STRIVE to EXCEL
Telephone: 5464 1184 Fax: 54642 539
Email:
Website: www.ashwellss.eq.edu.au / 35 Reinke Road
Rosewood
Edition 1
4th February 2015
Date Claimers
Feb 05 Swimming
08 Fassifern Swimming Nominations Due
10 ‘Meet and Greet’ Afternoon Tea 3:30pm
11- 12 Reading PD- Mrs Eiby and Mrs deMey
12 Swimming
13 & 17 Fassifern Rugby League Trials- 11/ 12 Years
19 Swimming
20 & 24 Fassifern Rugby League Trials- 10 Years
25 Sporting Schools-
NETBALL Program commences (4 weeks)
26 Swimming
March 04, 11 Swimming
18 Swimming Carnival: Yr 3-6
24 REWARDS Morning
LAST DAY of Term 1
Principal’s Desk
Welcome to the school year and to our first newsletter for 2016! The staff and students have enjoyed a very smooth start, all refreshed and recharged following the extended holiday break. After hearing lots of interesting recounts of holiday activities, the classes have hit the ground running- with the teaching and learning programs being well and truly underway in all three of our classrooms. Throughout the next two weeks all of our students will be completing a variety of diagnostic assessments in: phonological awareness; sight words; reading; vocabulary; mathematics; and spelling. This provides extensive baseline data for our teaching team, and allows our school to identify common areas of need, as well as identifying individual strengths and limitations.
It is always exciting for children- new uniforms, shoes, books, lunch boxes and bags- to finally get to use their new belongings, and to get to catch up with their friends. The students should also be complimented on how proudly they wear their school uniform- they all look fantastic!
Please remember that attendance every day at school is important. The teachers have important learning programs planned for our students- every day of the week, every week of the year- so keep in mind, ‘EVERY DAY COUNTS!’ If, however, your child is absent simply contact (via phone call or email) the school - this enables us to explain the absence on our electronic tracking systems which are mandatory for all state schools.
Term 1 is always a busy term- with the establishment of new routines and new learning programs- so please take the time to read the ‘date claimers’ and maybe keep a copy on your fridge for any dates important for your family.
MORNING ROUTINES and TRANSITIONS
This year we have introduced a ‘TAKE OFF!’ time between 8:30 and 8:50. This ‘TAKE OFF!’ time is focused on maximizing our learning time throughout the day, and therefore enhance improved learning outcomes across the school.
While our school day officially commences at 8:50am, all students move into classrooms from 8:30am. Students arriving between 8am and the 8:30am bell are to remain seated in the Play Shed area. At 8:50 direct classroom instruction commences with ‘Handwriting’ for ten minutes in all classrooms. During this time students are able to engage in a range of activities which set them up for success throughout the day. These activities may include:
· Preparing classroom equipment- pencils, rubbers, diaries, home readers, etc.
· Seeking assistance with homework tasks
· Independent reading
· Reading for the teacher or teacher aide
· Completing incomplete tasks
· Accessing online learning: Reading Eggs and Mathletics
· Theme related self- choice activities
The calming effect on our entire school has been extremely obvious to all of our teachers. Students are ready and focused when learning time commences, and are therefore considerably more productive.
DIARIES, LIBRARY BAGS and CHAIR BAGS
In 2015 Ashwell SS introduced, and in some cases reintroduced, a few essential items. These included: Ashwell SS diaries, library bags and chair bags. All of these items have our school crest and clearly identify the school. These are available at below cost prices- as the school is subsidizing the cost of these items.
The diaries include important information specifically for our school- OWLS Positive Behaviour Program, as well as lots of handy reading. The diary needs to be at school every day. Each day your child’s teacher will sight the diary and on some days (not all) there may be a note from the teacher, or a message written by your child. In addition to the OWLS REWARDS CHART at school, each day that your child makes positive choices- both inside and outside of the classroom- there will be a stamp on your child’s diary.
Our aim at Ashwell SS is to ensure that we maintain open lines of communication with our parent community and the stamps are just one way we can provide daily feedback regarding your child’s day at school. We would also appreciate knowing that you have ‘sighted/ read’ the diary- so would ask that you quickly initial the diary when you have the opportunity to do so. Thank you.
The library bags are of excellent quality- as they are also waterproof- and provide a great homework/ home reading bag as well. While the chair bags are used in the classroom to store student’s everyday items that may be too bulky for their tidy tray. The chair bags look terrific in the classrooms!
2016 Meet and Greet and P&C Afternoon Tea
Wednesday, 10th February at 4pm, we invite all parents to our Ashwell State School ‘Meet and Greet’.
The classroom teachers will be providing a brief overview of 2016 classroom routines, expectations and information about the Term 1 teaching and learning programs. This is great opportunity for you to get to know your child’s teacher and to ask any questions.
School Drop Off and Pick Up
Students arriving prior to 8:30am are instructed to sit quietly in the play shed. Children are not permitted to leave this area until the 8:30 bell- at this time students move to their classrooms for ‘TAKE OFF!’ time. The school day begins at 8:50am.
When the school day concludes at 2:50pm students are collected from the front covered area (closest to the front of the school), or this is where our bus students are
to wait for their appropriate bus. A staff member is on bus duty until 3:20 (or until the last bus arrives) each afternoon.
Students are not permitted to play on the playground equipment after school- without direct parent supervision.
ALLERGIES
At Ashwell SS we have a few children with identified serious allergies to food items- peanuts, eggs, animals, and animal hair, bee and wasp stings.
It is important that our entire school community keep this in mind when entering our school grounds. While we are not a ‘nut free’ school- we do request that students whom have eaten nut products at lunch wash their hands and face immediately following eating time.
We also remind all members of our school community that pets of any kind are NOT permitted on school grounds. This is both a safety and health issue. We do have students at our school with severe allergies to dog and cat hair, in addition to some with phobias.
There are times when students like to have a pet in for ‘show and tell’- in these instances please see your child’s teacher first to arrange a suitable time and location.
Thank you for your cooperation with this matter.
SWIMMING
Last week all of the Ashwell SS students commenced swimming lessons in Rosewood. Each Friday for Term 1 all of our students, Prep to Year 6, will participate in swimming lessons with Mrs Melita Mackay (our cluster PE teacher), their class teacher and teacher aide. They all returned happily exhausted this morning!
Teaching and Learning Overviews
All Term 1 ‘Teaching and Learning Overviews’ will be available at the ‘Meet and Greet’ afternoon tea and classroom meetings- scheduled to be held on Wednesday afternoon in Week 3. If you are unable to attend, a copy of the Teaching and Learning Overview will be forwarded home with your child/ ren.
GARDENS
A HUGE thank you to our dedicated volunteers within our school community, Ruth and Matt Friske, Terina Strasburg, Dalton Spall, and the entire Merritt family for their tireless efforts in helping to ensure that our school grounds look beautiful. The staff and students certainly appreciate your efforts, and I am sure that our wider school community value your contribution to their children’s school. Our gardens have been weeded, trimmed, and hedged. Considering the long hot summer break, everything has held on very well. Anyone keen to lend a hand is more than welcome!
SCHOOL PERMISSION FORM
Accompanying today’s newsletter are three SCHOOL PERMISSION FORMS. This form includes the following areas:
Form 1 Medication
Religious Instruction
Pick- Up Permission
Form 2 Chaplaincy
Form 3 Media Consent
Please complete these and return to your child’s teacher at your earliest convenience.
STAFF ONLY AREAS
A reminder that there are designated areas in our school which MUST be STAFF ONLY. In these areas teachers and other staff members discuss important and sensitive information regarding our students- all of which is confidential. As a school we also require a zone where we are able to display student achievement data- all of which is not for public viewing.
Please be aware that our Conference Room (photocopy room) and our Staff Room are for STAFF ONLY- not parents and/ or children.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
SCHOOL CHAPLAINCY PROGRAM
SU QLD chaplains, or 'chappies', provide spiritual and emotional support to school communities. We are in the prevention and support business: helping students find a better way to deal with issues ranging from family breakdown and loneliness, to drug abuse, depression and anxiety. We provide a listening ear and a caring presence for kids in crisis,and those who just need a friend. We also provide support for staff and parents in school communities. Right now, School Chaplains are serving over 400,000 Queensland students.
This year as the Ashwell School Chaplain I will be involved with helping in class as well as running a number of fun programs such as Drumbeat / InRhythm and VITAL- all of which are social skills development programs. Please feel free to contact me anytime via email or through the school office.
Chappy Bill
Student Awards
Congratulations to the following students for their fantastic efforts!
WK / CLASS / Student / Award1 / P- 1 / Stevie / Settling in Well
Tyson / Working Independently on Tasks
2 / Kobi / Great Spelling- 5/ 5 on his Test
Nikita / Beautiful Bookwork
Jenna / SMILE!
1 / 2-3-4 / Ricki- Tai / A Great Start to the School Year
Kahzayla / Always Helpful with Classmates
2 / Emma W / Always Trying her Best and Ready to Listen and Learn
Wyatt / Making Great Choices and Always Ready to Listen and Learn
SMILE!
1 / 5- 6 / Travis / Staying on Task
Luckee / Actively Participating in Class Activities
2 / Chloe- Lee / Exceptional Presentation of all Set Tasks
Ivan / Gigantic Effort!
Samantha / SMILE!
Warm regards,