2023 Term 1 Week 6
From the Principal's Desk
Welcome everyone to Week 6! This week has seen our school undergo an extensive review by Department of Education employees from across the state. While we await the explicit key findings and recommendations of their visit, the overall consensus was that Amamoor State School is a vibrant school that capitalises on expert and dedicated staff to deliver wonderful learning opportunities for students. I would personally like to thank everyone who contributed to the review and I look forward to helping to steer our fantastic school on its future journey.
You will find, later in the Newsletter, some pictures of recent installations at the school. As we continue to work hard to beautify our school, you will also notice as you walk past the Prep/1 and 2/3 classrooms, that our local resident artist, Ms Noo Dye, has nearly completed her first mural. We look forward to seeing many more around the school. Aside from the 'concrete art' pieces recently installed, we have recently ordered new signage to be placed around the school so as to make it easier for visitors to navigate when visiting for the first time. Large chess pieces have also been ordered as we look to build our budding 'chess champions' at Amamoor.
This week we have welcomed Mr Mark Whysall to Amamoor State School as our new school chaplain. Mark joins us with a wealth of experience in chaplaincy and student welfare support and we are lucky to have him with us. Chappy Mark is also a keen table tennis player, so don't be surprised to see him on the tables at school and encouraging new members to take up the sport! Chappy Mark is with us every Wednesday and each alternate Friday.
Our Year 6 students will begin their leadership journey next Monday, when they head off on Leadership Camp to Barambah Environmental Education Centre. These students will undertake various leadership tasks, as well as bush navigation and orienteering. Further to this, they will fine-tune their written applications and speeches, ready to deliver to the student body on return to Amamoor. Ms Broome will be accompanying the students on camp and we look forward to seeing them on their return.
With students busy with curriculum units, they have also been participating in After-School Cricket, football, Visual Arts, and a host of other activities. Naplan testing will commence shortly for students in Years 3 and 5, with students completing some familiarisation tests in the next week. These tests complement the summative testing that occurs at school and we welcome the opportunity to show just how well our students are performing.
Please be aware that all staff are particularly vigilant at pick up time and the carpark. While I continue to work with Council to ensure the carpark is a safe place, please ensure that you exit your vehicle and collect your child in person. There was another incident today that highlighted just how vulnerable little people are, and that we all need to display the highest levels of vigilance possible to ensure that no-one is ever injured at Amamoor State School.
This week we welcomed another new family to our community and we are glad to continue to see many new faces. The school also continues to make progress on our 'Kippa Ring' or Yarning Circle. This area will provide a special place for students to work in an 'outdoor' classroom and it is envisaged that the current site will be complemented by native gardens.
The 'Facilities' section of the Department recently visited and has assured the school that our replacement groundsman shed is not far off and that remedial works for the tennis court area will hopefully start soon.
To finish off, I would like to again extend my gratitude to the former executive members of the P&C. Your work and dedication to improving the facilities and opportunies for students of Amamoor does not go unnoticed. And to all of the volunteers who happily give up their spare time to raise money...thank you. I truly hope that many of our parents will step forward this year to help in the many fundraising activities that the P&C organise, which all comes back to supporting your children.
I look forward to seeing you around the school.
Kind regards,
Tony Benzie
Prep/1 Classroom
2/3 Class
4/5/6 Class
Around the library
Kitchen/Garden Programme
We did gardening, cooking, writing, drawing and lots of eating!!!
Visual Arts Programme
New Art work
If you hadn't noticed, some new art work has popped up on some of our concrete areas around the school. In the Undercover Area is our new chessboard, in front of Prep/1 is a new 'Alphabet Caterpillar' and behind the 2/3 and Prep/1 class, is a new 0 - 100 numbers board.
Students of the Week
Well done to Jimmy, Declan, Gabby, Evie, Leila and Maya!
District Football
Last Wednesday, a group of students from Amamoor State School travelled to Gympie to trial for the district football (soccer) team. Many students from across the region were in attendance, with a high standard required for selection. Congratulations to everyone from Amamoor who went along.
Everyone had a fun day at soccer today. The boys didn’t make the team, but it was a great experience.
Brady
It was fun and challenging.
Dan
There was heaps of different soccer activities. It’s was exciting and tricky.
Oscar
It was hard and fun at the same time.
Ari
It was good experience and I got a day off school.
Brock
I enjoyed going, it was hard and fun.
And special congratulations to Matilda who was chosen in the District Team!
Swimming
Students continue to access swimming lessons at Kandanga Pool. All are doing very well, with skills improving every lesson!
P&C News
First and foremost, a warm welcome back to the staff, students and community of Amamoor SS for the 2023 school year. It’s an exciting time to be a part of Amamoor SS with the school going from strength to strength under Tony Benzie’s leadership with the support of the wonderful staff who continue to go over and above in their commitment to providing quality education for our kids.
The P&C held its Annual General Meeting on Monday 27 February. I would like to thank Rachael Howard, who opted not to renominate as President for 2023. Rachael has led the P&C for the past two years and over this time has contributed an enormous amount of time and energy. Some highlights include the Centenary celebration of 2022, installation of the new soccer goals in 2023 and the significant provision and organisation of Year 6 graduation activities each year. Also leaving the executive is Shirley Robson as Treasurer. I’d like to thank her for her work behind the scenes, ensuring our books are in order and those in attendance at meetings have a clear indication of where we are financially as an entity. Executive members for 2023 include myself, Kate McNaught as Vice-President, Teshian Smith as Secretary, Amanda Tombs as Uniform Shop Coordinator and George Cottom as Tuckshop Coordinator.
Speaking of attendance, the AGM almost didn’t go ahead due to not meeting the required nine people. Three of these people were Amamoor SS staff, three were existing committee members and three parents. Furthermore, the P&C was very close to being put into caretaker mode, meaning no funding would have been possible for events like camps, instrumental music and leadership activities. From my perspective, after several years of being involved in the P&C, there seems to be a negative trend in terms of community involvement in the P&C’s meeting and fundraising activities. This puts significant pressure on the executive and our few ever-present volunteers to meet our commitments and thus provide the benefits we have all become accustomed to as parents of students at Amamoor SS.
I acknowledge that the P&C can improve its communication strategy so that parents can become more aware of upcoming opportunities and reduce the apprehension that surrounds being actively involved in fundraising events. The executive will address this as a matter of urgency. I would love to see the P&C return to times gone by where it had nearly 100% support of the Amamoor SS community and was a cornerstone of social interaction between parents, staff and the greater community. We remain a small rural community and thus should be able to turn to each other for support and recreation.
Budget wise, the P&C remains in good shape due to good stewardship. However, the draft budget for 2023 includes a number of fundraising activities that last year were not adequately supported. This year I will be proposing that fundraising activities that don’t have adequate volunteer support be cancelled and the corresponding subsidies not be provided. Primarily, this is to ensure the ongoing health and capacity of the P&C remains stable. But secondly, I want to encourage parents to become involved and if it requires a more explicit, linear approach to funding then I believe now is the time to initiate such an approach. If you disagree with this stance, I invite you to attend our monthly meetings where you will be given the opportunity to present your ideas and opinions.
The P&C needs support, just as over the years the P&C has supported the school and community. We the executive will continue to work hard to make 2023 a bright year for the students of Amamoor SS and look forward to seeing you all at the first monthly meeting of 2023, kicking off at 4:30pm on Tuesday 7 March at the school.
Sincerely,
Neil Gurnett
President
Amamoor P&C
Ph: 0410586749
Email: amamoorsspandc@outlook.com
P&C Facebook link - https://www.facebook.com/amamoorsspandc
THANK YOU RACHAEL for all of your hard work as President of the P&C over the last two years!
Chappy News
Community events and news
