Goondi SS Newsletter 4th August 2021
From the Principal
Dear Parents and Carers,
Last week we were privileged to hold the 2021 Inter-School Athletics Carnival at Goondi. The weather was perfect and it was clear to see the inspiration all students felt from the Tokyo Olympics! Thanks to the many parents and carers who came from 14 schools in the area to support their children as they took part in the track and field events. I was very impressed by the sportsmanship, commitment and conduct on display from all those involved.
I would also like to thank our HPE Teacher, Mrs Bulstrode, who coordinated the events and our Goondi State School P&C who provided the sausage sizzle and cake stall which kept everyone well-fed.
The time has already come that we look to planning for the 2022 school year! At this time, we receive a number of enquiries about our catchment area.
We have an Enrolment Management Plan (EMP) in place to ensure that our enrolments do not exceed the number of teaching spaces we have available and this comes with a distinct catchment area for our school.
In line with the plan, we are able to enrol:
- Students who live in our catchment area (parents have to provide documents to prove that they live in the catchment area).
- Students who have a sibling already enrolled at the school.
- Students whose parent(s) work at the school.
Out-of-catchment students can also be accepted providing there are vacancies in that year level. Spaces must also be kept for in-catchment students who may enrol during the year. .
We encourage parents of out-of-catchment students to make applications for enrolment and they will be placed on a waiting list. Students are selected from the waiting list (in order of application) and enrolment offered when vacancies occur.
You may be interested to know that our current daily attendance rate sits at 92%. This is great but our target is 95%. Coming to school every day is of the highest importance as our students continue their education. Due to sickness this year and strict COVID guidelines, we recognise that attendance may be lower than this target.
If you are experiencing any issues with attendance, please do not hesitate to contact the school. We are happy to help in any way we can.
Remember that 1 day missed per fortnight equate to an entire year missed by the time a student completes Year 12.
Regards,
Peter Begemann
Principal
School Calendar
TERM 3 CALENDAR
School Events
Friday 6th Aug – Movie Night
Friday 13th Aug - Go Pink Day
Week 6 - Book Week
Thurs 19th Aug – Prep Information Night
Tues 14th Sep - Parent-Teacher Interviews
Fri 17th Sep - Poetry Idol Finals
P&C Events
Mon 16th Aug – P&C meeting
Extra-Curricular Events
Tues 10th August – Year 4 Aquarium Excursion
Other School News
POETRY IDOL
Preparation for the 2021 Poetry Idol competition are already underway. This year, the event will be coordinated by Mrs Edwards. As you know, this competition celebrates children’s literature and has been running for many years now. We always look forward to seeing our talented poets coming through and demonstrating their creative flare!
Students have already commenced the Poetry Idol process by selecting and learning individual poems. An important part of the process is teaching students the strategies they need to master to perform effectively in front of an audience.
PREP ENROLMENT INTERVIEWS
On Thursday 19th August, we will be holding our annual Prep Information Evening. We will be presenting information about our school values, curriculum and pedagogy. One of the main topics is always Goondi Pre Prep program, which is an invaluable way to help children of Prep age to become school ready for 2022.
The Prep classrooms will be open from 5:30pm to 6:00pm followed by an information session in our Multi-Purpose Hall.
Our Deputy Principal, Mrs Jackson, has been busy conducting enrolment interviews for Prep students who will be attending Goondi next year.
Our Pre-Prep program will commence in Term 4 and will run each week for the duration of the program. Morning (9:00-11:00am) and afternoon (1:00-3:00pm) sessions will be run on Thursdays. Parents are to select one of these sessions.
If you have a Prep age student at home or know someone who does, please do not hesitate to talk to the school about the program and enrolment for 2022.
MOVIE NIGHT
Just a reminder that this Friday, Goondi will be holding a movie night from 5-7pm in the hall. All students attending Goondi State School are welcome to attend. Students can bring something comfortable to lay on and enjoy the movie.
NAIDOC WEEK
This week, we will be recognising NAIDOC week and its theme for 2021 of “Heal Country”. On Thursday, we will be holding our assembly on the front lawn so that a flag raising ceremony can take place. We will acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land and leaders past present and emerging.
Student of the Week
Week 2
Week 3
Prep Capers
In English for the next two weeks we will be writing an information report on ducks. In Letterland, we have been looking at initial consonant blends such as ‘bl’ as in black and ‘cl’ as in clock. This week we will be learning all about the blends ‘br’ and ‘cr’.
In Maths the children have been introduced to the teen numbers 11, 12 and 13. We will be looking at the next teen numbers over the coming weeks. We have also looked at many addition strategies such as think big – count small, doubles and adding on two.
In Science, the children have been introduced to living and non-living things. In the next coming weeks, we will be looking at five things animals need: food, air, space, water and shelter.
In HASS, the children have been using their senses to see, smell, touch and taste many different things. Next, we will be looking at special places for example the playground, home or school. We will be looking at what makes them special to us and how we can care for them.
Just a quick reminder Spelling Homework is to be returned to school every day and their home reading is to be completed each night and also returned to school every day. Don’t forget to practise sight words every night.
Kind regards: Tess, Priscilla, Angela, Kath, Anita, Amanda and Cassie
Year 1 Capers
Very exciting news! Our Year 1 vegetable garden was planted last week! It took an organised and patient effort from all Year 1 students to get all of the seeds and seedlings into the ground correctly and in the right place. A huge thanks to Mr King and Mrs Stepanoff for taking the time to show each student how to plant each vegetable into the ground and getting the garden beds ready for planting. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Bunnings Warehouse Innisfail for kindly donating all of the seeds, seedlings, fertiliser, potting mix and other equipment so that our Year 1 garden could happen.
In English, we have been learning all about radishes, taking notes and putting them into sentences to form an information report.
In Maths, we have been learning to read and write half past times in analogue and digital formats and have been counting collections of coins that are over one dollar.
Have a great week,
Leigh, Hayley and Fiona
Year 2 Capers
Wow we blinked and it was Week 4 already! We are having such a great term learning new and interesting things.
In English we are working on each of the paragraphs in our narrative writing to write interesting and funny stories. We have all selected our poems for Poetry Idol and have been practicing when we get a chance.
For Maths we are focussing on time, place value, grouping, problem solving and money problems.
In our Science unit on life and living we are looking at life cycles. We are currently working on presenting a life cycle of a frog or a butterfly to present to the class.
All our best, Miss Mollenhagen, Mrs Hollywood and Mrs Spataro.
Year 3 Capers
The Year Threes have been developing their research skills as they read information to explore Fiji. HASS mapping skill lessons have focussed on labelling capitals and states of Australia as well as representing landmarks on a legend. As we learn more about the world’s climate zones, students will explore the influence it has on the countries we are focussing on especially PNG, Indonesia, Fiji and NZ.
In Maths, we are calculating change and next week, developing our understanding of fractions. Regular home practice on multiplication tables especially 2,3,5,10 times is invaluable; with addition tables we are consolidating doubles, doubles +1 and doubles +2.
Some students have started presenting their poems in preparation for the Poetry Idol in Week 8. It is essential that they memorise and practice at home to develop their confidence and presentation skills. Your support with regular practice is appreciated.
Until next time, Robyn, Janelle, Paula and Lizette.
Year 3/4 & 4 Capers
Wow! Week 4 already!
In English, the students are enjoying researching feral animals and learning to link and rewrite their notes into sentences for Information Reports. So far, we have studied Fallow Deer, feral pigs and feral rabbits. This week, we are reading about feral goats.
In HASS, we have been learning mapping skills with a spotlight on South America and Africa while regularly revisiting the inquiry question, “How can people use environments more sustainably?”
In Science, we have learnt the difference between complete and incomplete metamorphosis, and we are very excited for our excursion to the Cairns Aquarium.
In Maths, we are exploring hundredths, working with timetables and practising the multiplication algorithm.
Most of the students have selected their poem for Poetry Idol, and should be practising it along with their regular homework.
Until next time: Kath and Lisa.
Year 5 Capers
Welcome to Week 4 of the ‘Zoom’ term. Students are picking up the pace this term with their learning and consolidations. Please ensure your child has chosen their poem and is practising it at home for Poetry Idol.
In English, student focus has been centred on the setting and important events for their comparative analysis of Colin Thiele’s famous Australian novel ‘Storm Boy’ and Shawn Seet’s film adaptation.
In Maths, students have been introduced to many new financial concepts such as calculating unit price, saving plans and profit margins.
HASS has challenged students with inquiry questions about democracy and people’s rights and responsibilities.
In our Science Animal Adaptations unit, students have become biogenic engineers creating their own unique and interesting species of fish.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any concerns.
Cheers for now,
Rebecca, Emily & Kerry.
Year 6 Capers
Welcome to Week 4. Students are picking up the pace this term with their learning and consolidations. Please ensure your child is practising their poem at home for Poetry Idol.
In English, student focus has been centred on the main characters and events for their comparative analysis of JRR Tolkien’s novel ‘The Hobbit’ and Peter Jackson’s film adaptation. It is important to ensure that each student is reading nightly and completing novel study tasks at home as required.
During Maths, we have been developing our skills to calculate the area of a triangle and compound shapes, continuing our investigation into measurement conversions and working with reflections.
Students will be learning how to read the weather by interpreting synoptic charts and investigating preparation strategies for natural disasters in Science.
Marica Cunningham, Aaron Harbour, Melanie Worth and Janette McClelland
Sports News
The Arts
Hard to believe we are already in Week 4, however it’s been a fantastic fortnight in Dance, with all students showing great enthusiasm and motivation in class. Focusing on foundational elements such as Non-Locomotive and Locomotive Movements, students have been developing routines which aim to teach simple choreography techniques including rotation, swing, twist, shake, slide, jump, rock and roll to name a few. Students are also being introduced to famous dances from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s as inspiration. In the lower years, students are exploring characters in stories and rhymes as stimulus and are improvising and organising ideas to make dance sequences. They will also explore two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional objects for movement. Our middle year students are considering the use of dance in different countries to create a routine based on a particular cultural style. Upper year students continue to focus on collaborative routines and will respond to dances of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Francesca Rosa
Classes enjoying dance.
Art Hub
LOTE News
Students in Years 5 and 6 Italian classes at Goondi State School are responding well to questions and statements in Italian. Their fluency and confidence in speaking is progressing well.
Year 5 students are listening to, reading and saying a simple conversation using questions they have learnt thus far this term. They are also completing a cloze activity with these questions. Year 6 students are learning how to say and write what sports and hobbies they do and when they do them.
All classes are learning a new song to enhance their fluency and pronunciation in Italian. A neat and accurate bookwork standard is promoted and expected.
Continue encouraging your child to speak Italian with you and discuss what they are learning.
Arrivederci (Goodbye)
Signora Lazzarini
Library News
Calling all book fans! We have book week coming up in Week 6. Get your costume ready for the theme: Old worlds, New worlds, Other worlds. Will you be a knight in shining armour? A Jedi from another planet? Or a creature from the world under the sea? Looking forward to seeing your imagination at work!
Mrs Edwards
Teacher Librarian
Student Council News
The Croods 2 - A New Age (rated PG)
Where: Goondi State School Hall
Who: Only Goondi students may attend
When: Friday, August 6th (Week 4)
Time: 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Cost: Gold coin donation upon entry.
Bring along some extra money as drinks and snacks will also be sold. Wear comfy clothes (e.g. pyjamas) and bring a pillow, sleeping bag or blanket to lay on. We hope to see as many Goondi students as possible in attendance - thank you for your support!
