It was a wonderful first week back at school, with all classes settled and working hard right from the first day. A very big welcome to all of our new families. Some of our new and not so new parents shared a ‘cuppa’ on the first day of school: thank you to Jacqui our P&C President for organising this.

A special congratulations to our Prep students who have handled their first days at school with confidence, although I’m sure with the heat and long days, many were very tired by the end of last week. Our Year 5 students have been mentoring our Preps and it has been wonderful to see the caring relationships building between the two groups.

Our year 6 leaders received their badges on assembly today. Well done to these students, who will contribute across the year to lead and support other students.

We have grown to 14 classes this year, and I’m pleased that the work of the Department and contractors enabled our two new classrooms to be ready for the beginning of the school year. Our Year 2 students have happily settled into the new building, which is a temporary solution until the investigation into a more permanent building solution is completed.

Our staff were hard at work the week before students started, planning and preparing for the year to come. One of our tasks has been to look at what is working well at Enoggera and what our future focus areas should be. Through consultation with staff, the School Council and the P&C, the following areas have been suggested to be included in our 4 year strategic plan:-

• Continuation of our existing writing improvement project
• Implementing programs to advance student learning in Digital Technology
• Developing programs and strategies for catering for diversity and inclusion, including gifted students, and increasing our excellence in The Arts
• Improving outcomes in Mathematics
• Caring for our Environment and Sustainability

If you have any feedback on these focus areas or any other suggestions, please contact me by phone, email or in person.

We have a new tuckshop name and exciting fresh menu to start the new year. A committee of volunteers and our Tuckshop Convenor, have been working hard to introduce new foods, including many prepared from scratch. The committee sought advice around allergies, to develop a menu suitable for everyone. It is timely to remind all families of the susceptibility of some students to foods such as eggs and nuts. We are aware of the need to reduce allergens within the school.  While baked goods containing eggs are generally considered lower risk, products that may contain raw eggs, such as egg mayonnaise or quiche type products can be dangerous for some students and we ask that these products are not included in school lunch boxes. Please also remind your children that they are not to share food with others at any time and handwashing regularly helps keep everyone safe.

We have an excess of furniture items under B block (outside the tuckshop area), including some bookshelves, computer monitors and computer desks. If you would like any of these items, please let the office staff know by next Wednesday, as we will be disposing of them after this time.

Carol Butler

Principal

Welcome Back

On Tuesday 28^th January we welcomed all of our 326 students into their new classrooms.  It was lovely to see the excitement and enthusiasm students, teachers and parents had in starting the 2020 school year.  Routines and expectations have been established and set with students and teachers co – constructing behaviour charts outlining desired classroom behaviours.  Please ask your child to share what their classroom rules for the year are.

Parent Information Sessions are being conducted in week 2 and 3 of this term.  Further information around these sessions was provided by class teachers’ in a Term 1 class letter sent home last week.  Should you have any questions around these please contact your class teacher.

Spelling Mastery Information Years 4 – 6

Targeted Spelling lessons have started this week.  Students have been placed in classes appropriate to their instructional need regardless of year level based on assessment collected.  Invoices will be available for payment via QParents from Friday 7^th February.  Payment via Bpoint is also available and details will be located at the bottom of your invoice which will be emailed to any parents who have not purchased a book pack order or made prior arrangements through suppliers.  Please contact me should you have any questions or concerns regarding this matter on 3550 1333 or aomal3@eq.edu.au

Amy O'Malley

Wakakirri (Story Dance National competition for students in years 4-6)

An Expression of Interest letter for Wakakirri 2020 has been emailed to families. This letter outlines the requirements and key dates for participation. It is very important that all families are aware of the commitment involved. The Expression of Interest should be returned to the class teacher by Monday 10^th February.

For further information, see the Wakakirri website www.wakakirri.com 

Melissa Wilcox

Year 3

Welcome back to 2020! This year Patrick Hawthorne (Year 3A) and Laura Arthur and Mary Fitzgerald (Year 3B) will be working with the Year 3 students. Laura will be on class Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Mary will be on class Thursday and Friday. Together with your support we look forward to making Year 3 a very rewarding and challenging year for the students.

As your child’s class teacher, we are your first point of contact. If you have any concerns regarding your child whilst at school, please contact us first so that we can discuss important issues with you.

3A - Patrick – pmhaw1@eq.edu.au    3B - Laura – lneil43@eq.edu.au   Mary – mfitz18@eq.edu.au

We have started Reading Groups this week as well as our Maths groups. The students have really enjoyed working with other students from both classes.

Homework will commence on Monday of week 2, with a focus on reading, spelling and maths. Students will be expected to submit their completed homework on Friday mornings. The students will also receive their log in next week to use with Study Ladder.

If you are unable to attend our Parent / Teacher Information session on Wednesday, we will be sending home some of the information this week.

Welcome to all of our new defence force families who have either just posted into Brisbane in recent weeks, moved from other schools or have a child joining us in Prep. I am your Defence School Mentor (DSM) available on Thursdays and Fridays in 2020. I support children who are dependants of full-time ADF personnel during times of parental absence due to exercise or deployments, transitioning in and out of our school due to postings and facilitate welcoming, integrating and farewelling activities for our students and families

I aim to support students social and emotional wellbeing and promote community engagement and support services for our schools ADF families. I have spent time getting to know all of our new students and I hope you have had an opportunity to go through the welcome pack with your child.  If you are a new ADF family to Enoggera and have not received a pack as yet, please let me know.

We have a weekly Defence Kids Club on a Friday at 2^nd break in the school library and your child is welcome to join in the weekly fun and games. This is an opportunity to meet other children with serving parents, who may have lived in the same locations, have parents absent at the same time or share similar experiences and make new friends. I aim to host one social event per term, either a morning tea for parents with guest speakers when available, at local venues or afternoon teas for the whole family, at a local park. Given that a number of newly posted families are still in temporary accommodation I will be holding our Welcome Morning Tea in week 3 of term with more info to follow via email.

I look forward to meeting you in coming weeks and hope your child is settling in at ESS.

Jody Kellin

Defence School Mentor (DSM)

Thursday-Friday

jkell551@eq.edu.au

We are super excited to have our new computer lab up and running. In this space, students from P-6 will explore digital solutions to problems and develop Information and Communication Technology (ICT) capability. Throughout the year, students will have the opportunity to join the Coding, Robotics and/or STEM Club. Club activities will run during lunch times and students will be notified of the details.

Coding Club (P-6)   - for students interested in dabbling with code (Scratch, Hour of Code)!

• Commencing week 3
• Every Wednesday first break
• Computer lab venue

Melissa Wilcox

Welcome back to another action packed year in the Enoggera library.

This term we have LIBRARY LOVERS day on February 14^th which happens to coincide with Valentine’s Day. So don’t forget to visit a library and share your love of books.

The borrowing timetable for all classes has now been finalised. Please check with the classroom teacher to find out individual class times.  Please send your child’s library bag on their specified day and return any library books from the previous week. If the student has overdue books they will not be able to borrow until the books have been returned.

If there are any overdue books still outstanding from last year please return to the library as soon as possible.

The first Issue of Scholastic Book Club has been issued to every class. 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. 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.

Looking forward to seeing all of the previous and new students in the library in the coming weeks. And don’t forget – in the famous words of Dr Seuss

Happy Reading

Donagh McKenzie and

Shannon Green

Welcome back to 2020! Music classes have kicked off to a flying start and it’s lovely to have met our new budding Prep musicians.

Our Beginner Strings are starting their Instrumental Music journey on Beginner Music Camp Friday and Monday.

Choirs and Recorder:

Our Choirs and Recorder Ensemble will be commencing on the following dates:

Senior Choir: Week 2 Friday 7^th February. Please note the time change this year- 8am-8:40am. A permission note has been emailed out today to Year 4-6. See Ms Hopper if there’s any questions.

Recorder: Week 2 Friday 7^th February. First break after eating. All welcome!

Junior Choir: Week 3 Monday 10^th February. First break after eating. All welcome!

Mariel Hopper

Classroom Music Teacher

Welcome to 2020 and a year in sport. The calendar is jammed packed right from the beginning.

District Swimming Carnival:

Wednesday 12th February, where 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.  

Class Swimming:

This will be kicking off in Week 2 (Wednesday 5^th Feb) for our Year Prep-6 students.  Thank you to everyone who has returned their permission forms to allow their students to participate in this program. 

During the term we will focus on water confidence and safety.

Students Unable To Swim due to illness – if your child is unable to swim on any particular week, please send a note to school with your child or email me at jjard16@eq.edu.au

Kilometre Club:

Before we know it Cross Country time will be upon us. In preparation for our Cross Country planned for late Term 1, I will be offering a Kilometre Club before school on Wednesday Mornings starting between 8 and 8:15am. Students will be invited to train for about half an hour prior to school. This will commence in Week 4.

District Sport Trials:

Term 1 & 2 are particularly busy with City District Team Sport Trials. Depending on the sport, students born 20010, 2009 & 2008 may be able to trial for City District Teams and ultimately commence a Representative Pathway.  This is an optional extra for students. It involves costs to parents in terms of trial fees, all trials are during the day with transport and supervision the responsibility of the parents. If students are selected in a City District Team there will be additional costs including, uniforms, team levies, possibly some travel to larger venues around the city. There will also be additional training sessions. Parents and Students need to be fully aware of the commitment that will be needed if they consider trialling.

As a general guide, the student should be participating in club sport or tournaments of the particular sport for in excess of one year.  Forms will be distributed by PE teacher if they are eligible to participate in trials.  They will need to be completed by parents, signed off by the Principal and taken to the trial by the student. School nominations will be submitted by the PE teacher for those students who have been provided with forms. If your student does not wish to trial please, let me know ASAP after you have received forms and I will withdraw the school nomination.

For some sports a trial will be held at school to select those attending trials as our nomination numbers are limited. Students who have expressed an interest will be advised of trials when they arise.

Please remember this is an opportunity at REPRESENTATIVE SPORT not an opportunity to try something new. 

The upper school classes have all discussed with me the sports in which they participate outside of school and their interest in potentially participating in representative trials and their experience playing their sports, which helps in considering whether it is timely for them to be nominated or whether they should be waiting for another year.   

A calendar of events is available from the City District Website. Please go to the link below and when on that page select the City District 2020 Calendar.   Please note there are a number of sports for which the trial notices have been handed to schools – if appropriate these will be given to students this week.  https://metnorthschoolsport.eq.edu.au/Districtsports/city/Pages/City.aspx

District & Regional  Athletics

The District and Regional Athletics calendars will be returning to normal programming in 2020 with the Nationals returning to their normal timeframe in November. 

Key Dates – this term.

• District Swimming (City)– Wednesday Feb 12^th
• Regional Swimming (Met North)– Wednesday Feb 26th
• Enoggera Cross Country - Wednesday 1st April

Jo Jardine

The P & C would like to extend a warm welcome to all the new families who have joined us this year at ESS.

Our first meeting of the year will be on Tuesday 24^th February in the EPAC Building at 6.15pm. New faces are always welcome. Come along and hear find out what our P&C are planning for the year and share any ideas you may have.

TUCKSHOP

The ESS P&C is excited to announce the re-vamped tuckshop – the “Tuck Inn” has launched, along with its new menu and so far the feedback has been very positive. If you have any feedback we welcome it in person, via email or our Facebook page at any time.

We are seeking volunteers for Friday service, working alongside Rosetta. We are looking for teams of two to begin being rostered on 1-2 times per term to help on Fridays in the tuckshop. Please contact Rosetta or the P&C for more information regarding rostering and requirements.

Kim, our wonderful long term volunteer, who has generously given her time for the past 5 years on Wednesday and Fridays - will continue to help on Wednesdays. She will also help us get the year off to a smooth start by assisting Rosetta on Fridays until Week 4. We thank her for her ongoing support.

After that we need your help to keep the Tuck Inn running. It’s a wonderful way to get involved in the school community!

Sushi will return as a highlight in week 4 and 8 of each term due to its popularity. Payment will be via QKR! as usual.

We hope you're excited about the new menu, and the volunteer opportunities.

Uniform Shop

The uniform shop operates Tuesday from 8.15 -9am. Uniforms can be purchased over the counter, or via the Qkr! App.  Orders made Via Qkr! can be collected by students or caregivers from the uniform shop the following Tuesday, or from the office if you are unable to attend the uniform shop.

RECYCLING -CONTAINERS FOR CHANGE 2020 CHALLANGE

After an incredibly successful year of container collection in 2019, we have decided to set a target of 15,000 containers this year!

This is a big goal but one we can definitely achieve! So please, start collecting your eligible containers and bring them in to the purple bins at the school between 7 am and 3pm Monday to Friday.

This is a great opportunity to get the kids involved in recycling while raising money for the P&C which will benefit the school.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact the P& C.

Should you wish to still visit the depot you can use our ID number to donate to the P&C.

Containers for Change – SCHEME ID C10051863

EVENTS   

Frozen Fridays - This term we see the return of $1 ice blocks for sale at 3pm every Friday outside the tuckshop.

Colour Run - April 3 2020 (last day of term 1) SAVE THE DATE!!!

Further details will be sent to all families in the coming weeks - this will be the first Colour Run at ESS and we are very excited to be brining this fun event to our students.

If you are interested in helping out – please contact the P&C via email.

STAY UP TO DATE ON WHAT’S GOING ON

The best way to keep up to date and involved in the P&C is via our Facebook page.

Enoggera State School P&C Association

We have established a mailing list to allow for us to email you directly regarding news, events and activities of the P&C.  Please send us an email if you would like to be added to this list pandc@enoggerass.eq.edu.au

GET IN TOUCH

We welcome any questions or feedback. Please get in touch with anyone from our committee via email

P&C MEMBER DETAILS

President – Jacqui Phillips                     Vice President – Patricia Cabrera

Treasurer – Bec O’Donnell                    Secretary – Ainslie Fiene

Visit by Registered Nurse for Free Prep Vision Screening

Good vision is important for a child’s educational, physical and social development. Vision screening checks for common eye conditions that may impact your child’s ability to see and therefore impact their learning and development.

A Registered Nurse will be visiting the school on Thursday 26/3/20 to conduct vision screening for children in their prep year.  If you wish to have your prep child participate in this free vision screening program, please complete and sign the consent form that has been sent home with your child and return this to your child’s class teacher by Friday 7/2/20.

If your child’s vision is screened, you will be advised of the results in writing. If a vision concern is found, you will receive a phone call from the nurse to discuss referral to an eye health professional for further assessment. If a vision concern is identified and your child requires glasses, eligible health care card holders may be assisted with free basic glasses through the Spectacle Supply Scheme.

Participation in vision screening is not compulsory. If you do not wish for your child to participate in screening, please complete the consent form and indicate that you wish to decline screening.

If you have any questions, please contact the Primary School Nurse Health Readiness Program on 1800 687 372.

White 2 Ring Binder Folders - 250 Folders @ $0.50 each

Please contact Adminstration - 3550 1333 admin@enoggerass.eq.edu.au if interested, minimum purchase 20 folders

Chess Mates is offered to students at Enoggera State School!

Chess Mates specialises in teaching chess to children of all age groups and skill levels. Our team is dedicated to teaching chess in a fun and engaging way, so that children of any age can join in regardless of experience level. We teach younger students through songs and stories, for older or more advanced students we teach openings, strategies and forward planning. We don’t focus on winning (in fact, we teach kids how to deal with winning and losing). Instead, we focus on making new friends and having fun while learning.

 Classes are held on Thursday from 3:00  to 4:00 in the Emmanuel Uniting Church. The cost for the classes is $12 per lesson. 

 If you have any questions about the classes please either e-mail info@chessmates.com.au or call Ash on 0415 256 452.