9 November 2018

Newsletter Articles

UPCOMING EVENTS

November/December 2018

PAYMENTS DUE

PRINCIPAL’S NEWS

Armistice Centenary Concert

On Wednesday evening, Aspley State School hosted the Armistice Centenary Concert. This concert included 320 students from nine, local schools and commemorated 100 years since the Armistice, which signified the end of World War I. This war ravaged Europe for four years and claimed the lives of 16 million people, including almost 62 000 Australians.

The Armistice Centenary Concert was a celebration of peace in our time, where children from the local community came together to sing, dance, perform and reflect on the contributions of the servicemen and servicewomen, who have protected Australia and our allied countries. At the Armistice Centenary Concert, we respectfully commemorated this significant event in our history. We pray for peace in our world, in our time, and, in our future.

Australia’s children are our bright future. Our young people, who are your sons and daughters and each other’s friends, will help to shape our future. Our society is influenced by the views and values of families and our community.

Our young people will influence our local community, the Australia community and our global community. Young people can act to adress significant issues such as:

• protecting the environment in which we live;
• actions to be globally responsible citizens;
• enacting racial cooperation; and,
• recognising that each person, with their own views, may also be right.

These young people are the citizens for tomorrow, whose influence, can guide us today!

They can act to create a better and more peaceful world.

The Armistice Centenary Concert was made possible through the goodwill of the Geebung Zillmere Bald Hills Aspley Sub Branch of the RSL and funding from the Australian Government’s Armistice Centenary Grant Programme and the Returned Services League (RSL).

A special thank you to:

• the 320 students and their teachers, from the nine local schools including: Aspley East State School; Aspley Special School; Aspley State School; Bald Hills State School; Geebung Special School; Geebung State School; St Dympna’s Primary School, St Flannan’s Primary School; and, St Kevin’s Primary School, who all performed on the night.
• Mr Harry Boxsell, President, Geebung Zillmere Bald Hills Aspley Sub branch of the RSL.
• Mr Gary Lancaster, Mrs Mary Lancaster, Mrs Lyne Bird , Mr Ron Bird,  who are members of the Geebung Zillmere Bald Hills Aspley Sub-branch of the RSL for their support and concert planning over the last 18 months.
• Hon Wayne Swan, Federal Member for Lilley for his support for the grant funding.
• Mr Bart Mellish, State Member for Aspley for his support and attendance.
• Mrs Briony McIntrye, Mrs Amanda Jerram, Mrs Peta Cooney, Ms Louise Coman, Mrs Christine Jaabs, staff at Aspley State School for their support and organisation.
• Wendy Coombs, Artist, for faciliating the Doves of Peace art workshops with year 5 students.
• Aspley State School P & C Association for their catering and carpark assistance.

Armistice Day Art Project

The Armistice Centenary Grant Project which is entitled “The Doves of Peace” which has been produced through student workshops with year 5 students from Aspley State School and local renowned artist Wendy Cumes. This project was made possible through the Australian Government’s Armistice Centenary Grant Programme and the Returned Services League (RSL). The three stunning panels will be presented to the office of Hon Wayne Swan, Member for Lilley for his constituents, the Geebung Zillmere Bald Hills Aspley RSL for their members and to Aspley State School for their school community on 30 November 2018.

Remembrance Day

Students and their families can attend a local Remembrance Day Ceremony in Brisbane or surrounding suburbs this Sunday 11 November 2018. For more information see:

School Captains

This week the students aspiring to be School Captains in 2019, presented their speeches to their fellow students and teachers.  Students in year 5 and 6 and school staff cast their ballot to elect students, who assured them that they are dedicated to serve in this role. Students spoke of their committment to be a great role model for others. They highlighted the importance of courage, honesty, diligence and the need to be caring of others.

Congratulations to Kate, Hannah, Angus and Dylan who were elected as School Captains for 2019!

Change to School Assembly Times

School assembly will now be held each Monday from 2.00 pm – 2.50pm. The new time for assembly, supports student-learning achievement. The morning is when most students are at their best and brightest and teachers have requested this optimum learnig time be used in classrooms. We welcome parents to attend assembly each week where students Showcase Learning.

The Junior Strings Orchestra will play at assembly on Monday. Year 3N and 4R will Showcase Learning.

Car Parking

The car park adjacent to the school office is for Emergency Vehicles and Delivery Vehicles only. If parents / carers wish to come to the office they are requested to park near the hall, or alternatively, on Horn Road or Maundrell Terrace.

When you park your car near the school, please be respectful of our neighbours. Please do not park across their driveways or on the roadway marked with a yellow line.

DEPUTY PRINCIPALS NEWS

Celebrating Success!

We are almost midway through the term and 5 weeks away from the end of the year. Schooldays are jam-packed with learning and assessments.

Our students are working hard and achieving in all learning areas, as we have seen at assembly. Congratulations to all students who have received awards in Mathletics, Premier Reader’s Challenge, ICAS, Jump Rope for Heart, Aspley Reading Club and 8 Word Stories.

Congratulations also to the indigenous students who have achieved their attendance goals for Solid Pathways.

Well done everyone!

Class Showcase

During the past two weeks, four classes have demonstrated a variety of learning activities at assembly. A lot of thought and effort is evident in each presentation. Feedback from the students, indicates that they enjoy having the opportunity to perform for the whole school community. Showcases from the past fortnight are:

1H

Writing a procedure to create hand puppets from socks.

6H

Celebrating and respecting cultural diversity within our society and within Aspley State School.

1B and 1T

Learning about native animals and how they interact with the environment.

Finishing Strong

Please have conversations with your child/children regarding the next few weeks of the school year. It is still important to keep wachieving and attending school each day!

We have many fun activities happening in the next few weeks and we need children to remain focussed and to continue their learning journey during this time. Students need to keep up with their daily reading every night, number fact repetition for easy recall, learning of their sight words to assist in their writing, and, homework.

Through supporting your child to achieve these regualr tasks, you will be able to be proud of their success and achievments in learning.

Orientation Morning for Prep 2019

On Wednesday, 5 December 2018, Prep Students for 2019 are invited to attend an Orientation Morning from 9.00 am to 10:15 am at the school hall.

The children will get to meet the teachers and students who will be in their class next year.

This is also a great opportunity for parents to meet other parents to build a network.

At this time, the 2018 Prep children will visit Year One. They will go into a Year One class and work with the other Year One students. This is to get them to see what it would be like in the ‘big school’

Please talk to the children about this day so they will not get anxious.

Step Up Day

At Aspley State School, all students from Prep to Year 5 will be involved in Step Up day on Wednesday December 12.

The students will visit their new class and meet their classmates and new teacher for 2019. This opportunity allows them to make some friendship connections for the new year.

Grandparents Day

On Monday, 29 October 2018, grandparents attended assembly for Grandparents Day. There was an amazing number of Grandparents at this event and the students were very excited to welcome them into their classrooms. What a surprise for some! Grandparents were not left to sit and observe, they were put to work! Many grandparents joined reading groups, assisted with art activities and demonstrated how technology was used in the past. After a busy morning, students escorted their grandparents back to the hall for a well-earned morning tea. It is such a pleasure to watch the excitement of the students, when showing their grandparents around the school. A big thank you to Chappy Sinead for organising the catering for this event.

Year Five Leadership

This week students endorsed as Senior Leaders for 2019 were notified of the nominees for school captain positions. Candidates self nominate and are endorsed by the teachers and the school leadership team. The strength of leadership potential in the 2018 Year Five cohort is high and this made the selection process challenging.

Candidates prepared a speech to present to their peers on Thursday 8 November. Following the School Captain election, any student who has completed the Senior Leader process may then nominate for the available positions of:

• Sports House Captains
• Music Captains
• Library Captains (Library Team)
• Technology Captains (Tech Crew)
• Hospitality Captains (Hospitality Team)

Nominations will only be acepted on Monday 12 November 2018. Nominees will also be required to give a short speech as part of the candidacy process.

Student Council

All students who have completed the Senior Leader process will be members of the Student Council.

Each Term, members of the Student Council will take responsibility for different areas of school operations, including lunchtime activities, tuckshop, hospitality, playground support and fundraising for a specific project etc.

All Senior Leaders and members of the Student Council will receive a Senior Leader badge. All elected Captains will receive a position-specific badge. Leadership badges will be awarded on an assembly at 2.00 pm on Monday 18 February 2019 to recognise this significant achievement.

Curriculum News

8 Word Stories

Week two of the 8 Word Story Competition saw fourteen winners for the topic: Courageous.

These stories are currently being displayed on the internal and external electronic noticeboards and in locations around the school.

Our next winners for the topic, Confident will be announced at assembly. Please come and have a look at our clever writers’ work.

Writers Workshop

Most year 4 and 5 students had a visit from Ms Eileen O’Hely this week. As a published author, Eileen shared ways authors generate ideas using in part, a mintie wrapper! Students turned the mintie wrapper into something different, identified a character who would use this new item, a setting the student was most proud of and then an upset caused by the new character! The workshop had students writing using this information with some attention to language conventions. Ms O'Hely made explicit links to literature the students were reading, showing how reading and writing are inextricably linked. This workshop was a school-based initiative aligned to our explicit improvement agenda of improving all students’ writing. We look forward to seeing the students use this approach in future writing pieces.

Swimming in Prep C

This week we are entering our fourth swimming lesson. We have now been assigned our special groups and are ready to work on further developing our own skills, remembering to always stay and act safe around the pool, always ensuring we have lots of fun along the way.

Prep Garden

The Prep kids have worked hard this week to help replant our Prep garden beds with some cucumbers, sweet corn and celery. We are all very excited to watch them Grow, Grow, Grow! Thank you Mrs. Jorgensen for the wonderful donations.

From All of Prep.

Aspley History Club

The inaugural meeting of the Aspley History Club was held on the 101st Anniversary of the famous Charge at Beersheba by the 4th Light horse on the 31st October 1917. The students were enthusiastic and knowledgeable in their discussion the upcoming Remembrance Day events and the Australian Light horsemen that rode into history. They were able to examine Australian Light horse leather leggings , ammunition bandolier and slouch hat with AIF badge, 5th Light horse patch (sky blue & red) and emu feather.

We welcome any interested students in Year 4 and 5 to attend each Wednesday in room D8 at first lunch break 10:45 am -11:10 am.

Our next student inquiry session will be on Egypt and the Pyramids.

Ms Louise Coman

1N Grandparents Day

1N enjoyed having special guests to share their attributes on petals and making a card. Many grandparents attended. Eden had 4 grandparents present! They generously chatted and assisted all students in the activity. Many thanks to our grandparents who were able to come to school.

Microsoft Office for Students (It's free!)

The Queensland Department of Education have secured a deal so that Microsoft Office 365 for Students is available to install at home on up to five devices for free.

Instructions to download and install the Microsoft Office applications is available in the following two documents: -

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

Music News

ASPLEY MUSIC PROGRAM

ARMISTICE DAY CENTENARY CONCERT

Congratulations to the Aspley State School Senior String Orchestra and Senior Choir who performed magnificently at the RSL Armistice Day Centenary Concert on Wednesday 7 November 2018. We are so very proud of your efforts and achievements in participating in this very special school event.

ASSEMBLY PERFORMANCES

Congratulations to the Senior String Orchestra for their beautiful performance on assembly this week. Coming up we have;

• Junior String Orchestra – 12 November 2pm
• Senior Concert Band – 19 November 2pm

MINI MUSIC TOUR

Please take note of the important details below to ensure a successful performance event for all involved. All students/parents are expected to return the permission/medical slips with the correct payment no later than Thursday 15 November, 2018 to the school office.

If you are able to help provide supervision throughout the Music Tour day, please indicate this on the tear off slip and return to the office on Thursday 15 November, 2018.

JUNIOR CHOIR

Mrs McIntyre would like to take the opportunity to celebrate a fun and fabulous year of choral singing with the Junior Choir members, holding a choral workshop afternoon. Please take note of the following details for this workshop. Please return the signed permission slip to the school office by Friday 16 November 2018.

CURRENT AND UPCOMING MUSICAL EVENTS – TERM FOUR 2018

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC NEWS

2019 RECRUITING PROCESS

Ms Jabs and Ms Jerram have now completed the recruitment process and have issued information regarding the outcome. Congratulations to those students who were offered a place in these wonderful programs - we are so very excited for you!

A reminder for those families who are accepting a place into the 2019 Instrumental Music Programs:

1. The Aspley Beginner Instrumental Music compulsory Parent Information Evening will be held on Tuesday 20 November 2018 commencing at 6pm in the Music Classroom. Please ensure that one parent is present to sign in. Failure to attend will result in your child’s offer being withdrawn. Please note that this meeting is NOT for continuing Instrumental Music Students.
2. All required payments and paperwork to accept offers are due into the school office by Friday 30 November 2018.

CONTINUING STUDENTS

All students continuing in the instrumental music program for 2019 will have received a named copy of the 2019 Resource Scheme Parent Information Letter. It is a requirement that every child in the Instrumental Music Program pays the resource scheme of $60.00 per student per year, and an additional $120.00 if using a school instrument. Full payment is required by Friday 30 November 2018. Failure to make this payment will result in the withdrawal of your child from this program.

INSTRUMENT RETURNS

It has been lovely to see many of our students proudly arriving at rehearsals and lessons with their new instruments. Thank-you to those families who have made this financial commitment. We appreciate that you are purchasing quality instruments for your child to continue their musical journey for many years to come. All loan instruments are to be returned to the school by Week 8 to allow us time to organise repairs, cleaning and re-issue.

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 has 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 15 November – Please note that Senior String Orchestra is cancelled, however, all lessons will be on as per the strings timetable throughout the school day.
2. Wednesday 21 November – Senior Concert Band and all lessons are cancelled on this day due to the Senior Concert Band Music Tour to the Hypermarket.
3. Wednesday 28 November – Senior Concert Band and all lessons are cancelled on this day as Ms Jabs is at McDowall SS Celebration Concert.
4. Thursday 29 November – Please note that Senior String Orchestra is cancelled, however students will have their last group lesson with Ms Jerram on this day & will be required to return all Loan Instruments and Sheet Music/Books during this leson.

Happy Music Making to you all
The Aspley Music Department

Sports News

Friday Sport

Well done to all the Aspley students in Year 4-6, who over the last two weeks have been competing against other schools from our district in soccer, touch, volleyball, baseball and multi-sport. There have been some awesome performances in all sporting codes. Keep it up Aspley! A special mention to all the Year 4 students who are participating in Multisport for their first time at Friday Sport, playing and developing their skills in Netball, Rugby League, AFL, Basketball, Hockey, Cricket, Baseball and Soccer.

Library

Scholastic Book Fair

Thank you to our wonderful school community for your support for our recent Book Fair. We will be using the funds to purchase more resources for our library. Look out for these displayed in our library in the next few weeks.

We are also pleased to announce that the lucky winners of our “My Wish List” competition, receiving a $20.00 voucher to spend at the fair, were Levi E, Ethan G and Simon P. It was wonderful to hear stories from the boys about how their class cheered when their names were announced.

Activity Roster for Term Four

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.

Lost or Overdue Books

Thank you to those families who have been unearthing missing library books and returning them to the library as this ensures that we have resources that are available for others to use. Overdue Notices are printed every second week and given to class teachers for the students in their class who have overdue library books. If the book is not returned, then an invoice is generated and sent home via the parent’s email address to assist in the replacement of the missing book/s.

Caring For Our Books By Always Using a Waterproof Library Bag.

One of the easiest ways we can care for our library books is to always have a waterproof library bag when borrowing and returning our library books. Your support in ensuring that your child uses a waterproof library bag rather than a calico/cotton bag or a plastic folder is appreciated. The Uniform Shop sells the recommended library bag (green) for $15.00.

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 at first break playtime. Please remember that your child can only borrow if they have a waterproof library bag with them. A plastic folder or a calico/cotton bag is not suitable and students will not be able to borrow from the collection using these items.

Linda Hamilton
Teacher in Charge of the Library

Camp Australia

Aspley State School Foundation

P&C News

Like Bon Jovi, I’m living on a prayer -so let’s make this short and sweet! Congratulations - you’re half way there!

UNIFORM SHOP NEWS

• We require support for our Prep Orientation Day Wednesday 5th December, 8am to 11am. If you can help us serve new parents; we would greatly appreciate your time. No experience is necessary.
• Jodie will also need help in the new year before school starts. Please email Uniforms.AspleySS@gmail.com if you can assist.

-- Wednesday 23/1 - 8 - 10am, 4 - 6pm
-- Thursday 24/1 - 4 - 6pm
-- Friday 25/1 - 7:30 - 9:30am
-- Saturday 26/1 - 9 - 11am

• If people would like to drop off second-hand items for donation they can do so at any time (uniform shop or office)
• New school bags have arrived
• Any out of stock items are due in by the end of November. Thanks for your patience.

TUCKSHOP NEWS

Our Tuckshop Roster continues to look a little sad each week. We really appreciate our regular and not so regular volunteers – if you can spare an hour or so a month, we’d love you to come by. Please just let us know in advance so we can be prepared. Come and listen to a bit of Irish radio and get to know all the amazing things that happen in our tuckshop.

CONTAINER REFUND SCHEME:

‘The container refund scheme aims to reduce the amount of beverage container litter in the environment. The containers that are eligible for a refund are those that are most commonly consumed away from home and make up most of the container litter in the environment.’ (from Containers for Change website).

So how does this work?

For every eligible container,10 cents will be refunded. So, when we hold an event at school, all eligible containers will be collected and taken to one of many collection points to be turned into cash and popped into our P&C account as a donation.

The great thing about this program is that anyone in your family can collect containers and by simply using our code when taken to the collection point, the money will be donated to our school. This means if you have family in other locations in Qld they can still contribute, which is awesome!

Aspley State School’s P&C code is C10003861. This code needs to be quoted if you want the money made from these containers to be donated to our school. Save it in your phone under Contacts – Aspley P&C Cans Refund Code.

To find out where and for further questions on how it works please go to https://www.containersforchange.com.au/faqs .

We look forward to your support! If you’d like to help us make this work for our school, please contact us at pandc@aspleyss.eq.edu.au

~Barb

(see the full post on our Facebook page)

EVENT UPDATES:

• Massive thank you to all the people who supported our inaugural Pop Up Garage Sale – it was a great day of activity. Congratulations to Ros M and Barb R, and their families, for all the work they put into the organization of event.
• Armistice Concert: Thank you to the parents and staff who gave time to help with this event – many parents who volunteered did not have any reason to be at this concert other than to help our community. Your contribution meant a safe and enjoyable evening for all. Well done to all our performers, and a big Congratulations to Artist Wendy and her team of Year 5 students whose beautiful triptych was just amazing!

The P&C are trying to do our sustainability bit by reducing the number of notes being sent home. We use the school newsletter, Facebook, and opt-in emails to try and keep you updated about P&C events and school activities. Please contact us at pandc@aspleyss.eq.edu.au to reach all members of the executive; aspleypc@gmail.com to reach Alice (President) directly; Uniforms.AspleySS@gmail.com for Uniform Shop enquiries; Tuckshop.AspleySS@gmail.com for Tuckshop enquiries. For school activities, the school office is your best point of contact: 07 3863 9111 or admin@aspleyss.eq.edu.au

COMMUNITY

TRL (Touch Rugby League)

Touch Rugby League (TRL) will be at the Aspley State School oval on Wednesdays 3:20pm – 4:20pm on  November 7, 14, 21, 28 and December 5, 12 – 2018.

TRL will be continuing at Aspley State School in 2019.

Visit trljuniors.com.au for more information or contact admin@trljuniors.com.au 0431 051 395

TRL.jpg

Chess People

Vipers Netball