Schools in Bonner can get involved in this year’s Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee to promote literacy in an entertaining and engaging way.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said this year the spelling bee would be hosted by Kids News and conducted through a digital format rather than face to face.

“Not only will the three national winners win the chance to meet the Prime Minister with return flights to Canberra with a parent, accommodation, an iPad and $250 book pack, but they will also win a $1000 voucher for their school to spend on books, technology or other equipment,” Mr Vasta said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison urged all schools to get involved and register.“Literacy is so critical to a young person’s education in Australia. It provides the fundamental base to develop other skills, and the tools to embrace the joy of reading and writing,” the Prime Minister said.

“This is free competition that is fun and exciting and will help students learning literacy build their confidence.”

Minister for Education and Youth Alan Tudge said the spelling bee would help nurture a love of words in students.

“Spelling bees are not only great fun, they have wider benefits like helping kids develop confidence and discovering new ways to learn,” Minister Tudge said.

“I urge parents, teachers and our young people to get behind the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee and I encourage all schools to take part.”

The Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee was due to commence in 2020 but was postponed due to the pandemic.

The Morrison Government has provided over $345,000 of funding to support the initiative.The national spelling bee will run in Term 1, 2021 for children in Years 3 to 8 and schools can now register.

It will be held at school level in March, with finals for each state and territory taking place in April.Schools can register and find more information on the Kids News website.

Registrations will close on Friday, 5 March 2021.

STUDENTS in Bonner can learn more about veteran service and Australian wartime history by asking the question, ‘what does commemoration look like in our community?’

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said students could enter the Anzac Day Schools’ Awards and honour the service and sacrifice of Australians from the First World War to modern day conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

“Australia has a rich military history and the Anzac Day Schools’ Awards are an opportunity for students in Bonner to learn more about our contribution over the years and how we now commemorate as a community,” Mr Vasta said.

“2020 meant the cancellation of many Anzac Day services and we saw communities adapt and find different ways to commemorate.

“The theme centres on the importance of commemorations and asks students to look at how society and commemorations have changed over time.

“The Awards also help ensure our future generations grow up with a recognition and respect for the sacrifice of all who have served in the protection of our country and way of life.

“I encourage all schools across Bonner to take part in this competition and I look forward to seeing what students come up with.”

The national winner’s school will receive $5000, a trophy and a certificate.

There will also be state and territory winners, with the schools receiving $3000 and a certificate.

Winners in the special categories will receive $2000 and a certificate.

Entries for the Awards are now open and will close on Wednesday, 30 June 2021.

For more information, including on award categories, judging, criteria and how to apply visit the Anzac Portal website.

New ceiling fans to provide relief from the summer heat have been installed at Tingalpa State School’s assembly hall thanks to a $20,000 grant through the Morrison Government’s Local Schools Community Fund.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP recently visited the school to see the new fans and said the addition greatly improved the facility for students, teachers and the wider Tingalpa community.

“In the middle of summer, it can be very uncomfortable in the hall for students, staff, families and visitors,” Mr Vasta said.

“Having a cooling system in place was necessary due to the hall’s location to the noisy Wynnum Road and the need to keep doors closed for the noise and wind control.

“Thanks to this $20,000 grant, these new fans will not only benefit the school community but the wider community as well.”

Mr Vasta said with a shortage of indoor sporting venues in the area, the ceiling fan upgrade would encourage additional community use.

“Having a cooling system in place now allows the school to feature this facility as a good option for external events and sporting games for community groups, which will have tremendous benefits for the school.”

Mr Vasta said the Tingalpa P&C was instrumental in making this grant happen and it wouldn’t have been possible without their fundraising efforts and attention to detail in applying for the grant.

A greenhouse, LED lighting and a library refurbishment are among some of the exciting new projects for schools in Bonner who received funding under the Morrison Government’s Local School Community Fund program.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said students would be the big winners in this funding program, which supports small but vital projects in local schools.

“These are the small projects that make a big difference to providing better learning outcomes and learning experiences for students in my electorate of Bonner,” Mr Vasta said.

“School communities nominated the projects they most wanted and the Morrison Government stepped up with funding support through our $30.2 million Local School Community Fund.

“This is an additional investment on top of our record funding of $310 billion for schools.”

Schools in Bonner to recieve funding include:

• Belmont State School $20,000 to refurbish their multi-purpose centre
• Holland Park State High School $19,995 to install energy efficient LED lighting
• Mount Gravatt State School $8058 to construct a Greenhouse
• Mount Gravatt State High School $12,500 for the installation of musical instrument bag racks
• Rochedale State High School $19,909 for Library refurbishment and upgrades
• St Peter’s Primary School at Rochedale $20,000 for a nature based interactive learning project
• Mackenzie State Special School $4944 to expand their Thrift Shop
• Guardian Angels’ Primary School $20,000 for the installation of synthetic grass for the P2 playground
• Murarrie State School $20,000 to install air-conditioning
• Tingalpa State School $20,000 to install ceiling fans in the Assembly Hall
• Darling Point Special School $20,000 to upgrade playground equipment
• Wynnum State School $14,594 to upgrade senior laptop and robotics devices

Mr Vasta said these projects would go a long way to supporting students when completed in 2020.

Time is running out for schools in Bonner to access funding for new computers, sporting equipment or refurbishments with applications for the Coalition Government’s Local School Community Fund closing soon.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said there was less than one month to go for schools to apply for funding through the $30.2 million Local School Community Fund.

“My electorate of Bonner has been allocated $200,000 in grant funding for projects at local schools,” Mr Vasta said.

“Local schools can apply for grants between $1000 and $20,000 for school projects.

“These projects can be anything that benefit the school community, from installing solar panels, kits for robotics, hydration stations, outdoor play equipment, wellbeing programs or composting and colour coded waste bins as an example.”

Mr Vasta said schools should think about the best way the funding could help their students and school and submit an application before it closed.

Applications to the Local Schools Community Fund are open to eligible government, Catholic and independent schools until 5pm, September 30 2019.

Each proposed project will be independently evaluated by a committee appointed by the Member for Bonner.

Schools can apply through SchoolsHUB – www.schools.education.gov.au/