2022 Term 1, Week 9 Newsletter

From the Principal's Desk

"A Service of Celebration"

Thank you to members of our school community who attended our very special "Service of Celebration" for Mrs Tanya Bendall. 

Parents:  I commend to you, the outstanding behaviour and attitude of your children displayed during this service.  Students presented in full uniform and were seated at the Hall by 9am.......silent (attendees can attest to this fact!) Througout the service, students remained seated, quiet, respectful, and honoured the reason why and the person for whom we held the service.  

Students from Pittsworth State High School combined with our students to perform in the Concert Band, String Ensemble, Senior Vocal Ensemble and Choir.  What a show they provided for us!  Brilliance on stage!  I acknowledge the courageousness of students and sincerely thank each and every one of them for their contribution towards what was a beautiful service to farewell our teacher.

I also thank those staff members who had a particular input into the organisation of the service including Toni-Ann & Michael Smith, Lynelle & Ian Gordon, Jen Jackson, Michael Santsingh, Deb Santsingh, Beth Wheeldon, Tony Morris, Dan Lindenmayer, Amy McCullough, Phil Ryan, Michael Stockwell, Luke Todd, Melissa Pappin, John Hoornweg, our Cleaning Team.  Thanks also to Belinda and Pete at the Function Centre for their assistance in the kitchen!

CROSS COUNTRY

Our gates opened, the siren sounded, and spectators flocked to our first official event of the school year!  Thank you for supporting your child at the recent cross country and for attending this event - the number of spectators was heartening to see and a very welcome sight after such a long hiatus!  Further details about the event can be read in the "Sporting News".

CONGRATULATIONS TO LESLIE - Cross Country Winners - 303 points.  Condamine - 243 points.

Stay Informed - COVID19

For the latest Covid information including quarantine and isolation guidelines, please click on the link above.

Thank you for continuing to monitor your child's health and informing the school of your child's Covid related illness.  Our school has fared well this term with only twelve (12) families affected.

Incursions and Excursions!

Emails have been sent providing families with details of upcoming incursions and excursions.

PCYC Cycle Safety Program - Years 4,5,6 students

Pittsworth State School Years 4-6 students have the opportunity to engage in the PCYC Cycle Safety Course in Toowoomba. 

YEAR 4 "Empire Theatre" Excursion

Letters, information and consent forms for the Year 4 "Empire Theatre" excursion have been emailed home.

YEAR 5 EMU GULLY

Letters, information and consent forms for the Year 5 Emu Gully Leadership Camp have been emailed home.

You can also find all forms on this link.  

YEAR 6 Great Barrier Reef Camp

Letters, information and consent forms for the Year 6 Great Barrier Reef Camp have been emailed home.

Aussie of the Month

Recognising and celebrating active citizenship and community contribution in our schools.

Operating for over twenty years, Aussie of the Month encourages and recognises personal endeavour, achievement, kindness and contribution to the community and reflects some of the values we share, such as fair go, mateship, respect and inclusion.​

The Aussie of the Month Program provides student awards in recognition of their civic responsibility. It's great to recognise students' kindness and to award kids for being helpful. Kids who help make your school and local community a better place are great role models for others.

Nominate a child today for the Aussie of the Month award!

TR Library

Thanks to Toowoomba Regional Council Libraries for supporting the performance by Stig Weymss at our school!  The students thoroughly enjoyed the show which was very interactive, engaging and funny!  Thanks to Linda Sexton and the TR Library Team!

SCHOOL PHOTO DAY

School Photos will take place on Tuesday 3 May 2022. Orders are to be placed on-line only. No Cash or orders will be accepted at the office. 

Order via: www.qldschoolphotography.com.au

Access Key: Z23YCSDV

Please click on the link below for more details

Curriculum

Lego Club

Lego donations wanted. Thank you in advance for your kind donations of lego!

NAPLAN 10 - 20 May 2022

All students in Years 3 & 5 are expected to sit the NAPLAN tests, which are held in May each year.  NAPLAN is used by governments, education authorities and schools to determine whether young Australians are meeting important goals in literacy and numeracy.  NAPLAN gives a snapshot of how children are performing in reading, writing, spelling, punctuation, grammar, and numeracy. It complements other effective classroom assessment and reporting practices.

Parent Information Brochure.

2022 NAPLAN Test dates:  10 - 20 May

• Year 3 students will undertake online assessments for numeracy, reading and language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) but will do a paper-based NAPLAN writing test.
• Year 5 students will undertake all NAPLAN content areas (including writing) online.

Readiness and practice tests

Readiness and practice tests occur for students and schools participating in NAPLAN. These events support schools with their technical readiness, the use of the Locked down browser and familiarisation with the Assessment Platform.  PSS students will participate in the practice test, co-ordinated practice test and school readiness test.

Thursday 24 March, Year 3 students will participate in the National Co-ordinated Practice Test (with the rest of Australia!)

All Years 3 & 5 Students will undertake the actual NAPLAN tests on Tuesday 10 - Monday 16 May, with any catch-up tests required on Tuesday 17 May.  IF, for technical &/or management reasons tests cannot be undertaken from 10 - 16 May, the NAPLAN test window will remain open until 20 May.

NAPLAN tests will be undertaken in the following order:  writing, reading, conventions of language, numeracy, (catch up tests). 

Years 3 & 5 parents/carers will be emailed more information in relation to NAPLAN Online 2022.

Have a go at the NAPLAN online tests at the Public Demonstration Site! 

See previous NAPLAN tests:  https://www.nap.edu.au/resources 

The Arts

Choir:  Choir practices continue every Wednesday (8.00am – Bottle Tree Hall).  New singers in year one to six are always welcome!

CGEN:  Congratulations to two of our very talented Pittsworth State School stars … Lilly L and Piper S.  Lilly has been invited to be a Featured Vocalist at this year’s Creative Generation Onstage; and Piper has been selected as a Junior Featured Dancer!  This is an incredible achievement for these two young performers!  They will both be very busy attending numerous rehearsals in the coming months and will proudly represent our school at four massive CGEN performances in July.

School Musical:  This year we have a record number of students involved in the school musical.  Over 80 students prepared for auditions or signed up to be part of the backstage crew. All roles will be announced at a special meeting in the music room this Wednesday 23 March (11.15am).

The next Production Committee meeting will be held at 12.00pm on Friday 1 April at Centenary Park (opposite the Town Hall).  All welcome.

SINGFEST:  Interested choir students in year 3 – 6 are invited to participate in Singfest 2022 – the fifth biennial non-competitive choral festival organised for state and catholic school students up to year ten in the geographical area from Pittsworth, Millmerran, Cecil Plains and Inglewood.   The aims of the Singfest event are for choir members to continue to develop their singing voices, to extend their knowledge and understanding of performing in a massed choir and to explore singing in harmony.  The event will also give the choir students an opportunity to perform rehearsed items for the general public in a professional venue.

Singfest will be conducted during a full day – Friday 10 June 2022 at Millmerran – and will consist of choral workshops and rehearsals, concluding in an evening concert of massed choir items.

Please keep an eye on the newsletter for further updates!

Date Claimer:          

23 March – ‘Astro Force’ roles announced

10 June – Singfest (Choral Festival – Millmerran Cultural Centre)

13 - 16 July – cGen CGEN                                                                                                                                                       

26  August – ‘Astro Force’ Performance – Pittsworth Town Hall

Sporting News

SCHOOL SPORT

Click on the link SCHOOL SPORT to take you to the webpage where you will find the latest Sporting information including the District - Regional - State Representative Sporting Calendar (all sports).

If students are interested in attending any trials, please contact Mr Kailola.   rkail1@eq.edu.au 

Cross Country Results

Students will receive notification as to whether they are eligible for Gore Highway Cross Country which will be held at Cecil Plains on Friday 22 April.

Congratulations to the following Age Champions:

Congratulations to the following students selected in the Inner Downs Basketball Team

U12 Boys- Rowan Crotty, Bennett, Kobi

U12 Girls – Aleisha, Amelia

Congratulations to the following students selected in the Inner Downs Touch Football Team

U12 Boys- Dominic, Kobi

Congratulations to the following students selected in the Inner Downs / Bunya Rugby League Team.

Kambel, Mason, Beau, Mervyn, Kobi, Dom 

IDZ Soccer Trials for U12 Boys and Girls

P&C Patch

FUNDRAISING

Cookie Dough

Cookie Dough orders will arrive next Wednesday.  Details will be sent out when we have a firm time but should be ready for collection around pickup time. Please note, we are not able to store your Cookie Dough overnight so please ensure if you are unable to collect your order that you organise someone else.

If anyone can help sort the dough on arrival, it shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours, please contact Louise on 0432 852 667/ psssecretary@outlook.com

Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day will come around very quickly once we get through the Easter Holidays.  

Our children love to reward us for all that we do for them, by treating us on Mother’s Day. We ask for your kind donations to make the stall a success in 2022. Ideas for donations include: Sweets: eg Chocolates and lollies, Small gifts (homemade or bought): eg. hand crafted items or perfumes, soaps, creams,  jewellery, bags, pens etc, Home baking: eg. Biscuits and fudges

Please no second hand or preloved items. Please keep items to a value of less than $10 each.  Please do not wrap gifts so that children can see what they are purchasing. 

Items can be left at the office for the P&C to collect.

TUCKSHOP

• Tuckshop only available first break on Thursday 24 March.
• Tuckshop closed this Friday due to public holiday.
• Meal Deal forms are due in by Monday 28 March.
• Meal Deal Day and last day of tuckshop for Term 1 is Wednesday 30^{th March}

Thank you to all those who have volunteered their time in Term 1 to help in the tuckshop.

P&C MEETING

Our next P&C Meeting will be Thursday 12 May at 6.30pm.

P&C Bank Account Details:

Pittsworth State School P&C Association
BSB: 064427
Account: 00900460  

Mandatory Training Link:
https://qed.qld.gov.au/workingwithus/induction/queenslandstateschools/Documents/key-messages-guide.pdf

School Management

TEACHER AIDE POSITIONS

(TEMPORARY AND CASUAL)

Expressions of interest are invited for the positions of temporary/casual Teacher Aides at Pittsworth State School.

Mandatory Department of Education Requirements include:

• Hold a Current Paid Blue card
• Undertake a Criminal History Check
• Evidence of mandatory vaccination as required by the Department of Education
• Undertake Mandatory Training

The ideal applicant will be someone who is:

• highly motivated, well organised and able to work individually and as part of a team. 
• able to communicate effectively and appropriately with students and staff.
• able to display confidentiality, tact, reliability and sensitivity to students and their families

Key duties include and are not limited to:

• Support for teachers in providing learning materials
• Working with small groups as well as individual students
• Use of computers when working with students
• Communicating effectively and displaying high level of interpersonal skills
• Displaying confidentiality, tact, reliability and sensitively to students and their families
• Playground Duty

Skills required:

• Demonstrated high level communication skills
• Efficient multi-tasking and time management skills
• Proven ability to work independently, achieving quality work outcomes

Applicants are requested to send their resume, outlining skills and experience for the role as well as the names of two (2) referees.

Enquiries/applications should be directed to:

Kylie Ladner - Business Manager

Pittsworth State School Ph: 4619 8333 E: kladn2@eq.edu.au

Applications close: 3:00pm Wednesday 30 March 2022

QParents
Features of QParents
QParents provides secure, online access to student information such as:

• Attendance details - Record & update absences
•  Report cards - current & historical available
• Upcoming events
• Awards students have received
• Pay your School Invoices at the click of a button
• Payment history

You are also able to update your child's details including address and medical conditions, submit reasons for unexplained absences, notify the school of future absences, and make online payments against school invoices.

If you require more information, visit https://qparents.qld.edu.au/#/about

Medication at School

Upon returning to school in 2022, please supply any current medication that is required for your child/ren. A new Administration of Medication Record Sheet will be required to be signed by you when you hand in the new medication. We require a new form for each school year. An adult is required to bring the medication in its original container/box/bottle to the office for us to have secured in our First Aid room.

• Any medication needs to have a chemist label with the name of the registered medical person who prescribed the medication on the label.
• Medication will only be administered if:
  has been prescribed by a qualified health practitioner (e.g. doctor, dentist, optometrist, but not a pharmacist)
• Within date
• In the original container
• With a pharmacy label attached including the practitioners name on it
• Student name and current dosage
• Submit the most recent action plan from your doctor for that student if required
• for over-the-counter medications such as paracetamol or alternative medicines, a letter from a Doctor and the medication with a Chemist Tag is sufficient
• An Administration of Medication Form is required to be completed and handed in to the office with the Medication.
• It is a requirement that all Asthma medication be provided, along with your child’s current Asthma Action Plan, for staff to be able to administer.

Reporting Student Absences 

• Phone the Student Absence Line 4619 8366
• Text your student absence to 0429 320 360
• Email your student absence to admin@pittsworthss.eq.edu.au
• Enter your student absence on Qparents

Following Education Queensland guidelines, a SMS is sent home after 9.20am each morning if we have not been made aware of your childs absence or reason for being late to school. If we have still not heard from you by 3pm that same day a reminder SMS will be sent.

Office Hours
The school office is open daily from 8.30am - 3.30pm with the exception of Visitors who are required to sign in upon arrival.  The main office is temporarily located at the Pittsworth Function Centre (PFC).

Late Arrivals
Parents/Carers, if your student is late to school, please escort your student to the office to sign your child in and to obtain a Late Slip for them to give their teacher.

Communication with Parents/Carers
All letters and consent forms are emailed to parents.  Thanks for making sure that your current email address is listed with the school.  

We currently email:

• All consent forms, notes and letters
• Semester Report Cards
• Fortnightly Newsletter

Information is also available to parents online:

• Pittsworth State School Website
• Facebook
• Qschools APP (free download, make PSS your favourite)
• SMS 
• Email

Emailing the Office
Please do not email any member of the administration team directly.  In the event that staff are not in the office your email will remain unread. Please email all correspondence to:admin@pittsworthss.eq.edu.au

Visitors to our School
All Visitors to our school, including Volunteers and Parent Helpers, are required to electronically Sign In at the office and obtain a Visitors Lanyard which is to be worn at all times whilst on school grounds.  You are then required to Sign Out at the office prior to leaving the school grounds.

Returning Forms
For planning purposes, permission slips/notes, must be submitted to the office by the due date; late forms will not be accepted. 

IMPORTANT TIP:
When you are emailing your consent forms back to the office please:

• email to: admin@pittsworthss.eq.edu.au 
• TIP: If you receive your emails on your Mobile Phone you can complete, sign the form and email it back to the school's admin email address.
• Use: the free ADOBE ACROBAT app (use the fill and sign icon) send the pdf version via email, don't press share as we are unable to open them this way.

Private Transport Forms

The Private Transport form is for the parent of the child to complete who is giving permission to someone else to drive their child to a school event.

Permission to use a private vehicle to transport students is for the person who will be transporting students other than their own to a school event.

These documents are a requirement of Education Queensland.

Time Out - Keeping Kids Healthy

Some medical conditions require exclusion from school to prevent the spread of infectious diseases among staff and children.  Take time to read the Timeout Poster attached to this newsletter.

School and P&C Bank Account Details

Compliments or Complaints

Community News

PSS is a SunSmart School!