Issue 1 – 30 Jan - Ascot State School

Ascot State School Digest
Lifelong Learning for Lifelong Success
Phone 3326 9333
Student Absences: 3326 9360
Email: admin@ascotss.eq.edu.au
Web: www.ascotss.eq.edu.au
Issue 1: Wednesday 30 January 2013
FROM MRS SEDGMAN: THE PRINCIPAL
Dear All,
Welcome back to the new school year. We welcome to our school our new enrolling Prep students
and their families as well as new students and families in other year levels. I am so pleased to see
everyone return safe and well. Any comment about enjoying the long, hot summer I enjoyed
relaxing enjoying sun, surf and sand seem irrelevant after the recent wild weather we have
encountered. I’m pleased to report that the school received only a small amount of damage with
little disruption to start the school year. Many schools have not been as fortunate.
We have started the school year with 32 classes with this number being based on student numbers
we estimated at the end of the year. It is our Day 8 numbers at the beginning of the school year
which determines how many teachers/classes we actually will be entitled to have. This is all part of
the state-wide staffing process.
Rather than having a short fall of student numbers, the school enrolments have increased over the
holidays and we are predicting that we will be entitled to another teacher. This won’t be finalised
until the Day 8 students are confirmed and approval from Regional Office is given. My mantra that
on occasions changes can and do occur is more than likely to eventuate. So changes are likely and
there are a number of scenarios being looked at. It is not our preference to make changes but some
things are unable to be predicted. We do continue with the usual start-up of the school year.
Parent Teacher Evenings
This is the start of two important aspects this school values – parent teacher relationships and good
communication. Parents will be able to meet your child’s new teacher for this year and teachers will
outline school and class policies and expectations, work to be covered and how parents can assist.
You will find the evening very informative. Meetings are held in your child's classroom.
Tuesday 5 February
Wednesday 6 February
Prep & Year 4: 6:00 – 6:45pm
Year 1 & Class 5A, 5B and 5C: 6:00 – 6:45pm
Year 2 & Years 7/6: 7:00 – 7:45pm
Year 3: 7:00 – 7:45pm
Wednesday 13 February
Class 5D 6:00 – 6:45pm.
Wednesday 6 February
Year 1 & Class 5A, 5B and 5C: 6:00 – 6:45pm
Year 3: 7:00 – 7:45pm
Staffing
We welcome new teachers and returning teachers to Ascot State School:
Ms Ngaire Miller (Prep A) Mrs Madonna Thomas (Year 1D) Mrs Cassie Mathewson (Year 5C)
Ms Deb Lewis (Year 1A) Mrs Colette Mouat (Year 2C) Mrs Deanne Clark (Coach)
Ms Haida Luke (Year 1C)

With today’s Digest is our 2013 Calendar. Again, changes may occur, but for the most part it is a
great planner for us as a community. I am looking forward to hearing about everyone’s holiday
adventures and am excited about what is ahead for the 2013 school year. This rain can’t dampen
the Ascot spirit.
Regards,
Jane Sedgman, Principal
BOUQUETS
UPCOMING EVENTS
Thank you parents for the lovely attention you
have given to your child/ren in preparation to
start or return to school. Students are keen
and enthusiastic and so happy.
Friday
1 February
Monday
4 February
Tuesday
5 February
Wednesday
6 February
School Leadership Day/School
Captain preparation
Swim Club Meet – Invitational
Event Only
Waiting List for 2014 opens
Parent/Teacher Evening:
6.00-6.45pm – Prep & Year 4;
7.00-7.45pm – Year 2 & Year 7/6
Parent/Teacher Evening:
6.00-6.45pm – Year 1 & Classes
5A, 5B & 5C
7.00-7.45pm – Year 3
FROM MRS HADDEN: MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS 3-7
Happy New Year and welcome to the 2013 school year. I am delighted to welcome new students and
families to Ascot State School and to welcome students returning from last year. I trust that 2013
will be a happy, productive and rewarding year for everybody associated with the middle school –
students, teachers and families.
Please provide your child's teacher with any information which may assist your child in settling into
the new school year.
By setting goals and striving to achieve those goals, it is possible for all students to achieve great
success in their schooling. I encourage every student to build on their achievements of last year.
Discuss with your child the areas in which they would like to develop further skills. When the
children set goals each term we encourage them to set academic, personal and social goals.
Parent Information Evenings
Information Evenings with class teachers will take place during Week 2 (5D in Week 3). I encourage
every parent to attend the information evenings to meet class teachers and learn about your child’s
education program. The evenings provide parents with the opportunity to hear of the expectations of
the school and an outline of the academic and extra-curricular program from your child’s class
teacher.
The Leadership Process
The School Captain selection process continues over the next two weeks, building on the foundation
of the Leadership Day in 2012. This week, all Year 7 students will continue their Leadership training
and preparation at school on Friday 1 February. Students applying for School Captain will be

forwarding their written application to us and candidates for the positions will be finalised next week
with the election of School Captains taking place. This will be followed in Week 3 with the selection
of Class Captains and Sports Captains. Music Seniors and other leadership positions will be finalised
by Week 4. Best wishes to all students striving to attain a leadership role. All Year 7 students are
student leaders and are recognised as such by the school community. The presentation of all
Captains and school leaders will take place at a whole-school assembly in Week 5.
Travel Safe
In the interest of safety for our students the following rules should be closely observed:
Inform your child of the pick-up point where you will collect them each day
At 3:00pm the pick-up zones are very congested so you may find a 3.10pm pick-up is easier.
Your child will be supervised at either the Massey Street or Pringle Street designated pick-up
zone
Children go directly to the designated area on Pringle Street or Massey Street when the 3.00pm
bell rings
Children must sit down inside the marked line on the footpath, awaiting the directions of the
travel safe supervisor
Drivers are not to disembark from their vehicles at any time
Do not call for your child to come to the car as the supervisor will instruct them to move towards
the vehicle
Do not ask your child to place bags in the boot as it can be extremely dangerous with cars
moving closely behind each other
Children should get into the passenger side of the vehicle
After 3.20pm any child/children who have not been picked up will wait outside the Administration
block. Please inform the office if you are delayed beyond that time.
Bus Travel
Children are to go directly to the bus when the 3.00pm bell rings.
Please ensure your child has a bus pass or money ready to catch the bus.
We thank you for observing these rules and for making travelling home from school safer for
everyone.
Storms and 3:00pm
It seems that if a storm is to hit at any time during the day it will be at 3:00pm. If this happens
children who are in pick-up zones will be either inside the Hall or under the Prep building. In the
case of children meeting parents in other locations or walking home a decision will be made, in the
interests of safety, to keep the children in a safe area within the school until the storm passes. If
your child uses the Massey Street crossing or crosses the oval they will be held under the senior
building until it is considered safe to cross. Please discuss these after-school arrangements with
your child.
I look forward to meeting with parents and to sharing a year of positive achievements with your
child.
Sharyn
FROM MRS PROVOST-BOYLE: EARLY YEARS PREP-2
I’m the Deputy Principal for the Prep – Year 2 area of the school. I’m always happy to discuss any
concerns you may have and to share the successes your child/ren experience at school.
I’d like to extend a very warm welcome to the new families joining Ascot State School. Ascot has a
strong sense of community. Parents are encouraged to volunteer to help out with the many

classroom activities and to join our active P& C. Welcome back to our existing parents; it’s great to
have you on board for another exciting year.
The first week of school is always an exciting time for parents, teachers and most importantly
students. The students of Ascot State School have had a wonderful start to 2013. It’s delightful to
see the enthusiasm and excitement on the faces of the students. Some of the new Prep students
look like they have been coming to school for months, other students may take a little while to
settle in – but they will.
What can you do to help your child at school?
Establish a consistent routine before and after school
Have a positive view of school. Stay in touch with teachers and where possible get involved with
the school. Talk about school and what the children are learning
Encourage children to be resilient. Have high but realistic expectations for your child/ren
READ READ, READ and more READING. Reading to your child every night assists children to
build vocabulary and to develop their oral language and the language of books.
Assembly
Prep – Year 2 Assembly is held on a Monday morning at 10.30am. All parents and grandparents are
welcome to attend. The Assemblies are a wonderful opportunity for classes to showcase their
learning and their talents. You may be surprised at what capable public speakers we have. Our first
whole school assembly is the Presentation School Leaders on Monday 25 February at 9:00am.
School Zones/Two Minute Parking Zones
Brisbane City Council has notified the school of their intention to maintain a presence and enforce
illegal parking within school zones during the 2013 school year. As you know, parking spaces during
pick up and set down times are at a premium. Subsequently, competition for these spaces leads to
poor driver behaviour and potentially dangerous parking practices.
The primary purpose for parking enforcement around schools is to ensure child safety and it is not
Council’s intention to make parking near schools an overly onerous task. Officers will engage with
all drivers where it is safe to do so and advise the risks associated with illegal parking. Officers may
issue parking fines in cases where dangerous parking practices are observed.
Our only priority in the Two Minute Parking Zones is your child’s safety. Please support our staff to
manage your child’s safety.
Early Years Update
What do Children do in Prep?
In the Early Years at Ascot State School we use the Australian Curriculum and the Early Years
Curriculum Guidelines to plan and implement quality learning experiences for students.
The curriculum is based on active learning, which includes inquiry and play. Early Phase children:
Engage in focused learning episodes
Actively make choices about what and how they learn
Investigate and learn how to inquire about their interests
Plan collaboratively with the teacher
Participate in music and language experiences
Investigate and play independently, in pairs, small groups and as a class
Participate in dramatic play to build an understanding of themselves and the world around them
Draw and paint to encourage oral language, reading and writing skills
Construct, using blocks and create collages to develop early mathematical concepts and skills.
Enjoy the first week.
Melissa

SCHOOL COMMUNITY LIAISON OFFICER’S NEWS
Welcome back to the new school year. Tuesday may have been your child's first day of Prep to Year
7; however their teachers and other school staff have been back at work since the middle of last
week. We are very fortunate to have such a well resourced and devoted team of teaching staff.
The Parent Teacher Meetings that are scheduled for you to become well acquainted with your child's
class dynamics and routine are Tuesday and Wednesday evenings starting at 6:00pm depending on
your child's year level. It is a great opportunity to meet the other parents in your child's class as
well as familiarise yourself with their classroom, homework expectations, swimming class, library,
sport and music timetables.
This will be my fifth year in this School Community Liaison Officer role. It is a very rewarding role. If
there are any questions that I can help you with then please don't hesitate to contact me. I look
forward to meeting you at the parent teacher nights.
Until then, have a great week.
Leanne Buckle, SCLO, leannebucklefrew@mac.com, 0403 576 688
FROM THE TUCKSHOP
There are still some vacancies available if you wish help out at Tuckshop or do Home Bake. Call in
and see Kathryn in the Tuckshop or ring her on 3326 9326.
Pauls Collect a Cap
We are still collecting the milk caps so if you have any at home please bring them into Tuckshop.
Tuckshop - Group 2 Home Bake - Group 2
Monday4
February
Tuesday5
February
Wednesday
6 February
Thursday7
February
Friday8
February
Catherine McL, Trudy C Monday 4
February
Louise A, Erika B Tuesday 5
February
Helen L, Andrea E, Melinda
Russell, Manana, Maria M,
Sarah W
Wednesday
6 February
Vanessa S Thursday 7
February
Carolyn H, Miranda D,
Deirdre N, Mardi H
Friday
8 February
Colleen H, Suzie C
Susie C
Rachel D
Anna Q
Volunteer required
Uniform Shop – Group 1
Monday 4 February
Wednesday 6 February
Thursday 7 February
Sophie B
Marion W
Deborah W

SWIM CLUB
Dear Swim Club Families
Welcome back to the final half of the 2012/2013 season
The first swim meet for ALL SWIMMERS is Friday 8 February
It is a short term, but there is much to do before your Committee can retire! We are hosting the
Ascot Cup this year and hope to win back the Cup from Eagle Junction! We also have the Club
Championships on 10 March and a Presentation night in the hall on 15 March, where we may have a
surprise guest! So heads down, caps on and get ready for a great finish to what we hope will be
another successful season.
1 February 2013 (Invitational Swim Only)
This night is only open to those swimmers invited to swim, as we’ll be doing trials to select our
team for the Ascot Cup which we are hosting in 2013. An email was sent last week (the last week of
the Christmas holidays) to those families whose child was required. From those families that are
invited, we’ll fill the normal roster. We’ll only offer sushi that night, so the BBQ will not be running.
In essence, the top six children in each age group, for each race will be called upon and we’ll pick
the fastest two for the team plus some relay teams. Remember, we need age “on the block”, so if
your child has a birthday between 1 January and 23 February Inclusive, then they will be a year
older than their allotted swimmer number for club meets.
8 February, 2013
Our first night back and gates will open at 5.45pm with our 12½m races starting at 6.00pm. The
races that night will be the 100m Individual Medley, followed by 25m & 50m of freestyle, backstroke,
breaststroke & butterfly.
Parent Roster – 8 February, 2013
On that Friday night, our roster girls Kylie and Rosie will put up Term 1 dates and jobs and ask
every family to nominate 2 jobs over 2 dates. This Friday we have all positions filled as follows:
Courageous Co-ordinators: Vicki B & Jennie S
Star starter:
Michael S
Main (wo)men marshalling: Deb P, Peter H
Fabulous floating assistants: Stella DeJ, Mel T
Cantina Bar and Grill: Anna D, Mel H, Rowena G, Amanda B, Alexander C, Angus C
Terrific timekeepers:
Lauren B, Julia R, Mandy T, David W, Susan A, Nicola W
Darlings of data entry: Kris S, Jane ?
Swimmers of the Week – to be awarded on Friday 8 February 2013
The Ray White Ascot Swimmer of the Week towels go to Stephanie C, Hope J, Sarah A and Emma G.
Dune Outdoor Luxuries Special Mention awards go to Gabby H, Sophie H and Tayla N.
Key Dates for 2013 Season
Friday night swim meets from 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Term 1, every Friday night from 8 February – 15 March 2012
Cups & Carnivals
Ascot Cup – Saturday 23 February 2013
Club Championships – Sunday 10 March 2013
Vicki & Sarah, on behalf of the 2012/2013 Ascot Swim Club Committee
swimclub@ascotsspandc.com.au; 0419 900 558 (Sarah) or 0414 464 507 (Vicki)

LOST PROPERTY
Did your child lose a house key, spectacles, electronic device, pink bag or cuddly toy during 2012?
Last chance to check for it at the Office this week!
COMMUNITY NOTICES
Greater Brisbane Junior Tennis (GBJT) conducts weekly Tennis Fixtures at the Queensland
Tennis Centre, Tennyson and The University of Queensland for children up to 18 years of age.
Grading Day for new players is to be held on Sunday 10 February at the Queensland Tennis Centre,
Tennyson from 3:00-5:00pm. Further information is available at www.gbjt.org.au or by phoning Mrs
Peta Davis on 3374 0516.
Brothers Junior Rugby Club Sign On - Saturday 2 February
9:00am–1:00pm at 103 Crosby Road, Albion. In 2011 we were again named Club of the Year by the
Brisbane Junior Rugby Union and our player numbers continue to grow from year to year. All boys
and girls are welcome to join our Under 6 – Under 17 age groups. Players must have turned five to
be eligible to register to pay (please note that proof of age is required. Further information:
registrar@brothersjuniorrugby.com.au; brothersjuniorrugby.com.au. You can also find us on
Facebook.
Brothers Junior Rugby League Football Club Inc. Sign On, Sunday 3 February
9.00am–1.00pm at Brothers Grange Community Sports Club, 41 Agincourt Street, Grange.
(Associated with the Northern Broncos Development Program.) The only acceptable documents for
proof of age for new players and transfers are birth certificate or extract, current passport or drivers
licence. Qualified coaches for all age groups U6-U18, Under 20/22 and Opens. Players must have
attained the age of 5 before they can play Under 6. Qualified first aid officer at all home games.
Phone President 0412 872 586 or Secretary 0411 029 202; email: brothersjuniors@optusnet.com.au
or visit www.brisbanebrothersjrlfc.org.au/.
Valleys Junior Rugby League Football Club Sign On - Sunday 3 February
10:00am-2:00pmat Emerson Park, Bega Street, Grangefor Under 6 – Under 18. Member of the
Northern Broncos Development Program. Contact Danny Walker the President on 0410465549 for
more information. Email: diehards@valleysrugbyleague.com;
Website: www.valleysdiehards.leaguenet.com.au.
The Gap Netball Club 2013 Season 2013 Sign On
Saturday 2 February 8:00-11:00am at Hilder Road State School
The Gap has teams for all abilities and ages from Nippers (8-9 year olds) to Opens (adults).
Teams train on weekday afternoons and evenings at Hilder Road State School and play at Downey
Park on Saturdays from April to August. The Club will also be running NetSetGO at Hilder Road for
six weeks from Monday 11 February. NetSetGO is an introductory program for 5-10 year olds
Registration & further information: http://thegapnetball.org; registrar@thegapnetball.org.
Fancutt Tennis Centre will continue the tennis program at the school courts on Reeve Street on
Mondays 3.30-4.15pm, Tuesdays 3.15-4.00pm (Beginners), Wednesday afternoons 3.00-3.30pm
(Prep School), Wednesdays 3.30-4.15pm (Beginners), 4.15-5.00pm (Players) starting 4 February.
Rackets on special $30.00. Friendly Hot Shots Tournaments for trophies are on Saturdays
11.00am-1.00pm during school term. Superleague fixtures are on Saturday afternoons and
Sunday evenings for children and teenagers and Tuesday/Wednesday nights for adults. Starts
Saturday 2nd February. Restrings – a 24hr. service or possible emergency restring while you wait.
All enquiries, please contact Fancutts 3857 2922 in office hours or email admin@fancutts.com.au.