Tuesday, 5th February, 2013 Welcome I would like to thank you for choosing to enrol at Monkland or for continuing your enrolment for 2013. I want to take this opportunity to communicate with you about some of the important information you and your child might find useful before you begin this year. As Principal, I will strive to continually ensure that Monkland remains and provides the best possible learning environment. I believe it is my role, as your Principal to assist you in the education of your child and as such I encourage us to have clear and open channels of communication. My email address is alawl16@eq.edu.au and the school mobile is 0467 762 560.

In 2013, our aim is to continue to build on from our successful 2012 with driving student performance in both literacy and numeracy areas. To do this we have set out three clear key priorities:

1. Improve and support student learning 2. Develop Staff Performance and workplace capacity 3. Connecting with our community

Under these priorities we aim to make Monkland the number one facility for quality learning, a quality workplace and welcoming hub for the community.

Enrolments As with most small schools Monkland student enrolments are declining. This can be attributed to the large amount of year 7 cohorts departing each year and the small amount of Prep enrolments the following. Simply, we are not replacing the departed cohorts with younger cohorts. As a result of this continuing pattern our current enrolment of 78 students is the cut off number for 4 teachers. Ideally we would love the enrolment to jump, however to achieve this we need to increase the younger cohorts (Prep- 3).

Playgroup We are committed to providing a playgroup in 2013 every Tuesday and Thursday for semester 1 with the possibility of extension in semester 2. We would like to expand our organisation and offer young families an opportunity to mix with likeminded people and professionals to give their child every chance of a better start to school. Within our playgroup we also like to provide prospective Pre-Prep students the much need support and preparation needed for school in 2014. This program is endorsed by Playgroup Australia and will be headed by a paid trained member of staff. More information will be going home after day 8 figures are confirmed this Thursday.

Classes Currently we have four classes across the school which are subject to change pending day 8 figures.

Prep/1 Mrs Megan Robertson (nee Casey) 12 2/3 Miss Tegan Sayers 18 4/5 Mr Paul Holmberg 22 6/7 Mr Ashley Lawless/ Rachel Corbet 26

Yours truly, Mr Ashley Lawless Principal - Monkland State School

WHAT’S ON Friday 8th February

Meet the Teacher Breakfast Friday 08.02, 15.02, 22.02, 01.03

4 – 5.30pm Interschool Hockey

Tuesday, 12th February

3.30pm P & C Meeting in Library

Wednesday 13th February

School Leaders Induction Friday 8th March

Interschool Sports Gala Day 20th – 22nd March

SWD Camp Thursday 28th March

- Monkland Cross Country - Last Day of Term 1

Monkland State School

Be a Learner Be Respectful Be Responsible Be Safe 5th February, 2013

SCHOOL NEWS:

Please note the newsletter is published fortnightly. If you miss a newsletter or want to refer to a back copy, Monkland State School newsletters are available on our website: www.monklandss.eq.edu.au

SCHOOL WEEKLY ROUTINE:

Mondays Parade 8.50am / LOTE (Year 6 & 7)

Tuesdays Strings

Wednesdays Music / Tennis Lessons

Thursdays Library Lessons / School Banking / Tuckshop

Fridays PE / Parade 8.55am

A big welcome to all new families to Marvellous Monkland and a big welcome back to returning

families. All the best for 2013!

LOST PROPERTY: If your child has lost clothes or a lunchbox at school, please check our lost property box as it is where any items found in the playground will end up. Access to the lost property box is via the office. HATS: Please ensure that your child remembers to bring a broad brimmed hat to school. Ensure your child’s hat is named. UPDATING STUDENT DETAILS: Please ensure that the office has your up to date contact details (particularly mobile phones as these can change often). It is vital that Monkland staff can contact you if there is an emergency with your child. INTERSCHOOL HOCKEY A reminder that interschool hockey starts this Friday from 4pm to 5.30pm. Notes were sent home with interested students on Monday. Please see Mr Holmberg or Mrs Jodie Wilson if you need more information.

AWARDS ON PARADE:

Gotcha Prizes – Monday, 4th February: Rhianna (Yr 6/7), Emmalee (P/1) and Caleb (2/3)

Congratulations to all award recipients!! LIBRARY NEWS: Welcome to the 2013 School Year! Mrs Knox and myself are very excited to see all the eager readers back in the library and we will be providing lots of exciting new books for children to enjoy. Borrowing resumes for the whole school this Thursday. Each student will be given a Monkland Library Bag for them to keep as we have a “No Bag, No Borrow” policy in place to protect our library books from damage in school bags. Please feel free to put clips or Velcro on those bags to make them a bit more secure. Issue 1 for 2013 of Scholastic Book Club will go home with each student today. Orders must be returned to the office no later than 9am on the due date stamped on the front of the top brochure (Tuesday, 12th February). Payment can be made by cash, cheque (made payable to Scholastic Australia) or online credit card payment at www.scholastic.com.au. The order will be placed on the due date and are usually returned to the school the following week. These books are usually very reasonably priced and orders go towards free books for our library. Happy Reading! Mrs J. Wilson Library Teacher Aide

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE SPEED LIMIT ON SCHOOL

GROUNDS IS ONLY 10 KMS/HR.

SPEEDING ON SCHOOL GROUNDS ENDANGERS

THE LIVES OF CHILDREN

Meet the Teachers Breakfast This Friday morning we are having a sausage sizzle breakfast to welcome in the new school year. You are invited to come along, meet the wonderful Monkland staff and have a cup of tea/coffee. We will be cooking from 8:15am onwards- hope to see you there!!

TERM DATES 2013 The information listed below is current and sourced from the Education Queensland website. For more information on school holidays and Pupil Free Days go to: www.education.qld.gov.au

Term 1 2013 Tues 29th January – Thurs 28th March

Term 2 2013 Mon 15th April – Fri 21st June

Term3 2013 Mon 8th July - Fri 20th September

Term 4 2013 Tue 8th October – Fri 13th December

Welcome back for 2013. I have returned from maternity leave and am happy to be back teaching at Monkland SS again.

Lessons will be held on Tuesdays in the music room, with beginner classes commencing in week 2 and all other lessons (including string ensemble) commencing week 3.

The library levy of $20 is now due for all students. For students hiring an instrument the hire fee of $30 needs to be paid and a loan agreement form returned before an instrument can go home.

Any prospective students yr 3 and above can pickup a note from me on Tuesday or from the school office.

Looking forward to a great year of music. Candice Patrick

P & C NEWS:

P & C MEETING: The first P & C Meeting of 2013 will be held on the 12th February at 3.30 pm in the Library. All are welcome. This is a great opportunity for new families to meet other families and find out how they can help their children’s school to be the best it can be. Hope to see you there!

UNIFORM SHOP NEWS More stock of the new shirts have been ordered and should be here in the coming days. The uniform shop will be open every Tuesday from 8.30 to 11.00am and all day Thursdays. Payment is by cash or cheque only. Due to the implementation of the new uniforms, all current Monkland shirts are now reduced to $10 each.

TUCKSHOP NEWS Welcome to Bec Mitchell, our new Tuck Shop Convenor! Tuck Shop resumes this Thursday and a new menu has been enclosed in today’s newsletter. Tuck Shop orders must be put in to the office first thing Thursday morning. Orders must be in a paper bag with your child’s name, food required and break that food is for (1st or 2nd break) written on the front and money inside.

COMMUNITY NEWS:

JUNIOR TENNIS FIXTURE & HOT SHOTS SIGN ON Gympie & District Junior Tennis Association will be hosting sign on & start days for a brand new season of junior fixtures at the Reg English Memorial Tennis Centre on Cartwright Road. The sign on & start days will be Wednesday 6th & 13th February from 3.45pm to 5.30pm for intermediate fixture players and Thursday 7th & 14th February from 3.45pm to 6.00pm for advanced fixture players. All fixture programs are run by coaches to give on court assistance to all players. Saturday Morning Hot Shots commences Saturday 9th February from 8.30am to 10.00am for all of Term 1. For more information contact Brett Cottrill on 0417746795 or Matt Watkins on 0417070129. GYMPIE NETBALL Despite an unplanned dip, Netball will still be able to start its season on time. Sign on dates for Seniors, Juniors and Nettas are Monday 11/02/2013 and Monday 18/02/2013. Times will be from 4pm to 7pm both days. Any queries call me on 0754824668. Ruth Smith – Treasurer- Gympie Netball

HOCKEY SIGN ON

Men’s Women’s and Junior Hockey Team Sign Ons: Friday 15 February: 5.00 – 7.00pm Saturday 16th February: 10am – 2pm

FREE BBQ, JUMPING CASTLE AND MUCH MORE AT

THE SATURDAY SIGN ON!!