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Year 3 Street Science Incursion- our budding scientists have been learning about heat
Back to School Plan- announcement of easing of COVID-19 restrictions from 6pm, 4 March
Every Day Counts- our school day is 8:50am-3pm
Stop, Drop and Go- please do not leave cars unattended between 8am-9am or 2:30pm-3:30pm
2022 School Council- final chance to nominate to support our strategic direction
2022 P&C AGM- at the next meeting (15/3/2022) all positions are declared vacant- please nominate to support the fundraising initiatives for our school
BraveHearts Ditto Show- great news, our P&C have fully funded for P-2 students the Ditto program later this term.
Active School Travel- our first park and stride event 18 March
Splash, Splash- swimming lessons start next week in our awesome refurbished pool
Toilet Refurbishment- we have recently been advised that our Junior Toilet block (P-1) is getting a full refurbishment!
Year 3 Street Science Incursion
On Tuesday 22 February, the Year 3 students participated in a Street Science incursion where they investigated heat. See our budding scientist photos below.
Back to School Plan
Thank you to all of our school community as we have worked together in adhering to the Back to School plan which remains in place until 4 March. As you may be aware, the Premier yesterday announced the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in Queensland, from 6 pm on Friday 4 March.
This is welcome news and coincides with advice that the Omicron wave has peaked in Queensland.
As more information is received on school operations from the Department of Education moving beyond the 4th, we will share these with our school community.
A Wondall School Day
Our school hours are 8:50am-3:00pm. Teaching and learning begins at 8:50am, please ensure students are at school and ready for learning by this time.
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A little bit late to school might not seem important, however… |
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When your child misses just… |
That equals… |
Which is…. |
So, from Prep to Year 12 that equals… |
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10 minutes per day |
50 minutes per week |
Nearly 1½ weeks each year |
Nearly ½ a year of learning missed. |
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20 minutes per day |
1 hour 40 minutes per week |
Over 2½ weeks each year |
Nearly 1 year of learning missed. |
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Half an hour per day |
Half a day per week |
Four weeks each year |
Almost 1½ years of learning missed. |
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One hour per day |
One day per week |
Eight weeks each year |
Over 2½ years of learning missed. |
Please read the schedule to find out more about our school day.
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8:00am |
School office opens |
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8:30am |
Students may arrive at school Students who arrive before 8:30am, must report to outside the Administration Block to wait quietly. After 8:30am students must go to the Arena for supervision. This includes students accompanied by a parent. Students will be released between 8:40-8:45am to move to their classrooms. Prep parents must follow current pick up/drop off advice from the school. (Students arriving prior to 8:15am must attend WOSHC.) |
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8:45am |
Class preparation bell for 8:50am start |
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8:50am |
Morning Session commences for all year levels |
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10:00-10:10am (time varies for classes) |
Brain Break - Students are encouraged to bring a healthy snack such as cut up fresh fruit or vegetables or a boiled egg. The purpose of brain break is to refuel our brain for learning and to encourage healthy eating. |
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10:50-11:30am |
First Break – (10mins eating; 30mins play) |
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11:30am |
Middle session commences |
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1:00-1:40pm |
Second Break - (10mins eating; 30mins play) |
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1:40pm |
Afternoon session commences |
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3:00pm |
School day finishes Parents/carers collect students from waiting areas – follow current advice from the school. WOSHC commences Motorists may collect children from Stop, Drop and Go (2 minute parking only, supervised until 3:30pm). |
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3:30pm |
School office closes – answering machine activated. |
Stop Drop and Go Zone
Just a reminder that the Stop Drop and Go Zone is a 2-minute loading zone between the hours of 8-9am and 2:30-3:30pm on weekdays. Please do not park and leave your vehicles during these times for the safety of our community.
At the start of the year, we also know there is a significant increase in vehicular traffic at our school during pick up and drop off times. It is the responsibility of all road users to ensure our students are kept safe during these busy times. We therefore ask:
- That you park only in designated bays and where legally allowed to- avoid solid painted lines and keep disabled parks available for those with authorised permits.
- The Stop, Drop and Go is supervised in the afternoon. Ensure you follow the instructions from our staff and do not call your children to enter your car before directed.
- A great tip is to write your surname on the left-hand sun visor for our staff to quickly read and then send your children to your car. EG: WRIGHT
- Consider delaying by 5. The Stop, Drop and Go remains supervised until approximately 3:30pm. Let your children know you will arrive at 3:15pm rather than 3pm (peak time).
2022 School Council
Nominations are being sought for members of parent body who would like to be part of the School Council. The School Council sits separately to our P&C with a focus on the strategic operations of the school. The council is comprised of staff, parent and community members.
Following receipt of nominations, a voting process will occur. If you would like to nominate for a position or for more information, please email- principal@wondallheightsss.eq.edu.au by Monday 28 February. A fact sheet on the School Council is attached.
Parents & Citizens Association
As we begin the new year, we welcome new families to join our P&C. The P&C will be holding their Annual General Meeting to appoint 2022 Executive positions on Tuesday 15 March. The P&C plays a vital role in representing the collective view of Wondall parents and contributes to fundraising activities to support our school.
The key roles are:
* President
*Vice President
*Treasurer
*Secretary
Braveheart’s DITTO Keep Safe Adventure Show
This year Wondall Heights SS P&C are proudly sponsoring all of our Prep-Year 2 students to attend the Ditto Keep Safe Adventure Show presented by Bravehearts on Thursday 31 March. The Ditto Keep Safe Adventure Show teaches children personal safety skills in a live, interactive 40-minute performance starring Bravehearts’ mascot ‘Ditto’. It includes song, dance, and easy-to-remember messages about personal safety. These songs and messages were written by Braveheart’ professional educators and child psychologists and are developmentally appropriate for your child’s age group.
If you would like to learn more about how to talk to your child about personal safety, download Bravehearts’ FREE PERSONAL SAFETY PARENTS AND CARERS GUIDE from the Bravehearts website. Just go to: bravehearts.org.au/personalsafety.
More information will be provided to parents of Prep-Year 2 students closer to the date.
Active School Travel
In 2022 we are excited to be part of the Active School Travel (AST) program and look forward to working with Brisbane City Council and our local community on ways for our students to be more active with their school travel. Mrs Abbot (Deputy Principal) will be chairing this committee with additional members sought. The first committee meeting will be held on 7 March. To offer your support to this program, please contact Mrs Sarah Abbot sabbo6@eq.edu.au
Our first community event will be held on the 18 March with a ‘Park’n’Stride’. Students and families are invited to meet us at a local park and walk to school together. This event also coincides with ‘Bullying. No Way!’ Day so students are also encouraged to wear orange to show their support! Please see further info in the flyer, attached.
Facilities
The pool is finished and has just been handed back over to the school! We look forward to our students starting their lessons next week (Years 1-6).
We have just received news that the junior toilet block (near the Year 1/2 Eating Area) is going to be refurbished later this year. Designs have been set and so we look forward to this enhancement to our student facilities.
What is PBL?
Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) is a whole-school framework that promotes positive behaviour across a school and helps schools develop safe and supportive learning environments.
- PBL is implemented across Prep – Year 6
- PBL applies everywhere in our school; classroom, specialist lessons, playground, oval, excursions, sport, before and after school even during online learning.
- PBL focuses on the establishment of expectations, explicit teaching and reinforcement of behaviours and consistent responses so all in our community understand the expectations. Students have the opportunity to practice the expected behaviours.
What does PBL look like at Wondall?
- At Wondall we have three school expectations: Safe, Respectful and Responsible.
- We have the mantra: Wondall learners are: Safe, Respectful and Responsible.
- Each fortnight the school has a behaviour focus. The focus behaviour is explicitly taught and positively reinforced.
- Positive reinforcement through verbal feedback, receiving Dougie Dollars and Dougie Stamps.
Behaviour is reinforced when provided with something of value following a desired behaviour. This may be verbal praise, non-verbal acknowledgement, earning of tokens, provision of tangible rewards, or opportunities to perform a task or participate in an activity.
What are Dougie Rewards?
- Dougie rewards are free and frequent reward points.
- Students receive Dougie rewards in the classroom and the playground.
- Dougie Dollars are awarded outside of the classroom. These points go towards a class total and a school total.
Dougie stamps are awarded during class time. Students who receive 50 stamps over a five week period are rewarded. These rewards are agreed on by staff and students.
Swimming permission forms have been sent home for completion and will need to be returned by the end of Week 5. Preps do not swim in Term 1. All Year 1-6 students start swimming in Week 6 of this term. Swim permissions need to be returned to the class teacher in order to participate.
For swimming, students require the following:
Togs – BOYS: Traditional, Half Cut or Jammer style tight fitting
(No Board Shorts as we are not using surfboards or body boards.)
GIRLS: One piece from shoulder to bottom.
(No 2 piece please.)
Sun shirts – Long or short sleeve as desired. This can also be built into the togs.
Swimming Cap – Latex or Silicone to cover all hair on head. No cap, no swim.
Towel – To get dry afterwards
Spare underwear – Because an extra pair is always needed.
Bag – To put all items in.
Water Bottle – Because we sweat even though we don’t feel it in the pool water.
Optional items include:
Goggles – That fit swimmers face. No snorkels required.
Ear plugs or Ear bands – If using, student must be able to place in and/or over ears themselves.
Sunscreen – If students have own sunscreen that they would like to reapply before and/or after.
Guidance Corner with Miss Sherry
My name is Sherrin Bell, and I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself as the Guidance Officer.
What does the Guidance Officer do?
The role of the Guidance Officer is to: advocate, provide short term counselling, analyse and interpret a variety of psychoeducational assessment and individual student support, provide recommendations and advice to students, teachers and parents concerning educational, behavioural, mental health and family issues and liaise with external agencies who also support students.
How can a student access the Guidance Officer?
- All students require parental consent to access support from the Guidance Officer.
- Teachers and school staff can refer a student to the Guidance Officer by the S.W.A.T Team referral process.
- External agencies and health professionals such as GPs, Child and Youth Mental Health Service (CYMHS), Child Safety, psychologists and psychiatrists can also contact the Guidance Officer if a permission to share information form is signed.
IMPORTANT! Please note that accessing the support of the Guidance Officer is voluntary and students can decline an invitation to meet with me.
Confidentiality:
The Guidance Officer works within the boundaries of confidentiality. This means that I do not share anything the student discusses with me unless they disclose:
- They are experiencing thoughts or have plans to hurt themselves.
- They are experiencing thoughts or have plans to hurt someone else.
- They have been hurt / abused by someone else (eg: physical, emotional, neglect and sexual abuse).
In the event of disclosure, I will contact you, as the parent immediately, with the exception of student protection matters where there may need to be some discretion involved.
Tips for Term 1
You may have experienced or are continuing to see mixed emotions from your children about returning to school. Some students will be ready and excited to start a new school year but not all students will be thrilled with the idea of coming back. Here are some helpful tips on how to support your student and encouraging a positive mindset for returning to school:
- Be positive about returning to school
Have conversations with your child and ask them how they are feeling about returning to school. What are they looking forward to? Is there anything they are worried about? If your child expresses anxiety, reassure them that this is normal.
- Be prepared
Ensure you keep up-to-date with what the school year is going to look like. Parents are provided with regular updates when school events return and in what format. Make sure you explain to your child the happenings of the school activities. Knowing what is happening will provide your child with confidence. If circumstances change, be honest with your student and encourage them to talk about how they are feeling. We are living in uncertain and ever-changing times. It is important that we encourage our children to develop flexibility and resiliency and how to put those skills into practice.
- Having conversations with your student about COVID-19
A lot of parents have expressed to me concern about how to discuss the current pandemic with their children. It is up to the parent whether or not they choose to discuss the pandemic with their children, however it should be noted that many children may often discuss the topic in the playground. The Principal is actively notifying the schooling community when they have been alerted to positive cases within the school. If you would like some advice on how to discuss COVID-19 with your child, here is a helpful age-appropriate link from a reputable site:
- Re-establish routines
Holidays usually mean later bedtimes, longer sleep-ins, more screen time, different meal times and foods, different activities, different people in the house (friends, family). Now is a good time to start getting back to school-time routines. Earlier bedtimes, set meal times, less screen time. This will help not only your student but yourself get back into the swing of things.
- Update the school
If there have been any changes to family circumstances over the holidays (eg: grief or loss, change in care arrangements, parental separation), please advise your class teacher so that they can monitor your child. All staff at Wondall Heights State School want to be sensitive to individual student circumstances and provide support where required.
- If you need help and support
If your child is struggling with the return to school, you are not alone. Please contact your class teacher and let us know your concerns.
Parents and carers also need to take care of themselves! There’s a reason why they say to fit your own oxygen mask before helping anyone else. Here are some support services for young people and parents:
- Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800;
- Parentline: 1300 30 1300
Fair Play Vouchers - How to apply
Warm regards
Sherrin Bell
Guidance Officer/Provisional Psychologist
IMPORTANT DATES FOR TERM 1
EVENT |
DATE |
| Year 3 Street Science Incursion | 22 Feb |
| Whole School Assembly (Recorded) | 28 Feb |
| Prep Incursion - Minibeasts (2 classes) | 1 March |
| Prep Incursion - Minibeasts (2 Classes) | 2 March |
School crossings around the school are provided to help children cross the road safely. When children use the crossing, please encourage them to observe the following:-
- The school-crossing supervisor will ask all pedestrians, both children and adults, to wait on the footpath behind the yellow line
- When a suitable gap appears in the traffic from both directions, the supervisor will extend the STOP sign to face the traffic and proceed to the centre of the road with the STOP sign displayed
- Watch for the School Crossing Supervisors instruction
- When the whistle is blown twice, it is safe to cross
- Walk across the crossing; please don’t run
- If they are on a scooter or skateboard, dismount before crossing
- Hold onto footballs, tennis balls and anything else that might cause a distraction while crossing
- When all pedestrians have cleared the crossing, the supervisor then returns to the footpath.
- ONE blast with hand raised towards pedestrians means STOP immediately
