Prep Hatching Butterflies- our Prep students have been learning about minibeasts.

COVID Normal – thank you for your continued support.

Calling Volunteers- do you have some time to help with school activities?

Bullying No Way! – Friday 18 March

Parent Teacher Interviews – 29^th March. We look forward to seeing you.

NAPLAN – 10 May – 13 May 2022 for Year 3 and Year 5

General Reminders

Stop, Drop and Go- please do not leave cars unattended between 8am-9am or 2:30pm-3:30pm.

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- 31 March for P-2 students. Thank you to the P & C for funding this.  

Active School Travel- First event, 18 March, see flyer below.

Prep - Hatching Butterflies

Over the past few weeks, Prep students have been lucky enough to observe butterflies hatching from their chrysalis. Monday was a very special day for students when they released the butterflies into our gardens.

COVID Normal

Thank you to our entire school community for working with us through this challenging start to the school year, including the unfortunate weather events last week.

From Monday 7 March, Wondall returned to ‘COVID normal’ operations with some restrictions remaining in place. Below are the key requirements for visitors, parents and carers. 

Visitors

• Visitors attending a school site to work or volunteer must be fully vaccinated.
• Visitors are kindly reminded not to visit a school if sick.
• All visitors must adhere to school visitor sign-in arrangements.

Parents and carers

• Parents and carers are welcome on school sites and are not required to be fully vaccinated. You may be asked to check in via the Check In Qld app.
• Parents or carers who are working or volunteering at a school site must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. This includes those volunteering for swimming, reading groups or general classroom support.

Adults are kindly reminded to maintain physical distancing at all times, especially at drop-off and pick-up time, in the car park, outside classrooms and at the school gate.

Calling Volunteers

We know that there are great benefits both for our students and volunteers when parents and caregivers are able to support our school activities, for example reading groups, in the tuckshop, on excursions or with swimming.

If you have some available time to support our school, we encourage you to contact your child’s teacher to let them know you are keen to support.

To volunteer the following process is required:

• All volunteers must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19
• Sign in at the office and show proof of vaccination for every session, every time you come to help.
• Younger pre-school aged children will not be able to attend with volunteers.
• Parents with students enrolled in our school do not require a blue card, but anyone else is required to have one (e.g.-grandparents).

Volunteers are also required to attend a mandatory training session, once in the year, outlining key messages for Working Ethically, Working Safely, Working Together and Protecting Information. These sessions are held once a month and are delivered by a member of Administration.

Bullying No Way!

On Friday, 18 March, families are encouraged to participate in our anti-bullying activities including our first Active School Travel walk from Lewis Place. Students may wear an orange t-shirt or accessory with their uniform as a sign of our commitment to ‘National Day against Bullying and Violence’. Staff will be discussing with students what bullying is, how they can prevent it and what to do if they are concerned.

The Bullying No Way! website has some great resources for families to support with discussions. Access the following link for support and advice. 

Bullying No Way!

Please ensure that clothing/items worn are sun safe and appropriate to be worn at school (no inappropriate language/pictures).

Parent Teacher Interviews

Interviews will be held on Tuesday, 29 March, from 3:30pm – 8:00pm in the Hall. Parents will need to check in upon arrival using the Qld Check In app. Entry to interviews will be via the foyer and exit via the opposite side (carpark side).  We ask that while waiting outside for your interview you maintain physical distancing and upon entry to the hall, you use the provided hand sanitiser.

There is no supervision provided for children.

Bookings will be via SOBS (our online booking system) from Tuesday, 15 March 6am and will close Sunday, 27 March at 6pm. SOBs can be accessed via the school’s website or the link below.  

SOBS Booking

NAPLAN Online

During Weeks 9 and 10 of this term, students in Years 3 & 5 will participate in a School Readiness Test (SRT) in preparation for NAPLAN in May. The SRT allows students the opportunity to use the platform and the school to identify any connection or device concerns.  This is a 'practise environment' only and not the real NAPLAN.

Wondall Heights State School NAPLAN 2022 Schedule

Active School Travel

Wondall Park’n’Stride is coming!

Friday 18 March – 8:15am – Lewis Place Park

Fridays at our school will never be the same. From next Friday, 18^th March we want everyone to think about how they travel to school as we launch Wondall Walkers and Wheelies as part of our Active School Travel program. We will be encouraging our community to actively travel to school on Fridays. Walk, cycle, scooter, car pool or catch public transport – the choice is yours! Active School Travel is one of the easiest ways to incorporate physical activity into everyday life for all children.

Wondall Walkers and Wheelies will begin on 18^th March with a Wondall Park’n’Stride. Our school community is invited to meet at Lewis Place Park at 8:15am and walk to school together to celebrate active school travel. Students, families and staff are all invited to participate in this event and wear orange to coincide with Anti-Bullying Day. Please see poster for details.

Active School Travel is one of the easiest ways to incorporate physical activity into everyday life for all children. Research shows only 23% of Australian children are active for the recommended minimum of one hour every day.

We know that everyone is different, so there are many ways you can actively travel to school.  How will you actively travel?

Walk

Leave the car at home and walk your kids to school.  If you live too far away, drive part of the way and walk the rest.  We call that ‘Park and Stride’.

Cycle

Ride with your children to school. It is legal to ride on the footpath and remember to always have your helmet secured.

Scooter

It’s fun to scooter to school. Just like cycling, stick to the footpath and remember your helmet.

Public Transport

Catching public transport is easy once you know how.  For bus, train and ferry timetables, visit www.translink.com.au

Car Pool

Find a friend and car pool to school. It is an easy way to save time in your day and money. Talk to other parents in your child’s class or at music and sport to see who is going your way.

So get started on 18^th March and remember that EVERY Friday is now Wondall Walkers and Wheelies Day.

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL)

Wondall Heights State School uses multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) as the foundation for our integrated approach to learning and behaviour. The levels of support refer to the support students receive, not to students themselves. Behaviour is taught to all our students, the same way we would teach other areas of the curriculum. If a student is demonstrating that they require more support through their behaviour actions, then the level of support they are provided with increases. The number of students requiring the different tiers of support does decrease as it moves to the top of the pyramid, with only 2 - 5% of students in a school typically requiring intensive support.

Tier 1 supports serve as the foundation for behaviour and academics. Schools provide these universal supports to all students. For most students, the core level of support gives them what they need to be successful.

Tier 2 support focuses on improving specific skill deficits students have. Schools often provide Tier 2 supports to groups of students with similar targeted needs. Providing support to a group of students provides more opportunities for practice and feedback while keeping the intervention maximally efficient. Tier 2 supports help students develop the skills they need to benefit from core level of support.

Tier 3 supports are the most intensive supports the school offers. These supports are the most resource intensive due to the individualised approach of developing and carrying out interventions. At this level, a full wrap around team of supports are provided for a student including teachers, Guidance Officer, external agencies and leadership team members.

Below is a visual display of Wondall’s behaviour data gathered from Week 3 to the end of Week 6 this year. In comparison to the chart above, students at Wondall are performing exceptionally well, with only 0.8% of students requiring intensive support.

PBL Focus Weeks 7 and 8 – Responsible

This fortnight students will:

• discuss taking responsibility for their actions,
• explore strategies for managing their own behaviours and reactions to others’ behaviours,
• learn that their actions not only impact themselves but also others and
• discuss that we all make mistakes and we are all responsible for the choices we make. It is ok to make mistakes. Mistakes help us to grow and learn.

 

Students in Prep to Year 2 will read the book, ‘But it’s not my fault by Julia Cook’ and students in Year 3 to Year 6 will watch a short clip called ‘Stop making excuses and own your actions’.

Senior Cross-Country Results

4^th Spartans 113        3^rd Vikings 122          2^nd Trojans 137        1^st Romans 231

Students who finished in top placings and had times quick enough to represent the school at district cross country will receive information about this in the coming weeks.

Interschool Sport

Forms should have come home in regards to Interschool Sport for 2022 school year. Students will start the first semester instalment of trainings on Friday March 18 (Week 8). Please note this form and payment is for both Semester 1 and 2 sport.

Brisbane Roar Active Program

On Wednesday, Brisbane Roar started the RAP program with students before school on our senior oval from 7:30AM. This is a user pays program. To join the program please register via www.roaractive.com.au.

There is a lot of sport occurring at our school in addition to the above-mentioned experiences such as:

• Class swimming for Years 1 – 6
• Training and Swim Carnival Wondall Road Challenge
• Tennis user pays program mornings (if interested enquire at office)
• Preps experiencing their first term of Health and Physical Education lessons.
• Class connection activities inside and outside the room.

Yours in sport,

Mr. Bloxsom

Guidance Corner with Miss Sherry

Fair Play Vouchers - How to apply

Fair Play Vouchers

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ATTENTION: 2022 Prep to Year 2

Date claimer: Thursday 31^st March, 2022

Bravehearts Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure Show in the school hall from 9am. 

Proudly sponsored by the Wondall Heights SS P&C

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.

WHEN: Wednesday 31 March.

COST: This is a FREE presentation, proudly funded by the Wondall Heights State School P&C, making the information accessible to all students.

WHAT IT IS ABOUT?

• Teaching children personal safety skills is an aim of the Bravehearts Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure Show.
• The Ditto show is 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.

WHAT YOUR CHILD WILL LEARN

The six principles of personal safety:

1. Differentiating ‘yes’ and ‘no’ feelings
2. Recognising the bodies ‘warning signs’
3. Identifying ‘private parts’ and ‘privacy’
4. Helping children identify language and feelings associated with secrets
5. Reinforcing that there is no secret that children cannot tell someone
6. What to do if you feel unsafe or unsure

Your child will learn these essential principals through songs such as ‘Run and Tell (someone you can trust)’ and ‘Private Parts (they belong to me)’. They will also learn ‘Ditto’s 3 Rules’, which are:

• We all have the right to feel safe with people.
• It’s ok to say NO if you feel unsafe or unsure.
• Nothing is so yucky that you can’t tell someone about it.

 

As part of the program, children are each given a Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure Activity Booklet to take home. We encourage you to look at the booklet with your child, using the activities to help cement the personal safety messages from the show.

PLEASE NOTE: Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure show and accompanying resources are NOT SEX EDUCATION. ‘Private parts’ are explained as being “our mouth” (as in kissing), “our chest”, “between the legs” and “our bottom”.

 

How you can learn more

Bravehearts is extremely proud of Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure program and believes by empowering children with personal safety skills and knowledge we are providing them with the tools to stay safe. However, just as teaching children road rules cannot guarantee our children’s safety on the roads, no program can ‘abuse-proof’ our children. Parents, grandparents, care-givers, teachers, and all adults must be vigilant and informed.

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.

Bravehearts personnel welcome parents and staff to browse their website for further information. If you DO NOT wish your child to participate in this FREE presentation which has been proudly sponsored by the Wondall Heights SS P&C, please advise your child's class teacher via email."

 

Sherrin Bell

Guidance Officer/Provisional Psychologist