Thursday's Tidings - 30 January 2025
TERM 1 2025 |
|
| Friday 14 March | Badge Presentation Ceremony 9am |
| Tuesday 25 March | Nexus Arts Presentation |
| Thursday 27 March | Cross Country 9am-11am |
| Friday 28 March | Prep Vision Screening |
| Thursday 3 April | Celebration of Learning 2:15pm* |
| Friday 4 April | Easter Bonnet Parade & Mary St Walk |
| Friday 4 April | Last day of Term 1 |
Term 1 - Week 1
Dear families,
What a great start to 2025 here at Gympie Central! Welcome to all our new and returning families who have had their child start their schooling journey here or have moved to Gympie Central. You will find our experienced staff professional and welcoming. Our small school has a big heart.
Our 26 new preps are settling with the routines in the first few days and they will spend the first term learning about the routines and learning to work together inside and outside the classrooms. Our new students in the other years have started making connections with the Central students and are learning to navigate their way around the grounds.
Do you know any potential families?
Our enrolment numbers have increased since the end of last year and we are so very close to forming another class. It would see our class sizes reduce and more individualised attention be provided to each student with even stronger teacher student relationships. This would be an exciting outcome for the school. We count our enrolments next Thursday 6th February and our staffing is determined by this count! If you know of any families looking for a great school for their child, encourage them to get in touch with the office.
Welcome new staff
There are some new and returning faces among the staff here at Central.
Welcome to Mrs Deb Bennie who has joined the school as Support Teacher and will be focussing on literacy and numeracy during this first term. Mrs Bennie has taken over the role previously filled by Mrs Hayden who retired at the end of 2024. Mr Falconer has joined our staff as the Japanese teacher each Tuesday (4/5S and 6B classes) and we have Mrs Almaraz-Maroto joining our cleaning team. A big welcome to each of our new team members.
Ms Bec Child will continue working across the grounds. She’s easy to spot in her pink work shirts and does an amazing job around the grounds. Give her a shout out when you see her on these hot days - she even gave up her own time on the holidays to keep the grounds in check, then worked extra hard to get our school ready for the Friday afternoon open classrooms.
Priorities in 2025 - Reading and Attendance
During 2025, our staff will continue to refine the way we are teaching reading to students. We will review our resources and our teaching practices, then collaborate to implement consistent, effective evidence-based practices across our classrooms. Keep an eye out for tips, tricks and information on the strategies we will use at school, so you can support your children at home.
Students who attend school regularly, and are engaged and progress in their learning, are more likely to have better outcomes across their schooling. This year the staff will be implementing a number of strategies to promote more regular attendance.
Parade is every Friday at 9am
Our first parade is tomorrow and families are always welcome to attend. Our four school captains; Mia, Axel, Leo and Siarrah will take the reins. Awards are handed out at parade and if your child is to receive an award, teachers will be in touch to let you know prior to the day.
Celebration of Learning at the end of term
This term our classrooms will be hosting a Celebration of Learning in the final week of school. Families will be invited to visit the classrooms to look at the work your children have completed in Term 1. The Celebration of Learning will take the place of the parent information sessions. The date of the Celebration of Learning is tentatively scheduled for Thursday 3rd April at 2:15pm.
Student Leadership - Badge Presentation Ceremony Friday 14th March at 9am
Over the coming weeks, the students and staff will be electing sports house captains and student councillors. The badge presentation ceremony for these students will take place on Friday 14th March. School captains already have their badges and will lead the parade on this day.
No tuckshop in Term 1
Due to water damage in the tuckshop and the required repairs there is no tuckshop in the near future. The school has stopped the water damage occurring and now is in the process of seeking funding for the refit.
Fair Play Vouchers
Remember that if your child is going to play a sport outside of school, you might be able to access the state government’s Fair Play Voucher. More information available at https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/sports/funding/fairplay
Kind regards,
Glenn Cafferky
QParents
QParents has launched at Gympie Central SS!
It’s great to see that so many parents have registered for QParents already. If you have not received an invitation, please advise us immediately.
Gympie Central will be starting to use QParents as a means of gaining digital consent for excursions and camps later this term to reduce the amount of paper notes that are sent home. You will need to be registered for QParents to enable your digital consent access.
If you need assistance with the registration process, please click on the link below or contact the office on 5480 2111 for support.
QParents Registration Guide for Parents
2025 Voluntary Financial Contribution - $20 per student
Each year, the Gympie Central State School P & C Association endorse a voluntary financial contribution of $20 per student, which equates to $0.50 per week for the entire school year. This money is a vital part of Gympie Central P&C’s commitment and helps to fund reading books, classroom resources, photocopying paper and tissues. 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.
Payment Options
We have a variety of payment options available here at Gympie Central. Our most preferred method of payment is the Qkr! app. Qkr! is a cashless payment app, which means you can make payments on your mobile phone, rather coming into the school. The Gympie Central P&C also use this app, so not only can you pay for camps and excursions, but you can also order school uniforms and tuckshop with the app.
Instructions on how to download and use the app are shown in the link below.
Other payment options that we provide are:
1. BPOINT - (for invoiced activities) Pay online or by phone using credit/debit card: https://www.bpoint.com.au/payments/dete or phone 1300 631 073
2. CENTREPAY - (for invoiced activities) We now offer Centrepay as a payment method for instrumental music and school camps. Use Centrepay to arrange regular deductions from your Centrelink payment. You can start, change or stop using Centrepay whenever you like. If you would like to set up a Centrepay payment, or know more information about this payment method, please contact the school office.
3. EFTPOS - We accept Mastercard, Visa and all Australian bank, building society and credit union cards.
4. CASH - Cash payments are still accepted. However, the school no longer has the ability to give out change, so only cash payments of the correct denomination will be accepted.
Student Absence Notification System
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.
