Guardian Angels’ School

Newsletter

UPCOMING EVENTS

Thursday 2 February

6:30pm Parent Cybersafety Session

Monday 6 February

6pm Parent Partnership Evening

Thursday 9 February

8am School Banking Info Session

Book Club closes today (order online only)

Yr 4 excursion to Ngutani Lui

Friday 10 February

Swimming commences for Yrs 1 & 2

Tuesday 14 February

7pm P&F Meeting

Wednesday 15 February

11am Leadership Assembly

Thursday 16 February

School Banking starts today

Wednesday 22 February

2pm Vision Assembly

Friday 24 February

5:30pm P&F Welcome BBQ

Wednesday 1 March

9am Ash Wednesday Liturgy

Thursday 2 March

Yr 1 Street Science Incursion

Monday 20 March

Grade 6 School Camp

Thursday 23 March

Ditto Show Prep—Yr 3

Friday 24 March

Zone Catholic Swimming Carnival

Wednesday 29 March

Cross Country

Thursday 30 March

1:45pm Easter Liturgy

Wednesday 26-Thursday 27 April

School Photos

Sunday 6 August

GA Fete

2 February, 2017

Principal

APA

APRE

PLL

Parish Priest

Craig Acret

Dawn Morrissey

Debbie Young

Nicole Waller

Fr John Spiteri

Phone

Parish Office

OSHC

3396 4486

3393 4980

0429 428 768

From the Principal

Dear Parents & Guardians,

Welcome to Week 2! At our first school assembly yesterday, I commented how beautifully behaved our students have been in the first few weeks. I have been made to feel very welcome and this is largely due to the lovely manners our students consistently display when greeting me. This is a credit to you as parents, and our staff!

Literacy Partner Teacher (Prep – Year 3) This year we welcome Mrs Vicki Lucas to the new role of Literacy Partner Teacher (Prep – Year 3). This is a newly created role whereby Vicki will work in collaboration with classroom teachers in Prep to Year 3. Key aspects of Vicki’s role include: In class literacy support for students in P-3 Collaborate and plan differentiated lessons (with the classroom teacher)

within a designated literacy block time In negotiation with the class teacher, work with a designated group of

students Building Teacher capacity Develop consistency in the teaching of literacy across P-3

We are confident this additional support will further improve the literacy skills of our students in the Early Years.

School Fees School fees will be emailed tomorrow. If you have not received this email by next Tuesday, please contact the office. Thank you in advance for your prompt payment of school fees.

Planning for the future This week, I commenced meeting with every staff member at Guardian Angels’. The purpose of these individual meetings is to consult with staff on three key questions:

1. What do you love about Guardian Angels’?

2. What do we need to stop at Guardian Angels’?

3. What do we need to start doing at Guardian Angels’? These question are aimed at gathering information for what we can not only celebrate as a school but also, to assist with planning for the future. There will also be an opportunity for parents to provide feedback around these questions during 2017.

Pick up and drop off School pick up and drop off procedures in any school can be a constant challenge to manage. Here at Guardian Angels’, we have recently had the added complexity of the new building site on Chestnut Street. Historically, the school works closely with Police to help ensure a safe and efficient drop off and pick up area. This will continue into the future. However, safety is everyone’s responsibility. We rely on parent and guardians to adhere to the correct process, namely dropping off students, not parking and remaining in the car. Please read the Pick Up Zone article on page 4 of this newsletter and follow the link to view the full procedure. Parents are asked to use the designated drop off area on Pine Street for students on the MC campus, and Chestnut Street for students on the GA side. Thank you for your patience during the building work and for your support in keeping our students safe.

Have a great week! Craig

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From the Assistant Principal Religious Education Virtue

This fortnight each class will be looking at the virtue of Confidence. Confidence is having faith in something or someone. It is a kind of trust. When you have self- confidence, you trust that you have what it takes to handle whatever happens. You feel sure of yourself and enjoy trying new things. When you are confident in others, you rely on them and confide in them. We are practising confidence when we: Remember we are worthy, whether we succeed

or fail Are willing to try new things Learn from our own strengths and weaknesses Use the gifts God has given us Practise until we master something Think positively

Reflection

“Any gesture we do often enough: a hug, a smile, a genuflection has the

power to transform us. We become what we do.”

Joan Chittister Blessings for the coming week,

Kind regards

Debbie

From the Assistant Principal Administration

All classes will hold their Parent Partnership Evening next Monday 6 February. The evening will begin in the Parish Hall at 6pm where our Principal, Mr Craig Acret, will outline some important messages and share his vision for the year ahead. This session will conclude at 6:30pm at which time teachers will hold the first Parent Information session in their classrooms. The first session will run from 6:30-7:15pm, and will be repeated from 7:20-8:00pm. It is hoped that all parents will take this opportunity of meeting their child’s teacher and acquainting themselves with different classroom routines, dates, expectations etc. We look forward to seeing you on Monday evening. Many of our school families would know Hilary Skulskyj, a piano specialist who visits our school regularly. Sadly, over the Christmas break Hilary suffered a stroke and is currently in hospital. She is making progress, slowly but surely. Hilary is not able to have visitors at this point in time other than family. We have sent Hilary flowers on behalf of our school community. I would ask all our families to keep this wonderful lady in your prayers in the coming weeks. Hilary, our thoughts and prayers are with you. Next Monday morning 6 February, Silver Rose Photography will visit our school to photograph our Prep students and those students new to our school this year. Although our scheduled photo days do not take place until April, Silver Rose have very generously offered to take photos of our new students for our records here at school without cost. Parents will not be able to order these photos as they will not be produced in printed form. Please be advised that for photographic purposes, students must appear under their legal name. A reminder that all students at Guardian Angels’ are expected to adhere to the uniform requirements of predominantly white sports shoes with their sports uniform. Laces are also to be white. Teachers are following up with students who are wearing non-uniform shoes. If there is a valid reason that your child is unable to wear correct uniform, please provide a note to your child’s teacher. Thank you for your support in this matter. Have a great week everyone. See you on Monday night. Dawn Morrissey

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Learning and Teaching News

Contemporary Learning Environment News Throughout this week, particularly today and tomorrow, the teachers in Years 5 and 6, along with myself conducted a Bootcamp (not as scary as it sounds) for our senior students. The students travelled through four separate rotations of learning that worked purposefully to increase their confidence and competence with the 1:1 Apple MacBook laptop devices. They will continue to work hard next week as they are now preparing for the big step of taking their devices home. It is such an exciting time for them and for us as teachers. During Bootcamp, the students will enjoy focussed learning on topics such as Cyber Safety, Mac tips and tricks, email etiquette, Apple TV projection and Airdrop sharing, storage and saving. Oh … let’s not forget the most exciting topic: Rules and Expectations. Yes … that is my rotation. A little trickier to make that one exciting and engaging, but I accepted the challenge again and … well … let’s just say, it’s getting done! We are all very proud of the responsible way our students are engaging with their learning. Next year, I really want to lead one of the ‘fun’ Bootcamp rotations!! I wonder what my chances might be??? An important focus of Bootcamp is the opportunity for both our student and parent communities to hear some very important messages about Cyber Safety. We are blessed to again welcome Mr Brett Lee (Innes: Intenet Education and Safety Services) who spent an hour with the Years 5 and 6 students of Guardian Angels and St John Vianneys this afternoon discussing issues around informed practice to keep both the students’ cyber and ‘physical world’ identities safe. Even though our current Year 6 students heard these messages from Mr Lee last year, it is so important for them to hear this as many times as possible; from both school and home. To support our wonderful parent community in this regard, Mr Lee will present a workshop for the parents from both schools this evening (Thursday 2 February @ 6:30pm). This presentation will take place in the Year 5 classrooms at Guardian Angels. While I truly understand the ‘busyness’ of our lives with our families, I strongly urge as many parents to attend this as possible; especially given that, for many children in this technological world, their digital footprint begins at a much earlier age than 10 or 11. Understanding that many from our beautiful school community will not be able to attend this evening, I would like to highlight some essential messages that Mr Lee provided for both our students and our parents in relation to internet use. As a student, Mr Lee spoke of the need for us to control the technology and to make safe, informed choices. He helped our students to understand that: the internet is the most PUBLIC place we will ever be; the cyber world will NEVER be a private world. others may judge me or treat me harshly for poor online choices or for who I portray myself to be. online decisions made now, can impact my future because the internet is permanent. when I post, upload or send, I lose control of what others can do with that information or how it is used. The physical world and the cyber world are NOT separate; it’s the SAME world, full of the same people. I am bound by rules and laws online, just as I am in the physical world. expectations placed on me in the physical world do not change just because I am sitting behind a screen

(phone, iPad, computer). Just like the physical world, the cyber world will never be perfect, but we, as parents, have the power to reduce the issues/risks significantly. Mr Lee’s messages for parents will be just as strong. He will ask us to remember: the cyber world is a great and safe world; it’s how people USE it that creates issues. our children need OUR ADULT life skills and instincts to help them make sound choices and identify

problems. no program or app that my child will want to use is essential to their development. Treat all programs etc

as an added extra; a privilege.

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Pick Up Zones and Parking Reminders

In the interest of safety for our children, please ensure you follow the Pick Up Zone Procedure. Please share with others who use the PUZ on your behalf.

Below are a few reminders to address recent issues at drop off and pick up times:

Adults must not leave the vehicle in the pick up

zone. Adults should remain in the vehicle and the teacher or volunteer will help the child into the car.

Children can only enter the vehicle from the

footpath/passenger side. Children should never be told to walk around to the driver’s side to enter.

Please be courteous to our school’s neighbours

and ensure you do not park across any driveways. Some of our neighbours also have school age children to pick up at this very busy time of day.

Parking in Flinders carpark is reserved for

tenants and their customers. Cars parked in Flinders carpark risk being towed.

The Church carpark is for parking only; not drop

off or pick up.

Thank you to the wonderful parents who have volunteered to help on the PUZ’s. Your help is greatly appreciated.

All cars should display a visor family name label which can be clearly read by the teacher and volunteer on duty. If you would like to order a corflute visor label through the school please seal $5 in an envelope, complete the front of the envelope with family name, eldest child’s class and contact phone number and drop off to either school office.

Afternoon Pick Up Zone Roster

DA

Y

GA PUZ MC PUZ

M Tracie Porter Bridget Wright

T Tracie Porter Natalie O’Grady

W Tracie Porter Natalie O’Grady

T Nathalie Pallandre

Hanna Miley

Help Needed

Please

F Help Needed

Please Tracy Allom

no online decision we make in good faith regarding our children and their safety, is a bad one; we must trust our instincts.

technology will forever change; but our household rules, expectations and protective practices will never change.

online dangers and responsibilities are real. always weigh up the positives and potential risks when deciding what program/app our children use. encourage the use of technology at home in a public environment (eg family room, dining room); issues

are more likely to occur in private (eg bedrooms or closed offices). we don’t need to be internet experts but rather diligent, loving and (sometimes) strict parents. the rules and boundaries we put into place are not to stop our children using the technology; it will help

them use it safely and avoid pitfalls. online issues are NOT about the technology; it’s ALWAYS about people. online education should start the second our children type a key. I would like to take this opportunity to especially thank our most wonderful Year 5 and 6 teachers: Mrs Denise Doyle, Mrs Chantelle Rankin, Mrs Melinda Paljakka, Mrs Lisa Gear, Mrs Liz Morrissey, Mrs Anne-Maree Harrison and Mr Tom Kirby. I say it often: Guardian Angels is truly blessed with the most hard-working, professional and selfless teachers. The preparation and organisation of these exceptional teachers in preparation for Bootcamp and the exciting 1:1 Contemporary Learning Environment that will support the students’ learning, is second to none. It is a privilege to work alongside them.

Blessings for the coming week …

Nicole Waller

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Library News A welcome to all returning and new families to Guardian Angels' from Mrs Matta and Mrs Wickham your friendly Teacher Librarian and Library Aide. We are sure that you will enjoy our wonderful library. This year will be a little new for the Prep and Year One students as we have decided to use just the big library from now on. It's a little further to walk to for the little ones but there's so many more books and interesting things for them to see and use. Parents and carers, please take the time to enjoy that wonderful feeling of sharing and bonding when you and your child/ren read together. You are more than welcome to visit our library with your little ones to read, play a game or make something together. We love our books and take care of them so we ask that every child does too! Please make sure that your child/ren have a waterproof library bag to carry their precious library books in. There will be some rules that will need to be followed that we will talk to your children about: please support us in ensuring they are followed. Scholastic Book Club GA will be continuing to run the Book Club this year.

We have a new coordinator, Ms Amy Hardisty, who is taking over from the wonderful Sue Gahan. Amy has been working with Sue for quite some time so knows the ropes. A warm welcome to Amy in her new role. Your child/ren have recently been given the first issue of 2017 Book Club. Orders close THURSDAY, 9TH FEBRUARY. A reminder that all orders need to be submitted online through the LOOP system; NO CASH TAKEN. N.B. Amy has asked that parents take note of the gift icon when ordering. This allows you to order books etc but they are not handed out to the child when they arrive if you would like to buy them as a gift. Please find below the steps to follow when using the LOOP system.

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1 Green

Oscar O’Neill

1 Blue

Rowan Van Rooyen

1 Red

Ken Yang

3 Yellow

Taj Perry

3 Green

Ella Clarke

3 Blue

Meila Gill

5 Blue

Reilly Byrne

Weekend Mass Times

Guardian Angels' Church Saturday 6pm Sunday 7am, 9am, 6pm

St Joseph the Worker Church Sunday 8am

Nazareth House Chapel Sunday 9.30am

Iona College Chapel Sunday 7.30am

2017 Term Dates

Term 1 24 Jan to 31 Mar

Term 2 18 April to 23 June

Term 3 10 July to 15 Sept

Term 4 3 Oct to 1 Dec

Tuckshop News

Tuckshop Roster

Tues 7 Feb

Thurs 9 Feb

Fri 10 Feb

Laurice Jones

Martina Alford

Treena Neeve

Tanya Milburn

Leah Webb

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P&F NEWS

Uniform Shop

New Uniforms UMS Pty Ltd 2/205 Queensport Road Nth Murarrie. Ph. 3535 9500

For online orders: http://umspl.com.au/shop Password for our school is gap2015

New uniform samples are also available at the second hand shop for sizing prior to online order.

DATE CLAIMER

All families are invited to join us for the

“Welcome BBQ”

to be held on Friday 24th February.

More details to follow! 2nd Hand Uniform Shop

will only be open

Mondays 8-8:30am until

new volunteers are found.

Working Bee Thank you

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who attended

the Working Bee on the holidays! A hard working

team completed many jobs including planting

new gardens, painting, topping up soft fill in the

playground, and much more!

Recent P&F Projects

Over the holidays the P&F also paid for the

tree lopping around the school perimeter,

gurney cleaning of the school, and

contributed to funding the new lawn area in

front of the GA office!

To hear more about other projects for this

year, all parents and caregivers are invited to

come along to the first P&F meeting of the

year on Tuesday 14th February at 7.00pm in

the Mount Carmel staffroom.

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P&F NEWS

Get involved in the School Banking program.

Welcome back to School Banking for 2017.

Our school Banking Day is Thursday and our first Banking Day will be on Thursday 16th February. School Banking is a fun, interactive and engaging way for young Australians to learn about money and develop good savings habits. Children who deposit money into their Youthsaver account through School Banking earn Dollarmites tokens, which they can save up and redeem for exciting rewards.

The rewards available during 2017 are: Cyber Handball Colour Change Markers 3D Chalk Set Tablet Case Smiley Emoji Keyring Volt Handball Pencil + Tech Case Epic Earphones

School Banking is also a great fundraiser for our school. Our school receives $5 when a student makes their first ever School Banking deposit and 5% on every deposit made through the school (to a maximum of $10 per individual deposit). Each week you need to complete your deposit book and place it in your classroom’s grey banking bag on Thursday morning.

We will be holding a School Banking Information Session at our school: Time: 8am Date: 9 February 2017 Location: Guardian Angels Campus (grass area) Please join us and find out more about the School Banking program and how your child can get involved.

If you are interested in opening a Commonwealth Bank Youthsaver account for your child you can visit www.commbank.com.au/schoolbanking and click on the link. A School Banking representative will be available at the Information Session to show you how you can do this. In order to verify yourself and your child, you will need your driver’s licence and your child’s birth certificate, but if you don’t have these with you on the day, you can complete verification online at home.

If your child has an existing Commonwealth Bank Youthsaver account they can start banking straight away. They just need to bring their deposit in every week on School Banking day using their Dollarmites deposit wallet.

Parent Packs including

Rewards chart will be

in coming home soon.

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Community News

STUDENT TRAVEL REBATESSemester 1, 2017

Bus – Ferry Fare Assistance• Does your child attend a school

outside the Brisbane City Council boundary?

• Does your family spend more than $33/week* on fares to and from school (* $25/week if you hold a concession card)?

• Does your child travel on a publicly available bus not owned or associated with the school?

• Does your child live more than 3.2km for Primary or 4.8km for Secondary from their school?

Students With Disability• Does your child have a

verified disability that requires transport assistance to and from school?

• Does your child have a travel capability rating of ‘semi-independent’, ‘travel assisted’, ‘dependent’, or ‘more dependent’?

What you need to do now:1. Check eligibility for financial assistance to help with the

cost of transport at www.schooltransport.com.au2. If eligible:

a) keep your public transport receipts to lodge a claimb) note in your calendar to lodge a rebate claim in May

and October