From the Principal...
Term 4 - Week 1
Dear families,
Welcome back to Term 4! This term will see the staff and students continuing to work hard toward our focus areas of school - community partnerships and embedding our excellent teaching practices. The school is fortunate to have high quality, dedicated teacher and support staff that work every day to help our students succeed and excel.
Some key dates for this term are:
15 October (Saturday) | Prep open morning 9-11am |
20 Oct, 2 Nov and 17 Nov | Prep transition mornings |
2 November | Grandparents Day (linked in with the prep transition morning, but open to all grandparents) |
4 November | Enrichment writers’ program - High achieving Yr 2-6 students will attend and interactive online session with author Leigh Hobbs |
1 December | End of Year concert will take place here at school in the early evening |
7 December | Year 6 Graduation (early evening event) |
Prep open morning - Saturday 15 October, 9am-11am
Tell your friends about Gympie Central’s open morning on Saturday 15 October from 9:00am to 11:00am. Staff will be here on site in the prep room to speak to new families about what our fantastic small school has to offer new preps. Families can look through the prep room, check out the playgrounds and meet our staff.
School 40km zone - Watch your speed!
In a world-first road safety initiative, new speed camera technology will soon target speeding drivers at selected school zones across Queensland.
Everyone has a role in keeping our roads safe. It is imperative drivers reduce their speed to the signed 40 km/h speed limit and be aware of activity by students on or near the road. Speed cameras will only operate during school zone times at the selected schools. Parents, and carers dropping off or picking up students are urged to comply with school zone speed limits. Those who slowdown will not be penalised.
P&C Meeting - Tuesday 18 October
The next P&C meeting is being held on Tuesday 18 October at 5:00pm. Come along be part of the team that supports your children.
The P&C is hosting a Bunnings BBQ on Saturday 22nd October. If you can lend a hand for a few hours, the crew would really appreciate your help. Please contact PandC@gympiecentralss.eq.edu.au
Car park gates
It’s been quite the journey, but the gates are almost finished - we are just waiting for some replacement gates that had been damaged in transit. Once the gates are in operation, they will keep our students safer by minimising extra traffic in our carparks and act as a deterrent for locals who use the school as a shortcut.
Emergency procedures - Evacuations and lockdowns
Did you know that schools must coordinate an emergency training drill each term? The school runs either an evacuation or lockdown scenario every term - last term it was an evacuation. An evacuation is in the event of a danger inside a building, and a lockdown is in the event the danger is outside the classroom.
While there hasn’t needed to be a real evacuation or lockdown in recent years, they are a possibility and our staff and students are always well prepared.
Giveaway Items
If you have been into our office recently, you would've noticed that it has had a bit of a facelift with a new paint job, as well as some new furniture. This means that the lounges that were previously in our office foyer and now looking for a new home. If you would be interested in taking these lounges of our hands (see images below), please contact the office on 54802111.
Remember, we are here to help
Like always, if there is something that you want our support with, or if your child is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher for support. If it is not a matter for the teacher please call the front office and arrange to meet with a member of the leadership team, so we can work through things together. It takes a village to raise a child, so let’s work together.
Warm regards,
Glenn Cafferky
Voluntary Contribution - $20 per student
Reminder: Each year Gympie Central asks for a voluntary contribution from families. The contribution is used to purchase texts, paper and resources used in classroom learning. This year the payment can be made via the Qkr! app or in person at the office. Your support in paying the voluntary contribution is greatly appreciated.
Student Absence Notification System
Reminder: If your child is absent from school without explanation you will receive a SMS text message that morning to your mobile phone asking to explain their absence. Please reply (on the same day) with a simple SMS answer eg sick; specialist appointment. Alternatively, you can call and leave a message on the Student Absence HOTLINE—Telephone 5480 2166 to report your child’s absence.
Please contact the office by phone if you have any concerns regarding the message you have received.