Weir State School Newsletter

WELCOME TO THIS EDITION - Seven weeks are now behind us and we are getting to the ‘business end’ of the term. I have noticed a gradual change in students over the term with regard to their attitude and behaviour. The kids have well and truly lived up to our high behaviour and learning expectations over the term and this has shown with great reading data and a clear shift in behaviours. I would like to thank staff, parents and students for your support and the superb achievements made. It shows the community working together can achieve GREAT things. Fantastic work Weir State School!!

COOL CLEANERS  - Day in day out there are a group of hardworking people that must be thanked – our CLEANERS. We are very lucky to have a great ‘crew’ of cleaners that keep our school and classrooms looking great. No matter when school is open our rooms, staff room, floors and toilets are always spot on. Our cleaners keep our school looking wonderful. If you see them out and about please let them know that they’re doing a super job.

LUNCHES - What kids bring to school to eat for lunches is of HIGH importance. We are all time poor however it takes the same time to put an apple or banana in a lunchbox as it does a packet of chips or a sugary snack. The perfect lunch is sandwich, yoghurt, fruit, nuts or salad. Please also remind your children if they have forgotten their lunch they are to get a sandwich from the office and not to take or ask for other student’s food.

BREAKFAST CLUB  - Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and unfortunately 1 in every 4 students have little or no ‘brekky’ before coming to school. We have a breakfast club that is run every morning by our wonderful staff so please remind your children that if they have missed their morning meal to visit ‘breakfast club’ which operates each day from 8am.

SUPER SWIMMERS - Congratulations to all of our students who represented Weir State School last week in the interschool swim carnival. Our students competed diligently and showed a strong sense of school values as they competed in their various events. Congratulations to all of our great kids and a HUGE thanks to Mrs Hartshorn, Mrs Francis and Ms Poletti for all of your great training and organisation in getting our swim team ready ……..Well done Weir State School!

END OF SEMESTER REPORT CARDS - All of our teachers are working tirelessly on report cards, busily assessing and spending long hours writing report cards. Please remember that a ‘C’ on a report card means the student is working and achieving at the required year level expectation. Report cards will be distributed the final week of this term and will complete student reporting for the 2020 school year.  Please contact administration if you have any questions regarding the reporting process.

MATHEMATICS IN OUR LIVES - Mathematics is important in daily living; almost every one of us uses some form of mathematics each day. We repeatedly count, measure, carry out simple calculations and estimate. We use spatial awareness and measurement skills to read maps or to find our way around in new locations. In order to understand weather forecasts, news reports, opinion polls and bank statements we use our knowledge of chance, data and statistics. This knowledge is also applied when we make decisions about loan repayments, superannuation, insurance and buying the weekly Lotto ticket.

Our homes are the site of many mathematical decisions and activities that occur regularly. Buying and cooking food, rearranging furniture, building sheds, sewing or knitting garments, paving, administering medications; the list is endless!

Families can take an active role in their children’s mathematical development by:

·       Encouraging them to talk about what they are learning in mathematics at school.

·       Listening carefully and asking questions when children are explaining their mathematical understandings.

·       Reassuring and encouraging their children when they face difficulties.

·       Taking opportunities to practise real-life mathematics learning in the home.

·       Engaging children in discussions about the useful aspects of mathematics in the home and at work.

·       Talking to teachers about their child’s progress in mathematics.

Many jobs require mathematics, but the kind of mathematics people needed fifty years ago is now inadequate. The rapidly changing nature of our jobs and their mathematical needs mean that our mathematical learning does not end with formal schooling. We all need to continue learning for life.

Remember that there are many languages spoken throughout the world but MATH is truly the only ‘universal’ language. (Dr Stephen Hawking, 1995)

This week’s proverb –  “ BETTER TO LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE   ”

Thanks for reading and  “GO THE FIRE !”

Mr B  -   Principal

Prep Interviews… Our very excited 2021 Prep Teachers are looking forward to meeting with our future Prep parents, and completing the enrolment process in readiness for the beginning of their child’s first year of school. Our Prep numbers are looking very healthy for next year, which is exciting to see. 

Is your child ready for Prep in 2021, but you haven’t enquired about enrolling yet? It’s not too late. Contact the school and arrange an interview today.

We can’t wait to welcome our new Preppies to Weir in 2021!

Great Gotchas… As our year draws to an end, it is important to celebrate our successes. This year we have continued to support Positive Behaviour with our Gotchas. We align them heavily to the PBL Rule of the Week and as a school, make a conscious effort to target positive behaviour … and what an outstanding effort our teachers, and the students who have received Gotchas, have done. This year to date, over 4500 Gotchas have been handed out to students demonstrating positive behaviour. It is important to note, that every Gotcha handed out, also comes with a positive conversation that informs the student of the positive behaviour being recognised. So, that’s over 4500 positive conversations that have taken place in our school. Add in the 750 positive conversations and moments that students have experienced, being part of our Gotcha Room, and there’s a lot to be proud of in regards to Weir’s recognition of positive behaviour. Well done Weir!

Rule of the Week… As the end of the year starts to draw near, routines and structures within the classroom, and the school in general, can change. This being the case there are always many instructions to be given… and to be followed. That’s why our rule of the week this week has been…

BE RESPECTFUL

‘Listen and follow all staff instructions…’

Sometimes students can find changes in routine and structure difficult. The key message that is being delivered to students this week is to simply listen and follow the instructions given, so that any new activities or events that present themselves can be completed and enjoyed as much as possible. If students can focus on meeting this expectation, it sets us all up nicely for a positive end to the year.

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Effective Discipline… Discipline means to teach. Effective discipline helps children learn how to get on with others so they can become socially integrated, personally fulfilled members of our community.  Discipline involves teaching children sound reasons for acceptable behaviour so they learn to respect another’s rights, while maintaining their self-respect, self-worth and happiness. Discipline therefore is not about punishment. It comes through love, attention, reward and encouragement. Effective discipline helps a child learn self-control, how to deal with BIG feelings, to express emotions appropriately and to learn to take responsibility for emotions.

Many parents recognise that strategies used when we were young are no longer appropriate. We need to learn different skills which reflect the needs of our children and the society they are growing into. Research has provided us with a greater understanding of effective parenting practices, and legislation now supports families finding non-punitive ways of guiding a child’s behaviour. One large study revealed that the more parents spanked their children for antisocial behaviour, the more the antisocial behaviour increased. The more children are hit, the more they are likely to hit others, including peers, siblings, and as adults, they are more likely to hit their spouses.

The effectiveness of discipline comes through a child experiencing copious quantities of love. Children need to know they are an absolutely necessary part of their family, no matter what. From this basis, parents can guide their child through setting limits and carry out consequences, while ensuring their child’s sense of self is intact.

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Mr Coey’s Joke of the Week…

Q: What was the snowman doing rummaging through a bag of carrots?

A: He was picking his nose!

We have our wonderful year 6 students who are transitioning off to high school in 2021.  If you haven't already decided which high school your child will be attending next year, now is the time as our transition programs will be put into place over the coming weeks. Some of our students will need to have several supported visits to their future school.

2021 Prep enrolments: Maryann Marshall (A/HoSES) will be supporting families during the prep enrolments for next year.  If you have a child/ know a family with a child who has a disability and will be enrolling in Prep at Weir SS in 2021 please let the office know OR write it on your enrolment form.  This way you can find out how our school will work to support your child as they begin their schooling journey.

Looking forward to a great term and wrapping up this very different year!

Yours in learning the SWD Team.

TONER CARTRIDGES are recycled through Planet Ark.

Printer cartridges are made up of a combination of plastics, metals, foam, ink and toner.  Throwing them into landfill contributes to the growing problem of electronic waste. By recycling your toner cartridges you are helping to reduce this waste. Please place them in the Planet Ark box next to the purple Battery World bin, downstairs Block 7.

Bring your BATTERIES into school so that we can dispose of them in an environmentally friendly manner.  Car batteries must be delivered to Battery World on Ingham Road. The purple Battery World recycling bin is placed downstairs of Block 7.

Spare SHOPPING BAGS are welcome at the Library so that our library books are always protected.