Term 2 Week 6 Newsletter 24 May 2023
From our Principal
We are now over half way through the term. Our focus is on the teaching and learning occurring in each room and ensuring children are getting the best education. Our grounds and facilities continue to improve and a huge thank you to Mr Boyd and Mrs White for our refurbished greenhouse and orchard area. We are currently seeing a high volume of illness from both students and staff. If unwell please take the time to get well.
Have an awesome week everyone!
Fiona
Thank you - Volunteers Week
P&C members are much valued members of our school community. Last week was National Volunteer Week, it is important to recognise members’ contributions to the education of our community’s children. Any member who helps with fundraising activities, contributes through P&C meetings, assists at Tuckshop and/or sports carnival canteens etc is sincerely thanked. Parents/caregivers who volunteer their time to help with reading groups are thanked too!!! Every contribution helps – THANK YOU!
Under 8's Day
A huge thank you to Mrs Brewer and our early years team on their organisation of Under 8’s Day. The theme this year was “PLAY - You, me and our communities”. A range of activities were organised for our Prep to Year 3 students to experience. With an afternoon of fun activities planned by our year 4-6 students.
Attendance - Every day Counts!
As it is at any time of the term, every day counts. Please ensure your child is at school every day – unless of course they are unwell. The shorter weeks for teaching and learning makes it even more important that your child is at school every day so that they have every opportunity to do their best in their learning journey. For the second half of the term, we have five-day weeks.
Visitors Sign In
A quick reminder – parents/caregivers can accompany their child to their classroom before 8:50 without going through the front office. Between 8:50 am and 3:00 pm, ALL parents/caregivers must sign in through the office. Parents/carers are NOT to go to classrooms during school time! Your support with this process is very much appreciated.
Sporting Stars Program
This term we have introduced a Sporting Stars Program to our school for students in year 5-6. All students were invited to write to a selection criterion if they were interested. They will now work under the guidance and expertise of our wonderful PE teacher Mrs Nancarrow towards their goals in athletics. This is a wonderful opportunity for those children who enjoy sport or have a strength in athletics to get some event specific feedback, acceleration, speed, overall strength training and expertise to perform at their best.
Capable Learner
Our school mission statement forms the basis of all decisions made by the school. Our first question in all we do is always “what impact does this have on our students?”
Our school has developed its own Thangool State School (TSS) Capable Learner. Our capable learner works to support our mission statement looking at all aspects of what makes a student a capable learner at Thangool. Our Chappy program ensures each class has an opportunity through games/activities to practice the disposition of the week.
2023 Priority Areas
In 2023 we have 2 priority areas:-
- Reading
- SEL (Social Emotional Learning)
Priority 1-Reading
We are seeing great success with our reading. Teachers have attended or will be attending in coming weeks professional development to continue learning ways to improve impact on our student’s reading ability. Mrs Brewer has also conducted her second workshop with Biloela Kindy parents on ways they can support their child at home with reading.
Priority 2-SEL
Our SEL program continues to grow and we see the impact on both students and staff. This term we have introduced a friendship program to all classes which is run by our classroom teachers and supported by Ms Hyland.
Reminders
Before School
Students should not be at school before 8:15am. When students arrive at school they are to sit in the eating area under the building. From 8:15-8:35am our teacher aides are on duty and supervise morning play. On a Monday, Wednesday & Friday students are involved in SMART Moves which is organised and run by our year 6 Wellbeing officers- under the super vision of staff.
Parking
Parents are also reminded that there is no parking under the tree opposite the school. Our buses depart by 8:15am of a morning so please ensure you are not in bus zone before this time and in the afternoon, they arrive from 3:05pm so please ensure your car is not parked in the bus zone from this time on.
HOC News
Australian Curriculum – Science
Science is a dynamic, collaborative and creative as we try to make sense of our world. Through science, we explore the unknown, investigate universal phenomena, make predictions and solve problems. It is an opportunity to ask questions about the changing world. Science knowledge is continually being revised, refined and extended as new evidence arises. It is a reliable basis for action.
In the Australian Curriculum, science enables students to develop an understanding of important concepts and processes, the practices used to develop scientific knowledge, science’s contribution to our culture and society, and its uses in our lives. It supports students to develop their scientific knowledge, understandings and skills needed to make informed decisions about local, national and global issues, and to succeed in science-related careers. Science develops a child’s natural curiosity about the world around them.
In developing scientific literacy, students use critical and creative thinking skills, and challenge themselves to ask questions and draw evidence-based conclusions. Students can evaluate different points of view and make informed decisions.
Developing these competencies will support student in pursuing a variety of occupations including careers in Mathematics, Technology and Engineering.
Science aims to ensure that students develop:
- an interest in science as a way of expanding their curiosity
- a willingness to explore, ask questions about and speculate on the changing world they live in
- a solid foundation of knowledge of the biological, Earth and space, physical and chemical sciences
- to explain and predict phenomena and to apply understanding to new situations and events
- an understanding of scientific inquiry and the ability to use a range of scientific inquiry practices
- an ability to communicate scientific understanding and findings to a range of audiences
- to justify claims with evidence
- to evaluate and debate scientific explanations and arguments
- an ability to solve problems and make informed decisions about current and future uses of science
- to take into account ethical, environmental, social and economic implications of decisions
- an understanding of the dynamic nature of science knowledge including historical and global contributions
- an understanding of the relationship between science and society including the diversity of science careers
SEL News
SEL – Did you know?
Students were asked if they could change one thing about their parents, what would it be?
According to Lael Stone (Parenting educator), the overwhelming response is to listen more. Students spoke about three key aspects when referring to listening:
- Listen without judgement.
- Listen without fixing.
- Listen without getting into the drama.
Parenting educator, Michelle Mitchell, says the key to truly being helpful is to ask the question,
‘Are you wanting me to help with a strategy or do you just need me to listen?’
As adults, we can be quick to want to fix and solve our students concerns out of the best of intentions. There are times to help and there are times to be ‘the guide by their side’. Guiding our students and listening to them without fixing helps them to advocate for themselves and develop safe and healthy coping skills into their adult life. Next time your child comes to you with a concern consider asking ‘are you wanting me to help with a strategy or do you just need me to listen?’
Project Club News - Meal Deal
Important Term 2 Dates
