Dear Parent and Caregivers,

We have continued to settle in well at Enoggera SS and our teaching and learning programs are in full swing including our differentiated and supported Guided Reading and Spelling Groups, which commenced this week.  I continue to be amazed at the talents and efforts of both our students and our wonderful staff who go above and beyond every single day.

2021 Vision

It is that time of the year, when our strategic planning for the year is finalised to guide our focus, energy and budgets through the year.  As part of our 4 year Strategic Plan 2020-2023 our 2021 Annual implementation Plan and our 2021 Investing For Success Plan will focus around the following areas for improvement:

• Continuing to refine our work around the Australian Curriculum and assessment moderation processes.
• Continuing to build staff capability around differentiation and inclusive education practices to strengthen student engagement in the curriculum.
• Continuing to build our student literacy skills (Reading and Writing) as measured through NAPLAN testing in Yr 3 and 5, as compared to Qld Similar Schools.
• Continuing to build our programs and opportunities for enrichment around ‘The Arts’ and ‘Digital Technologies’
• Collaboratively developing the schools wellbeing programs and supports as part of our ‘Student Learning and Wellbeing Framework’ and a ‘Staff Wellbeing Framework’.

Inclusive Education

Inclusion or Inclusive Education is a fairly new term aligned to the Department of Education’s Inclusive Education policy which supports a shared vision that all students in Qld state schools receive the support they need to belong to the school community, engage purposefully in learning and experience academic success. As mentioned above this is  significant area that the staff at ESS are working through and continuing to build their skills around as we refine our policies and procedures to support all students in our school community.

Instrumental Music- Strings

Our Instrumental program in Strings, kicked off with a fantastic Beginners Music Camp last week where our new strings students who attended the camp were a credit to our school.  Regular lessons kicked off at school this week with all students getting into routine re; lesson expectations and home practice expectations.  This is an important program at our school and we are lucky that we are able to school purchase an additional teacher allocation to provide more students with the opportunity to learn an instrument at school.  Currently our program is at capacity.  We look forward to hearing from our instrumentalists at their first school performance later in the term.

NAPLAN 2021

As you may have heard in the media, NAPLAN will continue for students in Yr 3 and 5 in Qld schools in 2021.  As our school was preparing to go online with NAPLAN testing last year before it was cancelled we will continue that preparation this year.  We will conduct the practice tests for the students to practice the format and to check connectivity etc between March 22 and April 30 and the actual online tests will be conducted between 11-21 May, 2021. If your child is in Yr 3 or 5 and you have any concerns about your child sitting the NAPLAN tests this year please contact myself or our Head of Department-Curriculum- Mrs Amy O’Malley.

Parent Information Sessions

Thank you to those parents who were able to attend the Parent Information Sessions held yesterday evening.  It was great to walk around and see positive numbers in most sessions and informative sessions happening across the school.

We appreciate that having them on one evening, whilst was helpful for some families, may not have been helpful for others and we have taken on board the feedback provided to the school already.  I would ask that if you have any other feedback for us about these sessions please complete the survey below as this will be useful information to guide our planning for next year.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/C3PHGWG

Parent Teacher Interviews

We are also planning to do our Parent Teacher Interviews in one evening on Tuesday 23^rd March from 3:15-6:45pm.  Information re; how to book through the booking processes using the SOBS program will be sent out in a few weeks.

Term Overviews

Following the information sessions, our teachers will be sending out Term overviews of the learning happening in each class this term.  This will be an overview of the concepts to be covered and the assessment to be implemented.

City District Swimming Trials

Congratulations to the students who competed at the District Swimming Trials today.  Whilst there were no major placings on the day, they all competed credibly and there were plenty of personal bests swum.  They represented their school with pride and behaved impeccably.  Well done to:  Asha M, Portia K, Ellia S, Callum L, Henry Dolding, Kenzie P, Tyler C, Layla G, Shane M, Isla M and Avery P.  Thank you to Mrs Jardine for all her organisation and also to Miss Penny for managing our school team at the carnival.

Till next time,

Mrs Anne Robinson

Principal

In Prep we are reading stories that help us to use our imagination. We have read ‘The Magic Hat’ by Mem Fox and we have made our own magic hats!

We have been learning some letters and sounds and we have even started writing!

In maths we are learning about the days of the week and our numbers to 10.

In science, we are exploring living things and this week we will learn about our senses and how we can use our senses to explore living things.          

We love our music and dance classes each week; they’re lots of fun!

Prep/1 News

It has been a busy couple of weeks settling into the routine of school. The Year 1s have been wonderful models for our new Preppies!

The Preps have started learning their letters and sounds with Jolly Phonics. They learn 4 new sounds a week. Each sound has a supporting action, song and story as well as associated sorting, blending, writing and collage activities.

Last Monday we had the first visit from our Year 5 buddies. They will be visiting every second Monday before Assembly to read stories or complete art tasks with the Preps.

In English we have been talking about the difference between stories and information books. During Maths, the Year 1s are modelling teen numbers, while in Science we are talking about living things and their habitats.

Arts and Digital Technologies News

Welcome to all of our new families in 2021!

It has been fabulous to meet the new students and what a fine job our Preps are doing to settle into routines. We look forward to their participation in Arts and Technologies at ESS.

Below is an outline of some planned lunchtime activities for 2021. Prep students will be able to join these clubs in Semester 2. For now, it is important to give our Preps every opportunity to familiarise themselves with their designated play areas, to practise routines and to develop strong social/emotional skills through playing with peers.

Planned activities for 2021

Senior Dance Ensemble (Years 4-6)

Letters will be going home this week regarding Senior Dance Ensemble. Rehearsals will take place every Tuesday morning in EPAC from 8am commencing February 16th. Participation in this program is via invitation only.

Wakakirri (Years 4-6)

At this stage, Wakakirri Live is back on at the Logan Entertainment Centre late August (though with some modifications to the regular format). You can catch all the latest information through the Wakakirri website, https://www.wakakirri.com/story-dance-live-information/

Our whole cast rehearsals will commence Term 2 on Friday afternoons.  As part of the Dance-Making curriculum, we are learning some movement sequences from the story dance to perform as assessment. Information regarding Wakakirri will be forwarded to families later in the term.

Thank you

Mrs Melissa Wilcox

wilcoxm@eq.edu.au

Welcome back to the new school year. We are looking forward to some fantastic Music making this year!

We have our Choirs and Recorder Club starting up in Week 3 all held on the EPAC Music room. New students are welcome! If you are going to join, please bring a display folder for your Music/Lyrics. Recorder Club members will need their own Recorder in a case.

• Junior Choir- Monday 1^st Break after eating- Open to all Prep-Year 3 students. We sing fun songs and have a great time!
• Senior Choir- Friday 8-8:40am- Open to all Year 4-6 students. We sing more challenging songs using 2-3 part harmony but that is still accessible to the student who hasn’t sung in a Choir before. If students wish to take part in Senior Choir this year a note will be sent home on Friday. Please return the slip by or at the first rehearsal next Friday 12^th Feb to Ms Hopper or the office.
• Recorder Club- Friday 1^st Break after eating- “Pitch Plastic” enjoy playing music that caters for all Recorder abilities. We have students from Prep-Year 6 in a dedicated group that has a lot of fun.

Performances on Assembly:

The first scheduled performances for our Choirs and Recorder Club are as follows:

• Junior Choir and Recorder- Term 2 Week 4
• Senior Choir- Term 2 Week 6

Ms Mariel Hopper

Classroom Music Teacher

mxhop2@eq.edu.au

Welcome back to another wonderful year at ESS.

We have such an amazing library at Enoggera and it is always a hive of activity. Our library is open every first break where we have some lovely places to sit and read, colour in, play with Lego and the upper grades can do their borrowing. During the next week the Preps will visit the library and will then be able to visit at lunchtime as well.

All classes have now chosen their borrowing days so please check with your child’s teacher to confirm what day to bring in library bags.

The first Issue of Scholastic Book Club will be going out to students shortly. To place orders follow the instructions on the order form attached to the brochure. If paying by cash, payments can be made to the office on either Tuesday or Thursday. However, the preferred and easiest method is online through the LOOP system. There are some great offers available including free books with some purchases and the school also earns free books and resources to assist in the library and classrooms.

Coming up on the 15^th – 21^st March is Harmony Week where the message is ‘EVERYONE BELONGS’. The idea of Harmony Week is to promote diversity and acceptance of other cultures. ... Harmony Week aims to start a conversation about heritage, culture and community. We will have a display in the library with some activities for students at lunchtime.

Happy Reading and looking forward 2021 

Shannon Green

Library Aide

Welcome to 2021 and a year in sport.  After many cancellations in 2020 of sporting events, plans are underway to reinstate many events into our calendars.  While we will have to get used to a new  ‘Covid Normal’ which for many events at a district and regional level will at this point in time be ‘Spectator Free’, it is exciting to see that these opportunities are again opening up for our students and not just for elite athletes.  Our calendar is jammed packed right from the beginning – if you do have questions relating to sport, please email me at jjard16@eq.edu.au and I will endeavour to answer them or find out the answers from the relevant group.  

2021 will also see major changes to the Health and Physical Education (HPE) Program at Enoggera in line with full implementation of the Australian HPE Curriculum.  A separate information letter will be sent home regarding changes.  Some of the most significant changes for our school however,  include welcoming Mrs Prill to the HPE team.  Mrs Prill will be teaching PA, PB, P1A and 1A on a Thursday.   All other classes will continue to work with Mrs Jardine, who will now be working at Enoggera three days per week on a Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

District Swimming Carnival:

Wednesday 10th February, a number of our students will get the opportunity to participate in the District Swimming Trials at the Lawnton Pool, good luck to those participating.  This is a ‘Spectator Free Event’.  Details have been sent home with those students who have qualified for this event, please ensure permission forms are returned to school by Friday 5^th Feb. Further information will be sent to those involved via email as it is provided to us.

Class Swimming:

This will be kicking off in Week 2 (Wednesday 3^rd Feb) for 1/2A class up to year 6 students.  The PA, PB, P/1A and 1A will commence swimming in Week 5 (Thursday 25^th February).  A separate note with more details has been emailed home to families last week.

Thank you to everyone who has returned their permission forms to allow their students to participate in this program.  Anyone with outstanding permission forms has been contacted directly via email by the School Admin Team – if you have received an email requesting permission please ensure you return those forms urgently, students are unable to participate in class lessons until that form is returned.

During the term we will be focusing on water confidence and safety in the pool, as well as safety and wellbeing in other settings.

Jo Jardine

jjard16@eq.edu.au

A huge welcome to all of our newly posted-in families who have joined us from all around Australia and across the globe this year. What a stressful time to be moving, quarantining with children, starting new schools, new jobs and a new location. We take our hats off to you and acknowledge how difficult this posting has been for many. We’ve had a lot of new prep families join us this year so welcome to you also. By now I have been in touch with most of our new ADF families but if you have not heard from me as yet, please feel free to email me directly on jkell551@eq.edu.au or pop into the library and say hello in case I have missed anyone from the enrolment process. My DSM role here at Enoggera SS is to support all of our schools ADF families by welcoming, parental absence support due to deployments, exercises or postings, integrating, farewelling and general wellbeing of students and families. I am available to our families on a Thursday and Friday and I host a Defence Kids Club on a Friday at 2^nd break, in the library, if your child is interested in attending. We play games, make new friends, reconnect with friends from other locations and have lots of fun. A great way for children of all ages to connect and support each other when needed and meet other children who share this unique lifestyle. I will be hosting an ADF Parents & Carers Welcome Coffee Morning on Thursday the 11^th of February (Week 3) so please check your emails for details. I hope your child is settling in well and I look forward to getting to know everyone within the next few weeks. Please see below details for the upcoming Gallipoli Barracks Welcome Day Event and the DCO Virtual Welcome Event.

Welcome back everyone a warm welcome to new ESS parents and care givers.  For those who are new to the school, please follow us on Facebook (@EnoggeraSSPandC) and read more about the work of the P&C on the ESS school website (www.enoggerass.eq.edu.au).  If you would like to contact the P&C, please send us a message via Facebook or email us at enoggerapandc@gmail.com

Next P&C Meeting 23rd February @ 6:15pm, all welcome.

Call for nominations - P&C Executive

2021 will be a year of renewal for the P&C with all four of our hard working P&C Executive Members intending to resign from their roles on 23rd March this year at the AGM.  After years of service to the school community and as the driving force behind some very successful fundraising initiatives, Jacqui, Patricia, Bec and Ainslie have decided to step back which means we are calling for nominations from interested ESS community members to take on an executive role.  For more information on any of the executive roles, please email enoggerapandc@gmail.com. 

The P&C is also recruiting a paid position for a part time Operations Manager.  For further details on this role please take a look at our Seek ad -

https://www.seek.com.au/job/51351015?type=standard#searchRequestToken=b620f237-e139-4dad-82b0-cbff4c757969

Uniform Shop

A reminder that our Uniform Shop is open every Tuesday morning during school terms from 8.15am.  All items have been restocked and are available for sale.  Order can also be placed via the QKR! App.

The Tuck Inn (our Tuckshop)

Our tuckshop is open every Wednesday and Friday and our Tuck Inn menu for Term 1 is now available on the school website.   Our tuckshop is managed by the wonderful Rosetta but we also need volunteers to assist Rosetta each Wednesday and Friday morning from 9am - 11am.  For further information, please contact Rosetta directly on rosettadimauro@bigpond.com.

To order tuckshop, please make sure you've downloaded the QKR! App and follow the prompts to set up your account and student details.  Orders can only be placed via QKR and they must be placed by 8.30am on the morning of tuckshop day. 

We are also seeking donations of the following items for the tuckshop.  If you wish to donate, please contact Rosetta to arrange drop off:

Alfoil, paper towels, desiccated coconut, rice malt syrup, coconut oil, tinned corn, tinned crushed tomatoes, hand sanitizer, dishwashing liquid, chux, block butter, raw sugar, milk choc chip bits, self raising flour. 

Containers for Change

Please help us fill up those Containers for Change bins at school (purple bins) with suitable containers for recycling.  To check if your containers are eligible, check the back of the container for the 10c symbol (lids must also be removed).  If you wish to visit the depot and deposit your own containers and contribute to the ESS scheme, our school scheme ID is C10051863.

If anybody has connections with any  local businesses who would be happy to save their containers for us to cash in as part of our fundraising, please contact one of the P&C members with details.

P&C Executive

President – Jacqui Phillips 

Vice President – Patricia Cabrera

Secretary – Ainslie Fiene

Treasurer – Bec O’Donnell

My name is Jesse, I am a local teacher and author (from Brisbane). I am writing to you to share with you my newly published children's book - Raymond The Raccoon, Misses His Friends - Which focusses on teaching children how to balance their screen time habits. Please note, the book is aimed at 5-9 year olds and is aligned with the Australian Curriculum. I hope you will consider purchasing some copies of my book for your school's library collection and/or as a teaching resource for classroom use. 

About the book:

Follow Raymond, a loveable Raccoon, on a quest through the woods as he experiences some of the harsh realities involved in a culture dominated by screen obsession. Through following Raymond’s quest, children discover that their health, wellbeing, and friendships can be greatly improved by disconnecting from screens and reengaging with the real world.

Please see more information at our website - www.raymondtheraccoon.com.au

Please also note we were recently featured in the Moreton Daily - https://www.moretondaily.com.au/news/striking-a-balance-between-screen-time-and-offline-for-children