Week 6 Newsletter

From the Deputy - Maureen Kelly

‘Brisbane Central State School is a vibrant place to be.’  This principle, expressed in our BCSS School Vision, is enacted in the everyday life of the BCSS school community.  It is not just about the activities we engage in but the connections we make within the school, local and broader community that make our school a dynamic learning environment that enriches the learning for our students. 

In the recent weeks our students have looked beyond the walls of the classroom and partnered with others in their learning.  The Year 2 students connected via video link with students at both Mornington Island State School and Charters Towers School of Distance Education.  They listened and enquired to learn from first hand accounts what it is like to be at a school in a different geographical area and the opportunities and limits the location creates for these students in their schooling.  The Year 3 students have had the privilege of parents as primary sources of information about how significant events are celebrated and commemorated across Australian and the world and how these events are important to Australia’s identity and diversity.  Parents have come into the classrooms as authentic sources of information about cultural celebrations and our students have been captivated by the new learnings as well as feeling the deep connection between their own experiences and the learning within the classroom.  The Year 5 students have interviewed significant people from within our school community and written biographies as a culmination of learning about how our connection to people and places makes us who we are and influences our identity. These experiences provide connection with the real world as the basis for engaging students in the core curriculum learning.  We see our students thrive in these learning experiences as they develop as learners who are engaged, open minded and connected with the real world, as we develop learners for the 21^st Century world. 

Through recent special events our students have also engaged as members of the broader education community.  These special events, aimed at enriching the school experience, add to the vibrancy of the school.  On Wednesday the students in Prep to Year 2 engaged in National Simultaneous Storytime, by sharing a selected book along with 22 000 children across Australia on the same day.  Last week we welcomed parents and local partners, Gardiner Chess, Speak Up Drama School and Shake Dance School into our school community for Under Eights Day.  It was a truly delightful morning of activities celebrating our younger students as active and engaged learners.  We thank our parents who joined us and our local partners who came in and ran activities, along with the dedicated school staff.  On Thursday the Prep to Year 3 students engaged in the Rural Discovery Day at the RNA show grounds, a chance for city kids to learn country skills and develop insights into a different way of life.  We thank Lend Lease for their sponsorship of this event for the BCSS students to attend.  At last, after two wet weather cancellations, we send our Year 4 to 6 students off to GALA Day to engage with a network of schools in a variety of team competitive sports. 

Next week we recognise Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week, an important time when the colonial impacts within Australia are recognised.  It is an opportunity for our school community to develop insights into historical and contemporary Australian society, learning that is strongly embedded in the Australian Curriculum. 

We greatly appreciate our parents as partners in the classroom learning, local partners who have contributed to the range of learning experiences for our students and those further afield who have partnered with us.  It is through our connections within and beyond the school fence that we can create the vibrant learning place that is Brisbane Central for the benefit of our students now and for years to come as active and engaged learners. 

National Simultaneous Storytime

On Wednesday 22 May the students celebrated a love of books and reading with a shared reading of ‘Bowerbird Blues’ by  Aura Parker as part of National Simultaneous Storytime.  Students in Prep and Year 2 gathered together to enjoy the book and even got to create their own bower. 

National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is an annual event held by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). A picture book is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country. It is a colourful, vibrant, fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children's book.  

Sustainability Captains - Tangalooma

On Monday the 13^th of May, the Sustainability Captains went to the amazing Tangalooma Island Resort on Moreton Island. We had the BEST time ever. We learnt how the lovely people at Urban Utilities filter our drain water and turn it into perfectly drinkable water.

We learnt about the Port of Brisbane and had to use our problem solving skills to design a way to improve the port for the future. We learnt about ways we can use left over fruit and veg. We had the opportunity to network with other schools and of course, the dolphin feeding was a highlight. It was such a cool experience and we feel so privileged to be apart of the EcoMarines program. 

P-2 Under 8s Day

Last Thursday morning, our Prep to Year 2s were abuzz with the excitement of Under 8s Day! This year’s theme was ‘Connecting to Culture through Play’ and not even the wet weather could manage to dampen the children’s spirits. Many enjoyable activities were organised by the teachers, including face painting, worm farming, paper-bird flying, bracelet making and playdough creating. A very special thank you to our community volunteers for also supporting our day – SHAKE Dance, Speak Up, QLD Police, and Gardiner Chess Club. Of course, our animal farm petting zoo was a favourite for many (big people included)!

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Junior Choir Open Rehearsal

Thank you to all of our Junior Choir families for their support of our Open Rehearsal in Week 5. Thank you to those family and friends who were able to attend our rehearsal, but also to all of our parents for assisting in having our students in attendance by the beginning of the rehearsal.

We had lots of fun as our Junior Choir performed two little pieces, demostrated our warmups and played a game with our parents and carers. We look forward to our next performance.

P-3 Rural Discovery Day

Yesterday, our P-3 students were treated to an amazing, farm-filled ‘Rural Discovery Day’ at the RNA Showgrounds, where we experienced what life is like in a rural setting and about modern and ancient farming techniques.

So much fun was had by all, as we milked cows, patted chickens, made bread, planted seeds and even watched the shearing of some sheep! Thank you to Lend Lease and the RNA for allowing us all to take part, free of charge, Thank you also to the many parent volunteers who assisted on the day.

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QParents!

Have you activated your QParents Account? QParents is a portal that links you to our school.
Through QParents you can:

*  Enter student absences (including future and past dates!)

*  View invoices and pay on the spot!

* Access, view and reprint report cards!

* Inform the school of change of details (Like important phone numbers and addresses!)

And soon...

* Complete excursion permission and other consent forms!

Check your email for your invitation to join QParents.

You'll need to have 100 Points of ID handy, and your child's EQID - this can be found on any invoice that the school has sent you.

ICAS Assessments for Advanced Learners

Each year, at Brisbane Central State School, we offer parents the opportunity for their child/children to sit the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) tests. ICAS is an online academic competition that gives students the opportunity to challenge their higher order thinking and problem-solving skills.  Every student who participates is celebrated and recognised with a printed certificate and an online report of results. Top performers are eligible for one of the highly coveted ICAS medals.  To learn more about this year’s ICAS competition, visit:  (icasassessments.com/products-icas/).  In addition, this video demonstrates the testing platform.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DMCtlAjQHs  

Parents register their children for ICAS and make payment using the online UNSW Global Parent Payment System.  ICAS registrations are open for use by Brisbane Central State School parents and is open until Monday 15 July 2024.  Registrations for the tests will not be possible after this date. 

Brisbane Central school access code is: RHV663

Brisbane Central page link is: https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps

How to participate in ICAS 

If you wish for your child to participate in ICAS this year: 

1. Read about ICAS subjects and prices here: (com/products-icas/)
2. Read the Privacy Collection Statement below.
3. Read the terms and conditions here: (com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-ICAS-Assessments-Schools-TsCs_S2023.V6-1.pdf) 
4. Go to Parent Portal to purchase chosen tests here: (icasassessments.com/pages/pps)   
5. Enter our school’s access code –  RHV663
6. Enter your child’s details, select the subject area tests you would like to purchase, then proceed to payment.
7. After payment is made via the Parent Payment System, you will receive an order confirmation email. Please keep this for your records. 

Please note that the ICAS tests shown for selection are at the school’s discretion.  Brisbane Central State School is offering the English, Mathematics, Writing and Science assessments.   Writing is only provided by ICAS from Year 3, while the other subject areas are available from Years 2 to Year 6.   We will notify parents of the dates that Brisbane Central will run the different ICAS tests after the close of bookings. 

Your child’s ICAS certificates will be delivered to the school about 4 weeks after the close of the assessment period Once we have received your child’s ICAS certificate, we will send it home with your child. The back of the certificate shows ICAS results and the login details, “TAP ID and Pin”.  Use these to enter the Results Portal orti.icasassessments.com/ortiStudent 

Privacy Collection Statement 

The following information is a privacy notification about how your child’s data is kept private and secure. 

ICAS Assessment is owned by Janison Solutions Pty Ltd (We, Us, Our).

To deliver assessment products, Janison will require your child’s School to obtain your consent to provide Janison with certain personal information of students. Janison will collect, store, use, disclose and otherwise deal with such personal information in accordance with its privacy policy (below). We are aware of our responsibility to protect personal information related to children and students from being disclosed when we deliver an ICAS Assessments product. Unless you, as the child’s legal guardian consents, we will not:

• collect any personal information or data of children other than the information we need for the successful completion of an assessment, test, or exam.
• transfer any personal information we obtain from a child in the delivery of assessments and tests to any jurisdiction outside of Australia.
• share any personal information relating to children with any third parties (except for those third parties necessary for us to carry out our Services or provide our Products e.g., medal engraving).
• use any personal information or data relating to children for marketing purposes.

You can view our full privacy policy at https://www.janison.com/privacy-policy/.

We may retain personal information and data relevant to a child for their future purposes or for research purposes by Janison for the duration of the school life cycle of the child. However, if you or your child at any time wish to have their personal information or data removed from our systems, they or you may opt out by simply contacting our Privacy Officer at privacy@janison.com or by contacting icasassessments@janison.com.

Please do not hesitate to contact the school via Maureen Kelly, mkell83@eq.edu.au, if you have any questions.

Walk to School Day

Finance News

At the end of this week statements will be generated showing any outstanding balances, both debits and credits on student accounts.  Credit balances are represented by a minus sign if front of the amount.  If you have a credit balance this can remain on the account to go towards future excursions/activities.   

It would be appreciated if any outstanding invoices are settled.

Reading Club

Monday and Thursday Reading Club is well and truly up and running for Term 2. Our community partnership students for these sessions come from Brisbane Girls Grammar School and Brisbane Grammar School. This term they are supporting our Year 1 and 2 students with shared reading as well as finishing off the session with a board game or two. Reading Club is a great opportunity for our students to read with an older student and to develop their oral language skills with board game interaction.

Please let your child’s class teacher know if you are interested in your child being part of Reading Club next term. Thank you to all the parents that have supported this initiative. 

Debating Auditions - Year 5 and Year 6

Calling all keen debaters!

Interschool Debating - Queensland Debating Union

An audition information session was held for interested students earlier this week. Auditions will take place on Monday the 20th of May in Ms. Culverhouse's classroom. Auditions will start immediately after the bell for first break - bring your lunch!

To Audition:

Students prepare a 1 minute and 30 second speech on the topic "All schools should have compulsory uniforms". Choose to argue for or against the topic. 

Selections will be made from the auditions to form the school teams for the Queensland Debating Union Primary Schools Competition. 

Library - P&C BOOK SALE

PBL

Due Dates for Excursions

Book Club Issue 4

Visit scholastic.com.au/LOOP or download the LOOP app.

Please order and pay by credit card and your order will be electronically linked to the rest of your school’s order.

Scholastic bulk delivers the books to school after their issue closing date. However, to have the orders arrive before the school holidays below is the order closing date.

Sometimes your child’s book will not arrive in the bulk delivery because it is on back order. It will arrive.

When the books arrive at school, they will be handed to your child to take home.

Fortitude Valley State Secondary College