20 March 2020

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s News

Hi ELSS families and community,

We are in unprecedented times with the COVID-19. What hasn’t changed is our commitment to communicate and be partners in learning. I will continue to communicate through email, SMS and Facebook. Leading a school and the community through this time will require Communication-Information-Patience. Let’s show patience and work through this together.

As partners in learning let’s protect yourself and others from the virus by: Washing hands regularly Covering coughs and sneezes Throwing away used tissues Staying at least 1.5 metres away from anyone who is sick Staying at home if you're sick. The plan around any changes to events will be shared. The wellbeing of my staff and students is my daily focus. Thanks for support and understanding.

Leadership is influence not a badge. I believe everyone can develop leadership skills with practice and feedback. It was a pleasure to attend the Leadership Summit to see our 2020 student captains share their learning and impact for the year. These 4 students are excited about working with all 700 students to make ELSS better. We are in good hands!

School Uniform

Thank you to all who have ensured that their children have begun the year in the correct uniform. In ensuring we maintain high standards and whole school expectations; all students are required to wear the school uniform. It was wonderful on our assemblies to see the students wearing their uniform with pride. Thank you for ensuring your children are wearing predominantly black shoes with white socks as per our school uniform policy. Our students look amazing! Student uniform supports- Safety, cost, confidence, school spirit, saves time, reduce distraction, encourages discipline and high school ready.

Reminder-

Our school supervision starts at 8.30am, please do not drop students at school early, we cannot ensure safety. To support this we have a wonderful before and after school care provider onsite YMCA.

Stop and Go area at the start of each year in EVERY school requires patience and understanding. New families learning the system, students learning our processes and lots of traffic. Outside the school gates is council land supported by Queensland Police.

We are committed to creating a school for your children/our students to thrive. Thanks for support.

The schools 2020 Focus is- An aligned culture of professional learning for EVERY student to succeed at ELSS. Our strategies include: 1. Mindset of BETTER. 2- Whole school Positive Behaviour for Learning. 3- Professional Learning Teams. 4- Culture Foundations: Positive Relationships & High Expectations. 5- Literacy P-2 foundations. The goal is unleashing literacy for every student for a life of choice not chance. Literacy opens doors, provides opportunities and sets up success.

Mr Curran
Principal

Deputy Principal’s News

Health Plans for Students with Asthma and Allergies

It is our desire to provide the best possible environment for the health, well-being, and safety of all students. Good management of your child’s asthma and allergies is important to his or her success at school. Clear communication between you and your child, your health care provider and school staff is the key to managing asthma and allergies at school. If the school does not currently have a formal Asthma or Allergy Action Plan for your child, please provide one as soon as possible. A written Asthma or Allergy Action Plan developed by your health care provider and shared with the school will help keep your child safe at school. Following the Action Plan will enable your child to participate fully in school activities. If your child is able to administer his or her Asthma medication without any supervision or assistance, an Action Plan is not required. If this is the case, please send a written note or email stating this to the school promptly. Likewise, if your child’s allergies do not impact their schooling, please notify the school that an action plan is not required.

Student Council Fundraiser

Thank you to the wonderful families and members of staff who have already donated items for our Easter Raffle fundraiser. This year Edens Landing State School and the Student Council are looking to raise funds to help make improvements to our Kitchen garden and are hoping to make this year the most successful Student Council fundraising ever seen. If you would like to donate Easter items towards this fundraiser, please drop your chocolates at the office. The more donations we get the more prizes we can offer. Last year we ended up with almost 30 prizes. It would be great to be able to offer the same again this year.

Raffle tickets will cost $1 per ticket, 6 tickets for $5 and 12 tickets for $10. You can purchase your tickets from Ms. Alterator and Student Council Members, outside the tuck-shop at 8:30am on Friday mornings or in the Old Hall at second break Thursday for the next few weeks.

The raffle will be drawn on the evening of the 1st April so winners can collect their prizes before the holiday break.

Every little bit helps us reach our target. If every student purchases one ticket we would raise $750. Image what we could achieve if everyone purchased a few more. We thank you for your support and best of luck with your raffle tickets.

Kokoda Update

This year our Kokoda program has 29 students who are training for the big event in June. The hikes have been tough with the 15km course taking 8 hours to complete. The students are already working well together to help support each other. Each week we see leadership skills developing, many students had to dig deep and push on even though they felt they didn’t have anything left to give.

We invite interested families to contact us about joining our Kokoda Challenge teams.

Harmony Week and “Say No to Bullying Day”

1. Family Portrait Gallery in our foyer. The message is “We are all the same because we are all different.” Thank you to the families who have already supplied family photos for the foyer. Please continue to send these in so we can continue to build our display. It can be a photo showing any aspect of your family life with a little caption about your family. Photographs will be returned to you at the end of term.
2. On Thursday 19 March, students were invited to come dressed in culturally significant items. It was interesting to see the variety across the school.

A huge thank you to everyone who wore orange to show their support for our National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence. This is a message Edens Landing State School delivers constantly but it is great to see such a public display of support.

Every student at ELSS has created a poster to deliver this important message. These are being posted to a National Competition which endeavours to raise the profile of the Say No to Bullying Message.

Semester 1 Parent/Teacher Interviews

Semester 1 2020 parent/teacher interviews for years Prep- year 5 will take place on Wednesday 1 April 2020, from 3:00pm-6:30pm.

Bookings for interviews are open and close on Tuesday 31 March.

TO BOOK INTERVIEWS:

(Link is available school’s web page)

Enter the following code to access bookings and press go:

m5r87

Year 4 Cohort

Our Year 4 students have been learning about being safe in the Garden so that they can enjoy and learn in a safe way. Safety is revised every year and become increasingly important as students move up in the school and participate in more complex tasks in the garden program. Safety licences must be gained before progressing to tasks in the garden and kitchen. These pictures are of 4H working hard in the garden.

Year 6 Cohort

Whilst the first interschool sports day for the year was washed out last Friday, a keen groups of Year 6 students ventured into High School at Loganlea for the day. They participated in a variety of activities and learning scenarios, working with the High school teachers and support staff.

Positive Behaviour for learning (PBL)

We have started trialling our new tokens which replace the Gotchas. The PBL team will seek feedback and review the use of tokens next term. Students are very excited to be collecting

The focus for Weeks nine and ten will see teachers explicitly teaching students “I am a learner when I actively participate in learning activities

Yours in Education
Cheryl Gibson
cgibs2@eq.edu.au

Deputy Principal’s News

Self-Reflection and Goal setting

Self-reflection is a tool that kids and adults can benefit from. Reflecting on one’s actions and behaviour’s is a great way to grow as an individual and to meet personal goals. Think about a time you’ve set a personal goal. By self-reflecting on a day’s events, you can determine what worked in meeting your goal and what didn’t work.

Helping your child reflect on their day – how they felt, what went well, what didn’t go so well, leads to discussing strategies to try in the future and setting goals – breaking problems down into smaller steps.

Improving self-reflection can help kids with self-regulation, knowing what coping strategies to pull out of their toolbox, how to act with impulse control, how to better pay attention, how to improve executive functioning skills, and how to function more easily.

When a child comes home with a story about another child being mean or nasty, name calling is a common trigger for children. Instead of trying to blame the other child, we can use this as an opportunity to self- reflect.

What actually made them feel sad or frustrated or even angry? What strategies can they experiment with that could help? Perhaps they need to practice a poem or rhyme to help when this happens again.

I remember learning the rhyme “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” With this rhyme came the understanding that we cannot control what other people say, however we can control how we react to it. If we are aware of our own triggers (e.g. name calling) then we can set goals or develop strategies to improve how we react.

These are lessons for life, and we cannot learn to cope in later life unless we have experimented with strategies and practiced impulse control when we are young.

So next time your child comes home upset because of what another child has said, use it as an opportunity to develop Self-reflection.

From the classrooms

The year 1 and 2 students have been “spicing up” their writing by using noun groups ( adjectives). Children are transforming boring sentences such as “The cow ate the grass” into interesting descriptive sentences.

In maths they are learning to measure and compare things using ‘non arbitrary’ units – this leads to an understanding of the need for ‘standard units’

The Children in prep are writing words and sentences that they have sounded out for themselves !!

Office News

2020 Student Resource Scheme

Thank you to those families who have returned their Participation Agreement forms and made payments.

Instalment payment dates:

Term 2 - Friday, 1 May and the
Term 3 - final instalment is due by Friday, 24 July.

Education Queensland policy states that account statements are distributed at the end of every month. If you are making regular SRS payments, including by Centrepay or instalments, and there is an invoiced amount unpaid at the end of any month please be aware that you will receive statements as a courtesy notification of the amount owing.

If you have any questions about this process please contact the office staff for assistance.

Regards
Charmaine Johnson, Business Manager

Unpaid 2019 SRS fees

Please be aware that where a student has unpaid 2019 SRS fees, has not returned a SRS Participation Agreement Form or has invoice amounts owing from previous years, these must be paid in full and forms returned to the office to be eligible to attend Interschool Sport, incursions, excursions and camps.

Working With Children Blue Card

Mandatory Training for visitors and volunteers: Completion of the Mandatory training program is required for all visitors and volunteers in Ed Qld schools, this training is valid for 12 month period and must be renewed upon expiry.

Blue Cards: All visitors and volunteers assisting in classrooms or school programs except for custodial parents must hold a current Qld Working With Children Blue Card, forms are available from the office. Blue card must be carried at all times while on school grounds, please bring your card to the office to be photocopied.

2020 SRS Participation Agreement Form

ATTENTION TO ALL CONTRACTORS, VISITORS and VOLUNTEERS INFORMATION and REQUIREMENTS

It is a Department of Education requirement that all contractors, visitors and volunteers working in any school must complete the annual Mandatory Training program. ALL contractors, visitors and volunteers entering the school must complete the Mandatory Training program.s

Payment Window.

You can pay for your student's activities or excursions via cash or EFT at Window 1 at the office between 8.15 and 10.30am WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY mornings. Cash WILL NOT be accepted outside of these hours.

Bpoint payments and bank transfers close 3 days before the cash due date listed on the activity information.

PLEASE NOTE that NO PAYMENTS made after 10.30am on the last payment date will... be accepted.

The Department of Education’s preferred method of payment to schools is Bpoint.

Upon the return of a completed Student Resource Scheme Participation Agreement and invoice will be provided for BPoint payment to be made.

Centre pay : Deduction application can be completed via MyGov website. Please ensure the target amount is the full balance amount.

Centerpay Service Provider Number

555-092-104-B

Report Student Absences

Text message your childs absence to 0429 904 926

Text first and last name of your child, date, duration and reason of absence.

to leave a message. Alternatively you may also use the absence email - absences@edenslandingss.eq.edu.au or Text to 0429 904 926. Please record your child's name, class, date of absence/s and reason for absence.

Late Arrivals

Students who arrive to school after 8.50am must report to the office windows for a late slip prior to going to class.

Excursions

When your student is involved in an excursion or activity at school which requires payment an invoice is issued by our system. Some families currently receive their invoices via email which not only helps to alleviate the amount of paper used but also provides all the required information for our preferred payment method BPoint.

The invoices will be sent directly to parents’ emails, we are asking that you ensure your details are current and that you have active email addresses listed at school on your child’s file. Payment of these invoices is only required if you wish for your child to attend the excursion/activity.

*Please note: Due to changes in departmental handling of credit card payments we are no longer able to take credit card payments over the phone at school*

Change of Details

Please email the school on office@edenslandingss.eq.edu.au stating your child’s name and class to confirm your email address and if applicable advise of any contact details that may have changed, to ensure we are able to contact you in an emergency.

Thank you for your continued support

Charmaine Johnson
Business Manager

PE News

Cross Country

Congratulations to all students who participated in the Edens Landing Cross Country. This was a great day with lots of great results and a lot of fun had by all participants. A special mention must go Freshta who set a new school record.

Thank you to all of the families and friends who came along to attend the event. Thank you to the P & C who provided ice blocks to all students at the conclusion of the race

Results of the first three place-getters in each grade are published below.

Should you need to discuss anything related to HPE, please contact the following

Ken O’Donnell- kodon30@eq.edu.au (grade 4-6)

Michelle Linsdell- mhlin0@eq.edu.au (prep to 3)

involved.

School Sport Dates

Senior Sports Day (3-6): 29 May
Junior Sports Day (P-2): 11 September

Music News

Edens Landing State School students are loving music so far this year, with a back to basics approach and an infusion of colour! The junior school has been working hard on rhythms and playing together at at a variety of tempos in preparation for learning to play Boomwhackers. These colorful tubes are an excellent way to introduce melody and harmony in a simple-to-play instrument that ensures our students experience musical success from an early age. We use the colours of the tubes to assist in learning the notes so that even if a student is not familiar with letter note names, Solfa or even music notation, all students can access the learning and the wonderful world of music with ease.

The senior school has also had an injection of colour with 8 new Ukuleles to join the existing twenty or so to ensure there is a full class set of instruments for the students to play. We have embarked on learning a new strumming technique and the first of four chords that will mean our students will soon be able to play several hundred "four chord songs". If you want a laugh and to watch something interesting you tube search "Axis of Awesome - four chord song clean" (there is a version with some swearing- avoid that one in front of the kids!)

The year five and six students have access to the Edens Landing State School Music Excellence program. This includes Jam Band and Uke Club. The Uke club members are accelerating through the four chords and strumming technique and will be starting on some four chord songs in the coming weeks.

The Jam bands have also been selected for first semester and are starting their journey to being fully fledged "Rock Gods" with a simple rock riff to get them playing together. One Band has moved forward exceptionally quickly and has selected their first song to play- Believer- Imagine Dragons.

So stay tuned for progress reports and the possibility of hearing the fruits of everyone's musical labour later in the semester!

Stay safe and Rock on!
Mr Maze

Chappy News

Breakfast club is continuing as usual on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays A reminder that this program runs from 8am to 8.30am. Breakfast club finishes 8.30am in order to allow time enough time to eat and get ready for class. At breakfast club we serve cereal, usually Vita Bix and toast with spreads such as jam, vegemite and honey. Sometime we also have fruit when available. All the food is supplied by the YMCA breakfast club program.

Urgently in need of volunteers for this program. If you are available to volunteer at the breakfast club on the above listed days, please email me for more details on pquat0@eq.edu.au.

Today I have included a link of a story that you may find interesting in these uncertain times.

Uniform News

The Uniform Shop is open on Thursday mornings 8:15 am to 9:15 am during the school terms and is located inside the hall between the Tuckshop and Volunteers Room.

Items in/out of stock: There is a sign near the Uniform Shop to let you know what’s in and out of stock. All Sports Shirts are low or out of stock in all sizes.

Sport Shirts: Sports Shirts are limited to 1 per child and have been asked to be warn only on the day that the child/children have PE sports. This is due to the sports shirts not being our everyday polo shirt to wear.

Sports shirt are not being ordered and we are unsure if we will be placing an order in the future.

For more information please contact the Uniform Shop:

uniform_shop@edenslandingss.eq.edu.au

Make sure you like our P&C Association Facebook Page:

If we have any extra open days or we aren’t open one Thursday or if items are out of stock it will be posted on the Facebook page.

For those who cannot make it in during trading hours you can order by FlexiSchools.

Getting online is easy and only takes a few minutes to register. Simply go to the link below and click “Register Now”. You will be sent an email with further instructions on how to complete the registration. Once registered, you can start placing orders immediately. If you have any questions, FlexiSchools provide a great help desk on 1300 361 769, or you can contact them via their website.

There are a variety of payment options supported, including Visa, MasterCard (credit and debit) and Bank Transfer. The system operates via a pre-paid account. FlexiSchools has a cut off time of 4.00pm Wednesday it’s the day before the Uniform Shop is open.

Pick up is between 8:15am - 9:15am Thursdays or will be delivered to your child’s class from 9:15am – 9:30am Thursdays. The system is now available, so we look forward to seeing your next order online!

If you have any uniforms your children have outgrown but that are still in good condition you can donate them to the Uniform Shop.

Outside School HOURS CARE- OSHC

This term is flying on so quickly that we have started planning for the next vacation Care period. Activities will include Kite Making, Clay modelling with Raw Art and an excursion to Fun Fit Play at Redlands

This year we are moving to online enrolments and booking. To enrol you will need to go onto the My Family Lounge App and select YMCA Edens Landing and fill in the enrolment form, Upload Contact and Guardian Photo ID and current Immunisation Records. Once this s completed the service sends the Family an offer which once accepted will complete the enrolment.

There have been a few issues with the App which our IT department is working on at the moment and we thank you for your patience.

We welcome any ideas for programming or any ways the service can link with communities outside the school eg age care, places for excursions, parents the may be involved in clubs , scouting groups etc

Outside School HOURS CARE- OSHC

Opening times:

Monday to Friday
Before school: 6am – 9am
After school: 2.30pm -6pm

Pay as little as $3.50 per session after ccs

YMCA Edens Landing OSHC

P: 07 3805 1233
M: 0459 899 887
ael@ymcabrisbane.org

Important Dates to Remember

What’s on weekly- all Free

Mondays

Breakfast Club 8am-8.30am,

Tuesdays

Breakfast Club 8am- 8.30am,
Running Club 8am-8.30am Senior Oval. Week 2-10, Years 1-6.

Wednesdays

Choir practice 8.15am- 8.45am Music Room. Sign up now
Kokoda Meetings Yr4-6, L Block, 11am Term 1&2 week 2- week 10

Thursdays

Breakfast Club 8am-8.30am,
Culture Club 2.50pm-4pm G Block & Yarning Circle until 26 March.
Student Council Meetings Yr3-6 L Block 2nd break.

Fridays

Garden Club Yr 4-6, 1pm Garden Shed - Term 1, 21 February – 3 April

Saturdays

Edens Landing Kokoda Kids Training 6.15am ELSS carpark, weekly pre training meetings Wednesdays.

Contact Details

• Have your contact details changed?
• Have you moved address?
• Do we have your current phone number in case of an emergency?
• Are your emergency contacts still current?
• Are you receiving our newsletters by email?
• Do we have your current email address?

PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE TO UPDATE YOUR DETAILS

Phone 3826 0333 or Email office@edenslandingss.eq.edu.au