10 March 2017

Newsletter Articles

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

State Wide Principal Conference

Tuesday and Wednesday of last week I attended the IPS (Independent Public Schools) conference and then the state-wide Principal conference on Thursday and Friday here on the Gold Coast. It is a wonderful opportunity to hear world class speakers talk about the research and practices having a significant impact on school and students. I look forward to sharing what I learnt with the staff and community throughout the year.

Safety and Helmets

As we are all aware one of our students was in an accident recently and the reason her injuries were not serious was because she was wearing a helmet. It is vital we all take responsibility for the safety of our students by ensuring your child/ren wear a helmet at all times when riding bikes, scooters and skateboards. Parents will be contacted if students are seen riding without a helmet. I thank you in advance for your support in this matter.

Movie under the Stars

On the 17th March the P & C and the local council have organised to have a free family movie night on our oval under the stars. The movie that will be playing is “Finding Dory”. It is important to note this is not a school organised event therefore the supervision of child/ren is the responsibility of the Parents. No child is to attend without a parent/guardian or adult.

Cyber Safety

Each year we get concerned parents reporting incidents on social media sites. I feel it is always important to remind parents and students about cyber safety but more importantly what the minimum age is to actually hold an active account for these sites. Age restrictions for Social Media Platforms are in place for very good reasons. I have attached information regarding these ages and encourage parents to ensure they are followed for the safety of our students.

Protecting our children and ourselves in this social network world is becoming more difficult and horror stories appear daily in the news. A couple of suggestions to help reduce this threat are educating our children around the dangers of posting any photos, ensure that your child’s computer is in a “public place” in your house (not in their bedrooms) and having them leave their mobiles on the kitchen table when they go to bed at night or even before. These are just a couple of suggestions that may assist to limit the invasion of these new technologies into home time.

People Remaining on School Grounds

Please understand that our students are hard at work and engaged in learning from 8.50am so it is important that if parents and carers want to continue to talk to their fellow community members that this please be done outside the school grounds as at times this can become distracting to the students and the teachers. I ask the same in the afternoons once you have collected your child/ren. Please note that the playgrounds and other areas such as stairs are not to be played on before or after school. I really appreciate your support in this matter.

WHAT’S HAPPENING …

Year 4 Bicycle Safety Excursion

During Week 5, our Year 4 classes attended the Road and Bicycle Safety Excursion at the PCYC Ashmore Bicycle Safety Centre.

This was a fantastic opportunity for students to improve their awareness of road safety, road rules and the handling of a bicycle. For some, it was their first time riding a bike and they showed amazing perseverance at learning a new skill which can be tricky to master.

Each student was equipped with an Australian Standard bike helmet and a bike and the first activity was to learn how to use a roundabout. The roundabout at the PCYC Bicycle Safety Centre had 2 lanes and students learnt the correct lane they should ride in when turning left, turning right and when going around the roundabout. They did so well! It was a hard work out in the sun so we took a break for morning tea.

We then headed inside and students were given some important theory lessons which covered road rules and road safety. They got to ask questions which helped consolidate their understandings.

After lunch, students had the opportunity to ride a bike in a number of on-road scenarios involving intersections, crossings, traffic light signals and roundabouts. When students made a mistake during the activities, such as rolling through a stop sign, or failing to give way, they had to park their bike, go get a quick drink and retrieve their bike from ‘jail’ This gave them a quick reminder of the road rule they broke and they got a chance to have another go!

It was great to see students encouraging their friends who were not as confident at bike riding and to those who had never ridden a bike before. Everyone had a great time and learnt the importance of bike safety.

Bringing up Great Kids with ASD

ASSEMBLY AWARDS

Mathletics

eLEARNING

March 2017

But all they do is play games!!! Is that what your child/ren do when they use a digital device? Does this worry you?

With the start of a new school year comes lots of excitement about what students will be learning about, new expectations, new teachers and new roles and responsibilities. New reasons for using digital technology.

At our recent parent information night a parent popped in to ask how long students should be using devices. It is a question discussed by parenting experts around the world – with no, as yet, clear guidelines. I have included some current links to articles on the web that may help you to make up your mind on digital limits for your family:

Whatever decisions are made, being consistent is important. So is being aware of what your child/ren are doing while using technology. More information on that next month.

If you would like more information, do not hesitate to contact me.

Annette Vlaanderen
avlaa2@eq.edu.au
eLearning Coordinator & NETTS Teacher

From blog.piktureplanet.com

TUCKSHOP NEWS

Please order all lunches on flexischools – website is at the link below, if you are unsure how to use flexischools please feel free to see Sally or Ange in the tuckshop who will be happy to help you.

If your child is having a birthday you can order their birthday cupcakes at the tuckshop, this will save you time and any hassles.

Uniforms

All uniforms in every size are now available, we accept cash, credit card, eftpos, flexischools and layby.

Movie Night

On Movie Night our tuckshop will be open for drinks and snacks including popcorn from 5.30pm until the end of the movie, there will also be glow sticks available for purchase.

PHOTO DAY

CLASSROOM CAPERS – 4 RUBY

It has been a great start to the year in 4 Ruby! We have been busy this term establishing our routines, building relationships and developing our work expectations. Each day we begin by singing our Good Morning Song – We Don’t Like School, We LOVE It! It’s a great way to get everyone excited for the day! Our dance skills are also on point!

Students have been working hard to achieve their goals which they keep track of on their desks. Quick Writes each day give an opportunity to reach their writing goals as well as improve their writing stamina. We are reading The Twits in English and are working hard on writing a new chapter, playing a trick on a character in the book. We are working hard in maths, grammar and we LOVE reading. We are learning about How our Earth Changes in Science and Exploring Environments and Places in Geography.

4 Ruby are one of the lucky classes who get to have some sessions with a professional Table Tennis coach. Quite a number of students are showing some amazing skills and it is a lot of fun! We have three more sessions this term. We have had our Bike Safety training excursion at the Ashmore PCYC which was a great learning opportunity to practise some real life skills and we’ve been amazed by the StarLab incursion this week!

We cannot believe how fast the Term is going! Time flies when we’re having fun!

Mrs Katie Graham and 4 Ruby

SPORTS TALK

Congratulations!!

Congratulations to three of our grade 5 girls that were successful in making the Under 12 Years Broadwater Girls Hockey Team! Essense P, Anabell M and Keira W have all made it into a team, a year above their age group and we wish them the very best at Regionals!

Up and coming Broadwater Trial Dates …

A reminder that these trials are for Club Representative players only, they are not a come and try afternoon. If your son/daughter plays club level and is wanting to trial for the Broadwater District Team, the following sports and age divisions are approaching. Please tell them to come and see me ASAP.

11 Yrs Boys Ruby League
12 Yrs Boys/Girls Football
12 Yrs Boys AFL
12 Yrs Boys/Girls Football

Run Club …

A reminder of times …

Tuesday 2nd Break play bell (students only in yrs 1-6)
Wednesday 8am before school (all are welcome, parents, carers, grandparents, siblings!)

Want to try something new??

Why not remind your child that Aerobics has started on Wednesday lunch times? My numbers have crept up to 24, which also included 3 very energetic grade 1 boys! So why not come along and high kick it up with me on Wednesdays! Needless to say, we had a lot of fun whilst getting hot and sweaty!!

Mrs Halsall

MUSGRAVE HILL Y.M.C.A

Triscina has returned from her contracted roll within YMCA to assist with qualifications of Early Childhood Education with all of our Y staff. All our Y team within the organisation will come out with further education and will have been upskilled in their positions as an educator.

We’ve had to say a very sad good bye to Sally who has been with us from the beginning. She has moved to Brisbane and completing her Master’s in Education but she is still with our YMCA family at another service. She will be dearly missed by all of us and our children.

We are in the process of preparing for Vacation Care, we will send forms out for the holiday program once they come in. We have many activities organised for this period.

Sarah Fahey P. 07 55283490 M.0439752168 E. amh@ymca.com.org.au.

Prep in 2018

A Message from our Guidance Officer

Behaviour is Communication

Much in the same way that a smile can communicate pleasure or happiness, and a frown can communicate sadness or displeasure, behaviour is a powerful means of communication. Often when children don’t understand what they are feeling or don’t know how to express themselves in words, their ACTIONS become their language. Behaviour is a way of expressing what’s happening on the inside. According to family therapist and Therapy Coordinator at Protect All Children Today Peter Marrington, there are some effective ways of responding to and changing inappropriate behaviour. In order to respond appropriately to inappropriate behaviour we need to realise that:

• We are all different. We have different personalities, and we all respond differently. Behaviour depends on the meaning we give an event.
• Behaviours are illustrations of distress.
• All behaviour is purposeful
• The underlying causes of the behaviour need to be assessed.

Children may “act -out” (be difficult or aggressive) or “act- in” (in the form of depression, self harm, or withdrawal), but both forms of behaviour have one thing in common: they are responses to what is causing pain and distress, but the child may be as unaware as the adult of the meaning of the behaviour. When asking a `why’ question often does not necessarily lead to an appropriate reason. The child’s explanation may have no connection with the behaviour, so the answer “I don’t know” is often true!

For effective parenting, as well as giving unconditional love, keeping your child safe, and being there for your child, try these principles :

1. Be consistent
2. Be united and have one set of rules
3. Be in charge – you are the parent
4. Be appropriately involved in your child’s growth (the right balance between hanging on and letting go)
5. Balance different roles (social, work, family activities)
6. Be realistic (age appropriate expectations)
7. Give encouragement but also permission to fail/make mistakes

Joy Wheeler – Guidance Officer

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAPLAIN

Salvation Army – Patchwork Quilting

Mum’s Self Care Workshop

COMMUNITY NEWS

“This is a service provided when space permits. The school acts solely as a messenger and is not actually recommending any activities advertised”

Keebra Park High School Family Information Evening

UPCOMING EVENTS