Volume 7 - 26th May 2023

From Our Principal

Leichhardt State School’s Whole School Approach to Pedagogy Framework is informed by extensive research into effective teaching practices suited to the contexts similar to our school’s context. This document will continue to evolve as we gain more knowledge and understanding around how learning experiences can be structured and presented to a diverse group of students.

With this in mind, a group of school leaders attended The 8 Ways Pedagogy professional development at Payne Road State School to learn more about different ways of teaching with First Nations’ perspectives in mind. We walked away with many affirmations about the work we do at Leichhardt State School and some great ideas for further exploration and inclusion in our pedagogical framework.

Our Deadly Dancers shone again this week when they attended two important events at the Ipswich Regional Office on Thursday and Brisbane Technology Park on Friday. One of the highlights was Welcome to Country by Leonee and a speech delivered by our Cultural Captain, Violet, and School Captain, Melicia, at the National Reconciliation Week and Sorry Day Commemoration on Thursday. They spoke about what reconciliation means to them and emphasised Leichhardt’s culture of inclusion and respect. Everyone in the room could see their belief in the power of ‘working together and creating bonds no matter what your culture or skin colour is as we are all humans who deserve the same opportunities and respect’.

On Friday, Deadly Dancers performed at the Queensland Health Multicultural Conference in Brisbane. We had 34 performers who arrived at school around 7:00am to get ready and travel on the bus. Their performance received excellent feedback from the attendees and the organisers of the event. Thank you to the dancers’ parents for their support of the students and our school.

From Our Deputy Principal - School Culture

Riding Safely to School

At Leichhardt State School promoting bike safety for children is a crucial aspect of ensuring their well-being while riding bicycles. Here are some key points to consider for bike safety:

1.    Helmet Use: Wearing a properly fitted helmet is essential for protecting a child's head and reducing the risk of serious injury. Ensure that the helmet meets the Australian safety standards and fits securely on the child's head.

2.    Bike Maintenance: Regularly check the bike's brakes, tires, and gears to ensure they are in good working condition. Teach children basic bike maintenance, such as inflating tires and tightening bolts, to keep their bikes safe and functional.

3.    Visibility: Enhance a child's visibility on the road by equipping their bike with reflectors, lights, and brightly coloured clothing. Encourage them to wear reflective vests or accessories when riding in low-light conditions or at night.

4.    Road Rules and Signage: Teach children the basic road rules and traffic signs applicable to cyclists. Ensure they understand the importance of obeying traffic signals, using hand signals to indicate turns, and staying in designated bike lanes or riding in a predictable manner on the road.

5.    Safe Riding Practices: Educate children on safe riding practices, such as keeping both hands on the handlebars, using designated bike paths where available, and being aware of their surroundings. Encourage them to ride in a straight line, maintain a safe distance from other vehicles, and avoid distractions like using mobile devices while riding.

6.    Supervision and Age-Appropriate Routes: Younger children should be supervised while riding, especially on busy roads. Choose age-appropriate routes that minimize exposure to traffic and potential hazards. Gradually increase the complexity of routes as children gain experience and confidence.

7.    Stranger Danger: Teach children about the importance of avoiding interactions with strangers while riding their bikes. Emphasize that they should never accept rides, gifts, or invitations from strangers and should immediately report any suspicious activity to a trusted adult.

8.    Practice and Training: Allow children to practice their bike riding skills in safe environments, such as parks or empty parking lots, before venturing onto busier roads. Encourage participation in bike safety programs or cycling proficiency courses offered in your area.

9.    Role Modelling: Set a good example by following bike safety rules yourself. When children see adults practicing safe cycling habits, they are more likely to adopt those behaviours.

Remember, bike safety is an ongoing conversation. Regularly discuss and reinforce these principles with your children, ensuring they understand the importance of being responsible and cautious while riding their bikes.

Persistence

Persistence is a core value here at Leichhardt State School and is equally important for primary students during assessment time. Here are some specific reasons why persistence matters for them:

1. Building Study Habits: Developing good study habits at a young age sets the foundation for lifelong learning. By persistently following a study routine, primary students learn the importance of regular practice, concentration, and self-discipline, which will benefit them throughout their education.

2. Retention and Recall: Consistent revision and repetition help primary students retain information. By persistently reviewing key concepts, vocabulary, and skills, they reinforce their memory and improve their ability to recall information during exams.

3. Confidence and Motivation: Persistence helps primary students build confidence in their abilities. As they persistently work through challenging tasks, overcome obstacles, and experience small successes, their confidence grows, which motivates them to continue putting in effort and perform well in assessments.

4. Time Management: Teaching primary students to be persistent in managing their time effectively is essential. By establishing a study routine and allocating specific time slots for different subjects, they learn to manage their time efficiently, complete their syllabus, and avoid last-minute cramming.

5. Focus and Concentration: Persistence during exam time helps primary students develop their focus and concentration skills. By consistently engaging in study sessions and minimizing distractions, they enhance their ability to stay focused on tasks for longer periods, which leads to more effective learning.

6. Problem-Solving Skills: Exams often include problem-solving questions that require critical thinking and analytical skills. By persistently practicing problem-solving exercises, primary students improve their ability to analyse and solve problems, enabling them to approach exam questions with confidence and clarity.

7. Overcoming Anxiety: Persistence can help primary students manage exam-related anxiety. By consistently preparing and revising, they feel more prepared and confident, reducing exam-related stress. Regular practice also helps familiarize them with assessment formats and expectations, reducing anxiety and improving their performance.

8. Developing Perseverance: Teaching primary students to be persistent instils in them the value of perseverance. They learn that success often requires effort, determination, and resilience. This mindset prepares them to face challenges, overcome setbacks, and keep working towards their goals even when faced with difficulties.

9. Learning for Understanding: Persistence encourages primary students to aim for a deeper understanding of concepts rather than mere memorization. By persistently seeking clarification, asking questions, and exploring different approaches, they develop a habit of seeking knowledge and understanding, which leads to more meaningful learning experiences.

By fostering persistence in primary students during assessment time, teachers and parents can help them develop important academic and life skills that will benefit them as they progress through their educational journey.

From Our Deputy Principal - Teaching and Learning

Semester 1 Parent-Teacher Interviews

Semester 1 Parent-Teacher Interviews are scheduled to take place on Wednesday 7 June at 2:15pm in the School Hall. Please note that on the Parent-Teacher Interview afternoon, the school day will end at 2:00pm, and that the Homework Club will not be operating.

Semester 1 Parent-Teacher Interviews Booking Sheets have been sent home with students. These forms need to be completed and returned to your child’s class teacher/CNN teacher by Wednesday 31 May. Class teachers/CNN teachers will send home letters confirming meeting times.

As Year 5 and 6 students having subject specialist teachers, please ensure that both the names of the teachers with whom you wish to meet and the preferred times for the meetings are both circled.

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs Elena Finlay (Deputy Principal – Teaching and Learning) efinl9@eq.edu.au

Prep Vision Screening @ Leichhardt

Prep Vision Screening will take place at Leichhardt State School on Wednesday, 19 July, 2023. The testing will be conducted by the School Nurse as part of the Primary School Nurse Health Readiness Program.

In order for your Prep child to participate in this important screening program, please complete and return consent forms to school by Friday, 16 June, 2023.

For further information regarding the screening program, please contact Mrs Elena Finlay (Deputy Principal – Teaching and Learning) efinl9@eq.edu.au.

Celebrations Learning Success @ Leichhardt

At Monday’s Week 6 Assembly we celebrated the following learning achievements:

Sight Word Success for Preps and Year 1 students

Learning sight words is a crucial milestone in a child's educational journey, and we are proud to announce that our students have made remarkable progress in this area.

Why Are Sight Words So Important?

Sight words are a foundational component of reading fluency and comprehension. These are words that appear frequently in texts and do not necessarily follow regular phonetic patterns. In fact, research suggests that approximately 50% of words on any given page are sight words. Mastering these words is essential as they form the building blocks for reading and writing proficiency.

By memorizing sight words, students can quickly recognize and understand them, which helps them read more fluidly and with greater comprehension. When children can effortlessly identify these words, they can focus their attention on decoding and understanding unfamiliar words, enhancing their overall reading skills.

Sight words also play a pivotal role in developing writing skills. By recognizing and recalling these words effortlessly, our students can use them effectively in their own writing, making their compositions more cohesive and expressive.

The students listed below achieved the following sight goals:

Prep Term 1 Sight Word Goal Achievement:  Reading 3 sight words with automaticity.

Azarian and Grace (pictured below)

Prep Term 2 Sight Word Goal Achievement:  Reading 15 sight words with automaticity.

Leah (pictured below), Leon and Myles

Prep Term 3 Sight Word Goal Achievement:  Reading 52 sight words with automaticity.

Jasper and Mia

Year 1 Sight Word Goal Achievement:  Reading 100 sight words with automaticity.

Johnathon and Logan (pictured below)

Thank you for practising reading and spelling sight words at home with your child. Together, we can empower our students to become confident and proficient readers.

Knowledge of this term’s English Unit task and what is needed to achieve a C, B and A.

At Monday’s Assembly it was wonderful to hear students sharing what they are working on in English and what they specifically need to do to achieve success on their English tasks.  When students can clearly state their goals and the steps required to attain them, they set themselves up for success.

The students pictured below shared their knowledge about their English Unit on Assembly.  Well done, students!

Premier’s Reading Challenge is Back!

The 2023 Premier’s Reading Challenge commenced Monday Week 4. However, in order for your child to participate in the challenge, a permission form must be completed and returned to the Office. Please ensure the permission form is returned as soon as possible so that your child can get underway with the challenge!

If you have any questions regarding the Premier’s Reading Challenge, please contact Mrs Elena Finlay (Deputy Principal – Teaching and Learning) efinl9@eq.edu.au.

Reading Partnerships @ Leichhardt

We are thrilled to announce a wonderful new reading partnership between Ipswich State High School (ISHS) and Leichhardt State School. This Tuesday morning and for the next three Tuesday mornings, twenty-seven ISHS Year 10 students and their teacher, Ms McKenna, will be visiting Leichhardt State School to read with our Year 1 students. This collaborative initiative aims to foster a love for reading and promote literacy skills among our young learners. We believe that this partnership will bring countless benefits to our students and enhance their educational journey.

As can be seen from the picture below, the Year 1 students were thoroughly engaged in their reading time with the Year 10 students. Thank you, Ipswich State High School!

National Simultaneous Storytime @Leichhardt

At 11am on Wednesday, it was National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) and Leichhardt State School staff and students took part! NSS is a time when all of Australia comes together to celebrate reading and encourage all young Australians to read and enjoy books.

Leichhardt State School students were very excited to listen to one of our amazing Health and Physical Education teachers, Mr Marshall, read online the story, ‘Speedy Sloth’ written by Rebecca Young and illustrated by Heath McKenzie. What an excellent choice of text, given that Sports Day is coming up soon!

Students were also very excited to know that they were listening to the same story at the same time as everyone else in Australia! 

Students prepared for the event with some sloth mask making in the library at First Play.  Thank you, Ms Carolin for facilitating this activity! 

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From Our Head Of Department - Teaching and Learning

Although our focus in classrooms is on assessment pieces, we continue to guide our students to take pride in being organised. Our main focus on their bookwork (setting up their books), but also being organised with their belongings (pencil, rubber, ruler, books) so they are ready to learn. These are important lifelong skills for our students to develop. This week I am sharing some wonderful work from our Year 3 and 6 students who have been taking so much pride in their notetaking and adding to their notes to develop their understanding of the concept. Well done! 

From Our Community Support Coordinator

If you have a child born from 1st July 2018 to 30 June 2019 then they will be starting Prep in 2024. We would love you to connect with the school and collect an enrolment pack from the front office. Prep is a full-time program in primary schools. Children attend Monday-Friday 8:30am – 2:30pm.

Leichhardt State School extends an invitation to future Prep students and their parents/carers to attend our Prep Open Days for 2023.

From Our Health and Safety Advisor - Student Services

It’s that time of the year again, were we see a big increase in the number of viruses/illnesses going around the school and community. Below, I have included some information for the more common illnesses that we see in schools and as some of you are aware we have already had a large number of students off with illnesses in the past few weeks. Please carefully read the below information which highlights if students are able to attend school, the signs to look for and the actions parents need to take to ensure the safety of their child and others. If you have any concerns about your child’s symptoms and are unable to get to the doctors, you can call 13 HEALTH(432584) and speak to a registered nurse that will be able to help you.

Chickenpox (Varicella)

Chickenpox is usually a mild childhood illness that causes a rash of red, itchy spots that turn into fluid-filled blisters. They then crust over to form scabs, which eventually drop off. Most people recover without complications, but sometimes the infection can lead to serious complications, such as pneumonia and inflammation of the brain.

Early in the illness, the virus is spread by coughing. Later, it is spread by direct contact with the fluid in the blisters.

Children with chickenpox should avoid others by staying at home, cover their coughs and sneezes with a tissue, and wash their hands regularly. Children with chickenpox shouldn’t share toys, utensils, food or drinking cups.

Chickenpox is now less common because children are vaccinated at 18 months of age.

Keep at home? Yes. Children should be excluded until all blisters have dried—this is usually at least 5 days after the rash first appears.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is a common eye condition where the outer surface of the eye becomes inflamed. This is often caused by an infection (virus or bacteria) and is usually highly contagious.

Conjunctivitis is spread by direct contact with discharge from the eyes, nose or throat of someone with the infection, or by contact with contaminated fingers or objects.

Keep at home? Yes. Children should be excluded until the discharge from their eyes has stopped.

Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis (or gastro for short) is a bowel infection that causes diarrhoea and sometimes vomiting. Diarrhoea is runny, watery bowel motions. Bouts of gastro can cause dehydration, which can be dangerous for very young babies and young children.

Gastro is spread by contact with the vomit or faeces of an infected person, either directly or by contact with objects, food or drink that have come in contact with vomit or diarrhoea.

Keep at home? Yes. Children should be excluded until there has not been a loose bowel motion for 48 hours

Glandular fever

Glandular fever (also known as infectious mononucleosis) is a common viral infection that can cause fever, a sore throat with exudate (deposits of fluid) around the tonsils and throat, and enlarged lymph nodes (or ‘glands’).

The symptoms usually develop four to six weeks after infection with the virus. In young children, glandular fever usually causes mild or no symptoms.

Glandular fever spreads through close, personal contact and is transmitted by saliva. Young children can become infected by saliva on toys, shared cups or the hands of carers.

Keep at home? No. Children do not need to be excluded unless they are sick.

Influenza

Influenza (‘the flu’) is a viral infection that starts in the throat but can cause fever, cough, chills, headache, and muscle aches and pains. The infected person usually recovers in two to seven days.

Flu is very infectious as it can spread through the air by coughing and sneezing, as well as by hands, cups and other objects that have been in contact with an infected person’s mouth or nose. Symptoms usually start one to three days after being exposed.

Annual flu shots offer the best protection against flu and they are free for young children aged from 6 months to under five years. Teaching children about covering their coughs and sneezes (including with their elbow if they don’t have a tissue), and washing their hands regularly are important ways to prevent the spread of flu and many other diseases.

Keep at home? Yes. Children should be excluded until they are well again.

Impetigo (school sores)

Impetigo is a skin infection caused by common skin bacteria, which commonly occurs in young children. Impetigo appears as flat, yellow, crusty or moist patches or blisters on the skin, usually in exposed areas such as the face, arms and legs.

The bacteria can spread by contact with the sores or infected fluid. Because the sores are usually itchy, children can scratch them and spread the infection, via their hands, to other parts of the body or to other people. The infection can also be spread by touching contaminated clothing or other items. The disease is very infectious, but it is not dangerous.

Keep at home? Yes. Children should be excluded until appropriate antibiotic treatment has started. Any sores on exposed skin should be covered with a watertight dressing.

Deadly @ Leichhardt

Deadly Dancers

Thursday 25th of May Deadly Dancers performed at Education Queensland Regional Office for Reconciliation. Students met Aunty Brenda who shared her story with them "The Last Daughter to Come Home." 

Ipswich Early Learning Kindy Kids Visit

Students come every Wednesday for cultural learning. Children come and learn about the native plants, song and dance with Aunty Marly.

From Our Teachers

 Year 1 

In Year 1 we are continuing to heavily focus on our upper and lowercase letter formation and how we write on the red and blue lines. This includes using punctuation (Capital letter and full stops) as well as finger spaces for sentences. We strongly encourage Year 1 to practice their writing at home, as often as possible. This could be by writing their name, the alphabet, sentences, shopping lists etc. Reading Eggs is also very strongly encouraged for our learners.  

Year 5 

Year 5 Science 

Year 5 have had a strong focus on desert species this week and have been learning researching skills to find out about the environment they have adapted too and the structural features and behaviours that these animals use to survive. They have shown great enthusiasm and curiosity towards understanding the different species they are researching. They have been thinking about the most useful notetaking tool for them in their tasks and have many wonderful discussions around this.

Year 5 English 

This term in English, our Year 5 students have been working diligently to create persuasive feature articles about their local heroes. Their objective was to convince readers why their chosen hero deserves a place in the prestigious Leichhardt Hall of Fame. The project not only showcased their writing skills but also highlighted their appreciation for the dedicated staff at Leichhardt State School.

Our students delved deep into the lives of their local heroes, researching their accomplishments, personal qualities, and the impact they have had on the community. They honed their persuasive writing skills, employing techniques such as emotional appeals, logical reasoning, and the use of rhetorical questions to engage their readers and convince them of their hero's worthiness.

Particularly commendable was the manner in which our students acknowledged the invaluable role played by the staff at Leichhardt State School. Many of their persuasive arguments revolved around the exceptional dedication and commitment demonstrated by our teachers and staff members. It is evident that our students value the support they receive and recognize the significant impact our staff has on their education and personal growth.

Here are just some examples of the high quality of student work demonstrated so far this term.

COVID Chaos Creates Change in Community

By Ruby

Who would think the COVID pandemic can bring good change?

Maja Bogicevic came to Australia as a refugee in 1997. After studying hard to become a teacher she climbed up the ranks and joined Leichhardt State School as principal in April 2020.

She has brought about big changes to the little school in South East Queensland and I believe she deserves a spot in the Leichhardt Hall of fame for the following reasons:

Firstly, when she joined the Leichhardt State School community COVID had just started to explode with case numbers and the government announced a lock down and the school needed to react quickly to arrange learning at home. Mrs Bogicevic had to get to know her new school community and staff members very quickly to be able to organise the resources for home learning packs.

Secondly, she always finds way to improve the school and our resources. She has done many beautiful changes in our school including the Sanctuary and Deadly Room to help students stay engaged in learning. She changed the Student reception area, build the STEAM hub and demolished the old art room that used to be under E block taking up half the play/eating area.

Thirdly, she was successful in getting a grant to get the courtyard area completely changed. The Outdoor Learning Area (OLA) looks great and it is the first impressive thing visitors to the school see.

In conclusion, Miss Bogicevic will leave a legacy at Leichhardt with her constant drive to improve. The word ‘can’t’ just does not appear in her vocabulary. She most certainly deserves a spot in the Leichhardt Hall of Fame!

                                                                    Our hard-working Mrs Bogicevic.

Aunty Marly, the Greatest!

By Stella

Who would think that our indigenous co-ordinator ‘Aunty Marly’ could be so amazing?

Aunty Marly has worked at Leichhardt State School for 17 years. Aunty Marly’s role is Indigenous Community Co-ordinator.  Prior to working at Leichhardt, she worked at the prisons.  She needed to be inspired and needed a change.  Leichhardt State School is so fortunate that she came and stayed for 17 years! Aunty Marly is hard working and very kind. Aunty Marly works late in the afternoon and comes early in the morning. She works with families to help with getting to the doctor when they have no transport.  Aunty Marly is very helpful when you are stressed.  If you are worried, she will speak calmly to you and this will help you calm down.     Aunty Marly has introduced indigenous language study to the school.  This requires a lot of hard work but Aunty Marly has overcome any challenge with creativity.  Aunty Marly encourages the students to learn language, respect culture and to have fun in the Deadly room.     

I believe that Aunty Marly must be included in the Leichhardt Legend Hall of Fame for the following reasons:

Firstly, Aunty Marly is selfless. She spends long hours at school planning activities that are engaging for students.  When she makes activities, they are always amazing and fun. She gives up her lunch time to open the Deadly Room for students to enjoy games and music.

Secondly, Aunty Marly is very caring. She is helpful when you are stressed or not settled. She helps students to settle down by talking calmly to them. Whenever Aunty Marly speaks to students she makes them feel special.

Thirdly, Aunty Marly is humble. Aunty Marly works tirelessly so students can have exciting and fun activities but she never seeks a reward. 

In conclusion, Aunty Marly must be included in the Leichhardt Legend Hall of Fame because Aunty Marly is selfless, caring and humble.

                                                                           Aunty Marly, the Amazing!

Mr Woody Wakes Our Happiness

By Atticus

Who would think a H.P.E teacher could be so caring? Mr Woody is!

Mr Woody has been working as a Health and Physical Education Teacher at Leichhardt State School for 14 Years. He is great for cheering us up after we have been hurt or we are discouraged. He does not want rewards for his amazing acts, He just works harder every day to keep putting smiles on peoples’ sad faces. After having a lesson with Mr Woody, it makes me refreshed and energized. Mr Woody is patient as he teaches and works to help students learn about sports and health. Mr Woody wants to leave a legacy and inspire other teachers so that they too can leave smiles on their students’ discouraged faces. He just wants students to be successful in and out of school. His success is evident when past students continue in sport after leaving primary school.

I strongly believe that Mr Woody MUST be a Leichhardt Legend for the following reasons:

Firstly, Mr Woody perseveres. He has been running countless sports carnivals for endless fun so the students can train their muscles while having fun, stretching their love for sports. Whenever we are with Mr Woody, he encourages us never to give up.

Secondly, Mr Woody is caring. He lets us have breaks throughout our lessons so we do not get too tired. If you are having a bad day Mr Woody will tell you a joke to cheer you up.

Thirdly, Mr Woody is humble and respectful.  He does not want rewards for all of his work. He is always respectful, respecting students, staff and the property of Leichhardt State School. So, he is a true Leichhardt Legend, while being a great teacher!

In conclusion, Mr Woody MUST be a Leichhardt Legend because he is humble, respectful, persevering and caring.

Mr Woody, the best H.P.E teacher in Leichhardt State School!

Electives

Sports Elective

This month, staff and students from two local secondary schools have visited Leichhardt State School to work with our Year 4 – 6 sport elective students. A coach from Ipswich State High School and staff and students from Bremer State High School’s rugby league programs embarked on an initiative to impart the fundamental skills of rugby league and other life skills to our enthusiastic youth.

The initiative aimed to foster teamwork and personal social skills, physical fitness, and sportsmanship among our students involved in the Wednesday and Friday afternoon sport electives program. The sessions were designed to introduce our boys and girls to the game, offering them an opportunity to learn from experienced coaches and players (one of which was a previous student and school captain of Leichhardt State School).

The workshops covered a wide range of skills and techniques including passing and catching, evasion skills, ensuring that each participant received a comprehensive understanding of the basics of the sport. From tackling techniques on pads and teamwork strategies, our students were immersed in a fun and engaging learning environment.

These sessions were not only beneficial for the student’s physical development but also aimed to instil important values such as respect, discipline and fair play. This program was also useful for our year 6 students attending the Ipswich SHS year 6 Rugby League Day of Experience on May 31 2023.

The program run by both schools received extremely positive feedback from both our students and staff involved. The participants expressed their excitement about the activities and their newfound passion for the game of Rugby League. It is incredible to witness the joy and growth our students experienced through sport in each session with both secondary schools.

As a part of the school community, we applaud the efforts and commitment of both Ipswich SHS and Bremer SHS to teaching our students and empowering them through sport specific physical activity.

Bremer State High School News

Book Club

Book Club issue 4 has been sent home. There are some great books for less than 5$ to encourage our Leichhardt learners to keep reading at home. Every order earns some rewards points for the school library to spend on books the students have been requesting.

If your child did not bring home a catalogue there are spares available for them at the library or browse online: https://www.scholastic.com.au/book-club/book-club-parents/book-club/

Out in Our Community