2 December 2016

Newsletter Articles

UPCOMING EVENTS

December 2016/January 2017

PRINCIPAL’S NEWS

Safe and Supportive School Environment

At Aspley State School staff work hard to assist students to develop strong skills to engage and work together productively and to build productive relationships between students. Our caring staff, like the parents / carers in our school community, have high standards of the behaviour expected from our students at school and whilst representing our school. In my experience, children who have strong connections and a positive relationships, will not bully each other. This is why it is vital for teachers to explicitly teach social skills and support students to get to know and understand their classmates. School staff take seriously all reported incidents of student conflict and work to address small matters which create conflict, before patterns of bullying can emerge. The student body at Aspley State School act to be respectful, caring and thoughtful of each other. School staff act to provide our young people opportunities to develop skills and provide support if they experience any concerns with their relationships with others. As a parent/ carer if you have any concerns for your child and their relationships with other students, I ask that you speak to your class teacher for assistance.

BConnected 2017

Thank you to parents/ carers from children in years 4-6 in 2017 who have submitted the forms to indicate if their child is either:

• continuing in iPad classes or
• joining BConnected in 2017.

If you have indicated that your child has an iPad and is bringing that to school, then they have been already been placed in a class with other children who also have devices available to them.

If your child was in an iPad class in 2016 and continues in this program then you will pay the $110 levy as the ongoing commitment of this program, in the final year of 2017.

If your child is joining the BConnected Program and is bringing an iPad to assist their learning then they will be required to supply the list of materials as per the year level book list.

Class Lists 2017

Planning class composition is a complex process and is done with great consideration for a number of factors including: student achievement, learning styles, pods of highly capable students, balance of gender, making new friendships, behavioural considerations and BConnected. Whilst class lists are being made with the student enrolment information at hand should student numbers change then this may necessitate classes to be restructured after the 8th day of school in 2017. On the eight day of school, a census determines the staffing and resource allocation to the school for 2017.

If students are not in attendance by the first day of school being Monday 23 January 2017 I ask that you complete a form to indicate that your child will be returning to school, and in routine attendance by Friday 3 March 2017. This advice is very important to our resourcing.

On Tuesday 6 December 2016, students will receive a note to advise them of the classes that are planned for 2017. On the morning of Wednesday 7th December 2016 students will go to their class and after rolls are marked then they will go to visit their new teacher, where possible. The two teachers transferring in are not available on this day. This opportunity gives students a morning to visit their new class and teacher/s ready for 2017.

Class lists will be displayed at the hall from next Wednesday 7th December 2016 from 12 noon until Friday 9th December 2016 at 3.30 pm.

2017 International Study Tours

In 2017 Aspley State School will proudly host two study tours for students from Japan. I ask that our school families consider to host one student. There is a strong desire to host these students solely with our school families. A flyer has been sent home to students to ask for support for the host families for the next study tour.

• 7-13 March 2017 we will host 20 students from Shimonoseki Junior High School.
• 27th August – Friday 8th September 2017 we will host approx. 25 students from Ritsumeikan Junior High School

Creative Generation –State Schools Onstage

Creative Generation - State Schools Onstage (CGEN) 2017 will celebrate its thirteenth year as Queensland's largest youth performing arts event at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre with four performances on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 July. More than 1700 students from Prep to Year 12 will represent state schools from across Queensland.

CGEN aims to mentor and foster the next generation of performers and provides opportunities for them to work with and learn from professional artists. This annual entertainment event has launched the professional careers of many students who have gone on to star in theatre, television and musical productions.

Nominations for CGEN 2017 are now open. For further information on how to nominate see the nominations page.

In 2017 I have planned an excursion where 50 students (year 3-6) from Aspley State School can attend this performing arts experience on Friday 14th July 2017!

School Watch - Keep a watch on our school these holidays!

With the holidays fast approaching, we need you to look out for after-hours crime in our school. There continues to be community groups including Camp Australia who operate vacation care and use the hall. Other community bookings are planned for the hall during the vacation. If you see anything suspicious at Aspley State School, please remember to call the

School Watch number – 13 17 88.

The School Watch Program is a partnership between Education Queensland, the Queensland Police Service and the State Government Protective Security Service. It aims to reduce vandalism, theft and arson in Queensland schools.

Leann Griffith-Baker
Principal

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL’S NEWS

SPECIAL ASSEMBLY – WEEK 10

Please be advised that there is no regular Assembly on Monday 5 December 2016. Instead, we will be holding a Special Assembly at 2pm on Tuesday 6 December 2016, to farewell the Year 6 students, introduce the 2017 Captains and make presentations to conclude 2016.

Parents are welcome to attend, particularly the Year 6 parents and parents of students who are being recognised.

YEAR 5 ASSISTANCE AT PREP ORIENTATION MORNING

Congratulations to the 2017 Round 1 Senior Leaders on their efforts to support the Prep Orientation Day held on 30 November. The feedback from the new parents was very positive and your manners, help and caring attitude were appreciated by all involved.

CRAIGSLEA SHS IMMERSION DAY

Thank you to the staff and students of Craigslea State High School for inviting our Year 5 students to the annual Immersion Day held earlier this week. From all reports, the students enjoyed seeing “what High School is like” as well as participating in some learning experiences delivered by the High School staff.

HEAD OF CURRICULUM

Apple Exclusive Buying Night

The Apple Store at Chermside are offering Aspley State School parents/guardians exclusive access to their store after hours to conduct an Apple Retail Education Event. As well as providing parents/guardians with information about the iPad’s and answering any questions you may have, parents will also have the opportunity to purchase iPads and accessories at discounted prices. The Apple staff will even help to set up the device, saving time in the new school year.

The proposed date for the evening is Tuesday 6 December 2016, however a minimum of 15 participants need to register attendance for the event to proceed. If the event does not go ahead, we have been assured by Apple that they will offer the same service to Aspley parents when they enter the Chermside store during normal business hours.

MUSIC DEPARTMENT NEWS

CONGRATULATIONS – STAGE BAND ‘FLASH MOB’

Congratulations to our Stage Band for their fantastic flash mob performance last week! The students and Ms Jabs loved sharing their music making with the wider school community. The school children just loved the performance!!

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC RECRUITMENT PROCESS FOR 2017

Parents, please ensure that the following letters for your children commencing in the Aspley State School Instrumental Music Program for 2017 are returned to the school office as soon as possible. These letters and payments were due on Friday 25th November:

• Instrumental Music Program Enrolment Contract;
• Acceptance Offer;
• Student Resource Scheme Participation Agreement Form;
• Education Queensland External Request for Equipment Loan Form.
• Associated Payments to participate in the Instrumental Music Program for 2017

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC NEWS

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC STUDENT RESOURCE SCHEME – PARENT INFORMATION LETTER/STUDENT RESOURCE SCHEME PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT FORM

All children (beginner 2017 instrumentalists and continuing instrumental music students) participating in the 2017 Aspley Instrumental Music Program have now received the Student Resource Scheme Parent Information Letter and the Student Resource Scheme Participation Agreement Form.

It is a requirement that every child in the Instrumental Music Program pays a charge of $40.00 per student per year (regardless of how many instruments learnt) and $80.00 per school loan instrument. If you are using your own instrument in this program, you do not pay the $80.00 instrumental loan charge. However, the $40.00 charge must be paid.

To pay for the Instrumental Music Student resource scheme, please complete the Participation Agreement Form, including preferred payment option, and return it to the school office as soon as possible. Payments made by cash, cheque or credit card can be sent to the school. To enable payment by QParents/BPOint or BPay, the form must be returned to the school office and the school will generate an invoice on receipt of your Participation Agreement From. This invoice will provide the payment reference number to be used.

Full payment was required by Friday 25th November 2016. Failure to make this payment will result in the withdrawal of your child from this program for 2017.

We value your support and with it, we look forward to your student enjoying, and achieving success in the program.

SAFE HOLIDAYS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS

To our wonderful music families, on behalf of Ms Jabs, Ms Jerram and Mrs Macca, we would like to say thank you so much for an incredible year of music making with our talented young choristers and instrumental music students! What a year – Music Tour, Albany Creek Uniting Church performance, Singfest, numerous choral and instrumental music camps, music evenings – just to name a few of the performances and activities our music students have participated in!

Thank you to our families for supporting our young musicians and choralists in their musical endeavors! Your support means the world to your children and to the Aspley Music Teachers also.

We wish you all a very safe and happy holiday & kids, keep up the singing and playing!

Happy holidays to you all

Happy Music Making
The Aspley Music Team
Mrs Macca, Ms Jabs and Ms Jerram

LIBRARY NEWS

Britannica School Survey

Please have a look at the survey and take the opportunity to respond to it. Links are available on Facebook and the school website. Many of the Prep, Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3 classes had access in class over the last couple of weeks, so please ask them for their opinions if you did not access Britannica School at home.

Book Fair

Thank-you to everyone who supported the Book Fair. We will have earned more than $1800 in commission for this event. This will be used to purchase items for use in classrooms or the library in the New Year.

I have had a couple of late orders where parents have paid online BUT the student had not collected the items from the Fair. As the fair is now returned I am not able to fill any orders that have not been collected, but will have to order them for delivery.

Returns

Borrowing has ceased for all classes, so please ensure that any school books still at home, are returned to the library by Friday 2 December.

Hope Francis
Teacher-Librarian

2016 ASPLEY SWIMMING CARNIVAL

On 29th November 2016, Aspley School held its’ swimming carnival. A good day was held by all.

The age champions were:

The winning House was Oxley on 1279 points:

SCHOOL BANKING

STUDENT BANKING

Wednesday 30 November was the final day for student banking this year. The school will not be taking any student banking in the last week of school.

Student banking will restart on Wednesday 3 February 2017. Deposits can be made at any Commonwealth Bank through the holidays or save up your money for the first school deposit in 2017.

Have a wonderful festive season.

PREP C GARDENING

Prep C children have been loving and exploring our wonderful new vegetable and herb garden beds. Some students have written about what they have been doing.

CHARLIE WENDT 5F

This year 5F was lucky enough to participate in the annual Tracy Davis Christmas Card Competition. The theme was “What Christmas Means to me”. I drew Santa with his reindeer delivering gifts using felt pens and crayons.

I was fortunate enough to achieve a highly commended for my picture and I got a $20 Westfield card. Thank you to Tracy Davis for hosting this competition for us all to enter. I can’t wait to see the community calendar for 2017 in the mail.

CHARLIE WENDT – 5F

JAPANESE STUDENTS HOMESTAY

CAMP AUSTRALIA NEWS

COUNCIL SUMMER READING PROGRAM

Summer holidays are fast approaching and Brisbane City Council Libraries are gearing up to run busy and exciting Summer Reading program.

Out of this world with Summer Reading at Brisbane City Council libraries!

Council’s Summer Reading program
kicks off from 10 December 2016 to 22 January 2017.

Summer Reading returns these school holidays to encourage children to enjoy the experience of reading by collecting stickers to complete their Summer Reading pocket book. Participants can collect stickers for their pocket book each time they attend a Summer Reading library event or finish reading a book. Children who have collected 10 stickers in their pocket book will receive an exciting prize as a reward!

Summer Reading offers terrific free events and activities, including:

Cartoon and writing workshops
Live performances
Music and science activities

And, it’s free to participate.

Don’t miss out on the fun! Visit your local library this summer and get reading.

For more information about the Summer Reading program, pick up a copy of What’s On in Libraries (available late November), visit the website or phone Council on (07) 3403 8888.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Free event - Sunshine Coast’s first Young Innovators’ Day

Code Club Australia, with the support of Stockland, are hosting the Sunshine Coast’s first Young Innovators’ Day on Saturday, December 10. This free event will feature interactive activities, technology, games and workshops to inspire and excite young students about future technology.

The fun-filled day, hosted by Tech Entrepreneur Lili Scout, will provide young students with opportunities to engage with drones, robotics, and coding. Students will also have the chance to snap a selfie with Chip the Robot who will be visiting the event from Sydney.

Families can seek information and advice from a number of exhibitor, including the University of the Sunshine Coast Innovation Lab, Our Little Foxes, Tech Girls Are Superheroes, and Minecraft.

The world is becoming increasingly digitised and Code Club Australia seek to provide Australian children with the skills, confidence and opportunity to shape their world. This event will be a milestone towards achieving this goal for students in South East Queensland.

There are limited spots on the day, so you will need to be quick to register. Spread the word amongst your school community to ensure that your students and their families have the chance to partake in this special event. Remember to start small, think tall; this event may provide the spark that ignites student interest in computer science and digital skills that are required for the future.

Shaw Sports Tennis Clinics