Tartan Times McDowall State School An Independent Public School since 2013

Achieving better outcomes for all students

School Administration (Office) Open Mon to Fri, 8.00am – 4.00pm Payment days: Wed & Fri: 8am – 11am Recess Times Prep – Year 2: 10.30am – 11.10am 12.45pm – 1.25pm Years 3 – 6: 11.00am – 11.40am 1.15pm – 1.55pm School Assemblies Mon: 8:55 – 9:30am (Years 3–6) Wed: 8.30 – 9:00am (Prep–Yr 2) Tartan Tuckerbox (Tuckshop) Monday: 1st break only Open Tuesday to Friday Flexischools orders avail. Mon-Fri To volunteer: click here Uniform Shop Open Mon & Thu, 7.45am to 9.30am

Standard Uniform (Mon – Thu) � Tartan or red polo shirt � Bottle green pants shorts / skorts � Bottle green socks & black shoes

(Tartan) � White socks (with red and bottle green

stripes) & black shoes (red polo shirt) � Red bucket (for Prep Year) or Bottle

green reversible broad-brimmed hat � Winter: bottle green jacket, jumper

and track pants

Friday (Sports) � House shirt or red polo shirt if playing

inter-school sports � Bottle green pants shorts / skorts � White socks (with red and bottle green

stripes) � School hat

EDITION: 22nd March 2019

N E

W S

L E

T T

E R

Office 3872 5333

Absence 3872 5366

Tuckshop 3872 5304

Fax 3872 5300

Email admin@mcdowallss.eq.edu.au

Website www.mcdowallss.eq.edu.au

Please direct ALL OSH enquiries to the following

number - 3353 5755

5 Principals Gallery

5 Administration News

6 Prep News

7 Sports News

8 Music News

8 P&C Association News

What’s Happening

National Day of Action Against Bullying & Violence

On Friday 15th March, McDowall State School

students acknowledged the National Day of

Action Against Bullying and Violence.

Student Councillors introduced the idea of

‘using our Super Powers to stop bullying’,

during our weekly assemblies. They also

visited classrooms, dressed in their super

power capes, to explain to students that

everyone has the ‘power’ to stop bullying in

its tracks.

Teachers took a photo of their class using

their ‘Super Powers’ to stop bullying. These

photos were pasted onto their National Day of Action Against Bullying poster along with

the class’s anti bullying message.

On Friday morning, student councillors displayed class posters in the School Emblem

Covered Area for all to see. The display of posters sent a powerful message to our

students and wider community that bullying is NOT ok.

CONTACT: Ms Vanessa Crowhurst, Head of Curriculum

25.03.19 - 27.03.19

Regional Choral Honours Workshop

02.04.19 Preparatory Year Easter Hat Parade

04.04.19 Year 6 Camp Warrawee Red Food Day Casual Dress Day - Gold Coin Donation Tartan Tuckerbox Meal Deal

05.04.19 Years 4-6 Inter-House Swimming Carnival

08.04.19 - 22.04.19

School Vacation

23.04.19 - 24.04.19

Year 3 Great Anzac Day Bake-Off

24.04.19 Anzac Day Observance P-2 @8.30am / 3-6 @ 9.15am

29.04.19 North District Cross Country Years 5-6 Wavell SHS Problem-Solving Challenge

01.05.19 Year 3 Beginner Blitz Concert

03.05.19 Instrumental Music Resource Scheme Final Payment Due

25.03.19 P&C Association General Meeting 7pm

Tartan Times 22 March – 2019 Page 2

Principal’s Post

McDowall Magic

“McDowall Magic” describes all that

students do in respecting themselves,

respecting others; and taking responsibility

for their own actions. “McDowall Magic” is

that special McDowall State School student

exhibited trait that is celebrated and

outlined within the “McDowall SS Standard”

of student conduct.

Our staff and students know that “The Magic” is not as

described within fairy tales and Disney movies. Mr Fogarty has

a colourful duster wand and a Harry Potter wand and neither

works! “McDowall Magic” is real and it actually works if used

wisely and frequently. Firstly, you thank your friend, brother,

sister, mother, father or teacher. But then, to activate “The

Magic”, you must tell that same person why you are thanking

them. Take care that you are thanking the person for what

they have actually done. “The Magic” is magnified

proportionally to the frequency and consistency of you doing

these three things.

All people, children, adolescents, adults, like to be noticed for

who they are and what they do. If, to be noticed, a child needs

to be annoying, naughty, insolent, destructive or disobedient,

then generally, that is how they will behave. If you “catch

children doing the right thing”, thank them and describe why

you are thanking them. Often then, this described behaviour

will become the norm. The key word here is ‘catch’. In other

words, your response should be a pleasant surprise with

meaningful, specific acknowledgement. Children don’t value

gifts or rewards. What children crave is for one-one quality

time with their parent/s. It is through this relationship that

“The Magic” delivers love, happiness and respect balanced

against self-responsibility.

McDowall State School staff and students are taught to use

“Their Magic” to sincerely thank other staff, their student

peers and volunteers, and clearly tell them why they are being

thanked. If you consistently focus on what you value, then that

is what you will receive. So many people, do so much to make

‘Our Great State School’ the daily positive experience that we

all enjoy. To take these endeavours for granted, or to be

critical, means not to value them. Thus standards will fall.

McDowall Magic works!

The McDowall Magic Card

� Staff issue a “McDowall Magic Card” to students ‘caught

doing the right thing’ during recess and non-classroom activities. It should be a surprise to the student. It cannot be requested by a student. The issuing of the “McDowall Magic Card” is a way for staff to sincerely acknowledge student/s who do what is routinely expected without major fanfare. Staff thank them for their good behaviour and explain why a card was issued to them.

� The student gratefully accepts the ”McDowall Magic

Card” writes their name and class on the card before placing it in a Year Level Cardboard Box (with lid) located in the Year Level or brought to Recess Debriefing.

� Each Friday, after first recess, two processes are publicly

performed at Debriefing:

• A draw is conducted from the Year Level Box for three McDowall Magic cards. These are returned to the respective students to immediately take to School Administration. Office staff prepare a certificate for each student for issue at Formal Assembly the following week.

• A count of the cards within the Year Level Box is held. The teacher seeks to identify the Year Level student having received the most number of “McDowall Magic Cards” for the week. If there is a tie, the award goes to the student having had cards issued by the greater number of different staff during the week. The teacher writes the number of cards counted onto one, returns it to the respective student to immediately take it to the Principal. A “McDowall Magic Prize” is selected from the School Administration Display Cabinet. The Principal explains to the student that the importance of the small prize is as a reminder to them to use “Their Magic” when-ever possible. A certificate is issued at Formal Assembly the following week. Students are enthusiastically thanked for their contribution in making our school a great place in which to learn and work.

This process is duplicated in a Flying

Gang Draw, to thank and

acknowledge our parent volunteers

within class programmes and in a

McDowall STAFF Magic draw

conducted during Staff Meetings.

Responsibility is not the result of maturity but the cause of it.

The key to effective self-discipline is the proactive

acknowledgement and highlighting of appropriate behaviour.

Maturity and happiness must be taught, reinforced and earned

within modern society. Newspapers, television, social media;

and indeed society, promote ‘bad news’ and ‘criticism’. No

wonder so many youth develop mental health issues.

“McDowall Magic” teaches staff and students to take control

of their relationships, to communicate how they wish others to

behave and how others are to treat them; and to proactively

reinforce behaviours that lead to good health, productivity and

happiness.

As Principal, may I sincerely thank McDowall State School

students for their continued exhibition of ‘Student

Responsibilities Level 0’. Additionally, may I thank parents and

families of these children for your continued support and your

active investment within the upbringing and education of your

child. Your child represents your life’s greatest achievement!

School Anzac Day Observance

The McDowall State School Anzac Day

Observance will be held on Wednesday

24th April, 2019 in the School Hall. P-2

students will attend from 8.30am. Years

3-6 students will attend from 9.15am.

Parents are welcome to occupy seating

located to the rear of the hall.

Easter Red Food Day

As Easter approaches, many students look

forward to bringing special confectionery

treats to school to share with their friends.

For some of our students, this may prove

problematic, as they experience a severe

allergy to some food ingredients.

For this reason, a RED Food Day has been declared for

Thursday 4th April, 2019. The Tartan Tuckerbox will also offer a

Meal Deal on this date. Should parents permit students to do

so, it is requested that students bring confectionery to school

for distribution only on this date. It is also requested that

parents maintain an awareness of the amount of

confectionery, not only being brought to school, but also

consumed by their child. Teachers will also seek to actively

regulate confectionery consumption, with most treats expected

to be taken home.

Tartan Times 22 March – 2019 Page 3

Student Council Casual Dress Day

The McDowall State School Student Council will hold a Student

Casual Dress Day on Thursday 4th April, 2019. Student Council

will collect a $Gold Coin donation from each student wearing

casual dress. These funds are used by the Student Council to

fund its activities, initiatives and (as decided by student

councillors) donations made to child-centred charities. Please

note that ‘casual’ does not mean ‘freestyle’ and anything goes.

All students are still required to dress to a like standard in

design, practicality and suitability to that of the approved

school uniform. Dress is to be socially modest. Quality

enclosed, secured footwear is to be worn. A wide 7-8cm

brimmed hat is to be worn in sunlight. Caps are not

appropriate dress. The Student Dress Code may be found on

the school website.

Easter School Vacation Period

The McDowall State School will close for the Easter School

Vacation from Monday 8th April, 2019 to Easter Monday 22nd

April, 2019. P-6 students will return to school on Tuesday 23rd

April, 2019.

School Watch Tel: 13 1788

We need your eyes and ears! Not

everyone values nor appreciates our

school.

It is not expected that anyone will be found loitering or

wandering among our buildings during the vacation period,

week-ends or out-of-school hours. Gates are locked. Police will

challenge your presence. Contractors and OSH staff are

instructed to take digital photographs and refer such people to

the police. If you see or hear anything out of the expected at

our school, please ……. Phone 13 1788.

Unless you have written authorization from the Principal,

adults and children found within the school grounds are

trespassing and can be charged by the police. Please keep

clear of the Out-of-School Hours Care Programme, unless you

are a parent dropping off or collecting your child. OSH access

is only via Metro Street pedestrian gate and Kiss-and-

Ride Facility pedestrian gate during vacation periods.

The Principal expects that when charges are made by police,

that cost recovery be pursued through the courts for

rectification costs associated with any found school damage

and vandalism.

P-2 / 3-6 Timetable Separation

In 2012, it was known that McDowall State School enrolment

would trend within the mid-high 900 student range due to

acreage sub-division and pending development applications.

Additionally, the large parcel of Defence Services vacant land

opposite the school (at the time used by parents as a car park)

was about to have townhouses constructed on it. Rode Road

parking was removed when the Gordon Olive Estate and the

regulated intersection was established. There was justified

concern about traffic congestion, limited available parking, the

conduct of frustrated drivers; and pedestrian safety while

entering / departing the school.

In responding to these shared concerns, the following

occurred:

� The school constructed the Metro Street and School Oval

Car Parks and widened the Main School Car Park. This

discounts the need for staff and departmental visitors to

take up valuable local area street parking.

� The P&C Association promoted the Brisbane City Council

Active School Travel programme. (a) Walk (b) Ride your

bike (c) Catch a bus (d) Car pool; and (e) Park and

Stride. The Council funded the construction of the Bike

Enclosure beside C Block. Events included ‘Walk Safely

to School’ and ‘Ride Your Bike to School’.

� Brisbane City Council constructed a Bus Stop

immediately outside the school.

� Departments of Education and Main Roads, in

partnership with the Brisbane City Council doubled the

size of the Rode Road Public Car Park and constructed a

Kiss-and-Ride Lane. (Safe.St funding) Public car parks

are Council land.

� P-2 / 3-6 timetable separation began from 2013 with

duplicate staffing, timetabling, rostering and

administration occurring, affording duplicate use of

school facilities each school day.

� A teachers-aide supervises seated students collectively

Yrs 1-2 from 8am-8.15am and Yrs 3-6 from 8.15am-

8.45am.

� Staff supervise Kiss-and-Ride Facility child pick-up from

2.40pm-3.30pm.

� A teachers-aide supervises students awaiting bus pick-

up from 3.00pm-3.30pm.

� The P&C Association realigned OSH programming to

better complement school hours.

� Both McDowall SS and P&C Association has and continue

to invest heavily in infrastructure and equipment to

provide the best possible facilities for our students. Eg.

Larger Kiss-&-Ride Facility Shade Structure.

The problem is simple. McDowall State School access

occurs from only either Rode Road or Metro Street.

Increasingly parents elect to use their car to access the school.

School facilities are operating at capacity. Sadly, many

impatient road users act in ways that place the safety of others

at risk. McDowall State School exists to deliver excellence in

quality preparatory and primary educational services within the

school grounds and within school hours. Although school staff

extend ‘goodwill’ toward maximising student safety before /

after school (supporting families), ultimately, as more parents

chose to use their car in accessing the school, congestion

increases and drivers must assume greater care and

responsibility for the safety of others.

Tartan Times 22 March – 2019 Page 4

P-2 / 3-6 timetable separation is designed to remove up

to 50% of cars from the streetscape by placing 50% of

students in 30mins separation with each other, thus

potentially doubling the available car parking and

reducing congestion accessing the school at any one

time. This strategy was always about traffic and prioritising

student safety, never about school educational services. In

fact, the school would more efficiently and cost-effectively

operate to a single P-6 timetable but this would mean ALL cars

accessing the school at the SAME time.

� P-2 students were scheduled earlier as more

parents are likely to attend the school site, while

Years 3-6 students should be more independent,

(they have more options in accessing the school)

and timetabling is better aligned with sport and

bus timetables.

� P-2 parents need to remove their cars from local

area parking (by 2.50pm) in time for Yrs 3-6

parents to use those same parking spaces.

� Years 3-6 parents must not arrive early (before

2.55pm) blocking available local area parking or

the Kiss-and-Ride Facility.

It has always been accepted that:

• a small number of families have children in both P-2 /

3-6 timetables and so adequate strategies have been

put in place to address this issue.

• for any established strategy to work, ALL parents and

grandparents need to make it work.

• should parents and grandparents not make P-2 / 3-6

timetable separation work, then the strategy should

be reviewed.

• traffic, parking and driving are not school

responsibilities.

• the parent or driver elects to use their car and in using

public roads they are regulated by the police service

and council parking officers.

Only vehicles collecting P-2 students are to enter the

Kiss-and-Ride Facility from 2.15pm-2.55pm.

All other vehicles collecting Yrs 3-6 students are to

enter the Kiss-and-Ride Facility from 2.55pm.

� P-2 students will not arrive at the Kiss-and-Ride Facility

before 2.40pm.

� Yrs 3-6 students will not arrive at the Kiss-and-Ride

Facility before 3.05pm.

� The Kiss-and-Ride Facility queue tends to dissipate by

3.15pm.

� Staff provide supervision of students waiting at the Kiss-

and-Ride Facility from 2.40pm-3.30pm.

It is neither considerate nor appropriate to arrive early,

blocking the Kiss-and-Ride Lane, for an extended period

of time, preventing other vehicle access.

Inconsiderate & Illegal Parking

During the past fortnight, there have been a number of days when vehicles have been illegally parked on Rode Road (in front of the school) and within the Metro St, Goldwyn St, Mayer St loop eg. Against the yellow continuous line. Years 3-6 parents who arrive before 2.55pm within the Kiss-and-Ride Facility cause frustration and unnecessary traffic blockage to P-2 parents. There is nothing more

that the school can do in resolving issues deliberately created by some drivers at the expense of others. The Principal’s continued position on these matters is that traffic enforcement needs to occur and that $fines be issued. There will always be peak traffic around the McDowall SS during student set-down and pick-up times. Staff focus remains on student supervision arrangements already in place. It is expected that parent / adult drivers demonstrate courtesy, patience, safe practice toward others and compliance with law and procedure.

Tartan Times 22 March – 2019 Page 5

Principal’s Gallery

Administration News

Preferred Payment Method – Removal of BPAY

From 2019, School Administration can no longer accept

payments made via BPAY. This option is discontinued because

through this option, parents are not able to select which

invoice they would like to pay. If there are multiple invoices,

and/or siblings on the account, the system determines which

invoice the payment will go against, which is not always the

invoice the parent intended to pay.

BPOINT is now the preferred payment method for all

student invoices in Queensland State Schools. BPOINT is a

secure online payment portal supported by the Commonwealth

Bank which enables parents and caregivers to pay the school

via credit card or debit card.

On the bottom of each invoice and/or statement that you

receive, the BPOINT payment method symbol will be displayed

with a website link for you to visit and process your secure

online payment. Alternatively, you can now access BPOINT via

the QParents app and conveniently pay all your invoices

this way.

You do not need to register for BPOINT. You simply visit the

link detailed below and enter your CRN (customer reference

number listed on all invoices and monthly statements), invoice

number (detailed on monthly statements), student name and

exact invoice amount. It is important that only one invoice is

paid at a time so that payments may be matched to the

invoice within the School Accounting System.

Please note: I f you w ish to pay an account and you do

not have the invoice number, just enter the activity reference

provided on the activity letter (eg. Life Saving, Sport, etc) and

we can manually match your payment to the corresponding

invoice.

BPOINT will issue you with a payment confirmation that you

can email to yourself after making the payment.

Payments will process overnight and will appear in the school’s

bank account within 24hrs of making a payment. The school

will receive a daily report detailing those who have made a

payment.

You may still pay by cheque, cash, EFTPOS, or credit card if

you wish. To access BPOINT go to: http://www.bpoint.com.au/

payments/dete or conveniently pay via QParents.

Credit Card Payments over the Phone

School Administration is no longer able to accept credit card

payments over the phone. Instead, you will be required to

phone a secure payment portal (BPoint IVR) to make

payments to the school. The phone number for BPoint IVR is

1300 631 073. You will need the CRN (included on all our

invoices) and the invoice number to complete the payment.

Details relating to this new facility are included on all school

invoices.

NEW - Cash & Eftpos Payment Days

School Administration Cash & Eftpos Payment Days have now

changed to:

Absences

Please advise any student absences via the QParents app,

Absence Line 3872 5366 or directly through School

Administration as soon as possible.

What else is on QParents?

� View student report cards.

� View and pay student invoices.

� View and update student personal details, including

medical conditions and address.

Please make sure you have registered your parent

account holder to access. If you haven’t received

your registration invitation via email or letter, or

have misplaced it, please contact School

Administration.

If you require assistance with setting up your

account please contact QParents by calling 13

QGOV (13 74 68) or visit the QParents online help

guide (https://qparents.qld.edu.au/#/help)

w/c 25th Mar 1J6 Please enjoy a snapshot of art-

work featured from 3F2 & 3F3

w/c 1st Apr PB2 w/c 22nd Apr 1J5

w/c 29th April 2O2

Tartan Times 22 March – 2019 Page 6

Free Microsoft Office 2016 for Students

All Queensland State School

students may now download

multiple free copies of the

latest Microsoft Office to their

personal home computers and

mobile devices.

Students will need to use their

school email address to sign in.

The Office subscription lasts for as long as they are a

Queensland State School student.

Download process

For PC and Mac, visit portal.office.com( http://

portal.office.com/ ), login using your school email address,

click through to install and follow the onscreen process.

For tablets and smartphones, download from your app store

and sign in with your school email address.

If you have trouble, please refer to the instructions on how to

download Microsoft Office 2016 to your personal home

computers and mobile devices.

How to download and install Microsoft Office 2016 to a

Windows computer ( http://education.qld.gov.au/

learningplace/docs/office-2016-windows-download-and-install-

instructions.pdf )

How to download and install Microsoft Office 2016 to a Mac

computer( http://education.qld.gov.au/learningplace/docs/

office-2016-mac-download-and-install-instructions.pdf )

Traffic, Parking and Misconduct

School Administration has received a considerable number of

complaints and reports of incidents from frustrated neighbours

and residents with regards to illegal parking and actions of

adults engaging in unsafe conduct and/or behaviour on streets

and roads. All parents and other drivers of vehicles are

expected to abide by road rules, law and road signage. It is

reasonable to expect that all adults, including parents, staff,

residents and licensed road users, will not only model

appropriate road safety behaviours to children but to diligently

act in such a way that will maximise child safety. This being a

public domain, neither school nor its staff have an enforcement

role or responsibility in this environment. The Principal openly

expresses low tolerance and distaste for illegal, discourteous

and inappropriate conduct on public roads, local streetscape

and footpath areas around the school. All adults inadvertently

make mistakes from time to time and should self-correct their

behaviour. Repeat offenders or incidents that are clearly

unacceptable should be reported to the appropriate law

enforcement agencies and officers so that a fine or penalty is

assigned. Eg. Queensland Police Service or Brisbane City

Council. Please be considerate of our neighbouring properties

and drive safely around our school. In an era of mobile phone

cameras, evidence for referral is a simple one ‘click’ away.

There really is no excuse!

Comply with Road Rules.

Be patient.

Plan your arrival time.

Be considerate of local residents (not blocking driveways).

Watch out for children.

CONTACT: Ms Rebecca Fleming, Business Manager

Preparatory Year News

Barnyard Babies

Recently all Preparatory Year

students had a real life learning

experience, with the visiting

‘Barnyard Babies’ incursion (A

mobile animal farmyard presented

by Farmer Dave) In preparation,

students’ natural curiosity was

stimulated as they discussed and

devised some interesting inquiry

questions. For example, they

wondered:

� How do you protect the animal babies?

� How do you have crops on your farm?

� How does the farmer get milk?

� How do chickens make eggs from inside?

� How do machines take the sheep’s wool off?

� Why does the farmer want to have animals?

� How do cows have enough space to have a baby calf

inside?

Farmer Dave enthusiastically discussed with students aspects

of animal care, and their importance to our community

regarding food, farming and textile products. Our students

demonstrated tender care for these baby animals as they

patted, held and fed a small number chickens, duckling, billy

goats, piglets and lambs. A very memorable experience for all

involved. Some even some who dressed up for this occasion!

CONTACT: Mrs Nicky Brazzale, Deputy Principal

Tartan Times 22 March – 2019 Page 7

Sport News

North District Sporting Trials

McDowall State School is a member of the

North District Sports Association, along with

14 other primary schools. North District forms

representative teams for a variety of sports

and holds carnivals for athletics, cross-country

running and swimming throughout the year.

To join a North District sports team, students

must attend a trial and meet set criteria. Most

students who earn a place within a North

District team, play sport at club level and are

one of their teams better players.

To attend a trial:

1. Parents – download, complete and sign the Permission &

Consent Form along with the Project Consent Form which can

be accessed by clicking here.

2. Once signed by parents, please hand forms in at School

Administration for Mr David Pedwell (Deputy Principal) to sign.

Only students who reflect McDowall SS 'Standard for Student

Conduct - SRL0' will be authorised to attend and represent the

McDowall State School.

3. Students must take the signed forms to their trial.

Remember: NO FORMS - NO TRIALS!

Upcoming Trials:

Touch Football Girls - Thursday 4th April, 2019.

North District Trial Notices can be accessed by clicking here.

North District Sport Calendar can be accessed by clicking here.

North District Program updates eg. wet weather days can be

accessed by clicking here.

Mouthguards Mouthguards are now compulsory if your child is attending one of the following North District Sport Trials: Rugby League, Rugby Union, AFL or Hockey. No Mouthguard = No Trial.

Congratulations to Ava M in Yr. 6 who has qualified for the Met North Schools swimming team in five events. She will be competing in the State Titles at Chandler.

Congratulations to the following students who have qualified for a representative sports team.

District Soccer - Lily P , Erin H & Sienna CB

Rugby League - Isaac H & Zac A

Met Nth AFL - Sophie B

Free Sports Equipment: Please mention our school name when shopping at REBEL SPORT Mitchelton as we are a member of their Community Kickback Program and 5% of your purchase is credited to our school.

Parents & PE Badminton Night - Yr5 & Yr6

McDowall SS invites parents of Year 5 & 6 students to play

badminton with other students and parents from their Year

Level.

� When – Monday 1st April, 2019.

Yr 5 5.45pm – 7.00pm / Yr 6 7.15pm – 8.30pm.

� Where – Sports Centre, rear of school, next to OSH.

� What – Play mini games of badminton with other

students, parents and teachers.

� Why – Students have just completed a Work Unit on

badminton. This provides an opportunity for students to

play against a variety of opponents and for parents and

children to get active together. Parents and children

from a Year Level can socialize, promote the sport of

badminton and have fun.

� How – Parents are responsible for their own child at all

times during this event. Parents cannot drop-off their

child and pick-up later. Please don’t send your child with

another family. Sorry, younger/older siblings are not

permitted. You can arrive or leave at anytime during the

time allocated your Year Level.

CONTACT: Mr Paul Henderson, PE Teacher

Tartan Times 22 March – 2019 Page 8

Music News

Metropolitan Choral Honours Programme

Congratulations to six of our very talented Honours Choir

members who were recently accepted into the Metropolitan

Region Honours Choral Programme that will be held at

Birralee Centre, Bardon and the Old Museum, Bowen Hills

from the 25th to 27th March, 2019. The three day event is

designed to cater for advanced choral students.

Students attending the programme will have an opportunity

to work with renowned choral directors as well as a range of

other musicians and accompanists. This is a fantastic

opportunity for our talented students to further enrich their

musical experience. We wish them all the very best!

Our talented singers are:- Kori K, Jack G, Sarah M, Ella J,

Kiran W, Aowin D

Band Uniforms

All members of performing ensembles are required to wear

the correct McDowall State School Instrumental Music

Programme Uniform when performing in public or at other

advised events. Next term, a number of our ensembles will

be performing in Queensland Youth Music Awards

competition as well as at our first Celebration Concert for the

year. The correct uniform must be worn to each of these

performances.

Students who play in Cantabile Strings, Presto Strings,

Keona Band and Rode Band w ill require the follow ing

uniform:

PERFORMANCE UNIFORM: CANTABILE STRINGS,

PRESTO STRINGS, KEONA BAND and RODE BAND

Please note that all beginning instrumental music students

and members of the Junior, Senior and Honours Choirs wear

their formal tartan uniform for performances.

This year the performance uniform, white long-sleeved shirt

and black trousers, can be pre-ordered through the

School Uniform Shop. The ‘tartan vest’ is available for hire

from the School Uniform Shop. Recently a letter was sent

home with a ‘tartan vest’ hire agreement and the pre- order

form for the white long-sleeved shirt and black trousers.

Please fill in these forms and hand in, along with payment, to

the School Uniform Shop. Closing date for band uniform pre-

order is Thursday 28th March, 2019.

CONTACT: Ms Vanessa Crowhurst, Head of Curriculum

P & C Association News

Next P&C Association Meeting

Our next P&C Association Meeting will be held on Monday

25th March, 2019. It’s not too late to become a member of

the P&C Association. Simply complete the form (available on

our website) and bring it to one of our meetings.

Once you’re a member you will receive all meeting minutes

and agendas and you only need to come to meetings if you

would like to join in the discussion and have a vote.

Easter at Teralba Park

McDowall State School P&C

Association will once again be

appearing at the annual

Easter Egg Hunt in Teralba

Park.

We’d love some help at the

stall if you are free to

volunteer for an hour on

Sunday 14th April (middle

weekend of holidays) between 8am - 12pm?

We are hoping to have our annual Easter biscuit decorating

stall at the Madeleine Hicks Easter Egg Hunt.

If available, please contact community@mcdowallss.com and

your details will be forwarded to the co-ordinator, Liz H.

Tartan Times 22 March – 2019 Page 9

New to McDowall SS in 2019?

Don’t miss out on P&C Association news, updates and event

information. To opt in to our mailing list please visit our

website at –

http://mcdowallss.com/contact/enewsletter-sign-up/

You can also find us on Facebook at (you must be signed into

Facebook)

https://www.facebook.com/McdowallStateSchoolPandC/

You are able to opt out from the mailing list at any time by

clicking on the link at the bottom of each email.

Tartan Tuckerbox - Flexischools Update

The issue with ordering from

Flexischools on Fridays is ongoing.

While it is continuing to be worked on,

we ask that you try and order on

Thursday evening for Friday meals to

avoid any issues.

We have received the following update

from the Flexischools Chief Technology

Officer –

Hello,

As you may be aware, since 15th February, we have

experienced intermittent issues with our Flexischools mobile

app and desktop site during our peak ordering time on

Fridays from 7.30am – 8.30am AEDT. We sincerely apologise

if this has impacted you directly.

As a parent of three young kids myself, I understand how

frustrating this can be. I give you my commitment to fixing

this issue ASAP so you are no longer inconvenienced by our

service.

This has been a constant focus for my team and I and we are

working day and night to resolve the issue. We have worked

tirelessly to fix each bottleneck as it has been identified and

as a result we have a much more resilient system, however

we are still working on the root cause. The Flexischools

system has many moving parts and we are analysing and

optimising each component in order to rectify this issue.

We are close to a resolution and have engaged experts at Amazon Web Services (AWS) to assist us with solving this

issue. I look forward to posting again soon with some good

news, and then delivering more good news in the coming

months as we modernise and simplify our product offering,

introducing new functionality and a better user experience.

In the interim as we work to resolve the issue, we would

recommend that orders for Friday service are placed prior to

7:30am AEDT on Friday.

Kind Regards,

Zubin Appoo and The Flexischools Team.

Entertainment Books Now Available

Your support really helps our School, so we’re thrilled to let

you know about special bonus Early Bird Entertainment

Membership Offers for loyal supporters.

Pre-order the NEW 2019 | 2020 Entertainment Membership

and receive bonus offers you can use right away!

Purchase your book.

Mothers’ Day Stall - Date Claimer

Mothers’ Day Stalls will be held on 10th May at J Block and

the Tartan Tuckerbox.

A stall will also be held in OSH on Thursday 9th May from

5pm – 6pm.

More information will be available closer to the date.

Easter Meal Deal Thursday 4th April, 2019

� There will be a Meal Deal available on the last Thursday of Term 1.

� There will be 1st and 2nd Break options, see Flexischools for details.

� All students, Prep to Year 6 will be permitted to order.

� There will be no regular Tuckshop orders, so please ensure you bring food from home if you do not order the Meal Deal.

� Orders are due Monday 1st April at midday - NO LATE

ORDERS CAN BE ACCEPTED.

Please see attached flyer for more information.

CONTACT: Mrs Anna Lagos, P&C Association.