7 February 2017

Newsletter Articles

LEADERSHIP TEAM REPORT

Hi Everyone,

I hope you and your students are settling back into the school year well. We have had a great start to the year with all teachers reporting their classes have started well and are working hard.

HEAT POLICY

With the hotter than usual start to the year we have introduced a Heat Policy. On days when the temperature is 35 degrees or above students will remain in the classrooms or other air-conditioned spaces. Students in rooms yet to be air-conditioned will use the library and other areas. This will minimise the risk of students suffering heat stress.

ATTENDANCE & PUNCTUALITY

At Jones Hill we recognise that attending school regularly and on time has a positive impact on learning, progress and therefore the best life chances for our students. Excellent attendance and punctuality is the key for our student’s success. We must ensure that attendance and punctuality are the highest they possibly can be in order to prepare our students for their future adult life. In line with the Government and Local Authority Guidelines, we expect all our students to maintain an attendance level of 95% and above. It is the responsibility of everyone in our school community – parents, staff and students to ensure they achieve this. Therefore, we monitor and review the attendance of all our students constantly. We encourage excellent attendance and punctuality for all students by offering an environment in which our students feel valued and part of the school community.

Why is attendance so important and how is it linked to attainment?

Logically if students are not in school, they are not learning, allowing their potential results to suffer. What might seem insignificant as they lounge on the couch on a day off school, is that if they are not genuinely ill they should be in school and working their hardest towards achieving their best, no matter what year group they are in. The process of education is life long and we build on what we already know and therefore, if they skip school they are damaging their future. Each year there are 200 school days which leaves 165 days for holidays, shopping, birthday treats and non-urgent medical and dental appointments.

Everyday Counts

SRS

The Student Resource Scheme has been a resounding success! Thank you to all those parents who have made payment. If you have not made payment or your part payment yet, please do so now. If you are having difficulty making payments, please contact the office to make an appointment with the Principal or Business Manager.

SWIMMING

Swimming lessons commenced yesterday for years 1B, 1Z, 2/3L, 3G, 2A and 2S. Invoices will be sent home today. Please remember that if your child has not returned their permission notes that they will not be allowed to swim. Students in 2/3L, 3G, 2A and 2S are not at school during the first break on Mondays for the next seven weeks so please pack your child’s lunch and do not order tuckshop on this day.

SCHOOL RUBBISH

School rubbish bins are only for school rubbish. Please do not bring items from home and place in our bins. If you notice other people doing this please contact our administration staff.

Kind Regards,

James Watt and Helen Grogan

EVENTS CALENDAR

PARADE AWARDS

The following students will receive awards on Parade Friday 10 February at 9:00am in the Hall

Behaviour Level Awards

SAFETY: (PM) – Mitchell W
LEARNING: (PC) – Mason R; (1Z) - Isaac Y; (2S) – Izabel B; (2/3L) Flynn A; (5M) – Billy R; (6C) – Cody K ; (6G) – Tayla B; (4/5W) – Ryan F; (3/4C) – Layna C, Brodie F
RELATIONSHIPS: (PR) – Kaylah T
ALL VALUES: (1B) – Madison K; (2A) – Lola R; (3G) – Toby Y; (4Z) – Josephine Y

LEM PHONICS NEWS

In week 2 we all learned rule No. 1. Vowels usually say their second sound at the end of a syllable. The second sound is the long vowel sound. E.g. me, we, go, no, my, try, a•gain , a•way , ta•ble a•bout.

This week we are learning rule No. 2. Vowels usually say their second sounds when Silent Servant ‘e’ is present. E.g. strike, coke, broke, stoke, and bake. Remember, the second vowel sound is the long sound. There are so many words that follow this pattern. Can you think of 10 more words?

Next week our rule will be No. 3 Usually use ‘c’ for the /k/ sound if followed by: ‘a’, ‘o’, ‘u’ or a consonant. E.g. can, cat, cat•tle cot•ton cut•ler•y clean. This rule is so helpful because students often struggle to choose the ‘c’ or the ‘k’ letter when spelling.

N.B. The dots you see are to show syllable breaks in words. If children can ‘hear’ where to place the syllable break it helps them to become better spellers.

SWPBS

We have had a wonderful start to the year and our Jones Hill State School students have been displaying our behaviour expectations of Respect, Learning, Relationships and Safety to a high standard.

Our focus for the last two weeks has been on Respect in the classroom and Safety in the playground. Classes discussed how to be respectful to others and to work respectfully by not disturbing other students and distracting them from learning tasks.

Students were involved with role plays about how to play safely with others and school equipment. Classes also discussed sun safety and wearing a hat at play times each day.

The 2/3L class were able to discuss and demonstrate what a respectful classroom feels like, sounds like and looks like.

HELP, HELP, HELP.

We will be having a working bee on Saturday 11th February from 3.00-5.00 pm to revamp the Eco Garden and the chook shed.

We need lots of willing hands, sheers to trim the fruit trees and grape vine, people to make an alteration to the chook pen, gardeners to dig up, fill up and weed the existing gardens. A skilled handy man would be great for the chook shed.

If everybody could bring some bags of manure that would be greatly appreciated. We could also use some bright paint and any vege seedlings you may have. It would be great if people could bring a truck or trailer because we will need some dump runs to be made.

This is an area which is utilised three lunch times a week and we are hoping to implement a programme whereby the whole school will benefit.

If you are able to help please fill in the form below and return it to our school office.

Many hands make light work.

Thank you in anticipation,

Megan Austin, Debbie Coates.

STRING NEWS

Dear Parents/Carers

Your children have had an excellent start to the ‘string’ year. I am happy to announce our morning rehearsal for String Ensemble will start next week (Wk4). This involves all year 5 and 6 children and will begin at 8.00am sharp in our string teaching area. I look forward to a productive and fun environment with performances at school and the Gympie Eisteddfod later this year.

Many thanks for helping with the commitment to this weekly rehearsal as we are only as good as our regular practice sessions with all members on board.

The Year 4’s will be joining us in Term 2.

Ms Luke (Strings)

HEALTHY CRUNCH LUNCH

The menu for next Monday’s Healthy Crunch Lunch is:

A fresh chicken breast wrap with salad and a fruit cup for only $6.

Please place orders at the tuckshop or online by 9am Monday.

P&C NEWS

P&C AGM

The P&C AGM will be held on Monday the 13th February 2017. Commencing at 7pm in the school library

The following positions will become vacant, President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Fundraising Coordinator, Uniform Convenor and Grants Officer.

In 2017 we will be adding the positions of Assistant Treasurer and a Year Book Coordinator.

All Are Welcome to Attend.

SCHOOL BANKING

Student banking is run from the tuckshop office every Thursday morning 8:20am to 9:00am.

BOOK CLUB

Welcome to Scholastic Book Club for 2017.
Information for New and existing parents.

Scholastic Australia offers great books at fantastic prices through their book club. Every book purchased earns the school rewards points which are used to purchase new books for the classroom and the library. The book club catalogue comes out twice per term and will be sent home with students.

LOOP is the Scholastic Book Clubs Linked Online Ordering and Payment Platform. It's an easy way to order and pay online for your child's ok club using your credit card. Please note the address in last week’s newsflash was incorrect. Following is the correct address for Loop Australia. Alternatively you may pay with cash or a cheque made payable to Scholastic Australia. Please place your order form and correct payment in an envelope marked Book Club and drop it into the collection box in the library. Books will be delivered to your child's classroom approximately three weeks from the date the order forms are due back.

Please be mindful that Book Club is run by parent volunteers and ordering dates are set to assist in placing and receiving orders promptly. We respectfully ask that orders are placed on or before the closing date. If you are ordering for a special event, please feel free to place instructions with your order and we can withhold orders for collection in the library by parent/caregiver.

Thank you for your support. Read, Lead And Succeed.

Bonita Lahtinen and Julie Baker

Book Club Coordinators