Goondi SS Newsletter 15th September 2021
From the Principal
Dear Parents and Carers,
Term 3 has been a very busy one with a range of events happening including this week’s Poetry Idol, district athletics earlier in the term, Children’s Book Week and ICAS.
We held the district athletics carnival at Goondi this term and we were very proud of our individual student and team performances. Our students gave their all and displayed great sportsmanship and a real sense of fair play throughout the day.
We achieved some very strong NAPLAN results across both Year 3 and 5 with Goondi above the FNQ, QLD and Australian averages in all areas tested. This again affirms that what we do here at Goondi State School continues to support our students to achieve to the best of their potential.
Our Pre-Prep program is scheduled to commence on October 21st. This has been delayed because of the renovation work being carried out on our prep classroom. Our program is of a very high standard and will continue to lay the ground work for success in children’s first years of schooling.
Book Week brought literature to life through a dress-up day and we were all amazed by the standard of costumes and the effort our students, families and friends had gone to in making them. The view was that this year’s event was the best that we can remember at our school.
Poetry Idol will take place in the hall this Friday. We are looking forward to seeing how well our students perform from our prep finalists, right through to our senior students. We know that this will be a great event.
On assembly this week, we will present a number of students in Years 1-6 with their Goondi 5 Exemplary Behaviour certificates for achieving an “A” key level.
As we have said many times now, these students are all outstanding role models and are well deserving of these awards. If your child is one of these, please congratulate them. They have done an amazing job.
Term 4 is just around the corner and it will be a busy one as we move towards the end of the school year.
Once again, thank you for your continued support of our school.
Regards,
Peter Begemann
Principal
School Calendar
School Events
Thurs 21st October – Pre-Prep commences
P&C Events
Mon 18th Oct – P&C meeting
Extra-Curricula Events
Mon 18th Oct - Primary Band and Strings Camp
Wed 10th Nov - Year 5 Camp at Camp Paterson
Student of the Week
Week 8 Student of the Week
Week 9 Student of the Week
Other School News
ATTENDANCE
This fortnight, our attendance sits at 91.6%. 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.
We understand that attendance will be affected by COVID-19 protocols, but whilst adhering to the guidelines around health, it is so important to attend school every day if possible.
PRE-PREP PROGRAM
A reminder that our Pre-Prep program commencement date has changed due to the building work currently being carried out in our prep class room. The program will now commence on Thursday 21st October and will run weekly, finishing on Thursday 2nd December. Morning (9:00-11:00am) and afternoon (1:00-3:00pm). Sessions will be run on Thursdays.
MEDICAL PLANS
If your child has a medical condition that may require treatment or attention at school, this means that we need to have an up to date medical plan. A common example is an asthma plan. Please contact the school as soon as possible to arrange your plan.
PARENT PICK UP
3pm is very busy at the parent pick up gate. There is no need to wait! Parents and carers may pick up children at 3pm. This will help to ease the number of students waiting, some for up to 30 minutes after school has finished. There are parking bays along the entire school and oval frontage available for use.
SCHOOL RESUMES
Parents and carers are reminded that school resumes next term on Tuesday 5th October. Monday October 4th is a public holiday.
KEEP A WATCH ON OUR SCHOOL
During the school holidays, we ask parents, carers, neighbours and students to keep a watch on our school. If you see anything suspicious, call the School Watch hotline on 13 17 88. The School Watch Program is a partnership between the Department and the State Government Protective Security Service. It aims to reduce vandalism, theft and arson in schools.
Prep Capers
In English students will be completing their writing assessment on Snakes. In Letterland, we have been looking at initial consonant blends such as ‘sc’ as in snake and ‘sk’ as in street. This week we will be learning all about the blends ‘sn’ and ‘st’. Well done to all prep students who presented their poems, everyone has done an amazing job. A big congratulations to our three prep students who are in the Poetry Idol final. Good luck on Friday!
In maths the children have been working on their Maths Assessments and Rocket Fast Facts. We will continue looking at the teen numbers and addition strategies until the end of the term.
In Science, the children have completed their Animal Enclosures. Students have done a great job with their designs and box collage. In HASS, the children continue to explore special places such as the hall the oval. When we look at these special places, we think about what makes them special to us and how can we care for them. Students draw, label and explain why they are special to them using their Five Senses (touch, smell, hear, see and taste)
A big thank you to our Prep families for always working hard with your children and Prep staff. We wish you all a happy and safe holiday and look forward seeing you all in Term4.
Kind regards: Priscilla, Rose, Angela, Kath, Anita, Amanda and Cassie
Year 1 Capers
Well we are at the end of yet another term and I know everyone is certainly looking forward to the holidays after a fast paced and hard-working term.
Last week we were lucky enough to have guest speaker, Mrs Christensen, come in to talk to Year one about birds. Mrs Christensen brought in lots of different types of birds, feathers and parts of bodies for the students to touch and handle. We certainly learnt many interesting facts and had a lot of fun. Thankyou very much for coming in Mrs Christensen.
Have a safe and happy holidays everyone
Leigh, Hayley and Fiona
Year 2 Capers
It’s the last week of term and what a great term it has been.
In English we are writing good copies of the narratives we have completed. Our Year 2 finalist are also preparing to present their poetry pieces in our poetry idol finals on Friday.
For Maths we have completed assessment and are revising some of the more difficult concepts. This includes time, elapsed time and word problems.
We are completing our HASS assessment where students get to compare an item of technology from the past to a modern day object. We have had lots of interesting old items brought in to look at and discuss.
Wishing you all a safe and enjoyable break.
All our best, Miss Mollenhagen, Mrs Hollywood and Mrs Spataro.
Year 3 Capers
As another busy term draws to a close, we have many achievements to celebrate. The students have worked hard to develop their note taking and research skills. They are working industriously to complete their final draft after they’ve edited their writing. A huge thankyou to the parents and carers with the support provided with the Poetry Idol presentations. The students have also benefitted with regular practise of addition and multiplication tables for homework as well as spelling practise.
Next term, we will commence an interesting Technology unit based on making a cardboard pinball machine. Our storerooms are presently cluttered with fruit boxes in anticipation.
To improve comprehension and maintain fluency, we highly encourage students to keep reading over the holidays.
We wish you all a safe, healthy and happy break.
Until next time, Robyn, Janelle, Paula and Lizette.
Year 3/4 & 4 Capers
Week 10 is finally here and I am sure that we are all looking forward to a well-deserved break. We commend the students for their hard work and commitment during the final few weeks of this term. On Wednesday Week 9, we held the Year 4 Poetry Idol semi-finals and the Year 3’s participated in the Year Three semi’s. Congratulations to all of the semi-finalists, and good luck to the winners who will represent Year 3 and 4 in the Finals which will be held this Friday. Judging was a very challenging job!
School holidays are an ideal time to take stock of resources and purchase any stationery items required for Term 4. Your child has completed a check list of required items. Please note that novelty stationery items are not permitted at school as they are frequently ineffective and can be distracting. As Term 4 often coincides with the onset of hot weather, please supply your child with a water bottle which can remain at school during the week. Staying hydrated is an effective strategy for avoiding headaches and lethargy which often coincides with the onset of the hot weather. Furthermore, as we will be running the air-conditioners, it is a good idea for students to have a jumper they can put on if they sit in one of the classroom’s cold spots.
Until next term, Kath and Lisa.
Year 5 Capers
3 down terms down, 1 to go! We are saying goodbye to Adaptations in Science, Democracy in HASS and Storm Boy in English. While it has been an exciting term, we look forward to seeing what's ahead. Here's a little sneak peak: Matter in Science, Game Changers in HASS and an exciting Gold Rush based unit in English.
All camp forms are due this Friday (17th September). If you have any questions or concerns regarding camp, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Congratulations and good luck to Emily W, Allariah and Keean, our Year 5 Poetry Idol finalists! We look forward to seeing you perform on Friday!
Please check with your child to see if their school supplies are running low, having all the correct equipment will help us to continue our great work into Term 4.
Thank you kindly for all your support so far this year,
Emily, Rebecca and Kerry.
Year 6 Capers
Welcome to Week 10. Students are winding up the term with various activities after finishing Week 9 testing. The year level finals of Poetry Idol were completed and congratulations to all students who presented their poems to the year level. The decision was not easy to select only 3, with so many deserving to make it through to the whole school final.
There was much excitement around going to the high school this week for our transition day as well as the HOTSHOTS program. On Monday, students learned to read the high school’s timetable, making their way around the much larger school to find certain rooms.
In English, we are finishing our reading of ‘The Hobbit’ and practising our typing skills completing our comparative analysis.
During Maths, we have been revising concepts and now breaking down our test results.
Students are demonstrating their inquisitive skills as we wrap up our HASS unit.
Marica Cunningham, Aaron Harbour, Melanie Worth and Janette McClelland
The Arts News
As we come to the end of our term in Dance, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the students for bringing so much enthusiasm, skill and talent to all our classes. We have had a fantastic time learning about different styles and techniques and in particular how different cultures focus on the art of movement for storytelling. Particular highlights and inspirational styles have included Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal Australian Dance. Next term’s curriculum focus will be Media Arts and I promise it will be a creatively fun learning experience once again.
Happy and Safe Holidays to all!
Francesca Rosa
The Arts
Year 4 inspired by Torres Strait Islander Dance
Music News
Three weeks ago Year 3/4 & 4 started learning the recorder and they have made terrific progress in that time. Next term both Year 3 classes will also begin recorder lessons. As part of learning the recorder each child will be given a homework sheet so they can practise in their own time. I have asked students to practise for 5 mins a day, to ensure they are progressing well. If they do not practise outside their music lessons at school, it will be challenging for them to keep up in class, as the music will become more difficult as we move forward in their lessons. I congratulate those students who have been practising regularly as it is obvious in class that they have been working in their own time. I know that listening to anybody learning to play an instrument can be quite a strain at times for parents, so I thank you for your patience and please be assured that it will only get better.
Happy Holidays!
Kerry Macgillivray
Music Teacher
LOTE News
Working individually and as classes, Years 5 and 6 students at Goondi State School are developing their Italian knowledge. Speaking, writing, listening to new words, phrases, sentences and questions in Italian is increasing their skill level in the language. Well done students!
Year 5 students are completing their assessment. They are having scripted conversations with three students using some previous language that they learnt this term. Year 6 students are completing their written assessment task on La mia giornata (My day). In this task, students are furthering their knowledge of Italian nouns, verbs and adjectives and have created avatars.
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
Community News
