Well this is the last newsletter of the term and it is a timely moment to thank all the staff for their hard work and dedication throughout this term week term. I’d also like to wish everyone a safe and enjoyable Easter break. Please make sure your children spend some time, and more time, and more time reading throughout the break. Make it a family activity and spend some time reading yourself. Making it an enjoyable, family event can increase your child’s enthusiasm for reading, particularly if they are reluctant (like my son).

This will also be my last newsletter of the year as from next term, I will be heading to Dakabin SS as their acting principal. I have been on an emotional rollercoaster as even though I am excited about the opportunity, it is so sad to be leaving a school that I truly love coming to each day. We have something very special here and this morning’s chappy breakfast really displays this. I would like to thank all the staff, students and school community for making me feel so welcome here and for being so great to work with. I wish you all the best for the remainder of 2021. I am unsure of what 2022 will bring, but if I don’t return, I have many years of unbelievable memories and friendships to look back on. If I do come back, I’ll be coming back with a smile on my face and I’ll look forward to working with you all again.

Michael Drake

On Monday afternoon we will be holding a whole school assembly for Prep to Year 6 in the hall, starting at 2pm.  Parents and caregivers are welcome to attend, however we request that those in attendance please wear a mask to ensure covid related measures are being maintained. 

We will be farewelling Mr Drake at this assembly and presenting our special Prinicpal awards to students in Prep to Year 6.

Our Senior Band will be performing at this assembly.

Due to Covid last year, students in Prep to Year 3 did not have the opportunity to participate in the school's dance program run by Creative Dance Industries.

As renovations to the hall will be taking place later in the year, we have decided to hold all the Dance lessons for Prep to Year 6 next term.  This will ensure all students get to participate in the Dance program in 2021.

Creative Dance Industries run a 10 week program for students that aligns with the Australian Curriculum. Weekly lessons run for 45 minutes in duration.  

The lessons provided by Creative Dance Industries allow students to develop, both individually and collaboratively: 

• body awareness and technical and expressive skills to communicate through movement confidently, creatively and intelligently
• choreographic and performance skills and appreciation of their own and others’ dances
• aesthetic, artistic and cultural understanding of dance in past and contemporary contexts as choreographers, performers and audiences
• respect for and knowledge of the diverse purposes, traditions, histories and cultures of dance by making and responding as active participants and informed audiences.

Creative Dance Industries have offered the following fee structure for their 10 week program to help reduce any financial pressure that combining all year levels into one term may have on families.

Costs for participation in the program will be as follows:

• 1 child = $27 (this is the same price paid for students in Years 4 to 6 in 2020)
• 2 children or more = $50 per family.

This means that families with 2 children at the school will receive a $4 discount.  Families with more than 2 children, will not have to pay for their third or fourth child to participate.

Parents will be invoiced these costs at the begining of next term.

Unfortunately the Think U Know Cyber Safety program, that students and parents in Years 3 - 6 access each year, is unavailable at present, due to the deployment of Police personnel from this program to Covid related matters. 

Think U know does offer a range of activites that parents can do with their children at home.  

These activities have been designed for parents and carers to do with their children so that everyone can learn together about online safety and ways to prevent online child sexual exploitation.

Learning about online supervision – recommended ages 5-8

Learning about online supervision quiz

Learning about online supervision activity sheet 

Learning about personal information and image sharing – recommended ages 8-12 

Learning about safer gaming and smart usernames– recommended ages 8-12 

In Term 3, the Queensland Government's Cybersafety and Reputation Management team will hold a presentation at school for students in Years 4 to 6 (Parents will be welcome to attend). The Cyber Safety presentation will explore the following topics:

• Understanding digital footprints and responsible digital citizenship.
• How to protect personal information when creating online accounts.
• Cyberbullying and standing up for friends online.
• Account privacy and how to create a strong password.
• Responding to negative online content.
• How to handle yourself if you're having a difficult time online.

Any parents from PREP to Year 2, who are interested in finding out more about the Year 3 iPad program for 2022, are invited to a parent information session on Thursday 22 April from 6:00 – 7:00pm in the school hall. 

The information presented at this session will explain the PRSS BYO iPad program for Year 3 and how the iPads will be used in the classroom. 

There will be time for a questions and answers regarding the program, at the end of the presentation. 

Parents of students in Prep to Year 2 are invited to attend the Patricks Road Easter Hat Parade on Thursday 1st April, in the school hall, for a 9:15am start. Come along to see students perform an Easter song and show-off their amazing Easter hat creations.

To ensure COVID safety and social distancing measures are met, parents are asked to please wear a mask to this performance. 

It was with great pleasure I got to accompany the Year 6 cohort to camp at Tallebudgera last week.  The students demonstrated all of our TARGET values; Teamwork, Acceptance, Respect, Gratitude, Excellence and Tenacity. It was lovely to reconnect with some students I had already taught in previous years and meet other Year 6 students. We are very lucky to have such a lovely bunch of student leaders. The teachers all worked so hard during camp and I know the students definitely appreciated their teachers taking time away from their families to give the students these invaluable experiences. I would certainly volunteer to go on camp with these wonderful students again! 

Mrs Dale Jobling

Acting Deputy Prinicipal Years 4 to 6

On Thursday at first break a talented group of children performed in the hall. These children were supposed to perform at our Twilight Markets which unfortunately had to be postponed. A huge thank you to Lou Wall for organising the talented Year 3 – 6 students. The huge crowd in attendance loved watching the singing, playing and dancing students perform.  

Parent Teacher Interviews for Prep to Year 6 will be held next Wednesday 31st March.  Please adhere to social distancing measures by wearing a mask on the school grounds when making your way to the hall and waiting outside.  You will be able to remove your mask when seated at an interview table.

Bookings for interviews close on Monday 29th March at 3:00pm. If you experience any issues with booking an interview, please contact the office on 07 3872 1888, during office hours.  Please see below for information regarding how to book an interview. 

Thank you to all the Yr 6 parents who came along to the parent information evening to discuss the Ferny Grove SHS Excellence Programs. It was a very informative evening. If you were unable to make it, Head of Junior School, Sally Kennedy will be proving us with a PDF version of the evening that will be emailed out to all Yr 6 parents.

Mark your calendar Bookings for Moreton Bay Regional Council’s popular school holiday program open at 11:00am on Thursday 25 March 2021.

Visit Moreton Bay School Holidays to view the diverse range of free and low cost activities and events across Council Libraries, Galleries & Museums, Environmental Centres and the Active Holidays program. This timetable is your one-stop shop for all of Council’s school holiday activities in the Moreton Bay Region from 5-18 April.

Plan an adventure for your school aged children or family members today! 

Unfortunately we have had to cancel the Everyday Resilience Parent Night due to the Presenter being double booked. We will reschedule this for a later date. 

NEW DATE AND TOPIC JUST ANNOUCED

DATE: 12TH MAY 2021

NEW TOPIC: ONLINE SAFETY

Corss Country has been rescheduled for next  Monday 19th April. 

Program details for the day are as follows:

•     9am-11.00am:  Years 3-6

                  12 Years Boys (2009)                                        3000 M

                  12 Years Girls (2009)                                         3000 M

                  11 Years Boys (2010)                                        3000 M

                  11 Years Girls (2010)                                         3000 M

                  10 Years Boys (2011)                                         2000 M

                  10 Years Girls (2011)                                         2000 M

                         9 Years Boys (2012)                                         1000 M

                         9 Years Girls (2012)                                          1000 M

                   8 Years Boys (2013)                                         1000 M

                         8 Years Girls (2013)                                          1000 M

• 11.50pm-1.15pm      Prep A, B, ½ E Boys                     run 300 metres (1Lap)

         Prep C, D ½ E Boys                     run 300 metres (1Lap)

         Prep A, B, ½ E   Girls                  run 300 metres (1 Lap)

         Prep C, D, ½ E Girls                    run 300 metres (1 Lap)

                                       Year 2A, 2B Boys                         run 900 metres (3 Laps)

                                       Year 2C, 2D Boys                         run 900 metres (3 Laps)

                                        Year 2A, 2B Girls                         run 900 metres (3 Laps)

                                       Year 2C, 2D Girls                          run 900 metres (3 Laps)

                                        Year 1A and 1B Boys                    run 600 metres (2 Laps)

                                       Year 1C and 1D Boys                   run 600 metres (2 Laps)

                                        Year 1A and 1B Girls                    run 600 metres (2 Laps)

                                       Year 1C and 1D Girls                    run 600 metres (2 Laps)

Due to large numbers of children in PREP we will divide Prep E,

      Boys & Girls and will run separately and will not race together.                                                

Please note:

All Ribbons for Year 1 –Year 2 will be presented at the conclusion of each race and place getters photographed.  We aim to present the Age Champion medals and  Winning House Shield at the conclusion of both the junior and senior of the carnival, if time permits.  If we run out of time, these will be presented at the next Senior Assembly.

Thank you to all who came to the P&C Annual General Meeting last week.  Welcome to all new members!  And a big thanks to all returning members – it’s wonderful to have you back on board!  

As a result of the nomination process that happened at the AGM, the P&C have a new-look Executive team:  

President:  Heidi Parker 

Secretary:  Karli Walas

Treasurer:  Matt Hull 

Vice President – Business:  Dean Phillips

Vice President – Major Projects:  Rochelle Swaby 

A huge thank you to Sally McErlean, Allison Kelly & Katrina Bray who are out-going President, Secretary and Vice President.  It has been a wonderful P&C year(s) with these three leaders and their commitment to our school has been second to none.  We will miss them!  

Welcome to Karli Walas and Rochelle Swaby as our new Secretary and Vice President.  We are excited about moving forward with this new team and look forward to your leadership and the experience and skills you can bring to this new Executive.  

NEXT GENERAL P&C MEETING

The next general meeting is on Monday 19 April 2021 at 7pm in the school staff room.  This is the first day back for Term 2.

P&C Membership  

It’s not too late to become a member!  If you are interested, why not join up with a friend (it is always easier to have some support in a new environment).  Contact operations.manager@prss.com.au for a copy of the membership form and to find out more.  

We welcome all new and returning families to get involved and join us in supporting our school and our activities.

Need to contact the P&C  

You can email our P&C President Heidi Parker at president@prss.com.au or Business and Communications Manager Cathy Preddy at operations.manager@prss.com.au  

IT'S SO CLOSE NOW!!

The 3rd annual Pats Road Colour Explosion is next Thursday 1 April, starting at 1.15pm - and WE CAN'T WAIT!!

Thank you to everyone who has created an online fundraising profile at www.myprofile.com.au and made a massive effort to raise as much money as they can to support the efforts of this event.  All funds raised will go towards upgrading our school buidlings.

Things to check out below:

The Class Leaderboard - the class that creates the most online fundraising profiles at www.myprofilepage.com.au will win a set of Monstar Handballs - super fun for every student in the class!

The Final Details Letter - Colour Explosion - a paper copy of this was sent home earlier this week

The Permission Slip - a paper copy of this was also sent home earlier this week.  Please make sure it is returned to your child's teacher as soon as possible

Sign Up to Help Out! - Please put your name down to help set up, throw colour and / or pack up!  It's so much fun ... be careful ... you might end up having more fun than the kids!  Sign up here:  volunteersignup.org/LMLTF

We've also had some incredible local companies sponsor our event!  We are blown away by the generosity of both The Hills Bakery and Brisbane Bus Lines!  Both of these businesses have been long time supporters of our school - please make sure you say g'day and thanks next time you catch a Brisbane Bus Lines bus or buy your morning coffee and muffin from The Hills Bakery.

STUDENT VOLUNTEERS - 2021 TUCKY ANGELS-IN-TRAINING

The Tuckshop is now calling for students who have turned 10 who are interested in joining the Tucky Team and being part of the student volunteer roster.  Student volunteers will be required to work in the Tuckshop one shift per fortnight during 1^st or 2^nd break only.  Duties, responsibilities and skills gained include customer service, cash handling, restocking, communication skills, team work and leadership. 

If your child is interested, please download and complete the permission form, or collect a permission form from the Tuckshop and return it to us by the end of Term 1.  Student volunteer shifts will start from the beginning of Term 2. 

TUCKY ANGELS NEEDED - TERM 2

The new volunteer sign up sheet for Term 2 in the Tuckshop is now available!  Please consider putting your name down either once a week / fortnight / month / term.  Come and join the fun, meet some new people, get involved in your child's school.  Sign up here:  volunteersignup.org/HWF99

P&Cs Qld is the peak body supporting and representing more than 576,000* state school parents and wider school communities throughout Queensland. They support the achievement of quality educational outcomes for students through fostering parental and community engagement in a thriving and successful education system. Through their state-wide network of over 1200 P&C Associations and School Councils, they have the localised presence and voice to lead and enact change.

(*A conservative estimate based on one parent per student.)

Click through to view our most recent editions of Parent Talk - ttps://pandcsqld.com.au/members/publications/parent-talk/

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