Our Vision: An Excellent School Where Students Achieve Their Potential

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Final ‘Paper’ Edition: Buzz Newsletter goes digital countdown begins! This edition of the ‘Brassall Buzz’ will mark the final hard copy publication as we transition all parents accessing our school newsletter either via our School Website, using the QSchool App or via Email. The 7 May edition of ‘The Brassall

Buzz’ will mark our move to a digital form of the newsletter. Parents still have the opportunity to receive a direct email link to the fortnightly edition – via Email. If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity, simply notify the office of your email address which will be added to the register and from Thursday, 7 May those who have joined will receive an email prompt with a direct link to the school’s website that houses ‘The Brassall Buzz’.

For those families who choose not to opt in for this arrangement, you will still be able to log on to the Brassall website and follow the appropriate link to locate your latest edition.

For parents who got involved in the QSchools App promo, you will also be able to access the newsletter via the App. Congratulations to Rebekah S, on winning the QSchools hamper.

By moving to this medium we are hoping that families feel a little more connected to events, celebrations and activities conducted throughout our great school.

Parent Teacher Interviews It has been fantastic to see parents making time to attend our most recent Parent and Teacher interviews across the school this week. We certainly encourage all parents to have regular communication with their child’s teachers.

National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy 2015 Since 2008, the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) has been undertaken in all Australian schools. The program continues in 2015 with all students in Years 3 and 5 being assessed using common national tests in Reading, Writing, Language Conventions (Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation) and Numeracy.

Who will sit the tests? All students in Years 3 and 5 are expected to participate in the assessment program. If your child has special circumstances, you should discuss these with the school Principal.

When will the tests be held? The tests are scheduled for the mornings of 12, 13 and 14 May (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday). All schools across Australia complete the tests on the same days.

What happens if my child is absent from school on test days? Wherever possible, schools will organise for individual students who are absent at the time of testing to complete a ‘catch-up’ test at another time during the week.

What will be assessed? The content of each test is informed by the National Statements of Learning in English and Mathematics, which underpin state and territory learning frameworks. Test questions cover aspects of Literacy (Reading, Writing, Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling) and Numeracy. Questions are multiple-choice or require a short written response. For the first time, the Writing task will require students to write either a Persuasive or a Narrative text. All government and non-government education authorities have contributed to the development of NAPLAN materials.

Where can I find sample test, previous years tests and helpful resources? There are two sources for example questions and resources that parents can utilise to assist their children: • NAPLAN National website: http://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/the-tests.html

• Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority website:

http://www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/24629.html

Parents having difficulty accessing these materials can contact our Literacy and Numeracy Support Teachers for assistance. Brassall SS contact: Ms Therese Melit (Year 3) and Ms Amanda Graham (Year 5).

Will I receive a report on my child’s performance? A NAPLAN report will be issued by the school later in the year. The same report format will be used for every student in Australia. The school will notify you when the reports are being sent home. If you do not receive a report, contact the school directly.

Cross Country Success Just prior to the Easter holidays, Brassall’s first Prep to Year 6 Cross Country was held on a bright and sunny day. It was great to see our students looking fantastic in their respective House colours and my thanks goes to Miss Woods for organising such a smoothly run (pardon the pun) Cross Country carnival. Congratulations to the following Age Champions on their achievements and to Cook House as overall Champion Team!

Division Champions – 1st, 2nd, 3rd

Prep Girls

Boys

Mia C, Dakota H, Dejay H

Gabriel L, Callan A, RJ N &

Mitchell D

Year 1 Girls

Boys

Zakora V, Alicia M, Zoe G

Braydan P, Ethan H, Dylan P

Year 2 Girls

Boys

Sophie G, Elizabeth H,

Molly Rose F-K

Mathew K, Jack D, Nelson M

Year 3 Girls

Born 2007 Boys

Vicki-Lee T, Gisele B, Jorja C

Kodye P, Tyrone R, Callum W

9 Yrs Girls

Born 2006 Boys

Emma Kay S, Sabrina M, Hannah S

Jedt A, Deegan W, Clay B

10 Yrs Girls

Boys

Sharni K, Jenna M, Ella F

Ethan S, Lachlan T, Stanley H

11 Yrs Girls

Boys

Tahlia M, Elise B, Summa N

Clay K, Michael H, Ben T

12 Yrs Girls

Boys

Akala S, Theresa McK, Chloe D

Kane M-S, Jesse K, Caleb D

Overall House Cook House

Warm Regards and Best Wishes,

Mr Greg Brand Principal

Across the Across the Across the Across the Principal’s Desk … Principal’s Desk … Principal’s Desk … Principal’s Desk …

BrassallNewsletter Published by Brassall State School

ISSUE 6 23 April 2015

Rule of the Term: Be Respectful

Thought for the Week: Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.

Term Term Term Term 2222 PlannerPlannerPlannerPlanner

23 Apr Final hard copy of The Brassall Buzz 24 Apr ANZAC Ceremony – 9am

25 Apr ANZAC DAY (No Public Holiday) 26 Apr P & C Chappy Chips Fundraiser – 10 to 1 28 Apr Ipswich District Cross Country 1 May Student of the Month Assembly

4 - 7 May Science Factory-various classes each day

4 - 8 May Mother’s Day P & C Stall 7 May The Brassall Buzz goes digital

12 – 14 May

NAPLAN Testing

15 May Ipswich Show Holiday 18 May P & C Meeting 20 May Ipswich Eisteddfod – Snr Singing Choir /

Snr Glee 27 May Beginner Strings Workshop 28 May Ipswich Eisteddfod – Choral Speaking 29 May Student of the Month Assembly 8 Jun QUEENS B’DAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY 15 Jun P & C Meeting 15-17 Jun

Year 6 Camp – Emu Gully

16,17 Jun

Advanced Strings Workshop - Silkstone SS

18 Jun Performing Arts Tour– Retirement Homes 22,23 Jun

2015 NAIDOC

24,25 Jun

P-6 Athletics Carnival

26 Jun P-2 Behaviour Level A & B Party 26 Jun Student of the Month Assembly 26 Jun Yrs 3-6 Behaviour Level A & B Party 26 Jun TERM 2 ENDS

Term Term Term Term 2222 Planner Planner Planner Planner

13 Jul Term 3 commences

15,16,20,21 Jul

Ipswich District Athletics Carnival

20 Jul P & C Meeting 21 Jul Year 2 Ocean Life 31 Jul Student of the Month Assembly 17 Aug P & C Meeting

17, 18 Aug Silkstone Eisteddfod – Instrumental/Strings

20 Aug Singfest 25 Aug Prep – Fun with Maths 26 Aug Year 1 – Fun with Maths 28 Aug Student of the Month Assembly 17 Sep PE Fun Day (Ball Games) 18 Sep Student of the Month Assembly 18 Sept TERM 3 ENDS

N.B. Dates are correct at time of printing, and may change if deemed necessary.

Payment Payment Payment Payment –––– Closing DatesClosing DatesClosing DatesClosing Dates

No money will be accepted after No money will be accepted after No money will be accepted after No money will be accepted after

these datesthese datesthese datesthese dates 30 Apr BOOKCLUB ISSUE # 3

1 Jun Year 6 Camp

4 Sep Year 5 Camp

Finance HoursFinance HoursFinance HoursFinance Hours

8 am to 10am Daily8 am to 10am Daily8 am to 10am Daily8 am to 10am Daily

MOTHERS’ DAY STALLMOTHERS’ DAY STALLMOTHERS’ DAY STALLMOTHERS’ DAY STALL

5 to 8 May 2015

Watch for the flyer which will be sent home, with more details.

Our Vision: An Excellent School Where Students Achieve Their Potential

THIS SUNDAY – 26 APRIL 10am to 1pm

Brassall State School – Pine Mountain Road

top carpark

P & C Fundraiser! Please support us by purchasing and filling an average trailer of our quality mulch chips, which is enough to do 7m2 at 100mm thick. All proceeds from mulch will be going towards the Chaplaincy Vegetable Garden. $20 per average load (CASH ONLY) – (6x4) trailer, average side height, approx. ¾ cubic metre. Bags of Mulch also available. SELF SERVE – bring own pitch fork or shovel (pitch fork works best).

Stay too for a Gold Coin Sausage Sizzle.

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SWPBS - School Wide Positive Behaviour Support Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe, Be A Learner

Class Honey Pot Part of our SWPBS rewards system that complements the Pollen Points and Buzz postcards is our Class Honey Pot. The Honey Pots are displayed in your child's classroom. As each child completes a Buzz card, a piece of honeycomb in the honey pot is coloured in. Pieces of honeycomb can also be coloured in for class 100% attendance for the week, 100% attendance on a Monday and randomly from Admin when classes are spotted following the 4 Brassall B’s.

When the Honey Pot is filled, the class can enjoy a class party. These parties are planned by the teacher and students of that class. They may include free dress, food, games, DVDs etc. After the Pot is filled, the students start again and aim towards another class party. There are a number of classes who have filled their first Pot and are about to have their first class party. Congratulations to these classes on their hard work and effort.

Focus lessons for the next fortnight are: Week 2: Be Safe - Playground - Play only school approved games and rules Week 3: Be a Learner - Playground - Ask and play by agreed rules

ANZAC Commemorative Service Our ANZAC Ceremony will be tomorrow, Friday, 24 April at 9:00am in the Hall. This will be a special ceremony commemorating the Anzac Centenary where our choir, verse speaking choir and ISHS band will play an important part in the ceremony.

If your child is a member of an organisation that wears a uniform, eg. Church groups, scouts, guides, they are most welcome to wear that special uniform on Friday. Your child is also welcome to bring a floral tribute if they wish.

Parents are most welcome to attend our ceremony.

Attendance Term 1 concluded with a school attendance rate of 92.1%. This rate has dropped and as a school team we are working with families to improve individual student attendance.

Establishing good routines around school can assist with regular school attendance. These include:

• have a set time to go to bed

• have a set time to get out of bed

• have uniform and school bag ready the night before

• have a set time for starting and finishing breakfast

• set a time for daily homework activities

• speak about school positively

• send your child to school every school day including their birthday and the last day of term from Prep.

If you are experiencing difficulty in sending your child to school, contact the school for advice and support.

Rayne Penny and Summa Todd Deputy Principals

SSSSport NNNNews

Interschool Sport Interschool sport will commence this Friday 24 April. Please find the most recent match information below:

Fixtures – Friday 24 April Fixtures – Friday 1 May

Soccer – Sutton Park #2

Jnr Girls v St Mary’s at 12:40pm Snr Girls v St Mary’s at 1:20pm

Soccer – Jim Donald Park, Eastern Hts Jnr Boys v Silkstone SS at 12:40pm Snr Boys v Silkstone SS at 1:20pm

Soccer – To be confirmed

Rugby League – Norths RLFC Field C

Jnrs v Redbank Plains SS @ 12:45pm Snrs v Redbank Plains SS @ 1:30pm

Rugby League – Norths RLFC Field B

Jnrs v Silkstone SS @ 12:45pm Snrs v Silkstone SS @ 1:30pm

Netball – Limestone Park Netball Crts

Snr A v Mt Crosby SS @ 12:45pm Snr B v Bundamba SS @ 12:45pm Jnr A v Churchill SS @ 1:30pm Jnr B v St Mary’s @ 1:30pm

Netball – Limestone Park Netball Crts

Snr A v Karalee SS @ 12:45pm Snr B v Walloon SS @ 12:45pm Jnr A v St Mary’s @ 1:30pm Jnr B v Raceview SS @ 1:30pm

School Cross Country Carnival Thank-you to all the students and spectators who came to our School Inter-house Cross Country Carnival. It was a great day to watch our students compete and cheer for their house teams. A big congratulations to Cook house for beating Leichhardt’s winning streak!

District Cross Country Trials We wish the following competitors good luck at the Ipswich District Cross Country trials held next Tuesday at Grammar Arms Park. If selected, these students will make the Met West Regional Team: Sharni K, Jenna M, Ella F, Ethan S, Lachlan T, Stanley H, Tahlia M, Elise B, Summa N, Clay K, Micheal H, Ben T, Akala S, Tess McK, Chloe D, Kane M-S, Jesse K, Caleb D.

Athletics Training This term Miss Woods will be running Athletics Training on Wednesday Second Break on Skinner Oval. If you would like to improve your skills before the Athletics carnival at the end of the term you should attend.

Upcoming Trials:

Ipswich District 10-12Years Cross Country Trials – 28th April Met West Regional Rugby League Trials – 29 & 30th April

P P P P and C C C C NNNNews

P & C Annual General Meeting At the P & C Annual General Meeting held on Monday evening, the current Executive was re-elected for the 2015-2016 year, with the exception of Treasurer which was not filled. The Executive are:

Mr Ashley Saunders President Mr Andrew Eaton Vice President Mrs Julie Pickwell Secretary Mrs Nicole Lovey Assistant Secretary Vacant Treasurer Mrs Trudi Kemp Assistant Treasurer.

We express our thanks to those who have served and continue to serve on the Executive, and look forward to supporting the students of Brassall State School in the year ahead.

If you are interested in being involved at an Executive level of the P&C Association, or would like more information on what is involved in the role of Treasurer, please contact the School Office, to arrange for a P & C Executive member to contact you.

The P&C Association also wishes to acknowledge the contribution of Mr Gavin Tupper for doing the Audit at a considerable cost saving to the association, and as a token of appreciation, presented Mr Tupper with a Limelight Gift Voucher ($200) for him and his family to enjoy.