FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK
Thoughts for the Wee
“Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances.”     1 Thessalonians 5:16-18                     

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“Give without remembering, take without forgetting.”

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Founded in the 3^rd Century B.C. by Ptolemy II of Egypt, the Library of Alexandria was known as the ‘depository of all knowledge known to man.’ Burnt down by Caesar in 48 B.C., and consequently by others, the Library still drew such emotion in the great scholar Carl Sagan, a couple of decades ago, that tears welled up in his eyes when describing its senseless destruction. A possible reason might have been that the great Library of Alexandria housed irreplaceable 1-off papyrus rolls. Libraries have, throughout the ages, evoked awe and reverence. Not until the present, where information is only a click away via a Google search, have libraries known a rival. Yet, how can a Google search compare with a walk through some of the great libraries of the world, or even the State Library of Queensland? The great spaces, the ambiance, the hushed silence all contribute to an ‘experience.’ This experience is emulated on a daily basis, although to a more modest degree, in school libraries around our nation. School libraries are often the first introduction children receive to the world of books and literature. In a busy society we recognise that some parents do not have the time or opportunity to head to Council Libraries or the State Library in the City. You can therefore understand our joy in announcing that the Rochedale State School Library will receive an injection of $67,300 for a welcomed face-lift. This refurbishment program has been possible through the Queensland Government’s Tomorrow’s Schools Project. Not one, but several Australian authors/scholars make mention in their autobiographies of their introduction to literature in the humble school library. This genesis is as relevant in 2006 as it was decades or centuries ago. While not setting out to equal the great Library of Alexandria, I am confident that the generous grant will go a long way towards making our school library a showcase in the district. I thank the P. & C. for its support of our project.

The rumour mill around the area will grind to a halt today as I touch upon a subject of general interest. It is always prudent to be upfront when rumours take hold. Rochedale State School is not closed to enrolment. Our Enrolment Management Plan is in fact an ‘overarching blue print for the future’. It is a strategic document in place to enable us to plan for future growth in years to come. Should, for example, the demographics by 2010 suggest that we need to expand to accommodate an additional 400 students we need to be aware of such growth far ahead of its arrival. However, the current situation is clear. We do not prevent or discourage enrolment from outside or immediate catchment area. We can fully understand why parents, on hearing about our great school, would wish to enrol their children. That is how the positive rumour mill works. The opposite – the negative rumour mill – grinds to a halt once the facts are disclosed. Not only do we welcome enrolments from inside and outside our catchment area, but we also encourage siblings of enrolled students at Rochedale to follow their older brothers and sisters, donning the blue and yellow uniform of Rochedale.

You will recall that Mrs Vicky King flew north to Townsville some months ago to spread the message of Values Education. Miss King is back at Rochedale after her stint of Long Service Leave. As values co-ordinator Mrs King’s work has been recognised by the Region through a professional learning grant which she will use to continue our values journey and provide outreach support to other schools. This is a great achievement and I am sure that our neighbouring schools will greatly benefit from Mrs King’s strong repertoire which takes in subjects such as ethics and morals, important traits in our modern, complex society.

A warm welcome back to Deputy Principal Clint, refreshed from his Long Service Leave and enthused to take on his important role at Rochedale.

I simultaneously would like to thank Tony Sanderson who filled in most professionally during Deputy Clint’s absence. I appreciate the quality and calibre of staff at Rochedale who can fill in at short notice and perform at exceptionally high standards.

A Day for Teachers
World Teachers' Day was officially launched by the Director-General of UNESCO, Federico Mayor, at the International Conference on Education in Geneva in 1993.

The date 27th October was chosen because it was that date in 1966 that a special inter-governmental conference, organised jointly by UNESCO and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), adopted the Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, which remains valid today. More than 100 countries observe World Teachers' Day. The efforts of Education International and its 311 member organisations have contributed to this wide spread recognition.

Education International says that without teachers, education would not be what it is meant to be, because to teach is not simply to tell a child established facts and figures. It is to inspire, to unlock his or her potential, to offer new perspectives, to help children realise their dreams to build a better world. This is the reason why Education International insists on the right of every child around the world to have a qualified teacher.

At all stages of the education system, from kindergarten to higher education, qualified teachers are needed to guide students in developing values that are essential to peace, tolerance, equality, respect and understanding.

Qualified teachers help children, young people and also adults develop essential social and life skills, such as trust, confidence, dialogue, critical thinking and self-esteem. Teachers are the pillars of education. Teachers open doors to a better world.

The world tomorrow depends on the world's teachers open up for our children. So this Friday, we salute our Teaching Staff here at Rochedale. Well Done!

And that’s the way the week is panning out from my vantage point…

Liam Smith
Principal

P&C NEWS
P&C Meeting
The P&C meets this Tuesday, October 24^th starting at 7:00pm. The meeting is held in the Teacher’s staffroom. All are welcome to attend.

Tip Top Fundraiser
Keep those bread wrappers coming in! Thank-you to those who have been dropping off their Tip top wrappers into the container located outside of the Tuckshop. Tip top will give the school 10c for each wrapper collected. The Tip Top range includes the Tip top bread range as well as Golden Crumpets & Pancakes, Burgen Bread, Bazaar Breads of the World and Noble Rise

Disco
The final disco for the year will be held in November. More details soon.

Badge Fundraiser
We are running a fundraiser that the children will enjoy. They can have their own drawing put into a pin-on badge that they can keep. It’s a fun way of making a small piece of wearable art. The badge size is 32mm in diameter, and the cost per badge is $2.50. An order from is included in this week’s newsletter. Order forms and money must be returned to school by Monday October 30^th. Templates will then be issued for your child to decorate; they then return their art work to school for collection. Samples of the badges are on display in the School Office.

CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (CRE) NEWS
CRE Teacher vacancies in 2007
We have had one parent from our school community offer to take a CRE class next year which is very exciting.  We still have 2 gaps in Grade 3, 1 gap in Grade 5 and possibly 2 Grade 7 gaps.

We would love to have you join our team

Requirements include a blue card, a letter of accreditation from your minister, ½ an hour each week to teach and some time to prepare the lesson

We provide comprehensive teacher manuals, FREE training, a flexible timetable, orientation, help and support.

Alternatively, we would love to develop our ‘reliever CRE Teacher team’ further.  Maybe you could be involved for 2 – 6 weeks at a time to fill in for an absent CRE Teacher

Please contact Robynne T, the CRE Co-ordinator for more information on 3219 9771, 0408 785 494 or email camrob@iprimus.com.au

CHRISTMAS HAMPERS
FOOD AND GIFT DRIVE
Each year our School Community packs many boxes of donated food and gift items. These items are distributed through St Vincent de Paul Christmas Hampers to needy families in the Rochedale/Springwood area.

November will be our ‘Food and Gift Drive’ month. 

Each classroom will have a ‘Donation Box’ where children can place any donated non-perishable food (please check use-by dates) or gifts (must be new).

We are hoping that we can all work together again this year to help Christmas time be a little bit brighter for those in our community who are in need.

Donation ideas and updates will appear in the newsletter.

If anyone would like to help sort and box up the donated goods on a Thursday morning at 8.40am please give me a call.

Robynne T        3219 9771 or 0408 785 494
Or email           camrob@iprimus.com.au

75^TH ANNIVERSARY BOOKS
Orders for the 75^th ANNIVERSARY BOOKS are now available to be collected from the office.

UNIFORM SHOP
REMINDER:
Size 3 shorts (Prep) will be available for purchase by the end of November for $16.50. The price difference is due to a special order as our normal supplier for rugby knit shorts are unable to supply this.

Just a reminder that all lay-bys are required to be finalised by 30 November, otherwise cancellation fees will apply.

 If you have just enrolled or are new to the school, we have uniforms which are available for purchase. Otherwise, we have secondhand uniforms at reasonable prices.

SPECIALS!!
Skorts now selling for $21. Normal price - $26 - Saving of $5 (Sizes 8-16 are available) A great option for the girls instead of the Rugby Knit shorts.

NEW ITEMS
The Uniform Shop sells Artsmocks, Homework folders (this is a sturdy, waterproof with velcro) and Chair bag. Please check our website for the current price list.

Have you lost your Tazlon Jacket? At the end of Term 3, a lot of Tazlon Jackets had been returned to the Uniform Shop. All have been washed.  If your name is listed below, please come and collect it.  

Tazlon Jackets not collected by the end of this week will be taken as a donation and sold as a Secondhand.

Sarah Obrist 5K
Dominic Stevens-Robert
Jaie Cavatin
Ben Geaylley
Nicholas Carson
+ 4 no named tazlons

Don't forget our website.
If you can't make it to the Uniform shop during its normal trading hours, we now have a website! Uniform price list and order forms can now be downloaded by visiting www.rochedalss.qld.edu.au - and clicking on the word "Uniform Shop"on the left hand side of the page.

Once the form has been completed, please submit this to the office and I will process your order that week. You may opt to get your child to pick up the order for you, and a receipt will be issued. If you are paying by cheque, please make the cheques payable to "Rochedale State School - P&C Association". I have also created an order form with credit card facility. Please feel free to use this option, all details will be strictly confidential and will be returned to you once the order has been processed.

Thanks
Mari-shell S.
Uniform Convenor
Marishell.Scott@eq.edu.au

tuckshop News
If for any reason you are unable to work on your rostered day, please give Norma a call on 3341 1149.

TUCKSHOP
Wed     Sue V
25/10   Cathy W

Thurs  Karen W
26/10  

Fri       Maryanne McN                        INTERSCHOOL SPORT

27/10   Kath R      Sylvia B                      

Mon                 HELP NEEDED TODAY
30/10

Tues    Anne D
31/10

Wed     Angie L
01/11

Thurs Douglas K
2/11     Amanda C

Fri       Maryanne McN                        INTERSCHOOL SPORT3/11     Gaila D      Melissa T

Mon     Karen W
6/11

Tues    HELP NEEDED TODAY
7/11

Wed     Melissa T
8/11

Thurs  Sharon G
9/11

Fri       Maryanne McN                        INTERSCHOOL SPORT
10/11   Amanda H                                    Kath R

Mon     Anne D
13/11

Tues    Chris A
14/11

Wed     Melissa T
15/11

Thurs  Maryanne McN
16/11

Fri       Maryanne McN                        INTERSCHOOL SPORT
17/11   Gaila D
   Melissa T

Apple Slinky Machine
If you would like to order one of these machines please pop into the tuckshop and see me. Cost is $35.00. I require 12 orders to do a bulk order (supplier’s request). I only require 1 more person to order. Thank you.

ROSHCA
Monday
Afternoon Tea             PUPIL
Inside Activity             FREE
Outside Activity           DAY

Tuesday
Afternoon Tea            
Cooking:                      Pom Poms
Outside Activity           Bump Tag

Wednesday
Afternoon Tea             Fruit Platter
Craft:                           Chocolate Slice
Outside Activity           Greek Ballgame

Thursday
Afternoon Tea             Chocolate Slice and Fruit
Cooking                       Leaf Friends
Outside Activity           Greedy

Friday
Afternoon Tea             Dip, Crackers and FruitCraft                            Egg Carton Animals
Outside Acti
vity           Junk Shop Relay

QUEENSLAND REHABILITATION SERVICES PTY LTD
We would really like to make our nursing home “sparkle” this Christmas but our decorations are limited. If anyone is considering replacing their old decorations for new ones could you please think about donating the old ones to the residents of Carindale Court Nursing Home. Please phone Karen on 3343 1222 for further information.

FOUND
Activity Hall – Friday night
Girl’s silver chain with 3 trinkets
Call Sue V. on 0407 028 072