Goondi SS Newsletter 10.03.22
From the Principal
Dear Parents and Carers,
Firstly, can I take this opportunity to thank our parents and carers for their cooperation and support over the first few weeks of 2022. Once again, we have been unable to have a normal start to a term due to COVID-19. We have dealt with a 2-week delay to the start of the year, a raft of restrictions affecting access to the school, volunteer assistance, assemblies, excursions and the list goes on.
Last Friday, the restrictions were eased somewhat and we will now be able to hold school assemblies and welcome back parents and other visitors to the school itself.
We will need to continue to be vigilant around signs and symptoms of COVID and it remains the case that students should not be sent to school if they are symptomatic. At the moment, we have a number of students and staff in isolation and this will remain a challenge for the time being. We thank our community for their understanding at this difficult time.
We look forward to welcoming parents and carers to school to watch our 2022 cross country event on Wednesday March 23rd. This will be a welcome shift to a more normal looking school year. Cross country will be followed the very next day (Thursday 24th March) by the 2022 school photos.
Also on Thursday March 24th, we will be holding out Student Leader Investiture. This is where our 2022 student council will be formally recognised in their leadership positions. After meeting with the student council I feel confident that they will discharge their duties with pride and represent Goondi State School to the very best of their ability.
Next term will see the students in years 3 and 5 taking part in NAPLAN testing. This year will be Goondi State School’s transition to on-line. The web address below takes users directly to a public demonstration site where sample tests are available to try. These match the format that the on-line tests will take.
https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site
The features that can be seen include question types, on screen tools, timers and interactive navigation. The demonstration tests cover a sample of possible questions.
Regards,
Peter Begemann
Principal
Other School News
ATTENDANCE AWARDS
While the situation continues around the COVID-19 pandemic, we share our families concerns about their students’ health and well-being. As you know parents and carers must continue to keep students feeling unwell at home and isolate if positive or a close contact. Therefore, we have regretfully taken the decision to continue with the hold on our school attendance recognition programs.
CAR PARK/ROAD SAFETY
May we remind parents and carers NOT to walk children through the car park in the mornings or afternoons. While this may seem harmless at the time, our students are then believing this is okay to do alone and placing themselves at potential risk. Please use the pathways and foot entrances to school.
Again, a reminder to only cross the road at the designated crossing, even when there is no supervisor in place. Crossing the road from between parked cars normalises the behaviour and puts our students at unnecessary risk.
SCHOOL PHOTOS
School photos will be taken on Thursday 24th March. The photos will be taken by NQ School Photography. Order forms and envelopes have been sent home allowing you to choose which pack and design you would like to order.
Students are to be in full school uniform (New or old design, not senior shirts) and we recommend that students bring a comb or brush to school on the day to assist with grooming prior to class and portrait photos.
INTER-HOUSE CROSS-COUNTRY
Our first athletics event for the year, our inter-house cross-country will take place throughout the day on Wednesday 23rd March.
Our students have been training over the last few weeks during their morning endurance runs and have been made familiar with the course in readiness for the cross-country day. We expect all students to participate and we are immensely proud of the number of students who participate and complete the course. The event is structured in such a way that every student who finishes, regardless of where they finish, scores points for their house.
We encourage all students to wear their house colours on the day. These are:
Palmerston – Red, Johnstone – Green, Geraldton – Yellow. Students must wear joggers to compete in the cross country.
NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST BULLYING
On Friday the 18th of March Goondi State School will be recognising the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence and its importance in today’s society as our young people face an increasing number of challenges both in the community and on-line. In 2021, over 65% of Australian schools and nearly 2.4 million students nationwide took part.
On the day, Friday March 18th we will be holding a free dress day to recognise the National Day of Action Against Bullying. We encourage everybody to wear something orange to show their awareness of the day.
Bullying Definition
‘Bullying is an ongoing misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that causes physical and/or psychological harm. It can involve an individual or a group misusing their power over one or more persons. Bullying can happen in person or online, and it can be obvious (overt) or hidden (covert).
Bullying of any form or for any reason can have long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders.
Single incidents and conflict or fights between equals, whether in person or online, are not defined as bullying.’
Behaviours that do not constitute bullying include:
- mutual arguments and disagreements (where there is no power imbalance)
- not liking someone or a single act of social rejection
- one-off acts of meanness or spite
- isolated incidents of aggression, intimidation or violence
INVESTING FOR SUCCESS
Our 2022 focus will continue to be on using the funding to improve Reading in Prep to Year 3 and improve Numeracy across the board.
Our targets are to guarantee that every student will either a) achieve National Minimum Standard for their year level or b) have an evidence-based learning plan in place to address their specific learning needs.
- Ensure that the following Reading targets in P-3 are attained:
- Prep – 80% of students achieving Level 10.
- Year 1 – 80% of students achieving Level 20.
- Year 2 – 80% of students achieving Level 25.
- Year 3 – 80% of students achieving Level 28.
- Ensure that the following Numeracy targets in Years 3 and 5 are attained.
- NAPLAN Numeracy mean above Australian mean; 50% of students in the upper two bands.
We also have support personnel to deliver reading intervention programs for those students identified at being at risk of not achieving the National Minimum Standard.
School Calendar
TERM 1 CALENDAR
School Events
Friday 18th Mar – National Day of Action Against Bullying & Violence (Free Dress day-no donation) wear orange and normal school shoes
Monday 21st Mar - P&C AGM Followed by General Meeting
Thursday 24th Mar – School Photos
Sport Events
Wed 23rd March – Inter-House Cross Country
Prep Capers
Our prep classes have been very busy, and the students have been working really hard learning the daily routines and expectations of the classroom. Each session is filled with lots of learning and fun activities.
In English for the last few weeks, we have been writing weekend recounts, responding to story books, cutting and pasting Letterland sentences and sequencing pictures in the correct order. Students have also begun to use their sight words as sentence starts to create sentences. In Letterland, we have been looking at characters names, sounds, actions and letter names. We have looked at pictures and bounced the first initial sound. Students are learning about Word Families such at ‘at’, ‘an’ and ‘et’. Prep teachers have introduced students to reading and modelled what our reading groups process.
In Maths, the children have been learning about numbers one to seven. They have learnt to read and represent each number by using pictures, ten frames, dice and tallies. We will continue to learn about colours, 2D shapes, sorting objects, graphs and more and less.
In the Active Learning program students learnt about the Goondi 5 Rules (Get Organised, Show Respect, Be Safe, Work Hard, and Bounce Back. The Goodi 5 is introduced and enhanced with the story of “Monster LuLu Goes to School”. Students made their own Monster LuLu Puppet to remind them of the expectations in their classroom. They have been taught basic skill to effectively work in a Prep classroom. During Friday activities, students learnt about themselves, friendships, manners and about the “Think Chair/Red Slip’. Art activities align with the weekly Letterland Character that has been introduced and the students read the sentence in the reading book.
A big thank you to our prep families for supporting your child/children with homework daily. It is very important to be practising sight words as this helps students with reading, writing and spelling. Homework is sent home on Monday to Thursday and no homework on the weekend. Don’t forget library day is on Friday and students require a library bag to borrow the books.
Kind regards
Prep A, Prep B, Prep C Teams
Year 1 Capers
Well we are at the half way mark this term and time really is flying in Year 1.
In English, we have really been impressed with the huge efforts put into weekly writing tasks. The students are enjoying writing imaginative recounts that include the correct structure. In Grammar, we have been learning about the importance of adding adjectives to our writing to make it more interesting for the reader.
In Maths, we have been consolidating 3D and 2D shapes and have been looking at their unique features. We have been measuring the length of items using non standard units such as paddle-pop sticks, hands and feet. We are also getting quicker with our recall of the doubles facts.
In Science this week the students looked at how animals are affected by the weather. We learnt about a certain bird in the town and how this bird can be a sign that rainy weather is on the way. Ask your child what bird this is.
Miss Slater, Mrs Barba, Miss Vandal and Mrs Stepanoff.
Year 2 Capers
It’s already Week 7, and we are halfway through our shortened Term 1. We have been working hard these few weeks on all of our subjects.
In Maths we have been learning about the language of probability, and the chance that an event could happen. We’ve also been working on developing our Bar Model understanding, a vital building block for future Maths problem solving.
In English we have been working on our Imaginative Recount, writing new stories every week. This week is exciting because we are doing superheroes! (Mr Worth is a big Marvel fan).
In HASS we have been looking at the scale of places, from Australia’s place in the world, to naming continents and finding oceans, down to the local pool and our own classroom.
Science has been experimental: mixing different solids and liquids together to see what happens! All very exciting.
Please help us by checking on the homework that your student brings home, in particular the spelling words that they should be writing every night. These words get tested on Fridays, and the average of these scores work towards their English mark for the term, so the more practice the better.
Wishing all of our students the best for this coming week.
Nathan Worth, Robyn Scheiwe and Jeanette Spataro.
Year 3 Capers
Hello everyone,
The Grade 3 classrooms have continued to be very busy places. After spending four weeks writing narratives we have now begun writing persuasive texts. Ask your child what a rhetorical question is, and whether books are better than TV! Make sure they can back up their opinion with solid arguments.
In Maths this week we are examining Australian money, counting and making different amounts and calculating change. Next week we will be looking at 4-digit numbers as well as consolidating our understanding of multiplication and division. Some children are still experiencing difficulties with telling the time to 5 minutes. If you have the chance, take a moment to revise and check their understanding of time.
In Science we have been looking at observable features of animals and plants while our Technology unit focuses on coding using the ‘Scratch’ program. The children (and teachers) have really been enjoying learning this.
Until next time, Donna, Janelle, Paula and Lizette
Year 4 Capers
We are now rocketing toward the end of term one which means that we are gearing up for end-of-term testing. English assessments will begin in Week 8, and Maths assessments will begin in Week 9.
This week students completed their mid term key reflections. Congratulations to those students who achieved a B or A key level.
We are enjoying the students “Sizzling Starts” in their narratives. A Sizzling Start is when a writer zooms straight into the action to engage the reader. Our Sizzling Starts include starting with action, dialogue or sound (onomatopoeia).
In Maths we are practising vertical algorithms for addition and subtraction and working with fractions.
In Technology, the students are very enthusiastic to start the construction phase of their Build a Bridge challenge. Please assist your child to collect the materials they need for their bridge. We will also have materials on hand at school.
Year 4 have Library on Fridays. Please remind your child to bring his or her books to exchange on that day.
A reminder that students are expected to hand homework in for marking every Friday morning. Students should read for at least 15 minutes every night and have it recorded in the home reading signer.
Until next time, Kath, Kathy and Mel.
Year 4/5 & 5 Capers
Here we are in 2022 and students have now settled into school life. Students are continuing to work hard at developing and consolidating their learning in all subjects for their forthcoming end-of-term tests. Our mid-term keys have been administered and students are aware of how they need to improve to reach an A key. Personal goals have been set to attain key success.
In English, students are now working hard to consolidate and develop narrative writing skills. In the next few weeks, students will be using their figurative and descriptive language whilst building tension creatively to become the best imaginative writers possible.
In Maths, we continue our focus on using estimation to check equations, solving equations with order of operations and interpreting column graphs to determine statistical data.
Students are introduced to the terms transparent, translucent, and opaque through an engaging video and images in Science. They then design and conduct an experiment to test and classify a range of materials, based on how well light travels through them.
In HASS, students explore an example of some current needs in a community – equal access to change rooms and a level playing field. They use a tug of war routine to decide which issue should be fixed with limited resources. The students investigate storm water harvesting as a way to manage resources in a sustainable way.
We are continuing to focus on improving a range of Information Communication Technology skills in order to prepare students for online testing methods. All students have access to a range of online resources and programs and are encouraged to practice these skills at home. Improving typing skills is of particular importance as students participating in NAPLAN this year will need to type their written response. Students have access to Typing Club which gives guided touch-typing lessons which they can continue to practice at home.
Please do not hesitate to drop in or contact us if you have any questions. Thank you for your support.
Cheers for now, Rebecca, Jessie & Janette.
Year 6 Capers
Hello Year 6 families!
After a late start to the school year, students have been working hard to make up for lost time! We are impressed with the work ethic and resilience of so many of our students, who are participating and working hard every day. Over the next week or so we will continue to develop and consolidate learning in preparation for our end-of-term tests, the results of which will help to inform our planning for next term.
Students recently self-reflected on their behaviour and conferenced with us about their mid-term key levels. Everyone should be very aware of what they need to do to reach their desired key level by the end of term.
In English, we are continuing with our weekly imaginative historical recounts based on our novel 'Scarecrow Army'. Students are learning about the benefits of careful planning, and how to “Show Not Tell” when writing. Ask your child if their perception of the ANZACs has changed as we read further into the novel and discover more about the hardships that these men endured. We’ve had a lot of really interesting, and sometimes sobering, discussions during class about this.
In Maths, we will focus on decimals, mental strategies to assist with addition and subtraction, and calculating time durations using 24 hour time, as well as revising any concepts students are finding tricky. In HASS we continue with our exploration into different cultures around the world. Science has us looking at fossil fuels as an energy source, and will go on to focus on renewable energy sources, and the pros and cons of all of these.
If your child does not have a water bottle for school, please send one in with them.
Great communication between school and home means we can work as a team, so please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions!
Thank you for your support!
Tjaart Richards, Melanie Worth and Janette McClelland.
The Arts News
Drama! Drama! Drama! This term is flying and the students have had a blast so far showing off their acting skills through performative play and physical storytelling. Encouraging self-expression, imagination, confidence and creativity, each class incorporates group activities, with an emphasis on active participation and having fun. Drama allows students to explore key dramatic elements such as conflict, tension, problems, and emotions, and are encouraged to use their voices, faces, and bodies to communicate and express themselves. Already we have started working together to explore skills and techniques including mime, improvisation, role-plays and narrating dramatic action to bring stories to life. They have particularly enjoyed game-playing using characters that react and relate to each other in dramatic scenes and scenarios. I am looking forward to seeing the progression of our students’ confidence and abilities throughout the term.
Francesca Rosa
The Arts
Year 5 students enjoying Drama.
LOTE News
Benvenuti (Welcome) to our first newsletter article for this term. The Years 5 and 6 Italian classes at Goondi State School have been building on their Italian language. We are consistently speaking, writing and listening to our new words.
Year 5 students are learning a song and the alphabet to promote their language pronunciation. They are also learning to answer simple questions about themselves. Year 6 students are writing and reading simple conversations in Italian between more than two people. Students are revising and building on verbs learnt previously to make and answer questions in the conversations.
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
Music News
We have had a good start to Music this year with very pleasing progress in all year levels. Due to restrictions lifting we have had a number of new events happen this week:
SENIOR CHOIR (YEARS 4-6)
Senior Choir for selected students from Years 4- 6 started rehearsals this week on Monday. Rehearsal times are Mondays 1:35 – 2:00pm and Wednesdays 8:30 – 9:00am. The expectation is students attend all rehearsals if at school. Our first performance will be at the School ANZAC Day Ceremony on Friday 22 April in the morning session.
The Senior Choir will also perform at the Innisfail Young Performers Competition on Friday 3 June at the Shire Hall and the Cairns Eisteddfod in Week 10 Term 2 at the Cairns Performing Arts Centre (date yet to be confirmed).
JUNIOR CHOIRS (YEAR 1/YEAR 2/YEAR 3)
Our three Junior Choirs involving all students in Years 1 – 3 began rehearsing this week for the Innisfail Young Performers Competition to be held on Friday 3 June at the Shire Hall. Rehearsal time is during normal music lessons. More information will be sent home early next term. The competition is open to the public.
RECORDER (YEARS 4-5)
This week Years 4-5 began learning recorder again in music lessons. All students must have their own recorder as it is part of the music program and students will be assessed on their playing ability at the end of the semester. Recorders are available at Larsen’s Newsagency next to the Shire Hall. Due to covid, it is essential that each student has their own instrument clearly marked, and that they bring it to every lesson. It is best if their recorders stay in their school bags so that they can access them at home when they receive homework practise sheets, and to ensure they have them at school for music lessons. Presently I have all the students’ recorders and will instruct students to keep them in their school bags starting next week.
Kerry Macgillivray
Community News
