CURRENT YEAR 6 STUDENTS TRANSITION TO YEAR 7 AND HIGH SCHOOL IN 2016
Parents of our Year 6 students will have made or almost made, the important decision about which high school their child will attend in 2016. Next year will be the first year that Year 6 will transition to high school alone following the milestone event in 2015 when al- most 100,000 Year 6 and 7 students entered high schools across Queensland. If you have not yet decided on your choice of high school, there are some tips below which might help you when thinking about options for your child. The following things will give you an idea of what to ask about when visiting high schools:
ask about the Junior Secondary model, academic program and student wellbeing support systems being offered by your local high school
speak to the school directly or attend parent information events prior to enrolling your child to ensure you are comfortable with the academic program offered by your chosen high school and that it suits your child’s specific needs
when talking to your child about high school, be enthusiastic and talk positively about the upcoming transition
high school will have a wealth of new experiences for your child to enjoy, take time to listen to any concerns or worries and reinforce the positive aspects your child is looking forward to.
Our local high schools have reported that they have not received the number of enrol- ment forms expected and that many of the students planning to attend these local high schools have not completed enrolment forms. So that the high schools can adequately staff and resource for Year 7 students in 2016, it is important that they are able to obtain accurate predictions of numbers. Please ensure you complete enrolment forms for your Year 6 child as soon as possible.
We are confident that all of our students will experience a smooth and successful transi- tion to high school. If you would like more information on junior secondary models and transitioning to Year 7 in high school, you can also visit: www.flyingstart.qld.gov.au You can always feel free to talk to your child’s current teacher or me if you have any DATE CLAIMERS
Wed 12 Aug
P&C Meeting 3:15pm Wed 12 Aug
Nambour District Athletics Carnival Wed 12 Aug
Yr 6 Transition Day at M’Dore SHS 12-14 Aug
Yr 5 Mapleton Camp Wed 19 Aug
Walk to School Day Fri 21 Aug
Yrs 5&6 Interschool Sports Skills Day Sat 22 Aug
EARTHQUAKE INFORMATION
While we did not feel any effects at school, some earthquakes and tremors have been reported across the last few days in our local area. It is timely to assure parents that we are vigilant about the safety of our students (your chil- dren) and will enact our Emergency Management Plan if necessary. We have department information sheets in re- gard to Earthquake and Tsunami in the office for your perusal.
SCHOOL OPINION SURVEY 2015
Thank you to all the parents/caregivers, students and school staff who completed this year’s School Opinion Survey.
We look forward to reviewing our survey results when we receive our school report later this year.
AUGUST P & C MEETING
Come along to our next P & C meeting, next Wednesday (12 August) at 3:15pm in the Hall Meeting Room. We really value your thoughts and ideas.
COMMUNITY CUPPA
I am looking forward to meeting with parents for an informal chat and cuppa again this Friday 7 August at 9:00 am in the Hall Meeting Room. This week, the focus will be to hear your thoughts on our Responsible Behaviour Plan for Students which outlines our processes for ensuring students are enabled to make positive behaviour choices so we maintain a safe, supportive learning environment. We are currently reviewing our processes and would love to hear your feedback and ideas.
SAFETY ALERT
Can parents please be aware that there is a pedestrian crossing in our school carpark. We have had reports of cars not stopping to allow the children to cross at this crossing.
PREP 2016 OPEN MORNINGS
Don’t forget to come and join one of our Prep Teachers on a guided tour of our school giving your child a look at the Prep to Year 7 Classrooms, Prep Playground, Resource Centre, Tuckshop and the School Hall.
Thursday 27th August Thursday 3rd September Thursday 10th September Thursday 17th September
Please meet outside the school office from 9:15am. Tours should conclude by 9:45am.
Don’t forget Prep 2016 Enrolment forms are now available from the office.
Have a great week,
KYLIE SMITH, PRINCIPAL
HAVE YOU RETURNED THE PHOTO CONSENT FORM FOR THE SCHOOL’S FACEBOOK PAGE?
THESE FORMS NEED TO BE RETURNED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
YEAR 3 AND 5 STUDENT NAPLAN INDIVIDUAL REPORTS TO BE SENT HOME TODAY
Queensland's 2015 NAPLAN results have been released this week as part of the Australian Curriculum and Reporting Authority (ACRA)'s national NAPLAN summary report
State-wide results this year show that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 have recorded some of the best results for Queensland since NAPLAN testing began.
Class teachers have already started analysing the individual student and class results with the support of our Head of Curriculum Mrs Jodie Findlay. We use these results to make comparisons to our classroom diagnostic and A-E data. This helps us to identify areas of strength as well as areas of underperformance and to collaboratively develop action plans to support each and every student to achieve the highest possible educational outcomes.
If you have a student in Year 3 or 5 who sat the NAPLAN test this year you will receive your child’s report today. Please take the time to discuss this with your child. Please remember that NAPLAN is a point-in-time test and does not provide a complete picture of your child’s ability or potential. This is just one part of the overall picture providing us with additional information about student achievement and the effectiveness of our teaching and learning programs.
If you would like to discuss your child’s NAPLAN report please make an appointment with your child’s class teacher and our Head of Curriculum.
CONGRATULATIONS TO MRS DORIS DENNING—RECIPIENT OF THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION OF VOLUNTEERS
Fairfax MP Clive Palmer has awarded Pacific Paradise Parent and P&C Vice President Do- ris Denning, the Australian Government Certificate of Appreciation for Volunteers.
Doris has been an active volunteer in all aspects of school life for the past 7 years. She contributes her time to many fundraising events such as our discos, car boot sales and spe- cial fund raising events to support our Air-Conditioned Classrooms project.
As a highly valued member of our school community, Doris is passionate about helping needy families. She willingly gives her time to assist in classrooms and has been employed as a teacher-aide this year to work with students for whom English is an Additional lan- guage.
Schools really depend on the support of our volunteer workforce and we are extremely grateful to all of our highly valued and much-appreciated volunteers.
Congratulations Doris and to all of our hardworking volunteers; we appreciate your work and your commitment to our school.
Deputy Principal Report
RULE OF THE WEEK’S WINNERS
This week’s Rule of the Week’s Winners were:
Tom M 1P for being friendly and respectful
Amity M PMD for being a neat worker, following instructions, good listening and speaking well to others Zayden H 2SH for great behaviour in class
Amarlie W 4S for helping others
Zoe S 3JM for being trying hard, neat worker, staying on task, working quietly, good listening and good participation Josie B 5M for good group work, staying on task and speaking well to others
Gaynor Williams Deputy Principal
RESOURCE NEWS
Children’s Book Week in Australia will be held from Saturday 22 August - Friday 28 August, 2015.
With 2015 being declared the International Year of Light by the UN, how fitting it is that our Chil- dren’s Book Week theme is “Books light up our world.”
“Books truly light up our world in so many different ways. They shed light into dark places by bring- ing education to those who want it. Books bring the world to life for us, enabling us to travel to dis- tant lands without leaving our homes and even venture into space or fantasy worlds. They empow- er us, entertain us, educate us and bring us closer to others. Books help us to grow as human be- ings.” (Susan Stephenson)
A Huge Thank You to for your support during the Book Fair in Term 2.The school earned a total of
$1228.50 in commission from the fair. We kept $405.00 in books and a cash commission of $823.50 which is going towards the air-conditioning fund of the P&C.
Recently we have purchased some new guided readers. If you have any spare time to cover them please see my- self or Sonja.
Sue Tyson Teacher-Librarian
DANCE GROUP STARTING UP!
Senior Dance group – Tuesday 8am in the hall (starting 11th August) Junior Dance group- Thursday 8am in the hall ( starting 13th August)
CURRICULUM NEWS
Australian Maths Competition 2015
Last Thursday and Friday Pacific Paradise students from Years 4-6 had the opportunity to enter in the an- nual Australian Mathematics Competition. Participation in the Australian Maths Competition was not manda- tory however many students with an interest or aptitude in maths took part. Many of the problems were set in situations to which the students could relate, showing the relevance of mathematics in their everyday lives. The Competition is administered by the non-profit Australian Mathematics Trust. The benefits to the students that entered are:-
All students will receive a detailed report showing how they went on each problem, with comparisons as to wider statistics.
They will receive a certificate or award that matches with their performance.
The competition is designed to be enjoyable, even for those students who might not have performed as well as they may have hoped.
Competitions can inspire a greater interest in the subject and a love of learning.
Students were given an opportunity to participate in a large event attempting the same problems as stu- dents in other schools and other countries.
Well done to every student that competed in the Australian Maths Competition!
JODIE FINDLAY,
HEAD OF CURRICULUM
STUDENT AWARDS for 03 & 05 August 2015
PF Kobi always does his best work. Great learning, Kobi!Asha is working hard to maintain her learning body. Good work!
PT Chase G for working hard to learn his sight words. Keep up the hard work, Chase!
Hunter H for becoming a more confident speaker who is keen to share his ideas with others.
PVM Tara W has learnt to read the first 100 sight words and is now learning to spell them.
Ruby M for writing a detailed recount of what she did on the weekend.
PMD Summah E is working independently and always trying to do her BEST work. WOW!
Alex M is trying hard to write his letters the correct way when handwriting. AWESOME!
1TW Sienna H for being focused and improving your stamina during writing. Keep up the great work Sienna!
Blake H for being a great contributor during Science lessons. Great work Blake!
1TU Pania M for trying her very best to write a retell which included interesting adjectives and adverbs. Well done Pania.
Dante P for improved attitude towards his work and learning. Well done Dante!
1/2C Sam C wrote an accurate and entertaining retell of ‘Waltzing Matilda’. Great work, Sam.
Lucy C is showing a wonderful attitude to all of her classroom activities. I love reading her writing!
2AH Nate B for showing an improvement in your home tasks. Your reading fluency is incredible!
Tania C for writing informative sentences Your scientific words are wonderful!
2SH Hunter D for fantastic improvement with class participation. You have lots to offer in reading groups.
Marni B for being a great role model and producing quality work every day.
3JM Lewis O for adding detail to his writing. Lewis listens to teacher advice and applies it to his writing.
Louise B for always being a respectful listener. Louise listens to advice and tries her best.
3O Sam S for being helpful, looking after our classroom and trying his best at all times. Well done Sam!
3SM Carsen T for always giving her best effort and showing excellent behaviour at all times.
Bailee P for an enthusiastic approach to her work and excellent behaviour! Well done!
4F Coby M for consistently solving higher order thinking puzzles. You are a ‘Daily Challenge Champion’. Well done Coby!
Mia S for always working to the best of her ability. You are such a positive and friendly class member Mia!
4K Kieran S has worked marvelously at all tasks this week. His homework has been done wonderfully and he has made great im- provements in Maths!
Sophia C has worked superbly in class this week. She has been focussed and hard working, producing fabulous work!
4M Linh H for working enthusiastically in all class activities. Also great recall of your basic facts Linh!
5G Jaz A for displaying much improved work habits in class activities, and always involved in class discussions. Great work Jaz!
Anthony W for excellent work habits during all class activities and has been working on his Financial Plan activities.
5M Josie B for consistently working well in all areas and being a great , cooperative member of her tribe. Great job Josie!
Phoenix H has much improved behavior and work habits in class. Keep up the great work Phoenix!
5/6B Jared O for a great effort this week in ‘Discussion Time’. Great attitude!
Dylan W for a good effort this week Dylan. Great peer tutoring!
6C Ethan F for making great progress and staying on task this term. I am seeing great results from you. Especially in Maths!
Jasmyn R for showing great enthusiasm in Maths. You have worked exceptionally well on your expanded algorithms.
6G Taryn S for being a helpful class member and a great example to others, as voted by her classmates.
Zavier T for trying hard, working consistently and staying on task, as voted by his classmates.
P&C NEWS
Well our Walk a thon was a huge success. Big thank you to Mr Franklin for organis- ing such a great day. I would also like to thank our Teachers, Teachers Aides, the wonderful Grade 6 helpers, my P & C Team and also Donna and Sally who helped out in the morning. Can't forget all our wonderful students who participated, they all did a fantastic job. Great to also see parents joining in with the kids, I think we all enjoyed the day. All sponsorship money needs to be collected and handed in by Fri- day 21st August. Hoping we will raise a good amount to go towards our aircondition- ing.
Well next fundraiser is a Pie Drive - yum. Order forms will be sent home next week. Please ask your neighbours and relatives if they would like to order some as well. Money and orders are due back on 26 August and delivery will be Wednesday 9th September at the Hall from 2.30.
Our next P & C meeting will be next Wednesday 13th August at 3.15pm in the hall meeting room. Come along and join us, we would love to see some new faces.
Regards Carmen Larkin P & C President
CRAFT NEWS
Our August get togethers are as follows:
Friday 7th, Friday 21st and Friday 28th from 9:30am—11:30am.
Please phone Annette on 5448 8281 or 0405 630 205 for more information!
Our Father’s Day Stalls will be held on Wednesday 2nd and Friday 4th September before school and at the morning tea break.
Kids, start saving now for that special gift for Dad or Grandad. We will also be raf- fling a couple of great prizes—tickets will be 50c each.
WE URGENTLY REQUIRE:
Dark coloured face washers (for men) Rolls of wrapping paper suitable for men
PLEASE LEAVE AT THE OFFICE MARKED ‘CRAFT’.
Many thanks to those who have already donated washers and gift wrap.
Many thanks, Annette Steele for the Craft Team
UNIFORM SHOP NEWS
We are in need of more secondhand school polo shirts/sports shirts to sell. They must be in good condition with all buttons, no cuts or rips etc. We can sell them for you (your BSB, Account Number and Account Name is required) or you can donate them and all money raised will help the P&C to cool our school! Please see Annette at the shop.
We are open Mondays 8:15am—9:15am and Thursdays 2:30pm—3:30pm.
Phone 5448 8281 or 0405 630 205 with any queries.
Annette Steele, Uniform Convenor
