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Issue 4 - 2021

From the Principal

Term 1 week 8

I love this week’s word of the week – courageous. It is a word with a very complex meaning. It doesn’t mean not being afraid, because in many situations that could qualify as stupidity. Courage may be feeling afraid and doing the right thing anyway. How we teach and how we parent has an impact on a child’s development of

courage. For example, a child demonstrates courage, integrity and honesty when they openly admit to doing something wrong – they know there may be a consequence for their inappropriate action, but they admit to and own their mistake. As adults it is vital that we model this for our children. Over the next couple of weeks our students are starting to complete assessment tasks in English as a culminating activity from the teaching across the term. Teachers have been teaching children the skills necessary to improve their work. Recently Mrs Schmaulke’s 5/6 class were examining how to improve a sentence from a D to an A

standard:

After “bumping up” sentences together as a whole class, children completed their own improvements and were very proud of their work.

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On Friday 19 March, our school along with many other schools and workplaces nationwide will be joining in with

the National Day of Action Against Bullying. We are encouraging all students, staff and families to show their support to stop any form of bullying by wearing orange on this day. It is important for us to have a shared

understanding of what bullying is and what it is not.

Bullying is an ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that intends to cause physical, social and/or psychological harm. It can

involve an individual or a group misusing their power, or perceived power, over one or more persons who feel unable to stop it from happening.

Bullying can happen in person or online, via various digital platforms and devices and it can be obvious (overt) or hidden (covert). Bullying behaviour is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time (for example, through sharing of digital records.

Single incidents and conflict or fights between equals, whether in person or online, are not defined as bullying.

The Bullying No Way Website has some fantastic resources for parents to access to help support their children and to share with community https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/

I encourage all of our families to consider attending the next P&C meeting which is scheduled for Wednesday 24 March at 3.15pm in the staffroom. Once we have had a fully functioning, operational P&C for a term, then we will be able to start considering re-opening the tuckshop.

Kind regards, Heidi Dallimore – Principal

From the Deputy’s Desk We are now heading toward the end the term and we continue to have high expectations across our school. We all strive to make every moment engaging, vibrant, enjoyable and focussed on learning and development with success being displayed in a variety of ways. We expect to see our students at school being safe, respectful and responsible and attend each day, trying their best (we do see this daily). National Day of Action Against Bullying. Wear Orange to show your support on Friday the 19 March. Our

behaviour focus is surrounding bullying – what it is and how it makes us feel and how we can attempt to stop it.

Gala Day. Years 5 and 6 will participate in the interschool Gala Day scheduled for Friday 26 March. It is an opportunity for our students to participate and interact with other students across the bay in different sports. If students are not demonstrating appropriate behaviour during training or at school they may not participate. Attendance. We expect students at school each day. Reasonable excuses are illness, specialist appointments,

representative sports or absences due to disciplinary action. We aim for 92% or above attendance. Has your child attended every day? Rewards Day. Students will be receiving invitations to participate in the end of term rewards day. Students must display a minimum standard of a C across classroom and non-classroom settings.

Swimming. Last day of school swimming will be on Thursday 1 April. Cross Country - Monday 29 March will be the TSS Cross-Country Day which is run inside and outside the school for various age-groups. Permission forms will be issued shortly for students to participate in the cross-country run (permission to run outside of the school grounds).

Yours in education, Phil Theofanes - Deputy Principal

School Watch Number: 131 788

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Term Planner

Wednesday’s Student Banking

Thursday 18 March Student Leaders’ meeting 10.50am in 6A classroom

Y2-6 Swim for Safety

Friday 19 March 2.20pm P-3 Parade

National Day of Action Against Bullying (wear Orange to school)

National Ride to School Day

Wednesday 24 March 3.15pm P&C meeting in Staff room. All welcome

Thursday 25 March Y2-6 Swim for Safety

Student Leaders’ meeting 10.50am

Beginner Strings workshop @ Kawungan SS

Friday 26 March 2.20pm 4-6 Parade

Years 5 & 6 Gala Day

Monday 29 March Milbi Market Trading week

Cross Country

Wednesday 31 March Turtle Reading rewards

End term Rewards Day

Thursday 1 April Y2-6 Swim for Safety

Last day of Term 1

Friday 2 April Public Holiday

School holidays start

Monday 19 April Back to school! Term 2 commences.

The TSS Uniform Shop is open for second hand school uniforms - Tuesdays 8:30-9:00am Thursdays 2:30-3:15pm.

A word from the SEP At Torquay State School we celebrate each child’s uniqueness and talents. When we look beyond the disability and see the uniqueness of each child we can see how they can bring something unique to our school and community. Please enjoy the uniqueness of this disability choir - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBhYSW0l9pU

Regards, Mieka English – Head of Special Education

Holly the Therapy Dog A Holly Update

This is Holly graduating from Puppy school.

She is still working hard at getting all of her behavior’s right to pass her Therapy Dog Training so she can come to school with Miss English. She will be popping in early some mornings so she can become accustomed to the school environment and get used to obeying the rules for school and get over her excitement about being in a new environment.

She overcame her fear of stairs last visit which is very exciting. Holly is working very hard to pass her tests so she can come and work with our students.

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Absence Line 4194 4366 or QParents App Please report any absence to the school

Please notify the school of reasons for absence. Absences (past, present and future) can be quickly and easily recorded through the QParents app! Alternatively, phone our absence line on 4194 4366. If you receive a text message, please reply as soon as possible. If you receive an absence letter, please enter a reason and return the letter so we can remove the unexplained absence from the student’s record.

All late arrivals and early departures are required to be signed in & out by a parent/carer/guardian at the Office.

KindyLinQ KindyLinQ is a FREE play based group for 3 year old children. You do not need to have a child already attending the school. Anyone from the community is welcome. If you know anyone who has or cares for a 3 year old (grandparents and carers welcome), please encourage

them to come and have a look. We open from 8.45am on Mondays and Tuesdays and close at 11.45am. You do not need to stay the whole time. You are welcome to come when it suits you and leave when it suits you.

We have a large air-conditioned space to play in as well as spending some time outside on the play equipment. Some activities include painting, puzzles, blocks, dress ups, playdough, drawing, building, creating. We also have a lovely time singing along to some nursery rhymes and songs. We look forward to seeing you.

Karen Walker – KindyLinQ Teacher

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Chappy Chat

Library We are approaching the end of term, which means library books will be due back soon. The last week to borrow books will be week 8 and they will be due back week 9.

Author of the Month - Deano Yipadee

In week 5 we had the pleasure of having Deano Yipadee visit our school. He performed for the whole school and did a workshop with year 4-6 students.

The international Kiwi Children’s Author and Musician, Deano, also

known as Mr Yipadee, is famous for his best-sellers Jingle Bells, Rudolph Smells which went to Number One in the New Zealand Best

Sellers Charts and sold out of three print runs in Australia three weeks before Christmas. Nee Naw The Little Fire Engine spent three

consecutive months in the Best Seller Charts.

Deano performs on some of the world’s biggest stages. He has collaborated, with numerous TV stars and has even interviewed

international superstars, Justin Timberlake and Ed Sheeran.

For more information or to order his books, go to www.yipadee.com The books are also in our library. Please come down and borrow them.

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Student Resource Scheme payments & Account Statements

Account Statements have been sent home last week. Please phone Chantelle or Heidi on 4194 4333 to discuss

financial hardship and/or payment plan options. All information is confidential. Payment methods available are:

✓ Cash

✓ EFtpos

✓ CentrePay (set up at the office)

✓ BPoint (refer to invoice/s)

✓ Direct Deposit - Torquay State School (CBA),

BSB - 064-426, Account - 0009 0056, reference ‘Student name, Activity/Invoice#’

Give QParents a try. Once installed it is very easy and convenient to use.

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Free Microsoft Office 2016 for Windows

All Queensland state school students and staff can now download multiple free copies of the Microsoft Office 2016 suite to their personal home computers and mobile devices. You can choose to install Office 2016 or upgrade from Office 2013. It is only to be used on devices which do not have the Managed Operating Environment (MOE) build installed. Do not follow these directions to install Office on a MOE device.

Please note: If you currently have Office 2013 installed, you can update to Office 2016 by following the same process. Link: Free Microsoft Office 2016 for Windows.pdf

Facebook

Bringing our classrooms to the community via our school’s Facebook page

Most families are already aware that Torquay State School is on Facebook. We use this social media to share with our community many of the everyday activities that occur within our school.

It also provides us with another form of communication with our parents, regularly posting information and

photos about school happenings, reminders, updates and general information about things that have been happening in classroom.

By “liking” our school Facebook page you will then receive updates and postings regularly through your Facebook

newsfeed.

It is a great way of staying in touch with all that is happening in and around our school.

Visit us on visit and see what is new at https://www.facebook.com/TorquayStateSchool

Uniforms Our Uniform Shop is open for second hand school uniforms - Tuesdays 8:30-9:00am Thursdays 2:30-3:15pm.

School hats are $12 and are available from the Uniform Shop.

New uniforms are available from Sauers Clothing Supplies, 1/5 Torquay Rd, Pialba.

Please note Queensland Education’s “No Hat No Play” policy – if students do not have a hat they must remain under cover for play time.

We say: Not now, not ever, together

The Queensland Government is committed to the elimination of domestic and family violence. The Government’s Third Action

Plan highlights that by taking action and working together, we

can end domestic and family violence in our communities. Our school is committed to modelling and building relationships that are based on equality and respect, free from violence and abuse. You play a critical role in teaching respect.

More information and access to support services for domestic violence are available on the Queensland Government website.

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Outside School Hours Care – Holiday Program

https://www.helpinghandsnetwork.com.au/torquay-state-school/

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*** Community Information ***

Hockey

The Hervey Bay Hockey Association season has hit off again this month with the first round of fixtures commencing on March 12 with Junior U15 teams playing on Friday afternoon's and followed by Senior Mens Reserve Grade on Friday night. On Saturday morning there is Hookin2Hockey, U12 and Minkeys with Senior A Grade Men and Women playing that evening and Senior Womens Reserve Grade on Monday nights. It's not too late to join in and the association invites anyone interested to play this exciting Olympic and Commonwealth sport. The Hockey Complex is located on Tavistock Street and there are various Hockey Programs for juniors picking up a hockey stick for the first time to more experienced players and all new junior players will receive a starter pack that includes a stick, ball, shin pads and mouth guard. Eligible families for the Queensland Government FairPlay vouchers may redeem the voucher when registering online. For any enquiries contact HBHA Development Officer Phil Taylor on 0434 641 457 or email herveybayhockeyinc@hotmail.com and Facebook ‘Hervey Bay Hockey Association’.

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Employment Opportunity