Dear Parent and Caregivers,

LEARNING CURVE

This week our Learning Curve program is from the ‘Growth Learning Approach’ category and the wellbeing skill builder is called ‘getting things done’ for the lower school and ‘creating idea maps’ in the upper school, who have the diaries this year. 

The Prep-2 lessons are about how we can help to get ourselves more organised: by being clear on things that are ‘must dos’ such as feeding your pet, cleaning your room, going to school and doing your homework; and other things that are your choice and ‘maybe do’ activities such as watching tv, playing on your ipad or playing with friends. When you can get your ‘must dos’ done and have some time for ‘maybe do’ activities you will proud of yourself for being so organised.

For the Year 3-6 students the focus is about understanding that much of what you learn is through your eyes and about learning how to look at the big picture from all perspectives by creating idea maps or mind maps. These are a tool for students to use both sides of your brain to connect ideas and sometimes energise their thinking because they are creating a visual pattern for their brain.

These concepts were introduced on assembly this week and are being taught in the Health lessons with Miss Dunstan and followed up in classrooms. Our Year 3-6 students continue to track their progress in their Learning Curve diaries. The parent newsletter is attached below.

Primary_wk14_Parent_Newsletter_Article_2025.pdf

INFRASTRUCTURE

It was great to see the new fence installed to the front of the school over the holidays.  Not only has this given the front of the school a facelift but it adds to the security of the site. We look forward to getting more of this fencing installed around the school site in coming years.

It was also great to see the refurbishment works in IB and C Block completed with the final defects meeting set for next week to close out the project. The new operable walls were installed as well as the autex walls, notice boards and new classroom doors.  We only have A Block (Prep B and 3C and the Admin) that have not been refurbished now. We look forward to getting on the program again for this project in the near future.

PREP OPEN DAY

This week on Friday morning from 9-11am we will hold our first Open Day for this year for families who are looking to enrol here for 2026 either in Prep or other year levels. The morning will commence with a presentation in EPAC with a Q and A at the end and then a tour of the facilities following. We will hold another Open Day in Term 3 before our Prep Enrolment Interviews at the end of Term 3 and then the Prep Transition and Information sessions in Term 4.

If you know of families who live in our catchment and are hoping to come here next year, please let them know of the Open Days coming up.  Families who have made their decision, can drop in enrolments forms to the office at any stage to enable us to get them on the system and into the communication channels for next year.

ANZAC DAY AND SERVICE

Thank you to those who attended our school ANZAC Service on Thursday 24 April and also came to the Gaythorne March on 25 April.  As usual, it was wonderful to see so much support for our school service through the attendance of our Special Guests, Lachlan Bird representing MP Tim Mander, parent, Warrant Officer Mathew McDonald and ex Chaplain Twinkee Polius. Our students were very respectful during the service which is credit to their families and teachers.

It was also a credit to Mrs Rees as to the quality of the Choir performance of ‘Lest We Forget’.  Thank you to Mrs Burrows for coordinating the ceremony, particularly under trying circumstances when we had to make a last-minute change of venue to the EPAC and the stress this caused.  But whilst the atmosphere was not quite as it is at the front of the school, it was still a very moving and respectful ceremony.

A reminder to take a look at our brand-new Lone Pine which was planted in the front garden by our Defence Students and school captains as part of our ANZAC Day activities.

QASSP PRINCIPAL’S CONFERENCE

Coming up in Week 4 both Mrs Burrows and I will be attending the Qld Association of State School Principals’ Conference in Brisbane on May 12-14.  Mrs O’Malley will be Officer in Charge whilst we are off-site at the conference.

Till next time,

Mrs Anne Robinson

Principal