Dear Queenscliff Parents and Carers,
Despite the crazy gusts of wind and unpredictable weather we have recently experienced, our school has been in flow with quality teaching and learning, and a range of exciting events over the past few weeks. From Athletics at Goldsworthy Reserve, Book Week to Science Day and the Toy and Book Fair run by the SRC. I have been impressed with the way our students have shown persistence and determination in attending school and adjusting to new timetables each day over the past few weeks to cater to the inclement weather outside. They have shown flexibility and understanding.
‘Trivia for Nature’ - Tickets on Sale!
We are excited for our Trivia for Nature fundraising event this Friday 6th September at 360Q, commencing from 6:00pm. Tickets are still available for parents, families and friends to join us on the night. There will be prizes and raffles to win on the night. We encourage guests to dress up in a theme with their table. All funds raised from the trivia night will go towards the development of the Nature Play Space in our playground in 2025. If parents wish to purchase single or double tickets to the trivia event (without having to book a whole table of six), they visit the school office this week.
We have been extremely grateful to the local businesses and families who have donated items and vouchers to the raffle. Thank you. If you have an item or voucher you wish to donate, please feel free to drop by the school office before Thursday 5 September.
School Volunteer Training
We are hosting another School Volunteer Training session next Thursday 12 September 2024 from 3:15pm to 4:15pm. If you are interested in volunteering in the Prep to Year 2 classrooms to support our students with their learning, then we encourage you to participate in the training. School volunteer training is open to all parents, grandparents, community volunteers and friends. All volunteers are required to have a Working with Children’s Check and to have participated in the Volunteer Training as part of our Child Safety practices. We would encourage grandparents who may have more time to volunteer to participate. We would value your contribution and involvement in our school.
To register your attendance, please select the link below and enter your details.
Click here to register: School Volunteer Training Registration
Book Week Parade
On Friday 23 August, our school celebrated Book Week with an outstanding, vibrant and creative Book Week Parade. Students, teachers and parents all dressed up as a book character. We were blown away by the creativity, imagination and enthusiasm of our students and parent community. Each class had the opportunity to parade their costumes at our Friday assembly. Thank you to our parents and families for supporting our students in dressing up for the event. Book Week is a special time to celebrate the power of books and good literature. Books have the special superpower of being able to transport us to another world, empathise and feel the emotions of others, discover new and exciting information and imagine.
Prep Farm to Table Restaurant
On Thursday 29th August, our Prep class ran a Farm to Table restaurant called ‘Queenie’. Throughout this term, our Preps have been learning about farm animals and where food comes from. As a showcase of their learning, the Preps made bread rolls, butter, pasta and lemon cake from scratch using vegetables from our garden and natural ingredients. They then invited myself and other parent volunteers in to enjoy their cooking delights. I was highly impressed by our Preps knowledge of farm foods and the process of how it makes it from the farm to the table in a restaurant.
Thank you Miss Garner
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Miss Lucy Garner, our Pre-Service Teacher, who has had placement in our Prep class with Mrs Jackie Morris over the past 7 weeks. Lucy has contributed significantly to the development and learning of our Preps, and is a highly dedicated and passionate educator who immersed herself seamlessly into our Queenscliff community. On Friday, we farewelled Lucy as she concluded her final year of study before commencing her career as a teacher. We wish you well Lucy!
Snowsports
I would like to congratulate Jamie Dean, Miles Garland, Sol Eldridge, Cooper Harandian and Darcy Harandian for representing our school for the first time at the Victorian Interschool Snowsports Competition at Mount Buller. Our students competed against students from both government and independent schools across the state, and overall came 20th out of 30th schools in the Primary Co-Educational division. Our boys showed determination and courage to compete in their selected events, despite the weather conditions being highly challenging and wet with low visibility at times. We are extremely proud of you!
Year 5/6 Embrace Diversity Day
Last Monday 26th August, our Year 5/6 students joined students from St Aloysius and Point Lonsdale Primary School to participate in an Embrace Diversity day. Students explored the concept of privilege and discrimination as well as practical strategies they can use to be a ‘positive upstander’ in our community. Students participated in group tasks, art reflection activities and role-plays throughout the day. It was a fantastic opportunity for our students to connect with students from the other two schools in the Borough. We also had the Mayor of Borough of Queenscliffe, Councillor Ross Ebbels, Councillor Isabelle Tolhurst and Councillor Rob Minty join us for part of the day
Toy and Book Fair
On Friday 30th August, the SRC and Miss Robertson coordinated the Second Hand Toy and Book Fair to raise funds for Cottage by the Sea. Overall, $362.00 was raised from purchases students and families made. The SRC and Miss Robertson did a tremendous job in organising and setting up the fair. Thank you to our families and wider school community who donated generously to the fair. We had some leftover toys and books that will be donated to local charities. It is wonderful to see our student leaders implementing fundraisers and events to support local charities and community organisations in the Borough. Well done Miss R and the SRC.
School Attendance
School attendance is imperative to support your child’s positive engagement and connection to our school as well as enhancing their learning outcomes. If your child is unwell or ill, we encourage you to keep them at home so that they can recover. This will also reduce the chances of illness spreading throughout our school community.
Recently, we have had a significant rise in the number of families choosing to take family holidays during school term. The Department of Education highly encourages families to avoid taking family holidays during the term due to the impact on student learning and engagement with school. The Department promotes families using the designated school holiday periods for family getaways. If your family is planning to have a holiday during the school term, it is important that this is communicated by parents to your child’s teacher via email or a phone call to the school office.
In addition, if your child is absent from school due to illness, appointment or family holiday, families are required to explain the absence via the Compass application. All absences should be explained. Our school is required to contact families directly either via phone or email, when a student has an unexplained absence. Thank you for your support.
Assembly
This Friday 6th September, parents, friends and community members are invited to join us for our school assembly at 9:00am. We will have 5/6C, Japanese and Year 1 showcasing their learning with us.
Prep to Year 3 Athletics Day
This Friday 6th September, our Prep to Year 3 students will participate in an Athletics Day at QPS. Students will participate in a variety of events, including sprinting, long jump and novelty games. The Athletics Day will run from 11:30am until 1:30pm. We will have students from Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College volunteering to assist in leading events on the day.
School Council
I look forward to meeting with our School Council next Monday 9th September 2024.
Nyatne baa Gobata
(Thank you and take care)
Mat McRae
Principal
