2024 Term 1, Week 2 Newsletter

Principal's News

Meet our 2024 School Leaders

School Captains:  Haylee Draper and Ariana Salgado

Vice Captains:  Romily Santsingh and Addison Clapham

Cultural Captains:  Mitchell Fletcher and Alex Greenwood

Leslie Sports Captains:  Tori Klein and William Cameron

Condamine Sports Captains:  Rhoella Daulayan and Hanna-lee Holt 

Eco Club Captains:  Caitlyn Rattray and Zoe Schmidt

Meet our Pittsworth State School Team

Row 1 (L-R):  Leadership team:  Mrs Carol Ann Coonan, Ronnie Macneil, Sharon Bendle, Dan Bailey, Michael Santsingh.  Administration team: Ashleigh Smith, Kylie Ladner, Leah Kelly.  Classroom teachers: Lucyann Stevens, Lizzie Price, Annie Murphy.  

Row 2: Classroom teachers:  Beth Wheeldon, Bree Will, Kaitlyn Cherry, Tracey Hayes, Jen Jackson, Delma Hafey, Anna Reynolds, Jess Briggs, Tamara Attwood.

Row 3: Classroom teachers:  Megan Parker, Kathryn Denning, Lauren Byrne, Toni-Ann Smith, Millie Edwards, Megan Neylon, Danielle Cameron, Deb Farrell.

Row 4:  Teacher Aides:  Jenny Beil, Brooke Langton, Lynelle Gordon, Casey Byford, Suzy Rauchle, Melissa Morris, Kristie Grimmer.  Schools Officer:  Jason Beattie.

Phones away for the day

All state schools will implement the new policy of "phones away for the day" from Monday 22 January 2024.

*  Upon arrival to school, students must turn OFF mobile devices and either:  hand in to the office (preferred), OR leave in their own bag, turned off.

*  Wearable devices must have ALL settings (bluetooth, wireless, notifications etc) turned OFF (enable flight mode).

*  Mobile devices will stay in the office OR in student bags for the duration of the school day and are not to be accessed or used.

*  Students will be responsible for their devices. The school will not accept responsibility for the loss, damage, theft of any device. 

*  Your device = Your responsibility.

*  Students can turn devices on once out of the school grounds at the end of the school day.

*  Students who choose not to meet our school expectations will receive consequences.

*  Thank you parents for supporting your children in understanding and abiding by this statewide policy.

Student protection is our priority:  3pm pick up

Staff can supervise students under B Block from 3pm - 3.20pm daily.  Students are expected to wait under B Block for pick up by Parents/Carers.  For student protection reasons, staff will not be informing students to walk to the park and wait for parent pickup.  To prioritise your child's safety, student must remain at school and be collected by an adult by 3.20pm.

SCHOOL FOOD FUNDING PROGRAM $1000

We know healthy eating, along with physical activity, is essential to promoting and maintaining good health and wellbeing, and can improve behaviours critical to educational success and performance at school. Breakfast and lunch are particularly important in preparing children for learning at school. Many state schools have implemented a food program to strengthen health and wellbeing to realise the potential of every student.

The Queensland Government recognises the importance of school food programs and recently announced an additional $2 million in funding for 861 identified state schools to enhance food programs.

Pittsworth State School received $1000 to ensure students who need to can access a healthy meal to support their health and wellbeing.

Parents/Carers, please read the flyer below for important School Crossing Safety Advice

Curriculum

Yr 5 Emu Gully Camp

On Monday 25 March and Tuesday 26 March 2024, Year 5 students are invited to attend and participate in the “Year 5 Emu Gully Challenge Camp: Character Development”.  Consent Forms have been sent home via QParents and email.

Consent Form is due by 2 February. An invoice will then be sent for $235.  Payment is due by 4 March.

A Year 5 Emu Gully Camp Parent Information Meeting will be held on Wednesday 21 February from 5pm - 6pm at the PFC. 

Term 1 Important Dates

Dental Van

The Dental Van is currenly at PSS. For any new parents, please complete the form below and return it to the office.

Pittsworth Show Program for Primary Schools

Sporting News

Cross Country Dates

PSS Cross Country.  Friday, 22 March 2024 (Week 9).  Training will commence Week 3, Tuesday and Friday morning at 8:30 on the oval, with Miss Will.

Gore Highway Cross Country: 18 April 2024, Cecil Plains

FUTSAL Clinics, Years 3-6 students

Friday 10 May and Friday 17 May.  Bottle Tree Hall.  

2024 Darling Downs School Sport

Parents/Carers please contact Ms Will for further information regarding these events. These events will be open to students that are interested and have experience in these sporting events. Nominations come out a few weeks prior to events so please let Ms Will know closer to the event if your child is interested.

Students will only be nominated for Swimming, Cross Country and Track & Field if they have made qualifying times.

Ms Will’s email: bwill641@eq.edu.au or phone 4619 8333.

The Arts

Our new "Arts Space"

Through negotiation with the Pittsworth Function Centre (PFC) Advisory Board, and conversations with the DDSW Infrastructure Managers, our school has resumed full use of two rooms at the PFC for our "Arts Space".  What was previously used as our "Computer Lab", along with the "Ergon Room" are now combined as our "Arts Space".  All classroom music lessons and instrumental music lessons will be held in the "Arts Space" as well as our community band, "Black Inc" and "Singsationals".

2024 Instrumental Music - Concert Band AND Strings

2024 Year 3 Strings Program

Due to the success of the "Year 3 Violin Program" undertaken this year, we have decided to continue with this program thus allowing all Year 3 students to have the opportunity to learn the Violin in Semester 1 2024, under Mr Stockwell's tutelage. Year 3 students can then choose to continue with the Strings Program in Semester 2 if they so choose.

Arts News

Choir:  All students in year one to year six are invited to join the school choir.  Rehearsals for choir are held every Wednesday in Bottle Tree Hall, starting at 8.00am.   Choir rehearsals begin on Wednesday 31 January.

SINGFEST:  Interest choir students in year 3 – 6 are invited to participate in Singfest 2024 – the sixth 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 Texas.   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 – DATE TO BE CONFIRMED – 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!

CGEN:  17 - 20 July.  Students who have nominated to participate in this year’s Creative Generation – State Schools Onstage as part of the Massed Choir will be required to attend rehearsals with the Pittsworth Cluster participants every Thursday morning (7.30am – 8.30am).  Massed Choir students are also required to be members of the school choir.  Please note: Students and parents will be notified when music arrives and rehearsals can begin.  

Students who have nominated to participate in the Massed Dance will be notified about when and where rehearsals will take place.  

Please keep an eye on the newsletter for further updates!                                                                                                                                                                  

SRC News/Eco Club News

Student Support Services

Guidance Officer

Hi, my name is Charmaine Gubbins and I am very happy to be the Guidance Officer at Pittsworth State School this year.  I will be at Pittsworth on Wednesdays. 

I moved to the Darling Downs 4 years ago after having spent 20 years as a Guidance Officer in Mt Isa and many surrounding small community schools. I look forward to working with the wonderful staff, students and families at Pittsworth SS.  Below is some information about my role and the support I provide in schools.

What does a Guidance Officer do?

Guidance Officers have a broad range of tasks including:

• Provide confidential advice, support and guidance to students, staff and parents / caregivers.

• Assist with linking students and families in with external support agencies / providers.

• Complete assessments to assist in providing more information about a students’ learning strengths and difficulties which can then be used to inform the teaching and learning needs of the student.  These assessments also assist in the identification and diagnoses of some disabilities.
• Provide leadership, support and case management in responding to some of the most complex and challenging of circumstances including student protection matters, Education Support Plans for children in care, critical incidents, mental health issues, and suicide prevention and postvention support.
• Support the mental health and wellbeing of students and staff especially following the impact of COVID-19 and natural disasters.

• Work with teachers and school based support staff to promote activities and key messages around significant initiatives eg. Mental Health Week, RU OK day, National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence, Child Protection Week, Day for Daniel.

• Work directly with students in addition to their teachers, school support personnel, family, other specialists or external support providers.

• Work with school staff and teams to develop and implement processes and plans to support students.

• Offer support through providing advice and counselling on educational, behavioural, vocational, personal, social, family, mental health and wellbeing issues.
• Be a voice for students and advocate for their needs.

Referrals and Bookings

Generally, a referral is required for a student to see the Guidance Officer for primary school students. There is a school based referral form.  Students may be referred to the Guidance Officer by their class teacher, Principal or at times through a meeting with their parent/s. Student referrals are prioritised by the Guidance Officer in consultation with the Principal and the Student Support Team.

In primary schools, signed consent must be given for the Guidance Officer to engage in any work directly or indirectly with a student.  The Guidance Officer will meet with parents / caregivers to complete the consent form.

Where to find the Guidance Officer

All parents and carers are expected to present to the main office to sign in and then be directed to the Guidance Officer’s room.

Useful phone numbers and links for Parents and Students

Kids Helpline (24hrs): 1800 551 800 https://kidshelpline.com.au/

Lifeline (24hrs): 13 11 14  https://www.lifeline.org.au/

Headspace (9am – 1 am 7 days per week)  https://headspace.org.au/eheadspace/

Parentline (8am-10pm): 1300 30 1300  https://parentline.com.au/

Bullying No Way www.bullyingnoway.gov.au

Beyond Blue (24/7 mental health support): 1300 22 46 36 www.beyondblue.org.au

Standby – Suicide Bereavement Support (24/7) : 1300 727 247  www.standbysupport.com.au

DV Connect (24 hr Domestic Violence helpline): 1800 811 811 www.dvconnect.org.au

Chaplaincy News

We welcome our new school chaplain, Chappy Steve.  Chappy Steve will visit PSS each Thursday and Friday.

Breakfast Club will be held at the Bottle Tree Hall Kitchen each Thursday and Friday from 8.30am - 8.55am.  All students are welcome.

P&C Patch

A bit about PSS P&C…

We strive to support our school, kids and staff as much as we can.  We are a very active P&C who enjoy contributing to our school. We have previously purchased air conditioning in all rooms, implemented a watering system for the play areas, improved outdoor play areas with hopscotch/handball, new non-fiction resources, many new indoor games to play in lunchtimes and much more. In 2023, we raised funds through events such as the Cookie Drive, Mother’s Day Stall, Father’s Day morning tea and Mango fundraiser.  These events would not be possible without the support of our amazing volunteers.   We would love to see as many parents and carers as possible join us in 2024...  in whatever capacity you are able to contribute!! Be that ideas, support, time, etc.

If you join the P&C you do not have to attend meetings, nor will you be coerced into a job you do not want.  You will receive P&C emails and meeting minutes which keeps you up to date with what we are up to.  

Meetings

• Held on the 2^nd Thursday of the month.
• Start at 6:30pm
• Are held at the Pittsworth Function Centre (right beside our school)
• Can be attended in person or you can join us remotely via teleconference
• Our meetings are enjoyable! We are a like minded bunch who work together for our school, we aim to hold our meetings in an easy going, time conscious manner. And there are normally treats.

Annual General Meeting Thursday, February 15^th at 6pm

Pittsworth Function Centre

General Meeting to follow

P&C Membership forms will be sent home this week, please check your child’s bag.  The eldest in each family will receive one. All P&C communications are printed on YELLOW paper. Please return these to the school office or to the P&C Secretary Morgan Pearce via email psssecretary@outlook.com.

Please note that all P&C Memberships from last year lapse so everyone who wishes to be a part of the 2024 committee will need to complete this form. 

All positions will be declared open. Nominations for executive positions must be in writing and returned to the school office by Wednesday, February 14th.  P&C Executive Officer Nomination forms will be available from the office.

TUCKSHOP

Tuckshop will be open on Wednesdays and Fridays this year.  Orders can be placed through the Qkr! app and close at 8.30am.  Class lists have now been updated to 2024 classes.  You will be prompted to update your profiles when you next login.

We are currently seeking to fill our roster for tuckshop helpers.  On Fridays we will be seeking two volunteers to help the convenor.  We have a wonderful group of mum’s who regularly help out, however we are currently very light on numbers.  If you think you could possibly spare a few hours on a Friday morning, please contact Karla in the tuckshop or email psssecretary@outlook.com

What volunteering in the tuckshop looks like…

2.5 hrs of your time

9:00 – 11:30am (or longer if you wish)

• Counting money to make sure it matches the order/ printing and sticking on labels for online orders
• Burger/sandwich/wrap prep
• Pack orders with pre-prepared food items (muffins, milo balls, sumo cookies)
• Pack hot foods/drinks into order bags
• Wash and clean up
• Serve ice cream and ice blocks

It is that easy and the time will fly!

VOLUNTEERS – MANDATORY TRAINING
There is a small amount of mandatory training that must be completed in order to volunteer at school.   It is quite quick to complete (10-15 minutes)

P&C COMMUNICATIONS

The P&C have a mail slot in the Administration area, this is the place to drop off any forms or communications for the P&C. Alternatively, the P&C can be contacted via email: psssecretary@outlook.com

P&C HAPPENINGS

The P&C have already been active in 2024, supporting the parents of some of our newest and smallest school members.  On the first day of school we held a small morning tea to welcome our new Prep families.  Thank you to all that came along, it was wonderful to see some new (and old) faces.

HAVE YOUR SAY

You will soon receive a short survey from the P&C regarding how you would like to see the P&C support our school.  Please take the time to complete this survey for us.

P&C MEETING

As mentioned above our AGM will be held on Thursday the 15^th of February at the Pittsworth Function Centre, commencing at 6pm sharp.  There will be a general meeting directly after this. All are most welcome. 

Mandatory Volunteers Training - All volunteers must complete before volunteering at our school.

P&C Bank Account Details

P&C Forms and Tuckshop Menu

Have you downloaded the Qkr! App to order tuckshop?

Quick, easy, no more looking for cash!

Tuckshop open Wednesdays and Fridays

School Management

Uniform Update from Condamine Clothing

Condamine Clothing, our uniform stockist have advised the following:

• Hats - should arrive this week
• Dresses - should be in stock by early next week
• Library Bags - should be in stock next week

Join QParents 

Excursion Consent Forms

Time Out Poster  - Keeping Our Kids Healthy

Transport Forms

Medication at School

Birthday Celebrations at School

School Dress Code

Mandatory Volunteers Training 

Health Food and Drinks at School

Payment Methods

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.  

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.

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. 
Information is also available to parents online:

• Pittsworth State School Website
• Our School Newsletter (emailed)
• Facebook
• SMS 
• Email

Email:  admin@pittsworthss.eq.edu.au

Community News

Family and Child Connect

Family and Child Connect provides families free, unlimited and confidential advice. They can connect you to local services that help with: 

• building better family relationships
• managing child behaviour
• healthcare
• housing.

If your family is going through tough times, call them today at 13 FAMILY (13 32 64) or visit familychildconnect.org.au.

Beyond Blue

Phone: 1300 22 4636 (24 hours, 7 days a week).

Chat online: between 3pm–12am, 7 days a week via the online chat page External link.

Email: get a response within 24 hours via the email form External link.

Visit the Beyond Blue website External link for more information.

Bullying. No Way!

Bullying. No Way! External link is a great source of information for students, parents and teachers to learn about bullying, how to recognise it and what to do if you see or experience it.

headspace

headspace External link provides free online and telephone support and counselling for young people aged 12-25 and their families and friends.

Lifeline

Phone: 13 11 14 (24 hours, 7 days a week).
Chat online: between 8pm–4am, 7 days a week via the online chat page External link.

Visit the Lifeline website External link for more information.

Parentline

Phone: 1300 30 1300 (cost of a local call) 8am–10pm, 7 days a week.

Information: Tip sheets from a range of over 100 topics are available online External link.