2024 Term 4, Week 2 Newsletter

Principal's News

This year's Awards Ceremony will be held at the Pittsworth State HIGH School (PSHS) Multi-purpose hall (the NEW hall), starting at 9am.  Parents are asked to arrange for children to be taken directly to PSHS by 8.50am on Monday 02 December.  Further information will be emailed to parents.

Parents & carers have received an electronic Student Consent Form:  thank you for completing the consent form allowing your child to attend the Awards Ceremony.  As per previous years, it is expected that all students attend the ceremony.

Mental Health Week

Events are planned for students, staff and community to engage in "Mental Health Week".

FREE BREAKFAST FOR YOU!!!  Thursday 10 October 2024

Thanks to the State Government's School Breakfast Program, we are able to offer YOU & YOUR CHILDREN A FREE BREAKFAST this Thursday morning from 8am - 9am.  Chappy Steve and his team of helpers will be on hand to cook cheese toasties, ham & cheese toasties, prepare cornflakes just the way you like it, mix milo, cut fruit and generally make the start of your day a GREAT one!

Come along and share breakfast!  It's all about CONNECTING with each other! 

Welcome Ceremony & Aboriginal Dancers.  Friday 11 October.  From 10am.  

Welcome Ceremony & Smoking Ceremony with William Thira-Mayinj Haupt at our Yarning Circle, followed by the Mura Biri Gururu Aboriginal Dancers performing in Bottle Tree Hall for our school community.  Everyone is most welcome to attend.

Connect with self, others and community.

"Read With Me".  Friday 11 October.  From 12:00pm - 3:00pm.  Prep - Year 4 

Matthew Middleton, "Beezotted", reading his internationally acclaimed prize winning story, "Princess Bee and the Boy".  Talk about our native stingless bees.

Farewell Mr Dan Bailey

After three years as the Head of Special Education Services for our school and the Gore Highway Cluster Special Education Program, Dan Bailey has left our school to begin a new career!  Dan contributed enormously to our school during his tenure and there are many families and children who particularly benefited from Dan's expertise, experience and support.

Welcome Mrs Terri Neale

Mrs Anna Reynolds has taken leave and Mrs Terri Neale will teach in the Years 3/4BR classroom for Term 4.  Welcome Mrs Neale!

2024 Pittsworth Mayoral Prayer Breakfast

Book your tickets today to attend the  "2024 Pittsworth Mayoral Prayer Breakfast" to be held at the Pittsworth Function Centre on Friday 25 October from 6am - 8am.

Listen to guest speaker, Col Ryan, talk about: "Flipping the script on the story of young men’s lives".  Funds raised help support our School Chaplaincy program.

Prep 2025 Enrolment Interviews

Parents of 2025 Prep children are requested to book an enrolment interview, as per the information below.  The 15 minute interviews will be held on Monday 21 October and Tuesday 22 October between 8am - 10am and 2pm - 5pm.  Interviews will be held in the Pittsworth Function Centre.

Please bring a copy of your child’s Birth Certificate.
Please bring a copy of your child’s Kindy Transition Statement.

Please click on this link to make your booking. 

2024 Semester 2 Report Cards

Report cards will be emailed to families by Friday 13 December 2024. 

2025 Staffing and Class Allocations  

As we begin preparations for 2025, we ask that you communicate with the school in relation to any possible changes with your child's enrolment in 2025.  It is intended that 2025 classes be organised, and parents informed, by the last week of this term.

!  TUCKSHOP CHANGE - Friday 18 October !

Teachers will be undertaking professional learning on Friday 18 October.  Timetable changes will occur.  
On Friday 18 October, students will only have a 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. 

2025 Student Leaders

The 2025 Student Leadership Application Process will begin on Monday 14 October where all Year 5 students will be presented with the Leadership Application package including all relevant dates and information.

Curriculum

Life Ed Qld 21 – 24 October

Life Ed Qld  supports and reinforces the important health messages being taught at home and in the classroom such as nutrition, healthy eating and the importance of physical activity, personal safety, respectful relationships and emotional well-being and more.

During State Education Week, Life Ed Qld will be based at Pittsworth State School and all children will access this program.  As the program is directly linked to the Australian Curriculum, the school will pay the $6 per student fee.

Check out “Meet health educator Elise” from Life Ed Qld on Vimeo.

The video is available for your viewing pleasure at https://vimeo.com/754159876

Year 6 Camp

At 5:30am on Wednesday 4 September, 46 enthusiastic students along with 5 brave adults, boarded the bus for the relatively short drive up to the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. After three and a half hours, we were glad to get out of the bus at our first point of call, the "Tree Top Challenge" at the Big Pineapple, Nambour.

Although we’d previously had a look at the images of this place, it didn’t really prepare us for the challenge that was this high ropes course. After a very thorough explanation and demonstration of the safety equipment, we set off; for many of us it was a matter of conquering our fears. For others, the dare devils, we couldn’t get enough. But for all, it was a resounding double thumbs up.

We had a short drive up the mountain to the Queensland Conference and Camping Centre Rainforest Campus, Mapleton (QCCC) and arrived just in time for lunch. We soon realised we weren’t the only school there and joined another couple of schools in the dining hall for a (noisy) but delicious lunch. We then sorted our accommodation and we were straight into the first afternoon’s activities. The team building activities were excellent and made us think and work together to solve problems.

It was then showers and dinner and then we watched the classic movie ‘High School Musical’. The excitement of being away from home was a bit too much for some and despite promises (and threats) some boys and girls (and consequently), teachers didn’t get much sleep. To be expected on camp, but there were a few tired and cranky kids by the next night.

After a hearty breakfast, we split into three groups and were either led through the rainforest to learn about bush tucker, taught the finer points of archery, or hit the lake to be taught how to manoeuvre canoes and kayaks. After just a quick, crash course in how these worked, we were in the water and the surprise was just how quickly we mastered them.

Despite a yummy morning tea, we were famished by lunch - it must have been the mountain air that made us all so hungry!

After dinner, we had the traditional quiz night, where we did our best to answer trivia questions and for some, our ability to hold a squat for the longest. Again, we were pretty weary after another great but full day, but we were then lucky enough (well, not if you’re a Broncos fan) to watch the Storm / Broncos match. Unsurprisingly, most slept much better that night.

After another early start and breakfast, we packed up our gear, said goodbye to QCCC and climbed back on the bus and headed south arriving at Australia Zoo just before opening time. For many of us, this was undoubtedly the highlight of the camp. And although many of us had been to the zoo before, it was still a wonderful experience, especially to be there with our year 6 friends.

We would sincerely like to thank all the PSS staff for organising such a fun camp for us. Special mention to Mrs Kelly who does so much of the administration ‘stuff’, including organising crucial permission forms, medication and our spending money. We also want to thank Mr Smith for also coming with us - he was great and jumped in boots and all, demonstrating his coaching skills and organising games. We also thank our parents for the opportunity to make such fabulous memories with our mates - we will cherish these for the rest of our lives.

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School Student Broadband Initiative - National referral centre

School Student Broadband Initiative SSBI

Years 3-6 AusCycling - FREE Bike Course!

The Qld Community Development Co-ordinator for AusCycling will lead FREE bike courses for Years 3-6 students on Thursday 31 October and Friday 01 November.  If your child has their own bike and helmet, please allow them to bring both items to school on these days in order to participate in the course.  AusCycling will provide bikes for those students without. The courses will be held on Bridgman Oval and each class will be participating in a one hour lesson.

Term 4 Important Dates

2025 Booklist

Sporting News

Term 4 "Learn to Swim" Program

"Learn to swim" lessons will begin in week 4 (Wed 23 Oct) and conclude in week 9:  students will engage in six (6) swimming lessons in total.  Each lesson will be of 30 minutes duration, held at the Pittsworth Pool, with three qualified swimming instructors teaching students.

A HUGE THANK YOU to YOUR P&C for subsidising the cost of swimming lessons to the value of $10 per child.  This is able to occur due to the ongoing hard work of the P&C to fundraise to support your child's education.

The school will contribute a total of $4100 towards the cost of swimming (funds received from the State Government's Learn to Swim funding and the "Sporting Schools" funds).  

Parents/carers will receive full information via email including an invoice for $23.00 (to be paid by Thursday 17 Oct) and online consent form.

2024 Whole School Swimming Carnival

Wednesday 04 December is the planned date for the whole school swimming carnival which all students are expected to attend.  Families are invited to attend also & watch the fun!

Learn to Swim Lessons

Lessons will run for 30 minutes each week, on Wednesday, Thursday & Friday, starting Wednesday 23 October.

Darling Downs Aquathlon 11-12 Years and Multi-Class Aquathlon 11-19 Years

Interested students are to see Ms Will if they are interested in participating in the DD Aquathlon and Multi-Class Aquathlon:  further information will then be given.

Qld Barrel Racing Association

Rylee P competed in the Barrel Racing event on the weekend.
Rylee came runner up in the under 18’s after placing 2^nd in 2 rounds and 1st in one Round.
Rylee also won a saddle at the event for winning the “Most Points for the Year in the Junior U18.  Congratulations Rylee, well done!

The Arts

SRC News/Eco Club News

Student Support Services

P&C Patch

TUCKSHOP

Tuckshop has reopened as usual, Wednesday and Fridays this term.  Orders to be placed via Qkr! app by 8.30am

Thank you to the people who have already volunteered to assist Karla in the Tuckshop this term.  Unfortunately, we are still very light on helpers.  If we are unable to find extra volunteers to assist Karla on Fridays, we will have to reduce our Friday menu options.  If you are able to help please contact Karla Trott, the school office or email psssecretary@outlook.com.  It’s a very easy and enjoyable, social morning. Even just one day a term helps!

Fundraising

Mango drive

Our mango fundraiser is back!  Trays are back to 7kg and are priced at $25 each.  Tell your friends, family, neighbours and colleagues.  Order via Qkr!  Orders close 26th October.

Club Pittsworth raffles

Pittsworth SS P&C will be selling raffle tickets at Club Pittsworth next Friday 18th October.  Save yourself a night in the kitchen, come to Club Pittsworth and support two of our local organisations with a great meal!  Thank you Club Pittsworth for this opportunity.

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 our committee!  

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. 

P&C MEETING
Our next meeting will be Thursday October 10th in the Pittsworth Function Centre starting at 6:30pm. 

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

RELIEF POSITIONS AVAILABLE

RELIEF CLEANER

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

BREAKFAST CLUB VOLUNTEERS

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

"PICK OF THE CROP" VOLUNTEER (Kitchen Garden)

No Aerosol Cans

Due to the severe sensitivity of some of our community members, aerosol sprays are not permitted at PSS.  Parents/Carers, please ensure spray cans are not brought to school and that roll-on deodorants are substituted in their place.  Assist in making PSS a safe place for all by checking your student’s bag for aerosol cans before they leave for school.

Community News

Items for Sale

1. iPad mini A1432 (wifi), 64GB. $20 each. Contact a member of the Admin team for further information.  

2. Wooden side table, rectangular, one only. $30.  Contact Belinda McKinlay at the Function Centre for more information.

3.  Wooden coffee table, square, two in total (can be sold separately).  $20 each. Contact Belinda McKinlay at the Function Centre for more information.

All items are offered on an 'as is' basis with no warranties implied or given, no after sale service or assistance implied or given. 

Dental Van:  Oral Health Care for PSS Students

The Dental Van is currently based at our school. Forms have been sent home. Please complete and return the Registration Form at your earliest convenience.

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/