15 October 2024

Dates to Remember

Principal News

A warm welcome back from the holidays, I trust you have had an enjoyable break and are ready for a busy term ahead. It is lovely to welcome back all students, staff and families, ready for the many events that make up the Term 4 calendar. Staff will maintain the focus on seeking every ounce of progress and growth for each child in the last term of the year. This is the last term in primary school for our Year 6 students and I know they will continue to make the most of all opportunities and maintain the high standards they have demonstrated all year.

A very big welcome to Ms Cara Middleton to our leadership team. Ms Middleton will join our Deputy team. We look forward to seeing her at Grand Avenue SS on Monday 14 October.

Enrolment Intentions for 2025

We would like to hear from families whose child/ren from Prep to Year 5 are NOT returning to Grand Avenue State School in 2025. Families make moves for a whole range of reasons and rest assured, your child will not be treated any differently if they are moving on to a different school.

Knowing our enrolments for next year helps us enormously with class formation, teacher recruitment and classroom accommodation needs. All of these allow for the smoothest possible start to the new school year. Please contact this office to inform us if you child will not be attending Grand Avenue SS in 2025.

Year 4 School Camp

The Year 4 students have just returned from their first ever camp last Friday. Thank you to the staff who attended the camp and Ms Erin Strohfeldt for planning and coordinating the Year 4 camp this year. Thank you also to the staff for their willingness to provide such a great learning experience for our children. School camps help children learn human skills like risk taking, team work, conflict resolution and building resilience. New friendships can also develop and a new level of independence is fostered. School camp is often the least fun for our families left behind. Thank you to all our parents who have been so courageous in letting their children attend!

Year 6 Graduation

The Year 6 Graduation will be held this year on Thursday 5 December at the Nissan Arena, Mt Gravatt from 9:00am to 11:00am. Our aim is to ensure all family members are able to attend and celebrate this very important milestone and this venue is perfect for accommodating a larger school like Grand Avenue SS. An invitiation and details around the organisation and ticketing for this exciting event will be sent shortly to all year 6 families. Please save the date in your calendar.

Uniform Check

Now that Spring as arrived and we are heading into the warm weather, it is a great time to check in around the requirements of our uniform expectations.

STUDENT DRESS CODE

A uniform dress code reinforces in students a pride in their own appearance, instils recognition of

themselves as an integral part of the Grand Avenue State School community, and assists in developing pride in representing the school. Issues of equality, health and safety, and expense are also factors that contribute to the establishment of the following Student Dress Code.

The aim is to:

• promote equality amongst all students;
• develop a sense of pride in, and identification with our school;
• provide durable clothing that is cost effective and practical for our school environment;
• maintain and enhance the positive image of the school in the community.

Grand Avenue State School believes as a school community that there are benefits in students following an agreed dress code. These benefits include:

• Appropriateness: Guarantee that all students are dressed appropriately for all school activities.
• Safety: Promote a safe environment for learning by enabling ready identification of our students in the school grounds; while travelling to and from school and on excursions.
• Equity: Promote an effective teaching and learning environment by eliminating the distraction of competition between students to wear more expensive or fashionable clothing, and avoid the pressure on parents to purchase fashionable clothing.
• Expense: To minimise the cost to families.

In line with the Education General Provisions Act 2006, staff and the Parents and Citizens’ Association of the Grand Avenue State School have endorsed the following Student Dress Code for all students.

Grand Avenue has a dress standard in relation to:

• Clothing worn by students, including headwear and footwear
• Students’ personal grooming and hygiene.

The Grand Avenue Student Dress Code reflects school community standards and is consistent with occupational health and safety and anti-discrimination legislation.

Thank you for your cooperation and support of our school.

Until next time,

PREP 2025 – ENROL NOW

Welcome Back to Term 4!

A very big welcome back to what promises to be an exciting and action-packed Term 4! We hope our community had a restful break and is ready to dive into the last term of the year. As we begin this final stretch, I would like to highlight the importance of regular attendance. Every day counts in your child’s learning journey, and consistent attendance helps to build on skills, knowledge and social connections. Let’s all commit to making the most of this last term count!

Grandparents’ Day Celebrations

To finish off Term 3, we held our annual Grandparents’ Day celebration and what a success it was! Our grandparents and family members were welcomed into the classrooms to share in the classroom experiences of their learners. It was a wonderful afternoon filled with smiles, stories and connections across generations. It’s events like these that remind us how valuable community is in our school, and I would like to thank all of the grandparents and families that were able to come and celebrate the afternoon with us.

Year 4 Camp Kindilan

Last week our Year 4 learners attended the much anticipated Camp Kindilan. The students were thrilled to take part in a range of outdoor activities, including canoeing, crate stacking and even an adventurous night trek. They also enjoyed some delicious meals and desserts – camp food at it’s best!

I was incredibly proud of our student’s behaviour throughout their time away. They displayed teamwork, resilience and followed our STAR Expectations. A huge thank you goes to the dedicated staff who volunteered their time away from their own families to ensure our learners could enjoy such an enriching experience. Their efforts are greatly appreciated!

Until next time,

YEAR 5 & 6 DEPUTY PRINCIPAL UPDATE

Welcome back to Term 4!

Welcome back to the final term of the year! I hope everyone had a restful and enjoyable break, ready to embrace the exciting opportunities that Term 4 brings. As we look forward to school events, final projects, and end-of-year celebrations, let’s make the most of these last weeks together. Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we work to make this term a rewarding experience for all. Here’s to a fantastic Term 4!

2024 Year 6 Graduation

We are excited to announce the upcoming Year 6 Graduation Ceremony! Please save the date to celebrate the achievements and memories of our graduating Year 6 students.

This is a special occasion for students and families to commemorate this important milestone. More details and formal invitations will follow soon. We look forward to sharing this memorable day with you and your family!

2025 Year 6 Camp

Below are the details for the Year 6 camp in 2025.

Camp dates: Monday 10 February – Wednesday 12 February 2025
Venue: CYC Burleigh Heads. 22 Rudd St, Burleigh Heads Qld 4220
Permission notes due: Friday 8 November 2024
Payment due: Friday 22 November 2024
Additional Medical Forms: If needed, students should collect them from Ms Stuart (Year 6)

National Flag Roadshow

On Friday 4^th October, we had the pleasure of welcoming Milton Dick MP and Margie Nightingale MP to our school as part of the National Flag Roadshow. This meaningful initiative provided our students with a unique opportunity to learn more about the history and significance of the Australian Flag. Milton spoke with the Years 3-6 students about the history of the Australian Flag, directly from Parliament House. This is no ordinary flag; it is an iconic symbol of our nation’s capital, spanning the impressive size of a double-decker bus and weighing in at approximately 22 kilograms.

As part of the visit, our school captains had the honour of signing a visitor book, and the school was proudly presented with a certificate to commemorate the occasion. We thank Milton and Margie for their visit and for highlighting the importance of active citizenship and sharing the beauty and significance of our national flag with our students.

Across the Desk of the Guidance Officer

Ashleigh Granzin / Sabrina Blaas
Guidance Officers

To those of you whose children participated in one or more the recent ICAS tests, they are congratulated on taking up the challenge!   These tests are definitely on the harder side, but do serve as a point in time reference around strengths and opportunities to work on, and more generally provide good exposure to the format of online testing.

For each test, a paper-based certificate will be provided, ranging from participation through to credit, distinction and high distinction where a learner has scored highly.    These certificates can take a little time to be delivered to the school, so as we get them, we will pass them onto the class teachers to hand out.

You should have received communication from ICAS regarding how to access your child’s results online. If you have not been able to follow these directions yet and are keen to know how your child went on the assessments you can follow these steps:

You can access your child’s ICAS results online via our results portal using their TAP-ID and PIN, 8 to 10 business days* after the final sitting day of each ICAS subject (4-5 weeks for Writing).

How to get your TAP-ID and PIN if your child has sat ICAS in a previous year

Find your child’s TAP-ID and PIN on the back of a previous year’s ICAS certificate. Note, your child’s TAP-ID and PIN could have changed if they’ve moved schools.

How to get your TAP-ID and PIN if this the first time your child has sat ICAS

You can request it using this form. You should receive it 1-3 business days after you submit the form.

Alternatively, you can find your child’s TAP-ID and PIN on their certificate which will be sent to their school approximately 7-9 weeks after the final sitting day for each subject.

If you’d like to learn about how to navigate your child’s ICAS reports, please see this resource.

We are excited to see so many of our students and families participating in Active School Travel as part of their daily routine. Walking, biking, and scootering to school are great ways to start the day with some exercise, and it’s fantastic to see so many of you embracing these healthy habits.

Active travel helps reduce traffic congestion around the school, making it safer for everyone, and promotes a healthier lifestyle for our students. Whether it’s a quick walk, riding a bike, or even scootering with friends, every small effort makes a big impact.

We’d like to extend a special thank you to all the parents who have supported and encouraged their children to actively travel to school. We understand that it takes effort to establish these routines, especially after a holiday break, and your commitment is truly appreciated.

Let’s keep up the momentum! We are still working towards consistently having 50% of our students using Active Travel each week. Active travel not only benefits our health but also the environment. We encourage more families to give it a try and make it part of their school day. Well done to everyone, and we look forward to seeing even more students actively traveling to school this term!

Bike Safety on Public Paths

With so many students biking to school, it's important to ensure everyone stays safe while using public paths. Here are some simple tips for students and families to follow:

1. Always Wear a Helmet: Helmets are essential for protecting your head in case of an accident. Make sure it fits properly and is securely fastened before every ride.
2. Respect Pedestrians: Pedestrians always have the right of way. Slow down when approaching people on foot, and if it’s crowded, walk your bike to avoid any collisions.
3. Stay Alert: Be aware of your surroundings. Don’t wear headphones or get distracted by chatting with friends while riding. Keeping your focus on the path helps you avoid obstacles and react to any unexpected situations.
4. Ride at Safe Speeds: Slowdown in busy areas, especially when pathways are narrow or near roads. Riding at a safe speed ensures you can stop quickly if needed.

How Parents Can Support Safe Riding:

• Practice Riding Together: Take your child on rides to practice safe habits like stopping at crossings, signalling turns, and slowing down around pedestrians.
• Set Clear Expectations: Discuss Road rules, the importance of wearing helmets, and respecting others on the path before every ride.
• Be a Role Model: Children often imitate their parents, so show them how to ride safely by following the rules yourself.

By working together, we can ensure everyone in our community stays safe on their way to and from school!

Congratulations to the 2025 STAR X Academic Excellence Classes!

We are thrilled to announce the selection of students for the inaugural 2025 STAR X Academic Excellence Program! Congratulations to all the students who have been chosen to be part of this exciting initiative, with two classes starting next year: one for Year 5 and one for Year 6. Your hard work, curiosity, and dedication to academic excellence have earned you a place in this outstanding program.

Parents of all applicants should have received an email on Friday, 4 October with the outcome of their child’s application. If you did not receive this notification, please contact David Robertson via email at dxrob6@eq.edu.au to ensure you have the latest information.

We are incredibly proud of everyone who applied. The level of interest and the quality of applications were exceptional, and we encourage those who were not selected this time to apply again in the future. For further details about the program, please refer to the attached document or reach out to us for more information.

We look forward to seeing the incredible achievements from our STAR+X students in 2025!

LIBRARY NEWS

PREP NEWS

This term our Prep students have been working with the surf life saving staff to build water confidence and learn pool safety swimming techniques.

Many thanks,

Mrs Sheree Brown
Prep Teacher
HASS Specialist

YEAR 5 NEWS

Term 4 Starts with a Bang: Year 5 Ready to Reach New Heights!

The first few weeks of Term 4 have started with a bang, and the Year 5 students have quickly fallen back into their routine. With energy and excitement buzzing in the air, it’s clear that they’re ready to tackle new challenges, explore the wonders of space, and continue their journey of self-discovery. Slowly but surely, the Year 5s are preparing to step into their roles as the new leaders of the school next year, and although there’s a mix of uncertainty and excitement in their conversations, they’re ready to embrace the adventure ahead!

On Tuesday, students had the incredible opportunity to hear from Australian Paralympic athlete Beau Vernon. What an amazing and inspiring person he is! Beau’s story was both bitter and sweet, filled with moments of sadness and incredible challenges, but his unwavering positivity and determination shone through. Despite the hardships he’s faced, Beau continues to look for the good in every situation, offering a powerful message of hope to all who listened.

The students were also fortunate enough to hold and admire Beau’s bronze medal from the recent Olympics in Paris. It was heavy—a symbol of the hard work, perseverance, and dedication required to achieve such a remarkable accomplishment. Some of the Year 5 students were so inspired by Beau’s visit that they immediately began dreaming about competing in the Olympics themselves, especially when the Games come to Brisbane! Can you imagine that—some of our very own students possibly competing in the Olympics one day? It’s a thought that definitely makes us all dream big!

In class, the conversation didn’t stop there. We took the time to reflect on Beau’s story and how sometimes, in life, it feels like we need something bad to happen before we truly appreciate what we have. The Year 5s realised that life can be messy, and that no one’s journey is exactly the same, but Beau reminded us that with endurance, the right attitude, the will to work hard and gratitude, we can overcome any challenge and ultimately find our purpose.

As Term 4 rolls on, the Year 5s are full of hope, determination, and the belief that they can achieve great things—both in the classroom and in life. With role models like Beau Vernon to look up to, there’s no telling how far they’ll go!

YEAR 6 NEWS

It has been a busy first week of term 4 in Grade 6.

In maths we have been learning about BOMDAS and Algebra. The students have grasped these concepts well and seemed to have enjoyed learning about them. This week we were lucky enough to have had a Paralympian, Beau Vernon come to school to talk about having a helpful mindset. The students also got to see and hold his Olympic Bronze Medal.

Here are some of the students comments in 6C

I have enjoyed all subjects. Out of all the knowledge we have accumulated I have most enjoyed math. I find math altogether quite interesting but learning how to do algebra has taken my interest. After leaning BODMAS I have found it not too complicated and enjoyed doing the multiple steps in one sum.

Beau Vernon’s speech was exceptionally inspiring, and positive. I find someone who has been through a demanding time telling you to stay positive during tough times and you would regret being negative more helpful, then a person who doesn’t know how you're feeling. I took away that even during negative times it is always better to stay positive.

Hayley Southon

This week, I have enjoyed learning about algebra because it is something much harder than something like long division. I also liked learning about BOMDAS because even if you have learned how to do order of operation it is still a fun way to remember order of operation.

Something I took from the bronze medal Paralympian is that to never give up when something seems impossible because if it is then just change what you can change, like your mindset.

Benjamin Dinh

This term I’ve been learning about using expressive language in my narratives. We have also been learning about natural disasters and finding facts about it. We are learning about the inner cores of the earth like the crust, we also learnt about the core is made out of iron and that the outer cores are solid and liquid..

Beau Vernon told me that we have a choice to step out of our comfort zone and to know that we are not all the same people.

Detroit Saunia

This term I have learned new things, and probably the best thing I have enjoyed learning about is algebra, as this subject made me feel challenged, it was fun learning with my friends.

Yesterday something positive that I have taken from Beau Vernon’s talk is the fact he had never given up even during the worst times of his life and the only thing that matter is how you deal with the situation after all, you always have a choice, either good or bad, it all comes down to what choice you make

Khai Nguyen

Despite it being incredibly early into this term. I enjoyed many subjects during this term so far. I am most excited for science since we will be learning about natural disasters which seems like a very entertaining and interesting topic to explore.

 Art also seems exciting we have been designing our masks, it’s been fun looking at all the previous masks as examples.

Yesterday, Beau Vernon came and did an inspiring speech about how life won’t always go your way but being negative about that will only make it worse. He talked about how negative thoughts will lead to a worse, negative outcome.

Jennifer Graham

I like learning about natural disasters for science and that how there are so many of them.

Beau Vernon came to our school and told us some valuable lessons. I took away from that was to step out of our comfort zone and to take sensible risks.

Josh Thomas

I have enjoyed learning about colour in art and how it taught me about how cooler and duller colours fit into the background while warmer and vivid colours stand out against the rest.

I also liked to learn about BOMDAS and the order of which you solve problems. It is interesting to break down each part of it to get new numbers, like with 2 x (3 + 1), you get the answer of 3 + 1 first to get 4 and then you times it by 2 rather than 2 x 3 = 6 + 1 = 7.

One thing that I took from Beau Vernon’s talk was how more negative thoughts and emotions leads to a worse outcome and more positive ones end up better.

Maya Frost

I enjoyed this year very much happiness, especially about I’m learning math with my class and doing some works with my mate. I’m really enjoyed about learning algebra. The most favourite part is BODMAS. It’s not that hard to learn and to remember.

Tommy Huynh

When Beau Vernon was talking to the grade 5 and 6’s he was telling us that his life was not easy for him. What stayed in my is that when you step out of your comfort zone more often your comfort zone gets bigger. That gave me confidence to step out of my comfort zone.

Eloise Pitman

DANCE NEWS

GASS Development Squad Program

Multicultural Week (Term 3)

Pictured are our Student Leaders with one of the classes that participated in the Wall of Nations activity that was conducted in Term 3 during Multicultural Week. During this week, staff and students were invited to write their name under the flag that they identify the most with.

Louise Blair
EALD/Inclusion Teacher

Music News

Evening of Music

”Evening of Music concert is 6pm Wednesday 13 November. All Choir, Strings, Band students are expected to attend.”

Alisen McLeod
Classroom Music Teacher | Instrumental Music Co-Ordinator
Experienced Senior Teacher | Grand Avenue State School

Term 4 – After School Activities

OSHC NEWS

P&C NEWS