2024 Term 1, Week 4 Newsletter

Principal's News

Queensland School Library Week

Queensland school libraries positively influence the learning outcomes of students through encouraging a lifelong love of learning and reading.

We are VERY proud of our school library and invite YOU to visit our Library to see for yourself!!  Our Library will be OPEN to families from 2:45pm - 3:15pm on Wednesday 14 February (Library Lovers Day) and Thursday 15 February.

Students will also be taught this week how to access our new Library software program, ORBIT.  You can access this from home also to browse and reserve books online through our library, or to access thousands of eBooks.

We acknowledge the hard work, time and committment by Mrs Melissa Morris and Mrs Casey Byford who maintain our library to the high standard that you will see on  your visit.  Thank you Mrs Morris & Miss Casey for your ongoing efforts.

PRIMARY COMPETITION for LIBRARY WEEK

• https://www.qsla.org.au/qslw
• The primary competition has two categories, Prep - Year 2 and Year 3 - Year 6. 
• Prep - Year 2: What is your favourite story? Draw or paint a picture to illustrate this. Your picture should be on an A4 sheet. Add a caption if you like.
• Year 3 - Year 6: The theme is Our Heart, Our Stories. There are two categories.
• Produce an artwork to reflect the theme Our Heart, Our Stories.
• Write a short story to reflect the theme Our Heart, Our Stories. There is a word limit of 150 - 300 words.

New Library Books

A huge thank you to the P&C for their generous donation of $3 000 that contributed towards the purchase of new library books.  The students are very excited!

Curriculum

Parent Teacher Interviews Term 1, 2024

The 12 minute interviews will be conducted on Monday 18 March in Bottle Tree Hall for all parents/students in Prep to Year 6, as per the times listed below.

Bookings are made by clicking on the link below:  

https://pittsworthss.schoolzineplus.com/2024ParentTeacherInterviewsTerm1

NAPLAN

Students in Years 3 and 5 will undertake NAPLAN from the 13 – 25 March 2024.

More information regarding NAPLAN can be found at:  https://nap.edu.au/naplan/for-parents-carers

Religious Instruction

Hello to the families of Pittsworth State School students. Our names are Leah Moore and Karen Pomerenke, and we are volunteers for CRI (Christian Religious Instruction) or RI at your school.

Students in Years 1-4 may participate in a fortnightly, 45-minute, age-appropriate and engaging lesson, that encourages story-telling, drama, interactive discussion, music and craft.  

All State School children can be part of a CRI programme, which reinforces Queensland Education core values of responsibility, understanding, respect, tolerance, inclusion, integrity, positive self-image, freedom, compassion and caring. Students are encouraged to develop positive values and choices on topics such as thankfulness, forgiveness and hope.

Each RI instructor holds a blue card, is accredited by their church, attends in-service training and personal development sessions (including child safety) and is approved by the school Principal.

If you are not already part of this program and would like to be, please go to the school office for sign-up details.

It’s a privilege to be part of your school community and we look forward to another year of CRI.

Leah Moore and Karen Pomerenke.

Term 1 Important Dates

Sporting News

Cross Country Dates

PSS Cross Country.  Friday, 22 March 2024 (Week 9).  Training has commenced, Tuesday and Friday mornings 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

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.   

SINGFEST:  Interested 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 Singfest 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 17 May 2024 – 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:  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.

SRC News/Eco Club News

Breakfast Club

Our Breakfast Club has been fortunate to receive donations from two local community groups.  We say a big “thank you” to St Andrew’s Anglican Parish and the Pittsworth Crafty Quilters for their generous donations.  Our Breakfast Club looks forward to continuing to provide toast, fruit and milo each week and an additional “extra special” something occasionally. 

Student Support Services

Guidance Officer

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

eSafety

During Week 3, PSS students engaged in a variety of eSafety activities, learning how to have fun and be safe online. 

Many social media sites, games and apps now come with parental controls. The eSafety Guide has advice on safety features that can be useful for parents and carers, including how to use the settings to protect personal information and report online abuse.  Find out more at https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-issues/esafety-guide

P&C Patch

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

Pittsworth Function Centre

General Meeting to follow

P&C Membership forms were sent home with the eldest in each family a couple of weeks ago. Please return these to the school office or to the P&C Secretary Morgan Pearce via email psssecretary@outlook.com. Spare forms are available from the office.

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 is back up and running on Wednesdays and Fridays.  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 login.

We are still very short on Tuckshop helpers this term.  On Fridays we need two volunteers to help Karla, our convenor.  Thank you to the people that have already put their name down.  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!

HAVE YOUR SAY

All families have been emailed a short survey, giving you the opportunity to provide feedback to the P&C.  The survey should only take about 3-5 minutes.  All responses are anonymous and will be discussed at a future P&C meeting.

COUNCIL FREE PLANT VOUCHERS

Did you just receive a free plant voucher from Toowoomba Regional Council in your rates notice?   We are currently seeking donations of these vouchers to contribute towards improve our school grounds.  Vouchers can be donated to the school office.

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)

NEXT 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. 

TUCKSHOP CHANGE - Friday 23 February

On Friday 23 February, students will only have one break for the day, one hour break from 11.30am – 12.30pm.

Tuckshop will be open for the full hour. Ice-blocks will be available from 12pm.

No second lunch ordering. Qkr! will be closed for second lunch orders. 

PCYC Cycle Safety Course

Students will engage in an intensive bicycle safety course at "Groom Park" Toowoomba, delivered by trained PCYC instructors on a purpose made track. Students will undergo a rigorous two day course whereby they receive a certification of completion, if successfully demonstrating learned skills. Skills including learning to ride on the correct side of the road, understand signage, wearing helmets, stopping and starting, learning to be road users.

The P&C have been successful in sourcing funding for Years 3 students to engage in the PCYC Cycle Safety Courses.

$1848 was received from the Department of Transport & Main Roads to support the education of children in bicycle safety.  Funds will be used for travel (coach hire) from PSS to Toowoomba return.

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

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.