Marburg State School Newsletter Principal : Kirrily Newton Ph: (07) 5464 4218 or Mobile 0477 749 447 E-mail: the.principal@marburgss.eq.edu.au Week 1 Term 1 Friday 30th January 2015 Dear Parents and Carers, . Welcome back to students, parents/caregivers and staff of the Marburg School community. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year and are now ready for an exciting and productive school year. Information for New Parents/Caregivers Priorities for 2015 Our school priorities are as follows-: Continued implementation of the Australian Curriculum Improved student performance in Reading Improved student performance in Numeracy Strong Community Partnerships Embed our whole school Pedagogical Framework in all that we do. . Assembly- Assembly occurs on a Friday morning at 9.00am in the school Hall. All parents and caregivers are welcome to attend. Weekly encouragement awards, reading at home awards and class awards are presented during assembly as well as announcements and occasionally special guests or presentations. Bookclub- Scholastic Booksellers operate Bookclub at Marburg State School. Bookclub forms are issued to students on a regular basis and orders can be placed before the closing date of the order. The first lot of bookclub forms have been sent home this week, and orders and monies need to be returned by Monday 16th February. We recommend this service as the books are good quality and fairly priced. School Wide Positive Behaviour Support and Superstars- For our students we promote a behavioural standard which congratulates consistent high quality behaviour and provides targeted processes for supporting students who have difficulties managing their own behaviour and meeting our high standards. This system is based on positive reinforcement for desired behaviours . Students work towards awards known as “Superstars” for classroom and playground conduct related to our schoolwide expectations. Information and updates regarding behaviour and wellbeing in our school is reported back to the parent community on a regular basis. An overview of the schools Responsible Behaviour Plan is in the Parent Handbook. Please do not hesitate to contact the school if you have any queries regarding the rewards system. Our first week back we have been focusing on “Being an Active Listener” and starting our year as “Organised Learners” Active After School Activities- Each year Marburg State School has participated in Active After School Communities. That program has now finished and an opportunity for us to apply for a grant to participate in a new initiative- “Sporting Schools” will occur in May 2015. This means that after school sport is not available for the first semester of 2015. I will keep you posted on any updates and progress. Leaders Badge Ceremony The Leaders for 2015 will be presented with their badges at a special parade on Friday 13th February at 9.00am in the Hall. All families are welcome to attend. Parent Handbook Just a reminder that most general information regarding day to day operation of the school is located in the Parent Handbook. Swimming Please note that in 2015 all students will participate in swimming lessons in Term 4. Only Year 3-6 will participate in swimming lessons from week 7-10 this term and then participate in the interschool Carnival with other small schools. Notes will go home for swimming in week 5. Thank you. Enrolment Details If at any time your details or your child’s details change (eg. phone numbers, address, emergency contact details etc) please notify the office straight away. This ensures clear communication between school and home. Thanks in advance. School Payments Payments are required to cover the costs for RE books and Art Supply. RE books and Art Supply contribution will cost $20. Money is payable to the school office as soon as possible. Footsteps Dance This term all students will participate in a dance program. Footsteps Dance Company will work with upper and lower school to teach basic skills such as co-ordination, rhythm, movement to music and enjoyment of dance. This program will run in class time during smart moves and is of no cost to the students as it is paid for by the school. Thank you. Chaplaincy at Marburg Marburg State School has a Chaplain - Chappy Kylie will be at our school every Wednesday from 8.30 until 3pm. Kylie will be providing activities regarding our Social and Emotional Learning Program“You Can Do It”. Kylie will spend time in each classroom and will run lunch time programs as well. Kylie is also available to parents for a chat or a cuppa. Please contact the school if you would like to make an appointment to meet with her. Thank you. PREP-1 News Welcome to Prep/Year1 and what a wonderful start to 2015 we have had. Everyone is eager to do a good job and all are very focussed on their work. There has been lots of sharing and wonderful play in the playground. Literacy Block :- My main focus for literacy in Prep is initially working on our letter shape and sound. I will be using a fantastic phonics programme called Letterland. Each week we will meet one or two Letterland characters who have their own special song, story and activity. We will also begin to learn some of the high frequency words which occur in our everyday language. Many are difficult to sound out phonetically, so we learn to recognise them by sight. In Writing, the students will engage in different genres and their writing will be scribed for them. The Year Ones block will be composed of three integrated, mutually reinforcing lessons – spelling, writing and reading. In Spelling, I aim to teach and reinforce the students’ knowledge of phonemic awareness, systematic phonics and high frequency words. In Writing, they will learn the meaning and usage of vocabulary, capitalization, punctuation, grammar, sentence construction and composing different written genres. In Reading, I aim to develop fluent and expressive reading and teach comprehension strategies. This week I will be testing their knowledge of sounds before we start our programme. Mathematics :- My main focus in Prep this term is to recognise and understand all aspects of the numbers 1-5. This means writing the numbers correctly, understanding positions/order and value. Along with number, we will also be looking at patterning, shapes, units of measurement and probability. In Year 1 this term, the students will represent, read and record numbers to 30, with extra emphasis on the “teen” numbers. Addition and subtraction algorithms will be introduced along with work on the calendar and measuring using informal units. I will discuss the units of work for History, Geography, Science and Health in the next newsletter. Ciao, Gail Ducci 2-4 NEWS Hello and welcome to the 2015 school year, This year the class contains all of the yr. 2, 3 and 4 students. The smallest class, year four, consists of only three boys. These boys are my role models for the younger students and have generally accepted this level of responsibility with a willing attitude. We welcome Mia (yr.2) to our school and hope that she enjoys her schooling with us at Marburg. Out timetable for specialist lessons for the term (and probably the entire year) is as follows…. Monday Cars and Stars Reading 9.15am Tuesday PE 9.30am Tuesday German (LOTE) 2.30pm Wednesday Music 12.00 noon Thursday RE (starting later in the term) 9.00am Thursday German 12.00 noon Friday Library 11.45am Footsteps Dance will be held in term one and will be held on a Monday afternoon. The class is split for this activity and the remaining students work with myself on specifically tailored activities. Please be aware that the steps and ramp at the far end of the admin block are for the use of our class. As you can imagine the front/closest steps are used by the senior students and all adult visitors to the school. Students are being encouraged to walk, with their friends, to the school carpark at the end of each day. Should it be more convenient to meet your child under the school building please feel free to do so. If it can be avoided please do not collect your child from the classroom at the end of the school day due to the enormous amount of traffic this areas experiences at this time. I am aware that parents/ caregivers often need to communicate with me regarding their child and this is highly valued, however for the safety of the children please see me outside the time immediately beginning or ending of the school day. My mobile number is 0427076297 and I am available to discuss your child’s education from 7am- 7pm each work day. Please be aware that I will text or ring you should I feel the need to pass on information to you. This system has worked well for my time at Marburg. Should you prefer this not happen please let the office know as soon as possible? School report cards are due at the end of term 2 however parent teacher interviews will be organised at the end of term one. Should you wish to make an interview time before this please feel welcome. I look forward to working with you all this year as we encourage and support the students along their educational journey. Until next time Marina K 5-6 NEWS Welcome back to parents and caregivers of year 5/6 students. We have had a fantastic start to our term and it is going to be very busy. This term has begun with the continuation of the Australian Curriculum. Students will be participating in the English, Mathematics and Science and History and Geography curriculum from the beginning of this term and will still access the Essential Learnings for LOTE, HPE, The Arts, Technology and Music. What does this mean for you? Students will continue to be engaged in the highest quality of learning. Our focus remains the same- high expectations for the students and staff. This term we are studying short stories with an emphasis on elements such as humour and persuasive text. Students will be focused on learning goals and improving their outcomes in all learning areas this year. I will continue to teach the core skills on Monday, Tuesday and Friday while Mrs O’Sullivan will teach Geography/Arts on a Wednesday and Mrs Bryant will teach Science/Mathematics and History on a Thursday. If, at anytime you need clarification on any issues/questions concerning your child’s learning please do not hesitate to make an appointment to see me. Until next time Mrs N. P & C News Welcome all families – old and new to 2015 at our Marburg State School. We trust everyone had a great break and is ready for an extremely busy term and year! Thank you to those families that have volunteered baked goods and support of our major fund raising Sausage Sizzle and Cake Stall tomorrow as part of Voting at our Marburg State School. Please feel free to drop baked goods off in the morning when you vote and stay for a while to help turn a sausage or two! Following a wonderful effort last year we now have $15,187.15 on term deposit. Our second term deposit of $1066.00 is funds raised by Crowd Funding set aside for the 2016 Canberra Trip. Our cheque account balance is $23,097.00 which includes $19,635.00 for part of our funding grant for “The Hub”. Plans are being finalised to commence building “The Hub” - a covered activity area to be built on the old tennis court area near the school house. Please find attached Application for P & C Membership for 2015 form for completion by ALL Parents and Caregivers. Please bring completed form to the P & C Meeting. If you are unable to attend please complete and return it to the School Office ASAP. Under the Parents and Citizens’ Association Constitution every family must submit their application each year. By showing your commitment to your school it benefits with applications for grants and subsidies with all school funding. Thank you to those families that have already completed and returned their forms. We are looking for 2 committed volunteers prepared to organise and run the Tuckshop every fortnight this year on behalf of the P & C. Without this service the Tuckshop will be unable to continue on regular basis. To volunteer your services or for further information please contact Kellie on 0458 380 354. Our first P & C Meeting for 2015 is Tuesday the 10th February in the Prep Building at 3.15 pm. New and returning Parents and Caregivers are most welcome. Hope to see you there. If you have anything you would like to discuss at the meeting please email it to marburgstateschoolpandcassoc@hotmail.com or contact one of the P & C – Kellie on 0458 380 354, Kathy on 0427 588 317, Jo on 0400 340 526 or Brenda on 0408 457 896. On Friday February 13 the P & C will be holding a “Carpark Meet and Greet” for all families - old and new from 3.00 pm – 4.00 pm. Please bring a plate of afternoon tea to share. We look forward to a great beginning to our school year. If you need more uniforms please contact Ashleigh Morriss on 0413 892 265 to make an appointment. Don’t forget the 1st P & C Meeting for 2014 on Tuesday 10th February in the Prep Building at 3.15 pm. Regards Marburg State School P & C January Birthdays Mrs Bryant-3rd Ashton- 6th Sierra- 9th Ben-15th Kirra- 9th Callum-16th th Courtney- 9 Tyler-30th February Birthdays Mrs Rasmussen- 17th Connor- 17th School Banking Program Marburg School offers the Dollarmites School Banking Program through the Commonwealth Bank. If you would like your child/ren to be banking regularly, please read the enclosed information. Banking day is on a Wednesday, and needs to be handed in to the school office. We're excited to launch the new reward items for 2015 from our Outer Space Savers range. ET DVD and Planet Handball, released Term 1 Invisible Ink Martian Pen and Intergalactic Rocket, released Term 2 Glow-in-the-Dark Solar System and Cosmic Light Beam Torch, released Term 3 Outer Space Savers Money Box and Lunar Light Band, released Term 4 In a School Banking first, we're launching a new competition for one lucky School Banker to win a family trip to Disneyland, California. This is an exciting reward to be won by one of our Super School Savers. Students who make a minimum of 25 deposits in 2015 through School Banking will be automatically entered into the draw. This is a great way to motivate students during the whole year to stay on their savings journey and reach their savings goals. View full terms and conditions at commbank.com.au/grandprize Library Update As the students will shortly be borrowing from the school Library every week, there are certain factors which should be kept in mind. 1. A waterproof bag is required to keep the book/s safe and dry. 2. A secure place should be found for the Library book/s whilst at home - e.g. the bag could be hung on the bedroom doorknob. 3. Book/s should only be kept for a maximum of two weeks. If needed for a longer period, the book/s will need to be re-borrowed through the Library computer. It would be appreciated if parents could check with students regularly to ensure that our school resources are well cared for and returned promptly. DATE CLAIMERS January Saturday 31st February Monday 2nd Tuesday 10th Friday 13th Sausage Sizzle at School/ Election Day Footsteps dance begins P&C Meeting 3.15pm at Prep. Leaders Badge Ceremony Attachments to newsletter: Application for P&C Membership Invitation – Black Snake Creek Restoration Project Sign on info for Ipswich Junior Rugby League COMMUNITY NEWS “Have you ever considered being a foster carer? Foundations Care are a foster and kinship carer support agency who can answer questions you may have regarding being a foster carer. Foundations offer training, support and can help you, help others. Please give us a call today on 3810 4888 for more information. Because at Foundations Care, we give but never give up”.