Term 1 Week 4 Newsletter 15 February 2023

From our Principal

Thanks to students and parents for continuing the great start to the year. This is a crucial time for learning as the focus is on developing individual learning goals and implementing teaching of major content and skills in units for each core learning area. Later in Term 1 parents will have the opportunity to meet with their child’s teacher and discuss: progress on their learning so far, goal attainment, and how to support ongoing improvement.

Next week students will be involved with Damien Kee in the technology area. We are excited to welcome him here again to support our students in this area.

Monday and Tuesday next week myself and Ellen Brewer will be in Rockhampton learning more about the changes to the curriculum being rolled out.

Our year 6 students head off to camp on Thursday and Friday of next week as well. We look forward to hearing all about their learnings over the 2 days.

Have an awesome week

Fiona

Student Mission Statement/Capable Learner

NAPLAN

For students in year 3 & 5 NAPLAN dates are 14-24 March. Our school will again deliver this test online.  More details in coming weeks.

Head of Curriculum

Pedagogy

Curriculum is the content that teachers need teach, while pedagogy is how teachers teach and students learn that content.  At Thangool State School we have a ‘Whole School Approach to Pedagogy’ where teachers employ a range and balance of effective pedagogical practices to ensure that every student is engaged, developing the knowledge, skills and dispositions required to be a capable learner in our local and global community.

Our ‘Whole School Approach to Pedagogy’ uses the evidence–based research of Age-Appropriate Pedagogies supported with Digital Pedagogies and the The Baakindji, Ngiyampaa, Yuwaalaraay, Gamilaraay, Wiradjuri, Wangkumarra and other nations of Western New South Wales pedagogical approach of the ‘8 Ways of Learning Framework”.

Having a ‘Whole School Approach to Pedagogy’ enables a common language to align our school processes and brings precision and quality to planning content and practices, so that teachers can focus on differentiating teaching and learning to support students.

The components to our ‘Whole School Approach to Pedagogy’ include:

Age Appropriate Pedagogies: Direct, Event, Explicit, Inquiry, Play, Project, Digital

8 Ways of Learning:  Story Sharing, Learning Maps, Non-Verbal, Symbols and Images, Land Links, Non-Linear, Deconstruct/Reconstruct, Community Links

If you would like further information about the pedagogies used at Thangool SS, please feel free to make contact.

Sports News - Representative Sport.

A student is eligible to represent their school, district, region and state in the year that they are turning ten. In 2023 students born in 2013 become eligible for representative sport. Please be aware that the age group is 10-12 unless otherwise specified. Only a small number of students can represent the school at a Port Curtis trial. Unfortunately the exact number is not finalized till sport information is sent out. This generally happens 2 weeks prior to the Port Curtis trial. It is an expectation that students wishing to trial have a clear understanding of the rules and demonstrate the key principles of the sport due to the representative nature of the trials.  An expression of interest will be available from Mrs White in the Library. This is to be collected and returned by the dates on the attached calendar. By returning this form you are agreeing that the student is available for selection at all levels and are committed to attending if selected.

It is the responsibility of the parent/carer to check that the student is available to :

• attend trials (at all levels),
• transport their student
• pay any applicable cost

Please consider that

• Port Curtis (PC) trials are generally held in the Gladstone area.
• Capricornia (Cap) trials can be held anywhere from Emerald, to Mackay, to Gladstone and Rockhampton.
• State can be held in any location in the state.

If there are more students wanting to go to a Port Curtis trial then a trial will need to be held at school. The trial will be held by Ebony Nancarrow and students will be made aware of when and where the trial will be. Generally it will be held during break time on either Tuesday or Wednesday on the week the expression of interest is due back. The best performance on the day of the trial will see a student being selected. If a child is sick or injured and this may hinder their performance a letter outlining this and the student’s achievement in the chosen sport can be submitted prior to the trial.

Please note that

• Swimming nominations need to be submitted directly through to Capricornia Sport and submitted times must be from a sanctioned meet. As a courtesy, please notify the school of your submission and also the success of selection.
• Cross country and Athletics are selected at the inter house school carnivals. The top placing students become eligible for selection.
• Golf nominations need to be submitted directly through to Capricornia Sport and submitted times must be from a sanctioned meet. As a courtesy, please notify the school of your submission and also the success of selection.

If you have questions about this process please do not hesitate to contact Ebony Nancarrow to discuss your concerns.

Expressions of Interest Due Friday 17th February 2023 for Rugby League (boys) and 21st February for Rugby League (girls) and Netball.  Expressions of interest for Interschool Touch Gala on Monday 27th March are due Wednesday 1st March 2023.

Student of the Week

Congratulations to our Students of the Week for weeks 2 and 3.

Prep:

William S- For settling in well with Prep routines and activities

Torah- For using her words to communicate

Year 1:

Isaac-  For settling in well to new routines and showing the dispositions of a TSS Capable Learner

Benji- For improving his communication in all learning areas

Year 2:

Zoey - For displaying diligence in everything that she does.  Super effort Zoey!

Isabel- For demonstrating the skills of an effective communicator

Year 3

Angus - For being an enthusiastic learner who is eager to participate and reach success

Logan J - For tyring your abosolute hardest at all times and for gaining confidence to share your incredible ideas with everyone. Well Done!

Year 4

Griffin - For being a capable learner and a bucket filler

Harris - For being a capable learner and a bucket filler

Year 5

Anna- For displaying diligence in all her learning

Year 6

Miles - For always being prepared to start your learning.

Book Club News

Each term, students will receive 2 Book Club pamphlets from Scholastic.  I have attached a brochure explaining how Book Club works at our school.  Unfortunately, we cannot accept cash payments, however the LOOP ordering system is great for ordering books that are delivered straight to school for distribution to your child.  If you have any questions please contact Cathy in the library. 

SEL with Miss Hyland

This week students have been challenged to work on their communication skills.  Each group is given a problem to solve and students step in to work on their own learning journey. The activities are practical and hands on and act as a vehicle for learning. A key to our SEL program, is the debriefing at the end of the activities to let students reflect and discover their strengths as a tea.

Badge Ceremony - Year 6 Leaders

Our annual Badge Presentation Ceremony was held on Monday, February 6.  Our students received their badge from Mr Bob Moschioni and recited their leadership pledge in front of family, staff members and fellow students.

Important Dates Term 1