23 February 2018

Newsletter Articles

UPCOMING EVENTS

February/March 2018

PAYMENTS DUE

PRINCIPAL’S NEWS

Road Safety

A number of local residents and community members have recently contacted the school to express their concerns about student and parent’s road safety.

I ask that all parents / carers model safe and lawful behaviours for their children including:

• Cross at the traffic lights at the corner of Maundrell Terrace and Horn Road where it is a safe place to cross such a busy road. Please do not cross in front of the school on Maundrell Terrace.
• Do not park across resident’s driveways.
• Observe the School Zone speed limit of 40 km per hour.
• Observe that the drop off and pick up zones are for 2 minutes only and in this time motorists are to remain with their car. If you need to leave your car please utilise a car park.
• If your child has not arrived at the pickup area (Horn Road) you will be asked to move on and return to this area to allow traffic to flow. Staying past the permitted time congests traffic flow at pick up times. Please also be courteous to our school staff as their actions are to assist the traffic flow and student safety.
• Remind students to move directly to the pickup area after school and to watch for your car.
• Utilise a sign with your child’s surname attached to the sun visor. This assist teaching staff to have call your child ready for pick up. Please use this template at the link below to make a sign for your visor.

International Baccalaureate – Primary Years Programme

Aspley State School is an Independent Public School. We are dedicated to be strong, to determine the future of Aspley State School through providing the best learning opportunities for all students.

Through teaching the Australian Curriculum (what we teach), schools define their pedagogical approach (the way we teach). During the last 4 years Aspley State School has worked to develop an inquiry based pedagogy and previously used the Curiosity and Powerful Learning pedagogical approach. This approach values inquiry based learning to support students to achieve and use deep thinking which is applied to a line of transdisciplinary (across subjects) learning. This approach to learning and the Aspley Exit Statements for Students can be further strengthened by professional development for staff to achieve the practices and standards of the International Baccalaureate Programme – Primary Years Programme.

At Aspley State School we continue consultation about future candidacy, for Aspley State School to become a World International Baccalaureate School, through the implementation of the Primary Years Program. If this is to occur it would be a four year implementation period where school students are able to learn through structured inquiry and acting to support learners to achieve the goals of the IB Learner Profile to be: inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open minded, caring, risk takers, balanced and reflective.

More information about the International Baccalaureate Program is on their website and I encourage parents / carers to take some time to read this information.

In 2017-2018 many teachers and school council members participated in study tours to IB schools. Teachers have enjoyed the opportunity to participate in a workshop to use the IB planner and hear from the Australasian International Baccalaureate coordinator to learn more about an IB education. In November 2017 parents / carers and community members were able to attend a presentation from school leaders of Brisbane International Baccalaureate schools to support their understanding of the International Baccalaureate Programme.

More information for parents is at the International Baccalaureate website:

• What is an IB education?

• Learn more about the benefits of IB

• The IB Learner Profile:

• IB Curriculum

Book Pack Supplier Feedback

Aspley State School procures a commercial supplier to provide Book Packs for families at the school. A percentage of the sale of each Book Pack is donated to the Aspley State School Parents and Citizens’ Association.

To assist the supplier to ensure they provide a quality service to the school community, I invite parents / carers to complete a survey to give feedback about their experience with the company and the supply of Book Packs in 2017-2018.

Eyes Open Social Media Safety

It was wonderful to see so many parents attend the Aspley State School Community Coffee evening where parents increased their awareness and skills to support their children in on-line engagement in social media safety. Thank you to everyone who was able to attend.

Presenter Tricia Munn gave us an in depth perspective of the cyber world and how to keep our children safe. Through education, skills and an increased awareness of social media tools we are able to increase the safety for young people and ourselves.

Students in Years 3-6 will participate in a one hour social media safety workshop with Mrs Munn on Tuesday 27th February. Earlier this term students have written an iPromise statement at school which defines their engagement in the on-line learning world. Students at Aspley State School are also guided by The Aspley State School Digital Citizenship Agreement that will be provided to families next week. The Responsible Behaviour Plan for Students also guides student behaviour.

DEPUTY PRINCIPALS NEWS

Student Leader Investiture Assembly 2018

Congratulations to the students, parents/ carers and staff on a wonderful Leadership Investiture Assembly held on Monday 12 February 2018 for the Round 1 Senior Leaders and Captains.

The captains and leadership inducted on the day did themselves, their family and the school proud and are demonstrating the abilities in a range of tasks every day.

Round 2 Senior Leader process

In Week 10 of this term, students in Year 6 will have the opportunity to identify their Expression of Interest for Round 2 of the Senior Leader process. Students and parents interested in this process are encouraged to refer to the Aspley Exit Statements for further information.

In line with the Leadership process from Round 1, students will be required to submit an Expression of Interest and a written statement for assessment by a committee of staff. Students successful in Round 2 will be provided with the Booklet after the school holidays, with the Induction of these students to take place on Assembly in Week 5, Term 2. The next round concludes the leadership processes for this year.

Team Membership – Library, Tech and Hospitality teams

Over the next three weeks, students will have the opportunity to express their interest for the Library Team (Years 2-6), Tech Crew (Years 4-6) or Hospitality Team (Years 3-6).

The process for nominations will include an Expression of Interest (including a written piece), shortlisting by staff and may include an Interview to determine selection to these positions. In recent years, demand has far exceeded the number of positions available in each team, so many students may not be successful in obtaining a position in a team.

Further information may be provided directly to the students involved.

Year Two writing activity

I have been spending time in some classrooms from Prep to Year Two this term getting to know how the students are learning. This week Year Two put me to the test with their writing activity. The students have been practising writing procedures. My job was to follow the instructions to produce an origami bookmark. I am happy to report that, with some encouragement, I was successful. The quality of the writing was of a very high standard and was easy to follow. I have yet to decorate my bookmark to turn it into a page monster. I may need some more written instructions Year Two!

Donna Boaler, Deputy Principal

ARC (Aspley Reading Club)

If you have accepted the invitation to be enrolled in the Reading Club and submitted your co-payment, your child would have received a note giving instructions on setting up a device so that they can access Sunshine Classics at home. The note has their new user ID and password and it is highly recommended that the students work through the books as part of their home reading.

The books have been set up from easy texts to texts at the students reading level and further beyond. The reason for this is we would like the students to be able to read texts easily and do the activities set up independently. When they have completed one level, they progress to the next and so on. If you find that the levels are either too easy or too difficult, please contact the class teacher so that they can adjust the texts accordingly.

Please ensure that your child is using their new user id and password to login to the program. All other access has been terminated.

The Reading Club commences on Tuesday 27 February at 8 am in the library.

Please see below the dates for the Reading Club for Term 1.

Please keep the dates handy for your information. If there are any changes, it will be advertised through the school Facebook page and the school newsletter.

For the new parents to the Reading Club, please ask your child/ children to make their way to the school library. They will be met by school staff who will assist them through the activity. After their reading session, they will be walked up to the waiting area until the 8.30am bell in time for them to return to class. Children from the OSHC program will be collected from OSHC and only released at 8.30am when the school song for ‘time to go to class’ plays.

If there are any questions, please send me an email on canto3@eq.edu.au.

Mentors

The mentors had an information session, on Tuesday this week, outlining strategies to use during the reading sessions with the young readers. They asked some well thought about questions during the session. Our 34 strong team left the session very confident and eager to help at ARC.

Prep at play

You might have noticed the changed play areas for the Prep children. We have taken a proactive approach by offering a range of opportunities for the children to explore, engage actively and imaginatively with their peers, objects and the environment to enact ideas and create responses to situations which arise during their interactions with their peers. Through this interaction they learn to problem solve, use words to express their feelings and needs.

The photos below paint 1000 words!

The children rotate in small groups to play on the play equipment in the Prep S area (playground from Maundrell terrace will be moved to Prep S) and in the grassed area outside the classrooms.

Research shows that imaginative play promotes positive social interactions.

Can you help, please?

Thank you to the Spink family for donating the seats so that the children can rest during playtime.

The teachers are wanting to add to the exploration activity by building a fairy garden. a dinosaur garden and building a dress up collection for imaginative play.

To support this we like to ask for any donations of:

• Change of season means change of wardrobe – so when you are spring cleaning before September please think of us!
• Raised garden beds for the fairy garden (see example below – from Bunnings)

• Decorative Pebbles for the Dinosaur Garden (see example below – from Bunnings)

Sports Department News

Cross Country / Great Race 2018

The Aspley State School Yr3-6 Cross Country will be held at Ben Lomand Park on the 23rd of March 2018. As a lead up to our cross country, the school will be running the ‘Great Race’ as a fitness / training extension for all students to improve on their endurance. The Great Race will commence next week (week 6) on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday starting at 8am and finishing at 8.20am (on the school oval). All students are encouraged to participate from Prep to Year 6. (Parents are welcome too!) For every lap around the oval you complete, you will receive a token (for your year level). At the end of the 4 weeks, all the tokens are counted and a winning year level is awarded the Great Race trophy. Good luck everyone!

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.

Metropolitan North Swimming

On Thursday 22nd February 2018 Aspley State School students made us all proud with their participation and achievements.

We would like to congratulate Luke Macdonald and Elain Chu. Luke won his 100m and 50m breaststroke, he won the 200m individual medley and Luke achieved 3rd in the 100m freestyle. Luke has now been selected for state trials for all four events and also the relays. Elaine Chu came 1st in 50m Butterfly, 2nd in 200m individual medley, 3rd in 100m breast stroke and 3rd in 50m freestyle. Elaine was also selected to go to States to represent Aspley in all events. The Aspley State School community wish both students all the best. Well done!

Curriculum News

Japanese

It is my good fortune to be the Japanese teacher this year at Aspley State School and so far it has been fantastic to meet so many enthusiastic students who have managed to continue to remember and use their Japanese language skills. Thank you Mina Sensei for doing such a great job!

Japanese this year includes students from year two up to the year six students. They will be introduced to many language skills, vocabulary, sentence structures and all the interesting cultural aspects one can experience in Japan. Luckily for the students at Aspley State School we are also able to welcome Japanese students into our lives, exchanging language and cultural knowledge. On Monday we had students from Urawa Secondary School visit and the students were able to ask questions in class whilst they sat in amongst the students.

Grade four students also had the great opportunity to be involved in activities and games that the Urawa students had organised such as using chopsticks to pick up beans and making origami throwing stars. Senior students also had the chance to take care of and be buddies to a Japanese student which allowed them to spend time interacting less formally during lunch breaks with a buddy. So far it has been a fun and interesting beginning for me at Aspley State School and I am sure students will continue to progress with enthusiasm!

Science

The term has started with lots of hands on investigations. The Science labs have been a hive of activity with bubbling yeast, inflating balloons, toppling spaghetti towers, creepy crawlies, dipping thermometers, tapping Ooblecks, mixing and sorting. Students from year one to six have been engaged in a variety of different topics whilst acquiring knowledge and skills. These topics include:

Music News

Aspley Choral Program

In 2018, Aspley State School will be continuing 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).

Junior and Boys Choir have now commenced rehearsals for 2018 and will continue rehearsals on the same day each week throughout the school year (unless notified of a change).

Senior Choir will commence rehearsals at the beginning of Term2 on Monday 23rd April, 2018. 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 students 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 Week 2 of Term 2 of 2018, working towards a variety of performances through-out the school year.

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

Students in Years 2 through to Years 6 interested in participating in the Aspley Choral Program have now received the necessary parent information letter, outlining the finer details of participating in the Aspley Choral Program. Student Resource Payments and choral contracts are due no later than Friday 23rd February 2018 into the school office.

Both Mrs McIntyre and Mrs Napur are highly motivated and keen to see the choral programs work at their 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.

CURRENT AND UPCOMING MUSICAL EVENTS - TERM ONE 2018

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC NEWS

2018 ASPLEY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TOUR – FRASER COAST

Instrumental Music students who participate in the Senior Concert Band and the Senior String Orchestra ONLY have now received a parent information letter regarding the 2018 Aspley Instrumental Music Tour to the Fraser Coast in September 2018. This is our eighth Music Tour since 2003 and all were a huge success, with students enjoying this exciting three-day tour immensely. We are asking that families return the expression of interest and deposit slip to the school office no later than Friday 11th May 2018. This Music Tour will be a tremendous experience for all involved and we look forward to your child participating in this exciting and unique event.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TIMETABLE

A reminder to students to ensure that you refer to your instrumental lesson times on the timetable that your instrumental music teacher has distributed to you for your weekly lessons and ensemble rehearsals. Please ensure that you arrive at your instrumental music lessons on time, ready to start music making with your instrumental music teacher. Please note the following changes (outlined on your timetables) for the following fortnight:

1. 7th March – Senior Concert Band will be on with group lessons to be held at 9.30am and 10.00am ONLY on this day, as Ms Jabs is involved with a Craigslea State High School Excursion through-out this school day.

Happy Music Making to you all

The Aspley Music Department

Student Council News

Ice Blocks on Sale

The Student Council will be selling Mr Juicy ice blocks each Monday at second break. 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.

Early Act

The Aspley State School Early act Club was established in 2015 with the support of Aspley Rotary Club members, Margaret Buchannan and Brian McIntyre.

The aim of the club is to promote student community service to benefit others within our school, local community and overseas.

Previous projects conducted by the club include supporting The Smith Family Christmas Appeal, a book drive to support less fortunate students in neighbouring Pacific islands, sponsoring a student in Zambia and various other school-based activities.

The club meets on a fortnightly basis on Thursdays at 1st break in the Year 4G classroom. During these meetings, the Early act members are either involved in planning and preparing for upcoming events or out in the playground running activities that benefit their fellow students.

The club is open to all students in Years 4-6 and new members are always very welcome.

Camp Australia News

P&C News

REMINDER:

The P&C AGM is being held next Tuesday 27th February, 7pm in the library. All members of our community are invited to nominate for and elect the executive and committee chairpersons, and be a part of the discussion about our projects for 2018 and the future. To nominate for any of the positions, please see the school website for the nomination form.

We are seeking year level representatives (preferably one from each class) to help support the communication between parents and the P&C and the school. If you can help, please email AspleyPC@gmail.com with your name, contact details and year level/class.

UNIFORM SHOP:

• The uniform shop normal trading hours – Mondays 8 to 9.45am; and Thursdays 3 to 3.45pm.
• Volunteers always appreciated. Please sign up here:

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. Ingredients and recipes are supplied if you’re looking to learn some new skills.
• New volunteers needed: Some of our regular volunteers will not be able to assist us soon, so we desperately need some more hands to help in the Tuckshop. It really is a great way to meet some new friends, and you get to work in lovely cool air-conditioning. No skills required – just an enthusiasm to serve. An hour or so commitment once a week or fortnight. If you can help, please speak with Jane, email Tuckshop.AspleySS@gmail.com or go to:

EVENTS UPDATE:

The P&C have a number of community and fundraising events already underway and we need your support and help. If you can assist, in any way, please contact us either via email AspleyEvents@gmail.com; or use one of our sign up links.

EASTER BAKE STALL – THURSDAY March 29th 8am-10.30am

• After last year's aftermath of TC Debbie, we are keen to give this another go! We will be looking for bakers to help feed our hungry parents and friends for the Prep - 2 Easter hat parade. Please check out the help we need at:

MOVIE UNDER THE STARS – FRIDAY April 20th 5.30pm to 9pm

• Keep your fingers crossed that the skies remain clear for this wonderful evening event. We need lots of help to ensure the success of this major event, so please volunteer now at

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 or go to the link below.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:

TUESDAY 27th FEBRUARY 7pm: P&C AGM Meeting for 2018 – meet in the library. Parking available in the staff car park, entry off Maundrell Terrace.

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!

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 our Facebook Page (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

Welcome back to Sparrows Soccer 2018! Last Thursday we had our first training session for the year. Eager Year 4, 5 and 6 students braved the heat to participate in ball skill drills and finished the session with a friendly match between year levels. It was great to see fabulous sportsmanship throughout the morning. Most importantly, our sincere gratitude to all the parents who give their time to support the program. For Sparrows to be a success we require all participants to be on the oval to train at 7:30am. Players, volunteers and spectators must sign in whilst attending the session and students need to wear shin guards and soccer boots. Sparrows are always in need of old soccer boots to exchange between our students. If your household has any boots that your children have outgrown, we would kindly appreciate donations.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Jessica Watson “Indigo Blue”

Queensland Academy of Creative Industries

Queensland Academies Creative Industries Campus (QACI) Open Day
Saturday 3 March, 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Discovery Workshops available for students currently in Years 8 and 9.
Located at 61 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove
Register at the QACI website below.

Rhee Tae Kwon Do

Vipers Net Ball

Zillmere Library

Dr Seuss birthday Storytime – Saturday 10th March 10.30-11am. ‘It’s Dr Seuss’s birthday! Join the celebrations with a fun Storytime and craft activity inspired by the wonderful characters created by Dr Seuss. Ideal for children aged 3-7 years. Please phone the library to book on 3403 1455.

Over the next month your local library is holding some exciting events and activities. This includes Science workshops, homework clubs and activity tables and Harry Potter Trivia afternoons.

Please see attached information about the above events. We hope to see you there!

Girl Guides

Come and Try Girl Guides, voted Best National School-Aged Activity for 2017 by What’s On 4 Kids! See for yourselves for FREE this Sunday 25th February.

You can also follow our journey of empowering the girls and young women of Aspley District Girl Guides on Facebook at:

If you have any trouble with this link simply search for Aspley District Girl Guides on Facebook. Follow us to keep seeing our updates in your regular newsfeed and most importantly share anything awesome to help others connect with us.