Term 1 Week 9 Thursday 26 March 2015 PRINCIPAL'S PAGE

P&C AGM

Our next P&C meeting on Monday 30 March will be our Annual General Meeting (AGM). All committee positions will become vacant and a new committee will be elected for the following positions: • President • Vice President • Minutes Secretary • Correspondence Secretary • Treasurer We also need to elect a Fundraising Coordinator and fill positions on several P&C sub committees. Interested parents are invited to come along and be part of our P&C. Becoming involved in the Parents and Citizens Association enables you to ‘have a say’ about your child’s education. You learn a great deal about the environment that your child spends so much time in and how Education Queensland operates. You meet new friends, learn to work as a team and most importantly you become a community member and feel a part of our school. Our P&C do a great job for our school. Please come along and support your child’s school. The AGM meeting will commence at 6.30pm in the school staffroom and all interested parents are invited to attend. A short general meeting will follow the AGM.

Successful Talent Quest

Once again our school Talent Quest proved very popular with both the students and parents. Congratulations to Mrs Powell for her organisation of these events. Thanks also to the Merrimac staff for your help and to the upper school children who assisted with the Talent Quest.

Pre Service Teachers

Professional experience for Pre Service Teachers is a vital component of the initial teacher education program in Queensland schools and includes supervised professional experiences and/or internships in classrooms. Pre Service teachers are required to actively engage in all aspects of the teaching process, in different school settings and with a range of learners. We currently have 20 Pre Service Teachers from Griffith University completing orientation days in classrooms throughout Merrimac. The Teachers are at different stages of their professional learning and will continue to work in the school until they complete their block practicums in week 7 next term. Free Dress Day This term’s free dress day is next Wednesday 1 April. Money raised will be donated to the school Chaplaincy program for resources. A gold coin donation will help with this program. Students are to wear sensible free dress.

Prep Enrolments for 2016

This year we currently have 110 Prep students. This is a very good intake of new students. Prep is an extremely important part of our school. We are already getting inquiries regarding Prep for 2016. In October each year our school holds a morning and evening orientation session for our new families. In November we also hold Prep experience days for our future Prep students.

Enrolments for Prep for next year can be made at the school’s office. Parents of Prep students for next year are encouraged to start enrolling their children. Early enrolment allows the school to be better prepared for the 2016 school year. Now that our school has an official enrolment boundary, all families especially those residing outside our catchment area, are encouraged to get their Prep enrolments in as early as possible. All enrolments must include the enrolling students Birth Certificate. Term 1 Parent Teacher Interviews

The online booking system closes tomorrow at 3pm, after this time bookings can only be made and changed through the office. Log onto www.merrimacss.eq.edu.au and click on the PTO link. Forms have been sent home with each child containing their unique Education Qld (EQ ID) number which is required for booking an interview time. As interviews will be scheduled at 10 minute intervals, your promptness in attending at your scheduled time is appreciated to alleviate unnecessary delays as the evening progresses. If you are unable to attend your scheduled appointment, please contact the school office on 5569 1555 so the class teacher can be notified as soon as possible. Please leave a message if phoning outside of school office hours. Student folios will be issued at the parent/teacher interviews. These should be returned to school before the end of term. It is hoped that all parents will take the opportunity of attending the planned parent/teacher interviews.

Valuables at School

Children are discouraged from bringing valuables to school. This includes jewellery, electronic games, toys and large sums of money. When these things go missing it can be very difficult to recover them. If something special is brought to school for ‘Show and Tell’, please instruct your child to allow the teacher to mind it. The same applies to large amounts of money. Parents should also not leave valuables in unlocked cars in the carpark. National Young Leaders’ Day

Last Friday three of our school leaders, Charlotte, Cullen and Jack, travelled to Brisbane with Miss Murray to attend the National Young Leaders’ Day at the Brisbane Convention Centre with almost 3 000 students from around Queensland. The theme of the day was ‘Nothing significant, enduring or amazing ever began that way’. The students were inspired by a number of speakers including Bindi Irwin, wildlife advocate; Juliette Wright, founder of the ‘Give-it’ website; James Norton, ‘Paper Planes’ movie and Coen Ashton, organ transplant recipient. Some of the key messages the students took away from the event were: ‘Stand up and use your voice to improve our world’; ‘It always seems impossible until it’s done’; ‘Set your mind to what’s

Merrimac State School

Newsletter

important’; ‘Always look for the good in situations’; ‘Don’t be afraid to be different’ and ‘Never say ‘no’ to opportunities.

Children Leaving School at the end of Term One

If your child/children will not be returning to Merrimac for Term Two, please notify the school office as soon as possible. We have a number of new enrolments for the start of next term and early notification of students leaving our school will assist with class placement of the new students.

School Website and QSchools Smartphone App

The QSchools app is available to the school community as a free

download via the Apple iTunes store and Google Play. Parents are

encouraged to access this free App on their iPhone or Android phone. Update regularly to access the latest features.

Dental Van News

The Dental Van is offering free check-ups to children in Years 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6. To arrange an appointment for your child phone: The Oral Health Client Service Centre on 1300 300 850 Monday – Friday 8.00am – 4.30pm excluding Public Holidays. Child Dental Benefit Schedule Vouchers are accepted but are not mandatory.

Easter Hat Parade

The Prep to Year 2 Easter Hat Parade will be held on Thursday 2nd April PAC 11:30am – 1:00pm. Everyone is welcome to come along and join in the fun of our annual Easter Hat Parade followed by a picnic with your child on the “Common”. Resources Contribution

If you received a letter advising you have not paid this voluntary contribution please consider the advantages of the levy. The contribution covers the use of class text books, computer consumables, art and craft materials, photocopying of workbooks, homework sheets, etc. The cost is $60.00 per student. Because the shared curriculum materials are allocated on a class basis, non-payment of the contribution reduces the amount of additional resources to all children within the class. Some parents may have overlooked or forgotten this contribution. Reminders have been sent home to parents. Payment of the shared curriculum materials contribution can be made through our school Bookshop.

Mathletics, Reading Eggs, Reading Eggspress and Language

Perfect

Notes have been sent home with students who have not yet paid for one or more of these programs. Non-payment by the end of term may result in cancellation of subscription for your child. Payments can be made to our School Bookshop. If you have a query re these payments, please contact the Bookshop on 55227846 (open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8.00am to 9.00am). Breakfast and Fitness Program

Next Wednesday will be the last week of our Breakfast/Fitness Program for Years 4, 5 and 6 students. It has gone very smoothly this year. A big thank you to Mr Epiha and Chappy Steve for their commitment to this program. Thanks also to the staff and parents who have been helping with the program. It is very much appreciated. We also thank Carrara Woolworths and Merrimac McDonalds for their ongoing support of this program.

Parent Fitness (Boot Camp) Program

Thanks to Tina Nenadic from Ray White Robina Real Estate, we are offering a free fitness program each week for our parents. There are limited places available in the program. Ashton Koehler who works for Ray White Robina Real Estate is a trained fitness instructor and runs the sessions weekly in the MPC/Tennis Court area each Thursday from 1.45pm to 2.45pm. It is planned to continue running the program into next term. It is completely

free. Register your interest at the office or by contacting Ashton through his office on 0402 984898. 2015 International Competitions and Assessments for Schools

(ICAS)

Merrimac SS offers students in Years 3-6 the opportunity to participate in the ICAS competitions. ICAS provides an opportunity for all Years 3-6 students to gain a measure of their own achievement in an external testing situation. It provides teachers, parents and students with comprehensive reporting of results in the areas of Digital Technology Skills, English and Mathematics. If you would like your child/ren to participate please complete the form at the end of this edition and return to the finance window with payment no later than Wednesday 1 April. The Cost for each competition is $8.00. DO NOT PAY FOR THIS EVENT BY DIRECT DEPOSIT.

FINANCE NEWS

The finance window operates on Mondays, Wednesdays and

Fridays from 8am – 9.30am in the administration building. Payments for school activities are accepted at these times only. Payments can be made by Cash, Cheque (made payable to Merrimac State School), EFTPOS or Credit. Some payments may be direct deposited. Details will be provided for those events when this option is available. Please ensure if you do use this method of payment that you do not combine payments as it becomes difficult to determine the breakdown of what you are paying for. Parents are also advised to ensure payment is made by due dates as final numbers are often required and your child will miss out on an event if they have not paid by the due date. We are currently receipting money for the following:

Participants Activity Cost Payment due

Years 3-6 ICAS Competitions $8 1 April

MUSIC NEWS

Rehearsal Schedule

Senior Showcase Singers -Monday 8.00 – 8.45am Junior Singers - Friday 8.00am – 8.45am Senior Band - Wednesday 2.55pm – 3.55pm Junior Band – Monday 3.00pm – 3.55pm Senior Strings – Thursday 8.00am – 8.45am Intermediate Strings – Thursday 2.55pm – 3.55pm Beginner Strings – Tuesday 8.00am – 8.45am

Parents are advised there is no Junior or Showcase Singers

rehearsals next week as Mrs Powell is on long service leave.

Rehearsals will resume again in Week 1 of next term.

Regional Choral Camp

Congratulations to our Senior Showcase students Taij McIntosh, Brynn Castle and Jorja Lepp who participated in the three day Regional Choral camp. The culminating concert on Wednesday night was fantastic…….. and a good time was had by all.

Merrimac Talent Quest Results

Congratulations to all participating students – what talent we have here at Merrimac! Results as follows: Junior Instrumental

1st Holly Shelton 2nd Isaac Shelton Highly Commended Carmi Trindade Isaac Shelton, Holly Shelton, Noah Shelton Senior Instrumental

1st Runa Oshika 2nd Kaito Osabe Highly Commended Jayden Foulkes Jack Tidy

Junior Drama

1st Valentino Cacace 2nd Jacob Boff, Noah Simpson Senior Drama

1st Maddison Pawson 2nd Grace Sawyer, Taij McIntosh, Haegan Rogers,

Emma Tennent, Sydney Mitchell, Mahalia Tagget

Junior Singing

1st Sienna Rendace 2nd Kiara Latoa Highly Commended Mikayla Hayes Senior Singing

1st Hayley Bond 2nd Ella Stewart Jorja Lepp Junior Dance

1st Ava Elliott 2nd Charlotte Pastor Poppy Zarew Highly Commended Ally Hounsell, Jenaya Grant, Sheridan Carter Senior Dance

1st Adrian Spiridon, Taichi Odanaka, Miku Odanaka

Emma Mollison 2nd Alyssa Wilesmith Katia Whitford, Jasmine

Togo Well done to all these talented students. Good job.

PE NEWS

Merrimac SS Swimming Carnival

Our annual swimming carnival will be held at Merrimac State High School swimming pool next Thursday 2 April for all year 4-6 students. The carnival will commence at 9.30am and conclude around 2.00pm. Buses have been booked to transport the children to and from the pool. Buses will start leaving from the school at 8.45am. Presentations will be held at the swimming pool at the end of the carnival if time permits. Spectators are invited to come along to the pool and cheer on the children. We suggest you bring a fold up chair for your comfort. No two piece swimmers allowed unless a T shirt or sun shirt is worn over the top. Children will be competing for their various sports houses and are asked to wear their house colours.

Birmingham - Yellow Davidson – Green Gooding - Red Hamilton - Blue

Hats and sunscreen are compulsory. Shade will be provided for the children. Children are asked to take their morning tea, lunch and water bottle with them in their school bag. The tuckshop is hoping to sell a limited amount of food (chips and drinks) but this will be dependent on sufficient volunteer helpers. If you can assist on the day, please see Denise in the tuckshop. If the weather forces the postponement of our swimming carnival, it will be rescheduled for later in the school year.

Sporting Success

Congratulations to Jason Mikael Lagdamen from Year 6A who has done extremely well with his basketball. Jason has been selected in the Districts Oceanic School Team and will compete at the upcoming South Coast Championships. Jason was also in the Southern Districts Spartans Team Under 12 Boys which won the grand final on March 21 and are now the Undefeated Champions of South East Queensland Under 12 Boys Premiere League in

Basketball. He was also a Top 10 Scorer in the league. Jason will go to the State Championships in Townsville in April. We wish Jason all the very best.

INTERSCHOOL SPORTS DRAW FRIDAY 27 MARCH

Rugby League at Firth Park, Mudgeeraba

6A v Mudgeeraba on Field 1 @ 1.30pm 6B v Hillcrest on Field 1 @ 12.45pm Boys Soccer Pizzey Park (Burleigh Heads Soccer Ground)

6A v Mudgeeraba 1 on Field 2 @ 1.35pm 6B v Palm Beach on Field 1 @ 1.35pm 5A v St Augustine’s on Field 1 @ 12.45pm Girls Oztag at Mallawa Drive, Palm Beach

5A v Caningeraba on Field 1 @ 1.35pm 6A v BYE Netball at Firth Park, Mudgeeraba

5A1 v GCCC on Court 3 @ 12.45pm 5A2 v Varsity on Court 10 @ 12.45pm 5B v Varsity 2 on Court 3 @ 1.30pm 6A v GCCC on Court 6 @ 1.30pm EASTER EGG HUNT

An Easter Egg Hunt is happening on 29th March. It will be a great day for the kids to run around and have fun. Where: Faerie Park, Inwood Circuit Time: 9am Egg hunt: starts at 9:15am Let the kids run through Faerie Park and hunt for their Easter eggs. On the day they can collect their colouring in pack and submit their artwork into the draw to win one of three great prizes. There will also be FREE coffees and a sausage sizzle for everyone to enjoy. Look forward to seeing you there!

Tina Nenadic Ray White Robina Real Estate

Merrimac School Fete

Our Merrimac School Fete Poster Competition is well underway and we have some very excited children. If you still wish to enter just take your $1 entry fee to the bookshop to collect your A3 piece of paper; it will be named and stamped as an official entry. All entries are to be handed back into the bookshop no later than Monday 30th March for judging. There are 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes and the winner will have the privilege of being printed on our school banner to promote our fete. Happy drawing and colouring in and good luck to all entrants. Judges decision will be final. Our next meeting advertised as Thursday 2nd April will be postponed until the first Thursday back from holidays - 23rd April between 2.30pm - 3.30pm in the ‘old LOTE building.’ We invite you to come along to have a cuppa, get updated, and share your thoughts & ideas. Looking forward to seeing you there!

P&C member and fete coordinator Melissa Strudwick

merrimacfete2015@gmail.com (Please note NEW fete email address)

STUDENTS OF THE WEEK

Congratulations to our Students of the Week:

Ruby Karikari-Yeboah, Jaydan Stojadinovic, Teresa Everingham, Deacon Bilton, Elizabeth Galligan, Noah Powell, Scarlet Genge, Jake Galas, Michaela Wood, James Vlasij, Jake Canning, Tyson Morris-Kaire, Emily Henderson, Benny Nguyen, Indah Purcell, Isla McDonald, Sophia Read, Cordell Peisley, Hayden Kershaw, Talia Faifua, Daniel D'Abate, Ava Layton, Max Pastor, Carrin Emery, Lachlan Ferguson, Sariyah Daly, Shalani Jackson-Perry, Oscar Mitchell, Axel Daly, Joseph Sweetnam, Chelsea Jones, Riley McElwain, Kartika Sugiono, Miles Perry, Lana Makin, Nathan

Coming Up…. Early in term two we will be running a parent session for Prep-Year3 Parents with practical tips and strategies to help your child improve their reading. Details to follow.

Marion Prentis (Literacy Coach) and Lee White (Master Teacher)

Everett, Bailey Cram, Daniella Piitulainen, Emma Tennent, Mahalia Tagget, Bailey Jones, Erica Tal, Miguel Athfield, Taylor Butler, Jake Gestopa, Shilo Kwocksun, Lucy Paul, Laith Cavanagh, Aaliyah Wellard, Abel Kollappallil, Jackson Walker, Jacob Penney, Lachlan Kirkham, Blake Morphew, Charli Hart, Chuck Chambers.

FROM THE LITERACY COACH AND MASTER TEACHER

FROM THE LITERACY COACH

6B working hard on the STRIVE words. Students were working in groups to identify the Friendly Definition, Synonym and Antonym for their 5 vocabulary words of the week. Great work 6B.

TUCKSHOP NEWS

Tuckshop Roster for week commencing 30 March:

Day Volunteers Meal Deal 2 April $5.00*

Mon 30/3 Mayumi � Noodle Bowl w Oriental Chicken Bites

� Popcorn (plain) � Zooper Dooper � Bottled Water

Tue 31/3 Marina

Wed 1/4 Help Please

Thurs 2/4 Maria S, Mayumi

Fri 3/4 Good Friday

• Add 50c to upgrade to flavoured milk or Quench springwater

Many thanks to my volunteers this week. Your help is always appreciated. The tuckshop requires both Tuesday and Wednesday

help next term on a rotational basis. Please drop in your name and mobile number if you are able to volunteer some time. As we near the end of Term 1 we are reducing our stocks of perishable goods. Should an item ordered be unavailable we will contact the student to arrange an alternative. We require help with our mobile tuckshop at Merrimac State High School on Thursday 2 April at the swimming carnival. If you can help please contact me in the tuckshop. Have a good week everyone. ~ Denise ~

UPCOMING EVENTS

25-27 Mar 4A/4B Year 4 Camp

Wed 25 Mar No Year 3 and 4 swimming today

Mon 30 Mar 6.30pm P&C AGM

Wed 1 Apr Parent/Teacher Interviews (3.30pm to 7.30pm)

Wed 1 Apr Final day for Years 3 and 4 swimming

Thurs 2 Apr Last day of Term 1

Thurs 2 Apr Years 4 to 6 Swimming Carnival at Merrimac High School

Fri 3 Apr Good Friday Holiday

Mon 20 Apr First school day of Term 2

THE MOZIRUN

The Mozi Run is a 5km walk or run which is held each year to raise funds to support education in Mozambique. It is being held at

Emerald Lakes on Saturday 28 March starting at 2.00pm. It is an event for all of the family. A flyer has been sent home with

students today providing more information regarding this event. Also sponsorship forms are available from the school’s office. Enquiries can be made on 55348050 or info@themozirun.org

2015 INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS AND

ASSESSMENTS FOR SCHOOLS FOR ALL STUDENTS IN

YEARS 3 - 6

Digital Technologies Sitting Date 19 May English Sitting Date 28 July Maths Sitting Date 11 August Student Name: _________________________ Class: _____

Digital Technologies� English� Maths�

Student Name: _________________________ Class: _____

Digital Technologies � English� Maths�

Student Name: _________________________ Class: _____

Digital Technologies � English� Maths�

I give permission for my child/ren to participate in the above ICAS competition/s. I enclose $8.00 entry fee for each child for each competition. I have ticked the competitions they wish to participate in.

__________________ _______________

Parent/Caregiver Name Signature

Please make payments to the finance window Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays between 8.00am-9.30am no later than Wednesday 1 April.

DO NOT PAY FOR THIS EVENT BY DIRECT DEPOSIT

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