29 May 2020

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s News

Hi ELSS families and community,

It is great to be back together. I am extremely proud to lead our community as Principal of Edens Landing State School. We have achieved a great deal together during the most testing time in education. Well done!

We will build on the two foundations of ELSS- positive relationship and high expectations.

Positive relationship between school and families. This takes shape as partners in learning-

• teacher and student connection,
• teacher and family connection and
• school and family connection.

High expectations for learning, culture, attendance and uniform.

To support the return to school we have implemented the following-

Prioritise students feeling safe and happy to return.
Re-establish teacher and student relationship.
Reconnect friendship groups and routines of ELSS.
Increased staff supervision and engagement before/after school and during break times.
Reteach, revise and reassess critical work for learning.

School Uniform

With the cold weather, please ensure you are proactive with purchasing the school jacket. Wearing the school uniform is a display of being Safe, Respectful and a Learner. These are the three expectations that students, staff and families commit to when enrolling at ELSS. The School uniform policy - White socks and Black Shoes. Please support this with your next purchase of socks and shoes to align with the school uniform policy. High expectation in student uniform supports - Safety, cost, confidence, school spirit, saves time, reduce distraction, encourages discipline and high school ready.

Reminder-

Our school gates open at 8.30am, please do not drop students at school early, we cannot ensure safety.

Stop Drop and Go area’s require patience and understanding. 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.

We encourage families not pick up students early as they miss important learning.

ELSS does not tolerate hostile language from anyone. I will issue a breach to any person who does not respect our partnership in learning.

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 (PBL)
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.

Let’s create the school we want to send our child/ren to everyday!

Mr Curran
Principal

Deputy Principal’s News

It is wonderful to see our Year 2-6 students back at school this week. We have certainly missed you all. I am excited to see all of the students settling back into their classrooms after such a long time off-campus. Some of the work produced during this time has been nothing short of outstanding as you will see by the images published in this newsletter article.

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.

Year 3 Cohort

Our Year 3 students have been very busy learning at home and at school. Spelling has never been so much fun!

Year 3 students have been demonstrating their creativity in stories. Here is one written by Elijah 3C

‘One day I was cleaning my wardrobe when I fell into something. I looked around … AND I SAW A TIME MACHINE!

I went into it and I teleported to the world of dinosaurs. I was being chased by a T-Rex! I ran back to the time machine and teleported to a time when cave-men lived. I helped them make boats, better houses, weapons and showed them how to prepare proper food. I helped them to make their lives better before I left. After some time, I eventually found my way back home where I felt safe and sound.’

Year 4 Cohort

Year 4 students at home and at school responded to a story starter to write stories about being Principal for a day. They have written some very amusing ideas about what a Principal does throughout the day.

Mr Curran for a Day by Jessica 4H

‘…Today while I was the Principal, I was in my office talking to my friend when a teacher was trying to call me. I picked up the phone and she said “Can you help? My class won’t listen to me”

“OK.” I said. So I went down and I told the class to listen to the teacher or I will tell their parents. So they learnt again and I went back into my office to talk to my friend for the rest of the day.’

My Day as Principal by Sophie 4A

‘On the first day of being Principal I introduced my puppy Mia to the whole school. “Mia, find the smartest child in each grade.” I said loudly. She did that and I congratulated them. Then I gave them a star sticker that was a shiny golden one. I ate my lunch in the staffroom. In the afternoon I said to Mia “Go deliver these notes to Prep G and all the other classes that are juniors, then I’ll give you water and some food.”

“Ruff” She said.

“Good Girl.” I replied. Mia and I waved goodbye to the kids and the kids got to pat Mia on the way out of the school grounds.’

As part of our community support project, our Year 4 students attending school made ‘bouquets’ of flowers to send to the elderly residents of the local nursing home. The students loved making them beautiful to help make someone else’s day brighter.

Families sent photographs of their children learning at home. Here we see two very studious year 4 students working on their Partners in Learning Packs and Literacy Planet activities.

Year 5 Cohort

Our budding Authors have been demonstrating their writing talents during journal writing this Term. We challenged students to record their thoughts about the unusual events as they unfolded. Here are a few excerpts from Year 5 pandemic journal entries.

‘Dear Diary,

We are in the middle of COVID-19, in other words, Coronavirus. It is the worst thing that has ever happened, well, this and boys. It is the worst thing ever because my friends are getting home schooled so I only have one friend at school with me. A lot of people are self-isolating so a lot of my friends are not here.’

By Gracey-Anne

‘Dear Diary,

We are in the middle of self-isolating for COVID-19. COVID has made me feel very lonely because my friends aren’t allowed over. Australia is getting way less cases, other countries aren’t doing so well because some feel indestructible. Bad things about quarantine (staying home all the time) are that we have to home-school and not seeing your friends.

Self-isolating: Oh, I hate that word! Staying inside all the time. I mean ALL the time. The only time you’re allowed out is when you need to go grocery shopping. Social distancing: That wasn’t even a word until 2020. You’re not allowed to hug, high five or touch anybody.’

By Summer

‘Day 1:

The first day I found about COVID-19 was when rumours started. I heard about it and asked my parents straight away.

Day 2:

COVID-19 was more of a worry in China. A few weeks later it started to spread. Countries surrounding China got COVID-19 first without noticing and travelled to other countries and spread within seconds. My Dad told me some countries were in lockdown and Australia might be put in lockdown too. I was shocked, worried and scared.’

By Abbie

‘Dear Journal,

It’s been very hard since COVID-19 has hit us. We are all having to be home-schooled and we’ve been missing our friends and teachers. We’ve also had to be in self-isolation. That means we don’t get to go out to do sleepovers, go for playdates or go outside.

It’s a really big impact on our lives right now but some shops are opening, parks are opening and we will be able to come out our houses soon enough. We all really hope this will soon stop.’

By Nevaeh

‘Dear Diary,

I am in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and my life is very strange at the moment. Lots of kids are being home-schooled and self-isolating. Hygiene is playing a huge part in this pandemic as lots of people are getting anxious about not being clean enough. Being in Australia I think that the Australian government has done a great job of keeping the virus out of our country.’

By Bailey

‘You can’t go to parks or amusement parks nor go on a holiday, and that makes me feel a bit said but the good side is that we still get to play inside and in the back yard but it can get a bit boring. This pandemic makes me feel a little bit worried and scared because I don’t know what to do. It also makes me feel disappointed and a little bit sad because we can’t really go anywhere.’

By Delilah

Our Year 5 students have also been working on a creative arts activity. Each student was asked to select a picture, tear in half and draw the missing section making it as realistic as possible. Ezekiel from 5ME did an amazing job.

Our creative Year 5 students also wrote poems for ANZAC Day. Here is Levi's (5H) acrostic poem about Poppies.

Putting poppies down

On Anzac day

Pretty poppies are placed on soldiers graves

Pain and suffering at war

I am sorry for the soldiers

Every soldier was brave

So sad when people pass away

Year 6 Cohort

In our first Partner’s in Learning Pack, Year 6 students were asked to investigate what it means to be a Global Citizen. They then had to create a logo or poster that represented this. We know our world is in great hands when we see the messages delivered via these posters.

By Evie 6M

In the first two weeks of the Partners in Learning Packs, students were challenged to create their own “Stay safe with COVID-19” poster, thinking about what their family needs to do to stay healthy.

By Sakina 6T

Year 6 Students were asked to create a written piece for ANZAC Day.

People Travel to France to remember them

Over the years they will not be forgotten

Poppies grow in Flanders Field

Purple poppies signify animals that died in battle

In the fields the poppies bloom

Evil and good fought for freedom

Soldiers fought in war

By Keeley

Positive Behaviour for learning (PBL)

During this time of change, we have continued to focus on the importance of following our school expectations of being Safe, respectful and especially of being a learning whether at home or at school.

The students at home have been asked to complete a poster showing how our school expectations look when learning at home. Here are some examples sent through by students last week:

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

Deputy Principal’s News

Celebrate the learning

Thank you for keeping your children engaged in learning at home. Because of the hard work as Partners in Learning, the children are now demonstrating strength in literacy and numeracy.

The prep children have been writing a retell of Mrs Wishy Washy – we even had Mrs Wishy Washy visit one of the classrooms and wash the Pig, the Duck and the Cow. The children have been using their knowledge of letters and sounds and were able to draw and spell the animal names. I know I am in a great school when I witness literacy explicitly taught in a joyful environment.

Teachers engaged in learning

While you were looking after learning from home, the teachers were engaged in professional learning here at school. The prep – year 2 teachers have refined their skills in the Heggertys phonemic awareness program and even videoed some lessons for the year 2 students last week.

Another program that we are investing in is our Jolly phonics – a synthetic phonics program. All the teachers in the lower school are currently completing an online course that explicitly explains the teaching of phonics, reading and spelling. Though some of us have been teaching for quite some time, it is refreshing to have the opportunity to refine our skills in our craft and become BETTER.

Our deeper understanding of the Phonemic Awareness and the teaching of the sounds in words which later leads to reading and spelling, has prompted the purchase of new DECODABLE reading books in our prep classrooms and home readers – purchased from our SRS scheme.

We have also purchased some apps for the ipads which will give children the opportunity to practice listening to sounds, letter formation and reading books.

Keeping safe at school –

A huge shout out to the teachers and staff who have been volunteering their time to make sure that the children remain safe from Drop off to Pick up.

When parents drop their children off in the morning the younger ones are escorted to the junior area to be supervised while they have a run around.

Throughout the day children are explicitly taught and practice multiple times, hygiene basics such as washing hands. They are washing hands at the beginning of every learning session when they enter the building/ classroom.

Hand sanitiser is available and used frequently throughout the day, and children use it as they enter the building when they have been outside putting things in their bags or coming back from the toilet.

The sharing equipment is being minimalised – even the prep children have their own ‘pencil case’ This can be particularly difficult in subjects like HPE and technology, however, conscious decisions have been made to reduce sharing equipment in lessons – for example the obstacle course does not involve climbing as this would mean all the children would be touching the bars as they climb over them.

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 – was due Friday, 1 May
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.

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.

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 Whom It May Concern: 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

Head of Curriculum News

Ready, set, read! Edens Landing State School encourages reading at home as part of daily homework. To support your child to develop a love of reading, we encourage all families to participate in the 2020 Premier’s Reading Challenge. The Premier's Reading Challenge aims to improve literacy and encourage children to read for pleasure and learning. In 2019, more than 2.31 million books were read by more than 168,000 Queensland children and students from 937 schools and 386 early childhood centres.

Registrations are now open for students to register as individual readers via this link below:

For more information on registering as an individual reader, download the individual reader information kit. Students can use a range of materials to count towards their reading goal such as their home reading books, library books, books from home and online books.

Students have until 28 August to read and submit their books to the website where their efforts will be recognised through the receipt of a Certificate of Achievement signed by the Premier of Queensland.

Chappy News

Hi all,

It was so great to see all the faces of the students back again this week I was so happy to see them all. You may have seen the schools sign board or Facebook page, talking about Chappy Week (24th to 31st May). Chappy Week, usually in the last week of May, is a week where the communities highlight the work school chaplains do in our schools. I received a wonderful surprise to see the lovely post on the Facebook page and I thank the school and all those who wrote kind comments it brought a tear to my eye.

This year celebrates 30 years of school chaplaincy and 5 years of myself being a school chaplain with SU Qld. It is really a privilege to be able to do the work that I do and I am very blessed to be able to work with such wonderful school communities. I thank you all for your support.

For those that are not sure what a school chaplain does here is an explanation from the SU Qld website.

SU QLD chaplains, or ‘chappies’, provide spiritual and emotional support to school communities. They are in the prevention and support business: helping students find a better way to deal with issues ranging from family breakdown and loneliness, to drug abuse, depression and anxiety.

They provide a listening ear and a caring presence for children and young people in crisis, and those who just need a friend. They also provide support for staff and parents in school communities.

• More than 67% of Queensland State Schools have a chappy.
• That leaves around 400 state schools without a chappy!
• SU QLD has placed chappies in 63% of all Queensland state primary schools and in 88% of all Queensland state high schools.
• Right now, our chappies are serving more than 400,000 Queensland students.

Sourced from : https://www.suqld.org.au/services/chaplaincy/

Chaplaincy provides this support through various ways, such as one on one conversations and running social, emotional, and spiritual programs. Chic Chat and SUPA Club were on hold but are now back up and running. I have also had many ask about Breakfast Club and when that will start again. At present we are not sure, but as soon as we are able it will be on.

Welcome back all, so great to see you.

Chappy Tricia

Book Club

P&C News

Hi Families of ELSS

The next P & C meeting will be held 15 June at 6.15pm, meetings take place in the staff room. We welcome you all in to discuss the developments taking place around the school.

A few of the items up for discussion on this months agenda; school uniform redesign, Christmas Carol planning and other general business.

FUNDRAISING

Uniform News

OPEN BY APPOINTMENT ONLY, please contact the school office Ph: 3826 0333 or email the

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.

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

Due to Covid- 19 Restrictions made by the Australian Government we are on Capped numbers for both Before & After School care. If you wish to make a booking please contact the service via email : ael@ymcabrisbane.org

Children will be placed on a Waitlist until such time as a space is available.

Thank you for your patience and Understanding during this time.

My Family Lounge app is Currently not Working, Please contact the service via email to arrange any bookings.

We have welcomed the New Coordinator to our team –Miss Amy Naylor.

Miss Amy has lots of Knowledge in the OSHC field and a willingness to learn more. She looks forward to Meeting you all.

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

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