From the Principal...

Term 3 - Week 1

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Welcome back to Term 3. Gympie Central has had a great start to the term and everyone has appreciated the opportunity to start teaching and learning in our familiar routines. 

Schools are still operating in a manner that manages the risks associated with COVID-19. These include:

• Students have returned to on-site learning
• While students do not have to maintain social distancing, staff are required to physically distance
• Students and staff who are unwell must not attend school and should remain at home until well
• Schools are maintaining health and hygiene measures including regular handwashing and sanitising, increased cleaning of classrooms, in particular high touch points, regular cleaning of playground equipment and physical distancing of adults
• Parents and other visitors are only to enter school grounds for essential business. Parents are still asked to observe physical distancing measures, not to gather in groups and not to enter classrooms
• Swimming, excursions and camps can recommence, provided the venues have an approved COVID Safe Industry Plan. Junior swimming is scheduled for the last three weeks of this term. Unfortunately, the senior swimming program will not proceed due to lack of available bookings.

The staff appreciate your support in maintaining these measures to minimise the risk to students, staff and families in the Gympie Central community.

Parades

The school will recommence a full school parade each Friday. However, in line with advice, these will only be attended by students and staff.

Sports Day - Friday 24 July (Staff and Students Only)

Gympie Central will host our annual sports day next week, Friday 24 July. This will also be a students and staff only event. While the events will be the same as a traditional sports day, there are no district or regional carnivals and therefor no opportunity to qualify for a Gympie District or Wide Bay Region team.

Students are encouraged to wear their house colours on the day (and still must bring their wide brimmed hat).  Sports hats (house colours) are available and these can be purchased by contacting the office.

Writing Enrichment

Starting next week, students who have demonstrated a flair for writing will be commencing an enrichment program with Ms Vacher. Each week these students will spend between 40-80 minutes honing their skills before commencing a project where they will get to put their skills into practice.

Flashing Lights on Lawrence Street (and School Street)

It’s been great to see the school zone lights in operation on Lawrence Street. They certainly stand out! The School Crossing signs (flags) have been reinstated on the O’Connell Street crossing and in the last week, I have received notification flashing lights will also be installed on School Street. The timeline is for the lights to be installed by June of 2021, but it will be another valuable road safety improvement for Gympie Central.

Camps are proceeding

The Year 5 and Year 6 camps are scheduled for mid and late this term. Further information including dates for parent information meetings will be communicated to families in the coming fortnight.  Please return the Consent and Medical forms immediately if you haven't already done so.  Full payment for the Year 6 camp is due by 12 August and full payment for the Year 5 camp is due by 21 August.  Please also take the time to review the “What to Bring” checklist to ensure your child is prepared for camp.  Camps depend on minimum numbers attending, so it would be appreciated if you contacted your child's teacher immediately if your child is not attending camp for any reason. Thank you for your prompt attention to this.

Religious Instruction

Students who have permission will recommence weekly Religious Instruction next Wednesday afternoon.

School Opinion Survey - Closes 5pm Friday 17 July

This year’s School Opinion Survey has been modified to seek feedback on how the Department of Education and our school managed learning during the learning at home phase. It also contains questions linked to specific school operations here at Gympie Central. The survey closes at 5pm tomorrow and can be accessed using the link below. All responses to the survey are anonymous.

Student Council

This year the Student Council has set itself a challenge of reducing waste across the school. Congratulations to the Student Council who raised over $200 on the Pyjama Day fundraiser at the end of last term. These funds, along with a generous donation from Gympie Bunnings, has enabled the purchase of a compost tumbler and worm farm.

The school would like to thank Bunnings for their support of Gympie Central. They really helped the Student Council get this project started!

School Photos 

School photos will take place on Tuesday, 11 August.  More information will be provided soon. 

Have a great week!

Prep Enrolments

Reminder:  We are inviting all current Gympie Central State School families and community members with a child or children starting Prep in 2021 to contact the school and add your child’s name to our waiting list for 2021.

Children are eligible for Prep next year if they are born between 1 July 2015 and 30 June 2016.  Although the new school year is six months away, it is important that we have as much information as possible to manage our enrolments. Our first Prep information session will be held on Wednesday 19 August.