2024 Term 3, Week 2 Newsletter

Principal's News

2024 School Opinion Survey

This year’s School Opinion Survey runs from 22 July to 16 August 2024. Parents, caregivers and students are encouraged to participate. Your insights will help us know what our school does well and how we can improve. Participants will be emailed a link to access the survey the week before it opens. Survey responses are confidential. The survey usually takes less than 10 minutes to complete. More information can be found on the School Opinion Survey webpage or by contacting the school.

RELIEF POSITIONS AVAILABLE

It is critical that our school has a pool of "relief" or "casual" employees available to call upon in times of need.  At times, permanent staff are required to take emergent leave, become unwell, are unable to complete a shift, or require extra assistance to undertake larger projects.  This is when we need to call upon relief staff.

Relief, or casual, staff are employed for a minimum period of two (2) hours, and at times may be called upon with minimal notice, especially if an employee is on sick leave.  At other times, especially with projects, relief staff can be contacted and a suitable work day and time negotiated.

Below are listed required positions at our school.  As with all positions in the school, a "Working with children" blue card is mandatory, and a criminal history check will be undertaken.  Mandatory All Staff Training (online) will need to be undertaken.

Interested persons are asked to contact the Business Manager, Mrs Kylie Ladner, on 46198333 Tuesday - Thursday, for further information, or email your name, contact details, relevant experience and the name of one referee to bsm@pittsworthss.eq.edu.au 

RELIEF CLEANER

A typical working week is Monday to Friday, 5am - 8am, and 3pm - 6pm.   For more information, click here.

RELIEF SCHOOLS OFFICER

For more information, click here.

BREAKFAST CLUB VOLUNTEERS

Our school has the privilege of being supported by the YMCA for the supply of donated food to the school, free of charge, for the purpose of a breakfast program.  Breakfast club is available free of charge to any student enrolled at the school, and also for emergency lunches if required.  Our school ‘Breakfast Program Volunteers’ means the School Personnel, who are involved in the Breakfast Program without payment and who act under the direction and supervision of the School.

We would love to get our Breakfast Club started however we need VOLUNTEERS.  Are you available from 8am - 9am each Wednesday, Thursday and/or Friday? (any day that you could be available).   A "Working with children" blue card is mandatory for people who are not a parent of a PSS student.

Please contact Carol, Kylie or Leah at the school if you are able to assist, thank you.

"PICK OF THE CROP" VOLUNTEER

Do you love gardening, especially growing vegetables?  We would LOVE to have volunteers to help in our Kitchen Garden.  Could you spare some time each week to help out?  A "Working with children" blue card is mandatory for people who are not a parent of a PSS student.  Please contact Carol at the school if you are able to help.  Thank you!

Dignity Vending Machine (DVM)

Share the dignity in Qld State Schools

I am pleased to announce that a Dignity Vending Machine (DVM) has been installed at Pittsworth State School Bottle Tree Hall through the Share the Dignity in Queensland schools initiative.

The DVM will be a valuable school resource providing all female students with access to free period products when they need them.

Why have we installed a Dignity Vending Machine?

The purpose of the initiative is to support students’ wellbeing and engagement, ensuring access to period products is not a barrier to student attendance and learning at school. The installation of a DVM is just one way our school is supporting students’ positive engagement at school.  Free access to period products at school can have a significant and positive impact for students and their families, particularly those experiencing financial stress and hardship.

Why has this location been chosen?

The location for the DVM in Bottle Tree Hall has been selected to ensure compliance with installation requirements, and:

• to maximise privacy and discretion for students accessing the DVM;
• to allow school staff to provide assistance or support to students who may need it;
• to allow visitors, volunteers, youth centred organisations and community youth groups to access period products whilst on site.

Who should my child speak to if they need assistance in relation to the DVM?

Our school’s key contact/s in relation to the DVM will be the Principal, or a Year 5 and 6 staff member.   They can assist students to use the vending machine correctly.

Each period pack contains 2 pads and 6 tampons, with each individual item wrapped separately.

Each time a pack is dispensed there will be a 3-minute wait before another will be dispensed.

Will there be a cost for the school, students or families? No!

Installation, ongoing stock and maintenance of the DVM is funded through the Share the Dignity in Queensland schools initiative as part of the Queensland Government’s commitment to supporting students’ wellbeing and engagement. This means students have access to period products through the DVM at no cost to them, their families or the school.

What is the Period Talk Education Program and will it be run at our school?

In addition to the DVM all Queensland schools have free access to Period Talk, an educational program and resources regarding periods designed for students in Year 5 to Year 8. The program explores a range of topics including menstrual cycles, types of period products, period pain and when to seek help from the doctor, nutrition and cultural factors. More information about the program can be found here. Years 5 and 6 families will be advised prior to the Period Talk Education Program being delivered.

See the images below of the Dignity Vending Machine installed in the universal toilet at Bottle Tree Hall.

Keeping Our Kids Healthy

If your child is unwell, please keep them at home until they are well enough to return.  Even if the illness is not contagious, please keep them at home until they are well.  

Some medical conditions require exclusion from schoool, childcare centres and other settings to prevent the spread of infectious diseases among staff and children.  Timeout Poster.

Carbal Hearing Tests- MONDAY 9 SEPTEMBER

To give our children the best start in life, it is important that they have good hearing and healthy ears!

Carbal Medical Services offers hearing health checks for students at PSS.  Doing so is your best chance of preventing Ear Disease; which can lead to loss of hearing forever if left unchecked.  

Register your child today to receive a hearing test on MONDAY 9 SEPTEMBER.  Phone 1300 379 558.

Curriculum

ICAS - Years 2-6

ICAS is an online academic competition that gives students the opportunity to challenge their higher order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling, and Digital Technologies.

Pittsworth State School is participating in the following competitions:

English:  12 August, 9.30am

Science:  19 August, 9.30am

Spelling Bee:  20 August, 10.30am

Mathematics:  26 August, 9.30am

1. Go to the Parent Portal to sign up to chosen subject areas here: https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps
2. Enter our school’s access code - BBX652
3. Enter your child’s details, select the subject areas your child would like to participate in, then proceed to payment.  

Read about ICAS subjects and prices here: (com/products-icas/) 

Darling Downs Zoo Excursion 12C, 12H, 12HJ

Years 12C, 12H, 12HJ are invited to go to the Darling Downs Zoo on Wednesday 11 September.

Information has been forwarded to all parents & carers.  Consent and payment of $27.00 is due on 02/09/2024.

Cobb & Co Excursion Yr 34A, 34PD, 34BR

Years 34A, 34PD and 34BR are invited to go to the "Cobb and Co Museum" on Monday 29 July.

Information has been forwarded to all parents & carers.  Consent and payment of $15.00 was due on 15/7/24.

Year 6 Sunshine Coast Camp

Year 6 students are invited to attend the Year 6 Sunshine Coast Camp from Wednesday 4 September to Friday 6 September 2024 (inclusive). Camp Information Pack and Consent Form has been emailed home.

Important Due Dates:

• Payment of $435 is due by Monday 12 August (Payment Plans are available, please contact the office)
• Student Medical Form is due by Monday 12 August
  

Term 3 Important Dates

Sporting News

Friday Sports with PSHS

Years 4/5/6 students had the pleasure of the high school students who are completing their Cert III in Fitness, come and teach them different skills, drills and sports. Our students got to experience various fitness activities from bear crawls, to obstacle courses, football and basketball skills.

We were also lucky enough to have the high school students attend our Senior Athletics Carnival last term and help train our students to prepare for the carnival.

Thank you to Ms Burwood and the students for coming and teaching our students. Even though some activities were a challenge, our students responded well and thoroughly enjoyed the activities.

Track and Field Carnival Dates

• Inner Downs Athletics: Tuesday 13 August 
• Junior Carnival:  Thursday 29 August (5 -8 yrs born 2016-2019)

Inner Downs Trial Fees

As the IDZ Trials are currently underway, we would like to bring to your attention a matter of utmost importance regarding the nomination fee. The IDZ Sports Contact has advised some students are attending trials without having paid their nomination fee. They wish to emphasize the critical nature of timely payment to ensure the smooth conduct of the trials and maintain fairness in the process.

To facilitate the payment process, we kindly request all participants to utilize the Qkr! app. It is imperative that the nomination fee is settled by the designated date. Failure to adhere to this deadline will regrettably render students ineligible to partake in the trials. It is the parent's responsibility to ensure payment is made by the due date.

Please see the Guide below for detailed instructions on utilizing the Qkr! app. 

NO fee paid by due date = No trial for students

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 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

Thank you Pittsworth Lions Club !

We would like to thank the Pittsworth Lions Club for their kind donation of $250 from their end of year community distributions: this money will go towards the PSS Instrumental Music Program, for which we are extremely grateful.

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.   Please note that there will be no choir rehearsal on Wednesday 17 July due to Mrs Wheeldon attending CGEN in Brisbane.

CGEN:  After six long months of rehearsals and preparation our Creative Generation – State Schools Onstage kids are ready to perform!  Thank you to the staff and parents who have support our dancers and singers along the way: Ms Chenyl, Mrs Wheeldon, Mrs Dillmann, Mrs Greenwood, Mrs McEwan and Ms McGaw (from Biddeston).  And a huge congratulations to our wonderfully talented kids who have put so much effort into rehearsing for this incredible performance:

Featured Vocalist: Darby S

Featured Junior Dancer: Zara S

Massed Dancers: Mirabelle R, Archer S, Ari and Zara S, Gracie L

Massed Choir:  Alex G, Heidi, Oskar and Eliza D, Mitchell and Nate F, Matilda and Abi B, Millie T, Haylee and Ollie D, Mirabelle R, Anastasia M

Our CGEN families will be in Brisbane for Show Week during week two.  CGEN will be televised later in the year.

 School Musical: ‘Lost Paradise: The Garden that Time Forgot’

Thank you to all of our wonderful parents for sourcing such amazing costumes … and for being so organised for our filming and photo day last term.  Our performance at the first rehearsal with the band was incredible, too.  Well done, everyone!

Sets: The Production Committee is still working hard behind the scenes to design and create our school musical sets.  We still require donations of plastic plants, vines and greenery. All donations can be left at the school office.

Rehearsals: Regular rehearsals continue at school this term with supervising teachers. Please note that extra dance rehearsals will be held on Wednesdays and Thursdays during second break.  (Please see attached Rehearsal Schedule.)

We will need help transporting music stands, drums, boxes, props and big sets to the Town Hall after school on Thursday 25 July, in preparation for our big dress rehearsal with the band.

We will also require parents to do some baking and serve in the canteen at our evening show on Friday 16 August.

Colour flyers to advertise our production have been printed and are available for collection from the school office. If you are keen, please pop into the office to collect flyers to distribute to local businesses around town.

The Production Committee is currently sourcing plastic, cardboard or hand-crafted greenery and plants to decorate the foyer at the Town Hall.  Maybe you have time at home to put something together to donate for our show.  Your assistance is greatly appreciated!

Please note!  Tickets for the musical are now on sale! Click on the link below to secure your tickets and order colour programs.

https://www.trybooking.com/CTJYV

Upcoming cast and crew rehearsals to be held in the Pittsworth Town Hall:

Thursday 25 July                       6.00pm – 9.00pm * FULL DRESS REHEARSAL *

Thursday 1 August                     6.00pm – 9.00pm

Sunday 4 August                        12.00pm – 3.00pm    

Thursday 8 August                     6.00pm – 9.00pm    

Sunday 11 August                     12.00pm – 3.00pm * FULL DRESS REHEARSAL *

Date Claimer:          

17-20 July – CGEN Show Week

25 July – Town Hall Dress Rehearsal                                                                                                                                                    

16 August – ‘Lost Paradise: The Garden that Time Forgot’ school musical performance

SRC News/Eco Club News

SRC Disco

Thank you to all the students and families who supported our School Disco last week.  From all reports, students had a great afternoon dancing and purchasing a “little treat” from our canteen.  We would like to say a BIG thank you to our P&C who enabled us to have DJ Jazzy come for the afternoon; he was fantastic with his music, lights and smoke. 

Student Support Services

Understanding how to support your child with online gaming

Online gaming can be a great way to have fun, relax, escape, be creative and socialise. However, it’s everyone’s responsibility to contribute to a positive and safe online gaming community. If you see or experience hateful or harmful behaviour, you can call it out and report it.  More information you can go to https://www.esafety.gov.au/young-people/online-gaming. 

Gaming can feel addictive, so if you’re spending too much time online there are things you can do to get some balance back.

This webinar provides an overview of selecting quality games, understanding how to reduce the risks of gaming and how to create better gaming habits.  It's suitable for parents and carers of children and young people in primary and early secondary school.

Term 3 dates (Australian Eastern Standard Time)

Tuesday, 30 July, 12.30pm

Tuesday, 3 September, 12.30pm

Click on the link to register: https://register.gotowebinar.com/rt/6473655519180514400

P&C Patch

Tuckshop

Tuckshop returns to the regular Wednesday and Friday menu this term.  Place orders via Qkr! by 8.30am

We are still looking for volunteers to help out in the tuckshop this term.  If you are able to spare a few hours on a Friday morning, please get in touch with Karla Trott or psssecretary@outlook.com.  Thank you to our regulars and new volunteers who have already popped their name down!

Junior Carnival Canteen

The Junior Carnival is coming up on Thursday 29 August.  The P&C will be running the carnival canteen.  Please contact psssecretary@outlook.com or Karla Trott, Louise Boyes or Jess Briggs if you are able to assist with volunteering in the canteen on the day. 

We will also be looking for homebake to sell in the canteen at the Junior Carnival.  If you could assist up by donating some homebaking, please email psssecretary@outlook.com

Father’s Day

We are very excited to be hosting another Father’s Day breakfast this term.  Please keep eyes open for more details.

Pittsworth Sprints Volunteers

Pittsworth SS P&C will again be responsible for setting up and taking down the fencing at the Pittsworth Sprints (31st  August from 1pm and 8^th of September from 3.30pm).  The Pittsworth Sprints Committee kindly provide the P&C with a donation for our time.  If you are available, please volunteer to come down and help.  Many hands make light work!

Join Our Committee!

Would you like to make a difference in our school?  Would you like to see more community/family events in our school?  Would you like to have a say in how P&C funds are spent? Then join the P&C! 

If you have ideas or have ever considered joining, whether your child is in Year 6 or just starting out in Prep, now is the time.  New members are always welcome!

Please contact psssecretary@outlook.com or submit a membership form to the office to be accepted.

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), you will find the link and instructions below.   Once completed it lasts for the calendar year.

Mandatory Volunteers Training 

P&C Bank Account Details

Have you downloaded the Qkr! App to order tuckshop?

Quick, easy, no more looking for cash!

Tuckshop open Wednesdays and Fridays

School Management

Headlice

We have had multiple cases of Headlice at the school recently. Please check your entire household for headlice TODAY & commence treatment if required to help prevent spreading.  Please see below information.

Community News

Cost of Living Support

Families and individuals are encouraged to check their eligibility for concessions and other support by visiting:

https://www.qld.gov.au/community/cost-of-living-support/concessions

https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/