Thursday's Tidings - 5 October 2023
TERM 4 2023 |
|
| Monday 9 - Wednesday 11 October | Qld Child Oral Health Study Examinations |
| Tuesday 10 October | Hear and Say Screening |
| Saturday 14 October | Prep Open Morning 9-10am |
| Tuesday 17 October | Nexus Arts Performance 9am |
| Thursday 19 October | Prep Transition 9-10:30am |
| Thursday 26 October | School Disco |
| Tuesday 31 October | Prep Transition 9-10:30am |
Term 4 - Week 1
Dear families,
Welcome back to Term 4 and to our new families. Gympie Central is a school with a big heart and we trust you will find the students, staff and community very welcoming.
Our end to Term 3 was tinged with sadness at the passing of Mr Thorburn and our school will be forever changed for having Mr Thorburn walk our halls. Did you know that he attended Gympie Central SS, his children attended Gympie Central and then later in life he returned to work at Gympie Central? He will be missed but never forgotten and the school is planning a small memorial for him.
Prep 2024 - Enrol Now!
Our next year’s prep numbers are growing steadily. Have you added your child to our prep enrolments for 2024? Children born between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2019 are prep age next year. Contact Mrs Cross in the office to secure your child’s 2024 enrolment.
There will also be a 1hr prep open morning on Saturday 14th October from 9-10am. Feel free to share this information with your family and contacts.
The school will then host three more prep transition sessions this term:
- Thursday 19th October 9:00-10:30am
- Tuesday 31st October 9:00-10:30am
- Wednesday 15th November 9:00-10:30am
Gotcha rewards
Students are recognised for following our school expectations; Be safe, Be respectful and Be a Learner. Staff who see the students modelling these expectations give out gotchas and when certain numbers of Gotchas are reached, rewards are earned.
25 gotchas earned - gold principal’s sticker
50 - photo on the office honour board
75 - choose a different playground for the day
100 - sausage sizzle
125 - end of term trip (or game in Term 3 and 4)
175 - phone call home from Mr C’s office
225 - end of year reward trip
It’s been fun to see the 175 kids getting a kick out of calling home while their feet are on my desk…at least it’s been fun for them ?. We’ve even got a few who’ve already qualified for the end of year rewards!
Nexus Arts Wild Weather performance - Tuesday 17th October $6 payment
A note came home today with details of the upcoming Nexus Arts performance - Wild Weather: The Crazy Scientist Strikes Back! Payment will be $6 and payment via Qkr! will be accepted as consent (no permission note required).
Richard Scholes is back with some of the most exciting experiments from Crazy Science & H2Whoa! plus new earth-shattering, lightning striking experiments that will change the way students see and feel the weather.
Students will be let loose in a science lab where discovering the mysteries of planet earth and the weather are a top priority.
The crazy scientist has devised some of the world’s wackiest experiments to explore the inner workings of the sun, cyclones, rain and clouds, but he needs some clever assistants to help him uncover the answers…
Students will be drawn into the world of crazy science as they become part of the experiments and assist Richard as he brings the power of the weather into the classroom.
P&C News
Our P&C colour run was an exciting finish way for the students to finish Term 3. Lots of colour. Lots of fun. Lots of fundraising! The prizes aren’t far away and will be distributed in the coming weeks. Thank you to everyone who helped behind the scenes and on the day.
P&C meeting postponed
The P&C meeting scheduled for next Tuesday, 10th October has been postponed. New dates will be advertised when confirmed.
Family photo fundraiser
There are only 6 spaces left for this Sunday’s family photo fundraiser. Tracey Devereaux Photography is offering the chance to have family photos taken in the school grounds here at Central. The $20 booking fee comes to the Central P&C and then families have the option of purchasing photos after the shoot is finished. More details and bookings are available at:
https://traceysphotoschool.mykajabi.com/Central
Gympie Central P&C camping weekend - 17-19 November
Oral Health Study - next Monday-Wednesday
The Queensland Child Oral Health Study (QCOHS) 2021-24 dental check-ups will be conducted at school by a specially trained dental team from Monday 9th October to Wednesday 11th October 2023. It is not too late for your child to participate. Follow the link in your invitation email and complete the consent form and parental questionnaire.
You are welcome to attend the dental check-up with your child but this is not required. Participants will receive a toothbrush pack and parents will be notified by email of the outcomes of the dental check-up. The study will provide important information about Queensland children’s oral health and dental care that will underpin future strategies to improve child dental health.
The QCOHS team would like to extend our thanks and appreciation if you have already completed the consent form and study questionnaire.
From QCOHS team
Hearing screening
Hear and Say will visit Gympie Central SS this coming Tuesday 10 October. If your child (all prep, all indigenous and a small number of other students) brought the note home on Tuesday this week, please return the consent by tomorrow to enable your children to have his or her hearing screened.
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
Student Council Fundraising
Overdue payments
Statements for outstanding payments will be sent home with students tomorrow. If you receive a statement, this means that your student has fees that are now overdue. All payments need to be finalised by 31st October this year. Our various payment options are listed below. Please contact the office if you are having difficulties finalising your overdue payments.
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.
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.
Private Tutoring
Tutoring for Primary School age from Prep to Year 6 in your home.
Hi, I am a primary school teacher with over 38 years teaching experince. I specialise in literacy and numeracy to help children with learning difficulties.
Does your child struggle to keep up in class or are they missing some of the basic foundation information? If so please contact me, Constance BE DipT Dip ChS on 0491020461. I charge $35 dollars per hour and can come to your house or the library if you live in Gympie area.
