Dear Parents and Caregivers,

STAFFING

Unfortunately, Stacey Talbot our Administration Officer will be finishing up on Friday as she is moving back to Qld Health in a part time capacity. We thank Stacey for her work here over the past 14 months as she has been a real asset to our school and will be sadly missed by staff and students alike. We wish her all the best back at Qld Health. We have a new Temporary A02 commencing in the role from next week and her name is Dal Begeda and she comes to us from Indooroopilly SHS where she has held many administration roles over the years. Dal will doing some shadowing of Stacey on Thursday and Friday this week to learn our processes here.

We also had our new Wellbeing Officer commence this week to replace Twinkee, the previous Chaplain. Alisha Pearson comes to us from the Jabiru provider and she is employed at multiple schools as a Wellbeing Officer. She will recommence breaky club and the Friday radio show in the coming weeks as she finds her feet. At the P&C meeting we will need to look at how we cover the shortfall in wages from the Federal Government grant, in lieu of not having the Local Chaplaincy Committee to look after this fundraising.

I am also pleased to report that Reynaldo Delatorre will be continuing on as our School’s Officer following the recent recruitment process. Congratulations Reynaldo!

PARENT INFORMATION SESSIONS and PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS

It was great to see so many families attend the Parent Information Sessions held last Tuesday. Most groups had great attendance at both sessions with parents engaged and asking questions about the year ahead. If you were unable to attend, the teachers will send out any information provided at the session.  A reminder that if you wish to meet with the teacher individually about your child, please make an appointment through the office or by emailing the class teacher directly. 

Our first round of formal Parent Teacher Interviews for this year will be held this term in week 10 on Tuesday, 1/4/25 in EPAC between 3:15 and 7:15pm. More information will go out in the coming weeks about using the SOBS program to book your interview spots.

STUDENT LEADER INVESTITURE CEREMONY

Last week we had the pleasure of inducting our 2025 Captains and Student Council representatives into their roles for the year. It was great to have Federal MP for Brisbane, Trevor Evans attend the ceremony in lieu of Tim Mander, our State MP for Everton and our local BCC Councillor Andrew Wines, who were otherwise engaged on the day and provided their apologies.  Thank you to the parents who attended the ceremony and joined the leaders for some afternoon tea afterwards.  Thank you to Mrs Burrows who organised the ceremony. And lastly, congratulations to the new leaders as we look forward to working with them this year: 

• School Captains- Zoe Want and Miranda Aguirre
• School Vice-Captain and Student Council Chairperson- Charlotte McDonald
• House Captains- Waratah: Harry Howard and Hamish Dow, Banksia: Matias Cabrera and Harry Peart
• Arts Captains- Ella Brauer and Sienna Grice
• Class Student Council Representatives- 3A-Rosie L, 3B-Evie G, 3C-Maddie V, 4A-Sophie D, 4B-Natalia J, 5/6A-John K, 5/6B-Angus B, 5/6C-Ameliya A.

STUDENT COUNCIL PURCHASES

Last year our very industrious Student Council raised a massive $16,000 across the year and ran out of time to make their decisions around spending it at the end of the year. The first order of business for our new Student Council was to finalise the decisions from last year and move to make the purchases.  They decided to purchase another table tennis table, sunscreen for each classroom, turn the bubbler trough into a cold-water station and replace the broken basketball backboard on the multi-purpose court. What a great addition to the school these items will be for our students to enjoy. 

The new Student Council have kicked off their own fundraising for the year with their first activity which was the wellbeing activity on Valentine’s Day where they sold paper hearts to the student to send kind messages to others. They raised $270 from this activity. They are already in discussions with their classes as to what they would like to aim for this year as their legacy items.

CSI (COLLABORATIVE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT)

Next week on Wednesday morning we will have a group of Principals from other schools along with our School Supervisor visiting our school to view our work around transitioning our teaching of reading to the new V9 Australian Curriculum processes.  They will meet with myself to hear about our journey and plans and then will be visiting some classrooms, before providing feedback to the leadership team.  This CSI process occurs throughout the year as a way of Principal’s visiting other schools to improve the practices at their school and learn from other schools.

Till next time,

Mrs Anne Robinson

Principal

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Making Friends Performance Monday 3^rd March

On Monday 3rd March, Prep to Year 6 students will have the opportunity to attend the Making Friends performance in EPAC from 9:15 – 10:15am (Years 3 – 6) and 11:50 – 12:50 (Prep – Year 2).  This show uses drama, puppetry and storytelling to teach students easy to remember strategies to make new friends and deal with bullying. 

Information regarding the performance and payments were emailed to parents on Thursday 13^th February. Payments must be made by Friday 28^th February. Late payments cannot be accepted.  Should you have any queries regarding payment please contact school administration.

NAPLAN 2025

Year three and Year five students will sit NAPLAN testing in week seven and eight of Term one.  Prior to this, students will sit a NAPLAN practise test on Wednesday 26^th February. The Enoggera State School NAPLAN Testing Schedule for 2025 is as follows:

Day and Date	Test	Year 3	Year 5	Catch Up Sessions  Year 3 and Year 5
Wednesday 12th March	Writing	9:00am	11:45am	N/A
Thursday 13th March	Reading	9:00am	11:45am	1:50pm Writing
Friday 14th March	Conventions of Language	9:00am	11:45am	1:50pm Writing/ Reading
Monday 17th March	Numeracy	9:00am	11:45am	1:50pm Reading / Conventions of Language
Tuesday 18th March				9:10am Numeracy 11:45am Reading / Conventions of Language

NAPLAN 2025 Parent Information Session

Enoggera State School conducted a 2025 NAPLAN Parent Information Session.  A big thank you to those who attended.  The powerpoint presented at this session will be emailed to Year three and Year five parents this week.

NAPLAN withdrawals, exemptions or special considerations

Parents seeking withdrawals or exemptions for their students from NAPLAN testing are to contact school administration to arrange for a meeting with the Principal (Mrs Anne Robinson) to discuss the tests being withdrawn from and the reasons for the withdrawal.  Paperwork will then be completed at the meeting. 

Parents of students requiring special considerations are reminded that these reflect the usual supports in place for students in the classroom as part of their Personal Learning Record (PLR). Success Teachers will be in contact with parents of eligible students and provide a form to be signed and returned to school by 11^th March 2025.

NAPLAN Muesli Bars

Year three and year five students will be provided with muesli bars as an “energy snack” to eat during each NAPLAN test as research indicates that chewing supports and aids learning and cognitive functioning. The school provides Uncle Toby’s Yoghurt Muesli Bars and further information is available below.

If you do not wish for your child to receive muesli bars or require further information please email Amy O’Malley aomal3@eq.edu.au

Library News

Qld Schools Library Week and Library Lovers Day

Week three had Enoggera State School excited with Qld Schools Library Week and Library Lovers Day.  Many students undertook creating Stain Glassed Window in keeping with the theme of Libraries – Window to the world, drawing and colouring, and listening to stories from special guest readers.  It was very pleasing to see and hear so many students Loving Our Library.

Book Club Issue 1: 

Thank you to everyone who placed orders for Issue 1.  The orders have all been placed and we expect orders to be delivered and provided to students in Week 6.

Mrs Amy O'Malley

Head of Department, Curriculum

Hello Parents and Caregivers,

Please find below my updates for this coming fortnight.

YEARBOOKS

Just letting everyone know that we still have a whole box full of yearbooks available for purchase through the office. The cost to purchase one of these keepsakes is $28 and all purchases can be made directly through the office during opening hours.

GENERAL FINANCE

Just a reminder that full payment on the below activities is due soon. If you are having financial difficult and require financial assistance, please contact bsm@enoggerass.eq.edu.au to arrange a payment plan. 

Invoice	Due Date
CARS & STARS Subscriptions for 2025	13th of December - OVERDUE
Religion Books	10th of February 2025 - OVERDUE
Making Friends Performance – Whole School	28th of February
Year 3 Starlab Incursion	11th of March
Youth Leaders Conference 2025	14th of March
Prep SRS – Full payment or first instalment payment	4th of April 2025

We have parents who haven’t made payment on the CARS & STARS Subscription for 2025 or for Religion Books. Please be aware that this directly affects your child as it means they don’t have the valuable resources required to complete certain activities in class and for religious instruction lessons.

Just letting all parents and carers know, invoices are always sent out to the paying parent via email. The paying parent is allocated at time of enrolment and can only be changed if requested in writing. What this means is that only one paying parent can view invoices online through QParents. If you would like more information around this please email me on bsm@enoggerass.eq.edu.au . If you believe you may have a student credit on your account, please contact me directly to apply this credit as you are unable to allocate credits through QParents online.

We strongly recommend all parents to sign up to Qparents, so they can stay in the loop with the schools’ happenings. If you have any other financial inquiries, please contact me directly.

ACCESS TO SCHOOL

Just a reminder to families that being onsite after hours is not allowed, even in school holidays. We have lots of signs up around the school that state that when the school is closed, being on site is classed as trespassing. The only exception to this is when we have external hirers onsite and P&C or school run events. 

CONTAINERS FOR CHANGE

Queenslanders go through around 3 billion drink containers each year! Containers for change has created a way to recycle those containers that incentivises Queenslanders, and positively impacts our environment and the communities we live in.

The Containers for Change Schools program is a school-based program designed to encourage Queensland schools to raise money through the Containers for Change scheme and help educate the next generation on the importance of recycling.

If you are collecting containers and would like to donate these to Enoggera State School, please use the NEW code: C11523111 when dropping off at one of the main containers for change deposits.

SPARE UNIFORMS AND UNDERWEAR

It is important that all Year 1 and prep students have spare clothes packed in their bags including underwear. We request this just in case a student has an accident throughout the day. If you have a child who has recently borrowed clothing from the office, could you please urgently return these spares and replacement underwear to the office as we have very low spare clothes. We are also happy to accept donations of new underwear due to these not being returnable as we cannot accept already used and washed underwear. 

STOP DROP AND GO ZONE – 285 South Pine Road

The stop, drop and go zone is monitored each morning and each afternoon by a staff member. The correct procedure for this area is to drive up to the gate where the staff member is standing who will assist the safety of your student/s out of the car and on to the school grounds. Please do not stop half way and try and help your student out of the car at the first gate closest to the OSHC and Administration. If you do stop at the first gate, this causes a ripple effect in cars backing up and blocking the school entry and affecting the school crossing. Please follow the directions of the staff member to ensure the smooth transition of cars during these busy times.

Brisbane City Council has been advised of illegal street parking in the area and people not following the stop drop and go sign rules. Vehicles must not be left in this area at any time. If you require additional time to unload your student/s in the morning please ensure you’re a parking in a street park and walking up to the school. Alternatively, we have a stop drop and go zone located on Laurel Street, which is also monitored daily by a staff member. The same rules apply. Thank you for your understanding with this matter. 

RELIGION BOOKS

Invoices were sent out to all families with students who are a part of the Religious Instruction program for 2025. If you don’t believe you have received this and your child is currently enrolled in the program, please let me know as book orders have already been placed. Invoices are currently overdue. Preps are excluded from this program.

LOST PROPERTY

Just a reminder to parents and students that the school’s lost property is located directly under the administration office outside of the uniform shop.

A big thank you to the parents in the community who have been collecting lost property daily and putting items in this area for students to collect. 

MEDICAL DETAILS AND MEDICATION

In preparation for the start of the year we are compiling medication requirements for all students that require daily or emergency medication to be administered by school staff. Please have a good read of the below information if your child requires medication to be administered at school during school hours;

1. Does your child need medication during school hours?

If your child needs to take medication at school, please provide the office staff with:

• a completed and signed consent to administer form; 
• The medication in its original container; and 
• Medical authorisation (e.g. the pharmacy label, or a letter from the doctor, or a completed and signed health action plan).

Please refer to the following information:

The consent to administer medication form can be found here:

2. If my child has to take medication at school, how will the doctor know what paperwork the school needs?

When you next visit your child’s doctor (or other health practitioner), you could give them a copy of the the information for parents/carers and health practitioners. This document explains what advice they need to provide to help the school to safely administer medication to your child.

3. Easy medication packaging

If your child takes tablets or capsules each day, you can ask the pharmacist to pack them individually in sachets, blister packs or bubble packs.

This packaging is known as a ‘dose administration aid’ (or DAA) and has the pharmacy label instructions as part of the packaging.  When medication is packaged in a DAA it can make it easier for the school to safely store and administer it. Please note: A pill case (e.g., a weekly medication organiser) filled by yourself is not a DAA and is not something the school is approved to use.

4. Medication safety at school

If your child requires medication at school, there are some things you can do to help.

• Only provide medication that has been medically authorised.
• Check that the medication hasn’t expired.
• Provide medication in the pharmacy packaging.
• Hand medication to the school in person.
• Collect unused medication in person.
• Provide a pill-cutter if tablets need to be halved or quartered, or arrange for the pharmacist to package the medication using a dose administration aid.

Please disregard this if your child does not require medication whilst at school.

If you believe your child’s medical condition is no longer relevant, or you would like to update the details of your child’s condition and treatment, please advise the office as soon as possible.

For returning students with medication currently kept at school, please keep an eye out for further e-mails regarding collection of potentially expired or soon to be expiring medication.

For new students, please supply the office with the required medication and paperwork as soon as possible as your child’s health is of up most importance to us.  

And if you have questions, please contact the administration office on 3550 1333.

Have a wonderful fortnight!   

Ellie Mastrapostolos

Business Manager

Student of the week awards for Monday 17 February 2025

Parenting is often hailed as the most rewarding job you’ll ever do. While this is true most of the time, being a parent is hard work; it’s full of complexities, unexpected challenges, and overwhelming experiences. There are times when we need help to navigate family life and help them to create strong, healthy relationships, confidently manage our children’s behaviour and prevent problems developing. More and more parents understand that it’s okay to ask for help and, in Queensland, positive parenting support to suit every family is free for any parent or carer of a child up to 18 years old. The Triple P – Positive Parenting Program is one of the most effective evidence-based parenting programs in the world, backed up by over 35 years of research.

Triple P – Positive Parenting Program

Proven, positive tips that can help every family.

The Triple P – Positive Parenting Program is used around the world and was developed right here in Queensland. It helps parents to raise children and teens who grow up to be happy and healthy. Thousands of Queensland parents have already done Triple P and recommend it. Triple P offers practical skills and tools to help parents:

• develop strong, positive relationships with their children
• set limits and establish family routines that work
• encourage and teach prosocial skills
• confidently respond to challenges
• balance work and family with less stress
• create a happy, safe, and supportive family

What support is available for parents?

No matter what stage of life your child is at—or what challenges you’re facing—Triple P can help you learn simple but proven ways to give them the best opportunity to reach their full potential. It offers a range of seminars, group workshops and one-on-one consultations delivered as either:

• one-off sessions
• part of a series over several weeks or months
• self-paced online courses including Teen Triple P.

You can choose as much or as little help as you like—depending on your individual preferences and situation—and you choose which strategies you'd like to try at home.

Triple P interventions are aligned with trauma-informed and attachment approaches and are responsive to diverse community needs. Triple P has been proven to assist vulnerable and complex families, including those experiencing or who’ve experienced family violence, drug and alcohol misuse, child protection or parents living will mental illness.

Some of the free courses available include:

Triple P Online: Gain skills to confidently handle everyday parenting challenges

Stepping Stones Triple P: Help children with disability with key life skills

Family Transitions Triple P Online: Support children through separation or divorce

For more information on these courses and for tips and strategies for raising confident kids, visit 

https://www.triplep-parenting.net.au/qld-en/triple-p/

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Qlearn

• Year One parents/guardians: Please check your email inboxes for a message, subject line: “Qlearn”,  from Mr Harris (Digital Technologies teacher). The email will describe in detail how students can open their QLearn lessons at home for the first time.
• Year Two – Six parents/guardians: Please also take some time to look at QLearn with your child/ren. There may be some activities there that could be completed at home!
• Year 3 and 5 students: Please have plenty of fast typing practice to be ready for NAPLAN, March 12. Practising your username and very confusing password, even on a mobile phone touch screen in “Notes”, will certainly help improve your speed and recall.  
• Please Email Mr Harris with requests for assistance with QLearn.
• Thank you all for your attention to this request.

Michael Harris

Digital Technologies Teacher

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Performance Team

In Week 2 we held our Performance Team auditions for our Vocal and Dance Teams for our Year 4 to 6 students. We had an incredible turn out for both auditions having over 45 students for Vocal and 57 students for Dance. Thank you to all of the students who came to auditions. It was incredible to see so many students interested in this new program for 2025.

Since then, we have selected the teams and have had our first rehearsals in Week 3 and the students have started learning their repertoire and dances for their upcoming performances. We look forward to working with these students and seeing them prepare for their first performance in Term 2.

Dance Ensembles

Dance Ensemble auditions have also been happening during Week 3 and we've again had lots of interested students sign up and audition for the programs. If you've missed out on auditions and still interested in any of our programs (Red Dance Years 4 - 6, Green Dance Years 3 - 4, Purple Dance Years 1 - 2 and Boys Crew Years 3 - 6) please come along to our final auditions on Thursday 20^th first break after eating. 

If you have any questions please email Miss Dunstan. 

Choir

We have had lots of students sign up for our Senior and Junior choir. Choir will begin in Week 5 for both Junior and Senior Choir. If you're interested in joining Choir please sign up at EPAC and come along to lessons starting in Week 5. 

If you have any questions, please email Mrs Rees. 

Recorder Club

We've also had lots of interested students sign up for recorder. If you're interested, please sign up at EPAC and come along to lessons starting in Week 5. 

If you have any questions, please email Mrs Rees. 

Miss Georgia Dunstan, Primary Dance and Drama Specialist Teacher and Mrs Rebecca Rees, Primary Music Specialist Teacher

Performing Arts Team

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Class Swimming:

Thank you to all those parents/grandparents/carers who have been coming to the pool each week to assist with swimming for Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 Classes.  Your assistance is really appreciated and makes such a difference to the students.

Can all parents please check that UNIFORMS and SWIMMING GEAR is named. Some classes waste considerable time each week during lessons sorting out the missing shirt, lost shorts and left behind swimming gear.  Naming it makes this much easier and quicker, not to mention fewer losses for you and your students. 

Please ensure that your child has everything they need for our swimming lessons, to save us precious time.

• Swimming Cap
• Sunsafe Shirt – students cannot swim without something covering their shoulders – a rashie/sunshirt or T-shirt. The only exception to this is the swim suits which have built in long or short sleeves.
• Goggles – while these are not compulsory – many students are more comfortable wearing them, if your students wishes to wear these please make sure they have their own. While there are some spares at the pool a lot of time can be wasted with the sheer volume of students borrowing goggles – it takes a lot of time and hands to adjust so many goggles, which inevitably is needed when they are borrowing our spares – if they have their own they will fit them without needing adjustment.

Students Unable to Swim due to illness – if your child is unable to swim on any particular week, please send a note to school with your child or email me at aawoo0@eq.edu.au

A special mention to all three Prep classes - they have been absolutely amazing in getting changed at the end of the lesson. We plan in 20 minutes and it only takes them 15 minutes. This is the same amount of time as some of the Year 1 and 2 classes. Keep it up, Well done!

Kilometre Club:

Students who are keen to prepare for Cross Country can participate in Kilometre Club. We meet on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings starting at 8:30am to 8.45am.

District Sport Trials:

Well done to the ESS swim team who participated in recent City District trials. As a team we came second overall in the C-class schools – a terrific effort.

A special congratulations to Sienna G who qualified for the City District team at the regional trials. Good luck and swim SUPER fast.

Good luck also for the trial list for AFL, Netball and Hockey – play well.

Mr Andrew Woodrick

HPE Teacher

Hi everyone,

My name is Mrs Alisha Pearson and I am your new Student Wellbeing Officer here at Enoggera State School.

I am a mum of 2, who loves the beach, shopping and camping with my family.

My home town is Launceston, Tasmania and I have worked in Tasmania, Byron Bay, Cairns and have now settled with my family in Brisbane. I have Diplomas in both Children Services and Community Service and I am half way through a Bachelor of Social Work.

As the Student Wellbeing Officer, I provide support across the whole school community, help to monitor school wellbeing, am an additional adult role model for students, and am involved in parent and community engagement.

Student wellbeing officers are inclusive of, and show respect for, everyone in the school community. All activities, programs and events provided are non-discriminatory and equally available to all students. Student involvement in any activities offered is voluntary.

I will be at Enoggera State School on: Tuesday 8am to 2pm and Friday 9am to 3pm. I can be contacted through the office or via my email below, or you will see me out and about in the playground.

Activities planned so far will be breakfast on Tuesday mornings from 8am and a disco on Friday at second break. Keep an eye out for more activities to come.

I look forward to meeting you all over the next few weeks.

Alisha Pearson

Student Wellbeing Officer

alisha.pearson@jabiru.org.au