28 March 2023

Dates to Remember

Principal News

As we finalise the term, I would like to take the opportunity to wish all the students a restful and safe vacation. I would like also like to say a huge thank you to staff, students and families for a successful start to the year. Our students have all been involved in so many learning opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom including incursion, excursions, competitions and sporting events. These opportunities provide some of the most memorable days of school life and also create experiences that help students develop and apply positive life skills. I have a strong belief that positive impact on school engagement and maximising academic success. I would like to thank families for their support of our school and our wonderful staff who put our students first at all times at times giving up time from their personal lives to make wonderful memories for our students.

Last week, we celebrated Harmony Week and Closing the Gap, which is the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together students within our school community from all different backgrounds. Harmony Week is a time for everyone to celebrate the enormous benefits of multiculturalism. The message of Harmony Day/Week is social cohesion and racial harmony and is expressed through community participation, inclusiveness, the celebration of diversity, respect, belonging, and primarily the unity and togetherness of the numerous nationalities residing within the community. Our students participated in lot of fun activities including colouring and creating posters about the messages from our students and staff about respecting and valuing one another.

It has been rewarding to see the improvement with our student attendance. We are currently seeing on average 93% of students attending daily. This time last year we had only 82% of students attending. Well done teachers, students and parents/carers for making this a priority. We are now working on getting 95%s students at school every day and on time to begin learning day.

I am excited to see what other community events and opportunities we will have this year, as the community spirit is alive and well. Next term, we look forward to sharing more about how families and carers can support and participating in our wonderful school.

P&C Update

I would like to say a big thank you to the 2023 P&C Executive Committee and Congratulations on being re-elected for the 2024 school year. See P&C News for all the latest information.

Parent Teacher Interviews

Last week we opened our school to families and carers to meet with teachers to discuss student learning and goal setting. If you did not get an opportunity, please contact your child/children’s teachers for a meeting request. Thank you to the families and carer who attended. Please consider the following suggestions for a further follow up to your meeting.

After Parent Teacher Meeting suggestions for Parents and Carers

• Make a plan. Write down the things that you and the teacher will each do to support your

child. You can do this during the conference or after. Write down what you will do, when, and

how often. Make plans to check in with the teacher in the coming months.

• Schedule another time to talk. Communication should go both ways. Ask how you can contact

the teacher. And don’t forget to ask how the teacher will contact you too. There are many ways

to communicate—in person, by phone, notes, email. Make a plan that works for both of you. Be

sure to schedule at least one more time to talk in the next few months.

• Talk to your child. The parent–teacher conference is all about your child, so don’t forget to

include him or her. Share with your child what you learned. Show him or her how you will help

with learning at home. Ask for his or her suggestions.

As we end the term the following staff will be taking leave.

Miss Shae Rodden – Prep E who will be moving interstate

Mr Jeremy Went who will be acting Principal at Bracken Ridge State School for term 2. We wish him all the very best in the next steps in his career path.

We would like to thank them for setting up the school year so successfully with their students and creating a warm and inviting environment.

Happy Holidays

I would like to wish everyone a safe and happy break. See you all back for a busy term 2.

From the Deputy Principals

Term One for our youngest students is a significant period of transition. Our prep students have transitioned from a vastly different kindergarten environment to a school setting. Additionally, our year one students have moved from prep, where there are two people in the room at all times and more emphasis on play, to a more structured environment where they are encouraged to become increasingly independent. Naturally, some difficulties may arise for our children as they navigate the challenges of the next steps in their educational journey. As I walk around the classrooms, I am struck by the considerable growth our prep and year one students have shown in just one term. In only ten weeks, they have adapted to new classrooms, teachers, friends, and playgrounds. This degree of change and transition should not be underestimated. However, I could not be prouder of our youngest learners as they have made this transition with the support of their families, dedicated teachers, and support staff, demonstrating confidence and resilience.

One of the many wonderful aspects I have noticed in my first term at Grand Avenue SS is the supportive nature of our parent community towards their children's education. This is evident in your attendance at parent/teacher meetings, as well as your cooperation when we reach out to you with any concerns. Your involvement as parents is crucial to the success of our young learners, as research suggests. I want to extend my thanks to all of you for your continued support in your child's education by supporting both your child and their teachers.

From the Senior School 

Bully Zero

Bully Zero will be out in Week 1 to present to our Year 6 cohort. The workshop is titled ‘Understanding Bullying’ and covers the following: Young people are provided with evidence based information on bullying, the different types of bullying and its impact on young people. Participants are also taught a variety of strategies to help them assess and respond to bullying situations, whilst also identifying and understanding the role of bystanders.

Students will also be participating in class activities that support the ideas in the presentation. For example, classes may have open discussions around the following questions:

• How do you define bullying?
• What are the main types of bullying and what is the most common?
• Do all types of bullying affect people the same way?
• Why do people bully?
• What are the consequences of bullying?
• Who are the enablers of bullying behaviour? Why?
• Who holds the most power in a bullying situation?
• Why is it important to stand up to bullying?
• Why do you think many bystanders don’t take action?
• Why are we all responsible for each other’s safety?
• What action could you take to help stop bullying?

Year 5 Camp

From Monday 3^rd June 2024 to Wednesday 5^th June 2024, students in Year 5 will have the opportunity to attend Camp Warrawee. The aims of the camp are for students to build upon their team work, resilience and problem-solving skills in a variety of land and water-based activities. All of the activities at camp are supervised by the camp co-ordinators and teachers. Students will be in activity groups. The activities are designed to build leadership capabilities and team work.  Some activities that the students will be participating in include:

Giant Swing - An exhilarating high rope activity where participants are hoisted into the air by team members, then swing through the air.

Archery – Learn how to safely use a bow in a wide open field, aiming to get arrows on a target.

Indoor climbing wall- Campers challenge themselves to reach the top of the climb.

Low ropes – An exciting course with varying degrees of difficulty.

Canoeing – Canoe in small teams on the beautiful North Pine River.  This activity is structured to suit the age and capabilities of the participants.

Raft building - Groups are given the basic materials and have to construct their own raft and test it on the river.

Inflatable obstacle course – Giant pool inflatable obstacle course. A fun filled water activity.

Campfire cooking – Learn fire safety, how to build a fire and cook some yummy damper to enjoy.

Nuclear meltdown – A problem solving team challenge with a twist!

Families have been invoiced for this camp and permission notes went home at the end of last week. Please see your child’s teacher if you have not received your invoice or permission and medical notes for this activity.

ANZAC Day

Grand Avenue State School will hold a special ANZAC day ceremony in our school Auditorium on Wednesday 24 April 2024. All members of the school community are welcome to attend and will take place at the following times:

9:15am – Prep – Year 2

10:00am – Years 3 -6

Students are welcome to bring along floral tributes to lay during the ceremony.

Student and families are also invited to join the local community ANZAC day march on Thursday 25 April.

For your information, details of the Forest Lake ANZAC Day march are:

Date:                                     Thursday 25 April

Time:                                     Start  8:30am                      Finish   11:00am

Assembly:                     Between 8:15am and 8:30am – Please be there on time as the march will start at 9:00am.

Behind the Salvation Army Hall, High Street.

March Route:                    High Street along Forest Lake Boulevard, to finish at the amphitheatre near the lake.

Dress:                                   All students are to be dressed in their dress uniform which includes a hat, checked dress or checked shirt and navy shorts / skort and black shoes.

Supervision:                       Mrs Walsh and Mrs Jones will supervise the students during the march. 

Parents are most welcome to march with the students or meet us at the amphitheatre near the lake.

PARENTS ARE TO BE PUNCTUAL ABOUT DROPPING OFF AND COLLECTING THEIR CHILDREN AT THE APPROPRIATE START AND FINISH TIMES.

Year 2 News

Assembly

The last two weeks of Term 1 have been extremely busy and all of Year Two have been working very hard on finishing assessment. We had our first, year level Assembly with these students’ receiving awards from their class teacher for a variety of achievements.

English

In Year Two, we have been focusing on narratives, we learnt all about Plot Mountain. Our final narrative this term, was to create our own ending to ‘Spirit of Hope’. Once we finished writing our assessment, we used Book Creator to turn it into a book.

In 2A, we have been reading a class novel called ‘The Haunted Library’. We have enjoyed learning how to visualise when reading this book, along with our vocabulary words and actions. We have also learnt about Nouns, Verbs and Adjectives through GRAMMARopolis.  

Abrish and Tvisha

“I liked changing the ending because I got better and better at my spelling and writing. I like the Haunted Library because it is very interesting to listen to. I like the verb song because it is fun. I like the noun song because it is more fun and I like the adjective, noun and verb find because I like looking for them in our books.” 

Dance

We have been dancing our hearts out to music from over the decades, learning the styles of dance from that time. The teachers have been having a bit of a dance as well. This has been a fun, collaborative time with the cohort coming together every Thursday afternoon. Each class is looking forward to presenting a dance style from a chosen decade, to our peers for dance assessment next term.

Lillian

“I like dance because you can have fun and you can learn new dances. My favourite dance is the Hand Jive.”

Science

We have been growing plants in science, observing the beans grow. The bags had different ‘soils’, one had good soil, one was polluted, one had soil with no water and one with no soil. We also have been learning about all of earth’s resources.

Archie and Jake

“We like how we watered the plants and looking at the plants every week. We like drawing our observations on the board and in our book, and we like what we write about the plants.”

Maths

Lastly, in Maths, we have been learning measurement and capacity, chance and probability and all things number, working on numbers up to 1000.

Charlotte and Oscar

“I like maths because I love doing number of the day (NOD). I like maths because I love doing daily 10.

Year 5 News

In the past two weeks, our Year 5 classes have delved into the world of design technology, focusing on creating dioramas for the imaginary animals we've crafted in our science lessons. This project has allowed us to explore the essential elements needed to create artificial shelters for these unique creatures.

The creativity and ingenuity of our students have truly shone through in this project. Some have used sticks and leaves to represent trees, carefully crafting a natural environment for their animals. Others have sculpted intricate caves with clay, providing safe and cosy shelters for their creatures to rest in.

One particularly imaginative idea was the creation of a fish dispenser, ensuring that the animals have a convenient food source within their shelter. This innovative approach demonstrates the depth of thought and consideration that our students have put into their designs.

Overall, this project has been a fantastic opportunity for our students to apply their knowledge and skills in a practical and creative way. We look forward to seeing more of their innovative ideas in future projects!

Year 6 News

In Year 6, we've recently embarked on an exciting journey into the world of chance and data, a unit that not only enhances mathematical skills but also prepares our students for real-world applications. Through interactive lessons, our students are learning to collect, organise, and interpret data, laying the groundwork for informed decision-making in their daily lives. By utilising tools such as graphs and charts, they are becoming adept at visualising data, enabling them to see patterns and trends more clearly.

One of the highlights of this unit has been the introduction of probability experiments. These hands-on activities have provided students with a practical understanding of chance, helping them to grasp concepts such as likelihood and randomness. By predicting outcomes and comparing them with actual results, they are developing critical thinking and analytical skills.

Year 5 & 6 Interschool Sport

EALD News

Harmony Day and Close the Gap Day

A big thank you to everyone who participated in the celebrations for both Harmony Week and Close the Gap Day. It was great to see so many staff members and students wearing orange last Thursday, in the spirit of everyone in our community belonging and embracing diversity. Lots of students entered the colouring in and poster competitions, and some of these are on display in the library, so go and check them out this week! The winners were: An Pham (1E), Mia Song (3E) and Amy Nguyen (6E).

Thank you also to our music teacher, Alisen McLeod, who lead the junior and senior choirs’ beautiful performance of ‘Welcome to All People’. This song is by renowned indigenous musician, Ruby Hunter. All students joined in with the chorus as they have been learning this in their music classes.

Thank you also to our Year 6 leaders who stepped up to help with supervision of colouring activities at lunch time and also with leading the whole school assembly last Friday.

Louise Blair

Guidance Officer News

Important: Keeping Your Children Safe Online During School Holidays

This period offers a wonderful opportunity for rest and relaxation, yet it also presents an increased amount of time that our children spend online. It is essential, now more than ever, to engage in conversations about the importance of online safety.

The eSafety Commissioner's website is a valuable resource that provides extensive information on various topics critical for ensuring our children's online safety. These include:

• Understanding Different Parental Controls: Tools and settings available to help manage your child's online activities.
• Cyberbullying: Guidance on identifying signs and the appropriate actions to take if your child encounters or engages in online bullying.
• Image-Based Abuse: Advice on supporting young people through challenges related to online images.

For detailed information and resources, please visit: eSafety Resources for Parents (https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/resources).

Additionally, for our younger learners aged 5 to 8 years, the eSafety Commissioner offers four engaging videos through the "Mighty Heroes" series. These videos are designed to teach foundational online safety principles in an accessible and engaging manner, covering topics such as personal responsibility, respect, critical thinking online, and trusting one's instincts. Access these valuable tools at: Mighty Heroes Series (https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/resources/mighty-heroes).

Looking ahead to Term 2, the eSafety Commissioner will host a series of informative webinars tailored for parents of primary-aged children. These sessions will cover a range of topics including personal eSafety, consent and online boundaries, and strategies for setting your child up for success in the digital world. We highly encourage you to participate in these webinars to further equip yourselves with the knowledge and tools necessary for safeguarding your children’s online experiences. For more information and to register, please visit: eSafety Webinars for Parents (https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars).

As we continue to navigate the digital age, it is paramount that we remain vigilant and proactive in educating our children about the importance of online safety. Your involvement and commitment to this cause are invaluable. Should you have any questions or require further assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Warm regards,

The Student Services team

P&C News

The P&C Association held it's AGM on 19^th of March. We had a great turnout and had lots of parents offer their support for the 2024 year. Elected at the AGM was:

Executive Committee:

President: Jessica Watson

Vice President: Marcus Cosgrove

Secretary: Melissa Meitzler

Treasurer: vacant

Sub Committees: (Chair, an executive committee member)

OHSC - Chelsea

Canteen - Nikki

Uniform - Nikki

Dance - Emma, Row, Jo

Music - Emma, Row

Fundraising- Emma, Row, Sharnee, Katherine, Bec

Working Group:

Community Engagement - Helen, Katherine

Auxiliary roles:

Events Coordinator - vacant

Parent & Community Liaison - Helen

Social Media/Newsletter Coordinator - vacant

We received nominations for the treasurer and social media roles and will be holding a Special General Meeting following our General Meeting on the 19 April to vote on these positions. If you're interested in joining the P&C please reach out to us. Many hands make like work but it's also fantastic to be part of a very supportive group of people who strive to increase community participation and support our school community.

Thanks for your ongoing support of the P&C Association and we look forward to a successful 2024.

Save the Date

Volunteer opportunities for '2024 Mothers Day Stall' are now open.

Please click on the following web link (or copy it into your web browser if clicking doesn't work) to go to the signup sheet: volunteersignup.org/D7A3M

OSHC News

The P&C Committee would like to give a warm welcome to our new OSHC Service Manager. Susan commenced at the service on Monday 25 March. This strategic addition to our team reflects our commitment to continuous improvement and efficient business practices. If you need to reach out to Susan her email address is OSHCManager@grandavenuess.eq.edu.au.

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.   https://www.facebook.com/gasspandc  

Next 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.

At our next meeting we will also hold a Special General Meeting at the end of the General meeting. The SPM will be conducted to vote on vacant positions within the P&C and to update bank signatories with the appointment of a treasurer.

If you have any questions please contact

pandc@grandavenuess.eq.edu.au 

OR

p&cpresident@grandavenuess.eq.edu.au

OSHC News

April Vacation Care

The Vacation Care Program, booking and permission forms are now available on the iParent Portal and at the centre. Copies have been emailed to all current families.

Please complete and return via email oshcbookings@grandavenuess.eq.edu.au or drop to the OSHC Centre.

Please note bookings cannot be made on the iParent Portal.  We are CLOSED on Friday 29 March and Monday 1 April for the Public Holidays.

Thanks!

Community Notices