17 August 2018

Newsletter Articles

UPCOMING EVENTS

August/September 2018

PAYMENTS DUE

PRINCIPAL’S NEWS

Canberra Trip

The Year six students have enjoyed an action packed trip to Canberra this week. The students were thrilled to visit Government House, Canberra and were addressed personally by His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd). The Governor General spoke of his important role as the Queen’s representative and detailed how he contributes to the constitutional community and ceremonial roles within the Australia.

Year 6 students enjoyed Questacon, The War Memorial, The Royal Mint, Geoscience, Canberra Glassworks, and the Australian Electoral Education Centre. At Parliament House students participated in a role-play referendum and a role-play of passing a bill through the House of Representatives. Students were very impressed that Hon Mr Wayne Swan, Member for Lilley and Senator Anthony Chisholm, Senator for Queensland, personally came to speak with the students and answered their questions about Australian Parliament and democracy.

Students also enjoyed the National Library where the robot Isaac assists the humans to deliver some of the 10 000 items around the eight floor library. They also learned about the High Court and the Australian justice system. Another highlight for students was visiting the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and participating in a sports clinic with talented young athletes.

Students enjoyed the experience of flying to Canberra and for many students it was their first

If your child is in year 5 in 2018, you may wish to start saving for this amazing opportunity for them to travel to Canberra in 2019! Year 5 students will be invited to submit an expression of interest and make a $250.00 deposit by the end of October 2018 to reserve their place on the Canberra Trip in 2019.

Free Dress for a Farmer

Thank you to all who contributed to the Free Dress for a Farmer Day. The Aspley State School Student Council is proud to donate $1444 to Rotary in support of Australian farmers

School Surveys

Parents/Caregivers, school staff and a random sample of students are encouraged to have their say in this year’s suite of School Opinion Surveys by providing their opinions about what this school does well and how this school can improve. Each of the online surveys will be open until Friday, 24 August 2018.

Access details for the Parent/Caregiver Survey have been sent home with the eldest child in each family. The survey can be completed via computers, tablets or smart phones with internet connection.

Parents/caregivers are welcome to complete their survey online at the school, and school computers/tablets will be available at the office.

If you haven’t received any survey access details, please contact Donna Boaler, Deputy Principal on telephone Phone 07 38639111 or email admin@aspleyss.eq.edu.au

Australian –Malaysian Principal Exchange

Next week, we are delighted to host Mrs Hazinah Ibrahim, Principal of SK Bukit Damansara and Mrs Maznon Hj, Principal of SK Taman Bukit Maluri, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The principals are delighted to visit Aspley State School and to visit classrooms to see how the Australian education system compares and contrasts with education in Malaysia. In the last school holidays, I was fortunate to visit Kuala Lumpur and attended SK Bukit Damansara for one week.

We will have a special assembly on Monday, which will welcome our visiting Principals from Malaysia. This professional development experience has been made available through the collaboration of Department of Foreign Affairs and Trading (DFAT), Education Queensland International and the Malaysian Government.

Ritsumeikan UJI Junior High School

On Monday we welcome students from Ritsumeikan UJI Junior High School, Kyoto, Japan, to Aspley State School! The Ritsumeikan students are home staying within the local community and will attend Aspley State School over the next two weeks. Aspley State School hosts students from this school each year, and we look forward to their visit. Aspley State School student buddies will host the visiting students in their classrooms.

Our students get to converse in Japanese and the visiting Japanese students enjoy developing their English skills and love the school immersion experience. It is rewarding to see the close relationships that students make through this cultural exchange experience. I thank our teachers Ms Mira Ponti and Ms Rowena Mina, for their coordination of this study tour through Education Queensland International (EQI).

Chicken Pox (Varicella)

I wish to advise parents that there are current cases of chicken pox in the school community. Please be aware of the symptoms and exclusion period as detailed by Queensland Health.

Important Information About Colds and Flu

Cold and flu season is upon us. Sometimes it is difficult to tell the difference between a cold and the influenza (flu). Colds and influenza are both viral respiratory illnesses but they are caused by different viruses. Both of these illnesses can have similar symptoms and at first it can be difficult to tell the difference. Read more at the Qld Health website:

Responsible Behaviour Plan for Students Review

School staff and the school council have been reviewing the Responsible Behaviour Plan for Students. We are seeking a parent/ carer volunteer to offer feedback with the draft document. If you have some policy interest or skills and are interested to provide feedback, I ask that you contact Mrs Donna Boaler, Deputy Principal.

The Aspley State School Foundation

The Aspley State School Foundation is a charity that supports the repairs and maintenance of buildings at Aspley State School. On Wednesday 8 Aug the Aspley State School Foundation replaced the carpet in 5 prep classrooms! This was possible due to the generosity of the donations from parents, friends, the Aspley State School community and P & C Association.

See the current projects of the Aspley State School Foundation at:

Donations to The Aspley State School Foundation are tax deductible!

DEPUTY PRINCIPALS NEWS

Week 5 Showcase:

Prep R shared their learning in mathematics. They explained how to solve a problem using a practical example. Good work Prep R.

Year 4G recited a poem called:-

After the recitation, they questioned the audience to find out who could tell them how many animals were identified in the poem. The winner received a certificate. If you want to know the answer, you will have to read the poem first! Clever idea 4G.

Showcase for Wk6 assembly will be PS and 2G and Wk7 PC and 2S

Habits of Mind

This week, the students were reminded to listen with understanding and empathy. This means that they need to try to understand the message the speaker is trying to convey and understand their point of view and emotions.

Everyone has a right to an opinion. When someone is sharing their idea or explaining why they think something is the way it is, we, the listener must give them a chance and try to understand the message from their perspective.

BOOST

BOOST continues for Year 4 and Year 2 students. The focus is writing in paragraphs for Year 4 and adding details to basic sentences to make them interesting for the Year 2 students. If your child is in either of these year levels, ask them to share their learning. When we share something, we retain it in our memory.

Prep 2019

It was wonderful to meet the young 2019 Prep future children from our current Aspley families, new families to the Aspley area and families who live outside our catchment but want their children to come to our school at our Prep enrolment interviews.

We will be holding a Prep 2019 Information night on Wednesday 19 September from 6:00pm – 7:30pm. Please come along to find out how you can help us get your little one Prep ready for next year.

Curriculum News

Prep C – Garden

The prep garden beds are really starting to take off. At the start of the term we planted a new batch of fruits and vegetables, allowing us to get hands on with the new unit of work called “grow, grow, grow”.

We have all been talking about the different ways each fruit and vegetable grows. This has been perfect timing, as the Prep classes prepare for their discovery excursions to Woolworths

Term overview

Please find attached a term overview for each year level cohort.

Year 3 excursion “Ngatana Lui”

Our Excursion to Ngatana Lui by Tobin T

Yesterday our class went to Ngatana Lui. It was probably my favourite excursion of all time. We all got to do heaps of exciting stuff. It was great!

First we learnt about an Aboriginal dance. The dance was about an eagle. After watching how to do the dance we had a go ourselves. I flapped my arms like wings pretending to take off like an eagle.

Next we lined up in rows of girls and boys and had our face painted. The boys had three stripes of clayish like paint on their cheeks and one on their chin and the girls had three stripes on their cheeks and one above their nose. This represented the hunters and the gathers.

Then we broke up into three groups to start our activities for the day. Our group did boomerang throwing first. When Marlin showed us most of the boomerangs he threw came back. When we had a go some of them came back and others just went straight forward or to the left of where we were standing.

After that we did some Aboriginal art. We got to dot paint an emu. We used red, black and yellow paint to make our dots with the skewers. The lady asked us where we thought she got the paint from and we all said, “nature”! She told us it came from Kmart and I thought this was very funny.

Before heading back to school we listened to a picture story about the rainbow serpent. I enjoyed our trip to Ngatana Lui.

Our Excursion to Ngatana Lui by Millie G

To start our excursion day at Ngatana Lui all year three students learnt and practised and sang an Aboriginal song with some pretty cool actions. It was a great start to the day.

Then we split into three groups and got our face painted. The paint felt cold and soon dried up. After that we headed off to start our activities.

Our first activity was with Brian. He was very talented! He could get leaves and weave them into fishes, grasshoppers and much, much more. He also told us a story about a man and twelve other men who went out fishing on a large canoe to a nearby island. The twelve men got very thirsty and found out their friend had brought water without telling them so they drank all his water while he wasn’t there. When the man returned he knocked on the coconuts that were storing all the water and found they were hollow! The man knew what had happened and sent all the other men up into the sky.

Then we went to the boomerang throwing and played a hunting game. It was really fun! My boomerang throwing was not the best but some kids were really good. When the time came we played a kangaroo hunting game. I think I hit my target.

Next we went to art and did dot painting of an emu. Jennie was teaching us and talking to us about her tribe. I thought this was very interesting and wanted to find out more, that’s probably why I never finished my emu painting. I loved other peoples designs from the different colours to the patterns of small and large dots.

Finally, we listened to somebody play the didgeridoo. Then Marlin told us a story about the rainbow serpent. I loved the story and wished it would never end but the day came to an end.

Our Excursion to Ngatana Lui by Amy P

Our excursion to Ngatana Lui was great! When we arrived we got our faces painted with a special paint made from rocks and water and then we learnt an Aboriginal dance. We were pretending to be eagles catching fish.

My first activity was art. We went down a path and sat under a shelter where our teacher called Jenny talked to us about Aboriginal artwork. We did dot painting on an emu. We got to keep some emu feathers and got to feel an emu egg. I thought it looked like the outside of an avocado shell.

The next activity was in a small hut where a man talked to us about the Torres Strait Islands. We saw a map of the Torres Strait Islands and the man very cleverly made animals out of palm tree leaves.

We finished the day with Aboriginal games. We learnt how to throw a boomerang. The boomerangs went up and up and circled around then landed back on the ground. It was great fun!

Finally, we listened to a Dreamtime Story told through pictures called the ‘Rainbow Serpent’.

I would certainly go back to Ngatana Lui and re-do the whole day. I loved it!

Our Excursion to Ngatana Lui by Jackson W

Our excursion to Ngatana Lui was the greatest excursion ever!

First we got to learn an Aboriginal song called ‘Tanaba’. It was a weird song at first but I got used to it. Then we went into our groups and had our faces painted.

My group went to the oval first for Aboriginal games. The first game was boomerang throwing, it was fun! Charlie from 3M did a really big throw that came all the way around, well almost, it landed behind him. The second game was a hunting game where you had to use a ball thrower to throw a ball at a yoga ball aka the kangaroo. My ball was so close to hitting the target.

After that we did Aboriginal art aka dot painting. We dot painted an emu and I thought mine looked really cool.

After lunch we listened to an Aboriginal story and also watched someone weaving. We also listened to a story told through pictures. Once that was over we got on the bus and went back to school.

Year 6 Excursion

The grade 6 children loved the Parliament House tour in Brisbane

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

Drama Club

Annie Jr was a wonderful success! It was a beautiful display of all the talent, hard work and effort that the students and teachers have put in over the last 6 months. Congratulations to everyone who was involved with this production. You have made everybody proud. Congratulations to the Power’s family who won the raffle prize of the Razor scooter.

Please see below some of the wonderful feedback we have received from our community members who attended the performances.

The musical was amazing and I thoroughly enjoyed the show. The students were fantastic with their singing, acting and dancing talents.

The overall professionalism of the show was a credit to your hardworking staff - the lighting, sound, choreography, stage design and student performances were all first class.

You must be very proud to lead such a great team of passionate teachers/staff, supportive parents and talented students.

Congratulations to all involved!

Peter Turner
Acting Principal
Wavell State High School

It was a delight to watch the students so confidently and enthusiastically engaged in their roles and the production running so smoothly.

The students at your school are very fortunate to have such a supportive and encouraging administration and staff who value the inclusion of 'the Arts' in their education.

It was indeed a truly entertaining and inspiring experience for all in attendance.

Well done Aspley State School community. Our congratulations to everyone involved in the presentation of Annie Jr.

Kindest regard,
Lyn Bird
Geebung RSL

Can you pass on my congratulations to all for the Aspley SS staff who helped to bring Annie Junior to the stage on Friday and Saturday.

The musical was entertaining and showed very high production values. The students were absolutely terrific and clearly had very good direction. Events like this only materialise when there is a cohesive team and the Aspley SS staff team clearly work together very well.

Regards

Mark Farwell
Principal
Craigslea State High School

Sports News

Over the past few weeks, there have been some fantastic sports performances from some of our students at Aspley State School. Congratulations to the following students –

Tyrone (Yr 6) – has made the Met. North Rugby League team and will be competing at the Queensland State Rugby League Championships later in the year. Good Luck Tyrone!

Oliver (Yr 5) – who ran at the Queensland State Cross Country Championships and came 7th. Oliver is now the first reserve for the National Cross Country Titles. Well done Oliver!

Elaine Chu (Yr 6) – represented QLD at the Australian Swimming Champions in Hobart. Elaine came 9th in the 100m Breast-stroke and her relay team came 3rd.

Luke McDonald (Yr 4) – represented QLD at the Australian Swimming Championships in Hobart. Luke came 7th in the 200IM and his relay team came 4th.

Rising Star Award

Congratulations to Beau (yr 4) who has been accepted into the Brisbane Roar Soccer Excellence Academy. Beau was selected from his club to try out and was asked to come back and trial with the most talented kids from across Brisbane. Beau was then selected out of these kids into the Roar Academy. One to look out for in the future. Well done!

Volleyball

Good luck to our grade 5 students that will be competing at the Volleyball Primary Schools Cup to be held on the 23rd of August at Craigslea State High School. Good luck!

District Sport

Important Trial dates -

Music News

EDUCATION QUEENSLAND SINGFEST – SENIOR/BOYS CHOIRISTERS

The Aspley State Senior and Boys Choral Members in Years 4 to Years 6 ONLY will be participating in the 2018 Education Queensland SingFest on Friday 31 August 2018.

SingFest is an annual massed choral music event for Education Queensland Primary School students. In 2018 Singfest will feature 1800 students from across the Metropolitan Region coming together over seven separate days to workshop selected choral repertoire previously learnt at school. Students will then participate in a one-day workshop with Guest Conductor, Mr Paul Jarman. Paul Jarman will guide and inspire the children throughout the day to achieve their best at choral singing with a set repertoire, providing humour, enthusiasm and great fun, before presenting the choral works as a massed choir at the Twilight Concert.

The Twilight Concert (to be held at the Old Museum Building, Bowen Hills) will commence at the conclusion of the workshop at 5.15pm and conclude at approximately 6.00pm. Entry is free to attend.

Please take note of the important details below to ensure a successful day for all participants:

Below is the program of the day’s events whilst children are at SingFest 2018:

VENUE INFORMATION/PARKING

The Old Museum is located on Gregory Terrace at Bowen Hills. There is NO PARKING on the grounds of the Old Museum Building for parents, audience or accompanying staff and supervisors. Metered Parking is available on Gregory Terrace and surrounding streets. Alternatively, the nearest parking station is Cornerstone Parking at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and King Street Parking on Machinery Street. Please ensure you give yourself enough time to secure parking to attend the twilight concert commencing at 5.15pm at The Old Museum Building, Bowen Hills.

This truly is a wonderful opportunity for your children and I am looking forward to all participants having a very memorable day.

CURRENT AND UPCOMING MUSICAL EVENTS - TERM THREE 2018

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC NEWS

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC RECRUITMENT PROCESS FOR 2019

With Term 3 upon us, we are commencing the recruitment process for 2019.

It’s a fact that the majority of people who are literate in music learn it in a school setting, and we are extremely fortunate to provide music instruction through our school. If students were not part of our school music program, there is very little chance they would seek to develop their musical skills outside the school setting — and that would be detrimental to their human growth.

It is crucial that you are aware of the positive benefits of learning to play a musical instrument — and one year of study is certainly not enough to gain all of them. You see, being a musician trains your child’s mind for success in every aspect of their life. The executive function your child will develop over the next few years through music are transferable to every academic subject. Without instrumental music education as part of their day, your child will be missing some uniquely important life lessons and tools.

We hope that your child chooses to commence in our incredible Music Program in 2019. They deserve to explore their musical education and the wonderful benefits that come with it for their entire school life, if not beyond. It is with this in mind that we can’t wait to see your child in band/orchestra next year. Learning a musical instrument is one of life’s great joys. It develops children’s confidence, complements academic development and is just plain fun!

Aspley State School children in Year Three upwards are offered the opportunity to learn a string instrument. Children from Year Four upwards are offered the opportunity to learn woodwind, brass or percussion instruments through the school’s instrumental music program. Children cannot be enrolled in both programs.

Expression of Interest parent information letters regarding participating in the 2019 Aspley Instrumental Music Program will be coming home to our current Year 2 (string) and Year 3 (woodwind/brass/percussion) in week six of Term Three. If you are interested in your child participating in this amazing program, please ensure that you return the expression of interest letter to the school office no later than Friday 21 September 2018.

If you have further questions regarding this exciting process, please contact Mrs McIntyre.

ASPLEY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TOUR – FRASER COAST

All homebake, medical forms and final payments are due to the office by Friday 24 August. Our Gala Farewell Concert for the three touring ensembles will be held on Wednesday 29 August at 6pm at Aspley SS Hall. This event is free to all family and friends of our tour party. It is a great opportunity for us to applaud the efforts of our hard working music students. Uniform for this concert will be the tour shirt, black trousers and black shoes. The band will also perform on assembly on Monday 3 September at 8.45am. All welcome!

LESSON AND REHEARSAL CANCELLATIONS

A reminder to students to ensure that you refer to your instrumental lesson times on the timetable that your instrumental music teacher have distributed to you for your weekly lessons and ensemble rehearsals. Please note the following changes/additions (outlined on your timetables) for the following dates:

1. Thursday 30 August – Senior String Orchestra rehearsal is cancelled, however, ALL group lessons are on as scheduled through-out the school day.

NORTHSIDE MUSIC MUSTER 2018

Students attending the Music Muster on Monday 17 September are reminded to bring their instrument, music stand, folder, lunch, hat and water bottle to Craigslea State High School and register at the Auditorium on Hamilton Road between 8 – 9am. Students are required in school uniform and perform in a 2pm concert for parents and friends. They can be collected after the concert. No transport will be provided to this event.

NORTHSIDE HONOURS MUSIC CAMP

Congratulations to the following students Shivani, Duncan, Kate, Lauren, Kade, Tamiyah, Yuiko, Brendan and Ella on their successful auditions for Honours Music Camp in Week 10 this term. We are very proud of the quality auditions they presented. Aspley always contributes a large percentage of the attendees at this camp, and we are very proud of their high standard. Participating students are required to return the medical/consent form and payment of $75.00 to the school office by Friday 31 August 2018.

Happy Music Making to you all
The Aspley Music Department

Library

Book Week Parade 2018

This year we are celebrating Book Week from 17 to 24 August. The Book Week Parade, which features participating students in their class and year levels who want to dress-up as their favourite story character, will be held during the Assembly on Monday 20 August. Parents and caregivers are welcome to attend to watch the parade. The theme this year is “Find Your Treasure”. The library will be a hive of activity this week with new displays and themed activities during breaks.

ICAS

The results for the Spelling test are back and will be presented to students on Monday 27 August during our weekly assembly.

Caring for our books by always using a Waterproof Library Bag

This term in their Library Lessons, students in Prep and Year One have been learning how to care for their library books. One of the easiest ways we can do this is to always have a waterproof library bag when borrowing from the library. Your support in ensuring that your child uses a waterproof library bag rather than a cotton bag or a plastic folder is appreciated. The Uniform shop sells the recommended library bag (green) for $15.00.

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.

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 calico or cotton drawstring bag is not suitable.

Linda Hamilton
Teacher in Charge of the Library

Early Act

The Early Act group is organising an initiative to support the RSPCA of QLD. They will be asking for donations and collecting items from Monday 3 September – Friday September. The bins for collection will placed in location in the prep area and outside the Hall. Thank you for your support of this worthy cause. Please see attached information.

Chaplaincy

“Hi Aspley State School! My Name is Sinead ten Cate, and I’m so excited to be the new Chaplain at Aspley. Please feel free to call me Chappy. I’ll be working in the student support services building and you’ll also find me out in the school grounds at lunch times, at assemblies and at various school events. Please don’t hesitate to come and chat to me anytime, about anything. I will be at the school on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. I am really looking forward to meeting everyone.”

Sinead ten Cate

Camp Australia

P&C News

P&C News 15 August 2018: MAKE SURE YOU READ TO THE END TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN HELP OUR SCHOOL RAISE FUNDS JUST BY DOING YOUR ON-LINE SHOPPING!

Welcome to Aspley State School’s new chaplain, Ms Sinead ten Cate, to our school community! I had the pleasure of meeting our new chappy on Monday at the P&C Communi-tea. Thank you to Mr Andrew Pickard who has been supporting our school community for the past few months. The school is seeking two parents to join the Local Chaplaincy Committee, which meets once each term. For more information, please contact the school directly.

TUCKSHOP HELPERS – Pick a job based on your skill set:

• Label paper bags – can you peel off a label and stick it on a paper bag, the right way up? It’s an easy job that requires no food handling. Will take about 15minutes of your time and can be done from 8.15am.
• Stock the drinks – if you can add up to 20, then this job is for you! Simply count how many drinks are needed for each break, and stock our 1st and 2nd break tubs – takes about 15 minutes and can be done from 8.20am
• Pop pop-corn – Plug in the popcorn machine and empty some corn kernels into the popper. Flick the switch and watch freshly pop-corn expel from the top. It’s like watching a volcano explode! Takes about 15 minutes.
• Chop up fruit – Fruit Salad Yummy Yummy: Got knife skills? Making fruit salad could be the job for you! Takes about 30 minutes, can be done from 8.20am to 10am.
• Flip pikelets – Jane has the recipe on the wall – put all the ingredients in a bowl, mix with the beaters, pour onto the sandwich press, wait for those bubbles and flip! A batch will take about 30 minutes from start to finish.
• Make sandwiches or prepare snack boxes – this job takes a bit longer so is great if you can spare an hour or so from 8.30am to 10am.
• Toast sandwiches – our students and teachers love toasted sangas! If you have time from 9.45am to 10.30am, this is the perfect job for you!
• Packing lunch bags – this is for those who love an adrenaline rush! Can you get all the lunch bags packed before the bell rings and the students line up? From 10am to 10.30am and 12.40pm to 1.15pm.
• Can’t help during school hours? Perhaps you could collect a load of the tea towels and aprons used each week and wash in hot water, dry (line dry, or tumble) and return to the Tuckshop? We already have this term sorted, and half of next term sorted. It would be a once or twice a term job. Email Jane at tuckshop.aspleyss@gmail.com and she will pop you on the roster.

We have developed an online sign-up roster to make it easy for you to find your spot -

Finally, THANK YOU to Serena Coates, Suzanne Doyle and Natalie Maul for your donations of wooden spoons, bowls and racks to our Tuckshop; and a big THANK YOU to our Facebook and email community who answer the call for helpers each week!

UNIFORM SHOP HELPERS: Don’t like touching food? Why not give Jodie a hand in our Uniform Shop – counting stock, sorting items, or just helping families choose what they need. Only 30 minutes between 8am to 9.30am Mondays or Thursdays 3 to 3.30pm. Email Uniforms.AspleySS@gmail.com for more information or just sign-up at:

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

FINALLY – Do you shop online? CASHREWARDS IS HERE! I am always looking for passive ways to help raise funds for our community, and this is just one way! By signing up for CASHREWARDS through our special webpage, you will help us fundraise just by doing your regular shopping. It’s a WIN-WIN. And the more you share with your friends and families by referring them, the more we can raise

By signing up by October 31st, 2018 and becoming “active” by spending a minimum of $25, our community will receive a $20 donation, double the normal cash-back. If you start spending within 3 days of joining, YOU will also receive $10 into your Cash Rewards account. It costs nothing to join.

For more information or to sign up here – and please share this special link to all your family and friends:

COMMUNITY NEWS

Aspley State High School – Homestay Families Required

Homestay Families needed for Aspley State High School

What is an EQI homestay?

Education Queensland International (EQI) develops and promotes programs for international students to study at Queensland Government schools. International education is Queensland’s second largest services export industry and is important to the State’s economy. The school sector is a major contributor to the industry, and there are currently over 85 Queensland Government schools that offer international student programs.

Homestay provides international students a secure and welcoming place to live and practise their English language skills in a real home setting. Aspley State High School is currently recruiting Homestay Families for our International Student Program.

As a homestay host you contribute to the positive memories our international students have of their time in Queensland. Our most successful hosts form cultural links and friendships with students and families all over the world.

What does a homestay host provide?

• A clean, safe and friendly home where students can experience the Australian lifestyle and practise their English conversation skills
• A private bedroom with a desk and suitable storage space for the student’s clothes, personal belongings and study materials
• Three nutritious meals per day
• Assistance to access transport to and from school and for school-related activities.

What do homestay hosts receive?

• EQI hosts receive a fortnightly payment to cover the student’s meals and homestay expenses. If your host application is successful, we will provide full training and ongoing support to ensure that you and your international student/s enjoy the best homestay experience
• How do I become an EQI homestay host?
• Homestay hosts are selected from local communities and come from many different backgrounds and family settings
• EQI homestays are managed by individual Queensland Government schools
• After completing an EQI application form you will be interviewed by your school’s Homestay Co-ordinator
• To ensure student safety, each adult (aged 18 and over) in your household is screened via a police check and must obtain a “Blue Card”, Queensland’s monitoring system for people who work with children.

If you are interested in becoming a homestay host, please contact:-

Aspley State High School Twilight Tour

Get started vouchers available from 25 July 2018

Queensland children and young people can apply for a Get Started voucher from 25 July 2018.

Applicants aged from 5 to 17 years may be eligible to receive a voucher valued up to $150 to help pay for the cost of joining a sport or active recreation club.

Vouchers can be used to help pay for club membership or participation fees.

Check out the club locator to find a registered club in your area or speak to your school about referring your child.