Gatton State School Newsletter

At the time of publishing this edition of Gatton State School’s newsletter there will be fifteen school days until the Easter holidays! During my (brief) twenty days at Gatton State School I have witnessed genuine teaching and learning, tremendous community engagement in partnership with the school and amazing acts of kindness among students. In all, a very busy, yet rewarding twenty days.

Want to know more about what’s happening in your school . . . . visit the school’s web site www.gattonss.eq.edu.au

sing a whole-school approach to promote positive behaviour across a school is the most effective way to develop a safe and supportive learning environment.  In a whole-school approach, the school community (students, parents and school staff) work together to establish the expectations for behaviour. The expectations are simple, clear and explicit. 

Parents and the wider community play an important role in creating a safe and supportive school environment. Parents are valuable partners in supporting the school and their child's learning and behaviour. Parents have valuable insights about how to best support their child's behaviour and learning. 

We are extending an expression of interest for people to join the PBL committee and attend 4-6 meetings per year.  We are looking for a commitment over time to be involved in the selection of focus behaviours, rewards days for the end of term and assisting with the running of our events.  If you are interested in joining our committee please leave your contact details with the front office staff.   ​

 Each fortnight we have a specific focus on a selected behaviour.     Over these two weeks we are focusing on 

“I walk quietly and safely around the school” .

 This week we are focusing on the behaviour “I walk quietly and safely around the school”. Students are being taught to ensure that when they are moving around the school to do so quietly so as not to disturb other classes. We will also have a special focus on walking on hard surfaces. If students forget and in their enthusiasm begin running on the paths and undercover areas, they may be asked to “Stop and give me 20!” We have not become a boot camp! This simply means the children must stop, sit or crouch and count to 20 to reinforce the safe walking message. This has been very successful and well done to all those safe walkers in our school.

MM has been studying the three phases of matter in science.

Oobleck (or slime) is a non-Newtonian fluid; it has properties of both liquids and solids. If you slowly dip your finger into it the Oobleck feels like a liquid, but if you squeeze it, it will feel solid. To test if this was true, MM and MW made oobleck. (The name oobleck comes from the Dr Seuss book, “Bartholomew and the Oobleck.”)

After the oobleck, MM and MW used chocolate to demonstrate the phases, solid to liquid and liquid to solid, with great success. What a terrific science lesson! MM and MW can hardly wait for the next science lesson.

Date:                   Friday 3rd April

Time:                  9:15am (Start); 3:00pm (Finish)

Venue:                Lockyer Valley Aquatic Centre

Cost:                   ALL children in year 4 - 6 pay $5 on Friday morning 3rd April to their teacher. Children will walk to the pool in class groups.

Bathing Caps:    House coloured bathing caps are available from the office for $3.00 each.

Programs:          On sale for $3.00 from the school office on Thursday 2nd April. Children in 50 metre and 25 metre events have their name in the program.

Uniform:            Children should wear their school uniform and a hat.  Bring; togs, towel, sunscreen. Don't wear togs to school in the morning. (Children will change into togs at the pool.)

Lunch:                Children should bring a packed lunch. The pool canteen will be open during the day.

N.B:                    Every year children ask if they can stay behind at the pool after the carnival. No child will be permitted to remain behind at the pool after the carnival. Children may go home with their parents if the parent sees the class teacher.

Helpers:              We will require a number of parents to assist as timekeepers. If you can help in this regard please contact Mrs Scott or leave a message at the office. All parents are welcome and encouraged to attend.

 Program overview:

Each child will swim up to five swims. One event from each block.

Cricket/Kanga/Softball/T-Ball Carnival

The annual Cricket, Kanga, Softball, T-Ball Carnival will be held at the end of Week 9, this term.  Students who have been selected to participate should have received a permission note from school.  Please return the note & money as soon as possible, along with any pre-ordered lunch forms.  If your child is unable to attend, please let the school know so that a replacement can be organised.

Date:  Friday 27th March.

Starting Time:  Cricket will be at Cahill Park 8:45

Softball will be at Gatton SS 8:50

Kanga will be at Redback soccer grounds 9:00

The bus for Kanga and Cricket will depart at 8:35am. Spectators are welcome.  This carnival is part of our school sport program that follows the School Sport Code of Conduct.  Copies of this policy will be available if required.

Since 1992, schools across Australia have worked together and made a real difference to their environment and local communities through participating in Schools Clean Up Day. We have registered for this event and will be conducting our clean up on the 20th March between 2.30-3.00pm.  These sites make an immense contribution to the rubbish removed by volunteers - young and old! Schools Clean Up Day is a fun and engaging way to teach young Australians about the responsible disposal of rubbish, resource recovery and the repercussions of rubbish dumped irresponsibly in the local environment.

Welcome

Welcome everyone and a big shout out to the wonderful volunteers who have come forward to lend a helping hand.

Volunteers

Volunteers are an important part of our Tuckshop. We cannot operate without volunteers.

The tuckshop is happy to always see new faces. It is a great place to catch up with others and contribute to the school. Students love to see someone they love or know in the Tuckshop during their breaks and any help is greatly appreciated. Our busiest time is in the morning from 9am – 11.40am Wednesday – Friday. If you have any spare time to help out, even 1 hour after you drop off the kids to cut up some fruit please contact the school office 54663333 or tuckshop 54663314.

New Tuckshop days and hours are Wednesday to Friday 8:15am to 1:30pm.

The School Tuckshop is run by the P&C Association, therefore all revenue earned through the Tuckshop goes back to helping purchase items to aid students learning.

The new Tuckshop Menu is included in this newsletter. We strive to bring your children a healthy range of reasonably priced food. The tuckshop menu is Smart Choice compliant and unfortunately due to factors outside of our control some menu items may at times be unavailable. Tuckshop hours are as above, however please note that trading hours and menu prices may change. In these circumstances any changes will be advertised in the School newsletter and on the School website.

To place a tuckshop order please ensure you provide a suitably sized paper bag with the following information-

Students Name

Students Class

First break or Second break (a separate bag for each break if ordering for both first and second break).

Menu items ordered

Total cost of the order.

Tuckshop orders should be placed in the class tuckshop box prior to 9:10am.

Unfortunately the Tuckshop does not provide credit! Please ensure payment is included with your child’s order.

Fundraising

The P&C recently catered for the Darling Downs swimming carnival with an estimate of $1000 profit. Thank you to everyone who helped with the catering.

Red Food Days

The next Red Food days will be held on

Monday 30th March – Year 4 - 6

Tuesday 31st March – Year Prep - 3

Red food days are where students can order items that cannot normally be purchased at a school tuckshop. The menu contains something to eat, a drink and a choice of a sweet treat. All items must be pre ordered. You may still order normal tuckshop on Red food days if you would prefer.

Menu for Red Food days will be sent home with your students soon.

Speedway

Volunteers are needed to help man the Canteen at the Gatton Speedway on March 21st from 11am to 9pm. If you have an hour or two to spare please contact the school office 0754663333.

Uniforms

The Tuckshop is taking layby's for uniforms. To help families with the expense of uniforms you now have the option to layby uniforms. Please contact the office or Tuckshop for a layby order form.