Quinalow Prep-10 State School

1-5 Progress Street Quinalow 4403

Principal: Mr Andrew Skippen

admin@quinalowss.eq.edu.au www.quinalowss.eq.edu.au

Phone: (07) 4692 9333

Term 1 / No: 7

P & C Executive -

pandc@quinalowss.eq.edu.au

Jen Sommerfield (0437 921 151)

jsommerfield30@icloud.com

Tracey Kerrigan (0400 009 656)

takerrigan76@gmail.com

Tuckshop Convenor - Anne-Maree McHugh

(46921377)

DATES TO REMEMBER

FROM THE PRINCIPAL 11 March 2020

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

SPECIAL POINTS OF

INTEREST

From the

Classroom

School Photo Info

Sports News

Prep/Year 1 photos

Thank you to those parents who attended the School Review afternoon tea last week. Your feedback was appreciated and has really helped with planning next steps for our school. Thank you also to the staff and students who took part in the Review. As I was sick most of the week it was difficult for me to gauge how the days were going, but clearly they went well - because I have already received the report and I would like to highlight some key feedback from the Review team in my newsletter article today. A more thorough report will be made available at the next P&C meeting.

Contributing to the review were: Myself, Mrs Goswell, 9 teachers, 4 teacher aides, 25 students, 17 parents, OSHS principal, and the Assistant Regional Director. The broad approach to gathering information ensures accuracy in feedback.

Regarding our Explicit Improvement Agenda:

Staff are optimistic and have a high level of confidence that the school leadership will continue to improve teaching and learning at the school and indicate a willingness to implement this agenda.

School staff are passionate about their school and the quality of teaching and learning that occurs throughout the school. Students and parents appreciate the professionalism and commitment of teaching staff members.

The school’s Parents and Citizens’ association (P&C) supports the EIA and parents are able to articulate how the focus on phonics is impacting positively on their child’s literacy skills.

Regarding the school’s culture:

Students speak positively about the school and express that they learn in a safe, fun and caring environment. They have a strong sense of belonging to the school and are proud to be part of the Quinalow community. Some parents express that the school is a focal point of the wider Quinalow community.

All staff express a strong sense of collegiality. Staff are actively engaged in a number of coaching and mentoring opportunities and comment that the school leadership team has provided appropriate support in developing a culture of open classrooms and feedback.

The Responsible Behaviour Plan for Students (RBPS) was revised in 2019 and will be revised in 2020. The key framework for the management of student behaviour is Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL). An established PBL team is responsible for the implementation of PBL with fidelity. The PBL team is supported by the school leadership and regional support staff. The school’s PBL implementation score as measured by the School-wide Evaluation Tool (SET) report was 96.8 per cent.

Regarding systematic curriculum delivery:

Teachers value the school focus on co-planning and modelling to support curriculum implementation. They express that the process is deepening their understanding of the Australian Curriculum and developing their capabilities in curriculum planning.

Curriculum information is shared with parents through newsletters. Parents welcome further opportunities to engage with understanding the teaching and learning occurring in the school and how their child is tracking.

All staff clearly outline the expectations, processes and practices related to the 2020 focus on the teaching of reading – Big 6, and spelling program, with a continued drive to embed vocabulary development. Reading framework visuals are apparent in all classrooms.

Lastly, regarding school community partnerships:

Local community engagement occurs through cluster and district sporting carnivals, local church services, ANZAC Day service, Flower Show and events hosted by the P&C such as Movie Night, Comedy Night, Colour Run, Pink Stumps Day and sausage sizzles. Local businesses support the school’s PBL program with vouchers as part of the positive reward systems.

All teachers share curriculum information in the school newsletter each fortnight. Previously, forums had been trialled to support parent engagement and information sharing with varying success. The social media site additionally supports the information sharing and celebrations of learning within the community. Parents indicate a preference for communication to be via a form of SMS or text messaging system. CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE

Monday, 16 March

Comedy Night Meeting

Thursday, 19 March

School Photos

Monday, 23 March

Tuckshop Meeting

P&C AGM

Thursday, 26 March

Toowoomba Show

Holiday

Friday, 27 March

Bowenville Softball

Saturday, 28 March

Comedy Night

Thursday, 2 April

Interhouse Cross

Country

Please return all raffle books before the comedy night

(28 March).

From the classroom Prep / Year 1 - Our theme his term has been the Wizard of Oz. The children

have been enjoying creating characters from the story. They have also had a

great time digging in the garden. Thank you to all those parents who have been

supplying us with plants for the garden.

Year 2/3 - In the next four weeks, our focus in English will be writing different narratives. The students will create their own

stories. This week we have been discussing a narrative picture book, identifying the setting, characters, the problem and the

solution. In reading groups, we continue reading different texts from NAPLAN and working on inferential

and literal questions.

Congratulations to Angus, William, Blake, Li Ching, William & Jayme

A special mention this week goes a previous Quinalow State School student, James Kucks. James has been selected for the Darling Downs Under 19's Cricket Team. This week he is playing in a 3 day competition in Bundaberg where there are 10 Queensland teams playing. We wish James the best of luck for this week, if selected from these trials James will join the Queensland Cricket team.

FROM THE PRINCIPAL (cont.) School leaders and teachers have established a positive relationship with both the feeder kindergarten and local high schools.

The school received 100 per cent of the transition statements for students entering Prep in 2020 and involved the local early childhood provider in a range of events and information sessions throughout the 2019 school year to ensure a smooth transition process. The 2020 Prep class has an enrolment of 11 students.

This excellent positive feedback from our staff and community, through the School Review team, shows the amazing pathway our school continues to tread.

Well done everyone. I look forward to working with everyone on the recommendations, which are also outlined in the report.

Year 4 - In Maths the Year 4 students have been writing and reading analogue and digital clocks and times.

This is a tricky concept so if students could read the clocks and discuss the time at home that would be

fantastic. We have also been using, reading and converting millimetres, centimetres and metres in the

measurement unit.

In English students have either completed their chapter or nearly finished typing their chapter for The Twits. The next unit is examining humour in poetry and identifying characteristic features such as spoonerisms, nonsense, puns, neologisms and rhyme.

P & C News Tuckshop News

Positive Behaviour for Learning

Focus for Week 6

Always Learning - I ask for and offer help.

Comedy Meeting - Monday 16 March at 3:15pm.

Quinalow Prep-10 State School P&C Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday 23 March

at 7:00pm in the media room.

To become a P&C member, please ensure that you fill out the membership form attached to last week’s newsletter and return it to the school prior to the Annual General Meeting. Should you not be able to return the completed form prior to the AGM you must then attend a meeting with your signed form for acceptance. These are rules in place by P&C QLD and must be adhered to by the P&C.

Look forward to seeing you there, Jen

Sports News

Tuckshop Meeting - Monday 23 March at 2:15pm in the Media Room.

Position Vacant - Tuckshop Secretary

On Monday 16 March during RE lessons, Quiz Worx will be performing a puppet show to support the RE programs.

A big congratulations to our sporting teams, Aces and Stars for their efforts during

Friday’s Interhouse Swimming Carnival. Good sportsmanship was present throughout the day,

seeing Stars the victors on the day.

It was wonderful to see so many students pushing themselves out of their ‘comfort zone’ to

compete in events that were challenging to them. A huge congratulations to those students.

(You know who you are!)

Congratulations to Holly Henderson who competed at the Darling Downs Swimming

Championships as a member of the Bunya Swimming Team last Wednesday. Holly was

awarded 11 year female age champion on the day gaining three firsts (50m backstroke, 50m

freestyle,100m breaststroke), 2 seconds (100m backstroke, 50m breaststroke) and 1 third

(100m freestyle). Holly qualified to represent Darling Downs for all six events and is now going

to compete at the State Swimming Championships. We wish Holly the very best for her

upcoming swimming championships.

The Interhouse Cross Country is being held 2nd April. I encourage all students to train

each day both at school and at home.

Bowenville Softball/Teeball Carnival is being held on Friday 27th March. This is a fun,

social competitive day where the students can learn skills, meet with old friends and make new

friends. Students in years 4,5 and 6 will be attending.

PE swimming will continue while weather and other commitments (softball and teeball) permits this term.

From the classroom

Year 5/6 - Hi from the Year 5/6 Crew,

We have been achieving some great deeds: sporting, academic

and socially.

In Maths we are commencing a measurement and geometry

unit. This involves utilising grid references and ordered pairs in

association with an X and Y axis. Also applying / describing

mapping concepts and applying / describing transformations.

In English we continue our study of Moon Bear as students

develop and refine their argument as to which of the two texts

(Literary / Informative) best delivers the message regarding the

treatment of the Asiatic Black Bear. Justifying our argument is an

important aspect.

Thank you, Ashley

QUINALOW

HOTEL

Maclagan Lutheran Sunday School - Sunday 15 March

Sunday school starts at 9:30 a.m. Parents and kids are welcome to stay for our 10:45 a.m. Holy Communion service directly after. For more info, ring Margaret Kucks 4692-1339 or Jenny Ballon 4692-1150

MACLAGAN SHED MEN

VENUE: Shed at the Recreation Grounds, Quinalow.

ON: Friday, 27 March 2020

BBQ: Commences 6.30pm

BYO: Food and drinks

GUEST SPEAKER: Michael Yeo, Site Manager Coopers Gap Wind Farm, Bilboa & Cooranga North area.

COME! Bring a friend. Enjoy an evening together with the other blokes.

All men welcome! Young & old!

Enquiries - Phone Lex 46921180

A cake and produce stall will be held on Election Day (Saturday 28 March) at the Quinalow School. All donations would be greatly appreciated.

Proceeds to help maintain the Quinalow Hall and Tennis Court. Enquiries Elva Schefe

Lucky Door Prize - 2 nights accommodation

at Mantra

Entertainment by Kieran Lillis

Bar operating / Multi-draw raffle / Beer pull

Eftpos available

Mt Tyson State School Teacher Aide Positions

1 x Temporary Teacher Aide Position – 1 x 15 hours per week (3 days)

1 x Temporary Teacher Aide Position – 1 x 20 hours per week (4 days)

Term 2 – 20th April -26th June with the possibility of extension Mus t have current Blue Card before start date, experience an advantage.

Please email admin@mttysonss.eq.edu.au for application details.

Applications close Wednesday 18th March 3pm