of the Year 3 students in 3/4B who completed their NAPLAN tests this week. We are very proud!
Thanks, Kath and Lisa.
Year 5 News
Well, it's a busy week in Year 5 this week. Noses down and pencils up; NAPLAN testing. We are all super proud and impressed by the effort and participation of all Year 5 students. Go team!
After NAPLAN, students will embark on a poetry writing experience, looking at a variety of poems such as odes, limmericks and ballads. Time to rhyme...
In Science we continue to explore the solar system. Hoping for a hot sunny day to conduct a solar oven experiment. While in HASS we are looking at different biomes and will be creating a biome of our own. Please rememeber that homework is suspended for this week, but will resume next week on Monday. Cheers!
Emily, Rebecca and Kerry
Year 6 News
Term 2 is powering along in Year 6, with students working hard in all subject areas.
In English, we have been focusing on breaking down the elements of narrative writing and have been exploring effective orientations, planning series of events and identifying what and how literary/language features can be used to write effectively and successfully. Our novel Hatchet has continued to engage us all, as we follow Brian’s story as he fights to survive in the environment he’s found himself in.
During Maths, students have continued exploring rounding tenths, hundredths and thousandths as well as adding them together. We’ve also been consolidating our knowledge about angles to identify missing angles, and learning real-world timetabling skills.
In Science, we’ve looked at introduced species, feral animals and animals that can survive in extreme environments. It has been impressive to see students recalling and building upon knowledge and skills learned in the feral animal studies they completed in Year 4!
In HASS we have continued our inquiry-based learning into the diversity that can be found in Asia, and have expanded this by beginning to look at geographical features of the area.
And our Technology unit is guiding us in our investigations of how food gets from paddock to plate, which is sparking some really interesting conversations as we consider our opinions on the topic.
Have a good week!
Marica Cunningham, Aaron Harbour, Melanie Worth and Janette McClelland.
Sports News
As well as class time preparing for our InterHouse Athletics (in Week 9), many of our students have been busy with District and Peninsula Sport.
Congratulations to our Cross Country Team who competed in District Trials on Friday. The following students have earned a place in the District Team to compete at the Peninsula Trials on Friday May 28th (students listed with their placing at District Trials after their name):
Addison T(7th), Lauren M(8th), Tanvir K(3rd), Sienna K(8th), Logan W(1st), Keean G(7th), Zaeden K(3rd), Ishmael W(4th).
Congratulations to Tanvir, Marlee, Sienna P, Tyleesha and Sienna B who were selected in the North Zone District Touch Team and to Tanvir who was also named Shadow for the Cassowary Coast District team.
Well done to Samreet K and Addison T who have both been selected in the Cassowary Coast District Football (soccer) team.
And Finally, Congratulations to Zaeden K, Cohen D and Ishmael W; these boys have been named as members of the Peninsula Rugby League Team.
Tiffanie Bulstrode
Health and Physical Education Teacher
These students all competed at Warrina Lakes for District Cross Country last week.
10-12 Girls North Zone District Touch Team
District & Peninsula 11 year Boys Rugby league Team
Italian News
By speaking, writing, listening to new words, phrases, sentences and questions in Italian, Years 5 and 6 Italian classes at Goondi State School are furthering their knowledge of the Italian language. Well done students!
Year 5 students are learning how to answer the question Qual’è il tuo animale domestico preferito? (Do you have a pet?) and types of pets. Year 6 students are learning about La mia giornata (My day) and furthering their knowledge of Italian nouns, verbs and adjectives. They are describing what time they do these activities, expanding their knowledge of verbs. All students are also learning songs to enhance their pronunciation.
The bookwork standard shown in their exercise books is pleasing. Feedback and assistance is given to students regularly. Continue encouraging your child to speak Italian with you and discuss what they are learning.
Arrivederci (Goodbye)
Signora Lazzarini
The Arts News
It has been an extremely fun, energetic and expressive fortnight in Drama with all year levels being challenged to participate in performative games, role plays, improvisation, and mime tasks. Prep are playing in the ‘Imaginarium’ and have been stepping into character roles as a group. Concentrating on the theme of ‘Storybooks’, Year 1 and 2 have been exploring dramatic action using Pamela Allen narratives. Through the concept of ‘Fables’ Year 3 and 4 are exploring narrative structures using improvisations and situational theatre. They have also worked on expression through mime; creating independent characterizations which have been acted out for the class. Year 5 and 6 are exploring ‘Theatre-Sport’s' and have also written Play Scripts; creating character roles utilizing narrators, directions and dialogue. It is great to see the students stepping out of their comfort zone to perform in front of their peers. Well done!!!
Francesca Rosa | The Arts
ArtHUB have created some amazing artworks this past fortnight with tasks continuing to focus on the theme of ‘Portraiture’. Students were challenged to create collages of celebrity portraits utilizing multiple faces. In addition, students experimented with soft pastels to create bright abstract portraits in the style of the famous Italian artist Alberto Modigliani. Check out the gallery below!
Francesca Rosa | ArtHUB Coordinator
Library News
The Children’s Book Council of Australia has announced the 2021 Shortlist! I have just finished reading We are Wolves and thoroughly loved it! Here are the titles for Younger Readers (Upper Primary). They will be shared with classes in Term 3 and available for borrowing in Term 4. Alternatively you may wish to reserve/request a copy from the town library or purchase your own. These titles are generally very well written by some of our best Australian authors of children’s fiction.
Aster’s Good, Right Things by Kate Gordon
The Stolen Prince of Cloudburst by Jacklyn Moriarty
Worse Things by Sally Murphy
We Are Wolves by Katrina Nannestad
Bindi by Kirli Saunders
The Book of Chance by Sue Whiting
Community News
Position vacant- Casual School Crossing Supervisor
Positions exists for a Casual School Crossing Supervisor at both Goondi and Innisfail State Schools.
- A School Crossing Supervisor must be able to work in all-weather conditions,
- 1 hour and 30 mins per day – on a rotating roster basis. (1 week on and 1 week off)
- Relief opportunities on your rostered days off.
- Pay Rate $31.11 per hour.
Commencement of employment 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).
Please call Michelle at Transport and Main Roads for an application package on 07 4045 8557.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Community Support Centre Innisfail Inc has a position available for a Support Services Support Coordinator – Supportability Service (Fixed Term Maternity Leave Contract).
For more info, visit - Support Coordinator - Application Package April 2021 _002_.pdf
Applications can be submitted by:
Email: julie@csci.org.au
In Person: 13-17 Donald Street, Innisfail QLD 4860
Post: Private & Confidential to Manager, Community Support Centre Innisfail, PO Box 886 INNISFAIL QLD 4860
Applications close Thursday 13 May 2021