Volume 17 - 24th November 2023

From Our Principal

We are very proud that we are able to work with the Thompson family to teach the Yagara language as LOTE (Language Other Than English) as part of our curriculum in Years 5 and 6. On Tuesday 21 November, we had special guests who came to see our Yagara Language teaching in action. We are grateful to Terry Cornish – Executive Director for First Nations Strategy, Partnerships and Programs; Racquel Gibbons, Regional Director for Metropolitan South and Brett Shackleton, School Supervisor, for their time and feedback. They enjoyed watching our students engage with learning and joined in to try to work out Yagara names for Brisbane suburbs. We had a lot of fun learning together! It is wonderful to have such great support around our school and feel valued for the work we do at Leichhardt.

As part of our reflections on this year, we held a session with Year 5 and 6 students around student leadership and what behaviours and attitudes this year’s student leaders modelled for the students in the school. It was wonderful to see students’ comments that focused around how our leaders always show kindness and willingness to help others. They are seen as inspirational young people who try hard to make our school a better place. Well done, Year 6 Student Leaders!

I think having such great role models is one of the reasons why half of our Year 5 cohort applied for leadership positions in 2024. Their speeches were presented with confidence and great encouragement from the audience. We are so grateful to have students who want to make a positive difference at Leichhardt and contribute to making our school even better.

From Our Deputy Principal - School Culture

Year 6 students travelled to Gold Coast Performance Centre at Runaway Bay. For the 3 days and 2 nights students participated in numerous activities to build their team building and leadership capacity.  All of the staff that went on camp were impressed by the student’s ability to problem solve and work together as a team.  Many teachers from other schools and staff from the complex praised our students on their behaviour and effort.  Congratulation’s grade 6 for a wonderful camping experience I’m sure you will never forget.

Congratulations to our Leaders who really stepped up.

From Our Deputy Principal - Teaching and Learning

Learning @ Leichhardt 

At Monday’s Week 8 Assembly, it was great to hear what the Preps are working on in English this term.  They were very excited to share that they are practising writing letters to people and currently they are working on their assessment task, which is, writing a letter to Santa! 

They confidently shared what they needed to include in the letter and earn an A, B or C rating. 

Well done, Preps!

Jasper and Kobe (left to right) were two of the Preps who proudly shared what they were doing for English and what they needed to demonstrate in their writing.  Thank you, students!

World Nursery Rhyme Day @ Leichhardt

On Wednesday, Week 7, Leichhardt State School celebrated its first World Nursery Rhyme Day in Language. It was led by Aunty Larena and Uncle Henry Jnr. Students were supported in learning ‘Incy Wincy Spider’ and ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star ‘in Language. It was wonderful to have some 2024 Preps and parents join us for this event and two of the local Elders! We look forward to the Preps, Year 1 and Year 2 students performing the nursery rhymes they learnt at our Week 9 Assembly.

Skateboarding @ Leichhardt

At the Week 7 and Week 8 Assembly, students were awe-inspired by Harrison’s (4B) incredible skill on his skateboard.  Harrison has won many skateboard competitions and his eyes are firmly set on the 2032 Brisbane Olympics!  Excellent work, Harrison!

High School Readers @ Leichhardt

Wednesday was Faith Lutheran College’s (FLC) Service Team’s last visit for 2023. Throughout the year, the team with their teacher, Mrs Bayfield, have visited Leichhardt State School (LSS) on Wednesdays from 11:10am to 12:10pm and read, one-on-one, with students in Year 2, Year 3 and Year 4.  LSS students have thoroughly enjoyed this one-on-one reading time and have looked forward to it each week.

To thank the FLC students for their commitment and dedication to this program, a short ‘Thank You’ Assembly was held just prior to the Service Team needing to leave for afternoon lessons at their school. The Assembly was attended by the many LSS students who had engaged with the program throughout the year.

Thank you, FLC, we are very grateful for your support and we hope to see you next year!

FLC students presented LSS principal, Mrs Bogicevic, with books for the library and treat bags for the students who had engaged in the program.  Thank you, FLC!

2024 Student Leader Speeches

On Thursday morning, Week 8, thirty Year 5 students presented their 2024 Student Leader candidate speeches to an audience of students, teachers, parents and extended family. I was very proud of the exceptional confidence and resilience students demonstrated while delivering their speeches.  

Several students delivered their speeches without relying on notes. This showcasing their command of the subject matter and their outstanding level of preparation.  

I encourage you to take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate this significant achievement with your child.

Results of voting will be announced before the end of term.

From Our Head of Department - Teaching and Learning

It has been fantastic to visit classrooms and see the pride students are taking in their learning. I have loved seeing group and partner discussions as well as classes using the outdoor learning spaces to share their presentations and participate in learning outdoors. Well done, everyone! 

This week in PBL we have been learning about what it means to wear our uniform with pride, and this directly links with our organisation where there have been many discussions with students about how to be organised for learning. Some tips include having your uniform and any extra curricular items in a certain spot ready the night before, have a place for all uniforms to hang (for example a spot in the wardrobe or hanging rack) and have them washed and ready on the Sunday before the week starts. These small habits assist our learners' for life. 

From Our Community Coordinator

It was an exciting week with donations from Bunnings West Ipswich. They kindly donated soil, hoses and flowers for use in our garden. We are grateful for their support. Thank you Bunnings! 

Our Gardening Elective Students work really hard twice a week watering, weeding and tending to our gardens. The gardens are bursting with colour and the vegetables are thriving. 

Absences

With the term drawing closer to the end please remember that learning is still taking place in the classrooms and everyday matters at school. If your child is going to be away, please remember to text in or reply to the absence text with the reason, or go onto schoolstream and enter it through the app or phone the school absentee line 38133222 and leave a message.

From Our Teachers

1B

1B have been starting and ending their day with a circle meeting to mark the roll, say good morning to each other in Yuggera language, identify 3 things they are grateful for, discuss the expectations of the day and at the end of the finishing with a statement 'the best part about my day was...'. There are many beautiful conversations shared during these times and establishing lifelong routines and habits. 

Year 3 

Year 3 students have been busily preparing a presentation of their poems they wrote for English. Students were required to write a poem based on a hot or cold environment and needed to include poetic devices such as alliteration, onomatopoeia, personification, similes, and metaphors. Students proudly presented their poems in front of our special guest, Mrs Bogicevic.

Year 5 Science

Year 5 have been using their knowledge of their Traditional Shelters unit and applying it to real life situations by answering questions about communities and how their knowledge of sunlight/shades/materials could be used in every day life. They thought of things like camping and at the beach and have had some great conversations. 

Year 3 to 6 Students - Swimming Carnival 

We are looking forward to a great carnival on Friday. Please remember to pack a towel, sunscreen, spare clothes, water bottle and goggles. Please ensure all items are clearly labelled. 

Important Information

Library News 

Please make sure all Library books are returned to the Library by the end of Week 9. 

Please submit Book Club orders by 6pm tonight (24/11/2023) to ensure delivery to school before the holidays!

Homework Centre News 

Please remember that Homework Centre finishes on Thursday in Week 9. There will be no Homework Centre in Week 10. 

Key Dates for December 

Out In Our Community

Please note that the below workshops and programs are not affiliated with Leichhardt State School.

IMTC Juniors are a local non-profit theatre company in Ipswich which gives children the opportunity to perform on stage.

If you are looking for something to do in the school holidays, don't miss out on our latest show,  Disney’s Aladdin, with all your favourite songs 'Friend Like Me' and 'A Whole New World' to name a few.