Goondi SS Newsletter 15.03.23
From the Leadership Team
Dear Parents and Carers,
As the term quickly draws to an end, we would like to congratulate our students on a successful start to 2023. Term One certainly has been busy. At the end of each term, classes are busy consolidating concepts and content taught and completing end of term assessment. Please make sure your child is at school each day unless they are unwell. This will ensure they are able to participate in all the necessary assessments leading up to the end of term.
In the final week of term, we will be offering an opportunity for all parents and carers to meet with class teachers for an oral report around student progress. The Parent-Teacher interview will provide you with a summary of your child’s progress for Term One. During the interview you will be provide with information in relation to the following
- How your child has settled into their new class and year level and how they are coping with routines and classroom expectations.
- A general overview of your child’s performance to date.
- Your child’s behaviour and how they relate to others.
- Other issues which may be impacting on their learning and suggestions on how you can support your child.
The interview will also provide you with an opportunity to raise areas of concern, or to seek clarification on aspects of your child’s progress.
It is highly recommended that you make every effort to attend an interview with your child’s teacher.
PARENT-TEACHER INTERVIEWS
Parent-Teacher interviews will be held in Week 9 for 2B from Tuesday 21st to Thursday 23rd March. Appointments will close on Monday 20th March.
Parent-Teacher interviews will be held for 5B in Term 2 Week 2. Appointments are open and will close on Monday 21st April.
Parent-Teacher interviews will be held for all other classes in Week 10 from Monday 27th toThursday 30th March. Interviews of 15 minutes duration will be held between 3:15pm and 5:00 pm. All interviews are conducted in your child’s classroom. Appointments will close on Friday 24th March.
Appointments can now be made on-line using this URL:
https://eq.sobs.com.au/pt3/parent.phpschoolid=70429
Inter-House Cross Country
Our first athletics event for the year, our Inter-House Cross-County will take place next Wednesday 22nd March from 9-11am.
As always, our students have been training since the beginning of the year during their morning endurance runs and have been made familiar with the course in readiness for the cross-county 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 a point for their house.
We encourage all student to wear their house colour on the day.
These are:
Palmerston-Red
Johnstone-Green
Geraldton-Yellow
Students must wear joggers to complete the cross-country.
Parents, Carers and families are encouraged to come along and cheer our students on.
Palmerston
Johnstone
Geraldton
NAPLAN
This week and next our students in Year 3 and 5 are participating in NAPLAN. NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy skills that students are already learning through our school curriculum. Parents and carers often ask how they can assist their children to ensure they perform well in the tests. There is no real studying for the tests as the concepts and skills tested have been taught and consolidated a number of times.
Parents can help however by ensuring the following 3 steps are followed.
- A Good Night’s Sleep – It is important that students get a good night’s sleep before each of the tests. Research recommends a minimum of 9 hours a night for children’s brains to develop properly. Students need to be well rested so that they are alert and ready at the commencement of the day.
- A Healthy Breakfast and Lunch – The most important meal of the day is even more crucial on testing days. Ensure that students have a substantial breakfast and healthy lunch so that they have sufficient energy to carry them through the testing periods. Avoid those processed foods that are high in sugar and result in spikes in blood sugar levels, followed by a drop in energy.
- Reassurance – Reassure your child that there is nothing new in the tests. All the questions are based around work covered in class at some point. All we ask is that they give it their very best shot.
We are confident that all our students are well prepared and will give each of the tests a red hot go.
Regards,
Tania Kaitara Kristina Haigh
Principal Deputy Principal
School Calendar
15th Mar - NAPLAN begins Year 3 & 5
22nd Mar - Cross Country
Week 9 & 10 - Parent-Teacher Interviews
31st Mar - Last day for Term 1
Prep Capers
Times flies when you are having FUN! Week 8!!!
We have a busy couple of weeks ahead as students begin English and Maths Assessments.
In English, students will be assessed on letter recognition, sight words, rhyming, reading and their writing skills. This week, students will begin Show and Tell. This encourages students with their speaking and listening skills. Students can bring in something that is special to them and share it with their teaching staff and peers. We are coming to the end of learning all of the Letterland Characters, students are doing a fantastic job remembering all learnt so far. Sight words testing has begun and students are showing improvement in this area, so please continue to do these daily. Students are keen to read during reading groups and are doing a great job and they are using strategies such as, sounding out three letter words.
Maths lessons have been fun and very busy during the term. There has been lots of hands on activities which students enjoy as they use manipulate resources during their learning. The next coming weeks classes will revise taught Maths concepts and learn some new concepts like Adding one-digit numbers. Students will act out addition stories while adding numbers 1to 5.
Students continue to adapt very well to their classroom routines and are navigating their way around the big school very confidently while moving to their specialist lessons. Great Job Preppies!
Thanks to all our families for making Term 1 an easy transition for your child’s first year of schooling.
May you all have a happy and safe holiday. Look forward to seeing our families in Term 2.
Yours in Prep
Mrs Myers, Mrs Barba, Mrs Ferguson and Mrs Tanti 😊
Year 1 Capers
It is a very busy time of the term here in Year 1 with testing being conducted over the next 2 weeks. It is really important that students are getting to bed early and having a nutritional breakfast each day to sustain their concentration during testing.
In English this week the students will be completing their assessment for their imaginative recount. We have been really impressed with the creativity of storylines and the enthusiasm showed by all students towards writing each week.
In Maths we have been revising final concepts. Testing will begin this week and will continue into next week as well and will culminate with a timed Addition number facts test.
Keep practicing sight words, home reading and writing out spelling words each night. A little practice each night can make a big difference!
Leigh, Hayley, Wendy, Fiona, Kimberley and Anita.
Year 2 Capers
Hello again from Year 2!
Week 8 already, and we are in the middle of our assessment period. We use a mixture of bookwork, written assessments and tests to calculate results for our learners, so there’s a lot happening during this time. To help your learner get the best results possible, there are some things you can do to help. We all know the benefit of a good night’s sleep and a good breakfast, and while it’s important every day, it’s vital through this testing phase. Hard to concentrate when you are hungry! Attendance is another big factor, every day really does count, and the more assessment that gets missed, the harder it is to catch up.
It’s been a pleasure to watch the growth in these students from one term already, and these assessments provide valuable data to highlight areas to focus on, as well as showing understanding of the content that we have covered so far.
Parent-Teacher Interviews are in Week 10, and when the booking becomes available you will be notified. If you wish for a particular time then it’s better to get on quickly, however interviews or meetings can be arranged for any time if you feel the need to discuss something.
Nathan Worth, Robyn Scheiwe, Kathy Pike and Jeanette Spataro.
Year 3 Capers
Naplan is here and we are ready. Students have worked so hard on their writing and are demonstrating a good understanding of the exposition and narrative genres. We wish them all the very best. While it is just a test in time, like all tests, it is interesting to see the results and we use the data to inform us of areas we can improve our practice.
This week our number fact focus is the 3 times tables and doubles plus two, and can also be called the ‘piggy in the middle’ strategy. Our Maths lessons concentrates on the addition and subtraction algorithm, which will be another strategy students can use when making calculations.
Next week, will be another busy week as we sit for our end of term tests. Results will be shared at Parent-Teacher Interviews in Week 10.
Our Speaking Task, ‘All about me’ is on the way and we need you to check the spelling of family names written on draft copies. The final poster and presentation is Friday, Week 9.
Students should be close to completing their technology guessing game, so we begin HASS. Our unit looks at celebrations and commemorations held in Australia and how some of these look in other countries.
Until next time, Lisa, Deb, Janelle, and Amanda.
Year 4 Capers
Enjoy this Sizzling Start which flows straight into the Complication written by year 4 student, Nico Azzopardi. I can't wait to find out what happens next.
The Aliens Revenge
“Everyone, get your hazard suits on, its escaped!” Cries of pure terror could be heard from throughout the bunker.
“What are we going to do?” shouted Norman. “It wants to eat me, I know it!” “Its okay Norman,” replied Jake calmly. “Everything’s going to be just fi-“
But before Jake could finish his sentence, the lights went out.
“Well I guess everything’s not fine,” mumbled Jake. “Run,”
“Come on, we need to evacuate!” shouted Norman. But there was no answer. “Jake?” he called. “Where are you?” Still no answer. Suddenly, the lights flickered back on. Jake was gone! And in place of where he stood, were claw marks. Norman stood frozen to the spot. He couldn’t believe that an alien had captured (or eaten) his best friend Jake. He was going to get revenge and he knew exactly how.
By Nico Azzopardi
Year 5 Capers
Students are completing NAPLAN this week. They are working hard to achieve their best and we are pleased with the effort we are seeing.
In English, students have been consolidating their writing knowledge for NAPLAN.
In Mathematics, we have been solving division problems with remainders, the LATTICE method to solve double digit multiplication sums and word problems using 24 hour and 12 hour times. We are also beginning to do revision in preparation for our end of term testing.
Students continue to research and communicate how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples use observations of the night sky to inform decisions about resources and significant cultural events. In HASS we have been looking at the expenses of raising a child in Australia and at how we determine whether resources are needs or wants in our lives. Students are also preparing for cross country in week 9 on Wednesday. Please ensure students are having a good breakfast and sleeping well for NAPLAN.
Cheers for now, Rebecca, Kayla and Janette.
Year 5/6 & 6 Capers
Term 1 has certainly flown by with all students now reviewing and preparing for their end-of-term tests scheduled for this week and next week. The Year 5s in our cohort have also been diligently completing their NAPLAN tests. All students have been reminded about the importance of a good night’s sleep each night, and a healthy breakfast to start the day, to ensure they’re ready to work to the best of their ability each day at school!
This week the Year 6 students will be attending the dress rehearsal of Popstars! – The 90s Musical. We’re all really excited to see many former Goondi students performing, and have been discussing the etiquette required when attending a live performance.
Letters have gone home this week with details of the Innisfail State College transition program. This program is open to all students, regardless of the high school they are intending to enrol at, as it prepares them for many aspects of secondary school. If you have any questions, you can contact Innisfail State College via the details on the letter. Students who have achieved high academic results will be also be invited to one or more HOTSHOTS sessions at the college – these students will be advised of this by letter given by a representative of ISC when they come to speak to us at school about the transition program. More information to come regarding this!
Congratulations to all students who prepared and gave speeches to convince their peers that they would be the best person to be a sports house captain. It was wonderful to hear so many students speaking about resilience and being willing to put in the hard work whether or not they gained a leadership position, and we’re looking forward to a productive and successful year of sports with the positive attitudes of our amazing Year 6s!
As always, please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
Melanie Worth, Tjaart Richards and Janette McClelland.
L.O.T.E News
Saluti (Greetings)
Year 5 and 6 students at Goondi State School learn to communicate in Italian by being encouraged to speak, listen, read and write.
Year 5 students are learning and responding to Dove vai a scuola? (Where do you go to school?) and are working on their oral assessment with the song and alphabet recited individually with their teacher. Year 6 students are completing a description about Carnevale and 3 of the famous characters. They are beginning a written assessment looking at information they have learnt about Carnevale. Year 5 and 6 students will complete a revision exercise to assist their learning.
Exercise books are collected regularly with expectations that students follow the school’s bookwork policy. Feedback is provided. Encourage your child to speak Italian with you and discuss what they are learning!
Arrivederci (Goodbye)
Signora Lazzarini
Community News
