Thursday's Tidings - 20 April 2023

Dear families, 

Welcome back to Term 2 and welcome to our new students and their families. This term the school continues its focus on its 2023 priorities:  

Targeted Student Feedback and School-community engagement supporting transitions

Gympie Central is continuing its focus on providing students effective, targeted feedback. We do this by helping students understand the assessment task requirements, then checking in on their progress work during the term and providing specific feedback to improved particular areas of their work. These successful practices have been in place for the past couple of years and we will continue this journey. 

School-community engagement supporting transitions 

The school will increase its visibility in the community by taking part in and hosting community events. We will continue working with community organisations plus secondary and early education providers to promote successful transitions into primary and secondary school. 

School ANZAC Day Service - Monday 24 April at 2pm - Families welcome 

Parents and families are invited to join our students next Monday 24 April, when Gympie Central will commemorate Anzac Day with a special 30-minute service at 2pm in the school parade area. This service will be led by the school captains and will be attended by special guest, Adel Amin, from the Gympie RSL, as well as Councillor Bruce Deveraux.  

Gympie ANZAC Day Town March - Tuesday 25 April 

Gympie Central students always join the Gympie schools, to participate in the town march, representing our school and showing pride in our school. We’re wanting as many students as possible to join us again this year - our uniform stands out and looks fantastic as we march with all the schools and groups.  

For students able to join us on ANZAC Day - 25 April, Gympie Central will join local schools and organisations to march in the Gympie ANZAC Day Town March along Mary Street to Memorial Park. Details are: 

Event:               Gympie ANZAC Day Town March - Staff will march with students. 
Date:                  Tuesday 25 April
Time:                 Gather outside NAB in Mary Street at 9am, for a 9:30am march. Students not required to stay for the service following the march. 
Uniform:     Full school uniform including school or navy blue hat. A small supply of spare school hats will be available. 

It will be great to see as many students as possible join their peers on this day. For any students who have family medals to wear, these can be worn on the right side. 

Parade performances 

This term each class will do a small performance on parade. Our first group is 5/6B on Friday 28 April. Families are always welcome to come along to each parade. These performances are always a lot of fun and it’s fun to see the performers in each class! 

Uniforms - navy jumpers in Winter 

Students wear our uniform with pride and with the cooler months approaching, navy jumpers are the required winter uniform. Our uniform jumper is navy blue. The uniform shop has jumpers (with logos) for sale. However, a navy-blue jumper without the logo is appropriate, as we head into the cooler months. Supporting our uniform policy shows pride in our school and helps children feel part of the school community. If you’re missing a jumper (or hat/ lunchbox/ water bottle!), the lost property is stored at the base of the stairwell at the admin end of A Block. 

The P&C will host a 2nd hand (and new) uniform sale on Friday 5 May from 8:30-9:30am. There will be: 

• navy school jumpers (new and 2nd hand) 
• school shirts (new and 2nd hand) 
• 2nd hand navy track pants 

If you have any old uniforms that have been outgrown, the P&C will gladly accept donations.

The P&C is also starting planning for its Mother’s Day stall. If you have any items that would work in a Mother’s Day hamper, or if you are crafty and can contribute items, the committee would really appreciate these donations when they put out the call next term. 

Prep Open Morning - Saturday 13 May 9:00-10:30am 

Gympie Central SS will host a Prep Open Morning on Saturday 13 May. This will give people who are starting to think about their child’s 2024 prep classroom, a chance to look around and ask questions. Families can join staff and parents to explore what Gympie Central can offer their child. 

Gympie Central will participate in a School Review in Term 2 

Gympie Central State School will take part in a School Review from 16 to 18 May. Click on the link below to read more about what’s involved in a school review. The review team will consist of three experienced educators and it’s likely they will be out and about around drop off or pick up time. They might even have a chat with you. 

Parents of Year 6 students are encouraged to consider where your child will attend high school in 2024. Gympie SHS and James Nash SHS will have a number of combined information sessions during Term 2, and families are encouraged to attend one of these sessions, then commence the enrolment process. Dates and locations of the sessions will be emailed in the next fortnight. 

CCTV installation to improve safety 

Contractors will commence the installation of CCTV cameras around the school in the coming weeks. This will provide another deterrent to community members who sometimes use Gympie Central as a thoroughfare.  

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. 

Student Council Fundraiser

This term, the Student Council will be back out selling ice blocks on Fridays. They will be on sale at 2nd break and there will be $1 and $2 options available.

2023 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.

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.

Qkr-instructions.pdf

Qkr-instructions _pdf 1.05 MB

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.

Crossing Supervisor