Week 9, Term 1, 2024
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Principal's Address
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New changes for Term 2, 2024
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Curriculum and Reading - what are we teaching?
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Apple and Grape Festival
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Cross Country Wed 27 March
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Easter Egg Hunt and Tuckshop
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Save the Date! Saturday 2 November 2024. Celebrating 100 years of Greenlands State School.
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Accounts Due
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Focus on Learning Year 1 and 2
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Farewell Mrs Megan O'Reilly
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Rugby League and Tennis Trials
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Flyers and Community Information
Principal's Address
Dear parents and families
What a hectic term it's been, with lots of changes, illness and learning! We've still got quite a bit to go before the holidays - with assessment going on in most classes, morning talks, and our Cross Country, Easter Egg hunt and Tuckshop still to happen.
The Year 3 and 5 students have now completed their final NAPLAN test. Those students who have been away from school and missed NAPLAN will sit their catch-up tests this week. Congratulations to all Year 3 and 5 students for your patience (while getting everyone logged on!), your perseverance with tricky questions and your give-it-a-go attitudes!
The Year 6 Student Council have had their first meeting and they all have such good ideas in their leadership of the school. We will have a Free Dress Day on Thursday next week (last day of term). Year 6s will also have a Guess the number of Easter Eggs in the Jar competition - $1 for 2 guesses.
I hope you all have a relaxing Easter break. It's lovely seeing the leaves beginning to change, and the cool morning breezes heralding the coming of Autumn.
Kind regards
Amanda Jones
New changes for Term 2, 2024
As our school numbers have decreased, such has our budget, and it is no longer sustainable or allowable to keep purchasing the same amount of teacher aide hours. Unfortunately, that has meant that with much sadness, we needed to support Mariel Thompson and Kristy Stephens to find new positions as Teacher Aides. They are permanent staff so they have not lost their jobs, but have been relocated.
Our reduced numbers have also meant allocations for teachers have decreased. Cheryl Green remains based at Greenlands SS, however she has now taken up a position as a District Relief Teacher. She is teaching in Year 5/6 on Mondays and every second Tuesday for the remainder of this term, and her other work days as relief teacher in our area. I am now on Year 5/6 the other days. In Term 2, Cheryl will continue being a relief teacher, however won’t be teaching a class at Greenlands.
We are very sad to see these staff members finish with us. Both Megan (admin) and I worked extensively with HR to try and keep our staff, but unfortunately we weren’t able to at this time. Once our numbers increase to support further teacher and teacher aide staff, then Cheryl, Mariel and Kristy will be able to return if they choose to.
From the beginning of Term 2:
Our four classes are going to be compressed into three classes which will be:
- Prep/Year 1 (with Emma Adams (4 days) and Melinda Pavey (1 day a week)
- Year 2/3/4 with Leah Williamson
- Year 4/5/6 with Amanda Jones (3 days) and Nikki Hilton (2 days a week)
- Mrs Hilton will use the other 3 days to teach Science across the school, get our Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) program up and running again, and be our Curriculum Coordinator – working with teachers on implementing the latest curriculum, coaching and providing feedback.
Even with going to 3 classes, each class will still be smaller than the state average. Our teachers are well equipped and very capable of teaching these small classes, especially as they are accustomed to teaching larger class sizes in the past. We are so fortunate with the calibre of our teachers.
While having 3 classes might seem a negative, there are a number of positives. Each class will get more Specialist time (PE, Music), Year 2s will be now included in Italian (LOTE) lessons, and there will be more teacher aide time spread among 3 classes rather than being spread across 4. We still have teacher aides, Esme Butler, Kristi Hiscock and Maree Johanson. Their timetable is still in draft, and time among the three classes will be allocated appropriately.
Other positive initiatives to build our relationship with the broader community is to investigate having a Playgroup on site, holding an Early Years ‘fair’ later in the year for all families with young children. We’re also collaborating with the local kindy and day care centres, with our first online meeting on Thursday this week.
If you’d like to talk about these changes, or have questions, please contact me, or arrange a time with Megan in the office to book in a time to see Amanda.
Curriculum and Reading - what are we teaching?
All state schools in Queensland are in the process of implementing Version 9 of the curriculum. Version 9 has seen a number of changes across all Learning Areas. All state schools need to be using the Australian Curriculum, to ensure that all student are taught the same content.
There are many changes since the previous version; these are the key changes:
- The removal and reduction of content so the curriculum can be taught with depth and rigour, including a 21% reduction in the number of content descriptions, which describe what is to be taught and what students are expected to learn
- A stronger focus on students mastering the essential mathematical facts, skills, concepts and processes, and being introduced to these at the right time
- Explicit teaching of phonics
Reading in Version 9
The Reading Position statement (see link below if you'd like to read more) outlines how we teach reading as part of English in the Version 9 of Australian Curriculum.
- The Parent Information Session information below highlights the key differences in how we teach reading in Version 9
Apple and Grape Festival
Thank you to the families and friends that came along to the Apple and Grape parade. We really appreciated the time and effort that went into costumes. We looked just the part!
We acknowledge the need for our school to be seen out and about in the community, participating and interacting. We were so proud of our little school and we had a lovely time despite the raging sun! Didn't really match our Autumn vibes.
Enjoy the pics!
My New Gallery
Cross Country Wed 27 March
On your mark, get set... GO!
We are holding our annual Cross Country around the school grounds on Wednesday 27 March. We hope to kick things off around 11:30 am. Parents are welcome to come along and cheer (and also dress in your house colours 😁).
This is the first year we will have our students participating under their new house teams. Who will win - the mighty Falcons or the swift Firetails?
Students are welcome to dress (sun-safe and joggers on) in their team colours. Blue for Falcons and red for Firetails.
Easter Egg Hunt and Tuckshop
It's that time of year, aready. End of term 1! Can you believe it? We will be holding our traditional Easter Egg hunt on Thursday morning, last day of term, 28 March.
The Easter Egg hunt will be followed by our shared morning tea with Foxy's Bakery supporting our tuckshop at 1 pm. Sounds like there will be a lot of full bellies. Parents - you might not need to cook dinner!
Please inform the school as soon as possible if your child has dietary restrictions.
And not to forget - guess how many Easter Eggs in the jar organised by our Year 6 leaders. Bring along a $1 for 2 guesses. Good luck!
Save the Date! Saturday 2 November 2024. Celebrating 100 years of Greenlands State School.
It's fast approaching! 1oo years of Greenlands State School. Be sure to keep Saturday 2 November free to join in on this amazing milestone for our school.
Plans are still being finalised but the archives have been dusted off, invites are being sent and we are brainstorming some great ideas to ensure we acknowledge the years of change, innovation, special events and past and present students and staff that have helped shape our wonderful school.
Please feel free to email our centenary committee with any ideas or if you are able to assist in any way please contact us. We'd love new committe members!
Greenlands Centenary committee: greenlandscentenary@gmail.com
Accounts Due
Accounts for the Instrumental Strings program and for the Year 6 Senior Shirts are due by the end of term.
No cash payments are accepted. Prefered payment is BPoint.
Please see the admin office if you require a reprint/email and/or have an concerns about the invoice.
And a reminder that the purchase of schools uniforms is done through our P&C Committee. Payments are to be made online at the time of purchase. Please ensure any oustanding amounts are paid up asap.
Thank you.
Please keep on file:
Greenlands State School P&C Association
Commonwealth Bank
BSB: 064-431
Account number: 00900113.
Focus on Learning Year 1 and 2
Students have had a strong start to learning in 2024. The progress that is already evident in Phonics, Reading and Maths is testament the this.
In Genre we have been learning to describe characters in stories in terms of their physical appearance, actions and feeling. Then this has been applied to the retelling of stories to add detail and interest. We have learnt lots about what is needed for a great retell through the development of storyboards and both oral and written retells. Taking it a step further the Year Twos created innovations on traditional stories. By following the same structure and sequence of events they created a new story by changing the characters, setting, plot and outcome. The quality and creativity has been outstanding.
The students have been learning about digital technologies. They have explored every day digital systems, what they are, how we use them in everyday life and for what purpose. They have made discoveries regarding the collection of data, designing questions to ask to collect data on topics of interest, then experimented with different ways to record, represent and make conclusions about the data collected. The most exciting part of our digital technology unit has been learning about algorithms. We have learnt what an algorithm is and how we all use algorithms in our everyday lives, for example, when we follow a recipe to bake a cake. We have experimented with the language of algorithms to give and follow directions on a path or map to find pirate treasure, help an animal find its way home and that’s just for starters.
The students have got creative in our Media Arts unit and have explored, experienced and created media art works from different cultures and communities. An integral part of this unit has been developing critical and creative thinking and working to understand the deeper meaning, cultural significance and stories told through media arts. In many instances the students have used their imagination to create their own media artworks inspired by their learnings. Here are some snapshots.
My New Gallery
Farewell Mrs Megan O'Reilly
Dear families, friends and staff,
It is with a heavy heart and many tears that I must say goodbye to Greenlands State School. Whilst it has only been a short stint I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment of my time here. I cannot stress enough how wonderful the community of this school has been from my very first day. It has been an absolute privillege to work wth the amazing, talented and committed staff and to also have had the opportunity to form some truly wonderful relationships with the students. I will miss them and you all immensely.
I am leaving as I have been offered another opportunity,which although it is new and exciting, it wasn't easy to choose! But I always believe you must give these things a go, right? Who knows what's ahead!
I won't be a complete stranger to Stanthorpe so I hope to bump into you around the place when I am home and I will make every effort to keep in touch with Greenlands.
Thank you to Amanda for taking a chance on me back in 2022. And thank you, staff, students and families for enveloping me in your warmth, kindness and unwavering support.
Much love, health and happiness to you.
Megan O'Reilly.
Rugby League and Tennis Trials
Please see the attached flyer regarding upcoming rugby league and tennis trials for the Granite Belt district. These are not come and try events these are to qualify to play and represent the region.
Flyers and Community Information
The following flyers are not affiliated with Greenlands SS. Please contact the people on the flyer if you need more information.