Newsletter Term 4 Week 2
16 October 2014
th
PRINCIPAL’S PRATTLE
Last Thursday night, a Year 6 Transition information
session was held for parents and caregivers. I would
personally
like
to
congratulate
all
the
parents/caregivers who attended this session with
myself and staff. The attendance was high and the
open communication with staff allowed us to prepare
and address concerns for the very successful
transition day that occurred on Tuesday. Year 6
students worked on their own timetable in the
Secondary School on Tuesday with D & T, Art,
Maths, Science and Pastoral Care lessons being
scheduled for the day. Students thoroughly enjoyed
the day and shared their excitement with me in the
afternoon – all the fears had gone (Secondary
School was not that bad). Junior Secondary is such
an important phase of development for students and
I believe the new transition program that is being
implemented will thoroughly prepare students for
2015 and life in the Secondary School.
PRE-PREP PROGRAM
Biggenden
State
School
Pre-Prep
program
commenced last week. The Pre-Prep students had a
very enjoyable day and appeared to fit in
exceptionally well with the assistance of our Prep
students. If you know of a child who is ready for
Prep in 2015 and is unaware of our excellent PrePrep Program please ask them to contact the school.
STUDENT FREE DAY
On Monday 20th October, 2014 a student free day
will be held. Students are not to attend school on
this day.
Staff members will be travelling to
Gayndah to participate in the North Burnett Cluster
Professional Development Day. The program has
been extremely well planned and will cater for all
staff members for a full extensive day of learning.
PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES
On Saturday 18th October, 2014, I will travel to
Gympie to perform my duties as manager of the
Under 15 Wide Bay Girls Cricket Team at the State
Championships. This event will conclude on Tuesday,
21st October, 2014.
AWARDS NIGHT
On the 12 November, 2014 is the Annual Biggenden
State School Awards Night. This year students will
be required to wear school uniform for this event.
Students may choose to wear the formal school
uniform or the maroon and gold daily uniforms. Girls
will not be permitted to wear the maroon knit short
skirts. If you have any questions regarding this,
please do not hesitate to contact the school to seek
clarification.
VOLUNTEERS
Do you have any spare time? Biggenden State
School need volunteers to help with many programs.
We need help to hear students read, say their sight
words and to help with the Stephanie Alexander
Program. Volunteering and working with students is
extremely rewarding. Please contact the school if
you can give some time.
A big thank you to Mrs Tracey Geissler who has
volunteered to come in and hear students their sight
words. We need more help to ensure students
continue to learn and achieve dynamically.
ATTENDANCE
Fantastic attendance by the year 1s, 4s and 10s
during the first week with 100% attendance. This is
very impressive to have three entire classes achieve
100%.
Attendance at Biggenden State School is a focus
area. Once again this term we will continue to strive
to achieve our attendance goal of 96.3% across the
school.
YEAR LEVEL
WEEK 1 TERM YEAR
TO
4%
DATE %
PREP
98.07%
93.6%
1
100%
94%
2
93.75%
91.6%
3
97.22%
92.2%
4
100%
94%
5
89.72%
91.2%
6
97.92%
93.9%
7
87.5%
89%
8
85%
93.9%
9
91%
93.7%
10
100%
94.3%
The Year to Date overall percentage is currently
91.7% with the Semester 2 percentage at 89.8%.
Data shows that if your child misses 8 days in a
school year, their learning is affected greatly. It is
compulsory for students to attend school and I will
be making appointments with parents/caregivers
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whose child is showing high absenteeism to discuss
the matter further. We as educators have an
obligation to teach students and provide them with
the best learning opportunities available. Parents
have an obligation to ensure students attend school.
Absences will have negative effects on student’s
academic results.
Please remember that the school must have
absenteeism explained. Parents/caregivers need to
contact the school when students are away. Please
remember that learning does occur every day and
the staff are more than happy to prepare work to
give to students to ensure they do not fall behind
when they are absent.
STEPHANIE ALEXANDER PROGRAM
The Stephanie Alexander Program is an excellent
initiative of Biggenden State School. Students in
Years 3 to 6 participate each Friday in the program
that involves a rotation of gardening and cooking.
The school garden always looks fantastic and this
just does not occur without a great deal of work
behind the scenes.
I would certainly like to
acknowledge Mr Shane Johnson who gives unselfishly
to the school to maintain the Stephanie Alexander
gardens. Shane spends many unpaid hours working to
ensure the gardens are productive. Another person
who works tirelessly each Friday and throughout the
year is Mrs Tracey Geissler. Tracey donates plants,
materials and her time to come in and assist. Thank
you also to all the other parents, grandparents and
community members who have volunteered to come in
and assist with either cooking or gardening
throughout the year. Programs like this aren’t just
successful but are a lot of hard work and I would
like to acknowledge Shane, Tracey, other parents
and grandparents and many staff members who
volunteer to make Stephanie Alexander terrific.
SCHOOL WIDE POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR
This term our school wide positive behaviour topics
focus on being Big On Responsibility. Week two of
term sees students focussing on punctuality. It
works on students learning about being on time not
only in class but in life in general. Another great
topic for parents/caregivers to work with.
SCHOOL RULE
16 October 2014
This policy reflects the importance the school places
on students displaying courtesy, consideration and
respect for others whenever they are using personal
technology devices.
Personal Technology Device Etiquette
Bringing personal technology devices to school is not
encouraged by the school because of the potential
for theft and general distraction and/or disruption
associated with them. However, if they are brought
to school, they must be turned off and left in the
student’s bag, where they will remain until the end
of the school day for the student to collect.
Students should not bring valuable personal
technology devices like mobile telephones, cameras,
digital video cameras, MP3 players, or IPods®
to
school as there is a risk of damage or theft. Devices
found removed from their bags or turned on during
school time will be confiscated by school staff,
stored in the administration area and must be
collected from the school office by the student on
the first occasion and then subsequent collection by
the parent/guardian. Breaches of this prohibition
may result in discipline.
Confiscation
Permitted personal technology devices used contrary
to this policy on school premises will be confiscated
by school staff. They will be made available for
collection from the school office by the student on
the first occasion and then subsequent collection by
the parent/guardian, unless required to be kept for
purposes of disciplinary investigation. If this is the
case, the confiscated item it will only be returned
once the investigation is completed.
Devices potentially containing evidence of criminal
offences may be reported to the police. In such
cases police may take possession of such devices for
investigation
purposes
and
students
and
parents/guardians will be advised to contact
Queensland Police Service (QPS) directly if they are
wishing to retrieve the device.
Recording voice and Images
Every member of the school community should feel
confident about participating fully and frankly in all
aspects of school life without concern that their
personal privacy is being invaded by them being
recorded without their knowledge or consent.
The Use of Personal Technology Devices* at
School
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We uphold the value of trust and the right to
privacy at Biggenden State School. Students using
personal technology devices to record inappropriate
behaviours or incidents (such as vandalism, fighting,
bullying, staged fighting or pranks etc) for the
purpose of dissemination among the student body or
outside the school, by any means (including
distribution by phone or internet posting) builds a
culture of distrust and disharmony.
Students must not record images anywhere that
recording would not reasonably be considered
appropriate (e.g. in change rooms, toilets or any
other place where a reasonable person would expect
to be afforded privacy).
Recording of events in class is not permitted unless
express consent is provided by the class teacher.
A student at school who uses a personal technology
device to record private conversations, ordinary
school activities (apart from social functions like
graduation ceremonies) or violent, illegal or
embarrassing matter capable of bringing the school
into public disrepute is considered to be in breach of
this policy.
Even where consent is obtained for such recording,
the school will not tolerate images or sound captured
by personal technology devices on the school
premises or elsewhere being disseminated to others,
if it is done for the purpose of causing
embarrassment to individuals or the school, for the
purpose of bullying 1 or harassment, including racial
and sexual harassment, or where without such intent
a reasonable person would conclude that such
outcomes may have or will occur.
Students involved in:
 recording; and/or
 disseminating
material
(through
text
messaging, display, internet uploading etc);
and/or,
 knowingly being a subject of a recording
Breach of this policy may be subject to discipline
(including suspension and recommendation for
exclusion).
Students should note that the recording or
dissemination of images that are considered
indecent (such as nudity or sexual acts involving
16 October 2014
children), is against the law and if detected by the
school will result in a referral to QPS.
Text communication
The sending of text messages that contain obscene
language and/or threats of violence may amount to
bullying and or harassment or even stalking, and will
subject the sender to discipline and possible
referral to QPS. Students receiving such text
messages at school should ensure they keep the
message as evidence and bring the matter to the
attention of the school office.
Assumption of cheating
Personal technology devices may not be taken into or
used by students at exams or during class
assessment unless expressly permitted by staff.
Staff will assume students in possession of such
devices during exams or assessments are cheating.
Disciplinary action will be taken against any student
who is caught using a personal technology device to
cheat during exams or assessments.
Recording Private Conversations and the Invasion
of Privacy Act 1971
It is important that all members of the school
community understand that under the Invasion of
Privacy Act 1971, ‘a person is guilty of an offence
against this Act if the person uses a listening device
to overhear, record, monitor or listen to a private
conversation’. It is also an offence under the Act for
a person who has overheard, recorded, monitored or
listened to a conversation to which s/he is not a
party to publish or communicate the substance or
meaning of the conversation to others.
Students
need
to
understand
that
some
conversations are private and therefore to overhear,
record, monitor or listen to such private
conversations may be in breach of this Act, unless
consent to the recording is appropriately obtained.
Special Circumstances Arrangement
Students who require the use of a personal
technology device in circumstances that would
contravene this policy (for example to assist with a
medical condition or other disability or for a special
project) should negotiate a special circumstances
arrangement with the Principal.
* Personal Technology Devices includes, but is not
limited to: games devices (such as portable gaming
devices), Tamagotchis®, PDAs, Blackberrys®,
cameras and/or voice recording devices (whether or
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not integrated with a mobile phone or MP3 player),
mobile telephones, IPods® and devices of a similar
nature.
FRUIT BREAK:
Fruit/protein break is held in the Primary School
each morning for students to stimulate their brain
for the learning time ahead of them. Fruit/protein
break is also occuring in the Secondary School.
Students are to take with them a piece of fruit or
protein at the start of classes and it can be eaten in
class at a time they choose but must be before the
commencement of Period 3. Students will not be
permitted to leave the room to collect their food nor
will they be permitted to eat unhealthy food during
this time.
BREAKFAST CLUB:
Breakfast Club recommenced this week. A special
thank you once again to Biggenden Foodworks,
Biggenden Apex Club and the Biggenden State
School P & C for sponsoring this great initiative. We
are always looking for donations and parent/guardian
assistance with Breakfast Club. Honey, vegemite,
jam and milo are required for Breakfast Club if
anyone could donate them, please.
BIGGENDEN STATE SCHOOL WEBSITE:
Please remember that the school has an active
website which is constantly being upgraded with
newsletters, information and documents. Please go
to www.biggendess.eq.edu.au.
Biggenden State
School also uses the QSchools App. Please contact
the school if you need further instruction on
connecting to the App.
16 October 2014
Jakirra Parkinson – working extremely hard in class
especially in writing.
Angus McAskill – Great effort in all class work
BOOKLIST
In the coming weeks, information on the Student
Resource Scheme will be published in the newsletter.
Parents are urged to carefully read about the
changes to the Textbook Hire Scheme (now Student
Resource Scheme) and how it will affect your child in
2015.
Each year level and subject clearly shows where your
money will be spent. The Student Resource Scheme
Document amalgamates all previous documents like
the Textbook Hire and Booklist.
Each student will be issued with an invoice which will
be included in the package containing the
documentation required to be completed for the
2015 school year. Please note the government rules
are very strict around the Student Resource
Scheme (SRS) and failure to complete paperwork will
result in your child not receiving textbooks even if
all payments have been received.
Students will be ineligible to participate in extra
curricular activities or excursions until 75% of
outstanding fees are paid.
AWARDS
Gotcha Winners – Brittany Brookes and Jayden Clark
Parkka Dowling – Maths Award
OCTOBER
20
Pupil Free Day
24
Eye Testing program Under 8’s
NOVEMBER
5
Ajax/Milo Swimming Carnival (NEW DATE)
12
Awards Night
19 – 21 P-6 Boyne Island Camp
28
Final Day for Year 10’s
DECEMBER
12
End of 2014 School Year
School Resumes
Tuesday 27 January 2015
Ben Cooper – Excellent Class Work
UNIFORMS
It is now only 10 weeks until Christmas. Parents
must order their child’s / children’s uniform needs
for 2015 now.
Order forms for uniforms are enclosed in this
newsletter for your reference.
ALL ORDERS
MUST BE RECEIVED BY 28 NOVEMBER. ORDERS
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WITH CORRECT PAYMENT AND CONTACT
DETAILS CAN BE LEFT AT THE SCHOOL OFFICE
FOR COLLECTION BY THE P&C ASSOCIATION.
These will then be available for collection before
school next year. Dates for the uniform shop to be
open will be advised at a later date The P&C
Association will no longer be carrying numbers in
each size and would appreciate your assistance with
this matter.
16 October 2014
SPORTS NEWS
AJAX v MILO
SWIMMING CARNIVAL
Wednesday 5th November
9.15 am start
QUEENSLAND HEALTH
Eye Testing Program
For all students under 8 years
Friday 24 October
Optometrist – Michael Young
All welcome
YEAR 7 & 8 COOKING
The students in years 7 and 8 have been cooking up a
storm this week in Home Economics.
They made
Soufflé Omelettes successfully.
Congratulations
students.
Awards Night
Memorial Hall
7.00 p.m.
Wednesday 12th November, 2014.
Presentation of academic, sporting
and special awards
PREP – YEAR 6 CAMP
The educational excursion to Boyne Island is
progressing well and a letter will be sent home at the
end of the week advising parents of the final cost of
the camp. The letter will also include consent and
medical forms as well as the food menu.
If you have any enquiries about the camp please
don’t hesitate to contact the school.
If you would still like your child to participate in the
camp please advise the school as a matter of urgency.
A $25.00 deposit is required by 31 st October so
numbers can be finalised.
All welcome to attend.
CHAPLAINCY NEWS
After School Kids’ Club has grown from seven to
fourteen which is great. Our Christmas play is
underway with auditions happening and everyone is
excited about their parts. Any parents who can help
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Newsletter Term 4 Week 2
16 October 2014
with afternoon tea will be most welcome. Tuesday
3pm to 4.30pm
RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS This is everyone’s
opportunity to share kindness with each other, but be
anonymous about it. Students have been given blank
cards on which to write messages or attach gifts for
someone they wish to acknowledge. What random act
of kindness will you do for someone?
CELEBRATE GRANDPARENTS DAY
At our
nd
school Wednesday 22 October – Invitations will be
given out to students. National Grandparents Day is
Sunday 26th November all over Australia.
Tuesday 21st October, 2014
8.30am to 2pm
at Childers Cultural Centre
Hand crafts: leather, wooden & soft toys,
children’s clothes, embroidery, paper crafts,
decoupage, decorative arts, glass jewellery &
plenty more
Entertainment by young talented singer
Tracey Hoffmann
Demonstrations of Long Arm Quilting &
Feed Sack clothing by Lisa Warne
TUCKSHOP
Over the next few weeks leading up to Christmas
some items may become unavailable as we near the
end of the year in preparation for the defrosting
freezers. Alternative items will be given.
Monday 20th October – TUCKSHOP CLOSED
(Pupil Free Day)
Presentation of awards to winners of Isis
District High School Writing Competition
Admission $5 (Children Free)
Morning tea or light lunch available
Enquiries - Trish 41266357 or Roslyn 41268778
Proudly presented by Grace Lutheran
Church Childers
This event is part of the Crush Festival, a Bundaberg
Regional Council event supporting regional arts.
Friday 24th October – Meal Deal Day $5.00
Pie, Lamington or Choc Cake and a drink.
Lamingtons and Chocolate Cake can be purchased
separately for $1.20 each.
Please order in a paper bag as usual.
BIGGENDEN STATE SCHOOL IS
CELEBRATING
GRANDPARENTS DAY
ON
WEDNESDAY 22ND OCTOBER 2014
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