Term 4 Week 9 - The Willows State School

THE WILLOWS STATE SCHOOL 1 DECEMBER 2010
Phone: 47 991 333 Student Absence Line: 47 991 366 Fax: 47 234 665
Email: admin@thewillowsss.eq.edu.au
Website: www.thewillowsss.eq.edu.au
NEWSLETTER NO 40
Dear Parents
As we move closer to the end of the term the increased work
load for staff is highly evident. At this stage of the year we are
preparing for end of semester reporting, finalising curriculum
teaching episodes, culminating class activities as well as The
Willows’ Got Talent and other end of year functions. We are
also in the midst of preparing for the new year.
SPECIAL CELEBRATION FOR MRS BUCHANAN
Next Tuesday we are having a special parade to celebrate the
excellent principalship of Carol Buchanan. Carol has been the
only principal at The Willows State School. She will be
extending her leave next year but will be unattached to a school
hence Dr Graham Foster’s relocation appointment to this school.
Our celebration for Carol will take place in two parades. P-3
will be at 10.30am and 4-7 will be at 11.45am.
Both these parades will take the form of a formal recognition for
Carol with some short speeches followed by year level
Christmas Carols. We look forward to your attendance.
Please note that there will not be our usual parade for P-3 at
9.00am.
REPORT CARDS
These will be issued on Wednesday 8 th December along with a
letter informing you of your child’s classroom for next year. At
this stage staffing has not been finalised and therefore there will
be changes before and possibly again after school begins. In
keeping with Department of Education and Training policy, day
8 of term one is when final staffing and classes are confirmed
based on numbers of students who have enrolled. Our current
status is that we have many students leaving the school going
interstate and we expect further new enrolments in the week
before school begins which will impact on the current situation
of the number of classes and teachers required.
BER PROJECT
Currently our library and senior CPA are being extended and
refurbished. This project had the expected finish date of 20
January 2011. However at this stage the project is a couple of
weeks behind schedule. This means that it will probably not be
completed for the beginning of the new year. However, when it
is completed these buildings will be very well used and
appreciated by all. Currently our Library staff are working hard
to pack all the resources (over 5 000) into boxes for the removal
of them at the end of the year. Thank you to this dedicated group
of staff.
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Marshal Hudson one of our year 7 students
who has been in Bendigo representing Qld in Athletics.
Marshall and his team mates gained a gold medal for the relay.
Marshal had an outstanding individual performance as well
gaining second place in the 100metres and was only beaten
by .03 seconds. He competed with 3 other Qld boys in the final.
He also achieved 3 rd place in 200m final.
Marshal has also received this years’ Regional Future
State Great award which is $500 and you can understand
why! Marshal also made a Qld Rugby League team this
year.
Congratulations to Marshal on this outstanding sporting
achievement.
VOLUNTEER’S MORNING TEA
Don’t forget to join us tomorrow between 10.00 and 11.00
to thank you for your assistance throughout the year.
YEAR 7 GRADUATION
Our year seven students will mark the end of their primary
school next Wednesday with a celebration at the Baptist
Church in the morning from 9.30am and will share an
evening meal followed by a disco in the evening. We
congratulate them in advance and wish them all the best.
Thanks to year 7 teachers and Mrs Crisp for all the
organisation.
FINAL WEEK ARRANGEMENTS
Most classes will celebrate the end of the year with a class
party on Thursday. Friday 10 th December is the last day
of school. Students at school on this day will not be
permitted to leave early without written permission from
parents to the class teacher. Students attending school on
this day must remain at school until 3pm unless written
permission has been received or students are collected by
parents at the classroom.
We look forward to our final week of the year and
reflecting on our achievements throughout 2010.
Regards
Anne-Marie Day
Principal
WILLOWS GOT TALENT
GRAND FINAL NO 8
THURSDAY 2 DECEMBER
All children are invited to attend at a cost of $1. Money
can be handed to the class teacher Thursday morning.
Thank you for your support.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
2 December - Volunteer’s Morning Tea
7 December - Celebration for Carol Buchanan
- Report Cards
8 December -Year 7 Graduation Ceremony
10 December - Last Day of School 2010
24 January 2011 - School Recommences

TUCKSHOP
Due to end of year preparations not all items are available
from the tuckshop. If the item ordered is unavailable the
students will be contacted to make another selection.
THE TUCKSHOP WILL BE CLOSED AS FROM
END OF TRADING ON TUESDAY 7TH
DECEMBER.
BOOK PACKS
All payments are now due. Book packs will be available
for collection from the school in G Pod on the following
days:
Families with surnames beginning A—I
Tuesday, 7 December 3.15 pm—4.30 pm
Families with surnames beginning J—R
Wednesday, 8 December 3.15 pm—4.30 pm
Families with surnames beginning S—Z
Thursday, 9 December 3.15—4.30 pm
Those who cannot make it on the previous days
Saturday, 12 December 9.00 am—12.00 midday
Volunteers are needed to assist in packing the book packs
on Friday 3rd December and Saturday 4th December. If
you can assist with this, even for a short time, please phone
Maria on 0417627427.
STUDENT BANKING
The last school banking for the year will be Thursday 2nd
December. There will be no banking the last week of
school.
FACEBOOK
While this is a social networking aspect for many people
today please be aware of some of these points:
• No information from children under age 13. If
you are under age 13, please do not attempt to register
for Facebook or provide any personal information
about yourself to us. If we learn that we have
collected personal information from a child under
age 13, we will delete that information as quickly as
possible. If you believe that we might have any information
from a child under age 13, please contact
us through the help page.
• Parental participation. We strongly recommend
that minors 13 years of age or older ask their parents
for permission before sending any information about
themselves to anyone over the Internet and we encourage
parents to teach their children about safe
internet use practices. Materials to help parents talk
to their children about safe internet use can be found
on the help page.
• Access Device and Browser Information. When
you access Facebook from a computer, mobile
phone, or other device, we may collect information
from that device about your browser type, location,
and IP address, as well as the pages you visit.
OUTSIDE ORGANISATIONS
PICNIC BAY SURF LIFESAVING
Recently Townsville Picnic Bay Surf Life Saving Club
celebrated as 11 under 13, 14&15yrs received their Surf
Lifesaving Certificates. They have been practising for a
number of weeks to pass written papers on basic first aid
and beach environments, practical exams on CPR, a series
of tube/board/spinal/stinger rescues and a physical
proficiency of a beach run-swim-run. The group will now be
assigned to regular beach patrols to ensure Townsville and
Magnetic Island residents can enjoy a safe summer.
With thanks to the coaches, especially Tony Lorenz and
John Beningfield Well done and congratulations to the
cadets.
WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL AND BOCCIA
To celebrate International Day of People with a Disability
(Dec 3) the Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association are
holding a come and try Wheelchair Basketball and Boccia
session for people with a disability, their supporters and
family, and potential volunteers.
The session will be held from 10am - 12pm on Friday 3rd
December, 2010
Venue: Townsville McDonald's Crocodiles Court, Wulguru
Cost is Free, and there will be a light morning tea provided
for participants.
For more information of if you would like to attend, please
feel free to contact the Sporting Wheelies and Disabled
Assoc on 4724881or turn up on the day.
MUSEUM OF TROPICAL QUEENSLAND
See some of North Queensland’s weird and wonderful
creeping, crawling creatures alive, right before your eyes!
MTQ is open 4—21 January from 9.30am—5pm daily.
Children must be supervised at all times by a parent/
guardian. For further details phone 47260600
STUDENTS NOT RETURNING TO
THE WILLOWS STATE SCHOOL IN 2011
I wish to advise that my child/children will not be returning
to The Willows State School in 2010.
STUDENT’S NAME:
…………………………………… Current Class: ………..
…………………………………… Current Class: ………..
…………………………………… Current Class: ………..
Parent’s Signature:…………………………………………
Transferring To:
□ Another School in Townsville
□ Another School in Queensland
□ Interstate
Date Leaving: …………………
Please indicate below the name of the school your child/
children will be attending:
………………………………………………………………
www.facebook.com

Christmas Raffle Fundraiser
Tickets $1 Each
As we are limited on time, this year we will not be sending out tickets
for our Christmas raffle. Instead those you would like some chances in
the draw, please fill out the return slip and send in with your money by
Tuesday 7 December.
Drawn 8 December 2010
Many Prizes to be won!!
2 x 1 st 4 Box Tickets to the Townsville Mcdonald’s Crocodiles v Tiapans
Basketball game – 13 February 2011. Kindly donated by
Mcdonald’s Family Restaurant
2 nd $100 Larissa Bright Cosmetics Gift Pack
3 rd 1 Year Family Membership at reefHQ Aquarium
4 th Healthy Inspirations – 8 weeks Gift Certificate
5 th Coca Cola Esky
6 th Neverfail Water Dispenser + Water
7 th 2 Rounds of 18 Holes Golf with cart at Rowes Bay Golf Club
8 th Fishing Tackle box with contents
9 th – 10 th Komatsu Bag + Cap + Water Bottle
11 th – 12 th Garden Pots – 2 Glazed
13 th – 15 th 2 passes each for Birch Carroll & Coyle Cinemas
16 th -18 th 2 Vouchers from Herveys Range Heritage Tea Rooms
19 th Instant Windscreens Voucher
✂--------------------------------------------
Name: _____________________________________________________________
Contact No: (Home) _____________________ (Mobile) _____________________
Email Address: ______________________________________________________
Number of Tickets Required: _________________ Amount Enclosed: $________