Dear Parents and Caregivers,

As we close out the 153rd year of operation of this wonderful school it is time to reflect on all that we achieved throughout the year as we turn our attention to the new school year for 2025. After a well-deserved break and time to recharge we will be back with a renewed spring in our step and passion to support our wonderful students again in 2025. We also thank our supportive parents, carers and community members for all that you do to ensure your students are at school each day ready to learn and give everything their best shot.  

ARTS ON STAGE

Wasn’t ‘Arts on Stage’ fantastic again this year, as we continue to grow our amazing Arts programs in the school?  All of our Performing Arts groups performed brilliantly with maximum numbers participating and new groups offered again this year, including Blue, Red and Green Dance Ensembles and Boys Crew, the new Band and more Drama performances. The new dance costumes purchased through the left-over proceeds from the Musical looked amazing and the dancers felt so great sporting these new costumes. As usual Miss Dunstan did an amazing job with the choreography and training these dancers to perform to this standard with one rehearsal each week. 

Our new band under the direction of Mrs Rebecca Rees also did a wonderful job for their first year and as usual our Platinum and Gold strings students performed beautifully. The Performing Arts program at ESS is flourishing thanks to our tremendous staff - Miss Georgia Dunstan (Dance/Drama Teacher), Mrs Rebecca Rees (Classroom Music Teacher and Instrumental Music-Band) and Ms Lisa Kirk (Instrumental Music-Strings Teacher), who have worked cooperatively with the support of the Arts Committee, staff and their wonderful Arts Captains, who did an outstanding job of hosting the evening. 

Recruitment for Strings and Band for next year has occurred and an information session was held for new students into the program for 2025.

At Arts on Stage, I announced that next year in the off year to a musical we would be entering a range of school Eisteddfods for our performance ready groups. Miss Dustan and Mrs Rees are again working collaboratively to make this happen and are already in the early stages of planning for our next whole school musical in 2026.

SWIMMING CARNIVALS

Last week we held our Interhouse Swimming Carnivals for both the Senior students and Junior students. We were very fortunate that the weather held out for both days after a wet few days prior. Congratulations to our age champions and also to Waratah house for their first win of the year. A huge thank you to Mr Woodrick for his work in preparing the students all term and in organising both carnivals. Thank you also to the rest of the staff who supported him and also to the parents who were able to spectate. The carnivals are a really great day for the students and we are so lucky to have our own pool to have these kinds of events in.

PRINCIPAL’S AWARD CEREMONY

On Monday at our Principal’s Award Ceremony, we saw three students from each class achieve awards for demonstrating our three school pillars of Learning, Safety and Relationships, consistently across the semester. The ceremony went off smoothly with excellent participation and behaviour from our wonderful students, attendance from a large crowd of parents and carers and the superb organisation by school staff. 

A massive congratulations to all of the award recipients, but also to all of the other students who may not have received awards, but still have done their best and achieved their personal learning goals for the year.

Principal’s Awards Semester Two 2024 

KAY POINTON AWARD

The Kay Pointon Memorial Award is awarded each year to a Year 5 student who demonstrates attributes of determination, persistence and resilience. This year the Kay Pointon Memorial Award was presented to John Knight.

2025 CAPTAINS

At the conclusion of the assembly, we announced the Captains for 2025 and held a congratulatory handover from the current Captains to the 2025 Captains.  I am pleased to announce after a very rigorous process commencing with a criteria card and application, and a persuasive letter, the eight shortlisted School Captain nominees then gave a speech in front of the Yr 3/4/5/6 students, staff and parents. We then conducted a student and a staff voting process. A panel of staff then had the difficult job of considering all of the data to make the final decisions to select the best candidates for the various positions for 2025.

Our 2025 Captains are:

School Captains: Miranda Aguirre and Zoe Want

Vice-School Captain and Student Council Chairperson: Charlotte McDonald

Arts Captains: Ella Brauer and Sienna Grice

Banksia House Captains:  Hamish Dow and Harry Peart

Waratah Captains: Mattias Cabrera and Harry Howard

A huge thank you to our 2024 Captains for their diligence in which they have carried out their roles this year. They have been an absolute pleasure to work with and we wish them all the best for their very bright futures ahead of them in whatever direction they choose to go. 

Congratulations to our new Captains as we look forward to working closely with them next year as they take on their new roles. There certainly were some very proud parents at the assembly on Monday morning and rightly so!

BREAK UP DAY and CLEAN UP DAY

Thursday will be our break up day or class celebration day and our classes will be partaking of a pizza party in their classes at 11am for a cost of $5 each payable in cash. Games and activities, including swimming for some classes and the finals for Enoggera’s Got Talent for the whole school will be held during the middle session. This is a normal school day and students need to be in full school uniform, as per every other day.

Friday will be clean up and moving day in readiness for next year. Of course, school will be open on Friday and all of week 11 for those families who need supervision for their children to work, but all of the activities for the year will be finished on Thursday, on break up day. Friday will be a big day of teachers moving and cleaning classrooms in readiness for next year. Students attending on Friday still need to wear full school uniform as this is not a free dress day. Full school uniform is required for all of week 11. 

A reminder that tuckshop will have finished for the year by Friday, so there will be no tuckshop or party food on this day so students will need their usual lunches from home.

2025 SCHOOL YEAR

A reminder that the school office will be open from Monday, 20th January 9-3pm and that teachers will be involved in professional development from Wednesday, 22^nd January through to the Friday, 24th January. School recommences for the new school year on Monday, 28th January, 2025 as the Australia Day Public Holiday will be on the Monday 27th January, at the start of the first week back.

BOOK DROP OFFS

Parents will be able to drop off book list items to outside the tuckshop on the tables set up from Wednesday, 22nd through to Friday 24^th January in the mornings between 6:30am and 10:00am. They will be transported to classrooms each day in readiness for the first day of school. A reminder that booklists were sent home recently for Years 1-6 with contact details for our suppliers, Bedrock Books at Brendale, but of course you can choose to purchase the items elsewhere, if you wish. Please ensure if items are purchased elsewhere that they are the correct items of similar quality.

PREP SCHOOL RESOURCE SCHEME 2025

The Prep School Resource Scheme information was also distributed to Prep families recently with the participation agreement on QParents and also in hard copy. These agreements must be returned by Friday this week to ensure ordering of the correct amounts of equipment for Prep. Invoices will be issued for payment in the new year and can be made in one payment or one a payment plan. If you do not wish to be part of the Resource Scheme for Prep you will need to purchase all items on the list and provide them to school for the start of the year and your child will be unable to partake of the shared resources system that operates in Prep.

UNIFORMS

A reminder also when purchasing uniforms for next year that our dress code states all black shoes and white socks, so if purchasing new shoes for next year please make sure these align with the dress code. All black shoes means all black shoes, soles and laces with no coloured trims, coloured laces or white soles. A reminder that boots, high tops and basketball shoes are not acceptable school wear.

With regard to hair - our dress code states that hair should be a of a natural and style and colour for school, so this means alternative haircuts and colours are not suitable for school. If hair is of shoulder length or longer it needs to be tied back at all times. This applies to girls and boys.

Our students look fantastic here at Enoggera State School when they wear their full uniform with pride, so I encourage parents to support this and ensure their children are able to comply with the approved dress code. Students should come to school in full and correct uniform every single day, as this is very valuable learning for extra-curricular activities outside of school, high school and later employment.

The last opening for the uniform shop for 2024 will be this Friday 6^th December.

It will open on the following dates and times through the school holidays and in first week of school for any uniform requirements.

• Monday 20^th January 4-6pm
• Tuesday 21^st January 9-11am
• Friday 24^th January 9-11am
• Tuesday 28^th January 8-9am (First day of Term 1)
• Friday 31^st January 8-9am

Items are always available to be ordered on QKR and these orders will be filled when the uniform shop returns.

YEAR 6 GRADUATION

Thursday 5 December will be the Year 6 Graduation, which is often both a happy and sad occasion. We celebrate this Year 6 cohort, who have been outstanding learners and great role models for our entire school. We have valued their contribution to Enoggera State School and are truly sad that the time for them to leave has arrived. Even so, we know that they leave ESS with excellent knowledge and skills to progress well in their learning and also having a deep understanding of how to enact the school pillars to help them be their best every day. Go well, Year 6. We will miss you. 

On graduation day for our Year 6 students’, we will hold the formal graduation ceremony at 9am in EPAC for students in Yr 4-6.  Our whole school will farewell our graduates at the front of the school at 3pm on Thursday afternoon as we do the traditional send-off tunnel and guard of honour. Please arrive by 2:50pm at the front of the school if you wish to watch the guard of honour. The Graduation dinner and dance is being held in EPAC from 6pm. This is a ticketed, catered and alcohol-free function. 

2024 STAFFING

Also, at the Principal’s Assembly on Monday morning, we farewelled the staff leaving Enoggera State School this year. There were no permanent staff leaving this year but we farewelled some contract staff whose contracts will be finishing. 

We farewelled Mr Luke Giblin who as a graduate teacher has replaced Amanda Boone this term on 1B. We also farewelled Teacher Aide, Mr Tom Sippel who has moved to the South side and is looking for work closer to home. Our additional Technical Officer, Mr Lee Baker will be returning to his permanent position and finally, we farewelled Chappy Twinkee, who has finished her studies and moves to full time work next year. Chappy Twinkee will be the last Chaplain at ESS as parents voted to move forward with a Wellbeing Officer for 2025, which was ratified at the recent P and C meeting. We are now in the process of selecting a new provider to recruit a Wellbeing Officer for next year. Without the support of the Local Chaplaincy Committee though, this new position will be at considerably less hours than we currently enjoy for the Chaplaincy position.

We also farewelled Mr John Salfischberger who will be taking Long Service Leave for Semester One of next year, while he ponders retirement.

We look forward to some staff returning to ESS next year. Mrs Karen Kent returns from her secondment at McDowall SS this year and Mrs Amanda Boone returns from leave to a .4 role and Mrs Shalana Rossiter returns from Maternity Leave .6 for next year.

We thank them all for the amazing work they have done at this school and wish them all the best at their new schools/roles or on their leave. I can now announce the Enoggera State School staff for the 2025 school year. 

Principal - Mrs Anne Robinson

Deputy Principal - Ms Tina Burrows

Head of Department-Curriculum - Mrs Amy O’Malley

Business Manager - Ms Ellie Mastrapostolos

Administration Staff - Mrs Stacey Talbot and Mrs Tory Rawlinson

Teaching Staff-

Prep- PA-Mrs Jacque Egerton, PB- Miss Emma Enoch and PC-Mrs Shalana Rossiter/Mrs Amanda Boone

Yr 1-1A-Mrs Rebecca Nelson/Mrs Tanya Prill, 1B-Mrs Marghi Gradwell, 1C- Miss Jasmine Hunt

Yr 2- 2A-Mr Richard Linn, 2B-Mrs Julie Chapman/Mrs Tanya Prill, 2C-Mrs Jaime Hall

Yr 3- 3A-Mrs Andrea Moeser, 3B-Mr Jason Taylour, 3C-Miss Laura Kerwick

Yr 4- 4A-Mrs Alison Leeson/Mrs Laura Arthur, 4B-Mrs Belinda Harris

Yr 5/6- 5/6A-Ms Lynn Lancaster, 5/6B-Mrs Karen Kent, 5/6C- Miss Tamara Dowling

Specialist Teachers and Support Staff-

Success Teachers–Mrs Donagh McKenzie, Mrs Belinda Paton and Mrs Lauren Miceli(0.6)

Guidance Officer- Leanne Watson 0.4

Health and Physical Education Teacher- Mr Andrew Woodrick 

Digital Technologies Teacher- Mr Michael Harris 0.8

Dance and Drama Teacher- Miss Georgia Dunstan 0.6

Classroom Music Teacher- Mrs Rebecca Rees 0.5

Instrumental Music Teacher– Ms Lisa Kirk (Strings), Mrs Rebecca Rees (Band)

LOTE Teacher- Mrs Linda Jeffrey (0.2)

Health Teacher-Miss Georgia Dunstan 0.4

IT Technician- Andrew Wilson

Wellbeing Officer- TBA

Permanent Teacher Aides - Penny Fitzpatrick, Jess Tucker, Ainsley Butwell, Helena Frantz, Nyree O’Donnell, Michelle Humphreys, Elaine Gibbons

Temporary Teacher Aide - Miss Abbie Russell

School's Officer - Reynaldo Delatorre

Defence School Mentor - Alicia Trevena

Permanent Cleaners - Caroline Salfischberger, Nicolas Park, Luis Valderrama

Temporary Cleaner - Caio Pareja

2024 YEAR BOOK

A reminder that again this year we are producing a Year Book of the 2024 school year at Enoggera State School. This book is a great memory book of the year and is available to purchase by our families. It includes class pages and pages on all of our school events and activities throughout the year. It also includes a special focus on our graduates. The book is gifted to our graduating students at the graduation ceremony and will also be distributed to families on Thursday 5th December to families who have ordered and pay for one prior. 

If you wish to purchase the year book please complete the order form attached and return to the office with payment, so that you do not miss out. We only have 62 available this year for the first 62 families that order to receive their copy before the holidays.  A further order can be placed after that for delivery at the start of school next year, if we meet printing quotas for that price. 

For those students staying on for week 11 this year, please be reminded that whilst no formal teaching of the Australian Curriculum will be occurring, it is still a gazetted week of school and as such normal behaviour, uniform and routines apply.  Students will be involved in alternative activities which may or may not be with their current teacher whilst teachers will be involved in planning sessions throughout the week, in readiness for next year.

FAREWELL FAMILIES

To all of our families who are leaving us this year, I trust you take with you many happy memories and assurances your child has had a great education at Enoggera State School. Some of our families who have had a longstanding relationship with Enoggera State School will have their last child leaving Year 6 this year. Thank you for your partnership over many years and all the very best for the future.

Till next time,

Mrs Anne Robinson

Principal

Head of Department, Curriculum

Hello Parents and Caregivers,

Please find below my updates for this coming fortnight.

Ellie Mastrapostolos

Business Manager

Swimming Carnivals

Well, we have made it!  Final Weeks of 2024 and what an amazing year it has been.

Our senior swimming carnival was held on Monday 25^th November. With all the rain we had in the lead up, I for one was very surprised (but extremely glad) to have them completed.

A great job was done by all the swimmers. I really hoped you enjoyed your day.

To the results, Congratulations to Waratah for taking the win. This means that both teams won throughout the year as Banksia won overall in the Cross Country and Athletics.

Special mention also goes to our age champions:

9 Years	Male	Hugh S
9 Years	Female	Sophie H
10 Years	Male	Quinn A
10 Years	Female	Hazel C
11 Years	Male	Harry H
11 Years	Female	Sienna G
12 Years	Male	Toby
12 Years	Female	Bronte S

 

The Prep to Year 2 carnival was held the day after on Tuesday 26^th November. It was fantastic to see the junior grades getting involved and trying their best on the day. Great work!

The ESS swim carnivals wouldn’t be possibly without the help from our amazing teachers and teacher aids, so I would like to pass on a huge thank you to all the staff who helped out. It makes the days run so much better when you are all there to help out.

Continuing with the thank you’s…  A special mention needs to go to the 41 swimming volunteers over the year. Without your help, our swimming program would not be as great as it is. Along with the teacher swimming aide Melissa Elordi, you all make the ESS swim program very successful and I can see the improvement in most students this year.

Farewell to the Year 6 group. I wish you all the best of luck at High School. I hope you all work hard to give yourself a bright future.

For families, I know the local council pools have the $2 summer swims again this year, so taking them to the pools over the break will hopefully see them all getting better in 2025.

See you all in 2025.

Mr Andrew Woodrick

HPE Teacher

UNIFORM SHOP SUMMER HOLIDAYS OPENING HOURS

The last opening for 2024 will be this Friday 6^th December.

We will open on the following dates and times through the school holidays and in the first week of school for any uniform requirements.

• Monday 20^th January 4-6pm
• Tuesday 21^st January 9-11am
• Friday 24^th January 9-11am
• Tuesday 28^th January 8-9am (First day of Term 1)
• Friday 31^st January 8-9am

Please donate unwanted uniforms in good condition to the uniform shop. You can them drop off on Friday mornings when the uniform shop is open or leave them at the office. 

We also need a Volunteer for Friday morning from Term 1 to help out.   Its just 8-9am and your child can be with you.  If you are interested please email us at uniforms@esspandc.com.au

COMING UP IN 2025 

We are excited to announce some big events coming up in Term 1 2025!

Bunning Sausage Sizzle – Sunday 23^rd  February 2025

We are very lucky to have secured a date with

Bunnings Stafford. This will be a big fundraiser for the P&C but we will need your help! 

If  you think you will be able to help on the day please sign up here - volunteersignup.org/FMQBP

 

Bush Dance - Friday 21^st March 2025

We're excited to bring you the ESS P&C 2025 Bush Dance! So put on your cowboy boots and head on over to Everton Park SHS for a night of good old fashioned country fun. 

More details to come after the holidays.

ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE

Perfect for a Christmas gift or use over the summer holidays!  Entertainment is the easy-to-use App packed with incredible savings of up to 50% off and 2 for 1 offers, so you can save on takeaway, dining, shopping, groceries, gift cards, activities and more!  and what's even better, 20% of every 12-month membership purchased will support our P&C fundraising goals.

Click on this link to purchase and share with your friends - https://subscribe.entertainment.com.au/fundraiser/228244a

CONTAINERS FOR CHANGE

Please support our P&C by using this code when you deposit your bottles / cans etc.  

Enoggera State School P&C Association  C10051863

From all of us at the ESS P&C, we wish you a safe and relaxing holiday and a happy new year.  See you all in 2025!

P&C Executives

For any questions or concerns please email pandc@enoggerass.eq.edu.au

The Enoggera State School P & C meets on every 4th Tuesday of the month.

Our next General meeting will be on Tuesday 25 February 2025 at 6.15pm in the staff room or on Teams. New faces always welcome.

Keep up to date on all things P&C via our Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/EnoggeraSSPandC

Congratulations to the students who participated in the Premier’s Coding Competition.

Great to see younger students involved as we anticipate the 2025 Challenge!

Well done to the students who completed the Semester 2 Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge. Certificates will be sent home this week.

Farewell to the Year 6 RoboCup students who performed at the Arts on Stage 2 weeks ago. Next year the remaining students are invited to reform their teams and prepare for 2025 robot competitions.

This week in class the students built sensor prototypes for a model feral pig trap. See the images  of the successful student scientists.

Have a wonderful Christmas and a safe and joyous new year. Looking forward to a very exciting 2025!

Michael Harris

Digital Technologies Teacher

Although I have only been at Enoggera State School for a few short weeks, I have already had the privilege of meeting so many incredible students and staff members and I am excited to be a part of this wonderful school community in 2025.

I am thrilled to share that starting next year we will be re launching Defence Headquarters at lunch time. The club will be a place where Defence students can connect, share experiences and take part in fun, supportive activities together. I am really looking forward to creating a space where they can build lasting friendships and feel they are a part of a strong, supportive Defence community.

A special shout out goes to our Defence year 6 students who will be moving on to high school next year. I wish you all the very best of luck as you begin this new chapter in your education. Next year we look forward to welcoming our new Prep students and watching them begin their school journey.

I am already looking forward to what we will achieve together in 2025.

For any families needing support over the Christmas period, please contact the Defence Member and Family Support line on 1800 624 608.

Wishing you all a restful and joyful holiday season,

Alicia Trevena

Defence School Mentor

email:  atrev43@eq.edu.au

Requests for information and the Student Support Team (SST)

At Enoggera State School we have three SUCCESS teachers – Lauren Cohen (Miceli), Belinda Paton and Donagh McKenzie. Success teachers maximise and support student learning, inclusion and engagement by working with students and class teachers to provide educational adjustments.

Each week the Student Support Team (SST) meets to discuss any areas of concern for students and provides recommendations for further targeted supports. The team also prioritises access to targeted intervention/support from:

• Success teachers
• Guidance officer
• Speech Language Pathologist
• Occupational Therapist and Physiotherapist
• Advisory Visiting Teachers and Regional Office advisors
• Autism Queensland

We understand that a number of our students see allied health professionals and external providers such as a Paediatrician, an Occupational Therapist, a Speech Language Pathologist, a Physiologist and/or counsellor etc. The Department of Education requires consent, in writing, before we can liaise with or disclose any personal information about a student. This includes requests for assessments to be completed or support letters for paediatrician appointments.

Once we have a Consent to Share form completed we are able to complete paper based assessments only that are requested by a medical professional.

Please be mindful that all requests for information/assessments must be submitted to The Student Support Team by email (lmmec0@eq.edu.au) two weeks before the information is required to allow for processing and liaising time.