Latest News

The Premier's Reading Challenge for 2013 begins this week. Students in Years 4, 5 & 6 have been given the Reading Record forms in their library classes. Once students have completed the challenge the forms are to be returned to Ms Sharp in the Learning Centre. The deadline to complete the reading is Sep 6. Families of students in Prep, Year 1, 2 & 3 who want their children to take part in the challenge can visit the PRC website and sign them up as Individual Student participants. Full details plus the Individual Student form can be downloaded from this site. http://education.qld.gov.au/schools/readingchallenge/index.html

From The Head of Primary

It is wonderful that we welcome back our Year 6 students who spent time during the first fortnight of this term in Beijing or Longreach. I was fortunate to attend the Longreach trip with the students and it was certainly an experience to remember. The students experienced first-hand the vastness of Australia, the diversity of the land and its people and they certainly got a “feel” for life in the outback. It developed for them a sense of Australia's outback and they learned much about our bush heritage. The places we visited were:

• Ilfracombe – tour of town
• Barcaldine – The Australian Workers Heritage Centre and the Tree of Knowledge
• Longreach Pastoral College
• Longreach School of Distance Education
• Qantas Founders Museum
• Stockman’s Hall of Fame – including an Outback Stockman’s Show
• Sunset Paddle Wheeler Cruise on the Thomson River including a Drovers’ Dinner

On our return trip, we travelled via Rockhampton and participated in the Capricorn Caves tour. I commend the students who attended this trip for their amazing conduct and behaviour throughout the whole time away. They showed a great deal of responsibility and respect for each other and their wonderful attitude throughout every minute of the week away made them a real pleasure for the staff to take away. The Outback experience trip was so beneficial for the students that I intend to offer this trip each year for Year 6. My sincere thanks to Mrs Bibby and Mrs Britten for giving of their time so willingly to attend this trip with the students.

THANK YOU

Thank you to the parents who assisted with the sausage sizzle and cake stall at Noosaville Bunnings last Sunday, to raise funds for the Primary School Musical. This event is only successful if we have many parents volunteering their time to assist, so my sincere gratitude to all those families who assisted. Also, many thanks to Mrs Megan Cleyne for co-ordinating the day and making it possible.

CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Mrs Tjitske Linthorne, one of our wonderful Year 3 teachers, who was recently awarded the University Medal at the University of Southern Queensland. This Medal is the University’s most prestigious award. Tjitske, who completed her Bachelor of Education via correspondence, is a wonderful addition to our teaching team this year as Mrs Hammacott takes time away with her new baby.

PRIMARY SCHOOL HOUSE CHAPEL SERVICES

Chapel Services every Friday morning have proven to be an exciting and valued time for the students, parents and staff at St. Andrew’s Anglican College. To further develop the Christian journey for the Primary students, we will be introducing House services this year. The purpose of “Primary House Chapels” is to celebrate and foster House spirit while also connecting in worship with our local Anglican Church.

In many ways, this special service will function like a Friday Chapel. There will be simple meaningful prayers shared by students, bible readings, humour, some familiar songs, new puppet friends to meet and of course some helpful wisdom shared from God’s Word as we continue to learn more about ‘living life loving God and loving others’. The main difference being, we won’t be meeting in the RGC hall on Friday, instead, we will meet together at the Anglican Church of Noosa on Sunday afternoon.

All students and their parents who are in Burkett House are welcome and encouraged to attend this inaugural Chapel Service. The “Burkett House Primary Chapel” service will take place on the 16th June @ 4pm, and will be hosted at The Anglican Church of Noosa – (17 William St, Tewantin).

For those in Hocknull, Rafter and Williamson Houses, please pencil in the following dates for Term 3 and Term 4:

• “Hocknull House Primary Chapel” will be held in Term 3 on the 8th September @ 4pm, at The Anglican Church of Noosa – (17 William St, Tewantin).
• “Rafter and Williamson House Chapel” will be held in Term Four and will be a combined event taking place on the 24th November @ 4pm, at The Anglican Church of Noosa – (17 William St, Tewantin).

Rev Ivey, Mr Lucas and I look forward to welcoming you all to the respective Primary House Chapels throughout the year. I thank Mr Andrew Lucas for organising and co-ordinating these special Chapel Services for our Primary students.

UNDER EIGHTS WEEK

Under 8s Week is celebrated from Monday 20 May to Friday 27 May. The theme for this year is "Celebrating community - sharing music, movement and culture. Think locally!" On Wednesday, 22 May, the Prep – Year 3 students will be involved in the Under 8s week Day of Celebration. Activities on this day will include games and art and craft which Under 8 children enjoy. Parents and younger siblings not at school are invited to share in the festivities of the morning. The activities will commence at 8.45 am and conclude by 9.45 am, when the children will then participate with their peers in a National Simultaneous Story time event. On Wednesday, 22 May, the Prep – Yr 3 students are able to come to school in their full sports uniform, but with a special Under 8 inspired/decorated shirt over the top which they can wear for the morning. The students should apply sunscreen before coming to school. Thank you to the Prep – Year Three teachers for preparing and running the various activities on the day and for their enthusiasm for this exciting morning. Particular thanks to Mrs Alana Tomkins for her wonderful organisation of this event for the children. We look forward to seeing you there!

AFTER SCHOOL PLAYTIME

I wish to remind families that staff are not rostered to do yard duty within the Primary school precincts of an afternoon after 3.00 pm when school concludes for the day. The students have been informed that, after school, they are not to remain in the Primary School grounds to play on the playground, play handball, or any other such activity unless they are under the direct supervision of their parents. Could I therefore please ask that if your child is playing in the playground after school, then the parents are there to supervise. Any child found in the playground after school without parent supervision will be escorted to the Primary or Main Administration Office and the parents will be contacted for collection.

ANZAC SERVICES

Thank you to the staff, parents and students who represented the College at the ANZAC Service in Tewantin and at the Peregian Springs Country Club. It was very much appreciated. Whilst I was unable to attend owing to the Longreach trip, I believe that the students looked wonderful, their behaviour was excellent and they did the College proud. I hope that they enjoyed the occasion and understood and appreciated the importance of the morning. Some photos from this service appear in this newsletter.

LOST PROPERTY

Could I please remind families to name all of their child’s clothing. Often, lost property is handed into the office but is unable to be returned to the owner because it is not named. When naming your child’s items, please include the Christian name and Surname as it is also difficult to return lost items to the owner if the only name to appear is the Christian name.

YEAR TWO, THREE AND FOUR CAMP

Congratulations to our Year 3 students for their successful camp held at the end of last week. The children had a two day camp at the Apex camp in Mudjimba and by all reports this was a great experience for them all. The Year Four Outdoor Education Camp will be held at Kiah Park, north of Gympie, on Wednesday, 15 May until Friday, 17 May. Students will be spending one night in tents where they will have a “Bush Camp” experience. The other night will be spent in bunk dormitory style accommodation. I wish them well throughout the camp’s duration. Thank you to Mrs Cooksley for organising and attending the camps, and to Mr Hynes, Mr Simmonds, Mrs Linthorne, Miss Nourse, Mr O’Neill, Mr Grauf and Cephas and Jonas (GAP students) for their attendance and supervision of the students.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to the following students for being the recipients of our “Superstar of the Week” and “Deputy Principal’s Award” over the past few weeks:

“Superstar of the Week” – Jordan Wright (Year 1 LM)

“Deputy Principal’s Award” – Cheyenne Walstyn (Yr 6 RF), Max Hassman (Yr 4 RG), Lachlan Cox (Yr 4 RG)

IMPORTANT DATES THIS TERM:

• NAPLAN testing – Years 3 & 5 – Tuesday 14 May, Wednesday 15 May, Thursday 16 May
• Year 4 Camp – Wednesday 15 May, Thursday 16 May and Friday 17 May
• SCIPHA Debating – Tuesday 21 May
• Under 8s Day – Wednesday 22 May
• College Fair – Saturday 25 May
• Queen’s Birthday holiday – Monday 10 June
• Buranga Camp – Tuesday 11 June, Wednesday 12 June
• Nambour Show Holiday – Friday 14 June
• Prep - Yr 3 Athletics Carnival – Wednesday 19 June
• Primary (9-11 years of age) Athletics Carnival – Thursday 20 June
• Foundation Day – Friday 21 June
• End of Term – Friday 21 June

Have a wonderful weekend

Mr Robert Paterson

HEAD OF PRIMARY