20 July 2018

Newsletter Articles

UPCOMING EVENTS

July/August 2018

PAYMENTS DUE

PRINCIPAL’S NEWS

International Baccalaureate (IB) -Primary years Programme (PYP)

We are very pleased to inform you that Aspley State School has applied for candidacy for the International Baccalaureate (IB)- Primary Years Programme(PYP) and has been approved as a candidate school.

This approval for candidacy provides our teachers the opportunity to engage in professional development in January 2019, access the IB resources, and, engage with other schools who share the IB mission statement.

Aspley State School is a candidate school for the Primary Years Programme (PYP). This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. IB World Schools share a common philosophy- a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education-that we believe is important for our students.

Only schools authorized by the IB Organisation can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), Diploma Programme (DP), or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that the authorization will be granted.

Read More about the International Baccalaureate (IB) -Primary Years Programme (PYP) at:

Aspley State School, like all other Australian schools, teaches the Australian Curriculum. The Australian Curriculum sets the goal for what all students should learn as they progress through their school life – wherever they live in Australia and whichever school they attend.

See an Overview for Parents- Australian Curriculum at:

We will be holding a parent/ carer information session at a date to be confirmed. This will give parents/ carers the opportunity to learn more about the PYP through engaging with guest speakers who are currently teaching in authorised IB schools.

School Summative Reports

School summative reports (report cards) were emailed to parents / carers on Friday 29 June 2018. Please ensure that you have read your child’s report. If you would like further information about your child’s learning progress, you are invited to contact the class teacher/s to make an appointment at a mutually convenient time.

Special Visitors from Kinmen County, Taiwan

Today we welcomed 16 students and two teachers from Kinmen County Board of Education, Tiawan. We are delighted to host the students in our school next week. We have a special assembly on Monday where we welcome the students, teachers and official guests from Kinmen County Board of Education and Education Qld International (EQI).

Our special thanks to the Aspley State School families who have provided a homestay to these children. This is a wonderful opportunity for the children to build new friendships, learn about a different culture and join together in education and friendship.

North District Track and Field

Our best wishes go to the students who have been selected to represent Aspley State School next Thursday 26 and Friday 27 July 2018 at the North District Track and Field competition to be held at MacPherson Park, Bracken Ridge. Mr Schmidt and Mrs Molloy will supervise students on the day.

Go Green!

On Friday 27th July 2018 students from Aspley State School are invited to participate in a free dress day where they wear green to show support for the school and P&C initiatives to increase our actions as a school to reduce, reuse and recycle. This term the year 3 students will lead us to become Eco Warriors and show us how to comb and sort classroom rubbish, collect food scraps and establish composting processes. The Early Act have already helped us to reduce the plastic in lunchboxes (Thursdays) and encourage us to have litter-less lunchboxes that use reusable containers that are washed and reused.

Go Green! on Friday and bring a gold coin donation to support our efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of the Aspley State school community.

Annie Jnr

The cast and crew of Annie Jnr are very excited about the forthcoming performances of Annie Jnr to be held in the school hall on Friday 3 August 2018 to commence at 7.00 pm and Saturday 4 August 2018 commencing at 3.00 pm.

Tickets are $10.00 each and are available from the school office. Tickets are selling fast, so don’t delay in purchasing.

Canberra Trip

Year 6 students are excited to prepare for their trip to Canberra departing on Sunday 12 August 2018. The final cost for the trip is $1265 per student. This includes an airfare costing $541.31 and $724.17 for meals; accommodation; transport from school to the airport; transport around Canberra and surrounds and to the snowfields; hire of snow jacket, pants and boots; a jacket embroidered with the school logo; entrance to the National Mt Kosciusko Park; and activity / entrance fees e.g. Questacon, Glass Works, Dinosaur Museum, Australian Institute of Sport etc. The cost for the trip is more expensive in 2018 due to the children flying Brisbane-Canberra and return, where previously they have flown into Sydney.

Chicken Pox

I wish to advise that a parent has reported a current case of Chicken Pox in the school community. Please be aware of the symptoms and exclusion period as detailed by Queensland Health.

See the Qld Health Website at:

Schedule of Time Out from School:

DEPUTY PRINCIPALS NEWS

Congratulations!

Aspley State School students are able to access Mathletics to consolidate their mathematical concepts, enhancing their maths skills through drill and practice or through online challenges. Mathletics is one of the many online resources available to students who subscribe to the Digital Resource Scheme.

At assembly this week, we were very proud to award our very first Mathletics gold certificate to Ethan P. from 2K. To receive this coveted award, Ethan had to earn 1000 points or more each week for 20 consecutive weeks. He first earned a Bronze award, then a Silver award. After accumulating 4 Silver awards, he achieved a Gold award.

Congratulations Ethan!

Students are encouraged to set goals in their English and Maths. The following students set a goal in the beginning of the year to read consistently and to read every day.

They have managed to reach this goal through working with their peers in the ARC program.

Congratulations Aaliyah W and Imogen S from Year 1, Abbey B, Nicholas IS and Evie P from Year 2 and Matilda G from Year 4 for reaching your goals at the Aspley Reading Club.

NAIDOC incursion

On Wednesday July 18, the Prep to Year 2 students were involved in an incursion for NAIDOC. They worked with Phillip Green, a naturalist, who showed them various artefacts and pictures about our Indigenous peoples and their lifestyle.

He walked them through the many trials faced by them in the bush and their survival techniques. The children were very excited and engaged throughout the activity.

I hope that they came home with lots of stories to share about their experience.

The Year 4-6 students will do their Virtual Reality incursion next week.

This week on assembly…..

Aspley State School is involved in a number of community-based activities, which include fundraising for registered charities that support social causes. One such activity is Jump Rope for Heart.

A representative from the Heart foundation came to launch the fundraising for Aspley State School at assembly. All the students, from Year 1 to Year 6 had the opportunity to be involved in a workshop with Alyssa. She took them through different skipping strategies to help them build their skills. Students can now practice these skills during lunch breaks and at home. Jump-Off Day is on Friday 24 August.

Habits of Mind

This week, at Assembly, we reintroduced the students to the “Habits of Mind” way of thinking. Habits of Mind are self-management strategies that are taught, and practiced, throughout the school day.

A "Habit of Mind” means having a positive mindset when confronted with potential problems or difficulties. When intellectual responses are used, results are more powerful and effective. Using “Habit of Mind” strategies aims to create a more thoughtful, cooperative, compassionate generation of people who skillfully work to resolve social, environmental, economic and political problems

The “Habits of Mind” strategies also empower creative and critical thinking.

This week we have asked the students to focus on the first habit: Persistence.

Persistence is the twin sister of excellence. Persistent people stick to a task until it is completed. They do not give up easily. They are able to analyse a problem and develop strategies to overcome obstacles. Persistent people also employ a range of alternative strategies for problem solving.

Students often give up in despair when the answer to a problem is not obvious. They sometimes get into the habit of thinking, “I can’t do this,” or “It’s too hard,” and this blocks any potential for learning something new or achieving a difficult task. A focus on Persistence aims to reassure students that there are many steps to success and everyone has the capacity to complete those steps.

Show casing learning

This term, we will begin to show case classroom learning on assembly each week. This will start next week (week two) with 1N and 6D. The following week, Prep J and 6O will be the focus. We look forward to these presentations and finding out what great leaning is occurring in each class.

Curriculum News

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data

School Students with Disability

This August, all Australian schools, including government and non-government are required to collect information about students with disability. This data, based on the professional judgement of teachers provides evidence on:

• the number of school students receiving an adjustment due to disability
• the level of adjustment they receive
• the broad type of disability.

The NCCD data collection determines the Australian Government’s funding being provided via a loading at different rates based on students’ received level of adjustment (supplementary, substantial or extensive). This supports evidence-based policy development and future planning related to school students with disability.

The privacy and confidentiality of all students and their families is essential and an explicit focus of the national data collection. For more information, please click on the link below:

Year 6 Canberra Trip

Parents have received their letters outlining the amounts owing for their child/ren for the Canberra Camp.

The due date for payment is Monday 23 July.

If you will have any difficulty paying the outstanding amount by 23 July, please email the Business Manager at bsm@aspleyss.eq.edu.au ASAP.

Student Absences

NEW ABSENCE TEXT MESSAGE MOBILE NUMBER – 0427 286 794

With the introduction of ID Attend to help us streamline absence notifications for students, we now have a new mobile number that parents can send a text message to, so we are notified of upcoming absences.

Please put this number into your mobile phone as “Aspley SS ID Attend Absences” and send the school a text message for any absences (including future absences) with the following information:

Name of student
Class
Reason for absence (for example… sick, family reasons or holiday, etc)
Date of absence/s

This new text messaging line is the preferred method to notify the school of student absences.

The existing school absence line, email absence address and Q Parents are still functioning.

We appreciate your help with this matter to ensure all students are attending school and safe.

Road Safety

Sports News

North District Track and Field

Good luck to all our students representing Aspley State School at next week’s North District Track and Field Carnival on 26 and 27 of July. With 16 schools in our district, all competing against each other for points and school shields, it will be a great carnival. Students please remember there will be relay practice every lunchtime until Thursday of next week. There will also be a roster for students to practice some of the field events too.

South Coast Tough Championships

Congratulations to the girls touch team that competed in the South Coast Touch Championships last term. The girls represented Aspley with pride and determination and played fantastic during the entire competition. Well done girls!

District Sport

Important Trial dates -

**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.

Music News

Welcome back to Semester Two for the Aspley Music Department. We have such an exciting semester with a variety of performances including the Education Queensland Singfest and Armistice Centenary Concert performances for our choralists, Honours Music Camp, Music Muster and the Fraser Music Tour for our young instrumentalists just to name a few. Please ensure that you read the music newsletter item in the fortnightly school newsletter to keep up to date with the many opportunities our young musicians and choralists will have throughout this semester.

WELCOME MRS HAIG

The Aspley Music Department would like to welcome Mrs Caroline Haig, a Classroom Music Specialist who will be working with our lower years Prep, Year One and Year Two students, delivering music lessons to classes each week on a Wednesday. We are looking forward to Mrs Haig sharing her musical knowledge, expertise and passion with our students whilst Mrs Macca continues to take leave on a Wednesday until the end of 2018.

EDUCATION QUEENSLAND SINGFEST – SENIOR/BOYS CHOIRISTERS

Senior Choir and Boys Choir members in Years 4 – 6 will be invited to participate in the Education Queensland Singfest performance event on Friday 31 August 2018 to be held at the Old Museum Building, Bowen Hills. Singfest is an annual massed choral event for State School Primary students in Years 4 – 6 in the Metropolitan Region. Over 1800 students participate in this event each year from State Primary Schools across the region. On the day of the event, each school comes together to workshop-learnt repertoire in a massed choir with a guest conductor, culminating in a concert. Paul Jarman will be the guest conductor for this event in 2018. Paul Jarman is a widely acclaimed Australian composer, performer, musical director, conductor and educator. His music has inspired singers and audiences around the world. Mrs Macca is very excited to have our young Aspley choralists working with Paul Jarman for this event. Choralists will receive a parent information letter outlining important details regarding this choral event next week. Be sure to mark this special day in your diaries!

CURRENT AND UPCOMING MUSICAL EVENTS - TERM THREE 2018

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC NEWS

ASPLEY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TOUR – FRASER COAST

All students attending the music tour are asked to return their final payment, medical form and homebake form to the office by the 24 August. We are in the process of organising t-shirt sizing, meal selections and room allocations when we see the students. Between Amada Jerram and myself, we are in and out of the school, and the children are on excursions etc. and it has been very hard to call a meeting with them all together (which is what we would normally do). These arrangements need to be finalised by Week 3, so we will endeavour to see each student before then.

LESSON AND REHEARSAL CANCELLATIONS

Both Ms Jerram and Ms Jabs are on tour with Craigslea SHS to Sydney in Week 2 and 3. There will be no Orchestra or lessons on Thursday 26 July, or Junior Band or lessons on Monday 30 July.

NORTHSIDE MUSIC MUSTER 2018

Nominated Instrumental Music Woodwind/Brass/Percussion and String students will be invited to participate in the Northside Music Muster 2018 – Craigslea Cluster on Monday 17th September 2018. This day camp will be held at Craigslea State High School from 9.00am to 2.30pm and will bring together instrumental music students from a number of cluster schools to participate in intensive tuition from Instrumental Music Teachers, ensemble playing and at the conclusion of the muster a free concert for parents/carers. It promises to be a wonderful opportunity for your child to be involved in an intensive workshop with many students from the area. Our young instrumentalists will receive this week a parent information letter regarding the finer details of this exciting event. Please ensure that the medical/consent form and payment are returned to the school office by Friday 10 August 2018.

NORTHSIDE HONOURS MUSIC CAMP

We are very excited for our nominated Instrumental Music Students to audition for the Senior, Primary Schools’ Instrumental Music Camp to be held from Tuesday, 18 September 2018 to Thursday, 20 September 2018 at Everton Park State High School. Places will be offered for woodwind, brass, string and percussion instruments. Camp activities will include performing in concert bands, combined choirs, string orchestra, specialist tuition in instrument groups as well as the opportunity to perform new and challenging music with other performers of a similar level. Guest tutors have been scheduled to work with students throughout the week. The camp will conclude with a free concert for parents/carers on the final day of the camp at Everton Park State High School commencing at 1.30pm.

Both Ms Jabs and Ms Jerram have distributed necessary audition material to auditioning students. Students will be auditioned by video by our instrumental music teachers, which will then be assessed by a panel of Instrumental Music Teachers. Audition results will be sent to schools in Term Three, Week Five. We wish our budding musicians the best of musical luck for this audition process.

Happy Music Making to you all

The Aspley Music Department

Library News

ICAS

Results for the Digital Technologies Test will be presented at the Assembly on Monday 30 July. Parents are welcome to come to see their child receive their results and certificate.

This term we have the final two ICAS assessments. Tuesday 31 July is the date of the English task. Year 3 and 4 will be in the A-Block Computer Lab and Year 5 and 6 will be in the Administration Computer Lab.

On the following week, Tuesday 7 August, the Mathematics test is scheduled. PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF DATE FOR THE MATHEMATICS TEST. This test will be split between three venues due to the large number of students taking part. Year 3 will be in the Library (there will be no BOOST this day), Year 4 will be in the A-Block Computer Lab and Year 5 and 6 will be in the Administration Computer Lab.

Both days start at 7:30am and it is important that children participating arrive at school on time. All equipment required is provided.

Date Claimer!

This year we are celebrating Book Week from 17 to 24 August. Our special assembly, featuring a parade of all students from Prep to Year 6 who want to dress-up as their favourite story character, will be held on Monday 20 August. The theme this year is “Find Your Treasure”. More details will be available in the next newsletter.

New Lunchtime Activities Roster for Term Three

The library is open both play breaks, unless a Wet Weather Break is called. Students are welcome to come into the library to read, browse and borrow. In addition, we have a lunchtime activities roster. Please see below for the activities available for this term.

Below is a photo of a felt storyboard made this week by some students in year two.

Who is now living in the Library?

This term sees the inclusion of a gold fish into our library. Students have been wondering for a while who was going to come and live in the tank, with lots of interesting ideas being suggested. As our fish is unnamed, we have decided to have a “Name the Library Fish” competition. Entries need to be written on the entry form available from the Library and students have until Friday 27 July to enter. The winning name will be announced on assembly on Monday 30 July.

Library Opening Hours

The library is open every morning before school from 8:00 – 8:30am for parents to bring their children to borrow. After borrowing, the student must return to the waiting area at the hall. The Library is also open for student borrowing every day after school until 3:15pm, excluding Tuesday. We are also open during both play-breaks unless it is a “wet-weather break”. Please remember that your child can only borrow if they have a waterproof library bag with them. A plastic folder or a cotton drawstring bag is not suitable as they are not waterproof.

Linda Hamilton
Teacher in Charge of the Library

Annie Jnr

"Second and final fundraising BBQ at Coles Aspley Hypermarket this Saturday (21 July) between 10am-2pm to support the school's forthcoming production of Annie Jnr. Please share on your own social feeds and other class pages! See you there!"

School Banking

In Term 3, School Bankers still have a chance to enter the Super Savers Grand Prize competition, where one lucky student will win a family trip to Hawaii. To be eligible, students need to make at least 15 School Banking deposits before the end of Term 3. Good luck everyone!

School Study Tour 2018

Our school will be hosting a Study Tour this year. A study tour is a group of international students coming to Australia (Aspley SS) to learn English and be immersed in the cultural experience of going to an Australian school and staying with Australian host families. The group of 17 Japanese students aged 14-15 years old, will be arriving on the 19 August and departing on the 1 September. This particular group of students are from a prestigious school in Japan called Ritsumeikan Uji Junior High School, which is located in the Kyoto Prefecture.

An important aspect of Study Tours is in providing “homestay” for the Japanese students. Information about providing homestay and the application form follows this message. If families are interested in providing homestay, please complete the application form and return it to the Administration Office.

I will keep you all up-to-date with any details regarding the Study Tour in future newsletters. Miss Mira Ponti (LOTE Teacher) has recently been accredited as an Officer of Study Tours and she too will be working with me on this Study Tour. We both hope that you will be able to help us in providing homestay and that it proves to be a rewarding experience for you and your family.

Thank you.
Rowena Mina (6M) and Mira Ponti (LOTE Teacher)

Aspley State School Foundation

Thank you to everybody who made a gift to any of the four projects of our first appeal. Because of your generosity, we have more than $9,500 to spend on improving facilities for the students of Aspley State School! This is a wonderful outcome!

We exceeded our target for the Prep classroom carpets so with this additional money and in consultation with the Principal, have decided to upgrade to more versatile carpet tiles. Tiles can be replaced when they’re damaged and swapped around when they are worn, so this is a better option than ordinary carpet. However we only had enough money for 4 classrooms, so the P&C have generously stepped in and offered to cover the cost for the remaining one. The new carpet tiles should be installed in the next fortnight so we will keep you informed about that.

As well, we should soon have an installation date for new blinds in two Year 6 classrooms. They will dramatically reduce the intensity of sunlight and glare in the classrooms and make for a more pleasant learning environment for our senior students.

As for the storage and classroom painting projects, we are still in need of support – if you are either a carpenter or a painter and would like to help, please contact the Foundation on info@aspleyssfoundation.com.au We can utilise skill as well as money in realising these beneficial projects.

Again, thank you to everyone who contributed to our first appeal – your generosity is sincerely appreciated.

Wendy Carter
Trustee
Aspley Foundation

Camp Australia

Please find attached information on the new child care subsidy format.

P&C News

We hope everyone has had a wonderful break and come back to school refreshed! Our team of wonderful event organisers have a few things planned that really needs your support – so please read on, and mark your calendars:

FATHER’S DAY STALL DONATION & PACKING DAY- Friday 27th July – next week! Please consider picking up something a little extra this weekend shopping trip to donate to our Father’s Day SUPER gift packs. All items are to be brought to the classroom on Friday. Tee and Jodie are also seeking helpers to start some packaging – so if you have an hour or so spare on Friday morning, we’d love to see you outside the music room.

LET’S GO GREEN & COLGATE COMMUNITY GARDEN CHALLENGE

Also on Friday 27th July, we encourage our students to dress up in GREEN (please observe sun-safety and enclosed footwear must be worn) and bring along a gold coin to help the school establish a composting and recycling program.

In addition, we will enter the Terracycle Colgate Community Garden Challenge. Later this term, we will be asking for your toothbrushes, empty toothpastes, and dental floss packaging – so please start collecting them now and keep an eye out for the dates to bring them in! You can also help our chances by voting for our school.

UNIFORM SHOP NEWS

• Winter uniforms are finally here. The windiest days are yet to come, so grab a new warm jacket. Available to order via Flexischools and can be collected by your student during opening hours.
• A reminder that Semester One Gala Day and Rep Shirt hire uniforms are now overdue. Shirts can be returned with the student’s name and class attached, which will allow a speedy refund process. If your student has an appropriate rep uniform that they will use for District Sports Representation, please email Uniforms.AspleySS@gmail.com to advise the convenor – you can keep that shirt and return it after the event.
• Normal hours are Monday 8-9.45am; and Thursday 3-3.45pm. Email: Uniforms.AspleySS@gmail.com if you have any enquiries.
• Uniform Shop Volunteer Roster: Thank YOU so much to Nat Caskie who has been a regular helper in our Uniform shop since the beginning of the year. Unfortunately, Nat’s work hours have changed and she can no longer assist on Thursday afternoons, so if you can help, please let us know! No experience necessary. Please consider: http://signup.com/go/rAwavRL

TUCKSHOP NEWS

• Week 2 Special: Butter Chicken and Rice | Week 3 Special: Tuna Pasta - these specials are available all week and available to order via Flexischools. They are so tasty and fill and warm the belly on these cool Winter days.
• Tuckshop Volunteer Roster: Thursdays and Fridays are our busiest days. Just two parents per class = one shift per term. 8.30-10.30am. Thanks so much to our existing volunteers! New helpers welcome – no experience necessary. Please help us: http://signup.com/go/XMwwPgd

SAVE THE DATES:

P&C General meeting: Tuesday 31st July 2018, 7pm, Library.

P&C Communi-Tea: Monday 15th August 2018 9.30am to 10am (after assembly) – Camp Australia/OSHC – an opportunity to ask questions, find out more about what’s happening, and give feedback. RSVP to AspleyPC@gmail.com if you are planning on attending.

Father’s Day Stall: 30th August (8.45am – 1.15pm) and 31st August (8am-9am). Volunteers welcome

Did you know?

Our Facebook page is our fastest way to communicate something to you. Even if you are not on Facebook, you can view our posts via the internet. Just search Facebook AspleySSPandC.

Looking for a JP?

Mr Stephen Solly, P&C Member and School Council Chair, is a qualified Justice of the Peace and can be available to sign documents before or after school by appointment. Contact Stephen via email: practice@agpr.com.au or mobile 0410 149 473. Thankyou Stephen for making yourself available to help our community!

Be informed! Be involved! Our children’s success relies on your support!

COMMUNITY NEWS

Swim Solutions

Confident Kids Resilience Program

Book now for our Term 3 Program

Confident Kids ® + teens is an innovative coaching program for kids 5-14yrs that aims to boost confidence, emotional resilience, social skills and brain power. Students discover their strengths, and build resilient thinking skills to reduce stress, anxiety, worry, or negative thinking. Our team of experienced Psychologists will coach, encourage and support your child to be all they can be! Medicare and Private health fund rebates apply.

Register and Book online today via the link below or contact us at info@positivefamilies.com.au or 07 3096 0450 for an Information pack.

Saver Plus

Shake and Stir Drama Class

Events at Zillmere Library

‘Once upon an ABC’ Story time – Join us for a special story time to celebrate Sophie Masson’s new book Once upon an ABC, shortlisted by the Children’s Book Council of Australia. Come dressed as your favourite fairy tale character for a wonderful romp through the world of folk tale. Ideal for children ten years and under. Saturday 28th July 10-11am. Bookings required.

Homework Help starts again 25th July. Every Wednesday 3.30-4.45pm. Free help is available for grades 1-8.

Ozobot treasure hunt – During this workshop participants will work in pairs to create a simple program for an Ozobot miniature robot to navigate a maze and get to the treasure. Ideal for children 8-12 years. Wednesday 1 August 3.30-5pm. Bookings required.

Chess People

We are very excited to welcome Chess People into the school to personally teach our students all of the rules and strategies to do with Chess. Chess People is led by two Australian Chess Champions and their coaches are highly experienced. This is a great opportunity for students to learn in a fun and interactive environment; exploring the educational benefits that Chess has to offer.

Classes cater to students from Prep to Year 6 (beginners to advanced). Chess club will be held on a weekly basis every Friday afternoon (3:00-4:00pm) in the library. Dates: July 27 to September 21 (9 weeks). The cost for term 3 is $124, which includes your very own tournament size chess set. If you are interested, then please sign up online. Simply make an account and follow the prompts:

Please see the attached document for more information

Tennis

Tennis Queensland are looking to host a variety of "Come & Try Days" across a number of their affiliated centres. These Come & Try Days will be on Saturday the 21st July (week one of term!!!)

This fantastic initiative is aimed at providing everyone with an opportunity to get on court and give tennis a go.

Kinetic Kids