01 December 2016 No. 38

From the Principal…

Dear Parents and Carers

Congratulations to those students who participated in the Fiftieth Newtown State School Interhouse Swimming Carnival yesterday. With perfect weather conditions, we witnessed students making great effort to achieve their best. Led by the house captains, the level of sportsmanship and team spirit exhibited by the students was admirable as they encouraged and congratulated their fellow competitors. Many thanks to Miss Quinn, staff and volunteers who made the day a success.

COMING EVENTS

Dec Thu 1 Year 6 Graduation Fri 2 P&C Christmas Stall – Last Day Fri 2 Disco ( All Ages 4:30 – 6:30pm) Wed 7 Whole School Concert (9:30 -11am) Wed 7 Report Cards Sent Out Thu 8 Class Celebrations Fri 9 Last Day of Term 4 Jan 2017 Wed 18 ‘Meet & Greet’ & Book Drop Off (2 – 3pm) Wed 18 Uniform Shop (Open 12 – 3pm) Fri 20 Uniform Shop (Open 9am – 12pm) Mon 23 First Day of Term 1 Thu 26 Australia Day Public Holiday Feb Wed 1 Tuckshop Re-opens Tue 7 P&C Meeting (Resource Centre, 7pm)

Wishing everyone a safe and happy

holiday ☺

As this will be our last newsletter for 2016, I’d like to take the opportunity to thank the staff, students and families of the Newtown State School community for the warm welcome in Semester Two. Newtown State School is a great school with gorgeous students, a dedicated and professional staff and a P&C and school community who work so well as a team to support school endeavours. It’s a recipe for an enjoyable school experience and a pleasurable environment to work in and it has been my privilege to be the Acting Principal over this last six months. Communication regarding the principal position for 2017 is expected at the end of next week and will be shared with the school community in due course. I look forward to celebrating Year Six Graduation tonight and enjoying the Disco on Friday. Best wishes for a wonderful festive season and for a safe holiday. Regards Tania Angus , Acting Principal 2017 ARRANGEMENTS School resumes on Monday 23 January, 2017. Next week, families will receive a letter/s with the draft class and location. Please note that class allocations are subject to change should our enrolment fluctuate. Families are welcome to come to the school on Wednesday 18 January between 2:00 and 3:00pm to see where their child’s class will be and meet the teacher. Students are also invited to bring in all their books and class requisites. This will assist in a smooth start on the first day of school. If your child will be returning , but may not be returning until after 23 January 2017, it would be appreciated if you could contact the school office to complete a form, advising their expected date of return. This information is required in writing to ensure we can include your child in our “Day 8” numbers. Day 8 numbers are provided to the Department on the eighth day of the new school year. Students who are not physically present on that day, and for whom there is no written confirmation of their return, will not be able to be included in our enrolment numbers. This can have significant impact on our staff and class numbers. If your child will not be returning , it would be appreciated if you could advise what school they will be moving to for 2017. If your child will be returning to Newtown State School next year and will be returning on time, there is no need for you to do anything. Your child’s enrolment will continue as normal, and they will be included in 2017 class allocations.

STAFFING UPDATE Newtown State School will welcome two new teachers in 2017; Kylie Beaven and Dianne McCosker, who have been transferred in from other locations. We also have a number of permanent staff returning from leave/other positions; Melissa Ashton, Rowena Shirtcliffe, Steven Bellettini and Jeffrey Bean. Ashley Hams will undertake the role of Acting Deputy Principal in Term 1 whilst Sue Vidler is on leave. Sadly, we will farewell a number of staff next week; Sandy Ritter, Shallon Garton, Brooke Linsket, Tanya Donald, Sandra Andison and Amy Courtney. These ladies have all made an enormous contribution to Newtown State School and invest so much care and concern for our students. They will be greatly missed by our school community and we wish them all the best in their new endeavours/positions. CURRICULUM NEWS – REPORT CARDS On Wednesday 7 December your child will receive their Semester Two report card. As with all Queensland schools, student achievement is determined using a 5-point scale. To keep consistency of ratings, regular moderating sessions amongst teachers have occurred. Included on the report card is also a rating for Effort. Effort ratings are a really important reflection of whether the student is applying themselves to the best of their ability and achieving the best they can. It is important to acknowledge a high effort rating. INVESTING FOR SUCCESS FUNDING This funding is making a great difference to our students on a daily basis. A snapshot report outlining that we are making substantial progress towards our targets has been uploaded to the school website for your interest. ATTENDANCE!! Attendance continues to remain steady at 93.1% which is great and getting closer to our goal of 95%! Every day still counts! CHRISTMAS CARDS AND CANDY CANES

It’s that time of year again when students like to give Christmas cards and candy canes. We request that this happens only in the last week of school. Your assistance in this regard is greatly appreciated.

The Bedazzled Number 1 awarded on assembly this week went to 1H for consistently wearing the school uniform appropriately, correct uniform, hair tied back in school coloured accessories, only necessary jewellery, unpainted nails etc.

Congratulations to 1H!

The challenge for the next week is going to be for the class who has the least amount of outstanding library books to be returned . PARADES There will be no curriculum parades this week or next. Our last whole school assembly will take place next Monday. THANKS!! Thanks to our P&C for organising the Book Stall and providing each student with the beautiful gift of a book! We saw students wasting no time in enjoying their new piece of literature. Thanks also to the P&C for the donation of $1500 (half proceeds from the Spellathon) to our Student Representative Council. The Christmas Stall being conducted this week is also a lovely service to our students – thank-you. All this effort is greatly appreciated.

Newtown State School End of Year Concert

This year we are having one Whole School Concert, with most classes pairing up to keep it

to a manageable length. The Concert will start at

9.30am on Wednesday, 7 December and should finish at 11.00am.

Families and friends are invited to attend.

This week the PBL lesson focus is a class evaluation. Classes collate individual students’ responses to a set of questions about positive and negative consequences, the rules, what bothers them most and any ideas they have. This is because it is important that students have their say about behaviour in the school so that new goals can be set and strategies can be trialled. The school values students’ opinions; we want positive consequences to appeal to students as well as be able to address any concerns they have so that we can keep on improving as a school.

Our Swimming Champions

Congratulations to the following Swimming

Champions: 8yrs Jordan B Zoe R 9yrs Jakye W Ruby D 10yrs Billy R Kylah Q 11yrs Braeden B Mackenzie Q 12yrs Noah G Madison D

House Champion EVANS Congratulations to each and every student who participated in the carnival yesterday and a big “Thank you” to all our Parent and family supporters - we had a fantastic day!

Support Hub End of Year Requests • Health Plans - please have them reviewed over

the holidays • Asthma Letter - please fill in and return to the

office or Support Hub ASAP • Eyes & Ears - checked lately - good time for a

review during the holidays • Dr Letters - if you require a letter from the school

- please allow 3 weeks for this to occur • Sick child - notify the office ASAP • Concerns - please make an appointment with the

office to speak with your child’s teacher or the case managers in the Support Hub.

Former Newtown State School Students Graduate

Mrs Olsen was extremely proud of former Newtown

students, Noah, Georgia and Izzy who recently graduated from Harristown State High School. We wish them all the very best for their future

endeavours.

Dental Care availability between School Dental Service visits to your school. The School Dental Service, provided by the Toowoomba Oral Health Service, offers general treatment to children from 4 years of age to students in Year 10, during regular visits to schools. Outside the regular school visits, an emergency service is available. In the event that eligible children and school students experience dental pain, swelling or trauma, emergency care only can be accessed by ringing the Toowoomba Oral Health Clinic on 1300 082 662 between 8:00am and 9:00am where the emergent problem will be triaged . During after hours / public holidays attend the Emergency Department at the Toowoomba Base Hospital. All other routine matters such as check-ups, orthodontic assessments and fillings cannot be provided until the dental van returns to the school. As an alternative, dental care may be sought any time at your own private family dentist.

It has again been a school year filled with events, activities and achievements. Most of us are looking forward to relaxing after the busy school year but with only a few weeks until Christmas, there’s still plenty of things each of us are still trying to squeeze in. The Christmas season tends to be hectic for most people so our challenge is to make time to focus on what is really important amongst the activity. Christmas encourages us to look around us, focus on others and think about the lives we are living. It’s a time when we have and make the time to focus on friends and family. Christmas is often a time when we are able to connect, or reconnect, with people that are important and think of others, rather than ourselves. For many of us, Christmas can be a real emotional rollercoaster. For some it is a joyous time, but for others Christmas can be hard for a range of reasons. My hope for people who find Christmas a tough time of year is that they will have people around them who can support them, encourage them and help them experience joy and peace this Christmas. Christmas affects every one of us, whether you believe the Christian reasons for the season or not. As we come into the Christmas season, my hope and encouragement is we will all embrace the positives and possibilities this season can bring. Imagine how different Christmas would be if we kept it simple and focussed on the positives of the season. This week, and the whole way through the Christmas season, how can you keep things simple, focus on what really matters and share the positives of the season? Andrew Bell (Chaplain) P.S. As this is my last Chaplain’s Chat for the year, I want to wish each and every member of the school community a wonderful Christmas and school holiday break. It has been wonderful to share 2016 with you all. For those who will be back next year, look forward to seeing you in the New Year. For those who are leaving our school community, I wish you all the best for the next part of your journey, wherever that may be. Have a safe holiday break, a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Work Days and Contact Information Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I can be contacted here at the school by calling the main office on 4614 5777, leaving a message at the main office or by emailing abell168@eq.edu.au.

Star Wars Day Feel the force and prepare for an epic day of Star Wars goodness. Events include: laser tag, face painting, Star Wars themed escape room, kids craft, Star Wars quiz, prizes to be won stencil tees (BYO t-shirt), scavenger hunt, prizes to be won, console gaming Lightscape studios green screen photo booth (cost $5 per print, cash only) When: Saturday 14 January 2017 , 09:30am-2:00pm Where: Toowoomba City Library Civic Precinct, Herries St. Cost: Free Proudly sponsored by Toowoomba Region and Friends of the Toowoomba City Library

School holiday activities Paper circuitry Christmas cards, stencil tees, Pokemon Party and gaming are some of the things on offer at Toowoomba City Library these school holidays- http://www.tr.qld.gov.au/facilities-recreation/libraries/libraryprograms/12046-libraryevents Summer Reading Club The Summer Reading Club encourages children and young people to discover great authors and illustrators of picture books, junior and young adult fiction and non-fiction. The literary and creative activities developed for the online activity site, and the programming delivered in local public libraries aim to encourage a love of reading and ongoing multi-literacy skills development among children, young people and their families during the summer holidays. http://www.summerreadingclub.org.au/

Newtown State School

01 December 2016

P&C Contact Details: pandc@newtownss.eq.edu.au

Lauren 0409 266 181 Thank you to all who have assisted and supported the P&C for 2016. We hope our entire community has a relaxing and amazing holiday break. Disco The Disco is this Friday 4:30 - 6:30pm for all ages . Entry will be $3. All orders for Disco Hot dogs need to be in to Tuckshop by 9:15am Friday morning. We hope to see you all there for a wonderful end of year celebration. If you are able to assist on the night in the Tuckshop or with supervision please come along. P&C Gift We hope all students chose a book to fall in love with on Tuesday. This gift is an important part of supporting our school’s commitment to reading. See you all at the Christmas concert! Tuckshop There are no Meal Deals this week , but Tuckshop will continue trading until the last day – just with a limited menu. Slushies are $2.00 until the end of the year. Tuckshop will re-open Wednesday 1 February 2017. Uniform Shop Uniform Shop is open Tuesday and Thursday mornings this term from 8:30-9:30am. EFTPOS is available (25c surcharge applies). DATE CHANGE FOR UNIFORM SHOP OPENING IN JANUARY Uniform shop will also be open WEDNESDAY 18th January 12pm-3pm (Not Thursday 19th) and Friday 20th January 9am-12pm before Term 1 2017 starts. We need volunteers to help run the Uniform Shop on these days. If you can assist, please see Sabrina in the Uniform Shop. If you are leaving the school this year, please consider donating your uniforms to the Uniform Shop. All donations of school uniforms are greatly accepted. If you wish to sell them, there is a notice board outside the Uniform Shop where you can pin up your notice.

LOST & FOUND Our Lost and Found Bin is overflowing. Please come and check through it. Do some of those jumpers etc belong to you????

Christmas Stall Our annual Christmas Stall is now in full swing down at the Uniform Shop.

You only have one day left to shop! 8:30-8:45am tomorrow morning before school and 3-3:15pm after school.

Please pop in and grab a Christmas bargain.

Recycling Only 1 WEEK TO GO! The recycling program is on Tuesday mornings outside the Uniform Shop from 8:15-9am.

We can recycle paper (not cardboard) and aluminium cans. We have 2 prizes this term for the individual competition, a 3 movie pack of the Minions movies and a second 3 movie pack starring the Hop movie and 2 others. The prize for the class competition is again an iceblock for each child in the winning class! A welcome prize on a hot Summer’s day!

Outside School Hours Care Vacation Care is just around the corner? Did you know at Newtown Outside School Hours Care we have a range of children from other schools during Vacation Care. So, don't forget to tell your friends if they go to a different school. Come in and pick up a program & enrolment pack. We are open from 6am – 6pm with lunch provided for $48.60 per day minus your CCB (Excursions/Incursions extra). If you would like any further information, contact Dee 042 850 2967, Centre 46 145 718 Email newtownss.oshc@gmail.com

For further details please contact Robert Williams on 0413 488 303 / 4635 5655 (home), or e-mail rwtc@bigpond.com