22 February 2016

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

2016 is here!

Welcome back to the 2016 school year at Edens Landing State School. A warm welcome to our new families and also to our new staff.

I'm sure that we will see a wonderful year filled with many opportunities to engage with quality learning and new enhancements to the learning opportunities for our children.

I see my opportunity to be Principal here for this term as a real privilege and I have enjoyed the opportunities it has presented to engage with staff, students and our community already.

Every Day Counts!

As part of our ongoing commitment to student success we value the attendance of children at school every day. It stands to reason that if children have high rates of absence then the opportunities to engage and achieve are significantly impaired. Research suggests that children with poor attendee have significantly less positive life opportunities. To this end it's important we work together to grow positive habits with our children in terms of their attendance at school.

The attendance requirements of the Education Act such that students must attend school unless there is an approved reason for the absence.

Where non attendance issues become serious then there are a range of support mechanisms available to assist families and children.

Please make sure you explain your child's absence by sending a note to the classroom teacher or by phoning the absence line on 3826 0360

Classroom Arrangements 2016

Education Queensland requires schools to submit enrolment numbers on the 4th and 8th day of the new school year to ascertain the staffing and support entitlements for individual schools.

At this stage of the enrolment and staffing process I am confident that we have our school set up as required. I would say however that the model is numbers driven and we are continuing to experience increased enrolments during this period which may require some small changes. I expect we would have these done if required by week 3 of the school year.

What's Hot on the Block?

I'm not referring to the TV show but instead my expectations as Principal in our school!

A note was sent home 5th February detailing the expectations around behaviour. It's important we all know, understand and support our children to be the very best they can be! A note went to every student so if you didn't get it please ask your child for it. You may also follow up with them and ask about the expectations which teachers covered in every class.

I also value uniform compliance as a means of discipline and moreover a way for us as a school community to show a united front and demonstrate a pride in our school. Togetherness is an important part of any large organisation and I think our children deserve to feel this as a group. Our uniform supports many things in our school, for me it is about developing that genuinely proud feeling from our children in their school. I want children to love our school, be proud of our school and most importantly proud of themselves as a learner and a productive part of our school community!

Responsible Behaviour Plan Review

I have commenced a review of our responsible behaviour plan with staff. We have had many conversations around a preferred future for our operations and for the environment that this document sets up within our school.

I welcome feedback, formal and informal, from parents about our school and the processes we have in place for behaviour management.

Importantly we have spoken about re-establishing our key group in the school who plan for and assist with implementing new initiatives to encourage and develop positive habits in our children. This group is our Positive Behaviour for Learning group or PBL.

PBL is a research based process that structures school communities to improve the choices of children with regards to behaviour. This group is data driven and assess, react to and proactively plan for positive behaviour. They do this in a range of ways and are supported by the Principal to do so and the committee involves a number of key stakeholders.

I'm delighted to be here with you all at Edens Landing and I look forward to working with you to achieve the very best for our most important assets - our children!

Regards

Andrew Cummings
Principal

Deputy Principal’s News

Welcome back to another fantastic and fun-filled year. Our school prides itself in how we set start the year in such a positive and settled way. All students settled well in the first week and productive learning started from day one. We welcomed 99 prep students to our junior school. They all looked so smart in their uniforms and are certainly having fun trying out the playgrounds and all the inside activities. Thank you for assisting in such a smooth transition from home to school. Thank you to parents in prep and year one with our resorting of classes due to large numbers. I’m sure the transition will be smooth.

School Start and Finish Time

Our school day begins with the bell at 8.50am and finishes at 2.50pm. It is vital that ALL students are here at 8.45am so that they are ready in the first few minutes. It is vital that students are at school on time, as across the school, most classes begin READING GROUPS by 9am. It is highly disruptive to the learning for your child, the class and teachers if students arrive after this time.

As our day finishes at 2.50pm, it is vital that they are promptly collected at this time. Students who are not collected from the front gate by 3.05pm are brought up to the office and wait here for collection or notification from the office. This provides us with the best way to ensure safety of students.

Before School Supervision and Safety

Formal supervision of students takes place between the designated school hours of 8.50am and 2.50pm. For safety reasons, children should not arrive at school before 8.30am as supervision by staff DOES NOT occur before this time. Where both parents are working and find it impossible to comply with this request, all students are instructed to sit in the assembly hall (large covered area near the tuckshop) until a staff member dismisses them at 8.50am. At this time they may go and place bags at the port racks ready to enter class. Some junior school students may be dismissed to the junior covered area around 8.30am and again are dismissed from this area at bell time. No students and parents are to be around classrooms unless a meeting with the teacher has been arranged. Students do not put bags at port-racks either. Staff members monitor the junior and senior areas to help ensure safe behaviour. NO PLAY opportunities exist before school. Teachers use this vital time before school for class preparation and meetings.

The adventure playgrounds are not to be used by any child (or younger siblings) before or after school. Parents supervising their children are also asked to adhere to these rules and be in the designated areas: before school parents are also asked to wait in the assembly hall or in the junior covered area. Parents are asked not to sit outside the classrooms of B block with their child as this encourages friends to wait with them and is a supervision issue. Parents of prep students who are in G block and C block may sit quietly outside the block. Children must be closely supervised. They are not permitted to move around, be in the gardens or climb trees and rock walls.

Older siblings of prep children are not to be waiting with preps, as they can wait in their own covered area unless they are responsible for the supervision of their sibling. In this case, the older student and prep student wait in the junior covered area. This assists in keeping the students in their correct area before school and everyone safe.

Student Dress Code

Our school and community can be proud of our school uniform and the pride with which students present themselves. We have a clear expectation endorsed by the parent representatives, that ALL children need to be in uniform. Students and parents are reminded that under the Education Act, our School Dress Code is enforceable with consequences forthcoming for students who do not comply.

In particular attention is to be drawn to the wearing of a sun-smart hat. It is Education Queensland policy that all schools adhere to the sun-safety policy. The wearing of a cap is not acceptable. All students are being reminded that they MUST obtain an approved sun smart hat: being either a bucket or broadbrim hat or a legionnaires cap (with flap). Students need a hat EVERY DAY for daily fitness as well as for playtimes. School hats are available from the uniform shop at a very reasonable price. Prep students only wear a RED HAT, while students in Yrs 1-6 wear a NAVY BLUE HAT. Please note that our uniform shop is open FRIDAY MORNINGS 8.30- 9.30AM. In addition, jewellery or hair adornments are not appropriate either. These often present with safety and social issues. Please discuss this with your child.

By reinforcing our expectations at school, we hope to also support your efforts at home in having children in uniform. In this way all children receive the same clear message and expectation.

Meet the teacher and establishing communication.

It was wonderful to see all the excited children especially in prep and year one meeting teachers and visiting classrooms prior to school starting. This opportunity provided a very smooth start to the year, allowing for communication and assisted in establishing positive relationships. If you haven’t met your child’s teacher yet, please take the opportunity to do so, but please remember, from 8.50am onwards is not the time to do this as teachers are responsible for their class at this time.

For those who are unable to visit the school, emails are an effective way of frequently being in-touch with your child’s teacher. By the end of this week, your child’s teacher will have sent home a Class Term Newsletter which will provide lots of information about your child’s class along with the teacher’s email details.

Regular communication between home and school is vital in being able to best meet the needs of your child. We look forward to this positive and productive partnership. Also, please feel free to contact me as well if you have on-going issues or require support in some way.

Brain Food in Classes

It is well known that students need a healthy diet and to be well nourished so as to focus on learning. We have found many students are hungry between 9.00 – 10.00am as for some, it has been a long time since breakfast or for others breakfast was not eaten at all. To support students in their ability to focus till our main lunch break at 11am, we allow a fruit snack-break during the morning session. This generally happens in the junior years, but may be in other classrooms as they transition to older years. Teachers manage this very short snack-break with minimal to no interruption to learning time ie while listening to a story, transition from one activity to the next. If your child’s teacher participates in this, please ensure that your child brings a small amount of cut up fruit / vegetables ie – a handful of grapes, cut up ½ an apple or pear (not a full piece of fruit), 1 banana, a few carrot or celery sticks. This is not meant to replace fruit at first break. Some fruit such as oranges, watermelon etc can be very juicy and sticky and are not recommended. Fruit-jelly cups, fruit tubes / bags, yoghurts, cheese and crackers etc are not part of this fruit snack-time.

Booklist Items

Thank you for out-fitting your child with all the required items on the booklist. This assists your child in their learning. Textbooks are a vital part of the planned teaching & learning experiences in the classroom. If you haven’t obtained supplies, Office Choice - Logan Stationery, located opposite Aldi, in City Road Beenleigh, can help to locate and obtain the required textbooks along with the stationary items. It is important to note the textbook items are not readily available across a variety of stores. Please ensure you have the correct writing pads with red and blue lines for students in various year levels. These correct lines are important in developing the necessary handwriting skills. Homework bags are available from the uniform shop.

If you are experiencing difficulties in supplying your child with the necessary items, please discuss this with your child’s teacher.

PLAYGROUP – Every Tuesday 9.00 – 11.00am

Our school based playgroup is held EVERY TUESDAY 9.00 – 11.00am in the school multipurpose hall. The playgroup is designed for pre-prep students, especially siblings of current school students. We ask for a donation of $2 per child / $5 family per attendance which covers purchasing of expendable items. Last year some wonderful friendships were developed, lots of fun was had while children engaged in many learning opportunities. For further information phone the office, or email me, kstoy1@eq.edu.au I look forward to seeing you there! Bring some friends, come as a group. The more the merrier!

Regards

Karen Stoyko
Deputy Principal

Deputy Principal’s News

It is hard to believe that we are already through week 4 of the first term. Our students are all settling into their new classes and working hard with their teachers.

YEAR 6 2016

Throughout the year our senior students have the opportunity to take part in activities relating to their final year of schooling at Edens Landing State School. The first is the senior shirts which have been ordered this week, and the final events are the graduation and big day out in last term. There are other events that will happen over the course of the year and it is important that we capture these memories for our year book. We require all students in year 6 to complete a project consent form which has been sent home again this week for those students who have not returned their original form. Without this, their name and image cannot appear on anything including the senior shirt, year book, graduation, camp video, photo montages etc. Please complete these forms and return them to the office as soon as possible.

Camp payment is due on 4th of March. Only students who have paid by this date will be able to attend. If you are finding the cost difficult to meet by this date, please speak to us before the final date for payment, so we can arrange a payment plan.

Positive Behaviour for Learning

Our explicit teaching of behaviour expectations will continue throughout the year, focusing on the Rule of the Week – each week teachers explicitly teach lessons which focus on a selected aspect of school expectations.

The rules for weeks 5 and 6 are outlined below. Teachers will be discussing these with their students over the next two weeks, and it would be wonderful if parents spoke with their children about the importance of each rule.

Week 5 - Be responsible

Children sometimes find it difficult to understand what being responsible means. Here are some points you can use when discussing the topic with your child/ren.

HOW TO BE A RESPONSIBLE PERSON

• When you agree to do something, do it. If you let people down, they'll stop believing you. When you follow through on your commitments, people take you seriously.
• Answer for your own actions. Don't make excuses or blame others for what you do. When you take responsibility for your actions you are saying "I am the one who's in charge of my life."
• Take care of your own matters. Don't rely on adults to remind you when you're supposed to be somewhere or what you're supposed to bring. You take the responsibility.
• Be trustworthy. If somebody trusts you to borrow or take care of something, take care of it. If somebody tells you something in confidence, keep it to yourself. It's important for people to know they can count on you.
• Always use your head. Think things through and use good judgment. When you use your head you make better choices. That shows your teachers, friends and parents they can trust you.
• Don't put things off. When you have a job to do, do it. Doing things on time helps you take control of your life and shows that you can manage your own affairs

Week 6 - Keep hands and feet to self

Teachers are constantly reminding students of this rule. Often, when discussing this rules with students who have broken the rule, students will say that they were playing a game so it ok to touch someone else. For this reason games such as red rover and tiggy are not permitted at school. It is important to discuss with your child that keeping your hands and feet to yourself applies at all times. There are some good resources on the internet to support discussion with your child about this rule.

There is a social story PDF

And some YouTube clips

Regards

Cheryl Gibson
cgibs2@eq.edu.au

What’s On at Edens Landing State School

Head of Curriculum’s Message

Welcome back for our new school year. I trust that everyone had a great holiday and is now ready for a busy year of learning.

In March, we welcome Kindai University Elementary School for their 6th visit to our school for a 4 day / 3 night stay. Monday, 21st - Thursday 24th March.

This is the last week of Term 1 and the group will be leaving in the afternoon of the last day of term, before the Easter holidays.

We are looking for Edens Landing students and families who would like to be Buddies and Homestay hosts for the 3 nights. Homestay families can come from anywhere in our School Community Prep through to Year 6.

Please consider this opportunity to make a lasting friendship with a student from another country. Many of our school families have had very positive experiences while hosting our Japanese friends.

If you are interested to hear more about hosting in March, please contact the school office or email Mrs Self kself2@eq.edu.au or Mrs Sanderson ksand90@eq.edu.au

Prep News

Welcome to Prep in 2016. We have had a great start to the year in all prep classrooms. The children are starting to settle into the routine. Our students are looking great in their school uniforms. Thank you, Parents.

If you have not yet brought the materials on the book list to school, please do so as soon as possible. We are using them every day.

Parent helpers are welcomed in Prep, particularly during rotational activity time in the mornings.

If you would like to help, please see your class teacher to arrange the best time for you. A blue card application form is available at the office.

We have been counting to 10 and learning to recognise numerals, sorting objects into groups and saying how we sorted them in Maths.

We are also learning Letter Sounds. Please see your child’s teacher to determine which letters they are learning each week.

We have started our Science unit about the weather.

In History, we have been learning vocabulary for body parts, drawing pictures of ourselves and tracing around bodies ready to label them. This early part of History is about “Myself”.

Next week, your child will be expected to do a short talk in front of the class. The topic sheet will be sent home this week with the particular day their talk is on. Please keep to the topics each week.

We have had our first visit to the library to borrow a book for the week.

Children in Prep visit the library weekly and can borrow one book. They are required to have a library bag which protects the school books while going to and from home. Please support your child to return books each week, so that they can get a new one every week. Check your class newsletter for your class borrowing day.

Year 1

Welcome Year One. We have been very busy settling in to our new classes and getting organised for the year ahead. Please bring in home reading folders as soon as possible as we would like to start taking home readers home next week.

We are currently testing all children on their sight words, so we can let you know which ones to concentrate on for homework.

In English, this term we are learning about poetry. We will be learning about rhyme, alliteration (words starting with the same sound E.g. slow slithering snake) and repetition. We will continue working on sentence structure, spelling, handwriting and developing ideas in our writing. The Speaking program will start next week. Notes will be coming home today.

In Numeracy, we are covering the following concepts;

In Science, this term we are learning about external and internal features of animals, healthy and unhealthy habitats and how we can keep habitats healthy.

Please remember to bring in your movie permission form so we can get started on our Health unit about emotions and developing resilience and do not hesitate to come and see your Class Teacher if you have any questions at all

Year 2

All Year 2 students have had a fantastic start to the year. The children have enjoyed getting to know their new teachers and classmates and are starting on the new year’s work.

In English, we have been working on poetry and we have shared many laughs at some of the funny poems that have been explored.

In Math, we are looking to become masters of the calendar and have been consolidating our knowledge of the days of the week and months of the year.

In Science and Technology, we have been “hands on” with children exploring different materials and their properties.

The year 2 Teachers are looking forward to working with students and parents for a fantastic year ahead!

Year 5

Students have settled in well and are already working hard. We are learning about conflict resolution, teamwork, number studies, the Gold Rush and Animal Adaptations, among other things this Term. We have also had a good take-up on homework club, so if anyone else is interested in Monday afternoon homework club, they can see their teacher or Mrs Hitchmough.

Kay Self
Head of Curriculum

PE News

School Representative Sport

Over the course of the year, students have the opportunity to participate in a range of sporting trials. This is offered to students who are born in 2006, 2005 and 2004 and are wanting to excel in their chosen sport /s and represent at a higher level for example Pacific Rim, South Coast and Queensland School Sport.

It is expected that any child wishing to undertake these trials has experience and demonstrated skills and knowledge in the chosen sport, generally having participated at club level. They also need to have demonstrated ongoing excellence in behavior both in and out of the classroom to be eligible to represent our school on any occasion.

All information needed to attend the trial will be handed out closer to the date. Please note that some sports have age and gender restrictions due to safety and number of teams being selected. A full year overview can be viewed via the attachment below. A nomination note has recently been sent home and this must be returned as soon as possible. If your child hasn’t received one, they will be able to collect one form the office.

Should you have any more questions or queries, please feel free to contact me at kodon30@eq.edu.au

Interschool Sport

Each year students in grade 6 participate in an interschool sporting competition for five weeks during term 1 and term 2. Students compete against other schools within the district in a round robin format where each team will play a minimum of 2 games per day. Boys will be able to play soccer or rugby league and girls will be able to play netball or touch football. The dates of the interschool sport competition are the 11th March, 18th March, 15th April, 22nd April and 29th April.

By now your child/ren should have nominated what sport they would like to take part in for interschool sport. Further information regarding the competition will be provided once all forms and teams are finalized.

General

Over the course of the year, lessons will be held on the oval. It is essential that your child/ren has a suitable school hat for all lessons. A note will be issued to students who fail to bring a hat to lessons. If your child/ren is unable to take part in a lesson due to an injury or medical reason, please provide a note.

School Sport Dates

Cross Country: Thursday 17th March
Senior Sports Day (3-6): 8th and 9th June
Junior Sports Day (P-2): Thursday 11th August

Running Club

Running club has commenced and it has been great to see so many students attending. This is held every Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 8-8:30am. Please see Mr O’Donnell for a permission form if you would like to join.

Yours in Sport

Ken O’Donnell
Physical Education Teacher

Edens Landing Police Beat News

Attention Parents, Carers and Teaching Staff

Edens Landing Police Beat Officers, Senior Constable Luke TURNER (Officer in Charge) and Acting Senior Constable Jade CLAYTON would like to extend a warm welcome and Happy New Year to you and your family.

We would like to remind all motorists to pay particular attention in and around our school.

With the first term now under way Police will be paying particular attention in and around the school for the improved safety of your children. Edens Landing Officers will be targeting:

• School zones, including speeding offences in 40km/h zones
• Parking and no standing zone offences in relation to the drop off and pickup of children at schools
• School crossings
• Speeding detected in back streets around schools to avoid school zones
• Stopping contrary to yellow lines, no stopping zones and bus zones
• And other offences detected around the school zone.

Parents and carers are reminded to park in the designated areas to ensure that children are not put at risk by walking out onto roadways between parked cars.

Over the school holiday period Logan City Council conducted a risk assessment of Edens Landing State School and determined that traffic management needed to be improved for the safety of the children attending the school. As you may be aware with the addition of concrete traffic dividers and painted traffic dividers.

I would also like to draw your attention to exiting the school. All drivers are to take note of the Left Turn Only Sign and Left Turn Directional Arrow when exiting Edens Landing School Access and turning onto Jamie Nicholson Avenue.

This signage is in place to ensure vehicles are turning left away from the School Crossing. This is to ensure the safety of the children utilising the crossing and the safety of the School Crossing Controllers.

Disobey ‘Left Turn’ Sign $94 - 3 Demerit Points
Disobey Directional Arrow on Road $94 – 3 Demerit Points

Lastly we need motorists to pay particular attention to where they are parking in and around the school. We are aware that parking is limited. But areas are marked with continuous yellow edge lines, bus zones and not stopping zones are marked for a particular reason. They have been assessed by traffic management and we expect your cooperation with not parking in or on these zones.

• Stop Contrary to Continuous Yellow Edge Line $45
• Stop Unauthorised Vehicle in Bus Zone $45
• Stop Contrary to No Stopping Sign $47

We have to remember this is a shared zone and at times there is large volumes of children utilising this area.

With this message and moving forward both Acting Senior Constable CLAYTON and I look forward to seeing you in and around our school zone. Remember we are all attempting to achieve a common goal, an incident free school year.

I appreciate your time and request your compliance.

Luke TURNER
Senior Constable
Officer in Charge
Edens Landing Police Beat

P&C News

NEXT P&C MEETING

Positions Vacant: Vice President & Secretary

Continuance AGM meeting 29th February 2016 at 7pm in the Resource Centre

Our next General Meeting will be Monday the 21st March 2016 at 7pm in the Resource Centre. There is 2 positions vacant Vice President and Secretary. Please contact the Principal Andrew Cummings regarding this position.

These meetings are vital to our school and your children’s education experience. We encourage you to please book the next meeting date into your calendar so that we can continue to help our school.

The aim of the P&C is to promote the interests of the school by bringing parents, citizens, students and staff into close co-operation and to assist in providing facilities and equipment for the school such as the Uniform Shop and Tuckshop.

Coming to P&C meetings is a great way to find out more about the school and the activities of the P&C. You will meet the Principal, teachers and other parents and hear about a wide range of topics including how all the sub-committees operate.

You do not need to RSVP – just arrive a few minutes before things start and introduce yourself to the Secretary who will then welcome you to the meeting and introduce you to everyone else. After the meeting there is usually time to chat to others.

If you have an item you would like to be placed on the agenda, please contact the P&C President on president@elsspc.org.au

Tuckshop News

Tuckshop Roster

Welcome back to school everyone, I hope everyone had a relaxing break.

We have a new menu for 2016 which has been distributed to your child’s class teachers so please take time to read it and use the new prices. There haven’t been too many changes but there have been some items deleted and some prices have unfortunately had to be increased due to suppliers increasing their price. There also has been a few items reduced in price.

To go along with apples for brain food we are now selling small tubs of sultanas for .50c.

Don’t forget our quick drop box is still available for parents and students to use, bags and pens are available to use, just write your order on the bag, pop money in bag, fold bag in half and then place in the quick drop box. Change is provided and taped in the corner of your child’s bag.

As you can see above my volunteer roster has some spaces available. I really need help Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. These are the busiest days for tuckshop and without enough volunteers the lunches cannot be handed out on time for the children.

If you can spare time one of those days between the hours of 8.30 am and 11.30 pm for first break and between 1.00pm and 1.40 pm for second break, it would be greatly appreciated. No special skills are required, just closed in shoes, long hair tied up and a willingness to have a good time. The more people that come and help the less time you would have to help. Any time you can help will be greatly appreciated.

Any concerns or questions, please come and see me and have a chat.

ANNETTE HONNERY
TUCKSHOP CONVENOR
Ph: 3508 7999
tuckshop@elsspc.org.au

Introduction Guidance Officer

Hello Parents and Carers,

For those of you who do not know me my name is Louise Sealey and I will be the Guidance Officer this year at Edens Landing Sate School.

I have been a classroom Teacher for 12 years, a Learning Support Teacher and a Special Needs Teacher. I have also worked as a Guidance Officer at a Special School and I am very excited to work with the students, families and staff here at Edens Landing State School.

Please continue to communicate with your child’s Teacher and if you have any concerns we are more than happy to assist you and your family where we can.

Thanking you,

Louise Sealey
Guidance Officer