dssnl-20-05-15 - Drayton State School

We value & strive for SAFETY - EFFORT - RESPECT - PRIDE - SELF-RESPONSIBILTY
Wednesday 20 May 2015
 Principal
Mr Aleksandr Taylor-Gough
 Head of Curriculum
Mrs Chantelle Bauer
 Office Admin Staff
Mrs Lisa Maslen
Mrs Christine Jones
 Postal Address
Drayton State School
55 Brisbane Street,
DRAYTON. Q 4350.
CONTACTS
Phone: 4637 7444
Fax: 4637 7400
Prep: 4630 1913
www.draytonss.eq.edu.au
OUTSIDE SCHOOL
HOURS CARE
Coordinator
Megan Karhenbring
0422 005 470
UPCOMING
Check out the
Website
THURSDAY 21 MAY
 AMAROO 1T & 1C
MONDAY 25 MAY
 Local Chaplaincy
Committee Meeting
5.00pm Drayton School
Admin block
WEDNESDAY 10 JUNE
 GRANDPARENTS
DAY
TUESDAY 16WEDNESDAY 17 JUNE
 ATHLETICS
WEDNESDAY 17 JUNE
 P&C MEETING 6.30PM
*TUCKSHOP
Friday
First break only
See P&C section for more
details
Checkout the school
website for new menu
UNIFORM STORE
Tuesday 8:30-9:15 am
Friday 2:30-3:15 pm
Principal News
Hi all.
My Principal’s Report this fortnight will be
quite brief, given the fact that we have been
(and still are) participating in the Internal
School Audit process. This process highlights
the ways in which Drayton State School is
currently operating in the following four
administrative domains, including:
1.
State Schooling Operations
2.
Human Resource Management
3.
Finance
4.
Infrastructure
The Audit commenced on Monday, and will
likely conclude tomorrow. However, from
all indications, there is evidence that Drayton
State School is working at a high level in
many areas, which is a credit to school staff,
and in particular, Lisa Maslen (Business
Services Manager), Chris Jones
(Administration Officer) and the work of
Vicky Schwerin (Administration Officer
and Teacher Aide). I hope to be able to
provide a final overview of the Audit within
the next newsletter.
Staffing
I can confirm hot off the press today, that
Craig Barron, (substantive Principal at
Drayton SS) has been appointed permanently
to the position of Principal – Middle Ridge
State School. Craig has been at Middle Ridge
as Acting Principal since January
2014. However, he now has won that
position and will be ‘formally’ leaving Drayton
SS. Having spoken to Craig this afternoon,
he wishes to offer his thanks and gratitude to
the entire Drayton community for your
support of him. He has many fond memories
and it will be sad to see him go. I have
invited Craig to compose some words for
the next Newsletter, along with a potential
Friday Assembly farewell, of which I will
inform you of the date.
08/15
Whilst that now gives stability to Middle
Ridge SS, I have been informed by Debbie
Hails (our Assistant Regional Director,
School Performance) that a Vacancy
Notification will be made in the very near
future, about the Principal position here at
Drayton State School.
ARD Supervisor Visit
In addition to the comprehensive Internal
Audit process occurring as I write this, we
had a visit yesterday from our Assistant
Regional Director, School Performance – Debbie
Hails. Debbie spoke highly of the processes
we have in place, and is supportive of the
initiatives we are putting in place. In
particular, she commented on our grounds
and our classrooms – having walked around
the school and visited a number of classes in
action. It was wonderful to be able to talk
with Debbie about key Central and Regional
priorities such as Data (including NAPLAN
Data) and School Attendance.
Whilst we were highly commended on our
work around School Attendance, Debbie
would like us to continue to focus on
reducing the Unexplained Absences,
something I will mention below. We have
had 334 unexplained absences recorded on
our system, something that we need to
significantly reduce moving forward.
However, Debbie was very impressed with
our focus on curriculum and pedagogy and
commended the direction that Drayton is
headed in 2015. This is a great assessment
by Debbie and I appreciate the cooperation
everyone has shown this year.
NAPLAN
Thanks to everyone for their support of both
students and teachers who cooperatively
participated in the National Assessment
Program – Literacy and Numeracy last week.
The four tests were conducted without issue
and I would like to thank everyone for the
work they did prior to the event (in test
preparation) and throughout the event (such
as getting students ready by 9:00am, and
ensuring they had quality sleeps and a healthy
diet). Also, thanks to the teachers for their
role in conducting the tests. We look
forward to using these results in our teaching
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Wednesday 20 May 2015
We value & strive for SAFETY - EFFORT - RESPECT - PRIDE - SELF-RESPONSIBILTY
and learning programming when we receive the data in
the coming months.
School Priorities
At Drayton SS, we will be beginning to implement a
number of staff committees that will allow us to further
focus on key priority areas. Staff have been invited to
join the Behaviour, Gardens/Grounds and Roles/
Responsibilities Committee. These committees will
report to Administration and will seek to strengthen
these areas in our school. I look forward to seeing this
work in action, and for the school to benefit from a focus
in these spaces.
Attendance Update – Target 95%
Our attendance is beginning to slide. Whilst I understand
that with cold weather often comes illness. However,
when I look back to last week, 33 students were away
unexplained. This number is far too high for the week.
Whilst the school will follow up with unexplained
absences as per its processes within/on the third day (and
where possible, earlier), I need each parent and/or
caregiver to take the lead on this and let the school know
if your child is away and the reason as early as possible.
We know that every day counts, and missing even 1 day
per fortnight adds up to 130 days over a 13 year
schooling career (that’s the equivalent of missing more
than half a school year). I would like to ask all families to
phone the school when your child is away as it assists
everyone involved. Thanks for your help on this.
Remember – our School Target is 95%. We are so close,
so let’s all work together because Every Day Counts.
08/15
SS. We don’t have many community or parent/caregiver
members from Drayton SS yet on the Committee. With
the Committee acting as the public voice of Chaplaincy, it
is a great opportunity to have your say in this space.
Chappy Kate does a magnificent job supporting
students and I know she would love to see as many faces
at the meeting as possible! See you there.
On That Note
I wish the Year 1 students who will be attending the
Amaroo Environmental Education Centre tomorrow on
excursion all the very best, and look forward to seeing
the new learnings you will gain from the day.
Additionally, please diarise Wednesday 10th June
(Wednesday Week 8) – as this will be the day we
celebrate Grandparent’s Day. Excitedly, we’ll have more
information around this in the coming weeks, as it really
is a great event.
Have a great fortnight, and I’ll keep in touch.
Kind Regards,
Aleksandr Taylor-Gough.
ACTING PRINCIPAL
Bookclub news
Issue four is out. All orders are due back at the office by
June 2nd. Please check all orders are filled in carefully,
cheques are made out to Scholastic Australia and credit
card slips are filled in completely with the receipt number
added.
Get connected with the QSchools app
Local Chaplaincy Committee
I would like to remind everyone that you are more than
welcome to join (or just attend) the Drayton and
Bunker’s Hill SS Chaplaincy Committee. The next
meeting is on home soil, this coming Monday 25th May at
5:00pm in the Administration Tea Room here at Drayton
The QSchools app lets you connect with your state
school to get up-to-the-minute information including:

Push notifications and emergency announcements

Newsletters and documents

Calendar events and news

Tuckshop and uniform shop information

School hours and contact details

Social media feeds
Available for free download from iTunes Store, Google
Play, Windows Store and Windows
Phone Store. As well as the school
website.
Visit http://qld.gov.au/QSchools
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Wednesday 20 May 2015
We value & strive for SAFETY - EFFORT - RESPECT - PRIDE - SELF-RESPONSIBILTY
08/15
Stress and Families. Suggestions for a happy
family from Bruce Sullivan:
that you can clearly articulate that are designed to stop
the world from taking over your life.
What Are Your Personal Policies?
I travel a lot. That means learning about and then living
with the policies that are put in place by the airlines and
hotels. Now, as a customer, I believe that some of these
policies are not always considerate of my needs. (Could
someone please tell me when the world stopped revolving
around me?).
2. Consider what policies you have as a family or a
Simply, the policies put in place by airlines and hotels are
not solely for my needs. (Gasp!!!) They exist because the
organisation has needs as well which include the efficient
and effective running of their business. Without the
policies it would be almost “anything goes” and chaos
would be the order of the day. The same can be said for
us. What are your policies? What do you have in place to
ensure that chaos is not the order of the day? Here are
some of my family’s policies:

When we are having dinner, we don’t answer the
phone.

If my partner or my manager needs to contact me
quickly, we use a text message as opposed to a
voicemail.

Our children have a maximum of two extra-curricular
activities per child outside the home e.g. gymnastics and
music.

School Holidays are special times for our family and
the goal is to line up my work holidays during these times

When I am in my home town and not presenting at a
conference, my office makes sure I have no appointments
before 9.30am, so I can drop my children off at school/
work.
No TV on during dinner.
What policies do you have to reduce the chaos and stop
the world taking over your life?
I have a friend who is a working outside the home Mum as
well as working inside the home Mum with three children
and she has created a wonderful policy! At 4.30pm every
weekday she will pour a glass of wine and sit and enjoy
another episode of The Bold and The Beautiful! It’s her
time to sit and relax and what’s even better, everyone that
knows her knows her policy! Don’t dare ring her during
that time!
couple that work the same way. How clear are they?
3. Decide what new ones you could create. How would
you benefit and what could you lose by implementing
these policies?
Make them stick, practice “Will–Won’t– Commit” and
enjoy the new order!
My hope is that you can use the information to make sure
that 2015 is NOT a repeat of 2014.
Enjoy the journey!
Warm regards
Bruce
http://brucesullivan.com.au/
YOU CAN DO IT - CERIFICATE EARNERS
Our ‘You Can Do It!’ program exists in every
classroom & aims to build the capabilities of every
student with positive messages & lessons in each
class about being:
- Organised - Confident - Persistent - Resilient Able to get along with others
This past fortnight has once again seen many of our
students earning certificates for their efforts. They
are as follows:
Week ending 8 May: Marlan H, Cayden P, Caleb
C, Corbin S, Amelia S, Sean L, Jordan F, Porsche L,
Charlotte L, Kiana B, Annabele L, Kodie G.
Sorry no photo available
Week ending 15 May: Jackson F, Aaliyah M, Dotti
C, Jedd S, Bailey M, Joseph S, Tameequa A,
Katelyn M, Justin M, Jack O, Mia M, Mikayla S,
Jayden L, Emily C, Sam M, Paiton H, Cody L, Tasha
C.
Hotels and airlines use them unashamedly – “That’s not
our policy”. Try arguing and for the most part you waste
your time and energy trying to get them to change it.
People understand the concept of policy.
When YOU start telling other people that you have a
policy, very few will tell you, “That’s a stupid policy!” Most
people, I have found, will be taken aback that you have
actually gone to the effort of creating one! And what’s
more, they don’t waste their time and energy trying to get
you to change it either!
Next tiny steps for you …
1. Think about whether you currently have any policies
Congratulations to our award winners!!!!
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We value & strive for SAFETY - EFFORT - RESPECT - PRIDE - SELF-RESPONSIBILTY
08/15
0400210377 (SMS during work hours please) or email
sthott1@bigpond.com.
We had great attendance at our last meeting.
Terrific to see so many parents interested and
engaged in what is happening in our school.
Decisions were made at this meeting to work on
grants for resurfacing and landscaping the oval and
for upgrading the lighting and sound in the hall.
Most of the money raised from other fundraising
events will be directed towards the installation of
our new playground.
Thank you to Damien McAleer for the time that
has been devoted to making sure that the correct
procedures are being followed so that this
playground will be installed safely.
Our Mother’s Day stall was a great success. Thanks
to Tracey Jensen for her work making this happen
and to all our volunteers who helped. We profited
just under $1000.
We will be holding a Bunnings sausage sizzle on
September the 26th. We will need a number of
volunteers rostered on throughout the day. If you
know you will be available to help could you
please make contact and let us know the hours
you are available to help between 8.00am and
5.00pm.
Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday June
17th at 6.30pm. At this meeting we will be
discussing changing the school logo on the
pullovers to reduce the cost. Please make contact
if you would like to add something to our agenda
for discussion at this meeting.
CONVENOR - if anyone may be interested in the
volunteer convenor position from Term 3 or 4, please
contact me to discuss. The job requires on average
only a couple of hours per week, and you don't have
to work in the store on both days. We have two
other volunteers who work in the store and make the
job very easy for the convenor!
Trisha Ott
Convenor
TUCKSHOP
We are working towards a Pizza day on Tuesday June
2nd, please keep an eye out for notes that will come
home with further detail on what and how to order.
Please consider helping out in the tuckshop on a
Friday. Your donation of time would be hugely
appreciated and what a thrill for your kids to see you
working behind the counter! If you can help please
contact Kirsty on 0417076249.
TREAT DAY will be on again this Friday. Please
support the tuckshop by sending along some loose
change for your kids to purchase a small treat to kick
off the weekend celebrations.
SPORTS DAY CANTEEN-HELP NEEDED!
Our sports days will be held on Tuesday June 16th
and Wednesday June 17th. Our canteen will be open
on both days and we will need volunteers to help
serve. Please consider donating some of your time to
ease the burden and share the load.
If you can help please contact Kirsty on 0417076249.
Diana Ruhle
Secretary
druhl1@eq.edu.au
UNIFORM STORE
CANBERRA TRIP - the jackets have been ordered
and should be here next week. Some parents have
asked if they could have the jacket for their
children to wear now, and if we have that size in
stock, I am happy to arrange for you to collect it
from the office. Please call or SMS me on
Upcoming Dates
 Next P & C Meeting Wed 17 June 6:30pm in the Staff
Room
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Wednesday 20 May 2015
We value & strive for SAFETY - EFFORT - RESPECT - PRIDE - SELF-RESPONSIBILTY
08/15
It means you may need to stop what you are doing.
So be it.
Proximity is a powerful influencer. Great teachers
know this. That’s why they move around in class so
much: to teach and also to manage.
So save your voice for conversation, encouragement
and affection.
Don’t yell, move closer
By Michael Grose
As a busy parent it’s easy to give your voice a work
out when you don’t get the cooperation you want
from your children.
You know how it goes.
You want your son or daughter to give you some
help and they don’t respond.
Perhaps, you want a child to stop annoying his or her
sibling.
Use your body effectively to manage kids.
The key, of course, is to do it.
My challenge for you is to bite your tongue when
you want to yell. Take a deep breath (as the Mood
Meter teaches you) and move into your child’s
proximity. Don’t stare him down. Just be close to
him or her.
Keep doing it and the cooperation levels you get
from your kids will increase astronomically over
time.
But you’ve got to do it.
In future don’t yell, move closer.
Or you simply want your kids to QUIETEN DOWN
inside.
When your request for cooperation is ignored.
So you do what over 90% of parents do. That is, you
repeat yourself. Then if that’s still ignored you RAISE
the volume.
‘I’ll yell at them. That should work!’
Hmm, I’m not so sure.
Usually yelling only succeeds in producing parentdeaf kids.
If yelling, shouting or raising your voice is a habit
you’ve developed to get cooperation then here’s a
great strategy to use instead.
Next time your kids ignore a reasonable request
move close to them and quietly repeat your
request once.
No aggression, just expectation.
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Wednesday 20 May 2015
We value & strive for SAFETY - EFFORT - RESPECT - PRIDE - SELF-RESPONSIBILTY
08/15
Hello to everyone
I would like to introduce myself, my name is Taylor Gladman and I am
standing in as co-ordinator for the next 3 weeks! I am currently in my 2nd
year of studying my bachelor of primary education and I am very excited
to create some new memories over the next few weeks. As some of you
may know Megan is off on prac at this time, so if you have any troubles,
questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact me! Pleas be sure
to come and introduce yourself. 
Over the next few weeks I will be looking at starting up some new
activities in our after school care program. These may include a science
afternoon where we will be experimenting with some fun elements, a
cooking afternoon, as well as, offering a variety of craft and games that
students can engage in.
Our star rewards program is still running. Congratulations to all of those
students who have reached 3 or 6 stars. It is great to see so many of you
achieving greatness at before and after school care!
Just a reminder that if you need care before school or after school we still
have placements available, so feel free to call and secure a booking with us.
All you need to do is log on to www.campaustralia.com.au to register and
book your days, if you have any issues while doing this you can ring our
customer service team on 1300 105 343 and they can guide you through
the process. Otherwise you may drop into the service and I can assist you.
We open from 6.30am to 8.55am and 3.00pm to 6.00pm.
We supply a breakfast of cereal or toast with milo or milk and in the
afternoon we supply a platter of fruit/vegetables and a variety of other
healthy treats.
Thank you
Taylor Gladman
0422 005 470
Coordinator
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