15 March 2024

Dates to Remember

Principal News

Children and young people learn every day, in every environment they are in. Parents and carers are their children’s first educators, and how parents and carers support their children’s learning matters. Schools provide the professional expertise and formal structure of education, and parents shape their children’s values, attitudes and approaches to learning.

Together, schools, parents and carers provide the opportunities for children to thrive. Parent/Carer engagement in learning starts from early childhood and continues as children move through school and beyond. Engaging with parents and carers is, and has always been, at the heart of working with children and supporting them to learn.

Parent/Carer engagement in learning is embedded in the standards that guide professional teaching practice and is a core aspect of teaching expertise. Authentic parent engagement may not always be easy. For our education system to be world class, we must support leaders, teachers and parents to partner in purposeful and effective ways. We know from the research that significant benefits are possible through strong parent-school partnerships. Schools with effective parent/carer engagement are more likely to increase academic achievements and student wellbeing, and improve lifelong outcomes for children

I would like to encourage all families to become involved in our school through the following ways.

Join our P&C and become a member – our next general meeting and AGM (voting for the 2024 P&C Executive and 2024 membership approvals) occurs next Tuesday 19 March at 7:00pm in the Grand Avenue State School STEAM room. Membership forms can be located on our school website.

https://grandavenuess.eq.edu.au/SupportAndResources/FormsAndDocuments/Documents/Our%20Community/P%26C/P%26C_Membership_Form_2024%20GASS.pdf

We will also provide these forms at the meeting for those who wish to sign up or vote.

Parents and Citizens' (P&C) associations work in productive partnership with their school principal and the community to promote the interests of the school, and facilitate its development and further improvement, to achieve the best possible outcomes for students.

P&Cs provide feedback and advice on school policies and activities, assist in providing resources to enhance student outcomes and are involved in a variety of school activities including fundraising, school functions, tuckshops and outside school hours care services.

Parent/Carer Teacher Interviews -make a booking to attend the Parent/Carer Teacher Interviews in week 10. Please contact classroom teachers for more information.

Quality partnerships require a reciprocal commitment from staff and parents to work together to improve student learning and wellbeing.

Learning is not limited to the classroom. The beliefs, expectations and experience of parents are powerful determinants in students' achievement. Effective partnerships can help to raise parents' awareness of their ability to improve their children's learning and wellbeing. Understanding the school, home and community contribution to student learning helps cultivate a holistic learning environment.

School culture Respectful relationships between the school, students, parents and the school community need to be actively cultivated and valued. Nurturing a culture that respects and values difference amongst the whole school community is vital in supporting the inclusive engagement of all families. Parent and community participation in student learning and the school community should be acknowledged and recognised. This involvement sends a clear signal to students about the value of education.

Parent Code of Conduct - Our school values positive parent/carer relationships and below you will see our Parent Code of Conduct in relation to our collaboration together.

It is important to note that if you wish to discuss your child/children’s, please contact the classroom teacher in writing via email asking to organise a suitable time. You may also contact the school, either by phone or at the Administration Office personally and arrange for a teacher to contact you to arrange a suitable meeting time.

Please note that Teachers are not usually available to respond to emails or talk with teachers during teaching time or whilst on playground duty. Teachers will usually access their emails on their rostered scheduled daily. They will aim to respond to a parent or carer as soon as practical during the school week.  Please don’t seek to discuss in detail a student’s academic progress learning expectations or behavioural issues by email. These are best addressed in person or over the phone. Use email to arrange a suitable time with the teacher to discuss these matters. When agreed between the teacher and the parent or carer (following a meeting or telephone conversation) email may be used as a form of ongoing communication.

If you still have concerns around your child/children after speaking to the classroom teacher.

Please make sure you make an appointment or send an enquiry email to the year level Deputy Principal

 If you do not have your issues resolved with the teacher or the year level Deputy, please then contact the Principal

Principal – Mrs Racheal Jones – rjone233@eq.edu.au

We understand that as caring parents, you may wish to be near the school premises for various reasons, including dropping off or picking up your children, ensuring their safety, or catching up with other parents. While we appreciate your involvement and support, it's essential to highlight the potential impact of lingering on school grounds outside of designated times.

Here are a few reasons why we kindly request your cooperation in minimizing your presence on the school premises outside of official school hours:

Disruption to School Operations: The presence of a large number of parents around the school grounds can sometimes disrupt the smooth operation of our school activities. It can cause congestion in parking areas, impede the flow of traffic, and even create distractions for students and staff members.

Safety Concerns: Having numerous adults around the school grounds can pose safety concerns, especially during busy times such as arrival and dismissal. It's crucial to maintain clear pathways for students to enter and exit the school safely and having too many adults present can make this task challenging.

Supervision Responsibility: While we encourage parents to be actively involved in their children's education, it's important to note that the supervision and safety of students remain the responsibility of the school staff during school hours. Excessive parental presence can blur these boundaries and may lead to confusion among students and staff.

Privacy and Security: Maintaining a balance between accessibility and security is paramount in ensuring the well-being of everyone within our school community. Excessive parental presence can compromise the privacy and security protocols we have in place.

In light of these considerations, we kindly request your cooperation in adhering to the following guidelines:

Please refrain from lingering on the school grounds outside of designated drop-off and pick-up times.

If you need to have discussions or meetings with teachers or staff members, please schedule appointments in advance to ensure that adequate time and resources are available.

When dropping off or picking up your children, please do so promptly and move your vehicle away from the immediate vicinity of the school to allow for smooth traffic flow.

By adhering to these guidelines, we can work together to create a safer and more conducive learning environment for all students at Grand Avenue State School. Your understanding and cooperation in this matter are greatly appreciated.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this issue, please don't hesitate to reach out to the school administration. Thank you for your continued support and partnership in your child's education.

From the Deputy Principals

Managing Screen Time

In today's digital age, it's common for children to spend time on screens for various activities. While technology can be beneficial, excessive screen time can have negative effects on your child's health and well-being. Here are some signs to watch out for to determine if your child might be using screens too much:

1. Irritability and Mood Swings: If your child becomes irritable or moody when screen time is interrupted or restricted, it could be a sign of dependency on screens.
2. Difficulty Concentrating: Excessive screen time can lead to difficulty focusing on tasks or activities that don't involve screens, such as homework or playing with toys.
3. Physical Symptoms: Eyestrain, headaches, and neck or back pain can result from prolonged periods of staring at screens.
4. Sleep Disturbances: Screens emit blue light, which can disrupt the body's natural sleep-wake cycle, leading to difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
5. Neglecting Other Activities: If your child consistently chooses screen time over other activities such as outdoor play, reading, or spending time with family and friends, it may indicate overuse.

Practical Suggestions for Managing Screen Time:

1. Set Limits: Establish clear guidelines for screen time, including specific time limits for different types of activities. Use parental controls or screen time management apps to enforce these limits.
2. Encourage Balanced Activities: Encourage your child to engage in a variety of activities beyond screens, such as outdoor play, reading, hobbies, and spending time with family and friends.
3. Lead by Example: Model healthy screen habits by limiting your own screen time and engaging in non-screen activities with your child.
4. Create Screen-Free Zones: Designate certain areas of the house, such as bedrooms or the dinner table, as screen-free zones to promote family bonding and communication.
5. Encourage Physical Activity: Encourage regular physical activity to counterbalance sedentary screen time. Encourage outdoor play, sports, or active games indoors.

By being mindful of these signs and implementing practical strategies to manage screen time, you can help your child develop healthy habits and maintain a balanced lifestyle.

Easter Hat Parade

QParents

Communicating with Parents During School Hours

It has come to our attention that some students are using their ipads or laptops to message their family members during class time. The ‘Away for the day’ campaign by the Queensland Government states that mobile phones must be switched off (and handed to the office) and other devices that can be used to communicate, such as smart watches, ipads and laptops, must have notifications silenced.

Students are prohibited to use iPads or laptops to communicate with their parents during the school day for several reasons. Firstly, such devices can easily become distractions, diverting students' attention away from their studies and disrupting the learning environment. Additionally, allowing unrestricted communication with parents can interrupt the flow of instruction and class activities. Moreover, there are concerns about privacy and safety, as unsupervised online communication can expose students to inappropriate content or potentially dangerous situations. By limiting the use of personal devices for communication during school hours, educators aim to maintain a focused and secure learning environment conducive to academic success.

Should your child have a justifiable reason for needing to contact you during the day, they can do so by requesting this through our school office.

Culture Group

Grand Avenue State School has traditionally had a culture group every year that meets once per week to learn cultural songs and dances that are then performed on school assemblies and during special events such as Graduation. Our culture group is a treasured part of our school community that we would love to continue. Unfortunately as Mrs Mabel Fa’ata’ape has moved to another school, we no longer have an adult who knows cultural songs and dances to teach the children. We would like to invite members of our school community to volunteer to lead our culture group and attend a practise session once per week. The only requirement for this role is a current blue card. If you or anyone you know would be interested in this role, please contact Mrs Tamara Walsh on 3372 0555 or at twall167@eq.edu.au

Religious Instruction

Our cooperative Christian religious instruction seminar will take place in Week 9 (Thursday 21 March). If you provided consent and listed one of the following religions on your child’s enrolment form, your child will attend a 45 minute seminar.

• Uniting
• Catholic
• Anglican
• Baptist
• Christian

The session this term will focus on the following:

 Term 1: Jesus the Saviour

Focusing on the Easter story and why Jesus died. Discover that Jesus predicted his death, as well as his resurrection. Find out what eyewitnesses (ie. his disciples and others) said about it. Show why Jesus’ death and resurrection is great news for us.

If you wish for your child to attend or be withdrawn from this seminar, please put this in writing to enrolments@grandavenuess.eq.edu.au

Active School Travel

Last week, when we launched our Active School Travel campaign, we had an amazing 46% of students who used an active mode of travel!

Well done to the Grand Avenue community for such fantastic participation, and for encouraging our students to be active all day long!

While 46% is an amazing effort, our school target is 50%, so we still have some work to do. Many of our classes managed over 60% while the winning class achieved an exceptional 77% - Well done 2D!

Next Friday, 22 March is National Ride to School Day: to celebrate we
Did you know that in Queensland it is legal to ride your bike or scooter on the footpath?

It’s all part of our Active School Travel program and we love to see our students arriving at school healthy and happy, ready to learn. Fewer cars around the school also makes it safer for us all. Students who ride to school are contributing to their minimum physical activity requirement of 60 minutes each day.

Lone Pine with Year 1

Hello from the Year 1 Wildlife Rangers!

Wow, what an amazing day we had at Lone Pine Sanctuary! We went on this trip to learn all about Australian animals, and it was fantastic. Time for us to share some of the awesome things we saw and learned!

We spotted the iconic koalas perched high in the branches peacefully dozing away. Did you know that koalas spend most of their time snoozing, catching those forty winks for up to 18 hours a day? What a life!

Next stop was the kangaroo enclosure and with gentle hands, we got to pat and feed these beautiful animals their crunchy pellets for lunch.  We also enjoyed a fascinating bird show! We watched in awe as skilled trainers showcased the incredible talents of colourful parrots and majestic birds of prey.

Lone Pine’s ‘Backyard Explorer’ creates a journey of discovery while introducing diets, habitats, adaptations and plenty of problem-solving. Students are challenged to use their new Backyard Explorer knowledge to piece together animal clues like scale sheds, footprints and food sources to learn which animals may be living in their backyards. During this time, we were also lucky enough to get up close in personal with a tree frog and even got to pat a snake and a cuddly koala!

We learned so much about Australian animals and how they live. It was such a fun and educational day at Lone Pine Sanctuary! A very big thank you to our parent helpers and teaches for taking us on this special adventure!

Year 4-6 Cross Country

Year 5 News

As the end of the term approaches, we took a moment to reflect on how far we've come and the knowledge we've gained. Each challenge we've tackled, every question we've asked, and all the discoveries we've made have contributed to our personal and academic development. Still each day is filled with new discoveries and challenges as we gear up for NAPLAN and actively seek ways to make positive contributions to our community and country, fostering respect for everyone along the way.

Our enthusiasm has found a focal point in science this term, where we've delved into the realms of creativity by crafting imaginary animals. Drawing inspiration from the diverse adaptations of real creatures, we've melded the best traits of three or more into fantastical beings. The results? Nothing short of hilarious! From whimsical hybrids to bizarre combinations, our creations have sparked laughter and sparked imaginations.

To bring our creatures to life, we've embarked on the delightful journey of crafting trioramas, each showcasing our animal and its unique adaptations in a vivid and captivating manner. Through this hands-on experience, we've not only honed our scientific understanding but also unleashed our artistic talents, creating immersive displays that invite others to marvel at our ingenuity.

As we continue on this exhilarating learning voyage, we're eager to see where our curiosity and creativity will lead us next, confident that each day holds the promise of new discoveries and achievements.

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 10

Next

Year 6 News

As we are approaching the end of the term, we have been focussing on consolidating our learning in preparation for our assessments. This week 6C paused and reflected on what we have learnt this term, we also thought about what subjects we had enjoyed the most and why.

Benjamin Dinh

In 6C, we do many things. In math we are learning about charts and multiplication. We are also right now, in 6C we are learning how to write narratives with good rising action and climax which is what we’re mainly focusing on. In math we are learning long multiplication, chance and probability and pie charts. In H.A.S.S we are learning about Australian Federation and Henry Parkes. We are also improving our vocabulary. My favourite thing we are learning in 6C is writing narratives.

HASS is a really fun subject; we are learning about Federation in Australia. This is only the tip of the iceberg. There is so much things going on in 6C!!

PK Nguyen

Right now, in 6C we are learning how to write narratives with good rising actions and climax. This is what we’re mainly focusing on at the moment. In math we are learning long multiplication, chance and probability and pie charts. In H.A.S.S we are learning about Australian Federation and Henry Parkes. We are also improving our vocabulary. My favourite thing we are learning in 6C is writing narratives because I can let my inner thoughts out.

Emanuelle Fuamoli

In 6C we are learning about Australian federation and the suffragettes. We are also learning about climaxes and how to make them more interesting for our narratives. We’re learning long multiplication and pie charts. And lastly, we are learning about how to be independent learners.

I enjoy Math because even if I know everything, I love to learn more or teach it to other people because I love helping and learning new things.

Hayley Southern

This year in 6C, we are learning about many things that include, charts, history, and narratives. In math so far this week we have been learning about chance, data and pie charts. We have also been learning strategies for long multiplication. In literacy we have been focusing on writing narratives and working on the climax. In H.A.S.S we have been going back to the 1900’s and Federation. We have been learning about how being Federated helped and the suffragettes. Lastly in science we have been working on reversible and irreversible changes in matter. That’s all we have been working on in 6C. My favourite thing to learn is narratives, I love writing narratives, I find it as a way to use your imagination to its limits.

Jennifer Graham

In English, we are learning the structure of a narrative. Introduction (Must include, who, what and when.), Rising action 3x (these must introduce the problem and slowly build up to the climax), Climax (This should be the big point in your story where something big happens, explode the moment and use description.), falling action (Slowly decreasing in action, maybe a small problem along the way), conclusion (The end of your story, or maybe create another problem and write a sequel). We are also learning, simple, compound and complex sentences. My favourite is writing the stories because I love being creative and putting my thoughts onto a page!

The Secrets of the Church 

by Winston 

Thunder split the night sky, as Danny, was led not by fate, but by a whisper. A whisper in the wind that spoke the ancient secrets that lie within the church walls, beckoning him to enter.

He stood at the threshold of the church, the time-worn door groaning open, as if reluctant to reveal its secrets. “Like the church has a mind of its own.’’ Danny mumbled to himself, his voice filled with both awe and apprehension. Moonlight shimmered through the stained-glass casting shifting shadows on the dusty floor. As he entered, a bone-chilling breeze blew the empty nave, and it carried with it, the soft echoes of lost prayers.

Venturing deeper, Danny’s footsteps echoed faintly, only interrupted by the distant hoot of an owl. The candlelight flickered, revealing ancient pews, ethereal cobwebs and what appeared to be a mysterious coffin in the centre of the church. The coffin gave Danny an eerie tingling sensation, as if it was slowly possessing him. The shadows seemed to converge, and the coffin resonated, emitting an unearthly ethereal energy. “Hello? Anyone there?” Danny spoke aloud. Then, with a sudden, thunderous bang, the door shut furiously behind him, sealing him inside.

By now, Danny’s palms were sweating, his legs were shaking, and there were shivers down his spine. The atmosphere grew more ominous. The whispers grew louder, like a choir reaching its crescendo. Then, a bright flashing light blinded him, followed by a deafening, ear-piercing silence. Danny felt an ancient, awakening presence. He was unable to move and felt as if a whole congregation encircled him and the coffin. Something was climbing out of it, a body resurrecting. “Oh no!” Danny screamed, “what have I done!”

NAPLAN

Congratulations to our Year 3 and 5 students who have successfully completed NAPLAN for 2024.

NAPLAN results allow parents/carers and educators to see how students are progressing in literacy and numeracy over time – individually, as part of their school community, and against national standards.  

The tests support monitoring and evaluating of the performance of schools and school systems in these fundamental capabilities. They also provide schools, states and territories with information about how education approaches are working, areas to be prioritised for improvement, and those schools requiring support in the teaching and learning of literacy and numeracy.

The results can assist teachers by providing additional information to support their professional judgement about students’ levels of literacy and numeracy attainment and progress.

Student results will become available later in the year and we will share these with you as soon as they are delivered to the school.

We appreciate your support in preparing and getting our students to school each and every day.

Harmony Day

Did you know that almost half (49%) of Australians were born overseas or have at least one parent who was? Australia is one of the most successful multicultural countries in the world. Harmony week is a time to celebrate the diversity of Australians, and brings us all together to recognise our different backgrounds. It’s about inclusiveness and a sense of belonging for every one of us. This year it will be celebrated from 18th to 24th March.

Orange is the colour chosen to represent Harmony Week. Traditionally orange signifies social communication and meaningful conversations. It also relates to the freedom of ideas and encouragement of mutual respect.

Some interesting facts:

Since 1945, more than 7.5 million people have migrated to Australia

Apart from English, the most common languages spoken in Australia are Mandarin, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Punjabi, Arabic, Italian, Greek, Tagalog/Filipino, Hindi, and Spanish

More than 70 Indigenous languages are spoken in Australia

Here at Grand Avenue State School, we will celebrate Harmony Day on Thursday 21st March (Week 9) by wearing orange to mark the significance of this day. There will also be activities and competitions throughout the week. At the assembly on Friday, prizes will be presented to the winners of the competitions as well as a performance by the Junior and Senior Choirs.

Chaplaincy News