12 June 2020

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal

With only two weeks remaining in the term, I would like to commend students for the way they have settled back into classrooms. The Deputies and I are seeing a high level of quality work across all year levels, of which students and teachers can be proud.

We appreciate the way our community of parents and carers have continued to support and cooperate with our social distancing policy by not entering school grounds at drop off and pickup times. While a small number of students have found this change to be testing at times, we commend them for showing resilience in this area.

The Gumdale School Council is holding its Term 2 meeting today and due to the current restrictions on meetings at our usual venues, we will be holding the meeting at GOSHC. It will be a good opportunity for Council members to tour the facility since its refurbishment late last year. Our P&C continues to do a wonderful job of managing this facility under sometimes complicated circumstances. Thank you to the P&C Executive and to all GOSHC staff for providing this essential service for our families.

As families in Years 4-6 would have seen this week, our Signature Programs are gearing up once again for Semester 2. These special electives are just one of the programs that are unique to Gumdale and they would not be possible without the ongoing support of our Community Business Network and Todd Gerhardt Realty – thank you Todd.

This Monday 15 June we celebrate School Cleaners’ Day. Our school cleaners play an extremely vital role in keeping our schools safe. This year, in particular, it’s more important than ever to acknowledge and thank our school cleaners for their efforts in making sure our schools are protected from the spread of Coronavirus.

Finally, I would like to thank and acknowledge the incredible team effort by our staff earlier in the week when our colleague suffered a medical episode. This was reflective of our community commitment to each other. We send the staff member our warm wishes as they recover.

Always our Best,

Phil Savill, Principal
Gumdale State School

What’s Coming Up

Always our Best

Weeks 7 & 8 - Always our Best

Reminders from the School

Formosa Road

The school loading zone area has been increased at our Formosa Rd Stop Drop & Go area, with further improvements to come. The loading area is demarcated by the signage as shown in these photos.

Crossing Formosa Road on Foot

Important: We ask that parents who park on the opposite side of Formosa Road exercise a high degree of caution when crossing the road to drop or collect students.

• Please only cross the road OUTSIDE the loading zone area.
• Please do not send across or call children to cross the road unaccompanied; cross with them each time.

Thank you for modelling road safety by adhering to this request.

5 tips for using our Formosa Road Stop Drop & Go area safely:

1. Display your child’s surname clearly on your passenger sun visor.
2. As you approach, keep left while queuing for Stop, Drop & Go. Proceed as far forward as is safe to do so, before stopping. We will direct your child to your vehicle.
3. Children enter cars from the kerb side only. You (the driver) must stay in your car. Store bags inside the car and not in the boot.
4. Instruct your child on independent seatbelt use – or park your car if you need to help them.
5. Give way when exiting Stop, Drop & Go as cars may passing.

Thank you for working with us to ensure that safety is prioritised at all drop off and pickup areas.

Late Arrivals

Students who are arriving after the usual roll marking time in the morning will need to report to the office to collect a late slip. Please see the cut off times as follows:

Students requiring assistance will be accompanied to class by our personnel once they have collected their late slip.

Social Distancing at Gumdale

We thank our parents, carers and community members for the ongoing support around maintaining social distancing guidelines. Our key reminders are:

• We are continuing to limit adults on school grounds. Students are to be dropped off and collected from school gates.
• Students and staff who are unwell must not attend school. Parents of students who present to school unwell will be called to collect their child.
• Students will engage in regular hand washing with soap and water (or using hand sanitiser) and will be reminded to cover coughs and sneezes.
• Parents and carers are asked to maintain 1.5m social distancing at school drop off and pickup. Please refrain from congregating around school gates.

Prep 2021 Enrolment

To enrol your child for Prep 2021 at Gumdale State School, please complete the Student Enrolment Application Form and submit to our Administration Office or email to: admin@gumdaless.eq.edu.au

Parents/carers of enrolled students have been contacted regarding upcoming Prep Information Sessions. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, enrolled families are required to make a booking with Marissa Bowen on mbowe79@eq.edu.au.

From the Deputies

Online Assemblies

Since the return to school in Week 6 and COVID-19 restrictions, we have been holding weekly assemblies differently.

Students have been very engaged while watching the assemblies on their classroom whiteboards using Microsoft Teams.

We look forward to using more of this technology to stay connected during the restrictions on large gatherings.

Year 1 Writing

One of our priorities in 2020 is to show our students how quality writers hone their craft.

Our Year One students have been working on developing their own writing skills over the last few weeks by examining how great authors write poems. They have learn how the use of rhyme, repetition and alliteration help to engage the senses of the reader.

Following are some great examples written by our students.

If you are interested in supporting your child’s writing development there are some practical things you can do at home.

• Provide a place and the materials for writing.
• Provide plenty of paper (lined and unlined) and things to write with, including pencils, pens, and crayons. Have space where these materials are easily accessible.
• Inspire
• Talk with your child about ideas and impressions, encourage efforts to write these down. Link writing to practical and everyday purposes (sign birthday cards, write stories, and make lists, family message board.)
• Encourage your child to include writing with their drawings.
• Read to your child so they learn what good authors do.
• Have fun with new and interesting words to extend your child’s vocabulary.
• Turn your child's writing into books
• Encourage keeping a journal

Upper School Writing

This week the students in Years 4-6 have been hard at work completing the first draft of their English assessment. Students received detailed feedback from their teacher and now have the opportunity to go back and make improvements to their final writing piece.

The Year 4 students have been completing an analysis of an advertisement. Below is a sample from Emma (4S):

Do you think that this is a persuasive advertisement?

"In my opinion it is a persuasive advertisement because all the sound effects and music make it dramatic and exciting. It grabs your attention and makes you watch and then you are going to want to do what the boy did. They also repeated the word P.F. Flyers so you know that is what they are selling and they have exaggeration the ring and the shoes."

The Year 5 students have been working on a film review of the movie ‘Chicken Run’. Below is a sample from Edwin (5S):

“This roller coaster ride of a plot has many twists and turns. Mrs. Tweedy and her off-sider, Mr. Tweedy (voiced by Tony Haggarth), try to stop a whole flock of chickens escaping their farm. Ginger and Rocky find each other and together they embark on a heart-stopping quest to fly out of the coop to freedom. This duo start out as rivals but soon they learn the value of having a friend to rely on.”

In Year 6 students analysed a news report. Below is a sample from Joye (6L):

“The editorial is one-sided and has neglected to deliver any other points of view. It has purposely omitted interviews of people who may have had a conflicting opinion to his own, such as parents, and some researchers. It must be duly noted that these voices, outlining the positive side to giving children a mobile phone, have been intentionally discounted. For these reasons, it is apparent that this report has presented an unmistakable level of bias.”

Semester 1 Reporting

In 2020, schooling as we know it has been very different. Term 1 ended with a pupil free week and Term 2 began with students participating in a modified program of learning either at home or at school for children of essential workers.

As a result of students participating in a face-to-face program for the majority of Term 1 and a modified program of learning for the first half of Term 2, reporting this semester will reflect the modified nature of learning children have experienced this year. Further information was emailed to families last week. Reports will be issued to parents via email on Wednesday 24 June after 3:00pm.

If your child is sick

Please be advised that if your child is sick, they must not go to school. You must keep them at home and away from others. Please seek advice from your doctor or 13Health before sending your child back to school.

We thank you for your continued vigilance.

Digital Technology News

iPad Housekeeping

As students have been on their devices accessing learning from home, their iPads will need some housekeeping. Below we have listed some steps to follow:

Storage

Have students check their iPad Storage capabilities. Most students have 32GB, which can fill up quite quickly. You can check it by going to > Settings > iPad Storage.

The graph will indicate where most of the storage is being held: apps, photos, messages, media etc. In this section, you will also see a list of apps and when they were last accessed. Delete any apps that students have not used for a while (make sure they are not school apps) and make sure home apps are at a minimum.

Photos

Have students check their camera roll. Any photos or videos that are no longer required can be deleted. Students can also create a Home album folder and a School album folder to store their photos in.

> Camera Roll > In the top left hand corner, select the ‘+’ button > Create New Album > Give the album a titled > Select the photos in the roll that you would like to move to this album.

Scroll to the bottom of the page in the Camera Roll. Go into Videos and delete any videos not required anymore. Then select the ‘Recently Deleted’ album to free up some more storage on your device.

Software Update

The most current update is iOS 13.5.1

>Settings >General > Software Update

Background App Refresh

Turn off this feature to help preserve battery life.

>Settings >General >Background App Refresh >Toggle to the left

Messages

Make sure iMessage is turned OFF.

> Settings > Messages >iMessage > Toggle to the left. Scroll down to Message history and select ‘Keep Messages for 30 days’.

Facetime

Make sure Facetime is turned OFF.

> Settings > Facetime > Toggle to the left.

Bug Club

Bug Club is an online reading platform that is used in Prep to Year 2. Over the past few months, the company have made some changes to their website that has resulted in students not being able to access their account. Please use the link below to help you troubleshoot any issues you are having. If these steps do not work, contact the Digital Technology Coaches at iPadclasses@gumdaless.edu.au for further assistance.

Wellbeing

Book Recommendation - The Whole Brain Child

by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson

The Whole Brain Child, written by neuropsychiatrist Daniel J. Siegel and parenting expert Tina Payne Bryson, explores how a child’s brain operates, matures and impacts their social and emotional development. It explains why young children do not act like adults and why they can appear to be out of control. Although the topic is a heavy one, The Whole Brain Child is a short, easy read and provides practical strategies to support children of all ages.

For more information on The Whole Brain Child, including an overview of the strategies outlined in the book, click on the link below.

STEM News

STEM Learning

Year 3

Year 3 Last week students completed an investigation using a torch and shadow puppet to cast a shadow. They investigated how shadows are made, how they change and how they move. We explored the way light travels in straight lines and forms a shadow behind an opaque object that blocks the light. Students also drew a diagram in Showbie to demonstrate the changes in size and direction of shadows during the day including morning, midday and afternoon times.

STEM Year 3

Year 4

Year 4 Students have created some informative and creative posters demonstrating their knowledge of the European honey bee life cycle.

STEM Year 4

Year 5

Year 5 have been exploring our Solar System modelling the sizes and distances between planets. The below link will help you explore our sky with your children.

STEM Year 5 Solar System

STEM Year 5

Year 6

Year 6 have been learning about natural disasters with a focus on earthquakes. Last week they investigated how different joining methods changed the strengths of the model buildings in an ‘earthquake’.

STEM Year 6 Earthquake Test // No joining material

STEM Year 6 Earthquake Test // BluTack

STEM Year 6 Earthquake Test // Tape

Sustainability @ Gumdale

Sustainability Steve is very excited to have students back at school and being mindful of their waste. Our worms are enjoying the return of organic food scraps!

Sports News

Signature Programs

In 2020, we are pleased to offer Signature Programs to our students in Years 4-6. Students will be able to enjoy these elective subjects in Terms 3 & 4. Thank you to Todd Gerhardt Realty who are proud sponsors of this program once again.

Students discussed the programs in classes before completing nominations. A reminder that the nominations are due by 3:00pm today.

The Programs on offer this year are:

We look forward to another great round of Signature programs in 2020!

Sport Aerobics

Help support our Gumdale Sport Aerobics squad! They are entered to win vital funds to assist in keeping costs down for our students. Voting is simple through Facebook or email.

The group with the most votes will win the campaign, so getting voting and share the link to make sure Gumdale is in with a chance to win!

Keep moving!

Music Notes

Choir

Choir rehearsals will resume after the holidays in Week 1 of Term 3 and rehearsal days/times will remain the same. In the meantime, the Gumleaves and Gumtrees Choirs have access to all the repertoire, lyrics and audio on Showbie. Please start committing lyrics to memory and listen to both alto and soprano parts regularly so you are ready for when rehearsals start again. The Gumnuts Choir have their choir folders and should be singing through the songs every week. I look forward to seeing you and hearing you sing again soon.

Instrumental Music

Instrumental Music Lessons

Band rehearsals including Junior Band will resume after the holidays in Week 1 of Term 3 in the music room. Rehearsal days and times will remain the same and we can’t wait to start making music together again.

Xylophone Group

The Xylophone Group will resume after the holidays in Week 1 of Term 3 in the music room with Miss Moran. We are looking forward to seeing you there.

From the Music Department,

Community Business Network

Gumdale State School is pleased to have the support of businesses in our local and nearby community by way of sponsorship. Each year, our school resources are enriched courtesy of members in our Community Business Network.

More details regarding our program and the packages available can be found on our school website or by contacting Marissa Bowen, Executive Assistant.

Phone: 3902 8333 Mail: mbowe79@eq.edu.au

Our Platinum and Gold Sponsors are:

Platinum Sponsor

Todd Gerhardt Realty goes above and beyond for his clients. Todd has broken countless street records, priding himself on getting the best possible price for his vendors. Todd Gerhardt is considered a real sellers agent, but he is equally devoted to his buyers and he knows how to close the deal leaving both parties more than satisfied (which in today's market cannot always be the case).

Todd leaves no stone unturned in the search for the right buyer for your home. It is Todd's mission to offer the best real estate experience you can get. Call Todd on 0419 941 315.

Gold Sponsor

Alpha Home Maintenance is a handyman service designed to save time, money and energy for all your property maintenance needs and those general repairs around the home. We provide a free consultation prior to any job so we can work together on an option that will ensure you choose the service that is right for you. We strive to work hard and deliver outstanding results and exceptional customer service every time. Call us today on 0400 823 868.

P&C News

At Gumdale State School, the P&C participates in decision making that relates to parents, teachers and school organisation. The P&C provides a variety of services to our school community including: Outside School Hours Care, the Tuckshop, the Uniform Shop, fundraising and community events.

Research shows that children whose parents are actively engaged with their education, do better and are happier at school. Being involved with P&C shows your child that you value their education. It also gives you the opportunity to network with the principal, teachers and other parents so you can discuss issues and share your ideas and experiences.

We meet on alternate Tuesday and Thursdays three times per semester unless otherwise advised, with meeting dates announced here in the school newsletter and on the school website. You are encouraged and most welcome to attend.

Even if you are not able to attend P&C meetings, we encourage you to become a P&C member so you are informed by email of meeting minutes, learn what is happening in the school and have your say. Your membership with the P&C needs to be renewed yearly by completing a P&C Membership Form and submitting it each year prior to the Annual General Meeting (usually held in Term 1). It is also possible to join later in the year; contact the P&C for details of how to do this.

Follow the P&C

To stay up to date with all things P&C, follow us on social media:

• Facebook at Gumdale State School Parents & Citizens
• Instagram at gumdale_ss_pandc
• Twitter at gumdaless_pandc
• Or contact us on pandc@gumdalesspc.org.au

Aaron Beake
P&C President

GOSHC

Making a Booking

If you require your child to attend BSC or ASC, you must create a booking either via email or the MyFamily Lounge App. Gumdale Outside School Hours Care will be operating at a limited capacity due to the Emergency Childcare Relief Package. It is imperative for families to only use the service if it is essential for your family.

Vacation Care

Information about Vacation Care has been emailed to all GOSHC families. It is important that all GOSHC families read this and follow the directives about how to book Vacation Care for the upcoming break.

Unfortunately, GOSHC will be unable to accept any children that DO NOT have a booking for BSC or ASC session, this includes walk-ins.

Gumtree Eatery

Days of Service

We are continuing to operate with a reduced service until further notice. However, once again we are offering over the counter service for snacks and frozen items (students in Years 1-6). All meal items need to be ordered on Flexischools.

Winter Warmers

There’s a chill in the air and the Eatery is offering some winter warmer specials. Our popular hot chocolate is back on the menu and can be ordered via Flexischools or can be purchased from 8:00am over the counter. $2.00 per serve.

Check out our soup of the day, served with a fresh bread roll for $5.00.

We will also offer monthly specials so check out our Facebook posts!

Carol Matheson
Gumtree Eatery Tuckshop Convenor

Uniform Shop News

The Uniform Shop remains closed for over the counter orders. All orders MUST be placed via Flexischools. Orders will be delivered to Teachers pigeon holes for collection and then delivered to students. If you require an incorrect item to be exchanged or refunded please contact the Uniform Shop staff via email and send the item to Admin with invoice and note explaining change required.

Troubleshooting Flexischools

If you are having trouble with Flexischools try logging off and then log back in. Alternatively try the desktop website. If you are still having trouble please email the Uniform Shop staff for assistance.

Stock

Hoodies are back in stock! All backorders have been delivered.

Size 8 Sports Skorts are currently out of stock, alternatively Formal Skorts or Unisex shorts can be worn with the polo shirt. Formal Skorts do run a bit bigger so our staff suggest you go down a size.

If you need to exchange an item please email the Uniform Shop staff. Delivery of new sports Skorts are not expected for a few weeks.

Uniform Policy

As the weather cools and we reach for warmer clothing, a reminder of our Uniform Policy:

Uniforms can be ordered online from Flexischools and delivered to classroom teachers for your convenience. More information on our uniform policy is available on our website here.

Michelle Moffatt
Uniform Shop Manager

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