ENewsletter

Stay up to date with what’s happening at Weir! Download the Skoolbag app and follow our school: https://www.moqproducts.com.au/skoolbag/

Principal's Pen

WELCOME TO WEEK 2 - Week 1 was filled with apprehension and a little anxiety as we all endured the term 2 ‘Corona Crunch’ that we are all coming to grips with. Please let me apologise to all parents and caregivers in our community for things not operating the way they were expected to when using the online environment. Fortunately we have a fantastic group of teacher aides that were hard at work copying the learning@home resources for students that headed to the trusted ‘pencil and paper’ when the digital world collapsed. Please remember to call our school if you have any continued concerns and we’ll be more than happy to help out. Thanks to all students, parents and carers for your continued patience as we continue to move through the COVID 19 crisis…..please stay safe and healthy Weir.

SKOOLBAG APP – Over the last few weeks communication has been flowing to our community with continual updates on the COVID 19 crisis and school operations. I encourage EVERY parent to download our WEIR STATE SCHOOL SKOOLBAG APP to ensure you receive all school messages and you are kept up to date with things as they progress.

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE CONDITIONS - It is of the highest importance that school attendance conditions for students, put in place by the state government, are adhered to by our school communities until such times as they are changed by government. ALL students will be learning from home, except for students in the following categories:

Children of essential workers on days when they are not able to be supervised at home and no other arrangements can be made. Essential worker means any worker who must continue to attend their workplace for essential business during this time.
Vulnerable children include children identified by schools or who:

are currently receiving services from Child Safety, including children who are subject to a child protection order
are subject to a youth justice order

Children in designated Indigenous communities.

Where the student is learning at home, the parent or carer is responsible for the student’s safety and wellbeing at home. Your support during these unprecedented and challenging times is greatly appreciated. All schools in Queensland are required to abide by these conditions for student and staff safety, to meet mandatory measures within State Schools until the order is lifted by the Premier of Queensland. Please remember we are in week 2 of a 5 week school process across the state

Any student not on our attendance list for week 1 and requiring to attend school in week 2 will require the parent to contact the school, giving clear reason for the student now meeting the above current government directive of; a child of an ‘essential’ worker or vulnerable. Please remember Stay home, learn at home …stay safe and well!

ANZAC RESPECTS - Even though most ANZAC ceremonies were cancelled, our school took part in a small ANZAC ceremony on Friday to honour our fallen. At 10:40am, students stood behind their chairs at their desks and listened to the Last Post and Rouse maintaining a 1 minute silence before heading to first break. Thanks to our teachers and support staff for organising the event allowing our kids and school to do it’s small part to honour our fallen..

RAINFOREST REJUVENATION - Our rainforest rejuvenation project is under way this week and will provide an alternate learning space for our students. This will take a couple of days to complete the first phase before we embark on phase 2 of the project over the next couple of weeks. Another great project taking the improvement of our school forward….Well Done Weir!

MUSIC ROOM MAGIC – Last week our Arts / Music and Instrumental block finally had its 20 year old carpet replaced. The new floor coverings look amazing and will certainly add to the learning space provided of our Arts/Music and Instrumental students ….congratulations to our great school on this worthwhile improvement.

SUN SAFETY – Please remember that caps are not permitted at school. Bucket hats or wide brimmed hats are sun safe and offer protection to young skin and are the preferred option at Weir.

THIS WEEKS PROVERB – “ Failing to plan is planning to fail”

Thanks for reading and please stay well

Mr B - Principal

Stage 1

Stage One of our Rainforest Rejuvenation is well and truly underway!

From the Deputies Desk

What a start to the term we have had! Whether you are engaging with learning in your home or at school we can certainly agree this has been a different way of schooling. We are all facing the challenges this new way of learning brings, however, what we can acknowledge is ‘we can do this when we do this together’.

As each new day comes we are building stronger connections between teachers, students and their families. It is so encouraging to hear our students’, parents/carers excitement as our students’ progress through their learning in the OneNote platform or through the paper based materials and resources. Our teachers have been working tirelessly to create supported learning and activities to ensure learning continues during this uncertain time.

Although we have launched our OneNote platform some families are still having difficulties with connectivity. It is only early days in this new learning at so please keep trying. Persistence is the key. If you can not connect try shutting down, restarting or trying again a little later.

Our teachers have been phoning and emailing parents throughout the week. We are aware that some of our families contact details have changed so if you if you have not heard from your child’s teacher yet please do not hesitate to contact them. They are looking forward to connecting with you and their student’s.

Mr Coey’s Joke of the Week…

Q: How many lips does a flower have?

A: Tu-lips!

Wonderful Weir Community Generosity

Staff at Weir would like to extend their heartfelt thanks for the generous donation of photocopy paper from the Klein Family and the amazing treats donated by the Free family.

From the GO

How are you? Please do not hesitate to call the school office and ask for the Guidance Officer if you are not coping and need to talk - 47 261 333.

It is Guidance Week this week. Here is a little YouTube link showing casing how Guidance Officer fit into the school community.

Guidance officers – Support, Guide, Inspire

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cwxn44JcDuc

SWD News

Thank you to all of our SWD/ICP parents and students who have been working incredibly hard over the past 2 weeks! Well done to you all, I have been very proud to see the work being completed and coming in to be marked and passed on to class teachers.

Please remember to take photos of your child's work and email in to their SWD support teacher on a regular basis so we can keep track of their learning. If you haven't been in contact with Karen, Tim or myself yet, please touch base and let us know how you are going.

Keep up the great work and remember we are here to help if you need!

Mrs. Maryann Marshall

The Arts News

Term 2 Week 2 - You Tube Links

Guided Mediation for Children

Here is a relaxing guided mediation for children (Parents/Carers you might like to join in too.)

Lie on your back or sit in a comfortable position. Listen to this beautiful guided mediation, feel your body and mind unwind. I hope this makes you feel relaxed and more peaceful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWOHcGF1Tmc&t=496s

Dance - Prep to Year 2

Just Dance Waka Waka is a favourite of our students at Weir SS. Go to skoolbag for the link or just go to you tube and find the dance pictured below. Have fun!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCzgc_RelBA

Dance - Years 3 to 6

I Gotta Feeling is a favourite of our older students

See link on the skoolbag app or type the below link into you tube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnVXTEUmba8&t=30s

"Weir Together"

You Tube singalong song of the week - "How Far I'll Go"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i66p0_wZ9F0&list=RDMMi66p0_wZ9F0&start_radio=1

Join your friends, teachers and Weir Staff for some fun.

All you need to do is go to your school email or skoolbag app to click on the link to the song we will singalong to this week.

IT MUST BE THE SPECIFIC VERSION I HAVE GIVEN YOU!!

Use your headphones and sing along if you can.

Have a parent or guardian record you singing along.Send that recording to Mrs Wilson's by email. Her email address is:

jwils230@eq.edu.au

The recording MUST be received by SUNDAY at 5pm to be included.

All the videos will be edited and compiled together.

When our amazing online sing-a-long song is ready it will be uploaded to the school Facebook page.

To VIEW our sing-a-long look out for a link on the Skoolbag app or view it directly on our Weir SS Facebook page. You will be able to see your friends, teachers and staff from school (and maybe some special guests!)

Please Note: If you are having trouble sending the file to Mrs Wilson’s Email please send 15 seconds of it. You could send 3 recordings of different parts of the song.

PE News

Students attending school will be participating in HPE and dance lessons as aligned with the online learning activities. It is important that students have a hat and water bottle for these activities. This not only ensures that the students remain hydrated and sun safe, but also maintains the hygiene measures being followed by students using their own personal water bottles in place of the drinking taps.

Mother's Day

P&C Mother’s Day

Online Ordering from 30th April 2020 to 6th May 2020 through QKR by masterpass. The app is free to download through the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Sign up is free. Search Weir and add profile (this is your child’s name). If you need any help please email tuckshop@weirss.eq.edu.au

Gifts available for all our Fabulous Mum/ Step Mum / Nan/ Grandma/ Nanna or Special Lady on Mother’s Day. Gifts start from $5 or Gift Packs from $10. Other gifts available from Tuckshop.

Collection of online orders available FROM the Tuckshop Thursday 7th May 2.00pm-3.30pm and Friday 8th May 8.15am – 9.30am & 2pm – 3.30pm.

Mother’s Day Stall at the Tuckshop

Tuesday 5th May 2020 - Friday 8th May 2020

Mother’s Day Stall Operating times

Tuesday 5th May 2020	2pm – 3.30pm
Wednesday 6th May 2020	8am – 9.30am
Thursday 7th May 2020	1pm -3.30pm
Friday 8th May 2020	2.30pm – 3.30pm

Stay tuned to our school Facebook page and SkoolBag for more details.

Please Note: our volunteers and staff following social distancing guidelines and wearing gloves when serving our students and school community.

Bookclub

Click here for the Catalogue (internet required). The school has not received any hard copies but parents can choose to have a look at the Catalogue by calling into the school library 8am - 3pm.

Orders for this issue close tomorrow 30th April. Orders will be delivered back to the school and parents will be advised when they are available for collection. LOOP can be accessed here.

Recycling at Weir

The benefits of recycling are supported at school in the following manner:

TONER CARTRIDGES are recycled through Planet Ark.

Printer cartridges are made up of a combination of plastics, metals, foam, ink and toner. Throwing them into landfill contributes to the growing problem of electronic waste. By recycling your toner cartridges you are helping to reduce this waste. Please place them in the Planet Ark box next to the purple Battery World bin, downstairs Block 7.

Bring your BATTERIES into school so that we can dispose of them in an environmentally friendly manner. Car batteries must be delivered to Battery World on Ingham Road. The purple Battery World recycling bin is placed downstairs of Block 7.

Spare SHOPPING BAGS are welcome at the Library so that our library books are always protected.

Stewart McFarlane Colouring Pages

Hello! We at Townsville City Galleries invite you to collaborate with artist Stewart MacFarlane from home! Stewart’s artworks are currently on display in our virtual tour of Outside Looking In and we have developed colouring in pages of his artworks for you!

You will find the colouring in pages attached to this email. These files can be printed as many times and as big as you like; plus, they are great fun for all ages. Put your spin on the artworks using textas, pencils, paint, glitter... there are so many possibilities!

Have fun colouring in and don’t forget to send a photo of your completed creation to us at ptrg@townsville.qld.gov.au or share with us on Facebook or Instagram! We would love to see your renditions of Stewart’s artworks.

Visit TownsvilleCityGalleries on Facebook or Instagram to see what other people have shared and to keep an eye out for more fun activities! Have fun! Townsville City Galleries, Townsville City Council

Colouring Pages

Download

Queensland Museum Network at Home

We may have temporarily closed our doors but the Queensland Museum Network is still here and ready for you to explore. We have become a digital museum where teachers and students can still discover, engage, learn and connect with us online.

View videos by our curators and scientists, download learning resources, and explore our online collection with more than 788,000 objects.

LEARN MORE

Human endeavour and innovation: Physics of War

Recommended for Years 5-9

Commemorate Anzac Day at home this year by engaging with our Physics of War online resource.

Explore the science behind a number of First World War technologies and innovations. Make your own periscope in our design challenge and discover how electrical energy can be used to send secret coded messages.

This resource contains teacher notes, student activities and curriculum links for Physics and History.

LEARN MORE

SparkLab Maker Space – challenge yourself at home

Recommended for Prep – Year 8.

Tricky terrain is a breeze if you slide or roll down a zip line. Make a device that transports a person or object safely along a zip line. Use everyday materials to design, make and test out a solution to a real world challenge. Through design thinking and iterative prototyping, explore concepts around material properties, physical changes, forces and movement.

This program supports the Science and Technologies curriculum.

The Maker Space is part of the STEM programming within SparkLab.

LEARN MORE

Queensland Museum Network Learning Resources

Create a collection of resources to share with your students through Queensland Museum’s online learning platform. You can search resources according to subject and curriculum areas to access learning resources, images, collection items, and videos of our scientists and curators.

Learning about adaptations? How about sharing some photos of Queensland’s amazing animals, along with our Animal Survivor resource?

Many learning resources are interactive, so students can also save and share their answers for feedback.

LEARN MORE

The Future of Rail: A Design Challenge

Recommended for Year 6 but may be adapted for other year levels

Connect to the museum at home by exploring the past, present and future of electrical energy, including its generation and ability to power movement around our vast state.

Design and develop a ‘clean’ train and rail system that uses electrical energy to transport valuable collection items between metropolitan and regional museums. This challenge promotes design thinking and explores the concepts of physics (electrical energy), forces and movement.

This resouce supports the Science and Technologies curricula.

This activity is supported by the online resource Generating Electricity: Past and Present

LEARN MORE

Learning @ Home

Recommended for Years 5 - 9

Discover Queensland Museum’s suite of curriculum-aligned science resources for students in Years 5 to 9, supporting the Department of Education Learning @ Home science units.

Students can delve into hands-on learning activities using every day materials that will keep young minds active and engaged.

Our downloadable resources also enable students to type their answers directly into the booklets.

LEARN MORE