31 May 2016

Newsletter Articles

Leadership Team Report

Hi Everyone,

Premier's Reading Challenge 2016

We are delighted to invite all of our students to join in the 2016 Premier's Reading Challenge.

As well as being fun, the challenge aims to boost children's literacy skills by encouraging students to read widely for pleasure and learning, to develop their imagination, and to cultivate a passion for literature.

Last year, more than 138,000 students and 830 schools registered for the program. More than 89,000 students successfully completed the challenge reading 1.95 million books.

The reading period for the 2016 Premier's Reading Challenge commences on Monday 16 May and closes Friday 26 August.

This year the Premier has challenged all state and non-state school students from Prep to Year 2 to read or experience 20 books, Years 3 and 4 to read 20 books and Years 5 to 9 to read 15 books. Experiencing books can include shared reading, listening to stories, or reading picture books. The aim for the 2016 challenge is to reach a total of two million books read.

Every student who completes the challenge will receive a Certificate of Achievement signed by the Premier and all students receive a Certificate of Participation.

For more information about the Premier's Reading Challenge, please visit:

You can play a big part in your children's future by encouraging them to be part of this positive initiative.

I look forward to seeing as many of our students as possible embrace the 2016 Premier's Reading Challenge.

School Ground Ethics

If you see a student in our school grounds behaving in a manner that is not acceptable, please report this to the office.  Parents must not verbally discipline or threaten students on school grounds. Please call a staff member to deal with the situation or use a reasonable tone and gesture to express your concern. If the situation requires an urgent response please direct the student to the school office. 

Gala Sports Day

This Friday 3 June the Year 5 and 6 students will spend the day playing their chosen sport at an Interschool Sports Gala Day.  The students will leave at 8:45am by bus and travel to One Mile School for the opening ceremony and then break into groups and be transported to their choice of sport for the day.  Students will return to the school by 2:45pm. Permission forms and payment must be received by 3pm Thursday June 2 or you child will not be able to attend Gala Sports Day.

Uniforms

Now the weather has finally turned cold we would really like to encourage parents to send their children in the correct winter uniform and please name all items of clothing. Children have a habit of taking off their extra layer of clothing where they are playing but quite often do not remember to pick it up.  If you are missing any school items our lost property box has filled up again with hats, jumpers, lunch boxes and water bottles.  In winter students should be wearing bottle green or black fleecy lined pullover / zip jackets plain or with the school logo. Black tracksuit pants. Girls may wear black leggings under skort/combos.

Smart Steps: Jobs to Go Program

This term, year 5 students from Jones Hill State School will be participating in the Smart Steps: Jobs to Go project. Participation in this project is free as it is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Education and Training - part of the Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Programme (HEPPP). The overall objective is to raise the career aspirations of students. The project is run in Gympie by the University of the Sunshine Coast and is held at USC's Gympie Learning hub located at TAFE's East Coast Gympie campus.

The Smart Steps project aims to expand students' understanding of a wide variety of careers and occupations. Students will attend the Jobs exhibition on Thursday 21 July 2016 at USC's Gympie Learning hub. The Jobs exhibition supplements students' understanding of what a job is by providing hands-on career related activities. Students will be asked to complete an evaluation at the end of the project.

Students will be under the supervision of school staff at all times. They will travel to and from the Expo by bus. The Smart Steps program has been approved by Education Queensland.

For your student to be involved in this innovative career project please make sure that the permission slip has been returned.

Should you have any questions about any part of the project, please contact Helen Grogan.

Broncos Challenge

Good luck to the 15 students travelling to Nanango on Wednesday 1 June for the Broncos challenge. Students will be transported by parents. It is important that students return their permission forms as soon as possible. Parents who are driving are asked to meet in the staff car park at 10:15am. Have a great day everyone and we know that you will do the school proud no matter the outcome.

Sports Day

Jones Hill sports day is a day of fun and mass participation by students.  In preparing for sports day we have seen all students participating eagerly in the field events. Congratulations to all students involved for your excellent efforts and great team spirit.  As usual we are starting to see the friendly rivalry between the sporting houses; Radford, Doran and McPaul.  We are looking forward to seeing the sea of coloured sports shirts on Thursday 23 June and hearing the supporting war cries of each team.  Please get your lunch orders in soon.

Due to a misprint in the newsletter recently we have had some confusion with the Sports Day date. We would like to confirm that our School Sports Day will be held on Thursday June 23. The long distance runs will be held on Tuesday June 21.

Life Ed Van

Over the past two weeks students have been visiting the Life Ed Van. Students experienced unique opportunities to learn life lessons. Life Education's  primary school program consists of 13 curriculum based modules  focusing on issues around food and nutrition, personal safety, physical activity, cyber safety, safety with medicine and legal drugs; tobacco, alcohol and caffeine. By taking a comprehensive approach to drug and health education these modules help children to develop relationship skills, positive communication (both face to face and online), problem solving and decision making skills.  Nikki, our specially trained educator ensures that all messages are age-appropriate, relevant and enhance and support the messages taught in Australian schools.

Canberra Trip

On Wednesday, 15 June, there will be a meeting for parents and caregivers in the school library at 5:30 pm.  The meeting is for parents and students to ask any questions that they may have to do with the Canberra Trip. Staff attending will talk to you about the travel arrangements, student groups, go through the itinerary and other various aspects of the trip.  Please note that all outstanding money for the Canberra trip must be paid to the school by today, May 31 and the final payment of $152 before Monday June 13. If your payments are not current by these dates we will be contacting you regarding your student's attendance on the trip.  We are required to pay the full amount for the excursion to the contractors before June 3.  If you think that you will be unable to achieve this please let James Watt or Helen Grogan know as soon as possible. 

Prep Fridges

Two new refrigerators have been purchased for our Prep rooms.  Thank you to all the parents who donated money towards this project.  Students lunches in these classes may now be kept in the refrigerators.

Kind Regards,
James Watt and Helen Grogan

Events Calendar

Parade Awards

The following students will receive awards on Parade Friday 3 June at 9:00am in the Hall

Thumbs Up Certificates

20 TOKENS: Matthew B (2G); Ellie L, Thomas F & Regan H (2/3N); Maia S & Tegan H (3/4C); Ryan F, Amber S, Haden J, Darcy H, Kyan M, Axton F & Cooper L (4H); Aaron S (5/6C), Logan G, Ava M, Jemeika W, Hannah W, Jayden W (5/6K); Sharn T (1B)

40 TOKENS: Mackenzie K (2/3N); Savanna C, Alice F, Chelsea-Jayde M, Kaleigh M, Travis N, Caitlin O, Tawni P (3S); Eva Z & Mia W (4H); Lilly S, Britney F, Breanna T, Caitlyn A (5/6C); Alec B, Sophie L, Hayden S, Aurora D, Rachel D, Laura F (5/6K); Madeline B, Caleb H, Deck R, Lilly W, Josh T, Hannah W, Charlotte K, Serenity P & Kira S (5/6L); Brock S & Kobi M (1B)

Behaviour Awards

The following students will receive certificates at parade on Friday June 3 for following the school behaviour expectations:

RELATIONSHIPS: Cooper M (PC),
LEARNING: Cooper S (PJ), Harry B (1B), Flynn B (1BZ), Ruby A (1L), Georgia J (2/3N), Annabell A (3S), Eva Z (4H), Kobe L (5/6L), Lilly S (5/6C), Alec B (5/6L)
RESPECT: Chayse S (2L)
ALL VALUES: Tahni R (2G), Kayleigh H (3/4C), Mitch K (4/5W)

Prep 2017

Do you have a child eligible to start Prep in 2017? To secure a place in our 2017 Prep classes please see our office staff.

Premier's Reading Challenge 2016

• The Premier's Reading Challenge is on again starting 16th May and finishing 26th August.
• Reading Record sheets will be given to every class this week and the teachers will send them home. Please record the books your child reads on the sheet – it must be signed by the parent.

• The Prep teachers will complete the reading record sheet at school.
• The children who complete the challenge receive a certificate – this is a great way to reward our readers!

Happy Reading, Stacey Seed

NRL Development Cup

On Wednesday the May 18, the Jones Hill rugby league team participated in the Gympie district NRL Development Cup. The rugby league tournament included nine schools from around the district. After three straight wins, Jones Hill went on to qualify for the grand final. An intense twenty five minutes of play against One Mile State School resulted in Jones Hill winning the Grand final by one try. Although all fourteen players displayed respect and worked hard to play outstanding football, it was Jett R who was awarded player of the day. The school community is very proud of our team and we wish the players all the best for the next round in the competition. I also want to thank parents for supporting the players on the day.

Thanks team,

Mr Littler

P&C News

SCHOOL DISCO - FRIDAY 17TH JUNE

The P&C is holding a disco in the school hall on Friday 17th June. Time 6pm - 8.30pm. Cost is $5 per student or $10 per family. The disco is only for Jones Hill State School students. It will be supervised by the P&C committee and any parent volunteers. Food and drink will be available for purchase on the night. All proceeds go to the P&C which supports the school.

*** If any parents are able to assist with supervising or helping in the canteen please contact Sasha on 0409 429 242 or Janessa on 0438 832 973***

NON-UNIFORM DAY … BRING A JAR

The Prep classes will be running a bottle stall at the fete - called 'Jazzy Jars'.  This will be linked with the next non-uniform day to be held on Friday June 17. Instead of a gold coin donation for not wearing the uniform, each student is asked to bring one or more things from the list below for the Jazzy Jars Stall.

• Interesting items that we can put into a jar - eg puzzles, pencils, hair accessories, jelly beans, ... this is only limited by your imagination!
• An unopened bottle or jar of something that is not perishable (no alcohol please).

FETE UPDATE

Fete preparations are moving up a gear! Our Oct 14th fete will include some interesting stalls and soon we will start gathering items to sell. Can you help by providing items for any of these stalls?

• Jazzy Jars Stall (Bottle Stall) Students can bring along something for this stall on the next non-uniform day
• Plant Stall - Could any green thumbs out there consider preparing some plants for the plant stall?
• Book Stall - Simply donate any books you no longer need
• White Elephant Stall - Anything goes! (well, almost anything)
• Toy Stall - Start sorting out those old toys

There is no need to send any items to school yet.  We will inform you when to send them to school.

FETE MEETING

The next fete committee meeting will be held on Friday 3rd June straight after parade, in the school office.

SCHOOL BUILDING FUND – AIR CONDITIONING

JHSS families and members of the general public can now make tax-deductible donations to our recently-established school building fund. Money in this fund will be used to install air conditioning in the classrooms. If you wish to donate, please complete the donation form attached to this newsletter or available at the school office.