School Newsletter - 19 November 2009

SCHOOL NEWS:

Electronic Whiteboards

Installation started this week of the electronic whiteboards in each of the schools 26 classrooms. It will take another couple of days before full installation will occur in all classrooms. This project is being funded under the National School Pride funding. The classrooms at Ashgrove were never designed for such technologies so in some classrooms it has required renovations to ensure that the whiteboards are at the front and centre of these rooms. While installation is occurring there will be some small disruption to the usual classroom procedure as children are not to be present in classrooms when work is occurring. When completed the electronic whiteboards will allow teachers to give futuristic interactive lessons using the resources of the web and will allow working out/information on the blackboard to be printed out and distributed.

Student Success

Congratulations to the girls year 7A touch football team and the girls year 5A touch football team who on Friday both won their respective District Touch Football grand finals. This is a great achievement as there are 26 schools in the Northwest District and touch football is the fastest growing girls sport. The year seven team had a very competitive game against Ferny Grove winning in extra time. The year five girls defeated Ferny Hills 5-0. The girls year 6A team qualified for the grand final however lost 2-0. Our senior girls softball team also won the District Premiership last week.

Congratulations to Izzy 7A successfully gained a place in QYO 2 (Queensland Youth Orchestra 2) as the youngest member of the cello section. The average of this orchestra is about 16 or 17.

Congratulations also to Jorgia 7A who is currently playing the lead role in the Fame Theatre Company production “Where in the World is Christmas.”

Storm Book

On Tuesday the school held a special parade where Kath Brown, the school chaplain, presented a book to the school which detailed some of the children and staff experiences in The Gap storm and the after effects. Kath also organised for the Salvation Army coffee van to attend and this was well received by parents and staff. Congratulations and thanks to Alex Summers who did a great job recounting his experiences to the whole parade.

Local Community

Last week the local community was shocked and saddened by the sudden death of Julieanne Coates who has owned and operated the Ashgrove Drapery for many years. Over that time Julieanne and her staff have worked in well with our school to clothe our children. I know in the time I have been at the school that both of the school uniform convenors have always enjoyed a great relationship with Julieanne and that staff and students were the ultimate beneficiaries of this.

Lost Property

There still remains a large amount of lost property left unclaimed in the lost property racks, which are situated at the bottom of the stairs at the western end of the main teaching building. If your child has lost any items of clothing during the year it would be a good idea to check this collection. Items left in the boxes by the middle of the last week of school that are not named will be given to a charitable organisation.

School Council

At the meeting of the School Council last week, two parents completed their term of office as School Council Members. I would like to thank Sally Williams and Gaylene Strimaitis for their contribution to the school over the last few years. Sally Williams has indicated that she will nominate for re-election.

The School Council is an important part of the school as it is responsible for establishing the strategic direction of the school. The school is now calling for interested parents who could represent the views of the parent body and assist the school to continue to move forward. If you are interested in nominating for the vacant position, nomination forms are available at the school office. Nominations close on Monday 7th December.

Pat Murphy - Principal

Student of the Week

Congratulations to the following students who were recently presented with their student of the week certificates at parade.

Cyber bullying

Parents are increasingly concerned about the effects of cyber bullying on children.

Cyber bullying can occur through emails, internet chat rooms, via instant message or mobile phone text messages.

It is important that parents talk to their children about the dangers of cyber bullying, however it is difficult to know where to start.

A new campaign, Cyber Bullying Affects Real Lives, aims to educate young internet users about the impact of cyber bullying and ways to prevent it happening to them and their friends.

The campaign is part of the Smart Online Safe Online (SOSO) initiative, an interactive and engaging website which encourages children to be smart and safe online.

There are many resources available on the SOSO website to raise awareness of cyber bullying and allow any cyber bullying to be reported.

The website includes a short YouTube video and a cyber bullying checklist.

There is also an interactive online game called Web Warriors where children from across the country take a stand against cyber bullying.
For more information visit the website www.soso.org.au.

Helen Lynch – Deputy Principal

Statements & Cash Collection

As we come closer to the end of the year and in order to finalize our accounts we would appreciate payment of all outstanding accounts.

If you have not received your statement and/or should you have any queries regarding your statement, please contact the school office.

Thank you in anticipation of your prompt attention to this matter.

Administration

Communify Food Drive

This term the student councillors have decided to do a Christmas hamper food drive for Communify. If you or your child would like to donate non-perishable food items there is a collection box in each classroom. Each item of food must have a use by date after 2010. This food will be given to people less fortunate than us to make their Christmas happier. All the non-perishable food must be brought in by the 2nd of December. Your donations will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you, Sarah, Mackenzie and Lachlan

BIG Music Concert – Tuesday 1st December

All students who have instrumental music lessons with Mr Sharp and Mr Hartog, as well as choir students, will be taking part in Ashgrove State School’s Music Concert.

When: Tuesday 1st December
Where: The Gap High School Hall
Time: Arrive 6.00pm for BBQ
Bring: Music & instruments
Warm-Up: Strings tune up 6.30pm in Hall
Concert band TBA
Dress: Full concert uniform. Performers without a music uniform will wear school uniform.

This is a free concert, however the Music Support Group uses this event to raise funds to further enhance the Music Program and ask for your support in various ways.

Contribute an item to the raffle box in the tuckshop by Friday 27th November
Help with set-up, serving, transport etc (volunteer roster sent home with all music students)
All families are asked to contribute a dessert item that may be sold with coffee during the BBQ

The music support group is asking for families in the instrumental music program to donate items to make up gift baskets to raffle at the concert. Donated items may be left at the music room or at the tuckshop.

All borrowed black band pants and black shoes should be returned to the JB Stephens Centre on Monday 7 December between 8:30 and 9:00am.

Rosemary Clark – Music Teacher

GRIPPS DVD’s

Could any families who purchased a DVD of GRIPPS 2009 please check that your copy is playing correctly. If you have any problems playing the DVD please contact Jason via email: jason@jtvvideo.com.au.

NORTH-WEST PREMIERS

Congratulations to the following teams who won their Grand Finals last Friday.

Year 7A Girls Touch Football Premiers
Year 5A Girls Touch Football Premiers
Senior Softball Team Premiers

SWIMMING CARNIVALS

Senior Swimming Carnival Years 4-7

Thursday 3rd December, 9.00am to 3.00pm.

Junior Swimming Carnival Years 1-3

Friday 4th December, 9.00am to 1.00pm.

HELPERS NEEDED

Helpers are needed for both swimming carnivals. If you can assist please leave your name at the school office with your contact phone number or email.

Prep H News

Young children’s ability to imagine, create, investigate, observe and wonder is truly amazing and this term it has been particularly evident as Prep H journeyed into space. In our space shuttle the astronauts flew our science professors into outer space so they could learn more about the wonders of the universe and create accurate records of their observations. Whilst space walking the astronauts needed to repair a satellite that was constantly falling apart and this led to a discussion/interest in wireless technology and sound waves. Using a variety of tools such as mobile phones and a DSi we have communicated with a variety of people in the school community including Mr Murphy and Mrs Lynch (who were invited via text message to read us their favourite books as part of an online reading challenge we are currently participating in). Thanks to Mrs Harvey and our 3H buddies, we also participated in a wide variety of sound experiments which further enhanced our knowledge and understandings.

These experiments, as well as our prior knowledge of “potion making” when we were wizards and witches, empowered us to become scientists and we set up a science library in the classroom. Using these books as a stimulus, the children began hypothesising, researching, experimenting and recording in a wide variety of scientific fields. Some of our experiments have included timing the melting of ice in different situations, pulleys, volcanoes, balance, gravity, magnets, colour and how plants absorb nutrients. Some experiments have taken on a life all of their own as they’ve challenged our skills and thinking e.g. creating a spiral out of a flat piece of paper led to everyone trying to create the longest single piece of paper from an A4 sheet. Our longest piece stretches almost the entire length of the shade cloth beside the classroom!!!

As with everything else that happens in Prep, literacy and numeracy has been embedded throughout this scientific journey as we’ve measured and recorded our research and documented our experiments. There is an old saying that with knowledge comes power and the children in Prep H are feeling very empowered, so all we can say is “Look Year1 - here we come” because the more we learn, the more we want to learn.

Lynda Hurst – Prep H Teacher

Ready! Set! Go!

And the race is on. Yesterday 6W and 6C participated in an amazing race around Brisbane in teams of 4 with a parent supervising. The year 6’s are currently studying transport and part of this was an excursion. We had to go to Toowong Shopping Centre, The Maritime museum, The Queensland Museum and Brisbane City Clock Tower using buses, trains and ferries. We had to plan our excursion and make a timetable for our own team without the adults. We were not allowed to run or of course jay walk and we had to have two 15 minute breaks. Everyone was required to have their own Go Card so that we had a record of which transport was used and how much it cost. At each destination there were up to 10 questions to be answered. To win your team needed to correctly answer all the questions and have obeyed all the rules. This excursion was a fun, exhilarating, nerve racking experience. Although it was a race it was also a wonderful sightseeing opportunity around the beautiful Brisbane River.

By Maxine 6W

P&C NEWS:

A reminder to parents that the weekly newsletter is available for viewing online by visiting our school website www.ashgrovess.eq.edu.au.

Edible Garden Cookbook

The Edible Garden Cookbook has come together beautifully and will be ready next week. Place your order now by filling in the Order Form included in this weeks newsletter or collect one from the tuckshop. The first 150 orders placed will receive a free Edible Garden calico bag.

Raspberry Ripple - Personalised Lunch Bags & Pencil Cases

A product brochure was sent home with students in the lower grades earlier this week. Mention Ashgrove State School if ordering this product and 10% of sales will be donated to the P&C. www.raspberryripple.com.au

COMMUNITY NEWS:

YMCA Ashgrove OSHC News

Important Messages from the Coordinator:

Christmas is just around the corner and the YMCA OSHC is in desperate need of a Christmas tree to decorate our room. If you have an old Christmas tree, or if you know of anyone who is looking to donate theirs, please let us know. Help us to make our room as festive as possible for the holiday season.

Theme This Week: Santa

AASC: Monday Cricket / Wednesday Soccer
Crazy Craft Tue & Fri: Santa’s Post Box & Chains
Thursday Cooking Class: Chocolate Brownies

The Gap Health & Racquet Club - Ashgrove SS Player of the Week: Mia V W

Mia showed excellent form with her forehand and backhand to become the classes “Butter Fingers” champion. Keep up the good work Mia.

ISCC Update – Finals Week

The finals of the ISCC are here…… And Ashgrove are currently in 2nd position overall behind Rainworth which means all the matches this week are very important to the overall score. On Sunday, the ORANGE team are into the Final against Rainworth to see who plays in the regional final against the Ferny Hills District and the RED team are playing off for 3rd or 4th place. Both matches start at 10.15am. The GREEN team unfortunately miss out on playing in the finals day as their opposition have forfeited again but well done to their team who finished 7th. Supporters are encouraged to come along and cheer for Ashgrove.

Bardon Community Carols 2009

Sunday 6th December – 5.00pm – 7.30pm
Sausage sizzle starts at 5.00pm.
Program starts at 5.45pm. Everyone Welcome
BYO rug or chair and your best singing voice.
www.carolsinthepark.org.au