18 July 2018

Newsletter Articles

LEADERSHIP TEAM REPORT

Hi Everyone,

Welcome Back

We are already three days into the new term! It was wonderful to see so many bright and smiling faces on Monday morning. Everyone is certainly feeling refreshed, energized and ready for lots of learning through another busy term. I would like to extend a warm welcome to our new families and staff members.

Now the weather is much cooler it is nice to see that the students are wearing their winter uniforms. Please ensure that all jackets are clearly named.

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with a Disability identifies students who have a disability as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. The school will identify students under the broad category of disability from four categories: physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional.

Collecting data on school students who may fall into one or more of these categories helps teachers, principals and education authorities support the participation of students with disability in schooling on the same basis as students without disability.

All Queensland state schools will be involved in the nationally consistent collection of data. Please be reassured that the Department will not provide any data that can identify an individual student. The only data being collected at the school level to be reported nationally is the:

• number of students in the school who are provided with an adjustment to address a disability;
• level of adjustments we provide for those students; and
• broad category of disability.

While only data that cannot identify your child will be submitted, if you do not wish for your child’s details to be included, please contact the school on (07) 54 890 555 and speak to the Principal, Mr James Watt or the Deputy Principal, Mrs Stacey Seed. The data will be downloaded on the 3rd August 2018.

Information and fact sheets are available to help you make a decision from the Department’s website at the links below.

Alternatively, if you have any queries about the collection or use of this data I encourage you to contact the school.

Canberra Trip

In the last week of last term, years five and six students travelled to Canberra for an exciting week of learning and exploration. Students were excited right from the start with a flight from Maroochydore airport to Sydney airport. For many, this was their very first flight. Then students enjoyed an afternoon at the Sydney Opera House before heading to the amazing accommodation in Canberra. Students visited many attractions throughout the week including the Museum of Australian Democracy, Parliament House, the High Court, The Royal Australian Mint, The Australian Institute of Sport, The Australian War Memorial and these visits were particular highlights for many — Questacon, the excursion to the snow fields and the visit to the National Zoo & Aquarium.

Student behaviour was exceptional and the Jones Hill School community can be very proud of this. Staff received many comments on how well behaved and polite our students were during the Canberra Trip. Student engagement in all the learning activities was outstanding with student’s eager minds asking questions and participating eagerly in all hands on experiences.

This trip is an extraordinary opportunity for our students and we are sure that the current students will be excitedly telling the next cohort of the great adventure that they have just been on.

We received this email and thought that it would be nice to share with our community;

Hello, I am writing to pass on my congratulations to your staff and students during their recent trip through Sydney airport on Friday night.

I was at the airport during the significant delays on our return to Brisbane and I was very impressed with your group and the professional way your staff handled the situation. These trips are months of difficult planning, and the last thing anyone wants is a stressful delay like we experienced, especially on the home run!

I am a teacher in Brisbane and regularly take large groups of primary and high school students on tour. It is a huge responsibility with 24 hour duty of care and not many realize the impact and stress this brings.

Your students showed wonderful maturity and calmness, at a time when many travellers were becoming agitated. The student behaviour was at all times outstanding. Your staff went over and beyond to ensure they were organised, quiet and prepared. It is a true testament to their dedication and commitment to their students, at a time when they were officially on holidays!

I am hoping the entire school communih ty are appreciative of their efforts to ensure a successful and memorable experience for your students. Well done everyone.

Canberra 2018 by Eva Z (6G)

The last week of Term two the year 5-6 students went to Canberra, Sydney and the Snow, for six days. The highlights were Questacon, the Perisher Snow fields, the Royal Australian Mint, the War Memorial and the Institute of Sport.

On Sunday we went to the Sydney Opera House and lots of tourists stopped to see us sing the National Anthem on the steps of the Opera House. On Monday we went to the Royal Australian Mint. We saw coins being stamped. We also saw the robot “Titan” at work lifting the barrels of coins onto the conveyor belt to be stamped. As we entered we walked up the stairs filled with money. On Tuesday we went to the snow where students participated in tobogganing finishing the day with a piece of cake and a hot chocolate. On Wednesday we went to Telstra Tower at night. The view was spectacular. On Thursday we went to Questacon. Lots of students went down the giant slide and we all had fun at the science show learning about gravity. We finished off the day with the Institute of Sport. We tried different sports such as skiing, boat racing, bike riding and much more. On Friday at the zoo we saw all different types of animals such as zebras and giraffes.

Thank you for giving us this opportunity.

Dance Fever

Our Dance Fever lessons start tomorrow (Thursday July 19). Students have been invoiced and payment is now past due. Students who have other outstanding fees may also be unable to participate. These lessons are a part of the curriculum. Over the last three years the students have enjoyed these lessons immensely and then enjoyed showing off their new skills to their parents during a dance presentation at the end of the term.

Prep 2019

Secure Your Place Now

We encourage all parents interested in enrolling in Prep for 2019 to enrol their child as soon as possible as vacancies are filling fast.

To enrol your child in our Prep program please contact the school office by phone on 5489 0555, email admin@jonehillss.eq.edu.au or visit us in person. Enrolment interviews will take place this term and your child will need to attend this appointment with you.

Prep is the first year of school and provides the foundation for your child's education . From 2017 it became compulsory for Queensland children to undertake Prep prior to Year 1. Prep is a full-time program in primary schools. Children must be 5 by 30 June in the year they enrol. Please follow the link provided for more information.

Pop Up Adventure Play Day

We would like to invite children who will be starting Prep in 2019 and their parents to attend our next Prep Transition Day a Pop Up Adventure Play Day.

Prep Orientation Days

Our Prep Orientation Days are an opportunity for parents and children to visit the school and experience our Prep classrooms and see what school life looks like. It is also possible to book in for a school tour. This helps to ensure a smooth start to the new year. In 2018 our Prep Orientation Days are scheduled for August 15, October 17 and November 14, 9am to 10:30am.

Prep Information Evening

We also offer an information evening for prep parents which provides an opportunity for teachers and parents to meet and allows parents to gain insight into school procedures and routines that your children will participate in next year. It is also a great opportunity to ask any questions that you may have. This evening will be held on Thursday October 25 starting with a Sausage Sizzle at 5:30pm in our Prep Playground.

For full details of our Prep Transition Program please click on the link below:

Winter Trees on Mary

This year we celebrate the 4th Winter Trees On Mary and it will be held on Wednesday the July 18. Jones Hill’s ‘adopted’ tree is outside Camping Outdoors. It was decorated by Mrs Gills and Jones Hill Students and looks absolutely wonderful. Thank you to you all for your hard work. There will be a huge late night shopping event combined with Gympie’s biggest street festival between 5pm to 9pm. So pop on down and see our tree!

L.E.M. Parent Information Night

On Tuesday August 7 we will be holding our third L.E.M. information parent night. It will be held from 5pm to 6pm in the School Library. Child minding is provided. These free sessions are to help give parents an understanding of the L.E.M. phonics program their children are using.

Choir Performance

Our School Choir will be performing two of their Eisteddfod items at parade this Friday. They have been rehearsing very hard and we are sure it will be a performance not to be missed.

Rewards Day

On Thursday 13 December students who have achieved the following behaviour goals will be allowed to attend a Rewards Day Excursion.

• Years 4-6 Platinum and Gold Students will travel by bus to Bli Bli Water Park for the day and the approximate cost will be $50 (lunch included)
• Years 2-3 Gold Students will attend the Aqua Park in Gympie for the day and have use of the slide for 1 hour. Approximate cost will be $20 (lunch included)
• Years 1-6 Silver students will attend the Aqua Park in Gympie for half a day and have use of the slide for 1 hour. Students will have lunch before leaving the school. Approximate cost will be $10

More details regarding the Rewards day excursions will be sent out early in term 4.

Kind Regards,
James Watt and Stacey Seed

EVENTS CALENDAR

PARADE AWARDS

The following students will receive awards on Parade Friday July 20 at 9:00am in the Hall

Token Awards

20 Tokens: (2S) – Julian M; (3/4P) – Taylah-Anne B; (4W) – Ryan J, Fred H
40 Tokens: (1Z) – Archer S; (1/2B) – Mason B; (2S) – Addison M; (4W) – Tahleah B, Jayden H; (6C) –Teagan M, Izak P
60 Tokens: (1Z) – Letisha J; (1/2B) – Riley J, Tyler R; (6C) – Ryan F, Hayley S, Kenzie H, Haden J, Keeley K, Tobias M
80 Tokens: (2R) - Luca S, Madison K, Ben D; (2S) – Jazmyn H; Brooke C, Belle W; (3C) – Angus A; (4W) – Kate F

Behaviour Awards

LEARNING: (PD) – Miah Z; (PM) – Max H; (PR) – Angus H; (1B) – Alisha C; (1/2B) – Mason B; (2S) – Stephen M; (4W) – Lara B
RELATIONSHIPS: (3/4P) – Wade G
ALL VALUES: (1Z) – Mason R

This week’s School Photo Gallery

BOOK WEEK

Book week is August 20 to 24.

Our Book week dress up day will be held on Friday August 24. All students are invited to dress up as their favourite book character. This year’s theme is FIND YOUR TREASURE.

So have fun exploring the magic of books, escape into a story and ask: where will your reading take you?

PREMIER’S READING CHALLENGE

The Premier’s Reading Challenge has started and finishes August 24.

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.
• If you lose the Reading Record sheet or did not receive one, just ask at the office.
• The children who complete the challenge receive a certificate – this is a great way to reward our readers!

Happy Reading

100 DAYS OF SCHOOL

Our Year 1's have been working on numbers to 100, including counting each day that they have been in Grade One. On Tuesday July 17 they celebrated the 100th day of school for the year.

GYMPIE EISTEDDFOD

Our Senior and Beginner School Band and Choir, Marimbas and Djembes groups will be performing at the Gympie Eisteddfod. All students involved will have received permission forms and details.

Senior and Beginner School Bands – 10am Tuesday July 31 -

• Parents will need to be responsible for the transportation of their own children
• Students involved will need to be in FULL SCHOOL UNIFORM
• Please arrive at 10am to ensure we are setup, tuned and ready to play

Marimbas and Djembes – 8:30am Tuesday July 31
Choir - 8:30am Thursday August 2

• Please remember to return your Private Transport Permission Form if you are unable to transport your own child
• Students need to wear their Music Uniform (white, button-up dress shirt, with black dress shoes and socks, black dress pants or black skirt and leggings.) Music vest will be supplied at venue.)

P&C NEWS

HELP NEEDED

The tuckshop has been able to finally purchase a dishwasher but now they are seeking volunteers to help install it. If you are a plumber or cabinet maker (or know someone who is) and are willing to donate your time to assist in the installation, please contact the school office on 54890555.

GYMPIE MUSTER

We have again been fortunate to secure a role at this year’s Gympie Muster, August 23 to 26. It involves providing and scanning wrist bands at the main gate leading into the entertainment area. There is no money handling involved. To fulfil this role, we require at least six (6) people over the age of 18, per shift. The shifts are from Wednesday through to Sunday from 7am to 10pm.

All volunteers who complete a six-hour shift will be provided with a wristband to enter the Muster Entertainment area on the day that they work, unfortunately this is non-transferable, as each volunteer has to be accredited before July 31st, and the pass will be electronically issued in their name. The volunteer wristband does require a $5 donation to the designated Muster charity prior to being issued – but this is a once-off payment, regardless of how many times you receive a wristband. Free camping is available within the volunteer area for volunteers performing multiple shifts. For those volunteers who do not want to work a full six hour shift and do not require a wristband, shorter shifts are available.

Obviously we will try and provide you with your preferred shift/s, but please consider early morning and night time shifts as well; as these are the hardest to fill.

May I ask that you complete the form (see link below) and return it to the school office before Friday the 27th of July, as we are required to submit our volunteer list to the Muster Administration by the end of July.

I will be available at the McIntosh Creek Road entrance on Thursday morning and the school hall on Friday morning for those who have questions and would like to see the roster.

This fundraising activity is worth $3500 to our School, and that is a lot of raffle tickets you don’t have to buy and we don’t have to sell.

Your help is needed.

Thank you

Col Morley

RELAY FOR LIFE

JONESY’S 5 CENT CHALLENGE

Each year Jonesy our school Relay for Life Mascot runs a class competition to raise funds for the school’s year 6 Relay Team. Money is collected in the classrooms from August 1 to August 31. The class which raises the most money will be presented with the annual trophy at parade, September 7.

So start collecting your small change ready for the August challenge. Any denomination accepted.

FOUND

A black CD case was found on the road outside the school. Please see office staff if you think it may belong to you.

MEET OUR STAFF

Katy Booth

As a new member of staff here at Jones Hill State School I would like to introduce myself. My name is Mrs Katy Booth and I am excited to be taking on a literacy support role on Mondays and Tuesdays this term. I have been teaching for over 12 years now, with my previous position being a master teacher/ year 2 classroom teacher in the Darling Downs region. I am originally from Western Australia and relocated to Queensland three years ago. I look forward to working with the staff, students and wider community at Jones Hill State School.

Lorraine Wilson

I was born and raised in Townsville, I studied at Kelvin Grove College of Education where I completed a Diploma of Teaching Secondary Health and Physical Education. My first posting was to a circuit of Special Education schools in Toowoomba. Eventually I transferred and taught in secondary schools in Brisbane and Townsville before travelling overseas for 12 months. That journey took me through Canada, camping in the Rocky Mountains and walking glaciers. My travels then took me through USA where I walked in Monument Valley and took a helicopter ride through the Grand Canyon. Many other adventures ensured but that leg of my journey culminated in New York City where I saw 10 Broadway Shows in 7 days. From there, I travelled to the United Kingdom, through Europe and the United Soviet Socialist Republic. I stood at the Berlin Wall when it divided Berlin into the communist East and the democratic West. I went to great galleries in Saint Petersburg and wonderful churches in Moscow. Next, exciting times in Paris where I saw many art galleries and famous paintings, through to Rome and its attractions, and eventually returning to the United Kingdom to continue my travels in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. On returning to Australia, I took a position as a camping officer for Education Queensland. Magnetic Island, near Townsville, was a reasonably pleasant place to supervise primary students for 10 day camping adventures. After the birth of my son, I was transferred to a Primary school in Townsville and it was then that my classroom adventures began. It was during this time that I studied for my Education degree and achieved it as well as having another 2 children. After the birth of my daughter, I decided to return to Physical Education, but this time in the primary sector. Many years passed and a colleague asked me if I would co-teach with her. I agreed and spent 3 days doing Physical Education and 2 days teaching year 5. The Principal of the school asked if I would be interested in teaching full time in a classroom. I agreed and it has now been 20+ years since that decision was made. In 2011 I decided it was time for a sea change and transferred to Gympie. In 2012, my initial transfer was to Two Mile State School, but due to enrolments, was moved to Jones Hill. I have been teaching for 41 years and have taught from prep to year 12.

HOT SHOTS TENNIS EXCELLENCE PROGRAM

Gympie and District Tennis Association Coaches Brett Cottrill and Matt Watkins will commence Hot Shots Tennis program from Tuesday 24th July at Jones Hill State School. Groups will be held on Tuesday (yr 5, 6), Wednesday (yr 3, 4), Thursday (yr 2) or Friday (Prep, yr 1) lunchtimes from 11.00am to 11.40am for a MINIMUM BLOCK OF 7 WEEKS. Costs will be $80.00/pupil, $150.00 for 2 children or $200.00 for 3 children in the same family.

To register for the program please contact Brett Cottrill on 0417746795 or return the completed form back to the office by Tuesday 24th July.

We accept the Get Started Sporting Vouchers.

Please make cash payment or cheques payable to Brett Cottrill.

Direct Deposit: B A COTTRILL. BSB 014585 ACCT 583359786 including students name as reference.

MORNING TEA AND FASHION PARADE

CAMP AUSTRALIA NEWS

On the 2nd of July 2018, the Government’s new Child Care Package was launched – replacing the previous Child Care Rebate (CCR) and Child Care Benefit (CCB) with a single Child Care Subsidy (CCS).

This new subsidy is available to all families using Camp Australia services, and may affect the amount of fee assistance that each family will receive. Three things will determine a family’s level of Child Care Subsidy:

• Annual income will determine the percentage of subsidy a family is eligible for,
• An activity test will determine how many hours of subsidised care families can access, and
• The type of child care service will determine the hourly rate cap (for OSHC this is $10.29).

Since the release of CCS, we have found an outstanding number of parents who still have not confirmed their enrolment. We have sent several emails, text messages and school newsletters to make sure they understand that if they do not confirm their enrolment on the MyGov website they may be paying more for care than they need to be.

With the roll out of the new CCS, Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) is replacing Special CCB.

What this means for parents and how you can help:

• Parents who are eligible to receive Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) under the Temporary Financial Hardship category will need to submit a claim on the Centrelink website directly.
• If a child has been identified as being at risk of serious abuse or neglect, we can consider an ACCS (Child Wellbeing) claim for them. You will need to provide to your school's Key Account Manager a letter of support, which includes as much information regarding the child's circumstance, if known the details of the agency or referral body and inform the parent that we will contact them to follow up on their claim within the next week.

Should the new CCS create any hardship for parents, we can organise a payment plan to help parents navigate through this challenging time. They will need to contact our Customer Care team to get this arranged.

Any parent enquiries regarding CCS should be directed to the attached brochure for more information, or to contact Centrelink directly. If you have any other concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our Customer Care team on 1300 105 343. The team are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except National Public Holidays).

Thank you for your assistance

Kind Regards,

Camp Australia