1032 Lowood-Minden Road,MINDEN,QLD,4311,Australia

Phone: 5425 7222

Website: https://mindenss.eq.edu.au  

Email: admin@mindenss.eq.edu.au

Dates To Remember

  * Term 3  10/07/17 - 15/09/2017

  * Whole School Assembly

  15/09/2017

  * P&C Meeting   11/09/2017  * Free Dress   14/09/2017  * Queens Birthday Holiday

  02/10/2017

  *  Term 4 Starts   03/10/2017

  *  Yr 5-6 Camp   04/10/17 - 06/10/17 

  * School Photos   09/10/2017  * Swimming Starts   10/10/2017

From The Principal

Fire Drill

Given that fire season is well and truly upon us, do you have a fire evacuation plan for your home? Are you certain that all family members are familiar with it? At Minden, we practise a number of emergency procedures, including fire drills, throughout the year. Drills take place at different times of the day, including during breaks, so children learn

what to do and where to go if a real fire evacuation at school becomes necessary.

Warmer weather

Spring is on the way and the dry conditions have played havoc with hay fever sufferers and those prone to similar allergies. If your child takes medication for these conditions, please ensure the office is notified.

School photos

These will take place on Monday 9 October. Forms have been sent home this week. Please contact the office if you don’t have them. Children are to wear formal uniform – royal blue polo and royal blue bottoms. Girls may wear the school dress if they prefer. Year 6s are not permitted to wear their senior shirt.

Swimming

Swimming lessons will commence in week 2 on Tuesday 10 October. We will again be heading to Woodlands. Permission forms with payment details have been sent home. Please contact the office if you need another copy. Parent helpers are welcome especially for the junior classes. Parents/carers please note we are not able to cater for pre-school aged children at the pool. The proposed timetable is on the permission form.

Library Books

Our wonderful library aides would like all library books returned next week. Please remind your child to find lost books and return them to the school. In the event that a book cannot be found, parents may be invoiced for a replacement.

Help Wanted

Next Wednesday 13 September we are having a library book covering day. If you can spare an hour or so we would appreciate your support with covering a very large pile of new books. Please let the office know if you can help.

Working Bee

If you’re looking for something to do with the kids on the holidays come along to the P&C working bee on Wednesday 20 September – that’s the first week of the school holidays. Our focus will be on cleaning out the Sports Equipment bay in the Sports Centre and relocating it to the Grounds Shed. The long-

term plan is to have the storage bay lined and sealed to reduce the amount of dirt and vermin that gets in. If time permits, we would also like to give the grounds a general tidy-up with pruning and weeding. Children and adults are welcome to come along, with the P&C having a free sausage sizzle lunch.

Lost property

We have accumulated a significant amount of lost property this term ranging from clothing to lunch boxes, water bottles and shoes. Parents/carers are welcome to look though the lost items in the office at any time. At the end of the term any bits and pieces not claimed will be disposed of or be donated for sale in the second-hand uniform shop.

Whole school assembly

Come along to the Sports Centre next Friday 15 September at 2:15pm and help us celebrate the end of another successful term at Minden. There will be the usual awards and certificates along with the major GOTCHA draw, Attendance draw and class presentations.

Opti-MINDS

Over the last term, a small group of senior students have been working diligently as part of the Opti-Minds challenge. I had the pleasure of seeing our team perform on Sunday 27 August at UQ Gatton. They did extremely well for their first time receiving positive feedback from the judging panel. The team will be performing their presentation on the whole-school assembly.

Attendance

It is hard to believe that there is only one week left until the spring break. Our current

daily attendance rate is 90.8% which is well under Education Queensland’s target of 95%. Fridays have the highest rate of absenteeism.

Term 4

Term 4 commences on Tuesday 2 October. Monday 1st October is a public holiday.

Keep a watch on our school these holidays

Parents and students can help take care of our school by reporting any suspicious after-hours activity to School Watch on 13 17 88 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. By keeping an eye out we can work together to create a safer school community and help to reduce vandalism, theft and arson in our school.

If you see something suspicious, please don’t intervene. Call the CRIME STOPPERS number and let the local police or State Government Protective Security Service deal with the matter.

 

Teacher Profile

Hi I’m Simone Whyatt and I have been teaching at Minden State School for 9 years. I have always had a passion for working with children and my journey started by getting my Diploma in Childcare and Education where I worked in numerous childcare centres as a group leader for approximately 7 years. I then got my Bachelor of Education and started working for Education QLD in 2005.

I live locally in the Lockyer Valley on small acreage. I live with my husband, two daughters, two dogs and numerous chooks. Both of my girls have attended Minden State School since prep. I enjoy gardening, reading, crafting and making things such as soap and jam etc. I also enjoy collecting old

things and antiques.

Student Council

On Thursday 14 September, we will be holding a Free Dress Day. Please ensure clothing is sun safe. Caps are not permissible. A gold coin donation per student is appreciated.

School Chaplain

School ChaplainAs the third school term of the year draws to a close, it is important to remember that, like us adults, our students are getting tired.  Sometimes a little extra patience might be required.  Keeping bedtime routine could be helpful to make sure everyone is getting sufficient rest. 

If your family has been unwell in these past few weeks, I hope that you are all recovering and your health is improving.  It has certainly been a difficult season for a lot of our school community.

The Blooming Treasures and Grade 1Thank you to Craig Severn who has been able to deliver some tyres to create a higher raised bed to grow the Year 1's potatoes.  These will be set up over the coming days.

Family Adventure Day – low ropes, high ropes and family gamesLooking for some family fun this school holiday?

Come along to our family adventure day! We will have high and low ropes activities as well as family games, something for all ages. All children must be accompanied by an adult as there is no supervision provided. High ropes climbers must be 7 years or older. Maximum of 70 spots so register to avoid missing out.

Tuesday 26th September

Laidley District State School Oval

9:00am – 1:30pm

FREE

Please contact our friendly team on 1300 114 397 if you are interested or would like more information.

This event is supported by; the Australian Government Dept of Social Services, Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Laidley District State School & Anglicare Southern Queensland

Hard Work + Dreams + Dedication = Success

Chappy (aka Mrs Hewett)

Rebecca Hewett

Outside School Hours Care (OSHC)

Operating Hours

 

Monday - Friday before school opening at 6:15am and after school closing at 6:00pm.

For bookings or details please see the OSHC esucatiors, call main office (07) 4638 7965 or email admin@hallthorpesports.com.au

General School News

Assembly Gotcha Awards

Gotcha Awards

Jazmine, Jayda and J-Lea

Congratulations!Classroom News

Prep News

Prep News:

*Sickness: We have lots of children away sick over the past couple of weeks, we hope most children are feeling better now and back into the school routine.

*Reading: I am very impressed, your help with ‘High Frequency Words’ is helping your child read with confidence. Keep up the great work! Keep working on HFW over the holidays.

*Items needed each day: Please make sure your child has a drink bottle each day and spare clothes/undies. We are having lots of student’s having toileting accidents at the moment. REMEMBER TO PACK SPARE UNDIES!!! As the weather warms up a drink bottle is a necessary item.

*Prep Presentation Term 3: Change of day and date. Keep free Tuesday 12th September 2pm. (change needed due to excursion)

*Excursion: Prep students enjoyed learning from authors and illustrators. Encourage children to have fun writing in the home environment.

*Reading Club: Our reading club in the morning is still going well, you are welcome to come in and spend a few minutes reading with your child in the mornings.

If you have any questions then please come and see me.

Thank you Mrs Williams and The Prep Students

Science

This has been a very busy term and students

are in the middle of assessment. Science Fair was held a couple of weeks ago and was a very busy day with students from four other schools joining us for the day. It was a busy day that I think was enjoyed by all. I know I slept well that night. Five year five students participated in a Science Challenge Day at Faith and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Then a few weekends ago we had seven students participating in the OPTI minds challenge at Gatton University Campus. They put on a terrific performance and should be proud of themselves. It has been pleasing to see the improvement being demonstrated in the capacity of students to not only carry out investigations but complete the book work that goes with it. Year six students are currently working with Maths Head of Department from Lowood High, Gavin Lind, in a program involving LEGO Mindstorm Robotics. It is a wonderful opportunity as the High School is providing both the robots and the technology to run them.

Curriculum Awards

Prep

Special Awards:

Eli - Eli is beginning to show he is 'ready to learn'.  Beginning his tasks quickly and independtly.

Nataliha - Nataliha is engaging more in learning, keep up the great work!

Joss - Joss is extending his learning, putting

more effort into task completion and extension of skills.

Linkan - Linkan is learning to have a go by himself.  Attempting task competion using his developing strategy.

Harrison - Harrison is learning to make good choices in the classroom.  Ready to listen and learn!

William - William is learning to get himself organized quickly.  Working on beginning his work independently.

 

Year 1H

Special Awards:

Amelia - For being a highly respectful member of our classroom, well done Amelia!

Ryder - For making fantastic positive behaviour chocies in the classroom, well done Ryder!

Year 1C

Special Awards:

Lachlan - For showing a huge improvement in high frequency words and stretching words out in reading!

Alayne - For showing great improvement in reading and never giving up!

Sofie - For showing great intonation and better fluency when reading.  Keep it up Sofie!

 

Year 1 Reading Links

Reading Links

Module 1 List 1 - Shaniah

Module 1 List 2 - Darcy

Module 1 List 3 - Shae

Module 1 List 4 - Shae and Parker

Module 1 List 5 - Aiden

Module 1 List 8 - Scarlett and Layla

Module 1 List 9 - Scarlett

Year 2

Special Awards:

Amber - Amber is always showing respect and responsibilty at school, well done!

Piper - Piper is showing responsiblity in her learning and trying harder with her neatness!

Zye - Zye is always trying hard and completing set tasks.

 

Year 3

Special Awards:

Charlotte - For taking pride in your book work,

especially your maths and writing books.

Keeley - For taking time and care when working on maths problems.

Malakai - For showing great improvement in being ready to learn and keeping on task.

Year 4

Special Awards:

Deegan - For taking your time to solve challenging maths problems!  Keep it up!

Tayla - For always having a positive attitude towards learning!  Nice work!

Lauchlan - For improved classroom behaviour!  Well done Locky!

Birthdays

 

Piper, Hailey, Rhianna and Sheridan

Happy Birthday from everyone at Minden State School!

Community Notices

Free Family Sports Event

School Holiday Activities

School Holiday ActivitiesLooking for fun, free and varied activities this school holidays?

Our school holiday program for school aged children will include fun games and craft activity where children will create their own book.  A great chance to meet other chilfren and beat that school holiday boredom!  All children must be signed in and out by an adult.

 

When:             Wednesday 20th

                       September 2017

Where:           Lowood State High School Hall

                       Prospect St, Lowood

Time:              9.00 am - 12.00 pm

Cost:               Free and a light morning

 

Please contact our team on 1300 114 397 if you are interested or would like more

information.              

Rosewood State High School

Rosewood State High School is conducting year 6 interviews from now until 3rd November 2017.  Please phone the office on (07) 5461 9400 to book your appointment. We look forward to hearing from you soon.