Newsletter Term 4 Week 10
From the Principal's Desk
What an incredibly busy year it has been at Amamoor State School. Time seems to have flown by to see us already at the end of Term 4 and saying farewell to our 2021 Year 6 graduands! When I look back over the last few months, it is quite amazing how much we have packed into the calendar.
Term 2 saw us holding NAPLAN testing, Cross Country, the Mini Sports Day, Luther Heights excursion and establishment of the Student Council. Term 3 saw us commencing our Homework Centre, holding Parent/Teacher interviews, Science Excursions, Book Fair, Father's Day stall, Australia Zoo and 'Matilda' excursions, as well as the 4/5/6 camp at Noosa North Shore and the Colour Run. Term 4 hasn't slowed down either, with our Spelling programme commencing, three student teachers placed with us, swimming, Prep Open days, Silver Coin Challenge, Fire Truck visit, Digital Technology incursion, school concert and awards night, Year 6 transitions and Queensland Badminton visiting. On top of all this, we were busily preparing and celebrating the centenary of our school! Our last week has the Year 6 students off to Maroochydore for their 'Fun Day,' a Cyber Safety presentation, Graduation Dinner, Star Lab incursion and finally, our PBL 'Wheelie Day.' It cannot be said that the students of Amamoor are sitting idly in their chairs!
In amongst all of these activities, students have been busy learning and recently, undertaking their end of semester examinations. Teachers have finalised report cards and the school will print and send these home on Wednesday this week. Students have been advised not to open their reports prematurely, rather, to take them home to their parents, to read and celebrate their accomplishments together. It has been pleasing to note, whilst perusing the results, that student effort continues to improve in line with behaviour and academic success. If you would also like your child's report to be sent electonically, please contact the school office.
As we move into the summer holiday period, I would like to request that everyone keeps an eye out over our school and grounds, as it is often the time when mischief occurs. If you should notice anything suspicious, please call School Watch on 131788.
As for 2022, student numbers at Amamoor State School remain fairly stable, with three classes again set for next year, with no changes of staff. That is to say, Mrs Meredith will be on Prep/1, Mrs Hughes on 2/3 and Ms Broome on the 4/5/6 class. Supporting the teachers will be Mrs Alford, Mrs Story and Mr Cottom, while we welcome Mrs Hanna Robinson as our Playgroup convenor. Mrs Robinson has already commenced her transition and I am sure she will do an outstanding job. A huge thank you must be given to Mrs Story for doing an incredible job this year on Playgroup! Our specialist teachers will continue into next year, with perhaps PE shifting to a different day. Thankfully though, we have been able to retain the services of Mr Boyd, Miss Rose and Mrs Smith.
Our Homework Centre will continue with the same times available for 2022. A note will be sent to parents in Week 1 next term to book places and times. Although Term 1 begins on Monday, 24 January, the school office will be open the week prior (17 Jan) for parents to purchase uniforms, etc. During the week prior to school commencing, staff will be completing professional development obligations and therefore, difficult to contact. If you should need to talk to your child's teacher, please call the school office to make a suitable time.
With constant updates to public health announcements around the Covid-19 pandemic, I would like to encourage you to remain abreast of these communications during the summer period via the Queensland Government's Health Website. For further information see... https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19. Commencing 23 January 2022, all school staff and visiting workers must be fully vaccinated, however, students may attend school, regardless of their vaccination status. The requirement to be fully vaccinated does not apply to parents or visitors.
As mentioned previously, we would love to welcome new enrolments to our school. If you should hear of anyone moving to the area and thinking about which school to send their child, please do not hesitate to recommend our lovely school. As for our departing students, we wish you all the very best in your new endeavours!
A special thank you must also be extended to the Anthem Church at Maroochydore. This kind organisation has donated fruit to our school every week for our Brekky Club and Homework Centre kids. It has also kindly donated some Christmas 'Hampers of Hope' for some Amamoor families to enjoy during the festive season. We are very grateful indeed for this donation of time and goods.
Finally, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the broader school community for welcoming me this year to Amamoor. To all of the wonderful staff, thank you for your professionalism and genuine care you show every day. The students of Amamoor are indeed very fortunate to have such a dedicated staff nurturing them. Thank you also to the efforts of the P&C and your ongoing support for our school...your volunteered time does not go unnoticed and is appreciated by all.
There is a lot still to read in this newsletter so I will sign off! I wish you and your family a safe and merry Christmas period and look forward to welcoming all of our lovely students back to school next year.
Kind regards,
Tony Benzie
Prep/1 Class
2/3 Class
4/5/6 Class
"The Year 6 Graduates have been fundraising throughout the year through ice-block sales and the Silver Coin Challenge to fund the traditional Year 6 Fun Day Out. This year they met and surpassed their goal and were able to plan an action-packed trip to Sunshine Plaza with no cost to the students. The day started off with the Next Level high ropes course, with students having an opportunity to tackle 23 obstacles some 12m above the ground and zipline across the creek twice! After the adrenaline and exertion of the high ropes, it was off to the movies to see 'Back to the Outback' in air-conditioned comfort. Followed by delicious burgers or chicken strips at Betty's Burgers, and a trip to the Time Zone arcade to play video games. They rounded the day off with gelatos in sprinkle cones before seven tired, but very satisfied Year 6 students returned to school.Thank you to Chappy Caitlin and our P&C President Rachael Howard for helping coordinate fundraising, organising the passes, transporting and accompanying the students. Rachael even completed the high ropes course to make sure we had enough adults to allow all students to attempt the course under supervision!Miss Broome"
Library News
Students of the Week
Congratulations to our Week 9 winners...
Eve Parker, Jaxon Pitura and Jake Blunsum (absent)
Playgroup Happenings
Chappy's Corner
Hi everyone,
I can’t believe that we are almost finished 2021! It feels like we just started the year, and now it’s almost over. It was so lovely to see our students enjoying themselves at the Christmas Concert, and lovely to see so many parents attending.
As we head towards the holidays, it is important to remember to be safe online. This applies to both students and adults, as we spend more and more time in the digital realm. There are some amazing resources out there for parents and students such as safety: https://www.esafety.gov.au/, Think you know: http://thinkuknow.org.au/, and one school who has collated a database full of different websites and games to teach children about staying safe online: https://www.patterson-lakes-ps.vic.edu.au/page/175/Cyber-safety. Please take the time to look at these resources and talk with your children about how they can be safe online, and how they can look after their friends and others in the digital world.
I hope that you all have a wonderful week, and if I don’t see you before the end of the year, have a Merry Christmas and a safe and wonderful holiday.
See you in 2022!
Chappy Caitlin
UNIFORM ORDERS
P&C Update
As we draw to the close of another school year, I have to say Thank You to all the parents and grandparents that have given up their time and helped at one or more of our various events throughout the year. The students have benefitted from this help and fundraising efforts by having Street Science come to the school, a fully paid excursion to Australia Zoo for the Prep – Year 3 students, assisting with payment for Years 4-6 to go to camp, celebrating 100 years of the school, a book for every student, celebrating our Year 6’s graduating, and a family fun afternoon for the start of next year. Being able to give the students these opportunities is why we put in our time and fundraising efforts.
Next year is looking to be yet another great year full of opportunities for the students and planning to raise funds to be able to provide these opportunities is already underway. Thursday afternoon we had a planning session of what fundraisers we would be looking to have and when. It was a great turnout, and many great ideas were put out there, thank you for those who attended and those who couldn’t make it but still put their ideas forward.
I would like to say thank you again to everyone for all your help and assistance throughout the year and hope you all have a great holiday period and enjoy your time with family and friends during this festive season. Relax, enjoy, and recharge for another year of who knows what.
Stay safe and see you in the new year
Rachael.
P&C Committee
President Vice President Secretary
Rachael Howard Diane Cleary Position Vacant
0409833500 0468494029
Treasurer Uniform Co-Ordinator Tuckshop Co-Ordinator
Shirley Robson Caitlin Harch (Chappy) George Cottom
0427631651 0415822599 0423565133