9 February 2018

Newsletter Articles

UPCOMING EVENTS

February/March 2018

PAYMENTS DUE

PRINCIPAL’S NEWS

Volunteers at Aspley State School

Volunteers are greatly valued at Aspley State School. The contribution of parents and school community members enriches the learning opportunities for students.

In order to volunteer at Aspley State School and work with children, other than your own, you will require a positive notice of a Working With Children Card (Blue Card) from the Queensland Government. Once you have received your Blue card please email a copy to the school office and carry this card with you whilst volunteering at school.

Blue Cards are free for volunteers. More information and Application Forms are on-line at:

Community Coffee Evening – Open Eyes Social Media

Parents / carers, teachers and students are invited to attend an informative Community Coffee Evening on Wednesday 21st February 2018 at 6.30 pm – 8.30 pm. At this information night Open Eyes Social Media will give parents, children ranging from Year 3 – Year 6, and teachers a clear understanding of why they need to protect themselves and what tools are available to help create more secure accounts and use of these sites.

Presenter Tricia Munn will provide the opportunity to learn and network whilst contributing to a fabulous movement towards building a more social media safe and cyber-harassment aware society.

The presentation will start at a very basic level to ensure that the fear of the unknown is taken care of first and that the “cyber-lingo” throughout the presentation will be understood. It will also inform about the devices that children have access to and how they can be monitored better and set to avoid inappropriate material and unwanted attention.

Open Eyes Social Media has a safety vision to bridge the gap between children’s love of social networking and their parents understanding of the potential implications of them being unmonitored. They aim to assist parents to feel empowered to guide their child in adopting protective behaviors and children to see social networking with their safety in mind.

To RSVP to this event please contact our administration team at admin@aspleyss.eq.edu.au

Harmony Day

Harmony Day is on celebrated in Australia on Wednesday 21 March 2018. To celebrate Harmony Day at Aspley State School the students are invited to wear either, cultural dress, the colour orange, or, their school uniform to assembly to signify the respect for the many cultures that come together in our school community on Monday 19th March 2018.

Students will write a message to support Harmony Day and a paper chain of messages and orange balloons will be displayed on the school fence during the week. Students will work with resident Artist, Wendy, to paint a message of harmony and this will include the faces of children on the walls leading to the school office.

We ask for a gold coin donation on Monday 19th March 2018 to support the painting of a wall mural at the school to reflect the multicultural respect at Aspley State School.

QParents Online Parent Portal

The QParents web and mobile application provides an easier way for you to interact with our school. Parents will have secure, online access to their child’s student information, anytime, anywhere, through a smartphone, tablet or computer.

Q Parents allows parents to connect instantly with our school to access and manage their child’s student information, including:

• Attendance and absence details, as well as the ability to notify the school of an absence
• Academic report cards (June and December)
• Viewing unpaid invoice details, payment history, and making payments online
• Viewing and updating personal student details, including medical conditions and address
• Enrolment details

Q Parents will assist both staff and parents in sharing and responding to information in an efficient and effective way. It won’t replace the traditional ways you communicate with our school, but it will provide another way to communicate with us!

Parents of Prep students by now should have received a letter containing your students EQ id number and an email with a unique invitation code. Over the next week students in years 1-6 who are new to the school and have not yet received a letter or invitation code will be sent this information. Once this has been received you will be able to sign up to the Q Parents online portal. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact our administration team at admin@aspleyss.eq.edu.au or 38639111.

For more information please visit:

Road Safety

Horn Road - Pick-up/ Drop-off Zone

There have been some unsafe behaviour by some motorists during pick-up and drop-off on Horn Road, Aspley. As a reminder to all parents:

• Cars are not to park over resident’s driveways while they are waiting for their child/children.
• Cars are not permitted to park in a No Parking Zone as signed on Horn Road between the hours of 7-9 and 2-4. This is causing traffic delays, and is a dangerous hazard.
• Cars do not enter the carpark prior to the 3pm bell song. Students are released from class at 3pm and depending on where their classroom is located some of them do not get to the carpark till a few minutes later. Our recommendation is that parents wait until after 3:10pm for pick-up.
• There are 4 dedicated bays for pick-ups. NO cars are to be parked in these spaces prior to 3pm. It is a 2 minute drop off and pick up area and the driver must remain in the car and only get out to ensure children are seat-belted appropriately.
• If you are parked in a marked bay for longer than the signed 2 minutes and your child is not there, you will be asked to move on and you must exit the carpark as directed. You will then need to make your way back to the entrance area from Horn Road.
• Most importantly, if someone else is picking your child up, they will need to be informed of the procedure. The last thing you want is for them to be fined or for the student to become distressed due to the change in arrangements.

You should always:

• park legally;
• avoid dangerous manoeuvers such as U-turns and three-point turns;
• give way to pedestrians, particularly when entering or exiting driveways;
• avoid using the school car park or driveway;
• avoid parking in the school bus bay; and

Dangerous driving behavior around schools puts children and the community at risk.

The Horn Road Drop off and Pick up zone is a Brisbane City Council controlled area. As such, anyone using this area is bound by Council rules and regulations with parking. To ensure the safety of our students at all times in this area we would appreciate your cooperation with the procedures we have in place. Brisbane City Council officers and the Queensland Police Service inspect this area and traffic infringements may be issued to people not adhering to the signed directions.

FYI: Brisbane City Council - Common parking offences

“Stopping in a signed no stopping zone”, 167 of Part 12 of the Regulation: $121.00
Keep your child safe and be a good role model!

ToonSchool

The ToonSchool workshops were highly successful to provide students with strategies to build their resilience, whilst enhancing their individual skills and confidence. It engaged students from Years 1-6 in a world of creative drawing and building their cognitive and social skills, through participation in an activity to build their self-esteem. We received some wonderful feedback about the students of Aspley State School. Joffa, our cartoonist, was impressed with the student’s enthusiasm, thinking skills and their engagement in this program. Well done Aspley students!

DEPUTY PRINCIPALS NEWS

Student Leadership Investiture – Special Assembly

A Special Assembly will be held next Monday 12 February from 8:50am in the Hall to induct our Senior Leaders and Captains for 2018.

As a milestone occasion on the school calendar, all students from Years 1 – 6 are requested to wear their formal uniform to school next Monday.

Reserved seating will be in place for the invited guests and parents of the Senior Leaders/ Captains. Parents and extended families are welcome to attend although some seating restrictions will be in place. Please sign in at the hall to attend this event.

2018 Captains attending National Young Leaders Day

On 2 March 2018, Mrs Griffith-Baker and Mr Smith will be accompanying all of the 2018 Captains to the Halogen National Young Leaders Day forum at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

This event is open to primary school student leaders and is designed to develop students’ confidence and capabilities to lead their projects in 2018.

Speakers confirmed for this year’s event include:

John Coutis: Without the lower part of his body, John delivers an amazing story of overcoming adversity. John has shared his story with over 6 million people around the world. To view a Channel 9 Inside Story feature on John

Harrison Craig: Harrison first made his mark on Australia in 2013, taking out the second series of The Voice Australia. At a young age, Harrison found that singing was a remedy to his stutter, becoming a place of peace and contentment.

Jack Heath: Jack is a bestselling and award-winning author with Scholastic Australia. He has written twenty action-packed books for kids, including the popular 'Danger Series'. His books have been translated into several languages and optioned for film and television. Jack fell in love with reading in primary school, when an ear infection left him unable to do much else. In high school he was frustrated by the slow pace and lack of excitement in most teenage fiction, so he started writing his own novel. It was published while he was still a teenager, and it soon became an international success. Jack’s books are so good that Mr Smith has two of them in his Office – 500 minutes to danger (2017) and Countdown to danger (2016).

BOOST – Underway in Years 3 and 5

This week, our cycles of support and enrichment (BOOST) began for Years 3 and 5.

The focus for BOOST instruction this term is on strengthening students’ reading comprehension. This will be accomplished through targeted teaching in a range of strategies from QAR, CARS & STARS, Guided Reading and Reciprocal Reading.

Students have been grouped according to their identified performance in diagnostic reading assessments in smaller groups, in line with modern research.

Further information regarding the BOOST program will be showcased in future editions of the Newsletter, and is available upon request from Mr Smith and/ or the staff in Years 3 and 5.

Active School Travel

Active School Travel is a program designed to encourage families to reduce traffic congestion in school zones and actively travel to school. It’s all about creating healthier, more active students and parents, greater road safety awareness among students and families, and safer streets and reduced traffic congestion at the school gate. Actively travelling to school means using sustainable and healthy travel modes such as walking, cycling, scootering, carpooling and public transport. Parking your car away from the school and walking for the last part of the journey is also counted as Active School Travel!

Waiting areas

A reminder to all families to remain in the designated waiting areas until the bell rings at the end of the day (Eastern side of the hall and in the garden facing Maundrell Tce). A majority of the outdoor areas are used for learning activities such as buddy reading. Having unfamiliar faces in those areas is distracting to the students and can be a cause for concern. Your co-operation with this is essential as we place a high level of importance on child safety and learning.

The Heart Foundation

Queensland Walking survey has been extended until Feb 15.

What inspires you to walk? What stops you from walking more? We want your views on walking, so we can advocate on your behalf for better walking environments in Queensland.

Queensland Walking Survey - insert link:

Sports Department News

School Sport

Gala Day Sport Preferences: Just a reminder to all students in years 4-6 to hand in their Gala Day Preferences Form to their classroom teacher as soon as possible.

District Sport

Important District Trial Dates Coming Up:

Any students that would like to attend these trials will need to see Mr Schmidt to get all the necessary permission forms and information. Parents you can access the Met North website for all details for any of the sports trials this year for North District.

North District Swimming Carnival 2018

Congratulations to the following students who have made the North District Swimming Team and will be competing at the Met. North Swimming Championships –

Luke M (grade 4)
Luka N (grade 6)
Elaine C (grade 6)
Kate F (grade 4)
Duncan F (grade 6)
Luci M (grade 6)
Samuel C (grade 6)

Netball

Congratulations to Hannah Y (grade 5) who made the North District Netball team.

Music News

Aspley Choral Program

In 2018, Aspley State School is hoping to continue with its strong traditions in choral training. Mrs McIntyre and Mrs Napur will be conducting the various choral ensembles at Aspley State School which include - Junior Choir (Year 2 and Year 3); Boys Choir (Year 3 – Year 6) and the Senior Choir (Year 4 – Year 6). Through-out 2018, choirs will be involved in assembly performances, workshops, local performances and music evenings.

All choral ensembles have now commenced rehearsals this week for 2018 and will continue rehearsals on the same day each week throughout the school year (unless notified of a change).

Please take note of rehearsal days and times for the various choral ensembles below:

**Please be aware that there will be a slight change to the running of our Senior Choral Ensemble for the 2018 school year. With Aspley State School performing the ‘Annie’ Musical in 2018, Mrs McIntyre will be focusing on this musical performance through-out Term 1 with the Year 5 and Year 6 student using Senior Choir time on a Monday as ‘musical rehearsal time’. However, Senior Choir will then commence as per usual, opening up to all Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 Boys and Girls in Term 2 of 2018, working towards a variety of performances through-out the school year.

Students in Years 2 through to Years 6 interested in participating in the Aspley Choral Program will receive a parent information letter, outlining the finer details of participating in the Aspley Choral Program in the very near future.

It is important that children understand that participating in the choral program is a weekly commitment, which they are expected to attend all choral rehearsals. Students who participate in the choral programs will have their lunch outside the music classroom from 1.15pm till 1.30pm before commencing choral rehearsals which will be held in the Music Classroom. Choral rehearsals conclude at 2.00pm, upon which time students’ return to normal classroom routine.

Both Mrs McIntyre and Mrs Napur are highly motivated and keen to see the choral programs work at its highest levels and are looking forward to your child participating in the 2018 Aspley Choral Program.

MUSIC PERFORMANCE UNIFORM

All students participating in Junior Choir, Senior Choir, Boys Choir, Senior String Orchestra, Junior Concert Band, Senior Concert band and Stage Band will receive a letter in upcoming weeks outlining the Aspley Performance Uniform for the 2018 school year. The Aspley Performance Uniform will be available for purchase through the Aspley Shop.

The Aspley Performance Uniform is worn by all performing ensembles at Aspley State School (excluding Beginner String students). Performing students are required to wear the following Aspley Performance Uniform – Long Black Dress Pants, Long Sleeved White Dress Shirt, Black Socks and Black Shoes.

Continuing String/ Woodwind/Brass/Percussion and Choral students should have the necessary uniform requirements.

CLASSROOM MUSIC NEWS

A reminder to parents and caregivers to please ensure that your child/ren brings the following necessary equipment to the music classroom for their weekly music lesson to ensure a successful learning experience:

Year 1 – My Mini Music Book Level 1
Year 2 – My Mini Music Book Level 2
Year 3 – My Mini Music Book Level 3, Black Belt Recorder Student Book 1 (Yellow), Recorder, Pencil Case
Year 4 – My Mini Music Book Level 4, Recorder Magic Book 1 (Yellow), Recorder, Pencil Case
Year 5 – My Mini Music Book Level 5, Black Belt Recorder Student Book 2 (Red) PLUS Recorder Magic Book 1 (Yellow), Recorder, Pencil Case
Year 6 – My Mini Music Book Level 7, Recorder Magic Book 1 (Yellow) PLUS Recorder Magic Book 2 (Red), Recorder, Pencil Case

All students My Mini Music Workbooks will be kept in the music room in readiness for their weekly classroom music lesson.

Thank you for supporting your child’s music education.

CURRENT AND UPCOMING MUSICAL EVENTS - TERM ONE 2018

Please take note of the 2018 Ensemble Rehearsal Schedule. Please note the commencement date of these ensemble rehearsals for 2018 (please note rehearsal schedules will remain the same, unless otherwise notified):

Please take note of upcoming musical events for Term One below:

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC NEWS

Congratulations to our beginner instrumental music students for a fantastic first week of lessons with students participating in the Jumpstart programs with both Ms Jabs and Ms Jerram. Our beginners were involved in an intensive program, achieving very exciting results, focusing on notation, good technique and ensuring students have a good understanding of caring for their instrument.

Continuing Instrumental Music Students commenced their regular weekly lessons and ensembles this week with respective teachers Ms Jabs and Ms Jerram. Please ensure that if you require a copy of instrumental music lesson tiemtables, that you come up to the instrumental music studio to receive a copy.

Our Instrumental Music Teachers are Ms Christine Jabs (Woodwind/Brass/Percussion – Monday & Wednesday) and Ms Amanda Jerram (Strings – Thursday). Please remember that our Instrumental Music Teachers not only teach at Aspley, but are also working at other Education Queensland schools including Aspley East, Craigslea and McDowell Primary/High Schools throughout every school week.

All questions regarding the instrumental music program are to be directed to our Music Coordinator, Mrs McIntyre and if necessary, emails/questions will be forwarded on to the appropriate Instrumental Music Teacher.

Thank you all for a wonderful start to the Aspley Music Program for 2018 and happy music making to our young choralists and instrumentalists.

BEGINNER SUCCESS!

Our beginner Woodwind, Percussion and Brass students have made a fabulous start in a short time. Most are playing their first five notes and becoming very confident! Thanks to parents for the support and patience!

The Aspley Music Department

Student Council News

Ice Blocks on Sale

The Student Council will be selling Mr Juicy ice blocks each Monday. Ice Blocks will be $1.00 each and are for sale near the tuckshop. Funds raised from ice block sales throughout the year support the year six tour to Canberra. Thank you for your support.

Mad Hair Day

On Friday, 16th March 2018 students will enjoy Mad Hair Day! Children are invited to wear their hair in weird and wonderful ways. For this privilege, children are asked to donate a gold coin. This is an annual event at Aspley to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation. Please note that no hairsprays are to be bought to school and hairstyles are to be completed at home prior to arrival at school.

Nelma Wright

Camp Australia News

P&C News

NOTICE IS GIVEN to all interested parties of the Aspley Community and Aspley State School P&C Members that the Annual General Meeting for the Aspley State School P&C Association will be held on Tuesday 27th February 7pm, in the Library, Aspley State School. The Agenda for the AGM will be made available on the school website.

At this meeting, members of the P&C will nominate and vote for Association officer bearers, and nominate for sub-committee membership.

The following describes the key functions of the Association Office bearers:

• The President provides leadership and is the accountable officer of the Association. Their role is to act as a representative of the Association, encourage communication between the Association, School administration and the community and encourage participation in the Association. The President will be the Chair of meetings and conduct them in an efficient and timely fashion, being familiar with the rules, constitution and other documents governing Association operations. The President is an official member of the school council for the School, if one exists.
• The Vice-President provides essential support for the President and possibly other members of the Executive Committee. They will Chair those meetings from which the President is absent and carry out any duties that have been delegated by the President. They should also be familiar with the rules, constitution and other documents governing Association operations.
• The Secretary collates the agenda papers for each meeting, (including subcommittee reports) and assists the President in preparing an agenda for each meeting. They prepare and present minutes of the Association‘s meetings, record and deal with correspondence in/out as directed and generally organise, record and maintain information pertaining to the activities of the Association.
• The Treasurer has the overall responsibility for the financial management of the Association, including all subcommittee accounts. In their role they must comply with the Accounting Manual for P&C Associations in all respects. They prepare an annual budget and Annual Operational Plan for the Association in consultation with other members of the Association’s Executive Committee. It is the Treasurer's responsibility to keep accurate accounts of receipts and expenditure.

The sub-committees include:

• Aspley Swim Club: This sub-committee co-ordinates the Swim Club run in Term 1 and Term 4.
• Building and Maintenance: This sub-committee works to assist the principal to identify building and maintenance work that can be supported by the P&C through working bees and seeking business and community donations.
• Aspley Spirit (Community events & fundraising, including Aspley Music): This sub-committee is involved in communications, events, and fundraising (including grants and sponsorship). Previously, it has been separated with 3 distinct chairs, but in 2018 it is hoped that a new, energised group of parents and carers will form a cohesive group to plan and co-ordinate the years events. Year level representatives will be sought to enhance the communications between the P&C, School and all year levels.

TO NOMINATE for any of these positions and committees, the nomination may be made:

1. in person, by the Nominating Members, at the relevant meeting, or
2. if the Candidate cannot be present at the relevant meeting, by giving the Secretary, before the meeting, a nomination in writing signed by the Nominating Members and the Candidate

ALL CURRENT MEMBERS are advised that your P&C membership lapses at the AGM, and therefore a new application form must be completed (available on the school website).

NOTICES:

UNIFORM SHOP:

• The uniform shop returns to normal trading hours from Week 2 – Mondays 8 to 9.45am; and Thursdays 3 to 3.45pm.

TUCKSHOP:

• The Tuckshop menu is available on the school website. The preferred method of ordering Flexischools, where you will be able to identify what is available on a daily basis.
• Thank you to the parents who are supporting our Aspley Bakers’ Club on Monday morning. If you are interested in being a part of this, please contact Jane on Tuckshop.AspleySS@gmail.com or drop by the tuckshop Tuesday to Friday.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:

TUESDAY 27th FEBRUARY 7pm: P&C AGM Meeting for 2018.

CROSS COUNTRY COFFEE VAN: Friday 23 March – 8.30am to 11.30am. Jumping Bean Café will be on-site at Ben Lomond Park to keep parents and friends caffeinated. Please support the businesses that support us!

EASTER BAKE STALL: Thursday 29th March – 8.00am to 10.30am (coinciding with Prep to Year 3 Easter Hat Parade). Jumping Bean Café will be on site to serve hot and cold drinks. More info to come.

MOVIE UNDER THE STARS: Friday 20th April – 5.30pm to 9.00pm – Save the date!

MOTHER’S DAY STALL: Thursday 10th May 8am – 2pm Planning is already underway with this event, and our organisers would love your support with the following donations:

• Succulent cuttings
• Succulent potting mix
• Small glass jars/ teacups / anything succulents could be planted in
• Flower Seedlings
• Potting mix
• Pots for seedlings
• Egg cartons
• Bakers – fudge/truffles/ any other goodies suitable for the Mums
• Any enthusiasts to take care of the seedlings in the lead up to the stall.

If you can help with any of the above, or would like to help on the day of the stall, please email AspleyEvents@gmail.com

Feel like you don’t know what’s happening or would like to share a community notice?

OPT-IN to Aspley Spirit Communications (email AspleyPC@gmail.com) to receive a weekly update on upcoming events and news, or See the link below (you can view the posts on this page without having a Facebook account.

Art News

Welcome to 2018 once again, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the lovely children of Aspley school and I am passionate about providing an enriching art experience for them in 2018 ! But why is Art important in the holistic development of our precious and impressionable children...

For more information on Aspley State School Art Classes please select the below link

Thanks
Artist Wendy

Sparrows Soccer

Aspley State School’s Sparrows Soccer Program returns for another year, starting in Week 4 (Thursday 15th February 2018).

Sparrows Soccer supports the development of football abilities of boys and girls from Years 4 to 6.

Participation in Sparrows involves attending weekly training which is held on Thursdays before school (7:30am until 8:15am) during Terms 1–3 (weather permitting).

Students wishing to participate in the Sparrows Soccer Program in 2018 need to return the Participation and Code of Conduct permission slips to Mrs Molloy in Prep M no later than Friday the 9th of February 2018.

If further information is required, please contact Mrs Molloy via email emoll28@eq.edu.au

COMMUNITY NEWS

Vipers Netball

Want to play Netball this season? 2018 Sign On is OPEN! 8yrs to Senior players! All skill levels welcome. Vipers Netball Club train at Aspley State School. Head to our online website

Rhee Tae Kwon-Do

Young Engineers

Kinetic Kids

Tennis Gear

Go Sports

Join us for the fun!! Learn a new game or improve skills.

CRICKET : Grades 1-4 commencing 13th February 7.45-8.30am.

To Register go to the link below and click on Register Online