1032 Lowood-Minden Road,MINDEN,QLD,4311,Australia / Phone: 5425 7222
Website: https://mindenss.eq.edu.au / Fax: 54268533
Email:

Term 4 Week 7 Thursday 19 November 2015

Dates To Remember

* P&C Meeting - 3.30pm 07/12/15

* Term 4 - 06/10/15 – 11/12/15

* Senior Assembly - 20/11/15

* School Swimming Carnival - 24/11/15

* Prep Orientation Afternoon - 25/11/15

* MindenSchool Christmas Carnival 26/11/15

* Junior Assembly - 27/11/15

* Prep Graduation - 27/11/15

* Breakfast Club - 03/12/15

* Ice Block Day for Chaplaincy - 04/12/15

* School Resumes in 2016 - Wed 27/01/16

From The Principal

Praise for Minden

At the end of semester one, the Ipswich Office of Metropolitan Region nominated our school for the Jack Pizzey School of the Year Award. This award recognises a state school, from all of Queensland, that has achieved exceptional outcomes for students by:

* using data to monitor performance, inform practice and apply learnings to drive improvement

* developing and implementing an explicit improvement agenda documented in the school plan and aligned to the requirements of the school performance assessment framework

* sharing successful practice across classrooms to ensure better outcomes for students

* working collaboratively with other schools to improve performance

Whilst we were not the overall winner, we have received an acknowledgement for our achievements. This is a significant honour for our school community and one we should be proud of.

Swimming Carnival

The Minden swimming carnival will be held next Tuesday at Woodlands and will follow the same format as in previous years. The Prep to Year 3 classes will swim first, followed by the seniors in the afternoon. Parents are welcome to attend. We will be looking for volunteers to help out on the day (e.g. judges). Pre-school age children will not be able to swim for safety reasons.

Christmas Carnival

Forthelast nine months, the P&C have worked tirelessly on organising the first ever Minden Christmas Carnival which will be held next Thursday afternoon from 4:30 to 8:30. This promises to be an exciting and fun-filled event with lots to do and see. Flyers and raffle tickets have been sent home. More tickets are available from the office.

One of the stalls is a cake / biscuit / slice theme and we would greatly appreciate donations of baked items. These can be left at the office from next Wednesday morning onward.

See you there!

Choir and Instrumental Music Students performing at Glenwood

On Wednesday 2nd December, the choir will once again visit Glenwood hostel in Lowood to perform some Christmas songs along with students from Lowood State School. This has been well-received in previous years and provides the students with a live-performance opportunity. Permission forms will be sent home early next week.

2016 School Leaders program

This year, we have a small number of students who have nominated for leadership positions. Each candidate will be delivering a speech at the next two assemblies commencing Friday 20 November. Voting will take place at each assembly and successful leaders will be announced prior to the end of school. Parents and extended family members are welcome to come along and hear the speeches.

Prep Interviews and Orientation

NextWednesday 25 November will be the final day for 2016 Prep interviews and orientation. The afternoon sessions have been well attended with up to 15 pre-Prep students participating some days.

2016 Enrolments

The office continues to field enquiries for 2016 enrolments. If you know of anyone considering joining our school community next year, please encourage them to pick up an enrolment pack as soon as possible. An interim class structure will be put in place for the first two weeks until total enrolments are confirmed on Day 8.

Volunteers Afternoon Tea

Our school is blessed to have so many parents who willingly give up their time to help support us. From working in classrooms, collating Book Club and Book Fair, working in the P&C, tuck-shop, selling raffle tickets, Commonwealth Banking and doing a multitude of other things, your contribution genuinely makes a difference and our school is a better place as a result! To show our appreciation, we are holding an afternoon tea on Wednesday 2nd December from 3:15pm onwards. If you have helped out in any way during the year, we would really like to see you there.

Parents And Citizens Association News

P&C Meeting

Next P&C Meeting Monday 07 December commencing 3:30pm in the library.

Our facebook page is another form of communication to help keep you informed of up-and-coming school and P&C events. We also provide a link for the fortnightly school newsletter.

P&C have erected a stunning new blackboard facing the car park.

We have now provided another way of getting information out to our families.

Thank you Chris Player for volunteering your time to build our board, dig the holes and erect the board.

Meat Raffles at the Sundowner Saloonevery Friday 6:00 – 6:30pm. Thank you to our limited volunteers who spend half an hour on a Friday night selling meat raffle tickets.

Each Friday night we provide 2 awesome $40.00 meat trays from Summerville Butchers. Our volunteer goes to the Sundowner, sells the tickets (usually takes about 20 – 30 minutes), then Mark the Manager will draw and announce the winners.

Thank you to our 3 awesome Dads who regularly volunteer their time each Friday to support our volunteer or sell the tickets should our volunteer be unable to make it.

If you think you could spare half an hour of your time selling meat raffle tickets on a Friday at the Sundowner, please call Brie on 0415 630 460, she will then be able to add you to the roster. If we have four volunteers, each volunteer sells once a month, if we have eight volunteers, each volunteer will be required only once every two months.

Llewellyn Local Legends Program: We are lucky enough to have been partnered with Llewellyn Motors. Llewellyn Motors will donate up to $20.00 per vehicle service and when a car purchase is made, they will donate $1.00 per $1000.00 of purchase value.

For more information: www.llewellynmotors.com.au/local-legends-how-it-works or ring our coordinator & Llewellyn Representative Brie on 0415 630 460.

Muffin Break Contest:

Thank you to all who voted and shared.

Official ranking has not been confirmed yet, but, it is believed we placed 4th in QLDand 25th Australia wide. Unfortunately, no muffins or cash for us this year, but thank you all for a fantastic effort.

P&C have agreed to donate $4000.00 to Minden State School to assist with the cost of their mandatory Wi-Fi upgrade.

Save the Date!

Minden School Christmas Carnival

Thursday 26 November 2015

4:30 - 8:30pm on the oval

Come and join us for an evening of family fun!

Aflyerand 10 raffle ticketswere sent home with students last week. Tickets are $1.00 each. Extra tickets are available at the office for those who wish to buy or sell more.

Raffle tickets and money can be returned to the office or you can bring them along on the night (tickets are also available for sale at the carnival). Fantastic prizes including sports memorabilia, hams, meat trays, toys, portable fire pit/camp oven and more.

We have lots of free games, events and prizes for all families to join in.

We are excited to be partnering with: Ponies, Ponies, Ponies fromGlamorganVale who are providing a Baby Animal Petting Zoo,Let’sFace It providing us with face painting & Ipswich Party Hire who are providing our Jumping Castle. Tickets for these 3 activities are $4.00 each or 3 for $10.00.

ABBQdinner of hamburgers, sausages and soft drinks are on offer. Hamburger with drink: $5.00, Sausage on bread with drink: $4.00, Hamburger: $4.00, Sausage on bread: $3.00, drinks: $2.00.

LowoodScout Group will be selling snacks of fairy floss & popcorn.

A coffee van will be available for those seeking coffee.

$1.00 Lucky Dips for the children.

There will also be a bake sale. We are asking if anyone would like to donate some baked goods (cake, cookie, muffin, slice, fudge) please ensure you have a copy of the ingredients used in your item andwe will take collection at thetuckshopon Wednesday 25 from 9:30 – 11:00am and Thursday 26 throughout the day (you can also deliver on arrival at the carnival).

As always, with a large event like this, we are seeking those who might be able to volunteer 15 minutes – half an hour of their time, between 4:30 and 8:30pm, to serve at thebbqtent, ride ticket tent or raffle ticket tent.

The more volunteers we have, the more likely we can all enjoy spending valuable time with our families.

Please call Lyn on 0401 007 494 with your preferred time slot, that way we can update our run sheet.

Uniforms

The uniform convenor will be available for uniform sales on Mon 7, Wed 9, Fri 11 December 2015 at 8:30 - 9:00am and on Wed 20, Thurs 21, Fri 22 January 2016 at 9:30 - 11:30am.

Outside School Hours Care (OSHC)

Operating Hours

Monday - Friday before school opening at 6:15am and after school closing at 6:00pm. If you would like further details please contact OSHC on 0408409572.

School Chaplain

The past three weeks have been quite challenging for myself and my family on a personal level.

It reminded me of a famous saying “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.- Plato.”

Aswe all get busier in these next few weeks, coming to the end of the school year, getting ready for Christmas, let's make an extra effort to be kind to one another. A little extra kindness can go a long way. Enjoy the end of year celebrations and cherish each day as a new blessing.

7 things every child needs to hear;

* I love you.

* I'm proud of you.

* I'm sorry.

* I forgive you.

* I'm listening.

* This is your responsibility.

* You've got what it takes.

Breakfast Club

Our last Breakfast Club for this year will be held on Thursday 3 December.

Breakfast is served from 8:15am on the day.

We look forward to holding Breakfast Club again next year.

As always, if you would like to come along and help you are more than welcome, pop in at 8am. Your help is always greatly appreciated.

Ice Block Day for Chaplaincy – Friday 4 December

Most of you have ordered your ice blocks already. If you haven't there is a note attached with the newsletter. Simply fill it out and include it with your money, then place itin the payment slot in the office.

PLEASE REMEMBER: Money and orders are due on FRIDAY 27 NOVEMBER.

PLEASE NOTE: NO LATE ORDERS CAN BE ACCEPTED

I am available for a chat on Thursday and Friday for students and parents, if the need arises. Please call the office on 5425 7222 or send me an email on the address below.

Have a fantastic week,

Mrs Hewett

Rebecca Hewett

School Chaplain

Mt Tarampa, Fernvale & Minden

General School News

Assembly Gotcha Awards

Congratulationsto Amy L, Amy N and Sharleigh.

School Banking

Dollarmites Achievement Certificates

Gold:

Silver:


Bronze:

40 Deposits:- Jake Marsh

Health Issues

Head lice

It is extremely important for you to check your child’s head for head lice TODAY.

If you do find head lice, commence treatment immediately and be sure to complete the process of treatment. This will help prevent head lice from spreading.

Remember to keep checking your family member’s heads every 2 days until there are no head lice found for 10 consecutive days.

All students (girls and boys) with collar length hair must have it tied up at school at all times.

Library Borrowing

Week 8 (beginning Monday 23/11/15) is the last week of library borrowing for the year. All library books must be returned by Week 9 (beginning Monday 30/11/15) please.

Classroom News

Prep News

*Parent/Teacher Interviews: Great to see parents at recent interviews.

*Presentation: Don’t forget class presentation this term will be Thursday 3rd of December at 2pm. Prep students look forward to sharing their developing skills with you.

*High Frequency Words: Keep up the great work with High Frequency Words. Continue to work during the holidays to assist Prep students to be confident when they begin year 1.

*Prep 2016: There is only 1 Prep open day remaining! Please assist anyone you know in your neighbourhood with a Prep student for next year, to contact the school office for more information.

*Swimming: Next Tuesday is our swimming carnival. Please come along and share in your child’s progress. Prep to Year 3 carnival 9:30 - 11:30am.

*Chat time: Chat time in term 4 is about things that move. Children need to be able to talk about how their item of interest moves, why it moves and include a demonstration. Extend students thinking by interesting your child in items that work in different ways – we have lots of toys brought in….. Great to see a beetle and caterpillar visit for the day. Giving us interest and variety.

*Prep graduation: Junior assembly, Friday 27th November at 2.15pm in the library Prep students will be having a short graduation ceremony. Hope you can make it…

*End of year preparation: Please make sure your child brings in a strong bag to carry books etc home during week 9. I will then begin sending books home. Limiting weight of items, making it not so difficult for Prep students to carry them.