Goondi SS Newsletter 17th March 2021
From the Principal
Dear Parents/Carers,
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 on Tuesday March 30th.
At this time, we will be conducting parent-teacher interviews for students in Years 1-6. This year, Prep Parent-Teacher interviews will take place at the end of Term 2 when reports are complete. Parents with students in Prep can still request a teacher meeting at any time.
The Parent-Teacher interview will provide you with a summary of your child’s progress after approximately nine weeks of school. During the interview you will be provided 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 application and attitude to learning in general.
- 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 interview evenings such as the one we have organised for the last week of this term.
It has now been over 4 weeks since our school was broken into and vandalised. As you already know, 14 rooms were badly damaged. The rectification work is almost complete and we are very pleased that most classes have been able to move back to their rooms or are very shortly about to do so. It will still take a little while longer to settle back in and rearrange to final touches but I know I speak for all our staff when I say what a great feeling it is to be getting back to normal.
Once again, we are very thankful for all the support and goodwill received from our community. While the effects were far reaching, we are proud of our students and staff for the way in
which they have dealt with this and the
way they have conducted themselves during this difficult time.
Regards,
Peter Begemann
Principal
PARENT-TEACHER INTERVIEWS
Parent-Teacher interviews will be held on Tuesday 30th March. Interviews of 15 minutes duration will be held between 3:30pm and 8:00 pm. All interviews are conducted in your child’s classroom.
Appointments can now be made on-line using this URL:
https://eq.sobs.com.au/pt3/parent.phpschoolid=70429
Appointments will close on Friday 26th March.
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 25th March. The photos will be taken by NQ School Photography. Order forms and envelopes were sent home last week allowing you to choose which pack and design you would like to order.
Online ordering is preferred, scan the QR code on the order form or return the order form to the class teacher with correct money enclosed—no change is given.
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 24th March.
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 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.
On the day, we will be allowing parents/carers and family members to come and watch, but all visitors will need to scan a QR code upon entry as we adhere to COVD-19 regulations.
NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST BULLYING
This Friday the 19th we will be recognising the National Day of Action Against Bullying. Students are encouraged to wear orange, in recognition of the day and there will be a gold coin collection run by our Year 6 students. We hope to take a whole school photo of all students in their orange shirts.
STUDENT WELFARE WORKER
As you may be aware, we are fortunate enough at Goondi to be able to employ a Student Welfare Worker. Below is a brief description of the role and some of the types of support that can be provided to our students:
Social and/or emotional support — assisting students to develop knowledge, understanding and skills that support learning, positive behaviour and constructive social relationships through social skills programs.
Spiritual support — providing an additional dimension to the school's care, guidance and support of students with spiritual and/or religious needs.
Mentoring — acting as a role model for students and assisting in the development of supportive relationships for, with, and among students.
Community development — enhancing the links between the school and its community, working with school-based support staff and community-based youth organisations and networks to support students.
Educational support — assisting with classroom activities (under the direction of a teacher)
Extra-curricular activities — participating in general school activities, for example, camps, excursions, sports days or coaching team sports.
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION OFFICER
At Goondi, we have a Community Participation Officer to support with school engagement. Below are some of the functions of this role:
Build links between Goondi State School and Traditional Owners, Elder groups and community organisations
Build/strengthen partnerships that help the school to connect with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families
Support/Work with all families to support their children’s school attendance and engagement
Organise events to promote school participation
Create a safe and welcoming environment at Goondi State School for all
Involve the community in decisions about support and educational needs
Strengthen partnerships and interagency networks with Goondi State School
Provide environments that are valued by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and all Goondi families
Student of the Week
Prep Capers
In Prep we have started our endurance running in the morning. We have learnt new Letterland Characters;
* u- Uppy Umbrella,
* p- Peter Puppy,
* r- Red Robot,
* o- Oscar Orange,
* w- Walter Walrus
* g- Golden Girl.
We learned numbers 8 and 9 and were introduced to ordinal numbers 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
It has been a joy to see the students say their sight words as we practice them in class.
Thank you Miss Perham, Mrs McSwann, Ms Bird, Ms Pike and Miss Knight, Mrs Kleve 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 last practice writing an imaginative recount before the assessment begins next week. We have been really impressed with the creativity of storylines and the enthusiasm showed by all students towards writing each week.
In Maths this week we have been revising and extending our knowledge of addition sentences and their turnarounds. We have also been learning about horizontal bar graphs. Maths testing will be conducted throughout next week.
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 and Fiona
Year 2 Capers
We are quickly approaching the end of the term and are still working hard.
In English we have been adding in describing words and details to improve our recount writing and are preparing for our speaking tasks.
In our Maths lessons we are continuing to look at time, number patterns, fact families, picture graphs and money.
In Science this week we explored how to separate mixtures with sieves, colanders and paper towel.
In HASS we are discussing the scale of places and how they relate to us personally.
Next week we will be doing the majority of our end of term testing.
All our best, Miss Mollenhagen, Mrs Hollywood and Mrs Spataro.
Year 3 Capers
Squeals of delight reverberated around the library room when it was announced that Year 3 were moving back to their rooms. We are now moved in but are still in chaos and it will take time to sort through things.
Amongst all of this we are still endeavouring to do our testing over the next two weeks so we have data to present at Parent-Teacher interviews. Please watch for bookings to open and make a time to see us.
Narrative writing is our genre theme now and we will write about a ‘key’ on Friday. Sentence structure is a big focus as we ask students to reread their work and check that they have correctly written a sentence.
The times table to study this week is the 3s. Next week we will learn the 4 times tables. We are delving deeper into place value and move onto geometry for Week 9.
Last Friday, in Science, we investigated whether a seed was living or non-living. It has been exciting watching our little seed grow shoots for roots and stems. This makes it a living organism!
Until next time,
Robyn, Janelle and Lizette.
Year 3/4 & 4
Wow! Week 8 and assessment time is here! This week and next we will be completing our end of term testing, so eating a healthy and nutritious breakfast before coming to school every day is very important.
The students are really enjoying our novel study of “Matilda” by Roald Dahl which we will be viewing as part of our Goondi 5 Reward afternoon. More information to follow.
For our Genre Writing assessment the students will be writing a Narrative with the theme “The Great Escape”. Throughout the term, we have taught all of the elements of writing which the students will require in order to have success with this task.
In Maths, as well as daily consolidation of Place Value, multiplication tables and making equivalent number sentences, we have completed a unit of work on using the language of chance to describe the likelihood of events occurring.
Our Science and HASS units are being completed and the students are consolidating important vocabulary, skills and concepts in preparation for their assessments. Our bridge building is well-underway with many unique and interesting designs under construction!
Until next time Kath, Lisa and Kerry.
Year 5 Capers
Term 1 has certainly flown by with students now reviewing and preparing for their end-of-term tests scheduled for this week and next week.
In English, students continue to consolidate their skills and practise their narrative writing. Some excellent narratives were written last week about the topic, The Chase.
In Science, students are continuing to explore light. It has been interesting to investigate how different cultures used principles of refraction when hunting and gathering.
Students have been working hard to consolidate their knowledge and learning for their end-of-term English, Maths, Science and HASS assessments. During our end-of-term testing, please ensure your child is partaking in revision and study as part of their homework. It is also advisable for your child to eat healthy food and get enough sleep to ensure they are able to perform their best to achieve success.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. Thank you kindly for your support.
Cheers for now, Rebecca, Emily & Kerry.
Year 6 Capers
We are now at the business end of Term 1 with students reviewing and preparing for their end-of-term tests scheduled for this week and next week.
In English, students are consolidating knowledge and understanding of the challenges faced and horrors experienced as a WW1 soldier through their novel study Scarecrow Army. They will be writing their end-of-term Imaginative Historical Recount this week with a focus on the Battle for the Top of the trenches at Anzac Cove at Gallipoli.
Students have also been working hard to consolidate their knowledge and learning for their end-of-term English, Maths, Science and HASS assessments. During our end-of-term testing, please ensure your child is partaking in revision and study as part of their homework. It is also advisable for your child to eat healthy food and get enough sleep to ensure they are able to perform their best to achieve success. Please do not hesitate to drop in or contact us if you have any questions.
Thank you for your support.
Marica Cunningham, Aaron Harbour, Melanie Worth and Janette McClelland.
Art News
Another productive fortnight in Visual Art has seen students continue to experiment with a variety of mediums and create abstract artworks. Prep students have been practising their watercolour techniques; and Grade 1 and 2 continue to explore collage methods and colour theory. Grade 3 and 4 are currently designing their own symbols to represent the Far North Queensland landscape. Grade 5 and 6 are exploring indigenous works and have also commenced drawing and colourising their symbolic Australian animal. Thank you to all the students for adjusting so well to their temporary space - we are now finally back in our Art room!
Some of our students recognised International Women’s Day by sketching the aboriginal symbol for ‘Woman’. Lovely work Grade 5!
Student Council News
National Bullying No Way Day is on this Friday, March 19th. We encourage all students to get involved by wearing an ‘Orange’ shirt or similar which is the official colour for the day and bring along a gold coin donation. Awareness campaigns are also being held in lead up to Friday’s event.
Breakfast Club
Breakfast Club is Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings in the Hall. A big Thank you to Mrs. Edwards, Mrs Haslam, Auntie Theresa and all of the student helpers for preparing so much delicious, nutritious food for every student in our school.
Thanks also to Woolworths for donations of fruit, bread, eggs and milk. Thank you also to Anglicare for bread, fruit, cereal and spreads. And a final Thank you to Lamanna Premier Group for our boxes of delicious bananas.
Well done everyone; our Breakfast Club is truly a community team effort!!
Sports News
All students have been practising their Cross Country Course in anticipation of our Inter House Cross Country Competition next week. The day will start with the Prep races at 9.00a.m. sharp on Wednesday 24th March.
Senior classes have been working on throwing, catching and progressing to playing games of cricket, while junior classes have been working very hard at each station during our Primary Motor Program classes.
Tiffanie Bulstrode
Health and Physical Education Teacher
Italian News
The Years 5 and 6 Italian classes at Goondi State School are consistently speaking, writing and listening to previously learnt and new words. Students are continuing to build on their confidence in the language doing this.
Year 5 students are revising the question Dove vai a scuola? (Where do you go to school?) and learning Dove abiti? (Where do you live?). Year 6 students are continuing to write, read and say simple conversations in Italian between more than two people. Students are revising and building on verbs learnt previously to create and answer questions in the conversations. Year 5 and 6 students are also learning songs to improve their pronunciation.
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
