01 March 2024

Dates to Remember

Principal News

At Grand Avenue State School we provide a school environment where students are able to learn successfully and feel that they are connected to our community, however, school absenteeism and holidays taken during the school term can impact significantly on students' learning and wellbeing.

Under Queensland law, you must make sure your child is enrolled and attends school on all school days unless there is a reasonable excuse illness or participating in an off-site school event are all acceptable reasons for missing school. 

Research shows that in Queensland, higher student attendance is associated, on average, with higher student achievement. Additionally, attending school every day helps children to build social and emotional skills such as communication, teamwork, and resilience.

Active School Travel

Fun Fit Friday is coming

Fridays at our school will never be the same. From next Friday 8 March we want everyone to think about how they travel to school as we launch Fun Fit Friday as part of our Active School Travel program. Friday 8 March begins with a healthy snack for every student actively travelling to school.

Active School Travel is one of the easiest ways to incorporate physical activity into everyday life for all children. Research shows only 23% of Australian children are active for the recommended minimum of one hour every day.

We know that everyone is different, so there are many ways you can actively travel to school.  How will you actively travel?

Walk

Leave the car at home and walk your kids to school.  If you live too far away, drive part of the way and walk the rest.  We call that ‘Park and Stride’.

Cycle

Ride with your children to school. It is legal to ride on the footpath and remember to always have your helmet secured.

Scooter

It is fun to scooter to school. Just like cycling, stick to the footpath and remember your helmet.

Public Transport

Catching public transport is easy once you know how.  For bus, train, and ferry timetables, visit www.translink.com.au

Carpool

Find a friend and carpool to school. It is an easy way to save time in your day and money. Talk to other parents in your child’s class or at music and sport to see who is going your way.

So get started on 8 March and remember EVERY Friday is now Fun Fit Friday.

Dealing with Traffic Congestion at Grand Avenue S.S

Due to the school’s high enrolment and poor parking options, traffic congestion at drop off and pickup times is a serious daily problem.  To relieve the frustrations faced by motorists with parking before and after school, we seek parent’s cooperation with the following procedures.

AT THE PUBLIC CAR PARK

AT DROP OFF ZONES

IN SCHOOL GROUNDS

OTHER ALTERNATIVES

There is no easy solution to solving the school’s traffic congestion problems.  But with all parents’ co-operation and adherence to the aforementioned procedures, there may be less frustration for motorists and greatly improved safety for students.

As always, your support and assistance is greatly appreciated.

Term 1 Parent Teacher Interviews

Grand Avenue State School is excited to offer individual parent teacher meetings in the last week of this term. They will take place on Tuesday 26 March from 3:00pm to 6:45pm, if you are unable to make this day teachers will be flexible in meeting with families before and after school during the last week.  Parents and carers will be invited to book a time through our online booking system for an interview during this week with their selected teacher.

Our meetings will be offered face to face in our School Auditorium and Library for Specialists

The meetings will be 15 minutes in duration. All our classroom teachers and our specialist teachers of the Japanese, Physical Education (PE) and Music will also be available for bookings.

Instructions on how to book for a meeting will be sent to parents and carers shortly. Please keep a look out in your email inbox for this information.

We look forward to our school community taking this opportunity to meet the teachers looking after your child/children to share information and connect as a team for a positive school year.

Until next time,

Being on Time for School: How to Start Your Day Stress Free

Are mornings in your household a chaotic rush to get out the door on time? Does the school bell seem to ring just as you're scrambling to find shoes and pack lunches? Fear not, because with a little preparation and some handy tips, you can transform your mornings from mayhem to magic!

First things first, let's talk about the importance of being on time for school. Being punctual not only ensures that your child starts their day on the right foot but also sets a positive tone for the entire day ahead. Arriving late can cause unnecessary stress and anxiety, disrupt classroom routines, and even lead to missed learning opportunities. So, it's crucial to instil good habits early on.

The key to smooth mornings actually begins the night before. Establishing a solid evening routine can significantly streamline your mornings. Here's a checklist of tasks to tackle before bedtime:

1. Pack school bags with books, homework, and any required materials.
2. Choose and lay out clothes for the next day, including shoes, socks and uniforms.
3. Prepare lunchboxes or snacks and store them in the fridge.
4. Settle into a bedtime routine with a calming activity like reading a book together.
5. Make sure your child goes to bed at the same time each night.

To empower children to take charge of their morning routines, consider using a visual timetable. A colourful chart with pictures or photos of your child doing each task can help them understand what needs to be done and in what order. This not only fosters independence but also makes the process more engaging and fun. For example: You may take a photo of each morning event such as having breakfast, getting dressed, brushing teeth and packing bag. Here is a link for some resources to make your own visual schedules at home: Home Routines Resource

Remember, consistency is key. Stick to your routine even on weekends or holidays to reinforce good habits. Encourage your child to take ownership of their morning responsibilities, whether it's packing their bag or making their bed.

By prioritising being on time and establishing a solid evening and morning routine, you can ensure that every morning starts smoothly and sets the stage for a successful day of learning. If you are finding mornings particularly difficult, please reach out so that we can provide support with establishing routines.

Wishing you all stress-free and timely mornings ahead!

QParents

Year 1 News

Excitement is buzzing in year 1 as students are gearing up for their upcoming trip to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. But before they set off, these young adventurers are diving deep into the world of Australian animals—learning all about where they live, what they eat, and how they look.

First up, they're exploring the homes of these creatures. From the hot deserts to the lush forests, students are fascinated by the different places animals call home. They're learning how these habitats shape the lives of koalas, kangaroos, and other Aussie critters.

Next, it's time to talk food! Students are discovering the unique diets of Australian animals. Whether it's munching on leaves like koalas or gobbling up insects like kookaburras, they're amazed by how animals find their favourite meals in the wild.

And let's not forget about looks! Year 1 is getting up close and personal with the appearances of Aussie animals. From colourful birds to spiky echidnas, they're loving the diversity of shapes, colours, and textures found in nature.

With their newfound knowledge, these eager students are counting down the days until their Lone Pine adventure. They can't wait to meet koalas, kangaroos, and more, and see everything they've learned in action. It's sure to be an unforgettable journey into the wild world of Australian animals!

5E News

It's hard to believe, but we've already reached the halfway point of Term 1 in year 5! Our students have been engaged in a variety of activities that have challenged their minds and creativity.

Animal Adaptations:

One of the highlights of our term so far has been our exploration of animal adaptations. Students have delved into the interesting world of animal characteristics and habitats, and have begun designing their own unique creatures that can survive in different environments. The creativity and thoughtfulness displayed in their designs have been truly impressive.

Persuasive Texts:

In our English lessons, we have been focusing on persuasive writing. Recently, our classroom chairs decided to go on strike! This unexpected turn of events presented 5E with a unique challenge: to convince our chairs to return. Drawing on their persuasive skills, students crafted compelling arguments that showcased strong language features and convincing reasoning. Their efforts paid off, as our chairs have now returned, thanks to the persuasive expertise of 5E!

5E comments about what they have enjoyed

Anashe: In Science, we got to learn about adaptations. I found camouflage interesting, especially when we created butterflies and hid them around the room.

Kiara: For Science, I found it interesting learning about camouflage and nocturnal animals. In English, I really enjoyed persuasive writing, especially learning about language features.  

Neha: I liked writing a persuasive text when our chairs quit because we didn’t get to sit down on chairs and we all got to do our persuasive texts by ourselves.

Max Y: I liked doing the persuasive texts against the chairs because it was fun and you had to really convince them to come back!

Pranavath: In English, I liked learning about language features and how you have to hook the audience at the start. 

Michelle: In Science, I have enjoyed learning about different animals and I found the adaptations song helpful and interesting.

Bella: I thought it was funny how the chairs quit in English and had fun doing persuasive writing because we get to be creative.

National Young Leaders Day

Year 6 Leader’s Day

On Monday, 19 February, the school captains along with Mrs Walsh and Miss Beech attended the National Young Leaders Day at the Convention Centre in Southbank. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the students to be in the same room as some of their heroes and role models. It provided a unique opportunity for students to gather and hear some of Australia’s most high-profile people share insights from their own leadership journey. The speakers included Anastasia Woolmer, Eva Amores & Matt Cosgrove, Ben Polson and Lachie Smart.

Student reflections from National Young Leaders Day

On February the 19^th, myself and the other schools’ captains went to a convention where mostly all the schools in Brisbane had attended. We listened to inspiring stories and what their life was like and how we could change ours. Firstly, we had this guy who taught us some dancing moves and it was really fun. We listened to stories from really special guests like the first Australian man who won Ninja Warrior or two famous authors who wrote the book Macca the Alpaca which I adored in my early years. We also saw an exclusive reveal that the authors had never yet shown to anyone! Which means we were technically the first people to see it. I loved how funny and enthusiastic they were and the guest’s stories especially the pilot Lachie Smart. My favourite things about the excursion were buying snacks, going on the train with the other school captains and taking photos with Ben Polson and the authors Matt and Eva. They were really nice and I loved their stories when they went on stage. Matt and Eva’s stories was really nice to hear and Ben’s was really interesting and inspiring to watch. I loved especially when he showed his Ninja Warrior scenes on the screen too. So that was my day at the convention and I really loved it. I hope we could do something like this again this year! Hayden

On Monday, 19th of February 2024 was the Halogen National Young Leaders Day (NYLD). Bustling with excitement, after what seemed like a short train ride, we entered the Brisbane Convention Centre. The main hall was like a kaleidoscope, with many different schools, colours and a variety of different backgrounds. There were five guest speakers, each with their own experiences we had to take notes about. Personally, my favourite was Lachlan Smart, the youngest person to fly around the world solo. He showed that wherever you come from, no matter how young you are, with hard work, dedication and perseverance, anything is possible, this really moved me. Winston

I found the excursion very interesting. I liked how we got to listen to very successful people talk about their struggles and how they overcame them to be the people they are now. I especially liked Ben Polson's story because even though he went through ruthless bullying he still overcame it and managed to be the first Australian to win Ninja Warrior. I also liked how the two co-authors stayed positive even when going through difficult times. They both lost their jobs on the same day and instead of sulking they saw the positive in the situation and decided that now they can finally write the book they had been thinking about writing. Overall, this was a very good excursion and I enjoyed learning things that I would need as being a young leader of Grand Avenue State School. Ada

On Monday, 19th of February, Ada, Hayden, Winston and I went to the Halogens National Young Leaders Day. When we got there, we learned a fun heel tap dance. Then, our first unique leader speaker was Anastasia Woolmer, the current Memory Champion. She told us about her childhood and how she found out about being a Memory Champion. There was a challenge for us to interact with leaders from other schools. It was about the persons favourite book, food and hobby. There was student whose favourite book was THE BIG CHEESE, his favourite food was CHEESE, and hobby was CHEESE ROLLING. There was a YouTuber, BEN POLSON (the best speaker) also known as the Ninja Warrior Champion who has interacted with Logan Paul, and Airrack. He showed everyone videos of his carrier and held a push-up contest, he also handed out MR. BEAST BARS. Next, were Eva and Matt the authors and illustrators of Macca the Alpaca and The Worst Week Ever. We also got photos with EVA & MATT and BEN POLSON. The last speaker was Lachie Smart the youngest person to travel around the world. We had a great day with Mrs Walsh and Miss Beech. Marquez

6B News

In 6B we have been learning about short stories. This week we have been going over sizzling starts.

In our class every morning after at 8:45 will get on are iPads and do our daily writing. Doing daily writing, and writing short stories in the morning gets my mind ready for the day and ready to learn!  I hope to write more short stories in the future. A short story I have recently finished is called the fire.

Savannah

In English, we have been learning about Short Stories and the language features to make a great Short Story. Examples of language features that we have been learning in are, Sizzling Starts, Metaphors, Personification, Similes, Alliteration, and Onomatopoeia.

In Maths, we have been learning about Integers, Translations, and Tessellations. We had also been learning about the Cartesian Plane and how to place Coordinates on the Cartesian Plane. My favourite thing about Maths is placing the Coordinates on the Cartesian Plane.

In Science, we have been learning about different states of matter, melting and solidification. We have been experimenting on how different substances melt and solidify in different temperatures. My favourite thing about science is doing the experiments and how fun they are to.

Ava

In 6B we have been learning a lot about Henry Parkes, and federation in Hass. In Maths we have been drawing tessellations and in health we have been discussing a lot about bullying and social skills. In PE we have been doing rotations and components of fitness. In English we are focusing on short stories, and sizzling starts.

Shantelle

Being in grade 6 is amazing we have important roles to do like doing our school flags, getting tuckshop for all of grade 6, and counting our star tickets to get awesome prizes. 

Being a leader is great too, we get to go to meetings to share our ideas on how to make our school a better place, I also have the opportunity to talk at assembly and go to exciting excursions.

Marquez

Year 6 Class Awards

Music Notes

On Wednesday night, the music department held their Beginner Band Parent Information Night. This was a chance for the Beginning students to show their parents how their new instruments go together and what they sound like when played all together. The students became the teachers and showed their parents how to hold and play their instrument. Together the families played the first three notes, they made a great community band! These children have learnt a lot in the first 5 weeks of lessons and were quite confident showing off the basics. The purpose for the evening was to show the families just how hard these children are working, to learn their new instrument. It’s an uncomfortable feeling and takes a lot of patience and dedication to keep practising, when things are difficult. We love the perseverance of these Beginner Band students and are so grateful for the support of their families in this learning journey.

Most of the music ensembles at Grand Avenue have now started! Our Senior Band is on Monday morning, our Senior Strings is on Tuesday morning and our Senior choir is on Friday morning. The Junior choir has also started now and is on Tuesday mornings. We'd love to have more students come join us in Senior or Junior Choir so come ask Ms McLeod for a note. 

We have two new practise clubs that have just started...

Mondays, first break, Recorder Club for year 4.

Tuesdays, first break, Ukulele Club for year 5 & 6.

They are plenty of opportunities to participate in a music ensemble at Grand Avenue. Email Ms McLeod or drop into the music room to ask for more info

Chess News

Library Lovers

PBL News

Each week students participate in lessons and activities to learn about the school behaviour focus and what it looks like at school. This provides a great opportunity for you to talk with your child about what they have been learning and how they can also show this expectation in other situations.

Student Services News

Chaplaincy News

Evacuation and Lockdown Procedures - Term 1 Scheduled Drills

Scheduled Drills for Term 1 2024 – Weather Permitting

Week 9 – Wednesday 20 March, 9.15am – EVACUATION

Week 9 – Friday 22 March, 9.15am - LOCKDOWN

Due to a range of potential risks from within and outside our school, it is necessary for the protection and safety of students that Grand Avenue has well-advertised and rehearsed Lockdown and Evacuation Procedures.  Although the purpose of the procedures are shared and practiced with students regularly, it is important that parents are aware of, and also discuss the procedures with their children.  For your information, details of the procedures are:-

Lockdown – students are to be seated on the floor out of line of sight of any external door or window while windows and doors are secured by school staff.  Students and staff need to be protected from various situations, aggressive intruders (eg: estranged adult, large dogs etc) and environmental mishaps (eg: dangerous chemical spill).  A broken siren wail signals lockdown (SHORT SIREN – STAY).

Evacuation – students and staff must be able to evacuate buildings quickly in the case of fire or bomb threat.  A continuous siren signals evacuation (LONG SIREN – LEAVE). The evacuation assembly area (EAA) is the school oval on the other side of the cricket pitch.

Should the school be without power, members of the school leadership team are allocated various teaching blocks to sound an evacuation alarm.  This will be two short bursts of a whistle, followed by the words ‘EVACUATION” and two more short bursts of a whistle.  They will then move onto their next allocated building.

Practices must occur at least once per term.  Generally, practices happen during class time and lunchtime breaks.  The school may also have a practice before school or on the afternoon dismiss bell as potentially an incident could occur during the short time before classes begin for the day or at the end of the day.  In the event of a lockdown before school, parents who are waiting with their children outside classrooms can enter the classroom.

During the school day unless volunteering in classrooms, adults who are not staff members will NOT be admitted to any classroom during a lockdown.  At all times parents and visitors are asked to follow the directions of staff members.  Visitors/volunteers working in classrooms should not leave the school grounds during an evacuation but accompany the class/group they are with to the Emergency Evacuation Area.

For any reason, should parents arrive at school during an evacuation or lockdown procedure, for your safety you are asked to remain in the public car park.

In the event of a real situation, school staff and the public will be directed by Queensland Police and Emergency Services.

Teachers will be discussing our procedures with their class during this week.  For our lower grades teachers will have a walk through with their class on the route that they will need to take to the EAA.  

Thank you for your interest and cooperation.

Student Safety

The school has various pedestrian gates.  Each day at 9.00am the gates are closed, but not locked.

When entering the school grounds during the day can you please close the gate after entering and leaving, even if you are visiting for a short period of time.