2024 Term 1 Week 4
Principal Report
Welcome to the second edition of our school newsletter for 2024! All classes are now well and truly busy with all of their curriculum work, and our extra-curricular activities also underway. All parents should have received an outline of what students are focusing on in each class earlier in the term when teachers sent home their Term Overviews. If you did not receive on, please get in touch with your child's teacher.
I have recently been approached by a couple of parents regarding before-school arrival time for students. Although our school policy states that school supervision officially commences at 8:30am daily, if you need to drop off your child just prior to this, please ensure that they proceed to the undercover area directly outside the Library and sit quietly at the picnic tables provided. As soon as the Library is open, students will be welcomed inside. This is generally between 8:15 and 8:2oam.
Thank you to all of our parents for ensuring that students are arriving each day, on time, and in full school uniform. If your child has long hair, please ensure that their hair is tied appropriately, If wearing long socks, please remind them to have them lowered! Thank you in advance.
Today we have had our new cold water drinking fountain installed. A big THANK YOU must again be extended to the McKeon family for making this possible.
Our school swimming programme continues to run every Friday at the Deep Blue Aquatic Centre, Southside, Gympie. This excellent programme has qualified Auswim instructors supervising our students, who have been placed into small groups based on ability. Thank you to all our parents for supporting this important life skill. We have already pencilled in Surf Skills for Term 4 at the Noosa Main Beach.
In Week 6, our Year 6 students will be heading off to our annual Leadership Camp at Barambah Environmental Education Centre. During this time, our budding leaders will be focusing on leadership qualities, as well as enjoying mountain-biking, orienteering, low ropes and more!
During the summer holidays, our kitchen / garden beds enjoyed the rain and sunshine and quickly became overgrown. While Dave and George have been trying to keep up the weeding, we appreciated the short-notice working bee organised by a few P&C members to help out. Adding a few extra hands, our Year 5/6 students have organised themselves into groups to also help out each week.
Finally, the NAPLAN assessment period is rapidly approaching. This nation-wide testing will be conducted for students in Years 3 and 5 from 13 - 19 March. Testing will be done in the areas of Reading, Writing, Language Conventions and Numeracy. If your child will be away during this period, please advise the school office.
I look forward to seeing you around the school.
Regards,
Tony Benzie
From the Office
Student absentee/Late Arrivals/Early Pick Up Procedure:
Please remember to call the school on 0754011333 or email at admin@amamoorss.eq.edu.au early in the morning if your child is going to be away or late for school so your child's absence can be recorded correctly.
If your child is absent from school without explanation you will receive a SMS text message that morning to your mobile phone asking to explain their absence. Please reply with a simple SMS answer.
If your child arrives late in the morning please let the office know to avoid a SMS text message. Please let office know if collecting early so your child is signed out for the day.
Payments:
School Payments can be made by the QKR app, BPoint, Eftpos and correct Cash. If you would like to go on a payment plan, Please see Amanda in the Office.
Uniforms:
If you are requiring uniforms please place an order on the QKR app or alternatively pop into the office.
Playgroup and Prep
Today children investigated nature together...
1/2 Class
We have been reading lots of narratives and examining the structure of them. We have identified the beginning, middle and end events of the stories. We have also been looking at the problem and resolution. The children have been examining the setting and characters in the narratives as well. This week we have been focussing on character description and have brainstormed some excellent adjectives to describe “Pig the Pug” and “Trevor”. We have included these adjectives on our Learning Wall which is a work in progress!
The students have written some interesting sentences about the above characters.
If you have any queries about what we are doing in the classroom, please do not hesitate to see me in the mornings, from 8.45 onwards, or via email: smere3@eq.edu.au
Kind Regards,
Sally
3/4 Class
This week in Literacy Groups, we have been working on writing persuasive texts. On Wednesday, the chairs were found outside, and the group had to write a convincing argument to have the chairs returned.
Our chairs are outside! Don’t you think we need our chairs? What are we supposed to sit on? We need our chairs back so we can focus on our work, and also so we can work neatly.
We need to focus on our work. When we stand, we are too tall for the desk. Some of us jump up and down and distract others. This is NOT good!
Standing up stops us from working neatly. We’re too tall and have to lean all over our desks. If we kneel we’re too short. Sitting in a chair is the best way for us to do neat work.
It is extremely important that we get our chairs back! It will definitely help us focus and do neat work. Give us our chairs back! Please???
Written with the help of Year 3, Ari and Jett W
5/6 Class
Our writing focus this term is on the Narrative genre. We are looking closely at character development, the use of different language features and author's intent. Below are a couple of 'snippets' from our Year 6 students...
Following tracks
Hope and Jonsey are detectives who plan on taking down a gang of people called ‘the society.’ There are five bosses in total... Hope’s plans are to help them realise that money and power aren’t the only thing to life, but Jonsey, on the other hand, wants to take them down by sneaking into their lairs and finding out their evil plans. The only problem is that Hope's sister is a part of this gang and she doesn’t want to hurt her. She wants to help her realise that she is doing wrong and putting people in danger.
By Kirra Fleming
Blood Trail
I was sitting on the small, comfortable couch in my small New York apartment, with my dog curled up next to me. My dogs ear’s suddenly stand straight up, she opens her eyes and starts sniffing around the bathroom door. Standing up, I go to investigate what she is doing. Suddenly I step in something cold, lifting my foot to reveal a trail of blood leading into my bathroom, I gasp softly. Trying to stay quiet just in case. I reach for the handle and carefully turn it slowly. Inside was a hooded figure, they slowly turned around to face the doorway. I flick the light on and see a mask over their face in the shape of a clown.
Taken aback by the sight of this person in my home, I retreat and back away slowly in my kitchen to grab the closest object. Thousands on thoughts run through my head, my breathe quickens. The closest object is a book, taking the book in my clutch as I pass by the shelf. My back hits the kitchen cupboard door, I slide down into a crouch and use the book as a shield. Whats going to happen next? Am I in danger?
By Maddie Anderson
Monster Hunting
One misty morning, my friends Missy, Lucy and Tom woke up to a strange CREAK. It was coming from inside the wall. We listened carefully for a minute or two. Suddenly, from the kitchen, came a CRASH followed by a high pitch scream. I ran into the kitchen and see a trail of blood leading to the basement door. I call my friends in and they each bring a flash light to guide us down. Whilst walking down the creaky staircase I knew who screamed: it couldn’t have been anyone other than my mum. I guess I should just hope for the best.
At the bottom of the staircase we slip on some gross green slime then I just get more terrified and we turn around then start to run back upstairs but when we get to the top, I turn around to notice that Missy and Lucy are gone it is just Tom and I.
we run outside and look through the basement window to find a whole monster lab with Lucy, Missy and my mum chained up, “we have to save them,” said Tom confidently. So, we went back downstairs and Tom distracted the monster while I unchained them and one at a time they went upstairs while Tom and I captured the monster then we brought the monster to the police station. But now whenever we come across another strange animal or thing, we will be ready to spring into action.
By Xanthe King
Our Year 5 students have been preparing for our next PBL focus...Being a Problem Solver!
Following on from some excellent discussions around the subject, they came up with the following ideas that might help other students:
- A problem-solver is a person who doesn't worry and tries to work through problems. For example, if you don't know an answer to a question, don't cry and give up, just try your hardest. Jaylah
- If someone is annoying you, problem solve. Tell them stop. If they keep annoying, walk away and tell a teacher. Oscar
- If you need some equipment and it is locked away. Problem-solve. Either ask for the key or ask if it can be opened. Ari
- If your pencil breaks, don't just sit there and do nothing, go and sharpen it! Indy
- Problem-solvers are people who eliminate problems and make things better afterwards. Roisin
- If you find an error in your work, just get on with it and when you have finished, ask a teacher or a Buddy to help! Veronica
- If you have missed some of your work because you have been away, ask a friend if you can borrow theirs to catch up! Matilda
Next Fornights PBL Focus
5/6 Science
In science, Year 5/6 are exploring Matter and in particular the properties and behaviours of gases. We are working through some experiments to determine if gases have mass, if they can be compressed and about the volume or space they occupy. Ask your child what they have noticied so far. We are leading up to designing our own experiments using the scientific method.
Library
Student of the Week
Congratulations to our Week 2 Student of the Week achievers.
Term 1 Swimming
Term 1 Amamoor School commenced swimming at Deep Blue Aquatic Centre, Southside Gympie.
Kitchen/Garden Programme
In the Garden
The students weeding the gardens. They found lots of carrots to taste.
PE with Mr Boyd
The 5/6 class have been learning about cyberbullying with Mr Boyd. They have been escpecially focusing on being safe on-line.
5/6 Internet safety activities
Ball Skills
Friday morning Rotations
On Friday mornings, students partipate in a variety of activities on rotation. These include Choir with Mrs Wilson, Sport with Mrs Alford and Kitchen/Garden with George.
Chappy Chat
The Year 5's are participating in a Gratitude Project. Looking at ways to be grateful everyday.
P&C News
The P&C is back for 2024 after an amazingly successful 2023. We are looking forward to celebrating and sharing the efforts of the P&C at our Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday the 6th of March, starting at 3:30pm. The AGM is an important event. Not only is a report provided that summarizes the P&C’s standing (strategically and financially), but it is also an opportunity to swear in a new executive committee. The AGM requires a minimum of seven people in attendance to form a quorum, so please express your support for the P&C by attending the meeting and welcoming in the elected committee. A reminder that failure to form an Executive Committee will see assets held by the P&C frozen until such a time as one can be established, as per our constitution.
In other news, there are a number of cool events quickly approaching us. We would love to have your support for the following events/fundraisers:
- Welcome Family Disco – Wednesday 21st Feb, straight after school
- Easter Egg Chocolate Drive – Thursday 29th Feb, boxes available for pickup
- Local Election Bake Sale – Saturday 16th March
- Bunnings Sausage Sizzle – Saturday 23rd March
- Kandanga Pub Raffle – dates to be confirmed
At our most recent meeting on 7th February, it was a pleasure to once again see the supportive, smiling faces of the P&C members. It’s not often you get to be part of a group that is so energetic, committed and friendly. It is with a smile on my face that I personally will be stepping down at the AGM, as the last of my two children have graduated. Our family is very grateful for the foundation Amamoor SS has provided our kids and it's a testament to the staff how well Amamoor graduates transition into high school. My hope is that this year the P&C will continue to grow and that the funds that we have worked so hard to raise will benefit our kids by providing enriching experiences and acquire valuable equipment to enhance their development.
See you at the AGM!
Neil Gurnett
President
Waves Of Kindness
Amamoor State School would like to Thank Waves Of Kindness for assisting our schooling community. Assisting families through very kind donations.
Waves of Kindness located at Noosaville,is a not for profit charity that provides clothing, household items, furniture, toys and financial assistance to individuals and families in need.