EMU PARK STATE SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

Newsletter No: 1 in 2019

Web Site: www.emuparkss.eq.edu.au Phone: 07-49254333 Fax: 07-49254300

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRINCIPAL: Hello and welcome to all of our new and continuing families, I hope you were able to spend some quality time with your family over the recent Christmas break. The students have settled well for the start of the year with our predicted numbers being accurate as of Day 8 (yesterday). This means that the 20 classes that have been created do not have to be reshuffled. That’s a relief! Teachers have already started to advertise through our Facebook site class information sessions for you. If you are not a member of this site I encourage you to join, as this and email are the primary ways we communicate with our parent body. These sessions are a great opportunity for you to meet your child’s teacher, find out about learning for the year and ask questions. Below is a list of days and times for each classes.

Over the break I spent some time looking at how our school is performing in academic areas. I am very pleased with what I found. The priority for our school continues to be the improvement of students’ reading. Over the past few years we have implemented a consistent daily routine of Structured Reading Sessions. Our data from the re-cent NAPLAN and school testing shows that our students are improving in reading at a terrific rate, easily meeting our targets. My congratulations to our teachers and students for this performance. Last year we commenced a review on our Homework Policy. This review has now concluded and our policy has changed. Our school continues to offer homework in the form of reading (or sight words). This aligns with our area of focus as well as responding to feedback from our local community. The complete policy is on our web site and can be found by clicking the link below. https://emuparkss.eq.edu.au/Curriculum/Homework/Pages/Homework.aspx Congratulations to our Senior Leaders who were presented with their badges today at assembly and then enjoyed a rather wet and windy morning tea outside our Tuckshop. I look forward to working with you all this year. Wayne

- IMPORTANT DATES -

• Monday 11 Februay: PB, P/1W, 1B, 1M & 3/4W Parent Information Sessions • Tuesday 12 February: P&C Meeting in the Staff Room (1:45pm - 2:45pm) All Welcome! • Tuesday 12 February: PH, 1/2W, 2/3B, 3P, 3E, 4W & 4/5W Parent Information Sessions • Thursday 14 February: 2W, 2H, 5/6A, 5/6D, 5/6M, 5/6T & 5/6T Parent Information Sessions • Friday 22 February: February Aussie of the Month Assembly & Morning Tea in Reading Area • Tuesday 5 March: Aunty Peach Show • Monday 18 March: School Photos • Tuesday 19 March: School Photos • Wednesday 20 March: Senior Swimming Carnival • Thursday 21 March: Junior Swimming Carnival • Mon 25 March - Fri 5 April: Life Education Van at EPSS • Friday 29 March: March Aussie of the Month Assembly & Morning Tea in Reading Area • Friday 5 April: Last Day of Term 1 • Tuesday 23 April: First Day of Term 2

PB: Mon 11/2 @ 3:10 in PB Classroom

PH: Tues 12/2 @ 3:15 in PH Classroom

P/1W: Mon 11/2 @ 3:15 in P/1W Classroom

1B: Mon 11/2 @ 3:15 in 1B Classroom

1M: Mon 11/2 @ 3:15 in 1B Classroom

1/2W: Tues 12/2 @ 3:15 in 1/2W Classroom

2W: Thurs 14/2 @ 3:15 in 2W Classroom

2H: Thurs 14/2 @ 3:15 in 2W Classroom

2/3B: Tues 12/2 @ 3:15 in 2/3B Classroom

3E: Tues 12/2 @ 3:10 in 3E Classroom

3P: Tues 12/2 @ 3:10 in 3P Classroom

3/4W: Mon 11/2 @ 3:15 in 3/4W Classroom

4S: Individual Appoint-ments

4W: Tues 12/2 @ 3:15 in Classroom

4/5W: Tues 12/2 @ 3:15 in Classroom

5/6D: Thurs 14/2 @ 3:15 in Classroom

5/6A: Thurs 14/2 @ 3:15 in 5/6A Classroom

5/6M: Thurs 14/2 @ 3:15 in 5/6A Classroom

5/6T: Thurs 14/2 @ 3:15 in 5/6A Classroom

5/6W: Thurs 14/2 @ 3:15 in 5/6A Classroom

A MESSAGE FROM OUR DEPUTY PRINCIPAL: Welcome to all of our families, new and returning. We have had a great start to the year and it is wonderful to walk around the school and hear all of the news the students have to share about their new classes. Starting a new year can be stressful or even a bit overwhelming, so when you ask “What did you do today?” and you get the response “Nothing”, try a different approach and keep in mind that some children need time after school before they are ready to discuss their day. Here are some questions you could try at the dinner table and you may find they are the beginning of a complete-ly new conversation. • What made you smile today? • Can you tell me when someone showed you kindness today? • Who did you sit with at lunchtime? • Did you like your lunch? • Tell me something you know today that you did not know yesterday? • What was the hardest rule to follow today? • Where on the zone chart did you end the day? How did you get there? • If you could change one thing about your day, what would it be? Why? • What made your teacher smile? • What was the best part of your day? • What kind of person were you today? Sit back, listen and enjoy the conversations you may find they become the best part of your day. Brain Break: At Emu Park every class has a healthy brain break every day. We ask each student to bring a fruit or vegetable snack to eat in class during the morning session to provide them with the necessary energy and nutrition to concentrate and learn. Research shows that “Healthy snacking provides your child’s brain with the nutrients it needs, and missing out on healthy snacks can negatively affect school performance.” We thank you for your support in providing this snack and encouraging your child to participate in this healthy habit that will assist them in developing lifelong healthy habits. READ ALOUD! 15 minutes: Every child. Every parent. Every day! “Your child will benefit from reading aloud even after he or she can read independently. Ellen A MESSAGE FROOM OUR HEAD OF CURRICULUM: Did your child receive an email inviting them to attend Before School Reading? Morning reading begins this Monday 11th February, for a select number of students in Years Three and Five. These students will work with a staff member in a small, explicit teaching group. This project provides an oppor-tunity for students to increase their confidence and skills in reading comprehension. Each child is expected to arrive at school at 8.15am sharp and commit to attending to all the sessions. In recognition of the student’s efforts for attending sessions outside of the school day, they will be awarded 4 points towards the LEAP award system and the privilege of attending a Pancake Breakfast at the conclusion of the project. Kellie A MESSAGE FROOM OUR HEAD OF LEAP: A warm welcome to new and returning families as we commence the 2019 school year. I would like to introduce the Learning Engagement and Acceleration Program (LEAP) Team for 2019.

Tiffany Hunter Lori Harrison Mel Campisi Ros Franschian Belinda Calcutt Kate Pakleppa Jacqui Gleeson Head of LEAP Guidance Officer Teacher Teacher Teacher G&T Teacher Outreach Teacher

The LEAP team work closely with classroom teachers to support all students in all classrooms. LEAP teachers and classroom teachers work collaboratively as they plan and implement educational adjustments that support the individual learning needs of all students. Differentiation for individual student needs occurs in classrooms in all lessons for all students. ‘Words have wings so speak good things.’ Have a wonderful week. Tiffany

A MESSAGE FROM OUR MUSIC TEACHER: Instrumental Music: Instrumental Music Lessons will start next week (Week 3). Mr Luke Coonan (Brass, Woodwind and Percussion) will be teaching Monday mornings and Fridays and Mrs Sarah De Sousa Roque will be teaching Strings every Friday. Beginner Student letters were emailed to parents yesterday (Thursday 7th February) and Continuing Student letters were emailed today (Friday 8th February). This year we are excited to announce that for the first time, we have Music Captains. Congratulations to Sami and Mac, our two Instrumental Music Captains! Rehearsals – Band and String Ensemble: • Senior Concert Band - NEW TIME!!!!! - 3-4pm - Friday Afternoons - Begins WEEK 4 - Music Room • Junior Concert Band - 7:45am - 8:40am - Friday Mornings - Begins WEEK 4 - Music Room • String Ensemble - 8am - Friday Mornings – WEEK 4 - iPad Room Instrumental Music Parent Information Evening: On Tuesday 19th February, we will be holding an Information session in the iPad room from 5-6pm for parents and guardians of Instrumental Music Students. We will provide details regarding Emu Park's IM program and we will also be handing out instruments to those students who are borrowing a school instrument. Senior and Junior Choirs: Senior and Junior Choirs will resume next week. Senior Choir Rehearsal will be held every Tuesday during First Break and Junior Choir will be every Friday during First Break. We look forward to teaching your children this year, a year filled with performances and fun!!! Sarah & Luke A MESSAGE FROM OUR H.P.E. TEACHER: Welcome back to school for 2019. I look forward to being a part of all things Health & Fitness in what looks like to be a very busy Term One. School swimming for our Junior and Senior years (Prep – Year 6) will commence next week. We have three in-structors this year for swimming and will work through the Royal Life Saving Society Swim and Survive Program over the next 5 weeks. Our swimming carnival for the Seniors will be on the Wednesday of Week 8 (20th March) and Juniors will be on the Thursday of Week 8 (21th March) at the Don Ireland Swimming Pool Emu Park. All par-ents are welcome to attend. There are many upcoming trials for the Rockhampton District Sports teams including netball, rugby league, soc-cer, AFL, tennis, cricket, rugby union, touch football, golf and softball. If your child currently plays any of the above sports and you believe they would benefit from attending these trials and have not already received a form, please let me know as soon as possible. Capricornia School Sport also has an upcoming trial for swimming. Again, if you believe your child will benefit from attending these trials and has not already received a form, please see me as soon as possible. Cross Country practice began this week for students of all ages. The training is on Thursday and Friday from 8:30am to 8:45am. I will meet students at the X Block eating area. This year there will not be a cross country carnival at the school. Instead, a trial will be run on Friday 15th March (Week 7) for any students who are 10 (born 2009), 11 (born 2008), or 12 (born 2007) and wish to make the Emu Park State School cross country team. If students are able to jog/run the whole distance and achieve the trial time then they will be selected for our team and attend the KCD trial on 29th March (Week 9). This year all Year levels will be invited to fundraise and participate in a Colour Fun Run / Crazy Obstacle Course, which will be held on the last Friday of the term (5th April). More information on the Colour Fun Run will be distrib-uted later in the term. Kate A MESSAGE FROM OUR GUIDANCE OFFICER: Welcome to Emu Park State School whether you’re returning, or new to the school. It’s great to be here and I look forward to meeting, working with or seeing you here at school. Mrs De Sousa Roque and I are thrilled to be running the Drumbeat program again this year – thank you Mr McMurtrie for making this possible. Drumbeat engages students and helps them to become self-aware and have better knowledge in developing healthy rela-tionships and friendships. We look forward to inviting you to our end of program Drumming concert.

Tips for helping children be more resilient: • Focus on reinforcing positive behaviour, catch your child being brave, whilst judiciously ignoring anxious and continuous reassurance seeking. • Help your child to identify the positive aspects of a situation. Praise for trying, not per-fection. • Use descriptive praise, eg. I’m so proud of you for trying (new thing) even though you were worried about it.

Always remember, being a parent/carer is one of the most important jobs in the world – you are helping to create our future. Thank you for caring so much about your child’s education. Lori

A MESSAGE FROM OUR TUCKSHOP CONVENOR: Hello everyone, Welcome back. I hope you all had a great break and got to spend quality time with loved ones. With the increase of prices from our wholesaler, the P&C have had to adjust some items on our menu. Please see the menu attached to this newsletter or look on the school website for your updated menu and price list. Please note Friday set menu prices have changed after five years. Thank you to all the new and returning volunteers who have been helping out in tuckshop. Heidi TUCKSHOP ROSTER: Monday 11/2 & 18/2: Anne-Maree Newton, Tuesday 12/2: Rachel Hutchards, Wednesday 13/2 & 28/11: Lisa Hol-land and Emily Slotosch, Thursday 14/2 & 21/2: Kelli Eyles, Tuesday 19/2: Cassie, Wednesday 20/2: Emily Slotosch. HOT DOG, CHICKEN NUGGETS, PIZZA, SAUSAGE SIZZLE & CHEERIO ROSTER ($2-50 per serve): Friday 15/2 Pizza: Leah Graham and Emily Slotosch. Friday 22/2 Sausage Sizzle: Leah Graham and Emily Slotosch. COMMUNITY NOTICES: Sport Notice from Robyn McRae-Zurvas: Keppel Bay Karate-do and Aikido: Tech-niques include joint locks, throws, takedowns, tumbles, flexibility and agility training, including weapons, Bokken (wooden sward) and Jo (timber staff) train-ing. KARATE: traditional karate and Sports karate. (Free fighting techniques and spar-ring). Karate: 6 years old to Adults, Aikido 12 years old to Adults, Karate: Tuesdays 4 to 6 pm Akido: Tuesdays 6.15 to 7.15pm, Thursdays 4 to 5pm, High school students 4 to 6pm. St Ursula's Collage Hall. Text Sensei Robi for info 0427016767. Congratulations to our 2019 School Leaders.

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Coastal Kids

Childcare Centre Quality Care and Education in an

Air Conditioned Environment.

• Babies, Toddlers, Kindy & Pre-Prep

• Before & After School Care

• Vacation Care

Cnr Richard & Arthur Sts, Emu Park

Phone: 07-49387177 OPENING HOURS:

Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm Saturday 8am to 4pm Sunday 8am to 1pm.

Eagle 999 DRIVER TRAINING

$60 per lesson with every 6th lesson FREE

Call Richard on 04 37 396 846

Thank you to the Bendigo Bank for supporting our school!

Phone: 49396343

Swimming Lessons

Emu Park Pool

• Babies from 6 months of age

• Full Learn to Swim Program

• Junior to advanced squads

• Free Assessments

• Experienced Coaches and Teachers

Connolly Aqua�cs Providing an asset for life!

Phone: 4930 2205 Email: con.aqua�cs@bigpond.com

BEAUTY SALON EMU PARK 3/22 Hill Street Emu Park

(Behind Butcher) 49396999

Roxanne Hinton - Natural Therapist 0403 560 658

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