Goondi SS 30.08.23 Newsletter
From the Leadership Team
Dear Parents and Carers,
We now head in to the last 2 and a half weeks of the term and our focus is on end of term assessment pieces, testing results and giving feedback on how they can improve their work, to our students. I feel very privileged to be a part of Goondi State School as I see our students across all year levels working so hard to do their best in these tasks.
Our teachers are offering Parent-Teacher Interviews on the final Tuesday of the term, September the 12th. These meetings are a great opportunity for our parents and carers to gain a deeper understanding of their child’s progress. As you know, the ‘How was your day?’ ‘Good!’ conversations doesn’t reveal much about successes, challenges and how your child can be supported to achieve their full potential. Another highly valuable function of these meetings is that they demonstrate to your child that their education and progress is very important and valued by you.
Don’t forget that this Friday, the 1st of September is a Student Free Day. At this time, our teachers will be working on our school priorities. Unpacking v9 English: To unpack the learning area of English, familiarity with the V9 website and alignment of the curriculum elements for English. Unpacking the comparative information for planning and assessment considerations. Developing a shared understanding of Inclusive Practices and reviewing our Developing Performance Goals.
Last Friday we held our annual book week assembly. The theme for 2023 was Read, Grow, Inspire. I was amazed by the sheer number of our students that took part and dressed up for the occasion. All the students looked fantastic as they showed us such a wide range of book characters and themes. There were some unbelievably extravagant entries that absolutely blew all our teachers away. We appreciate the effort that every student went to and I would like to congratulate every one of them for this. It really made the day something to be remembered. Thanks to Mrs Scheiwe and Mrs Green for coordinating the event this year.
School Calendar
Thurs 31st Aug - Pre Prep Morning 9am - 10am
Fri 1st Sept - STUDENT FREE DAY
Mon 4th Sept - Beach 2 Bush Water Safety Program 9am
Mon 4th - Fri 8th Sept - Swimming Lessons Years 1 & 3
Wed 6th Sept - Olympians Unleashed Visit Years 4-6 at 2pm
Thurs 7th Sept - Pre Prep Morning 9am-10am
Fri 8th Sept - Poetry idol Grand Final 9am
Mon 11th Sept - Year 6 ISC Orientation Morning
Mon 11th - Fri 15th Sept - HOTSHOTS
Tue 12th Sept - Parent-Teacher Interviews
Thurs 14th Sept - Pre-Prep Morning
Fri 15th Sept - Religion Years 1-3
Other School News
PBL Capers
Last year experienced senior staff at our school were trained in implementing the Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) framework at GSS. Implementation of PBL has been endorsed by staff, the Local Consultative Committee (LCC) and the P&C.
Our first PBL Capers aims to introduce you to PBL, and what it will look like at our school. We will use the Schoolzine Newsletter and ClassDojo to keep you informed of initiatives and changes being introduced by the PBL team at GSS.
What is PBL?
PBL stands for Positive Behaviour for Learning. PBL is a whole-school framework for behaviour support adopted by many Queensland Schools. PBL promotes positive behaviour and helps schools to develop safe and supportive learning environments.
What are the benefits of using the PBL framework?
- PBL helps schools to be consistent in the way they support and respond to behaviour.
- PBL enables schools to develop clear expectations and boundaries for behaviour and ensures that behaviour support is differentiated according to need.
Why is PBL recommended to schools?
PBL has a strong research base and has been shown to improve student outcomes, increase staff and student wellbeing, and reduce behavioural incidents. PBL helps schools to select evidence-based practices which have been shown to improve student behaviour and establish safe and supportive learning environments.
What is changing and when will the changes be implemented?
- Staff and students voted to transition from The Goondi 5 to The Goondi Way.
- Staff voted to have Three Pillars of Expectations
We are Safe | We are Respectful | We are Learners
These Pillars incorporate values and behaviours from the Goondi 5 such as Bounce Back, Participate and Work Hard, Get Organised etc
- The PBL team and Leadership team have developed a behaviour matrix which clearly identifies what behaviour is expected within each Pillar
- Staff and students voted the Ulysses butterfly as our mascot who is named Lyssi. Our PBL slogan is “Fly Like Lyssi.”
- Dare to Do Well is still our school motto.
- The way we reward and celebrate student behaviour will be modified from 2024 in line with the PBL framework.
- A Key certificates and the A Key Rewards Day remain unchanged for 2023.
Further information: PBL for Parents
CURRICULUM NEWS
The updated Australian Curriculum is designed to teach students what it takes to be confident and creative individuals and become active and informed citizens. It sets the goal for what all students should learn as they progress through their school life – wherever they live in Australia and whatever school they attend.
On the 1 April 2022 Version 9.0 of the Australian Curriculum (AC V9) was approved. The AC V9 has been benchmarked against the curricula of Singapore, Finland, British Columbia and New Zealand.
The AC V9 is a high-quality curriculum for all Australian students, which promotes excellence and equity in education. All students are entitled to rigorous, relevant and engaging learning programs drawn from a challenging curriculum that addresses their individual learning needs. The Australian Curriculum recognises that the needs of all students encompass cognitive, affective, physical, social and aesthetic curriculum experiences.
This year, schools throughout Australia began familiarising staff with AC V9 by looking at comparative information between V8.4 and V9 in particular in English and Maths.
In 2024 Goondi SS, along with many other schools in Australia, will begin implementation of V9 English.
We will implement v9 Maths in 2025.
You will be kept up to date with information in Schoolzine newsletters on how the AC V9 will benefit your children and AC V9 implementation and initiatives at Goondi State School.
Further information for parents can be found here: AC V9 Information for Parents
PARENT-TEACHER INTERVIEWS
Goondi State School offers parent-teacher interviews on the final Tuesday of Terms 1 and 3. This term, the date is September 12th. These meetings are a great opportunity for our parents and carers to gain a deeper understanding of their child’s progress. As you know, the ‘How was your day?’ ‘Good!’ conversations don’t reveal much about successes, challenges and how your child can be supported to achieve to their full potential. Another highly valuable function of these meetings is that they demonstrate to your child that their education and progress is very important and valued by you.
Bookings are now open through our on-line booking system (SOBS).
https://eq.sobs.com.au/pt3/parent.php?schoolid=70429
On the night, we ask that all parents/carers visiting the school adhere to the allocated time slot so that our teachers can spend all of the allocated time with parents and carers to discuss your child’s progress.
OLYMPICS UNLEASHED VISIT
Students in Years 4 to 6 will enjoy a visit from an Olympian.
Alex Ferlazzo is connecting with Goondi State School on 6/09/2023 2:00 PM as part of the Olympics Unleashed program.
Olympics Unleashed connects athletes with schools across the country to inspire students to find and follow their passion and provide lessons in goal setting, overcoming challenges and developing resilience.
Alex Ferlazzo will be drawing on their Olympic journey and overcoming challenges to compete in their chosen sport at the highest level to help inspire the students at Goondi State School to be the best they can be – whether that’s in school, at home, on the sporting field or with friends.
For more information on Olympics Unleashed visit www.olympicsunleashed.com.au
BEACH 2 BUSH WATER SAFETY PROGRAM
Surf Life Saving Queensland has been sharing the Beach 2 Bush program with rural students
for the past 25 years, visiting schools across Queensland to provide free surf and water safety
awareness presentations. The program includes age-appropriate messaging about all areas of
aquatic safety, including beaches, pools, rivers and dams, with fun and interactive sessions (for
both students and teachers!) running for approximately 40 minutes per session.
By educating school age children on surf and water safety awareness, the message is then
delivered through the students back to their parents and siblings. We would love your school
to be a part of this vital education program and have your students become water safety
ambassadors in their own homes and families, helping us to achieve our vision of ‘zero
preventable deaths in Queensland public waters’.
Prep Capers
Our unit on Information reports is coming to an end. Over the next few weeks, we will be assessing the skills taught and how the students are applying these to their writing. We have some very impressive writing taking place in prep this term. Our reading groups and spelling sessions continue to help the students develop these important skills for learning and the students love the opportunity to work in different groups and with different teachers.
Our Math unit for the term is also drawing to a close with assessment taking place over the next few weeks. The students understanding of numbers and how to represent them in different ways has really grown this term. Likewise, our addition strategies are developing well as has their confidence levels and ability to challenge themselves.
Our science unit on living things and their needs will culminate with students planning and building a suitable habitat for an animal of their choosing. Please speak to your child about what they are planning and discuss what features they may need to include to provide a safe and suitable enclosure for their animal.
Book week was a great success and the costumes were fantastic. Thank you for supporting this wonderful and engaging event.
As always, if you have questions or concerns or wish to share some information with us, please make contact with us to arrange a suitable time to talk.
Thank you
Mrs. Myers, Mrs. Barba, Mrs. Ferguson and Mrs. Tanti
Year 1 Capers
We have a cohort of budding Entomologists, aka, insect experts and soon our classrooms will come alive with insect habitats! The students will consolidate their learning about living things and insects this term by creating a habitat for a chosen insect. This habitat must provide all of the features needed for the insect to thrive and survive. Keep an eye out at home for any recyclable materials that may be turned into a bee, butterfly, insect or ant or habitat and send them on in. Ask your child which insect they chose.
In English this week the students will be writing their assessment report about bees. This is a chance for them to showcase the writing skills they have learnt throughout the term and turn the facts they know about bees into well-written, factual sentences.
Next week is swimming week and a huge week for our Year Ones. We will not be sending homework home to allow students to recharge each afternoon. Early bedtimes and big breakfasts will help them make it through this tiring week. Have a great week,
Leigh, Hayley, Wendy, Fiona, Ashleigh and Anita
Year 2 Capers
Hello from Year 2!
Week 8 already! We are in our assessment period at the moment, and even though it’s not a reporting term (no report card) these assessments still give us very valuable information about how everyone is going, and more importantly where any gaps are that we need to address. Remember that every day counts, and school starts at 08:45am. The more data we can gather now, the better we can prepare and plan for Term 4.
Parent Teacher Interviews will be conducted on Tuesday of Week 10 (12th of September). Details on how to book a time and the link to do so should be attached to this newsletter, and will be sent home on ClassDojo messages as well.
We may get a reprieve from the rain soon, so please make sure your learner has a broad brimmed hat in good condition for school. Our policy is No Hat, No Play, so students may sit out on sunny days. If your learner doesn’t have a water bottle for school this will also be a good idea when the weather starts warming up.
This Friday (the 1st of September) is a Student Free Day, so while staff will be at the school, we are undertaking training. School resumes as normal on Monday the 4th of September.
Could you also return the swimming notes, with the BPoint receipt number written on, as soon as possible. While swimming isn’t until next term, the earlier we can get the paperwork in order the better. Thank you to those who have already returned the notes.
Regards,
Nathan Worth, Robyn Scheiwe, Kathy Pike and Jeanette Spataro.
Year 3 Capers
Our assessment period is well underway. It is great to see all students attending school with a positive attitude towards this time.
We watched both the class and cohort finals over the past 2 weeks, and we want to congratulate everyone that participated. We are excited to see the top 3 students from year three participate in the next stage of the competition.
We are continuing on with our information reports, and are scheduled to start New Zealand soon. It has been fantastic watching the students gain a deeper understanding of Australia’s neighbouring countries.
In Science, we are continuing on with investigating heat through the use of experiments. Swimming is commencing next week, Week 9. Please ensure your children are bringing the necessary equipment.
The swimming times are from 12:15pm to 1:15pm.
Keep an eye out for a link to book Parent Teacher Interviews as they are quickly approaching.
Kind Regards,
Ashley, Janelle and Amanda
Year 4 Capers
What an awesome start to Term 3. We have had a busy term investigating the feral animals that threaten both the environment, agriculture and people’s lives and how the impacts are being managed. The students have learnt so much and some really thought-provoking discussions have arisen.
This term in Maths we have been exploring decimals, measurement and are currently focusing on different multiplication and division strategies to solve problems.
Please if you want to assist your children, please continue with IXL focusing on multiplication, division and decimals over the next two weeks.
In Science, we have recently been to the Cairns Aquarium. Students learnt more about food chains, in particular with marine animals. During the excursion, students were able to explore and ask questions about marine animals.
At school, we have continued to explored lifecycles and the role animals play in the ecosystem. We have investigated producers, consumers and decomposers.
Week 9, students will be starting their end of term assessments. It is essential students are getting adequate sleep, eating breakfast and staying hydrated. Please also ensure your child gets a chance to have a break and be a kid for their own mental health as we come into assessment time.
Jade, Leigh and Lizette
Year 5 Capers
2 1/2 weeks until holidays! We are currently very busy completing assessment so please remember that every day counts. We are currently working on our English stop motion animation assessments where students are representing their comics through visual elements. We have our three representatives for Year 5 Poetry Idol: Aria A, Ava K and Harper P. All the Year 5 presentations were really good and it was evident the amount of effort every student went to, to create an engaging performance. It was a very hard decision!
We are also completing revision for Maths testing of the three elements of the Australian Mathematics Curriculum: Number and Algebra, Statistics and Probability and Measurement and Geometry. We are then working through HASS, Science and Design Technology inquisitive lessons and assessment.
Key Dates:
Friday 1st: Student Free Day
Week 9: Swimming. Please return forms and payment. The permission slip has details and times that was sent home.
Friday 8th: Poetry Idol Grand Final
Thanks,
Kayla Hutchins, Rebecca Nolan and Greg Azzopardi
Year 6 capers
Hello Class 6B and Class 5/6 families!
We feel as though every fortnight is a “huge” fortnight, but really, this has been a huge fortnight! Poetry Idol, Book Week and assessment alone have combined to make up an exciting and busy 2 weeks.
Congratulations to our Poetry Idol semi-finalists for fantastic performances! Our team of five judges had a very stressful time deciding which three students would progress to the finals in Week 9. Congratulations go to Addison, Azalea and Ciel in Year 6 and Aria in Year 5. All of the educators who have worked with all of our students agree that there was so much amazing improvement over the term, as students responded to feedback and honed their speaking skills. Thank you for all of the hard work put in at home as well. If you haven’t heard your child’s poem yet, ask them to perform it for you!
We have also been busy working through our term 3 assessment. In English, students are planning their Ned Kelly persuasive text by developing arguments supporting their opinion on whether he is a hero, villain, or victim. Students are referencing supporting evidence from the text ‘Black Snake’ to support their claims.
In Science, students are investigating different natural disasters, how we measure them and how to prepare for these drastic events. See if your child can categorise the weather based on the Beaufort Wind Scale, or interpret the weather segment on the news!
Mr Sharrock from Innisfail State College visited our classes over the past few weeks to speak to us about some of the specifics of transition, to support the unit we’re currently doing in Health, which is all about changes and transitions.
And in Digital Technology students have learned how to convert numbers back and forth from digital to binary! We’ve been using this skill as a “party trick” to impress teachers visiting our classrooms. Ask your child to show you how it’s done.
We’re looking forward to seeing you at this term’s parent-teacher interviews!
Melanie Worth, Dominic Ward, Greg Azzopardi, Jayde Smith and Shannon Bruschi.
L.O.T.E News
Students in Years 5 and 6 Italian at Goondi State School are working on their knowledge of the Italian language by speaking, writing, listening to and using new words in phrases and sentences in Italian. Well done students!
Year 5 students are using teacher-developed tables to understand nouns and adjectives. They are asking questions in Italian in simple responses with verbs and completing their assessment. Year 6 students are asking and answering questions using nouns, verbs and adjectives in compound sentences and completing their assessment. Students in Italian classes are also listening to songs to enhance fluency.
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
Instrumental Music
SHEP Program Cairns
One very talented young instrumental music students from Goondi State School recently attended the State Honours Ensemble Program (SHEP) Cairns. SHEP is an educational program that is run by Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University for young musicians and gives them the opportunity to work with a team of eminent university conductors. Participants from year 5-10 who reside in the Cairns and surrounding district gathered for this innovative and intensive weekend program.
Salina Wirth was chosen by QCGU to participate in the event, which was held at St Marys Catholic College from 4 – 6 August. String students worked under the experienced baton of Raquel Bastos, a vibrant musician and educator based in Brisbane, who performs regularly with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, among other renowned ensembles. Salina proudly represented our school in a Grand Finale Concert at the end of the weekend. Congratulations, Salina, on a job well done!
Community News
