Tartan Times McDowall State School An Independent Public School since 2013

Achieving better outcomes for all students

School Administration (Office)

Open Mon to Fri, 8.00am – 4.00pm

Payment days: Tue & Thur: 8am – 11am

Recess Times

Prep – Year 2: 10.30am – 11.10am

12.45pm – 1.25pm

Years 3 – 6: 11.00am – 11.40am

1.15pm – 1.55pm

School Assemblies

Mon: 8:55 – 9:30am (Years 3–6)

Wed: 8.30 – 9:00am (Prep–Yr 2)

Tartan Tuckerbox (Tuckshop)

Monday: 1st break only

Open Tuesday to Friday

Flexischools orders avail. Mon-Fri

To volunteer: click here

Uniform Shop

Open Mon & Thu, 7.45am to 9.30am

Standard Uniform (Mon – Thu)

Tartan or red polo shirt

Bottle green pants shorts / skorts

Bottle green socks & black shoes (Tartan)

White socks & black shoes (red polo shirt)

Red bucket (for Prep Year) or Bottle green reversible broad-brimmed hat

Winter: bottle green jacket, jumper and track pants

Friday (Sports)

House shirt or red polo shirt if playing inter-school sports

Bottle green pants shorts / skorts

White socks

School hat

EDITION: 6 March 2020

N E

W S

L E

T T

E R

Office 3872 5333

Absence 3872 5366

Tuckshop 3872 5304

Fax 3872 5300

Email admin@mcdowallss.eq.edu.au

Website www.mcdowallss.eq.edu.au

Please direct ALL OSH enquiries to the following

number - 3353 5755

2 Principal’s Post

6 Principal’s Gallery

7 Sport News

7 Music News

8 Japanese News

8 P&C Association News

What’s Happening

Student Leaders Badge Presentation!

09.03.20 Parliament House Excursion - 6D4, 6C1 School Council Meeting 7pm

11.03.20 Parliament House Excursion - 6D3, 6C3

12.03.20 Student Resource Scheme Payment Due

13.03.20 National Ride to School Day Parliament House Excursion - 6C2, 6C4

17.03.20 Downfall Creek - Happening Habitats Excursion - 4E3, 4E4, 4G1

19.03.20 Downfall Creek - Happening Habitats Excursion - 4E2, 4G2

20.03.20 National Day Against Bullying Student Leaders Day at Eatons Hill SS

23.03.20 P&C Association AGM 7pm P&C Association General Meeting 8pm

23-25.03.20 Honours Choral Music Workshop - Yrs 5-6

24.03.20 Geckos Wildlife Presentation - 4E3-4, 4G1

25.03.20 Maths Olympiad - Year 6

26.03.20 Geckos Wildlife Presentation - 4E2, 4G2 Toko-Ton Taiko Japanese Drumming - Year 6

27.03.20 Inter-House Swimming Carnival - Years 4-6

31.03.20 Easter Hat Parade - Prep Year

03.04.20 Red Food Day: Easter Treats may be shared Student Casual Dress Day - $ Gold Coin Donation Tartan Tuckerbox Meal Deal Day

Tartan Times 6 March – 2020 Page 2

Principal’s Post

Naplan On-Line 2020

The National Assessment Programme –

Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) will be

implemented for Years 3 & 5 in May, 2020.

This year, students will complete their

NAPLAN 2020 Tests on-line. Year 3 will

experience the only written test being that of

Writing. Students accessed a Test website

during Term 4 last year, so that the school

could check bandwidth. Years 3 & 5 students

will be provided access to NAPLAN Practice Tests between 23rd

March – 24th April, 2020. These Practice Tests will familiarise

students with the on-line testing layout and support tools.

NAPLAN-Online 2020 will be implemented at McDowall State

School from Tuesday, 12th May through to Friday, 15th May,

2020. In acknowledging that issues do arise within family life,

there are also a series of scheduled Catch-Up NAPLAN-Online

2020 opportunities. The final day for Catch-Up will be Monday

18th May, 2020.

Parents are requested to ensure that Years 3 & 5 students

punctually attend McDowall State School between 12th – 15th

May, 2020. Should your child not be present on the scheduled

dates, then your child will be marked ‘absent’ from NAPLAN-

Online 2020 and a NAPLAN 2020 Student Report may not be

issued.

COVID-19 … Coronavirus Update

The Australian Government has announced travel restrictions

on foreigners coming to Australia from China, Iran and South

Korea. Advanced health screening now also applies to

travellers from Italy. Any Australian citizens who have

travelled from these places are required to self-quarantine for

a period of 14 days from the date that they departed one of

these countries. In summary, neither students nor staff may

attend school or child care if they have:

Left, or transited through China, Iran or South Korea

within the last 14 days. They must self-isolate

themselves for up to 14 days.

Been in close contact with a confirmed case of

coronavirus in the last 14 days. They too must self-

isolate themselves for 14 days.

Queensland Health advises that persons who have completed

the self-quarantine period of 14 days and show no symptoms

of illness are eligible to return to school, child care or work.

If your child feels unwell or shows symptoms of illness, they

should be seen by a doctor. We continue to take advice from

Queensland Health and the Department of Education in

relation to this matter. The latest information is available at

Novel Coronavirus on the Queensland Health website.

McDowall State School staff observe and monitor the reported

health of our students. Simply, if a child advises us that they

are ill, parents or family contacts, will be phoned to arrange for

the child to collected from school asap. Principal and staff,

continue to promote the importance of hydration, effective

hand and good sneeze / cough hygiene to all students. All

students are encouraged to wash their hands during each

recess period. Parents should ensure that children have

adequate sleep and are provided with a nutritious diet. Tissues

are available in classrooms. Students are told that if they feel

unwell before school, they must tell their parent and not come

to school. Students are also being encouraged to maintain a

sensible (realistic) personal distance from friends and other

people.

Driver Conduct and Enforcement

The privilege of driving a vehicle on public roads is regulated

by Queensland Licencing and is enforced by Brisbane City

Council and Queensland Police. Neither Principal nor staff of

McDowall State School will guide, direct or manage traffic

issues. The driver as the responsible adult has an obligation to

ensure that they comply with laws and regulations. Pedestrian

adults also have an obligation to model safe conduct while on

footpaths. This obligation extends to the safety of others,

especially the children that attend ‘Our Great State School’.

Frankly, it is disheartening to see so many adults place their

personal convenience above the safety and wellbeing of others

during peak school access times.

Tartan Times 6 March – 2020 Page 3

McDowall State School has established very clear procedures

and expectations, well known to parents, that state how

drivers and pedestrians should best access the school for

student set-down and departure. These procedures and

expectations are regularly publicised and are readily available

on the school website:

First Day of School Supplement issued December, 2019

and again, January, 2020.

Start of School Year Welcome 2020 issued 07.02.20.

Refer to page 6+.

School website www.mcdowallss.eq.edu.au Our School

Rules and Policies School Access and Departure.

Brisbane City Council Traffic Management Plan –

McDowall SS.

McDowall State School fence signage.

Please ….

Permit the Brisbane City Council 598 Bus access to

the Rode Road School Bus Stop between 3pm-3.05pm.

Students need to safely catch this bus.

Never stop your vehicle on the Rode Road traffic

light regulated crossing.

Never stop your vehicle beside a Yellow Line near

the Rode Road traffic light regulated crossing so that

you prevent pedestrian line of sight.

The Kiss-and-Ride Facility is supervised until 3.30pm each

school day. Drivers do not need to pick up their child by

3.10pm so it really is inconsiderate to use the Foambark St

traffic lights to ‘jump the queue’ for the Rode Road Kiss-and-

Ride Facility. Often, in so doing, drivers place pedestrians in

significant danger and break the law.

The Principal requested a Queensland Police sweep regarding

driver behaviours that compromise the safety of McDowall

State School students on Rode Road and on other streets

around the school. Spot checks to enforce lawful driver

behaviour will continue into the weeks ahead.

P&C Association AGM 2020

The McDowall State School

Parents’ and Citizens’ Association

will hold its Annual General

Meeting on Monday 23rd March,

2020 from 7pm in K Block. All

Audited Financial Statements will

have been returned and endorsed

by this date. Should there be any

additional or replacement

Committee and Sub-Committee endorsed/audited Reports for

inclusion within the AGM Booklet, please ensure that they are

received at School Administration by Thursday 19th March,

2020 for compilation and publishing. Following the

endorsement of reports, all P&C Association Executive and

general membership positions are declared vacant and

nominations are called for 2020. A General Meeting will follow

the AGM at approximately 8.00pm.

An earnest and sincere thank you is expressed to the McDowall

State School P&C Association Executive and membership for a

very productive and successful partnership in furthering the

development of our Great State School. To parents considering

an active role within the P&C Association in 2020, please refer

to the information on the P&C Qld website.

www.pandcsqld.com.au

Tartan Times 6 March – 2020 Page 4

Principal’s Gallery

Defence News

Dear Families,

I am writing to you one final newsletter post in special

recognition of the effort and time put in during 2019 by the

Navigator students to update and refine the McDowall SS

ANZAC banner.

During many first recess breaks over the course of Terms 3 &

4, 2019 students built their relationships and resilience as they

worked together learning the sewing and crafting skills required

to bring new life to the old ANZAC banner.

The updated banner incorporates the generous donation of

crochet poppies by our McDowall SS community. It is enlivened

with a variety of different crafting skills including embroidery,

beading, hot glue application, drawing and even the occasional

safety pin.

The banner is a wonderful representation of what happens

when our McDowall SS defence students are integrated into the

school community. When we IMPROVISE, ADAPT & OVER

COME, together we are better.

I hope you have the chance to come out and appreciate their

handiwork in person. It will be on display at the annual Year 3

ANZAC biscuit competition or during a future memorial event.

Fondest regards,

Jesse Ramm.

Defence Family Helpline 24/7 1800 624 608.

School Library News

School Library Open Before School Daily

Please feel welcome to visit the School Library after 8:00am if

you have time before school. We enjoy having parents come in

and share a book with their children. Students must be

accompanied by an adult to come in to the School Library. We

have a small parent collection that you may find interesting.

Book Club

In 2019, we earned credit points from Book Club sales to spend

on Scholastic resources for our school. We are grateful for

your ongoing support of Book Club. Please come and see us in

the School Library if you would like to join the Book Club team.

In 2019, we changed to online ordering and in 2020, all our

Book Club ordering will continue to be completed online.

Brochures were sent home this week and orders are due by

Wednesday, 10th March, 2020. Thank you again for supporting

our McDowall State School readers.

CONTACT: Mrs Arlene Smethurst, Leading Literacy Coach

w/c 9th Mar PC1/C2 Please enjoy a snapshot of art-

work featured from 4E3 & PB1/B2

w/c 16th Mar 3F4 w/c 23rd Mar 2J8 w/c 30th Mar 2J7

Tartan Times 6 March – 2020 Page 5

Sport News

North District Sporting Trials

Most Sporting Trials are for the Under

12 age group. Some sports like Rugby

League and Netball have teams for

under 11 and under 12. Students

interested in trialling need to collect

forms from School Administration, have

their parents fill out the forms and then

have Mr. David Pedwell (DP) sign it

(acknowledging that the student

reflects the McDowall SS standard for

student conduct SRL0) These forms are

then to be taken to trials.

UPCOMING TRIALS -

Golf - 9th March, 2020.

Hockey - 19th March, 2020.

Boys Soccer - 23rd March, 2020.

Music News

Metropolitan Choral Honours Programme

Congratulations to three of our very talented Honours Choir

members who were recently accepted into the Metropolitan

Region Honours Choral Programme that will be held at Birralee

Centre, Bardon and the Old Museum, Bowen Hills from the

23rd to 25th March, 2020. The three day event is designed to

cater for advanced choral students.

Students attending the programme will have the opportunity

to work with renowned choral directors as well as a range of

other musicians and accompanists. This is a fantastic

opportunity for our talented students to further enrich their

musical experience. We wish them all the very best!

Our talented singers are:- Imogen D, Maddie M and Bridget S

Band Uniforms

All members of performing ensembles are required to wear the

correct McDowall State School Instrumental Music Programme

Uniform when performing in public or at other advised events.

Next term, a number of our ensembles will be performing in

the Queensland FANFARE competition as well as at our first

Celebration Concert for the year. The correct uniform must be

worn to each of these performances.

Students who play in Cantabile Strings, Presto Strings, Keona

Band and Rode Band w ill require the follow ing uniform:

PERFORMANCE UNIFORM: CANTABILE STRINGS, PRESTO

STRINGS, KEONA BAND and RODE BAND

Please note that all beginning instrumental music students,

Adagio Strings, Metro Band and members of the Junior,

Senior and Honours Choirs wear their formal tartan uniform for

performances.

This year the performance uniform, white long-sleeved shirt

and black trousers, can be pre-ordered through the uniform

shop. The ‘tartan vest’ is available for hire from the Uniform

Shop. A letter will be sent home soon with the ‘tartan vest’

Hire Agreement and the Pre-Order Form for the white long-

sleeved shirt and black trousers. Please fill in these forms and

hand in, along with payment, to the Uniform Shop. Closing

date for band uniform pre-order is Friday 27th March, 2020.

Help Needed! Book Covering!

McDowall State School has recently purchased a number of

new reading books for use in Prep, Year 1 and Year 2

classrooms. We really want these resources placed into

classrooms as soon as possible so we are seeking volunteers to

assist with the covering of these books. If you are able to help,

please contact Miss Crowhurst, Head of Curriculum.

CONTACT: Miss Vanessa Crowhurst, Head of Curriculum

Tartan Times 6 March – 2020 Page 6

P&C Association News

New time for the AGM: Monday 23 March, 7pm, OSHC

Building (K Block)

February’s AGM had to be postponed due to a small procedure/

admin issue, but we’re ready to kick off this month.

If you’d like to be a member in 2020, you can download the

membership form from the P&C Association website (http://

www.mcdowallsspc.org.au/), complete it and return to OSHC

before the AGM. After the AGM, you’ll need to attend a general

meeting to have your application accepted.

All roles within the P&C are declared vacant at each AGM and

are currently open for nominations. Anyone interested in one

of the roles for 2020 can contact Jennifer Walker, the current

Secretary (secretary@mcdowallsspc.org.au) for more info.

Roles include: Communications Coordinator, Fundraising

Coordinator, Web Administrator and more.

There are also plenty of simple volunteering opportunities

throughout the year (see below!) such as helping in the

Tuckshop, Uniform Shop, with School Banking, or at any of our

events such as the Mother’s Day stall, Trivia Night, etc.

Election BBQ and Cake Stall 28 March - Bakers and Tong

Masters needed

Would you like to lend a hand with our Election Day

fundraising sausage sizzle and cake stall?

Wanted: people to bake, cook, serve, as well as sell raffle

tickets

Baked goods can be dropped off to Tuckshop:

Friday 27th March 7.30am - 9am and 2-3.30pm

Sign Up at:

https://signup.com/go/YKxcVeA

If you have any queries, you can leave a note on Signup.

Thank you!

Uniform Shop Volunteers Needed

Could you spare some time one morning every 4 weeks?

We are looking for 2 x Monday volunteers and 1 x Thursday

volunteer.

You’ll need to be available 7:45am – 9:00am and commit to

one morning every 4 weeks for the year (if possible). Please

contact Karen in the Uniform Shop.

uniformshop@mcdowallsspc.org.au

Tartan Band Vests Ironing

What’s this?

100 vests need ironing! That’s right.

Students in concert bands (mostly

years 5 & 6; some years 3 & 4) hire the

vests through the Uniform Shop for 1 -

2 years.

Some come back washed and ironed

but unfortunately the majority don't.

Karen has washed them all herself

(amazing, thank you Karen) but we

need some help to get them pressed/

ironed.

We are looking for 3-4 volunteers -- or more -- to take home

some vests. Could you iron a few? Again, please contact Karen

in the Uniform Shop to help out.

CONTACT: Ms Erin Bennion, P&C Association