Thursday's Tidings - 25 February 2021
TERM 1 |
|
| Fridays 26th Feb - 19th March | Yrs 5 & 6 Interschool Sport Sessions |
| Monday 8th March | Senior Swimming Lessons commence |
| Monday 8th March | P&C AGM Meeting, 3.30pm |
| Wednesdays 10th - 31st March | True Relationships Sessions |
| Thursday 1st April | Easter Bonnet Parade |
| Friday 2nd April | Public Holiday |
Term 1 - Week 5
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Interschool Sport
Friday afternoon sport kicked off last week and our year 5s and 6s bussed around town to netball, soccer, league and some stayed for volleyball here at Central. The students had a great time playing against students from Monkland, Chatsworth, South, and West. They’re looking forward to doing it again this week. Remember to bring water bottles tommorrow - it was hot out there!
2021 Student Leaders
Congratulations to our student leaders who were awarded their badges at last week’s parade. The student leaders have already shown their maturity and sense of responsibility by being excellent role models this year. This year the student leaders are:
School Captains: Charlotte, Phoebe, Thomas and Savannah T
Student Councillors:
3/4D - Lilybelle and Declan T
5/6S - Nicole and Paige T
6B – Riley P and Samantha T
House Captains:
Nash - Joel and Amelia M
Fisher - Jack and Ethan L
Dunstan - Kayden-Ella and Dylan P
In fact, all of the Year 6s can be proud of their start to 2021. They have set the expectation for our younger students and this has been proudly noted by staff from across the school.
Parent Teacher Interviews - Weeks 7-10
Teachers will be offering parent teacher interviews during the last four weeks of this term (between 8th to 31st March). These 15 minute interviews are offered in order for parents to meet the teacher, ask questions and discuss how your child is settling into the 2021 school year. Class teachers will send home notes as well as emails with their available times. Families are encouraged to take this opportunity to work with teachers to get the best outcome for your child/ren. Parent input is valued and open communication between home and school is an important element to students succeeding.
True Relationships Sessions – Weeks 7-10
This year Gympie Central State School is hosting personal development and relationships education sessions delivered by True - Relationships and Reproductive Health educators. These will take the place of the Life Education sessions. Letters were forwarded home with each child on Monday. The lessons are being subsidised by the school but there is a cost of $6 per student. Consent forms and payment are due by Monday 8th March. Qkr is our preferred payment method.
Whilst parents and carers are children's primary source of relationships and sexuality education, supporting children's healthy sexual development is a responsibility that is shared by schools, parents and carers.
Children and young people who receive comprehensive sexuality education and respectful relationships education (inclusive of sexual abuse prevention education) from an early age are more likely to:
- feel good about themselves
- understand and accept changes
- appreciate and accept individual differences
- are more likely to make informed and responsible decisions later in life
- are less vulnerable to sexual abuse
- understand appropriate and inappropriate behaviour
- talk about their feelings and experiences
Relationships and sexuality education is an important curriculum responsibility for schools. The True All School program is evidence informed and mapped to the national curriculum. True's approach to education involves respectful facilitation, free of discrimination and mindful of the diversity that exists in different relationships and families. All program content and activities are age-appropriate and align with the curriculum.
See the links to the brochures below for a description of the content covered by the experienced educators. (Year 5s and 6s will be covering the My Lifecycle lessons).
The P&C is a valued and important partner to Gympie Central State School. The AGM is scheduled for Monday 8th March at 3.30pm and all interested parents and community members are invited to come along and see how you can support your children through the P&C.
Instrumental Music
Instrumental Music student resource scheme and loan agreement forms as well as payments are due by TOMORROW. Payments can be made using Bpoint or Qkr.
Swimming Program – Classes 3/4D, 5/6S and 6B
Students in classes 3/4D, 5/6S and 6B will commence their swimming program commencing from 8th to 17th March. Letters were forwarded home last week. Activity consent forms and payment of $25 per student is due by Thursday 4th March. Preferred payment methods are Bpoint or Qkr! Junior swimming will be held towards the end of the year.
Thanks Chappy Leanne and Bunnings!
Chappy Leanne recently contacted Bunnings to ask for support to rejuvenate our school’s vegetable garden…and Bunnings have come through!! Elaine from Bunnings is a great supporter of local schools and Bunnings have generously donated a great amount of gardening tools, plants and soil. Chappy can’t wait to start working with kids and getting their hands dirty!
Vision Screening Test for Prep Students
Children’s Health Queensland (CHQ) is running a vision screening program for Prep children in all Queensland schools.
A registered nurse will visit Gympie Central State School to provide this free screening service for our Prep children. Good vision is important for children’s educational, physical and social development. The earlier a problem is picked up, the better the treatment outcomes.
A letter and consent form will be forwarded home with all Prep students on Monday. Please return the completed consent form to your child’s teacher by 12 March.
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.
Have a great fortnight!
Warm regards,
Glenn Cafferky
Tuckshop Volunteers Needed
All Tuckshop orders will need to be placed via Qkr! only. Reminder: Tuckshop will be available every second week during term 1. The P&C is seeking volunteers to assist in the tuckshop which will help share the load. Please contact the school if you can help out.
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.
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.
One of the many ways I can support students and families at Gympie Central is through different programs. We have a grief and loss program to help students understand that our journey through life is full of different seasons.
Seasons for Growth
Over 300,000 children, young people and adults have participated in Seasons for Growth programs in Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales.
Seasons for Growth is an innovative, evidence-based change, loss and grief education program that draws on the metaphor of the seasons to understand the experience of grief. It builds the knowledge and skills necessary to strengthen social and emotional wellbeing following significant loss by:
- Exploring the impact of change and loss
- Learning about effective ways to respond and adapt.
Participants learn that they are not alone in their experience of change, loss and grief, and are able to build their communication, decision making and problem-solving skills within the context of a safe and supportive peer group learning environment.
All Seasons for Growth programs are grounded in sound, person-centred educational principles.
As such, our programs have been shown to be a very effective education intervention. The programs do not provide counselling or psychotherapy.
Things to note:-
- It is suggested that 3 months has passed since a tragic loss.
- The group is formed in a small group format 4 – 8 students.
- I will endeavour to ensure students are grouped with those of similar circumstances and loss.
- Not all expressions of interest are guaranteed entry into the program this year, of course all will be considered for future programs if they do not fit into this cycle.
- More detailed information will be required to ascertain suitability to the program & what level of the program.
- There is a minimal cost (maximum $20) to purchase the journal the students will use and they are able to keep on completion.
Seasons for Growth offers children and young people a safe space to come together and share their experiences of change and loss. Please note a parent request must be received and a signed permission to speak with the Chappy form submitted. For further information about the Seasons for Growth program you can go to https://www.goodgrief.org.au/seasons-for-growth.
Please don’t hesitate to call me if you would like to discuss this program further or if I can assist in any other way on 5480 2111 or email me at leannew@chappy.org.au.
Enjoy your fortnight.
Chappy Leanne
Brekky Club is on
every Tuesday and Thursday morning
as well as every 2nd Friday (off newsletter week)
Qkr Payments Are Here!!
Reminder: Qkr is the new cashless payment method available at Gympie Central State School which allows parents to pay for items without coming into the office. Qkr is a mobile phone app designed for Australian schools. It can be used to purchase school uniforms, pay for upcoming excursions and events as well as Tuckshop.
Instructions on how to download the app are shown in the link below.
Amamoor Arts & Craft Fair
27 & 28 February 2021
A number of artisans and crafts people from Amamoor are getting together
later in February to bring you the Amamoor Arts and Craft Fair. This event will
take place at the Amamoor Hall on Saturday 27th February (9am to 4pm) and
Sunday 28th February (9am to 3pm). Click on the link below for more information.
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Grandparents Social Group
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Gympie International Food
and Culture Festival
Harmony Day celebration will be held at Nelson Reserve Gympie
on Friday 19th March from 4-8pm.
The event is being organised by Gympie Girl Guides and Gympie Community Action with support from Gympie Council.
We need lots of food stalls selling foods from as many different countries/cultures/regions as possible. CONFIRM ASAP
We need performers from all different backgrounds. CONFIRM ASAP
Home cooks without commercial kitchens or food safety qualifications will need to be available to prepare food under supervision of a qualified person in a commercial kitchen during the day.
All food sellers will need to provide their own equipment onsite such as shelter, storage, containers, $change, cash box, etc.
This will be a 'single use plastic free' event - plenty of other options available such as bamboo, paper, etc. Drink cans and bottles are allowed and will be collected by Gympie Girl Guides.
If you are able to help in any way please get in touch ASAP. Email leonora.cox@gmail.com