Barkly Highway State School - Term 2 Week 4
Principal's Welcome
Have You heard about the “Barkly Think Tank”?
Our playgrounds are a buzz with students engaged in a variety of activities which were identified by our students during our “Barkly Think Tank” sessions being held in classrooms on Tuesday afternoons after our weekly Social Skill lesson. “Barkly Think Tank” is a strategy in place to achieve the targets of Annual Improvement Plan (AIP) Priority 1- Engagement and Wellbeing Through Student Voice
Skipping ropes and hula hoops in the quadrangle, cricket and new game balls for soccer on the oval identified for each year level, all successfully being enjoyed, with timely reminders using our Positive Behaviour for Learning Framework to rule reminder, reteach the expectations, reflect and problem-solve to ensure all are playing together safely.
By intentionally listening to our “students’ voice”, they are actively participating in decision-making at school on things which shape their educational experiences.
We encourage our parents to stop and chat with our staff who make themselves available after weekly parades. Your "voice" needs to be heard, too!
STUDENT SAFETY
Please encourage students to go directly home from school before stopping at the Gallipoli Pump Track in the park near the school.
Over the last 7 days, it has been reported to the school that a number of Barkly Highway State School students, identified by our uniform, have been involved in inappropriate and unsafe behaviours, such as throwing stones, unacceptable name calling and throwing food, at the pump track. Disappointingly, when asked to stop, the students were rude with their response.
AFTER SCHOOL STUDENT PICK-UP
Thank you to families for collecting students at the end of school, at 2:30 each afternoon.
Students who are not collected quickly, must sit down under A Wing, for their and others’ safety.
THANK YOU, HANNAH!
Every day students are asked to assist with preparing for the school day. Hannah is commended for her commitment each morning, for being there, leading other Student Councillors to place out lunch crates and sweepers. Your community spirit is acknowledged!
Deputy's Report
ATTENDANCE- Everyday Counts!
Did you know? Research shows that in Queensland, higher student attendance at school is associated, on average, with higher student achievement.
Why is regular attendance at school important? Regular school attendance will mean that your child has a better chance in life. Your child will achieve better when they go to school all day, every school day.
- they learn better
- they make friends
- they are happier
- they have a brighter future.
Our school’s attendance data is regularly analysed and discussed with students. The ‘Every Day Counts’ strategy is integrated into discussions so that our students are aware of the importance of being at school every day. The school, classroom and students track attendance data each week.
The first weeks of Term 2 has seen our attendance data below the school target of 93%. Individual classes celebrate and acknowledge 100% attendance each day this occurs. At the end of each term, our whole school celebrates and acknowledges student attendance.
YEARS 3 & 5 PRACTICE NAPLAN TESTS Schedule – Tuesday 10 May to Friday 20 May:
Our NAPLAN test schedule has been revised due to our internet outage on Tuesday. Please find below our latest schedule.
Spark their Future - Why persistence matters
Not giving up easily and sticking at things when the going gets tough is an essential skill at school, work and in life. There are things you can do to help your child develop persistence, a trait that will help them at school and beyond. Remind your child that when they find something hard, persistence – or refusing to give up is what will give them the best chance of reaching their goal. The Spark their Future website has tips to help you develop your child’s persistence ‘muscles’, check out the tip sheet.
Link for stories: www.sparktheirfuture.qld.edu.au/persistence
You can help stop the spread of lice
Head lice are common in children (particularly between the ages of 3 and 11 years) and have nothing to do with personal hygiene or cleanliness. While head lice don’t carry disease, their bites can cause itching and skin irritation. To reduce your child’s risk of getting head lice you can ensure long hair is tied up, discourage the sharing of brushes and combs, and minimise head-to-head contact with others. Remember, anyone can get head lice. These critters have no preferences for hair colour or type, age or ethnicity. Check out this fact sheet for more information.
Link for stories:
http://conditions.health.qld.gov.au/HealthCondition/media/pdf/14/165/351/head-lice-v4
Looking forward to receiving the results of our students’ participation in the NAPLAN assessments later in the year. The information provided will support us to continue to improve how we facilitate learning at our school.
Cheryl Gallagher
The Arts
The Frog Prince performance
Barkly Highway State School is fortunate enough to host a performance of The Frog Prince by Shake and Stir & Opera QLD in term 3! Keep an eye out for more information closer to the next term.
Opera QLD Collaborative song making and performance
Students from the senior side of choir will be selected to be a part of a wonderful collaborative music making and performance project into next term! Schools around Mount Isa are having select students be a part of creating a song together for Mount Isa, which will then be performed during the rodeo. The selected students will be notified and then will need to commit to the creation, rehearsals, and the performance. Students from choir will be notified in the coming weeks. We are also happy to have our choir back and running this term for any students interested in years 1-6!
2 Blue went to Mars!
We had a space themed maths day and from the mouths of babes it was EGGTASTIC! The main part of our day was spent designing and creating a rocket ship to protect our special cargo (an egg) from cracking when launched (dropped from a high place). We were so proud of the way our class worked in their groups throughout this process and the conversations that were being had about which displayed. A great day of learning and FUN!
Events & Flyers
Want to know what's happening within the school? Check out our School Calendar to keep up to date.
https://barklyhighwayss.schoolzineplus.com/calendar/1
Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/barklyhighwaystateschool