Term 1 2021

3rd February, 2021

WYREEMA STATE SCHOOL

12 High St., Wyreema

QLD 4352

PH: 4596 0333 www.wyreemass.eq.edu.au

Our Preppies have had a wonderful start to the school year. They are already settling

into their new routines and developing their independence. They have been introduced

to the SSP (Speech, Sound, Pics) approach to teaching reading, writing and spelling.

The Preppies have had fun learning the different monsters for each sound and performing their movements each day. They are already beginning to learn some sight words and

participated in their first Smash Up session on Tuesday. We are fast learning the numbers

to 10 and are enjoying listening to stories for our English unit. Our first visit to the library to

borrow a book took place on Monday. Our year is shaping up to be a busy one, but it seems this group of Preppies is ready to face those challenges.

From Mrs Bretz’s Office: Welcome back to 2021! The first 6 days have gone so very quickly. We welcomed 10 new students and 22 new Prep students to our wonderful school. We are currently sitting on 161 students. Thank you to our school community for welcoming the new students and their families. It is wonderful to see the many parents chatting in the afternoons. Our final numbers are due in to regional office in coming days. A huge welcome to our new prep students, who have settled into daily routines very well. We will continue to have some very tired students and a few tears here and there, but that is completely normal for this time of year. Our students have all settled well into the school year. We will continue with the straight year level classes for all. Teachers are focused on teaching the expectations and routines in all settings in the school. Please remember that students will become tired and will find it difficult at times to continue with their routine. Gentle reminders and organisation at home will also support your children when getting back into the school routine. If you have concerns, please chat to your child’s class teacher. Remember early to bed and organised morning routines will make this transition easier for everyone and your child will feel more relaxed with coming to school. The new administration, buildings and classrooms certainly feel like we have a whole new school! The staff and students have moved easily into their new learning environments and it is exciting to be able to walk on the path all the way around the school. We still have builders

and contractors finishing off in different areas. Currently the bell system continues to be

finalised and the conference room technology is being installed. The long jump and shot put areas are still be finalised by the engineering team. Shade cloth will also be fitted to the Lower Primary play area in coming months.

Our school vision for 2021 continues to be: Wyreema State School fosters independent, responsible, respectful and safe learners for the future. Our Targets for 2021 are: 1. 85-90% of students at or above regional benchmark for reading. 2. Implement and embed consistent literacy blocks in 100% of classrooms. 3. Four parts of moderation embedded to support differentiation in 100% of classrooms. 4. Improvement in English and Maths A-C Data. Strategies: Review school systems and change management of processes to enable the ongoing

consolidation of the reading agenda and support smooth transitions to future improvement priorities. Strengthen teacher capability to identify, plan and implement learning activities that enable differentiation for the full range of students in their classrooms, including high achieving students. Develop the data literacy capability of all staff members to extend to the consideration of

a range of data to determine next step teaching and learning across all learning areas of the AC.

Provide further professional learning opportunities including WOW, observation and feedback for all teachers and teacher aides in relation to agreed pedagogical practices.

Further develop systemic processes including moderation to monitor and review the planned and enacted curriculum across all learning.

Provide opportunity for staff members to build their capability to learn and lead by participating in leadership opportunities beyond the classroom. Our teachers have been busy preparing engaging lessons for your children. Teachers are happy to meet with parents but parents do need to phone the office or ask the teacher for an appropriate meeting time to speak with teachers. If you would like to meet with me to discuss any concerns, please ensure you discuss the matter with your child’s teacher and then if you are still concerned, make a meeting time at the school office. This term, we are trialling playtime at the same time. All students have been playing first and then eating. The students all have a snack attack break in the morning session. This has been very successful so far. Healthy Lunches are vitally important for your child to have a successful day. Please ensure your child/dren have healthy lunches with a fruit or vegetable snack included. Lollies and/or chocolate are not to be eaten at school. Road Safety – Our community members have been in contact with the school over concerns for students crossing the road and riding on the roads around school. Please remind your children how to walk or ride to school safely. The roads around Wyreema can be dangerous and children do need supervision to cross the road safely. Please remind your children of the importance of road safety. Pick Up and Drop Offs are working really well. The students have learnt the morning and afternoon routines quickly. We have also started morning Smash Up activities, which all students are enjoying.

PBL expectations: Weeks 1 and 2- During the first two weeks of the new school year, we have been revisiting our three school expectations - I am a Responsible Learner, I am Respectful, I am Safe.

Students have been unpacking and discussing what these look like, sound like and feel like with their classroom teachers. They have also been focusing on their classroom expectations. New routines and expectations that have occurred as a result of our new buildings now being in operation, have been explicitly taught to the students.

Parade will begin this Friday. This week ’s parade will be for the Year 6 School Leaders. They will receive their badges. We are excited to have Constable Colman here to present the badges. The parade will be in the new undercover area. Students will sit in their class Warrior lines. Parents are invited. Parents will be required to socially distance at all times. The P&C Meeting – AGM will be held on Monday evening. Please RSVP to the office if attending as we will need to socially distance for the meeting. Please remind your children to bring hats and water bottles each day. Thank you for the wonderful start we have had to the school year. It does take a village to raise a child and it is vitally important that parents and teachers work together to support the development and growth of their child.

Bronwyn Bretz, Principal, Wyreema State School

Welcome to 2021! We’re looking forward to another fantastic year. We hope everyone has had a chance to look through the new buildings, including the

uniform shop and tuckshop. The P&C has been working hard behind the scenes to get these up and running for the new school year. Operating hours for the Uniform Shop are Monday and Wednesday 8.30-9am or by appointment. If you need to access the Uniform Shop out-side these hours please email us at wyreemasspandc@gmail.com and we will organise a time that’s convenient for you. More uniforms will be available soon. We hadn't been able to bulk order previously due to lack of storage and space but now with the new uniform shop we have completed a bulk order and are awaiting its arrival. We will advise when this stock comes in. Tuckshop will kick off Monday February 8. Operating days for our tuckshop are

currently Monday and Wednesday. Menus will be available from the school Office or through the Flexischools app.

We are seeking volunteers to assist with tuckshop so please contact us via email to register your interest. Volunteer hours for tuckshop will be 8.45-11.30am on the days the Tuckshop

operates. Exciting news with Wyreema State School P&C coming online soon. All tuckshop, uniform shop, fundraising, P&C news and P&C calendar will be accessible by the Flexischools app. Stay tuned for more details.

DATES TO REMEMBER

Date Event

Friday, 5th February, Parade, Induction of school leaders

Monday, 8th February, P&C AGM—5.30PM at Wyreema SS Tuckshop

Tuesday, 9th February, Inner Downs Swimming Carnival (Nominated swimmers only)

Wednesday, 10th February, Playgroup From 9.00 to 10.00am in the School Library. Tuckshop

Friday, 19th March, Wyreema State School Cross Country

Welcome back! Smash UP! Smash UP is a 15 minute physical fitness program designed to improve overall fitness, confidence and health and well-being of our students. Smash UP runs Monday to Thursday from 8.45—9.00am. Please ensure that students are turning up each day with a hat, running shoes and a water bottle. Our Smash UP program includes the following activities: 1. Fitness games 2. Ball games 3. Cross country preparation This year we have our Year 6 students setting up Smash UP and lunchtime games and activities. These leaders will need to be checking in with me each morning around 8.30am to complete their jobs. Upcoming carnivals: Inner Downs swimming trials are on Monday 22nd February, at Pittsworth. Swimmers will need qualifying times to attend this carnival. Please see me if your child is aged between 9-12 years, swimming trains on a regular basis and has swimming times to submit. Cross Country: Watch this space for X Country Club. Cross Country Dates: Wyreema State School Cross Country—Friday, 19th of March. Small School Cross Country-Wednesday, 31st of March. Inner Downs-Friday 30th of April. Darling Downs-Monday 17th of May