17 November 2023

Dates to Remember

Principal News

Getting Ready for 2024

On Friday 1 December our current Prep to Year 6 students visit their new 2024 classes. This will be for from 9:30am to 1:45pm. Year 6 students who are attending Forest Lake SHS in 2024 will do their transition day. Students not involved in transitions will be supervised by classroom teachers.

Teachers will take their new students to their 2024 classroom locations and begin a warm introduction to their class groupings. Each student will take home a letter to explain who their new class teacher is and where their classroom is located.

As I am sure you will appreciate, considerable planning goes into student class placement every year so we can ensure the best educational and social outcomes for our students.

For ease of commencement on the first day back at school, we would invite our families to drop in during the last day of the school holidays Thursday 18 January between 9:00am to 9:30am to deliver your child’s booklist resources to their classroom.

Our uniform shop will be open for extended periods over the holidays for your convenience. Please check our Schools website https://grandavenuess.eq.edu.au/facilities/uniform-shop for the most up to date opening hours and uniform prices. The 2024 stationery booklist can also be found on this link for all year levels https://grandavenuess.eq.edu.au/support-and-resources/forms-and-documents/documents

2024 Planning

It is important to remember that if you are not joining us at Grand Avenue SS in the new year, to please contact our office ASAP. We are finalising 2024 prep classes, a reminder if you have a child or know a child who is eligible for school next year, please make sure you contact our office ASAP.

2023 End of Year Celebrations in Classes

Teachers are nominating a day to celebrate a great year of learning with class friends in week 9 or week 10 (expect) Thursday 7 December NO PARTIES to be held due to Graduation).

This party day will consist of fun and games in a relaxed enjoyable environment. We have restrictions on food brought into school for our parties. Due to food safety requirements parents and carers are asked to provide only package sealed food with clear labels of ingredients. We are not able to accept homemade or prepared food from homes.

Teachers will send an invite for class parties shortly.

Semester 2 Gold Awards

Huge thank you to all the teachers and students who have enthusiastically participated in our positive reward program this year. We have been overwhelmed by the number of students receiving a Gold Award this semester, close to 400 students.

Due to several factors, we are not able to provide a morning tea style celebration at the end of this term. Instead, students who have received Gold Awards this semester will receive on Monday 27 November a $2.50 canteen voucher to spend in the last 2 weeks of the term. The vouchers will be provided to teachers to distribute to students who have received their gold award.

Semester 2 Reporting
Teachers Academic Awards Celebration

We are looking forward to celebrating the academic achievements of our students at a very special awards ceremony on Tuesday 5 December at 5:00pm. Invitations will be sent to families of students who meet the academic criteria below.

Academic Excellence Awards

Students receive a medallion & certificate

Prep Criteria

Presented to the students with the following level of achievement in Semester Two reporting.

• Gold – Achieved an A for every learning area
• Silver – Achieved an A in the core learning areas of English, Mathematics, Science and HASS
• Bronze – Achieved 3 x A’s in any core learning areas (English, Mathematics, Science or HASS)

Year 1 – Year 6 Criteria

Presented to the students with the following level of achievement in Semester 2 reporting.

• Gold – Achieved an A for every learning area (excluding Instrumental Music)
• Silver – Achieved 4 x A’s in the core learning areas of English, Mathematics, Science and HASS and 3 x A’s in other learning areas.
• Bronze – Achieved 4 x A’s in the core learning areas of English, Mathematics, Science and HASS

Star Student Awards

Students receive a medallion & certificate

Prep – Year 6 Criteria

Selected by the classroom teacher, this award is presented to 1 student in each who have consistently exhibited the Star Student expectations throughout all learning areas and general school life.

• Successful Learners
• Take Responsibility
• Act Safely
• Respect Everyone

Farwell to Staff

At the end of the term we will farewell some of our staff as they head to other schools or take some leave. Some of them have been with us for many years, some only a few months, however, we acknowledge and thank them for their contribution to Grand Avenue State School. We bid farewell to:

Krystin Whitten
Jason (Jay) Learoyd
Kelly Hodgson
Magdalena (Maggie) Bunn
Teressa (Tessa) Blair
Tara Church
Brenda Davidson
Craig Walker
Kylie Mannix
Linda Frew
Omeshni De Alwis
Kaye Dalus
Hyewon Chang
Renee Hubner
Karen Hall
Olivia Gardiner

Until next time,

Playgroup News

The children at our playgroup were busy last week making poppies in recognition of Remembrance Day. Thank you to all the staff and children who made poppies for our garden in front of the administration building. They looked fantastic!

Here are the exciting activities coming up in playgroup for the remainder of the year:

Prep & Year 1 News

Year 2 News

Recently this term, the Year Two’s have gathered inspiration for designing a push and/or pull toy.

This week we’ve seen so much creativity through the variety of toys being built.  It’s been amazing to see our students’ designs come to life!

We’ve learnt so much about how different forces are used in order for toys to be entertaining. We’ve also seen many students improve or change their designs as they have learnt to be flexible through experimenting and discovery.

Our Year Twos have certainly thrived when faced with challenges as they have used their problem-solving skills time and time again. Best of luck for the rest of the year! Keep pushing through; the end is in sight!

Mrs Hannah Mitchell
Yr 2D Classroom Teacher

Junior School News

Last week so many of our junior school students received their Gold badges.  Many were also dressed as what they would like to be when they grow up.

Year 5 News

This term in Science, Year 5’s explored the unit Matter Matters.  Students have broadened their classification of matter to include gases and discovered how matter structures the world around them. 

Through hands-on investigations, students explored the properties of solids, liquids and gases to understand that these states of matter have some shared and some distinct observable properties and can behave in different ways.  Their scientific skills were put to good use, with students posing questions, making predictions, planning investigation methods, representing data and observations in tables and graphs, identifying patterns in the data, as well as, suggesting ways to improve the fairness and accuracy of their investigations.

Through these investigations we explored the concepts of diffusion, compression, evaporation and condensation.  We will finish the term by applying our knowledge and understanding to real-world applications by discussing the impacts of evaporation in arid areas and researching greenhouse gases and how it affects people’s lives and can inform community decisions.

We made a lot of fizz by investigating the reaction between bi-carb soda and varying amounts of citric acid mixed with water. –

Izyan 5F

“I was quite interested when we compressed air and I was amazed that water was actually very hard to compress.  Personally, I found the lesson very interesting”

Ioan 5F

“The science lessons are very interesting and the experiments were fun”

Lesa 5F

“It was cool discovering how fizz can be created.  Science is so cool”

Ruby 5F

“Investigating evaporation is so fun”

From Our Guidance Officers

Seasons for Growth – Small group program for students impacted by grief and loss 

Next year the Guidance Officer, Sabrina Blaas and Chappy Sophie are running a program called Seasons for Growth.

The program is run over 8 sessions with between 4 to 7 participants per group. The program aims to strengthen the emotional and mental wellbeing of children who are experiencing change, loss and grief (including death in the family, separation and/or divorce).

It is an evidence-based program where students learn that change and loss are a natural part of life and that they are not alone in dealing with the effects of these experiences. It combines psychology and education within a person-centred learning approach using the metaphor of the seasons to explore the cyclic nature of grief.  

Each participant in the group will receive a Seasons for Growth journal.  

The program will start in Term 1, 2024.  

For further information on Seasons for Growth please go to https://www.mackillopseasons.org.au/ 

If you believe your child may benefit from this program, please email either Sabrina Blaas (Guidance Officer) sblaa4@eq.edu.au or Chappy Sophie sboar17@eq.edu.au to put your child’s down on the waitlist.  

Thank you, 

Sabrina Blaas
Student Wellbeing Guidance Officer (M,W)

The Student Resource Scheme for 2023 (Year1 – Year6)

There will be no increase to the SRS charge and will continue at $40 per year which equates to $1per school week.

Invoices will be sent out to all scheme participants in early 2024

 Benefits Enjoyed by joining the Scheme

• Classroom consumables and reference materials for core curriculum
• Individually issued and class sets books/novels
• Reproduced class workbooks and worksheets
• Specialist materials & consumables for practical studies eg science
• Mathletics Subscription
• School Magazine Reading Pamphlets
• Student reference material
• Student material used for classroom projects
• Wellbeing Program activities and consumables
• Administration of Scheme

Conditions of the Resource Scheme

• Students (Years 1-6) will supply their own personal requirements – as outlined in the Stationery List
• Books issued to students are to be kept in good condition
• Students are responsible for up to the full cost of books that are negligently damaged or lost before any further issues can be made
• All resources provided under the Scheme remain the property of the Scheme and must be returned when a student leaves or at the end of the school year
• If a student enrols during the year, the fee is calculated on a pro-rata basis
• If a student leaves during the year, a pro-rata refund will be made. The refund is based on the parent/caregiver charge, less the cost of consumed materials and/or the cost of replacing lost or damaged resources
• Books and resources provided under the Scheme cannot be issued to students whose parents/caregivers choose not to participate

To view the list of items covered by the scheme please follow the pathway below on our School Website:-

“Curriculum/Teaching and Learning/ Related links – SRS 2024”

This scheme does not cover items listed on the stationery list, excursions/incursions or camps

2024 Booklists

Booklists for students returning in 2024 in Years 1 to Year6 have now been sent home to families.

2024 Student Resource Scheme – Prep

The SRS charge for Prep 2024 will remain at $75 and parents will be invoiced early in Term 1. 

NB: Prep parents will not be required to supply any stationery items

2024 Student Resource Scheme – Instrumental Program

For Students participating in the 2024 Instrumental Program the Levy will remain at $80 per year.

For students hiring a school instrument there will be an additional $80 charged.

OSHC News

P&C News

Family Photos

Thanks to all families who had their photos taken last weekend. As a reminder that  photos can be collected 30/11/2023 at your allocated time from the P&C Room ( same building as the Uniform Shop).

Disco Under the Stars

Canteen News

We have seen an increase in the number of students ordering at the canteen with cash. Our prefered method of payment is Flexischools.

Uniform Shop News

Now is the time to start thinking about your 2024 uniforms. If you place an order on Flexischools we will have them delivered so your child can bring them home. No need to come and line up at the start of 2024. Uniform shop is also open for fittings and over the counter orders.

Facebook

Like and Follow our Facebook Page to keep updated with information on upcoming events. Feel free to share this with family and friends and others in our Grand Avenue Community. 

Next General Meeting  

All are welcome to attend our General Meetings. They are held the third Tuesday of the month during school term. If you would like items added to the agenda, please email p&cSecretary@grandavenuess.eq.edu.au. Want to become a member? Membership Forms can be found on the School Website or email the Secretary above for a form.

Our November meeting with have a special guest and pizza will be provided. Please RSVP by Monday 20^th of November via the form below.

Community News