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: Tue & Thur: 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 & 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

➢ School hat

EDITION: 18 August 2021

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

2 Principal’s Post

3 Principal’s Gallery

3 Administration News

3 Library News

4 Music News

4 Guidance Officer News

5 P&C Association News

Sports News!

Well Done

In March 2021, Jess R, Bella F, Nate L and Hamish, along with their Metro baseball team

mates, won the QLD Little League Div 2 titles held at Redcliffe.

Jess R, Bella F and Nate L and the rest of the Metro Baseball Team then went on to

represent QLD at the 2021 National Little League Titles which were held at Lismore in June

2021.

After three days of games against teams from all around Australia, their team qualified for

the Grand Final against Manly NSW. Metro led for 5 out of the 6 innings, unfortunately

they went down 5 runs to 6 to Manly in the last play of the game.

The trio were marvellous ambassadors for the school and truly live up to the McDowall

State School ethos.

CONTACT: Mr Paul Henderson, PE Teacher

What’s Happening

23-27.08.21 Book Week

23.08.21 P&C Association Meeting

25.08.21 Singfest Choral Festival - Honours & Senior Choir, Old Museum -

CANCELLED

26.08.21 Poem In Your Pocket Day

Pyjama Day (No Gold Coin Required)

Ngutana-Lui Excursion - 3F1, 3F2, 3N2

Yr 4 Cyber Safety 27.08.21 Yr 5 Music Muster - Craigslea SHS - POSTPONED

Yr 1 Arts Active Learning Day

School Tennis Tournament 31.08.21 Great McDowall Busking Competition - TBC

02.09.21 Ngutana-Lui Excursion - 3F3, 3F4, 3N1

03.09.21 Student Free Day

09.09.21 Chamber Concert - School Hall - TBC

15.09.21 Closing date for EOI forms for 2022 Instrumental Music Immersion

Programme PLEASE NOTE: THE ABOVE DATES ARE COVID RESTRICTIONS PENDING

Tartan Times 18 August – 2021 Page 2

Principal’s Post

Dear Parents and Carers,

Last week we reached the half way point of the term. After

the lockdown period, staff have done a wonderful job in

supporting students transitioning back to face to face

learning. I would like to acknowledge the efforts of staff

during the lockdown and the transition back to school last

week and thank them for their flexible planning and ongoing

support. During these next five weeks, we will continue to

focus on ensuring students are assessed on their curriculum

learnings and provide inclusive environments that nurture the

wellbeing of our students.

COVID Update and Current Restrictions

Thank you to our parents and

carers for your ongoing support

for the wellbeing of students,

staff and other parents and

carers during the lockdown

and the current period of

restrictions that we are

currently in. These restrictions

include wearing of masks on

school sites for all adults and limiting parents, carers and other

visitors on school sites unless absolutely essential. These

restrictions were implemented in all State Schools to minimise

transmission and further protect the health and safety of our

school community and were necessary to ensure our students

could return to their classrooms in the safest way

possible. Parents and carers are encouraged to use the Kiss

and Ride facilities. School staff will be located at school gates

to support students entering and exiting the school grounds.

Instrumental Music classes will resume this

week. Instrumental classes will continue to apply the

principles for reducing transmission of COVID-19, including

physical distancing and standard hygiene measures.

The Department of Education will continue to keep me and all

principals up-to-date with any further required changes to

school arrangements and I will continue to provide parents

with this information as soon as it becomes available. Further

information for parents is available in the Department of

Education’s frequently asked questions. I encourage you to

stay informed of the latest developments regarding COVID-19

by regularly visiting the Queensland Government’s COVID-

19 website

Again I would like to thank parents and carers for your

understanding, kindness, empathy and for supporting the

school and vulnerable community members at this time. Your

support has been greatly appreciated.

Parents and Citizens (P&C) Meeting and Fundraiser

Thank you to our P&C for your tireless efforts volunteering and

raising funds to support students in their education. The P&C

has supported the school with facilities upgrades, school

building works, and support staffing for students in need. The

P&C Association are currently holding an online donut and pie

drive fundraiser that offers home delivery. Please support our

fundraiser to help raise funds for our school. Orders close

2.30pm on Friday 20th August 2021.

It's easy to order online!

Go to http://www.homestylebake.com.au and click ORDER

ONLINE and REGISTER your details. Log in using the User ID

that will be emailed to you and select items by entering our

unique fundraising code: FMCDOWALLSS280821

Delivery to your address will be between 7am and 11am on

Saturday 28th August 2021. The products are delivered chilled

and require refrigeration. Please have someone at home to

collect delivery, leave an esky or similar out and place notes in

the delivery instructions field when placing the order.

Delivery is FREE for orders over $100 so why not order extra

to freeze or collect orders from family and friends (delivery fee

is $10). You can freeze all products for up to 3 months. No

paper orders please, this fundraiser is all online!

Please see updated menus in the P&C Association

section on page 5.

P&C Meeting

Our next P&C Association meeting will be on Monday 23rd

August commencing at 7pm.

CONTACT: Imogen Stager, Principal

Tartan Times 18 August – 2021 Page 3

Principal’s Gallery

Administration News

SMS Communication

We have some exiting news! We will be

enhancing the way we communicate with

our families using SMS. This will occur by

the end of Term 3. The messages you

will receive will be with regards to

unexplained absences and emergency

communications. Our school’s SMS

number is 0426 305 127 and messages

will either come from this number or “McDowallSS”. At times,

we may also request that you reply to the messages.

Please ensure that your mobile phone numbers are up to date

so that you don’t miss any important information.

CONTACT: Mrs Calliope Ainsworth, Business Manager

Library News

Celebrating CBCA Book Week at McDowall State School

this year:

1. Voting for our favourite Book

We have all been reading the short-listed Early Childhood

shortlisted books. Each class will vote for their favourite book

and we will compare our vote with the CBCA judges.

2. Pyjama Day - Thursday 26th August

Students are invited to wear their pyjamas to school to

celebrate reading and particularly bedtime stories. If students

wish to wear their pyjamas, they will need to adhere to the

following school safe procedures, just like any other Casual

Dress day. Please note - NO gold coin donation is required.

➢ Wear or bring school shoes for all outside classroom

activities

➢ Wear or bring school hat for all outside classroom

activities

➢ Wear sun-safe and socially modest pyjamas

3. Poem in your Pocket Day

Each student is encouraged to bring a poem

to school – one of their own creation or a

beloved rhyme. At break time, the students

seek other students or teachers to listen to

their poems. The listener signs or stamps

the poem in your pocket card. When the

card is full of signatures / stamps, the

student places their entry into the box in the

Library for a chance to win a small prize.

The great news is that the Book Fair arrives at school this

Friday 20th August. In keeping with the Chief Health Officer’s

Advice, it has been determined that the Book Fair this year will

be an online event. All sales will be via this website address:

www.scholastic.com.au/payment Please be aware that this is

a different website address to our Book Club orders on Loop –

please do not use Loop for the Book Fair.

All students will visit the Book Fair in their Library times and

come home with their “Wishlist”. The Wishlist has ordering

instructions on the back. The Items from the Wishlist that you

want to purchase, must be paid for online and the receipt

number sent to school with your student for collection of the

item/s. Accompanying the Tartan Times is a ‘taste teaser’ of a

few of the books featured in the Book Fair 2021. Also, look out

for the unique email next Friday with our ‘bespoke’

photographed catalogue attached, showing all the wonderful

items available in the Book Fair. Due to the current ever-

changing COVID uncertainty, no parent on-site access to the

Book Fair for this year, thanks.

Any queries about the Book Fair can be emailed to

library@mcdowallss.eq.edu.au – please be assured we are

here to assist as we are determined to keep our traditions and

love of books and the events to celebrate reading happening

for your children.

CONTACT: Mrs Arlene Smethurst, Leading Literacy Coach

w/c 23rd Aug 4G1 Please enjoy a snapshot of art-

work featured from 4E1

w/c 30th Aug 5D2

w/c 6th Sep 4G1 w/c 13th Sep 5D2

Tartan Times 18 August – 2021 Page 4

Music News

Singfest Cancelled

After much discussion,

Metropolitan Region Music

has decided that the safest

and best course of action is

to cancel the Singfest 2021

which was to be held on

Wednesday 25th August

2021. The Director General

has been very clear about no

choirs rehearsing for the next

two weeks, which obviously restricts rehearsals before the

event. Given that this is a new, more contagious strain of the

virus, the organisers of Singfest feel that the risk of running an

event with large numbers of children across the region is a

huge risk factor. It is so disappointing, but the safety and

health of students must come first. If you have already paid

for Singfest, you will soon receive an email from school

administration with the option of a credit or refund for this

event.

Instrumental Music Parent Information Evening

Postponed

The Instrumental Music Parent Information

evening which was scheduled for Thursday 19th

August from 6.00pm in the School Hall has been

postponed due to the current COVID 19

restrictions. Information about a new date will be

advertised as soon as restrictions are lifted.

North-side Music Muster 2021 – Craigslea Cluster

Postponed

Unfortunately, the North-side Music Muster for Instrumental

Music students from Years 5 and 6 which was scheduled for

Friday 27th August, 2021, has also been postponed.

Organisers are hoping to reschedule this event to a date in

Term 4. If you have already returned paperwork (permission

form, medical form and made payment) the school will keep

these on file for when a new date is scheduled.

Instrumental Music Groups Perform at Everton Park SHS

McDowall State School’s Chamber Strings and Wind Ensemble

recently performed at Everton Park State High School’s 60th

Anniversary Market Day. Both groups performed beautifully.

This was a great opportunity for these smaller groups to

perform for the local community.

Congratulations musicians!

Key Performing Arts Date Changes and Updates

Please note that due to the recent COVID 19 lockdown and the

current restrictions, some events have had a change of date,

been cancelled or postponed or date is yet to be confirmed.

CONTACT: Ms Vanessa Crowhurst, Head of Curriculum

Guidance Officer News

Resilience

McDowall learners build resilience each day and this is

reflected in the YCDI! program ‘Resilience’ key to success.

Building resilience in children can help them deal with current

and future difficulties, which is not only beneficial for wellbeing

but can foster perseverance and self belief with learning.

Beyond Blue gives a brief, practical guide to building

resilience in children and an excerpt is provided here:

As a parent, carer, or significant adult, you can help to develop

essential skills, habits and attitudes for building resilience at

home by helping your child to:

Build good relationships with others including adults and peers

Build their independence

Learn to identify, express and manage their emotions

Build their confidence by taking on personal challenges

The full article can be found here:

https://healthyfamilies.beyondblue.org.au/healthy-homes/building-resilience

Tartan Times 18 August – 2021 Page 5

P&C Association News

Pie & Donut Drive

Order yours now at www.homestylebake.com.au and click

ORDER ONLINE and REGISTER your details. Log in using the

User ID that will be emailed to you and select items by

entering code: FMCDOWALLSS280821. Orders close 2.30pm

Friday 20 August. Delivery of your chilled products is

scheduled for between 7am and 11am, Saturday 28 August

2021. If you can’t take the delivery at the allocated time,

please leave an esky outside and put special notes under

delivery instructions when you place the order. All products are

freezable for 3 months. No paper orders please, as this

fundraiser is all online!

Father’s Day Gift Bags

Father’s day gift bags are back and

better than ever! All bags are $15.50

each and available on Flexischools

soon!

Disney Trivia Night

Saturday 11 September, doors open at 6pm for a 6.30pm

start. Get dressed in your best Disney themed outfits and get

ready for a fun night! Tickets are $20/head purchased through

Flexischools now, up to 10 people per table, email

zeffyb78@gmail.com with your table name and player list.

Prizes for best dressed and the best table decorations. Games,

Prizes and live music! This is a licenced event! Beer, wine and

basic spirits to be purchased at the venue (no BYO alcohol).

EFTPOS available. BYO food, table decorations, and Disney

knowledge.

P&C Meeting

The McDowall State School P&C Association is a very important

group that addresses a broad range of issues and activities.

Involve yourself and link into the next P&C Meeting on Monday 23

August at 7pm at OSH or via Teams. You don’t have to be a

member, everyone is welcome.

P&C Association E-Newsletter

Sign up to receive all our P&C news straight to your inbox!

https://mcdowallsspc.org.au/contact/enewsletter-sign-up/

CONTACT: Ms Helen Tavner-Corner & Clancy Wall, P&C Association

Communication Coordinators