The Westwood Word
108 Herbert Street, Westwood
P.O. Box 5 Westwood 4702
Ph: 49347682
Fax: 49347605
Acting Principal – Lachlan Moore
WEEK ONE Term 4 – TUESDAY OCTOBER 14th
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Late last term, Westwood State School had a
behaviour and discipline audit with some
outstanding results achieved. Across all areas
Westwood State School was seen to be achieving
at a high or an outstanding level. Below is a
number of commendations the school received.
Commendations:
The Principal and staff members have taken
personal responsibility and accountability for
the development of a safe, supportive and
disciplined learning environment.
There has been a strong focus upon the
implementation of the Westwood Winning
Values:
Trustworthiness,
Respect,
Responsibility,
Fairness,
Caring
and
Citizenship. These values are visible
throughout the school, promoted in the school
newsletters and in the school community, and
are evident in the behaviour of the students.
All students know and understand the
Westwood High Fives as a strategy to deal
with bullying. The Bullying Response table
also provides clear processes for staff
members to follow when addressing and
managing incidents of bullying.
The school’s Responsible Behaviour Plan for
Students (RBPS) is closely aligned with the
school’s pedagogical focus upon Explicit
Instruction and has enabled the establishment
of clear routines, policies and procedures in
the classroom resulting in enhanced student
engagement.
A positive learning culture has begun
development at the school which is reflected
in the awarding of positive rewards, for
example, student of the week, and the
recording of positive behaviour incidents into
OneSchool.
Classrooms are calm and there are minimal
student behavioural disruptions at the school.
There are still a number of things that as a school
we are working on improving and implementing
and as a school we have a strong vision of the
continual improvement of the school behaviour
management policy. Thanks to all staff for their
efforts during the audit process.
Over the past couple of newsletters I have referred
to our Westwood winning values which is a
guiding document within our behaviour
management policy. This newsletter I wanted to
focus on the winning value of fairness. Students
at the school are always in encouraged to play
fairly which involves turn taking and inclusion.
Fairness also extends to the classroom with
students encouraged to be flexible with other
students learning needs. Below is an outline on
what fairness looks like at Westwood State
School.
What the winning value of fairness looks like in
the classroom:
I deal with challenges
I try to be flexible
I try to move past upsets
I am open to change
I am reliable and follow through
I am positive and optimistic
I consider new possibilities
I am confident an in control
What the winning values of fairness look like in
the playground.
I respond politely to adults’ requests
I speak courteously
I share space
I respect my environment
I play well with others
I consider others’ feelings
I use my manners
I care for sports and play equipment
I keep the school clean
Our school has great, well behaved students which
is continually noted by visitors. As a community
we should be proud of our students and how they
conduct themselves.
Regards
Lachlan Moore (Acting Principal)
Westwood State School Playgroup
Playgroup is up and running again for
term 4!
Where: Westwood State School (108 Herbert St)
When: Tuesday 8.30am-10.00am
Cost: Free!
Playgroup participants are involved in fun
filled activities such as painting, singing,
dancing and obstacles courses. New
participants are welcome to attend.
Any queries do not hesitate to contact the
school using the contacts listed above!
PLAYGROUP DATES
21/10/2014
28/10/2014
4/11/2014
11/11/2014
18/11/2014
25/11/2014
2/12/2014
9/12/2014
Student Asthma, Allergies and Medical
Conditions
LET’S UPDATE OUR
MEDICAL INFORMATION!
So that we can give the best care possible for your
child on a daily basis or in an emergency situation
it is important that we have up to date student
medical information. Medical information we
need includes:
Asthma: Parents need to let school admin
know if students suffer from asthma even if it
is mild. The school will develop an effective
asthma plan with GPs and parents.
Allergies: It is extremely important to let the
school know if your child suffers from
allergies. This knowledge is essential for the
school in an emergency.
Medical Conditions: Parents also need the
school know if your child has any medical
conditions. This information can help the
school during emergency situations as well as
develop learning programs will help the
student learn to the best of their ability.
No matter how small the condition or the concern
let the school know. The more information we
have the better we can deal with emergencies as
well as your child’s learning needs.
1-2-3 Magic and Emotion Coaching
Parenting Course
A three week course, with sessions taking approx
2 hours covering:
How to discipline without arguing, yelling or
smacking, how to sort behaviour, how to handle
challenging and testing behaviours, choosing your
strategy, the “three choices” and using emotion
coaching to encourage good behaviour
Location: Rockhampton Centacare 10 Bolsover
Street, Rockhampton
Course dates: October 17, 24, & 31
Session times: 9.30am-12.00pm
Cost of program: $20.00 (Full Program)
Bookings: [email protected] or
Phone 1300 523 985
Centacare CQ Workshops
Live Life Today- Three x 1 Day Workshops
Come and join like-minded women in small group
workshops. Explore the positive ways of
improving your life in a fun one day Workshop.
The aim of this workshop is to increase your selfawareness. What is covered?
Relaxation sessions, expressive drawings,
emotions and the brain, relationships, fear and
anxiety, values and beliefs, coincidence,
incorporating small changes, vulnerability,
change your thinking.
Location: Centacare CQ, 10 Bolsover Street,
Rockhampton
Course dates: Thursday 13 & 27 Nov and 4 Dec
Session times: 9.30am-2:30pm
Cost of program: $20.00/ Workshop
Bookings: [email protected] or Phone
1300 523 985
Kindy Counts!
Kindy counts! Facebook competition
Parents with kindy-aged children are invited to
tell how kindy has benefitted their child. By doing
so you will have a chance to win a Samsung Kids
Tablets and $1000 in educational materials for
your child’s kindy.
Simply submit a video, or photo and up to 100words that shows the benefits of kindy. To enter,
your child must be participating in kindy this year,
or have participated last year.
Go to: www.qld.gov.au/kindyfun for competition
entry requirements, prizes, deadlines and full
terms and conditions.
Great Results Guarantee 2015
In 2015 the Queensland Government is investing
$183 million in Great Results Guarantee funding
for state schools. Here at Westwood State School
our estimated 2015 allocation is $5000 to continue
the great work we started this year to improve our
student’s performance.
www.education.qld.gov.au/resultsguarantee
More than 65,000 vouchers have already been
issued across the state, and local sport and
recreation clubs have joined the cause with
3500 clubs registered to accept the vouchers.
Applications for this round of the program
will close on October 15. More details can be
found at www.nprsr.qld.gov.au.
Chatter matters – Get DETE’s new SPEAK
oral language app
2014 School Holidays
Oral language skills are important for a child’s
literacy and overall academic achievement.
Term Dates
Children with a language impairment are six times
more likely to have a reading problem than
children without.
Term
4
It therefore makes sense to be proactive in the
early years of a child’s life and DETE‘s new
SPEAK app helps this happen.
The SPEAK (Speaking Promotes Education And
Knowledge) oral language app has been
developed by the Department of Education,
Training and Employment as a joint initiative with
Queensland Health and Redland City Council to
help develop children’s speaking and listening
ability.
SPEAK provides lots of fun, free activities, ideas
and information for parents, carers and educators
to support and nurture oral language development
in children from 0-6 years of age.
The information and activities were developed by
the department with the help of speech
pathologists, educators and health professionals.
The SPEAK app is available for free download
from the iTunes store and Google Play.
Additional information is available from the
DETE apps website.
Get Started Round 4 funding closing soon
Queensland families are being urged to get
cracking with applications for the Queensland
Government’s Get Started vouchers, to help
children stay active and healthy through sport
and recreation.
The initiative provides kids who can least
afford joining a sport or recreation club with
vouchers of up to $150 to help with club
membership and participation fees.
Tuesday 7 October
- Friday 12
December
Length
10
weeks
Important School Dates and Community
Events
School:
P&C Meeting
- 15/10/2014 Wednesday 2.30pm @
Westwood SS
Parades
- 19/9/2014 Friday 8.30am @ Westwood SS
- 17/10/2014 Friday 8.30am @ Westwood SS
- 31/10/2014 Friday 8.30am @ Westwood SS
- 14/11/2014 Friday 8.30am @ Westwood SS
- 28/11/2014 Friday 8.30am @ Westwood SS
- 12/12/2014 Friday 8.30am @ Westwood SS
Swimming
- 16/10/2014 Thursday 1.15-2.15pm @ SplashA-Bout Swim School
- 23/10/2014 Thursday 1.15-2.15pm @ SplashA-Bout Swim School
- 30/10/2014 Thursday 1.15-2.15pm @ SplashA-Bout Swim School
- 6/11/2014 Thursday 1.15-2.15pm @ SplashA-Bout Swim School
- 13/11/20141.15-2.15pm Thursday @ SplashA-Bout Swim School
- 20/11/2014 1.15-2.15pm Thursday @ SplashA-Bout Swim School
- 27/11/2014 1.15-2.15pm Thursday @ SplashA-Bout Swim School
- 4/12/2014 1.15-2.15pm Thursday @ SplashA-Bout Swim School
Community:
- 24/10/2014 Tennis Night Friday