Term 3 - 2024 Week 8 Newsletter

Principal's Message with Mr Ionn

"For Every Child, Fully Fund Public Schools"

The message currently displayed on our school sign, "For Every Child, Fully Fund Public Schools" is one you may see at other schools across Queensland this week. It's part of the advocacy work of the school leader professional association called QASSP (the Queensland Association of State School Principals). The Association represents the 337,500 state primary school students in this state. I have been a member for over 20 years and am Vice President of the Bayside Branch.

The message is intended to highlight to parents and the wider community how important the investment in public education is for the students of this country. This information is to provide you with an understanding of the issues behind the current impasse in negotiations between the Commonwealth and the States regarding the funding of public schools in the National Schools Reforms Agreement (NSRA).

The Association views the signing of the NSRA as absolutely vital for every student, school, staff member and school leader across the country. Government primary schools in Australia service 1.6 million students, yet less than 30,000 of them are fully funded. Twelve years ago, David Gonski delivered his report highlighting decades of underfunding of public schools.

The Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) was developed by the Gonski panel as a minimum funding requirement for every school, yet less than two percent of students attending government schools in this country are currently funded at this level. State schools in Queensland are funded at less than 91% of the Schooling Resource Standard with 70.5% coming from the State Government and 20% from the Federal Government.

QASSP members are calling for an agreement to be reached for the 2025 school year, for the sake of every student in our state school system. State schools in Queensland are great schools and offer a range of excellent learning opportunities for our students, however our school leaders know we can do an even better job for our students if we were funded at the full 100% of the Schooling Resource Standard.

In a rich and prosperous country, it is fair and reasonable to expect that our largest schooling sector is properly funded to ensure every student can be a part of the future prosperity of the nation.

2025 Enrolment Confirmation

Enrolment numbers determine school funding, including how many teachers we have. This is why it is imperative that if your child/children are NOT going to be attending WSS in 2025, please notify the front office ASAP. Also, if you have a Preppie for next year, please let us know, so the enrolment process can be completed, and your little Wynnum Warrior can come along to the Experience Prep and Meet the Teacher sessions!

Save the date!

Please see below for important upcoming events for the remainder of Term 3. 

2025 Prep Enrolments Now Open

Library Matters with Mrs Sutton and the Library Team

Well, what a happy Book Week we had!

How did we celebrate Book Week at WSS? 

• We started a little earlier this year with our Book Fair. Our WSS families bought over $1000 worth of glorious books over three days. Scholastic Books are rewarding us with over $300 worth of books for our library.  Thank you, Scholastic for your support and Mrs Lakeman for organising.

• We celebrated some of this year’s notable books and some special lunchtime activities were enjoyed by many students coming to the library. Creating ‘Reading is Magic’ headbands; magic wands and colourful bookmarks.

• We transformed our library into a magical destination for reading, with familiar book and nursery rhyme characters surrounding our exclusive…’Reading Castle!’ The students have been enjoying reading books in that space.  Thank you, Mr Keith (Castle engineer!), Ms Sellars and Ms Seeto for your creative skills!

• We of course, hosted audio books narrator…Stig Wemyss to our Year 2 – 6 students. A fun filled morning it was. Thank you again Wynnum Library and Borrow box.

• Now it is time to share some of the happy snaps from our Book Dress Up Parade. What a glorious day to show off our creations. Students and staff looked amazing.  Parents, families and friends, you all deserve a massive thank you for engaging in this very important event.  Many memories are made from these special school days.

Please scroll through some of the happy photos to follow.  Check out the fabulous writing from Miss Cox’s Year 1 class too.  What a fun week it has been.

Just keep reading!

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P-2 Science and Technology with Mrs Crowe

Year Two classes were thoroughly engaged throughout their recent Science excursion to Moreton Bay Environmental Education Centre (MBEEC) for their “Go with the Flow” program studying local water and how to protect our waterway).

Our young aquatic scientists worked in groups to investigate the MBEEC pond habitat. They closely studied tiny water creatures found in our local Wynnum Creek water and went on a ‘Water Walk’ to observe the way water moves through the MBEEC water catchment and the ways in which water is stored. Groups also explored ways in which waste can affect water quality and how we can dispose of rubbish to save our environment. A truly inspirational and educational day for all. Enjoy these photos!

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Electricity Safety Week 2024 will be held from 2 to 6 September. Electricity Safety Week raises awareness of the hazards associated with electricity and teaches students how to be safe around electricity. Safety Heroes is an educational program about electricity and how to behave safely around electrical equipment. Classes will engage in a range of educational learning experiences during their weekly Science lessons in Week Nine. Please visit the website for information and activities to use at home.https://www.energex.com.au/safety/kids-safety/school-education-program

3-6 Science with Mrs Brooks

Solid Pathways Newsletter Item

A few weeks ago, our students who participate in the Solid Pathways program attended the University of Queensland for a STEM University Experience Day. The day offered a variety of hands-on activities, workshops, and interactive demonstrations, which gave students a glimpse into university life. 

For the Wynnum State School students, our day involved attending three hands on sessions. The first session explored electrical circuits using a product called ‘Makey Makey’. The second session was held in the Antiquities Museum to explore the process of mumification, and the final session of the day was held by Engineering Without Boarders students who challenged the students to create a solution to a housing problem in countries where seasonal flooding impacts the environment. What an incredible day!

Senior Science Newsletter Item

This term students from Year 3 – 6 are exploring the Earth and Space Sciences.

The Year 3 students are exploring how the Sun, Earth and Moon create day and night and how shadows change as the position of the sun in the sky changes. Year 4 students are undertaking a unit called ‘Beneath our Feet,’ where students are exploring soils, rocks and erosion. Students have looked closely at different soil samples, taking note of how they feel, what they notice under a magnifying glass and how they sound when rubbed against paper. They then made comparisons, discussed how they are similar and different. The Year 5 unit is ‘Earth’s Place in Space’ where students are learning about the key features of our solar system and the inventions that may now be a part of our everyday lives due to space exploration. They are currently researching a chosen planet of our solar system to create an informative poster about their planet. Stay tuned for their creations. The Year 6 students are exploring geological natural events - volcanoes, tsunamis and earthquakes. We are focusing particularly volcanoes. How they are formed, the different types, their eruptions and why so many people live near one.

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Sports Report with Mr Blair

“To make a difference in the world, it only takes one optimistic person, who can gather millions of people to make the change.” John F. Kennedy:

I have been inspired by a man named Nedd Brockmann. On Friday I spoke about Nedd’s book Showing Up and talked about his epic run across Australia in 2019 from Perth, WA to Bondi, NSW over 46 days and nights. I am pictured teaching students about this run which raised $2.6 million for a homelessness charity called Moblise and this year he is trying another epic challenge: running 1000 miles over 10 days around a 400m running track, aiming to raise $10 million. The fundraising challenge is open to the public and I’m sharing it in this newsletter and thus with my colleagues, staff, students & families. Please use the website link below to help students understand the Physical or Personal Challenges they and YOU can pledge to over the dates of 20^th to 29^th October. As seen in the pictures below, a sample of student’s brainstormed pledges from each class I’ve taught since Friday has quickly filled on large whiteboard and students are sharing some creative, uncomfortable personal challenges they will try to complete e.g. 10 push ups/day for 10 days in a row, No IPAD leisure time for 10 days etc.

https://www.neddsuncomfortablechallenge.com/choosing-your-challenge 

Inclusion Matters

Last fortnight, we shared that our Year 4 team entered the regional Opti-Minds Challenge. Great news—we won! Not only did the Wynnum State School team achieve first place in the Language Literature challenge, but they also took home the coveted Spirit of Opti-Minds award for demonstrating:

• Capability: "Can do!"
• Responsibility: "If not me, then who?"
• Creativity & Innovation: "Let's try..."
• Unashamed excellence: Encouraging students to realize their own capacity and responsibility to make a difference for themselves and to adopt an "If not, why not?" stance.

The Team now progresses to the State Finals hosted at UQ in October.

Be sure to check out the team's trophy at the front office this week. Go Wynnum Warriors!

The Prime Minister's Spelling Bee has officially concluded, with a record-breaking 63,000 students from Years 3-8 participating in the school round! We're excited to announce that Wynnum has seven students advancing to the State Finals next week. Best of luck to our Year 3 and 4 finalists: Iannrah, Olive P, Claire P, Renae H, Lachie B; and our Year 5 and 6 finalists: Evie J and Holly M!

An un-bee-lievable achievement!

Samantha Hind

Inclusion Teacher

Jungle Adventure Play - Wellbeing Connection

P&C News

Adventure Play - Parent Information Session

Thank you to everyone who attended the parent info session on the exciting new Adventure Play (Loose Parts Play) initiative at Wynnum State School!

We’re incredibly grateful for the fantastic support from both the school and parents, which is making this project possible. We’re thrilled to see the new additions coming in Term 4!

A special thank you to Angus for volunteering his time to demystify risky play and share the fascinating history and global variations of these playgrounds.

Congratulations to Sophie, our lucky door prize winner and Steph, our raffle winner! Thanks to everyone who purchased tickets—we raised $200, which will go towards future info sessions and Adventure Play initiatives. Your support is truly appreciated!

If you would like to know more or support this initiative, please follow our Facebook  WSSPandC  for updates. We have already received some fabulous donations that require the use of a trailer for collection. If you have access to one we could borrow please send us an email at wynnumss.pandc@gmail.com.

Grant Success!

We are very appreciative of the Wynnum Manly Leagues Club for gifting the P&C $4956 for the cost of a new upright freezer and BBQ tools. Special thanks goes to our Vice President Kelly Rusbatch for preparing this application and sourcing a $1000 discount from the supplier.

A Warm and Happy Hello!

 Spring has sprung and we are excited to see the pool temperatures rising. It’s time to think about summer fun, water safety and enrolling for learn to swim and squad.

There’s a longer term scheduled for term 4, with 11 weeks for us to fill with interactive lessons and good times, new and enhanced skills and our dedication to your child’s improvement. Lessons are available at our very own Wynnum State School Memorial Pool on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays.

Our family are 12 years in the making and we look forward to working with you and your family this Summer.

Casual School Cleaning Position - Apply Now!

Wynnum Manly District Cricket Club Registration Open

Interested in signing up for cricket? Wynnum Manly District Cricket Club will be the club for your child! 

Please note FairPlay vouchers are redeemable when signing up at any one of our programs via https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/sports/funding/fairplay/apply

Blasters Registrations Open for the 2024/25 Season - Ages 5-10

Fantastic way for young kids (5-10 years old) to learn the basics of the game in a fun and inclusive environment, each participant receives their program pack with their very own bat, ball and personalised shirt. The younger kids have a more skills based program whilst our slightly older kids play fun small sided games in our Super Sixers competition!

5-6:30pm on Fridays at the club’s main field with a sausage to follow every week, 175 Boundary Street, Tingalpa. 

Term 4; 11th October - 29th November. 

Term 1; 31st January - 21st March. 

Registration link below (one fee of $210 that covers Term 4 & 1 as well as your participant pack):

https://www.playhq.com/cricket-australia/register/aa24af

For any enquiries please email
wmdccblasterscoordinator@gmail.com or phone 0404692504


2024/25 Cricket Registrations for Wynnum Manly District Cricket Club are officially OPEN! 🌟

Whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting out, our programs are designed to develop skills, foster teamwork, and most importantly—have fun! 🏆

📅 Registrations : Open now, closing Sept 10th
📍 Location: Wynnum Manly District Cricket Club - Boundary St, Tingalpa
🔗 Sign Up Online, Male & Female ages 8+ are welcome;

Links to register:

EDJCA U9 - U12; https://www.playhq.com/cricket-australia/register/22ee3f

BEARS Divisional Junior Cricket U13+; https://www.playhq.com/cricket-australia/register/675f85

Women’s Senior Cricket; https://www.playhq.com/cricket-australia/register/fa242d

Men’s Senior Cricket; https://www.playhq.com/cricket-australia/register/c1e732

For any junior grading, team placement requests, or general enquiries, please email Tony Green via wmdccjuniorpresident@gmail.com. 

School Facebook Page

Please visit the page via this link https://www.facebook.com/WynnumStateSchool  and click Like!

Qparents

Have you downloaded the Qparents app?

QParents is a secure, online portal that has been created to provide parents/carers of Queensland state school students with 24-hour access to their child's information.

Qparents allows you to securely access information about your child and communicate directly with your child's school.

Features of Qparents:

• attendance details
• report cards
• invoices
• payment history
• excursion permissions

Currently we have roughly 80 percent of parents/carers on Qparents. If you haven’t already made an account with Qparents, new invitation codes have just been emailed home.

Any further questions please contact the school office.

Absentee Line

To notify the school of your child's absence, please text your child's name and reason for absence to 0429 467 361.

2024 School Term Dates

School Bus Services

Just a reminder that we have a bus service that runs from Wynnum State School. Below is a link to both services.

https://jp.translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/timetables/bus/T/815

https://jp.translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/timetables/bus/t/819/outbound/2022-05-31

A Go Card will need to be purchased to be able to utilise this Translink bus service. The following link lists retail outlets of where to purchase a Go card https://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/go-card/locations 

PCYC - Before/After School Hours Care

Community News