1250 of my colleagues from across Queensland. This event is held every two years and provides Principals with an opportunity to interact with members of Central Office as well as participate in sessions run by Australian and overseas educators. There continues to be a strong focus on developing children’s literacy and numeracy development along with providing teachers with the skills to ensure Queensland students are performing to their potential. Outside School Care Hall-Thorpe Sports is operating primarily from the Resource Centre now and will continue to have access to all previously licensed areas of the school. Please contact either the OSHC staff or the Toowoomba office should you have any queries regarding their services as the school does not have authority to act on their behalf or inform parents of any changes. Cross Country This event will take place on Tuesday 14 March and the course will be similar to that run in previous years. The first races will commence at approximately 9:00am with all age levels completing the course by about first lunch break. Students are permitted to wear their house colours. Interviews This event will take place in the Resource Centre on Wednesday 15 March from 3:15pm to 7:00pm. Bookings are essential and can be made by logging onto and enter the code d7xg6. Please make
alternative arrangements with your child’s teacher should this day not be suitable for you. Parents / carers need also be aware that there is no school supervision of children during interview times. New Newsletter segment Minden school has grown significantly over the last few years and in 2017 we have a number of new staff members that you may not know much about. Consequently, we are going to profile various staff members each newsletter to let you know a little more about us. Minden’s Principal Hi, I’m Anne Wilkes. I live locally and am married with two teenage daughters who are currently both in high school. I attended teacher’s training college in Toowoomba straight out of high school and have the following formal qualifications: Bachelor of Arts, Graduate Diploma of Teaching and a Master of Education. This is my 28th year in education and I have held many roles during that time. I have been a classroom teacher of all year levels from Prep to year 7 in single year level classes as well as composites and multi-age settings. Other roles include Itinerant Key Teacher for the Year 2 Net, Education Advisor, Curriculum Coordinator, Head of Curriculum, Deputy Principal and Principal. Every day I am delighted by something I see or hear happening in our wonderful school and over the last 4 years, I have witnessed many children grow and develop, from uncertain days at the
commencement of Prep to seniors attaining leadership roles. I firmly believe that education is a partnership between school and home and I value the support efforts of parents and carers who continually contribute what they can when they can, regardless of how big or small this contribution may be. Along with a team of committed and dedicated staff, let’s work together to ensure Minden continues to be a great school. Parents And Citizens Association News Book Fair Thank you for supporting the Scholastic book fair – We have raised a value of $700 of resources to benefit our school. Congratulations to our 6 lucky winners who received $10 vouchers to spend at the fair. It was wonderful to see parents and students coming to browse and purchase. Book fair will be returning in Term 3, so remember to get in early to grab a bargain. New School Banking rewards now available! Welcome to our new school bankers! School Banking day is Monday. Exciting new Term 1 rewards with a Future Savers are now available, while stocks last! So don’t forget to put your banking in each week. For every deposit made at school students will receive a silver Dollarmites token. Once students have individually collected 10 tokens they can redeem them for exclusive School Banking reward items in recognition of their regular savings habits. There are two new items released each term so be sure to keep an eye out for them! you for supporting the School Banking program. Easter Raffle First Prize: Lots of Easter Chocolate Second Prize: Some Easter Chocolate Third Prize: A bit of Easter Chocolate Tickets $1 each Please return entries / money / unsold tickets by March 30th Drawn at whole school assembly on Friday March 31st
be having a fun day participating in Easter activities on the 30th March If you would like to come and help out you are most welcome. *Cross Country – Prep’s will be having fun in the cross country on Tuesday 14th March. If you would like to come along they will be running at approximately 10.15am. Please check out what sports team/colour your child is in. Wearing team colours helps with organization on the day. If you have any questions then please come and see me. Thank you Mrs Williams and The Prep Students Science During Science this week all grades are starting to work on their assessment. Year Fives and sixes are both working on research assignments about animals. Year six are looking at endangered animals and year five are making up their own, looking at the various adaptations required for the environment they have selected. Year fives are also going to make a Diorama to go with their report which they will present to the rest of their class. Year sixes are presenting their report in a powerpoint. Year four will commence their assessment next week. This will also be a report on an endangered animal. Year three will need to demonstrate their knowledge of living and non-living. Year two and one are looking at habitats and the needs of animals and plants. Prep learnt all about plants and their needs this week. Their
assessment will be a diorama of an animal and what it needs. Makers have had very busy weeks with regular attendance of around 20 students. Several are busy making teddies and one of the girls made herself a bag. Some of the students had fun with the Spirograph. In Coding students are working on the hour of code while others are busy with the edbots. Students of the week for Science over the past fortnight are Wade, Ebony and Jazmine. I would like to thank Ebony and Ella for their help in setting up for science and the clubs. Jenni Einam General School News Assembly Gotcha Awards Hailey, Evie, Shae, Laif, Charlotte and Stephanie Congratulations! Easter Fun Day All students in the Prep to Year 3 classes will be involved in a morning of Easter activities on Thursday 30 March. The activities will run from 9am to 11am concluding with an Easter egg hunt. If you would like to assist in Prep/Year 1/Year 2/Year 3 on the day please see your child’s teacher. Please inform your
teacher if you do not want your child to participate in our Easter activities, we can organise alternative activities on the day. Thank you, Prep, Yr 1, Yr 2 and Yr 3 Teachers. Cirriculum Awards Year 1C Special Awards: Sofie - Student of the Week - For outstanding behaviour choices! Hunter - For using your strategies when reading! Alyssa - For using your strategies when reading! Keep it up! Layla - For exceptional work in the classroom - Keep up the awesome effort! Year 1H Special Awards: Hamish - For working really hard on improving his writen work. Well Done Hamish! Abbey - For beautiful book work and always being ready to learn. Joshua - For extremely helpful and a responsible member of our classroom. Well Done Joshua! Amelia - For fantastic results in her spelling and always being ready to learn. Year 1 Reading Links For Successfully Completing Reading Links List 1, Module 1 Lilyana, Evie, Aiden, Ryder and Joshua List 2, Module 1 Scarlett Year 2 Special Awards: Sophia - Special Award Chace - Special Award
Mia - Special Penelope - Special Award Year 3 Special Awards: Michael - For making great choices in his behaviour, especially this week! Alistair - For his excellent work ethic in all areas! Jayden - For trying his best with his learning. Year 4 Special Award: - Rylee has written a fantastic narrative in English, Well done Rylee! Abby - Abby has been working hard on her spelling within narrative writing. Well done Abby! Science Special Awards: Bella - Excellent report on mould! Darcy - For being an environmental warrier! Birthdays Cody, Annaliese, Benjamin, Lena, Chevy, Kiara,Lachlan, Emma and Mikayla Happy Birthday from everyone at Minden State School!