T o r q u a y S t a t e S c h o o l N e w s l e t t e r P a g e 1

Issue 14 - 2021

From the Principal (Acting)

Term 3 week 8

To parents and Caregivers of Torquay State School Community

As we approach the end of week 8, a reminder that Friday is a pupil free day. Our staff at Torquay are committed to the teaching and learning of all students and ensuring that our students are receiving engaging and thought-provoking lessons. As I walk around the school and visit classrooms daily, I am very proud to see the work that is occurring, students are engaged and on task across classes. This also reinforces that our teachers are invested in their students. This week across our intensive teaching, staff have been Mathematics planning across the year levels.

It was a pleasure to attend the Year 4 Gala day last week! Our students represented Torquay SS extremely well in Oz tag and Soccer. I am looking forward to popping out to the 5/6 Gala day which is Friday 10 September.

It has been a pleasure to connect with our Year 6 students and as we approach Term 4 – how they are feeling as their education journey continues into high school. Transition days are upcoming for our Year 6 students and if you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me or Mr. T.

Thank you to the P&C for the sausage sizzle that accompanied the Pumped Up Sports session last week and for organising the Father’s Day stall which is running this week. Our next P&C meeting will be held on Thursday 7

October at 4.30pm - all are welcome. We hold our P&C meetings in the school staff room and we keep our meetings brief and to the agenda.

Remember if you require assistance with any part of your child’s schooling, please contact the office to make an appointment so we can work together to meet the needs of all students.

I believe that education is all about being excited about something. Steve Irwin

Kind regards, Kaye Rye - Principal

From the Deputy Principal

The weather is warming up - Queensland is a beautiful place to be and Torquay is a great school to be at.

Welcome to our new families who have joined the Torquay SS community. If you know of any families looking to make the switch then let them know to come in and collect an enrolment form from our very helpful and professional administration team.

Rewards Day Our Rewards Day is fast approaching and students know that are required to display a C standard of behaviour

or above to be invited to the Rewards Day. If students have not displayed these standards they will participate in alternate activities. This is part of the Positive Behaviour for Learning process at our school.

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Prep 2022

During term 3 we have conducted 3 Prep 2022 Open classroom sessions. We have 1 more Open Classroom on 26 October and our Parent Information sessions on 12 & 28 October. It was fantastic having families come in

with their youngsters to see how our classes operate and engage with our current students. If you know any families or friends who want to move to Torquay in 2022, let them know we are open for enrolment from Prep to Year 6.

Gala Days Last week our year 4's participated in their sports Gala Day. From all reports the students had a fantastic time and represented themselves and the school very well. The year 5's and 6's will be attending their Gala Day next Friday 10 September. Any parent/carers who wish to attend are more than welcome. Unfortunately, late permissions will forfeit your child's participation along with inappropriate behaviour or lack of attendance to training.

Year 6 students High School is just around the corner for our Year 6's. Families are reminded to complete your enrolment now at your preferred High School.

Yours in education, Phil Theofanes - Deputy Principal

Term Planner

Thursday 2 September Student Council Free Dress day – gold coin donation

Student Leaders Meeting 10.50am

Friday 3 September Student Free Day (no school today)

Wednesday 8 September Swimming safety – P/1 (Last lesson)

Thursday 9 September Student Leaders Meeting 10.50am

Friday 10 September RU OK Day

Year 5 & 6 Sports Gala Day

P-3 Parade 2.20pm

Friday 13 September Milbi Market Trading week

Thursday 16 September Student Leaders Meeting 10.50am

Friday 17 September Rewards Day

School Holidays

Monday 4 October Public Holiday (no school today)

Tuesday 5 October Term 4 begins

Thursday 7 October Student Leaders Meeting 10.50am

P&C meeting 4.30pm

Friday 8 October P-3 Parade 2.20pm

Monday 11 October 2022 Student Leader Nominations open

Wednesday 13 October Pink Ribbon Day

Friday 15 October 4-6 Parade 2.20pm

Friday 22 October P-3 Parade 2.20pm

2022 Student Leader Nominations close

Friday 29 October 4-6 Parade 2.20pm

Day for Daniel

World Teachers Day (Qld)

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Reminder = Thursday 3 August is Free Dress Day

Father’s Day Stall

The P&C are excited to once again hold a Father’s Day stall from Monday 30 August to Thursday 2 September (or until stock is sold out).

Check out the Book Week photos which have been uploaded onto

the Torquay State School Facebook page.

Admin Please refer to your current account statements which were sent home last week for any outstanding fees. Some may already have payment plans or CentrePay deductions in place, thank you to those who have been able to make contributions to finalise your accounts.

As we approach the end of year these amounts are now overdue. The school relies on payment of these fees so that we can offer our students the Student Resource booklist items Scheme, and various activities and excursions. If you wish to set up CentrePay deductions or a payment plan, are suffering genuine financial hardship, or wish to discuss any of the details on your statement please contact the office on 4194 4333.

Instrumental Music A reminder that the beginner workshop will be held next Thursday at Kawungan State School at 8.30am. This is for 1st year string students who have returned their permission note. Notes have been handed out for students who are interested in learning a stringed instrument next

year. Students in Year 2 and above who wish to learn a stringed instrument are welcome to collect a note from the office. The stringed instruments available to learn at Torquay are violin, viola, cello and double bass.

Kind regards, Jenny Conlon, String Instrumental Teacher

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Helping Hands

Please report any absence Absence Line 4194 4366 or QParents App

Absences (past, present and future) can be quickly and easily recorded through the QParents app! Alternatively, phone our absence line on 4194 4366. If you receive a text message, please reply as soon as possible. If you receive an absence letter, please enter a reason and return the letter so we can remove the unexplained absence from the student’s record.

All late arrivals and early departures are required to be signed in & out by a parent/carer/guardian at the Office.

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KindyLinQ Look at our garden grow! The children love seeing how big our garden is getting. We enjoyed some wonderful singing of ‘Old Macdonald had a Farm’ this week, along with other regular favourite activities.

Come along any time between 8.45 and 11.45 and have a play.

Kind regards, Karen Walker - KindyLinQ Teacher

Library

Please check at home for Library books. We have a number that are overdue. We’d appreciate it if they could be returned at your earliest convenience.

Uniforms The TSS Uniform Shop is open for second hand school uniforms - Tuesdays 8:30-9:00am

Thursdays 2:30-3:15pm.

New uniforms are available from Sauers Clothing Supplies, 1/5 Torquay Rd, Pialba.

School hats are $12 and are available from the TSS Uniform Shop or the Office. Please note Queensland Education’s “No Hat No Play” policy – if students do not have a hat they must remain under cover for play time.

School Watch Number: 131 788

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Curriculum Corner

It can be easier for children to understand maths concepts and practical applications when they relate it to

something real and see it as part of everyday life. In the outdoors When walking, talking, looking and listening, families can explore and use mathematics every day. Introduce children to maths in the outdoors by counting steps, walking distance to school or park, finding numbers and shapes and mapping your path. Reading numbers on road signs, letterboxes and speed limits. Numbers are everywhere!

Around the house You can use a range of household objects to explore and discover numbers, measurement, patterns and shapes. Cooking with your child is a great way to work with fractions. Cut the toast in half or quarters. Measuring using measuring cups. I can’t find my 1 cup measuring cup, what other cups could I use? Telling time using visual routines. What time do we get up, go to school, eat dinner, go to bed? How many minutes/hours from dinner to

bed time. You can play the iPad for 1 hour. What time will that be? At the supermarket

Shopping is a regular activity that can help children explore mathematical ideas that are both simple and complex. Young learners can help to find items on the shopping list, look for interesting shapes or numbers, or talk about the size or weight of things.

Some helpful tips:

• Talk about math in a positive way. Avoid saying that you are bad at maths or that you didn’t like math when you were at school. A positive attitude about math is infectious!

• Encourage persistence. Some problems take time to solve. Adding money using real money can take time, but the hands-on experience is worth it!

• Encourage your child to experiment with different approaches to mathematics. There is often more than one way to solve a math problem.

• Encourage your child to talk about and show a math problem in a way that makes sense (i.e., draw a picture or use material like macaroni).

• When your child is solving math problems ask questions such as: Why did you...? What can you do next? Do you see any patterns? Does the answer make sense? How do you know? This helps to encourage thinking about mathematics.

• Play family math games together that add excitement such as monopoly, snakes and ladders, math

bingo and Uno.

• Technology + math = fun! There are great computer math games or Apps available on the internet that you can discover with your child. Some of our favourites at Torquay are:

https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/ https://www.coolmathgames.com/ https://www.topmarks.co.uk/

Remember to talk with your child’s teacher about how you can work with your child in maths. When teachers and parents work together, children benefit!

Yours in education, Tanya Carmichael, HOD- Curriculum

We say: Not now, not ever, together

The Queensland Government is committed to the elimination of domestic and

family violence. The Government’s Third Action Plan highlights that by taking action and working together, we can end domestic and family violence in our communities. Our school is committed to modelling and building relationships that are based on equality and respect, free from violence and abuse. You play a critical role in teaching respect.

More information and access to support services for domestic violence are available on the Queensland Government website.

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*** Community News ***

St Vincent De Paul Society St Joseph’s Conference Hervey Bay are pleased to announce that we will be once again be offering assistance to children/families in our area who may need assistance with Back to School costs. We assist with the cost of uniforms and stationery. Families are required to have a current Centrelink Statement and can contact the centre on 4194 0861 on Monday Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9.30am to 11.30 am.

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The Fraser Coast Regional Council have partnered with Paddle Queensland to bring their participation program PaddleFest to the region for the next three years. The inaugural Fraser Coast PaddleFest will be held at the Hervey Bay Surf Life Saving Club over the 11th and 12th of September and showcase the stunning waters of Hervey Bay to the greater Fraser Coast communities. PaddleFest is a truly unique event focused on the mental and physical benefits paddling provides the community while providing participants the opportunity to experience a range of paddle craft while enjoying the stunning waters of Torquay. Further details about PaddleFest can be found https://qld.paddle.org.au/2021/08/18/its-time-to-paddle-at-hervey-bay/

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