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SCHOOL CONTACTS

Principal : Jonathan Druce

Deputy Principal: Bronwyn Bretz

Office Admin Staff:

Sara Williams BSM

Elaine Newitt AO2

Deb Dayet AO2

Phone 46875333 Fax 46875300

Email admin@harristoss.eq.edu.au

Tuckshop Convenor:

Beryl Nicholson 46875309

P & C Association

Meets 5.30pm 3rd Monday each month

All parents welcome

Harristown Heroes School Values

Responsibility

Respect

Learning

Safety

www.harristoss.eq.edu.au 332 South Street Toowoomba

Qld 4350

HARRISTOWN STATE SCHOOL

NEWSLETTER Success for all through learning, respect, responsibility and safety

Thursday 6th December 2018 “Towards Excellence Together” 20/18

From the Principal’s Desk – Mr Jonathan Druce

Here it is the last newsletter for 2019. What a year it has been with dramatic

growth in student numbers seeing an enrolment increase of 50 students and the

max enrolment this year hitting 460! We have had big changes with staff that

has been unavoidable and even though it has caused some interruptions, I feel

the staff and students have coped well with the changes. On top of all of this we

have welcome a new culture group to our school with the Kurdish Yazidi families.

They have brought an exciting new dynamic that we are learning about and have

welcomed their happy, grateful attitudes this year. The number of Kurdish

refugees will most likely continue to grow and we have a number of staffing and

physical resource changes in place for 2019, ready to support them. We have

some sad farewells to say as a number of staff are leaving us this year.

Mrs Kerry Conway has been here 30 years and will be sadly missed by staff and

students. We have thrown Kerry a party last week and celebrated her final year

of teaching, ALL YEAR, with every ‘last this and last that’ being embellished. She

has taught hundreds of Harristown Heroes over the years and we wish her all the

very best in retirement.

Ms Jenny Lamph has been a pivotal part of our staff since 2013, providing great

teaching to the year 3s as well as curriculum support to teachers over the years.

Jen’s sense of humour will be missed by staff, and we wish her all the best at

Withcott SS next year.

Mrs Justine Simiyu has worked hard with our Year 5C students this semester

developing relationships with them and finishing off the year nicely.

Mrs Elin Edmonds took on our 6C class in July and provided some stability for the

students. They have enjoyed understanding her NZ accent and learning through

having fun. All the best next year at Dalby SHS Elin!

Ms Milly Edwards took on the illustrious position of DP this term and has brought

a fun approach to dealing with behaviour and driving our improvement agenda.

I’ve enjoyed working with Millie and wish her all the best back at Pittsworth SS

next year as Deputy Principal.

Mrs Tania Schmidt left us in Term 3 to take on the Acting Principal role at Emu

Creek and this has been extended into 2019. Tania has left a mark with

curriculum at HSS, changing the way we engage our students in English and

imparting invaluable knowledge on the teachers. All the best at Emu Creek in

2019 Tania!

Mrs Bretz will be continuing at Wyreema as Acting Principal in Term 1 and although we will all miss her dearly, we

know she is loving the new school and the staff and students out there are very happy to have her! Wishing Bron

the best in Term 1.

LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN 2019

Deputy Principal 2019

As mentioned, Bron will be continuing in the acting Principal position at Wyreema SS for Term 1 of 2019. Milly has

successfully won the acting Deputy Principal position at Pittsworth for 2019 so will not be continuing at Harristown.

The Acting Deputy Principal for term 1 at Harristown SS will be Lana Steer-Griffiths who comes to us on a relocation

from Crestmead State School. Crestmead is the 2nd largest State School in QLD and has a similar student dynamic

to Harristown SS. Lana comes with a great skillset and reputation from her time at Crestmead and Eagleby South

State School. Lana visted last week and is very excited to be part of the Harristown State School team in 2019!

Head of Curriculum for 2019

Jen Thieme has been appointed as the HOC at Harristown SS by the Regional Director. Jen is a ‘priority placement’

as an unattached Band 7 Principal in the region and Leanne Wright is eager to place unallocated people in 2019,

hence the placement in the HOC role here. Jen will be able continue the great work she is doing around reading

and supporting teachers with curriculum and pedagogy.

2019 CLASSES

We will be starting the year with 19 classes in the structure below. The class teachers have been allocated to

classes and students will receive a letter soon confirming which class they are in.

There are 5 new teachers starting with us (* next to their names) next year and we look forward to meeting most of

them next week!

On top of the 19 classes we will have two Special Education classes (Hero Academy junior and senior) with the

teachers being Mrs Kerri Trost, Mrs Cathy Wells and Mrs Duggan as a teacher and HOSES.

The EALD classes (International Heroes) will be staffed with Mrs Melissa O’Brien teaching and Mrs Sandy Tetzlaf co-

ordinating.

Mrs Donya Williams will be taking PE again and Mrs Muller on Music. There will be a change of Languages teacher,

with Mrs Leah Kimmet teaching Indonesian to the year 5/6 students.

2019

School starts back on Tuesday 29th

January in 2019, as Monday 28th is

the Australia Day public Holiday.

The Uniform Shop will be open the

week before school starts back (Mon

21- Fri 25) from 9am-1pm for

families to purchase uniforms.

Looking forward to seeing you all

next year!

Term Overview and Date Claimers

From the A/ Deputy – Miss Millie Edwards

Firstly, I’d just like to thank Mr Druce and his staff, students and parents and volunteers at Harristown State School

for making my time here a fun, at times challenging but rewarding experience. I have enjoyed my time here and

have learned a great deal. Wishing everyone a safe and happy break and successful 2019.

Regards,

Miss Edwards

PBL – POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR FOR LEARNING

In Week 8 students focused on the following:

Respect, Responsibility & Safety – Toilets

Stay in cubicle

Use Toilets for toileting

Flush and wash your hands

This week, Week 9, our focus is:

Responsibility, Learning & Safety – Out-Of-School Activity

Responsibility - Follow school expectations

Learning - Seek permission to leave area/ group

Safety - Stay with teacher

The Grade 5 & 6 students have just finished practising this very skill down at Tallebudgera. From the stories coming

back it sounded like everyone had a blast!

HERO DAY FOR TERM 4

Hero day is on Monday (seniors) and Tuesday (juniors)!!!!! It will be a day of water fun with a free swim and a slip

and slide. Hero Morning Tea is on Wednesday.

Letters will be sent home on Friday for Hero Day.

The following expectations are in place for Hero day Term 4:

• Students who have consistently demonstrated HSS values and expectations and do not have a behaviour referral

will attend Hero Day.

• Students with one major, 3 of the same minors within a week or 5 minors overall, will not attend PBL Hero Day.

• Students who have less than 80% attendance for Term 4 will not be eligible for Hero Day. This is equivalent to

missing 10 school days this term. That is equivalent to 2 weeks. (Unless a medical certificate is provided and/ or

principal discretion).

• Students who fail to attend a majority or any swimming lessons may make themselves ineligible for the free swim

component of Hero Day. This expectation is implemented for safety concerns around a student’s swimming ability

and will be at the discretion of the Principal, Deputy Principal and P.E. Teacher whether the student swims on this

day.

• Teachers will send home notes to advise parents if their child is attending or not attending Hero Day.

Dec 6th Presentation Night/Dance performance

2018 School Term Dates:

Term 4: 8th October – 14th Dec (10 weeks)

Dec 10th & 11th Hero Days

Dec 12th Graduation

Dec 13th Report Cards sent home

Dec 14th Last day of School

Jan 29th First day of School 2019

ATTENDANCE

Well done to the following classes for having the top 3 attendance percentages for Term 4!!

In third place, with a percentage of 93.53% is 3B

In second place, with a percentage of 94.62% is 6A

In in first place, with a percentage of 94.86% is, (insert drum roll), 5A!!!

Well done to these classes for having the highest percentage and having their percentage well above our goal of

90%. Awesome effort!!

Parents and Citizens Association News

Tuckshop Tuckshop opening hours: 8.15am – 1.45pm Wednesday, Thursday

and Friday

All orders must be in by 8.50am.

Sorry no late orders are accepted and no phone orders.

LOST PROPERTY: Any unnamed items will be donated to charity at the end of term. Please make sure your child's items are named as we try our very best to return all items.

UNIFORM SHOP: is open from 8.30 to 9.30am Monday to Friday. We will be opening from the 21st January 2019 from 9am to 1pm for the first week before school starts.

If you would like to join our P and C Committee our next meeting will be 18th February 2019 with our Annual General Meeting.

This years P and C Committee would like to wish you all the very best for the Christmas and New Year's break and hope to see you all back in 2019.

Sports News – Mrs Williams

Swimming Carnivals and Awards.

This year’s carnival was one of the biggest participation numbers we have had in a long time. It was great to see so

many enthusiast students wanting to have a go and swim the lap. Many records were broken and some swimmers

will be able to participate in the school swim team next February at Glennie.

AWD swimmers – participation ribbons

Chris L, Jake D, Sarah B, Mihayalla T, Seth H-S, Emma D and Connor F swam triumphantly in all AWD races. There

were some tight finishes. Students were very pleased with themselves.

Harristown Hero Effort

Tyler Allen – has been awarded the hero effort ribbon for the Senior swimming carnival. He nominated in every

event and gave his best effort each time he swam. Well done Tyler.

Fastest 50m Freestyle Trophy

Girls – Ninna R – 47.56

Boys – Ryder N – 46.18

Wed 12th Dec

Wed 13th Dec

Wed 15th Dec

Gail Collie Meryl

Ballinger Wendy Wright

Gail Collie Gail Collie

Age Champions

9yrs - Girls - 1st - Chloe Q (record 25m Free, back, breast, fly)

2nd – Tahlie D

3rd – Tamika R

9yrs - Boys – 1st - Jarome T (record 25m free)

2nd – Ashley C

3rd – Noah O

10yrs – Girls – 1st - Rishona A (record 50m Free,

50m Back, 50m Breast)

2nd – Azaylia C

3rd – Sakrett F

10yrs - Boys – 1st - Max B (record 25m Fly)

2nd – AJ M

3rd – Keyhill G

11yrs - Girls – 1st – Ninna R (record 25m Fly)

2nd – Caitlyn C

3rd – Allahna C

Age Champions – Ryder N absent from photo

11yrs – Boys – 1st – Anakin H (record 25m Fly)

2nd – Kroiden S

3rd – Tyler A

12yrs – Girls – 1st - Silvara C

12yrs – Boys – 1st – Ryder N

2nd – Anton S

3rd – Kai B

Inter house Swimming

1st – Fraser – 955

2nd – Goolagong – 792

3rd – Bradman – 611

AWD Qld Athletics Championships in Melbourne

Congratulations to Kail E who placed 1st in Long Jump, 2nd in 2oo and

3rd in 100m sprint and relay.

Well done Kail!

Thank you

Thank you to Karen Brown for her tireless and

continued help during class swimming lessons.

It is great to have a reliable, consistent person

to help with class lessons.

Term 3 Pizza Meal Deal Day

A very big THANK – YOU to all

the students, staff and

community who assisted with our

Pizza Meal Deal Day

The day was a HUGE success,

with Harristown raising over

$950 towards our next PBL day

for our Harristown Heroes! Stay

tuned for our next big Pizza Day!

Library News – Mrs Handley

QUIZWORX SHOW FRIDAY NOVEMBER 30TH

On Friday, November 30th, students who

attend Christian Religious Instruction lessons,

enjoyed a live show, presented by QuizWorx.

The theme was ‘Wait No More’. Puppets,

Sophie and Percival, shared that waiting for

Christmas to come, seems to take for ever.

Through a catchy, action song and a drama

from the book of Luke in the Bible, students

saw who Jesus, the one Christians remember

at Christmas, is, and why he came.

Mrs J Bishop CRI Coordinator

Looking for activities to fill the long summer break? Families Magazine

has a Complete Guide to the School Holidays for Families –

https://www.familiesmagazine.com.au/school-holiday-activities-

brisbane/

And this – 100 School Holiday Ideas for Families –

https://www.familiesmagazine.com.au/100-school-holiday-activities/

Lots of FREE ideas and all the local information you need for

Christmas activities too!

https://raywhitetoowoomba.com/community/a-little-ray-of-giving/