2025 Term 2 Week 10
1. Welcome to Week 10
Principal's Message
As Term 2 draws to a close, I’d like to thank our students, staff, and families for a fantastic term filled with learning, growth, and community spirit. From frosty mornings to Athletics Day and Under 8s celebrations, it’s wonderful to see our school come together in so many ways.
A special shout-out to our Year 10 students who’ve been out on Work Experience this week—what a great opportunity to explore future pathways. We look forward to hearing all about your experiences next term.
As we head into the holidays, I encourage everyone to enjoy a well-earned break and stay safe, especially with June being National Burns Awareness Month. Please take care around heaters, campfires, and with hot drinks. You can find helpful safety tips at Kidsafe.
I’ll be handing the reins back to Mrs Graham as she returns from leave next term. It’s been a pleasure serving as Acting Principal, and I thank you all for your support during this time.
To the parents and community members, thank you for being the backbone of this fantastic school. Your pride and passion for Wallumbilla State School is something that everyone should be proud of. Thank you for always putting Wallumbilla at the forefront of everything that happens in the community.
To the staff, thank you for showing up every day with the drive and passion to improve the educational outcomes of every student in the school. Your willingness to strive and uncover the potential of all learners has made me immensely proud this term. During my classroom walkthroughs, it was evident that through high quality teaching and learning to all our students we are developing a school of proficient readers.
To the students, your attitudes towards learning and striving for success is something that should be celebrated. Thank you for letting me join you in class and be part of your learning journey. At lunchtime, when you invited me to join in your games or said hello in passing has made me feel really special and valued and I will miss everyone of you.
Thanks again for welcoming me into your school community and I hope that I will have the chance to back in the future.
Have a restful and safe holiday break.
Ben Meiklejohn – Acting Principal
2. Curriculum Corner
Primary Snapshot
Visual Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
In Prep this week, the students finished up their learning about families. They have been working through a booklet drawing pictures of different members of their families and writing sentences about them.
The Year 1/2 Class has been looking at the Past and Present. They have learned about how life has changed over time - including clothing, jobs, school, and technology.
The Year 3/4 class has taken a creative stand against pollution through Visual Arts! As part of their assessment, students explored the picture book 'Lester and Clyde' by James Herbert Reece and used its illustrations as inspiration for their own sculptural artworks. Each student selected a scene from the text to represent, creating their sculptures entirely from ‘found objects’—in other words, recycled rubbish. Through this process, students not only expressed their artistic skills but also reflected deeply on the harmful impact pollution has on our natural environment.
The Year 5/6 Class has been learning all about the Goldrush. They have done some amazing reading of some quite tricky texts, and have used the "It Says, I Say, And So" template to help them answer tricky inferential questions.
Secondary Snapshot
Year 7/8 French Cooking
As a celebration and acknowledgement of their participation and achievements in French this semester,
students prepared and enjoyed cooking two French recipes. Both the ham and cheese croissants and strawberry and Nutella French toast roll ups were a hit!
Well done to everyone and thanks to Miss Dawes for your cooking assistance.
Bonne vacances,
Madame Dickson
3. Health & Wellbeing Matters
School Based Youth Health Nurse News
National Burns Awareness Month
As we head into the June holidays, it's important to stay safe while enjoying time with family and friends. June is National Burns Awareness Month, so please take extra care around heaters, campfires, and hot drinks. Remember, burns are a major cause of injury for Australians. Burn injuries can have a long-term impact on patients, not just physically, but also mentally.
Home Burns Safety Checklist
Weekly Wellbeing Focus
As part of our Health and Wellbeing Program, each week in 2025 we have a school focus that is designed to optimise students’ learning and wellbeing. Our school diaries aren't just an important tool for communication and organisation, they also set out our weekly wellbeing focus in an age-appropriate way.
Each term we are using our diaries to explore the Berry Street Education Model wellbeing domains. In Term 1 our emphasis was on recognising and regulating stress responses in the body. In Term 2 our focus is one the importance of relationships to our wellbeing.
Term 1: 'Body'
In Term 1 our emphasis was on recognising and regulating stress responses in the body. Students explored how to maintain creativity, focus and motivation, and to stay "in the flow" during their learning.
Term 2: 'Relationship', 'Body' and 'Stamina'
We started Term 2 by exploring relationships - developing positive, respectful relationships with peers, teachers, and the wider school community. By focusing on strategies to build trust, empathy, and effective communication, we aim to strengthen students' social-emotional skills and enhance their ability to collaborate and thrive in a supportive learning environment.
By the middle of the term, it was time to revisit the 'Body' domain by updating our 'Ready to Learn Plans' and adding some 'Mindfulness' strategies. At the end of a big Semester 1, we began to investigate the 'Stamina' domain!
Term 3: 'Stamina', 'Body', and 'Engagement'
Term 3 will be all about building Stamina and Engagement. We'll revisit the Body domain along the way with a focus on tools for both relaxation and regulation.
Not sure what week it is or what the topic's all about?
Go to today's date in the school diary to find out!
This fortnight's topics...
Week 9 Stamina | Turning down the volume | One way to build stamina is to 'turn down the volume' on our emotions. |
Week 10 Stamina | Stamina thermometer | Tracking improvements in our learning stamina helps keep us motivated. |
Term 3 Weekly Topics
| Week 1 | S07 | Resilience | What does the phrase 'FAILure is the First Attempt In Learning' mean to you? |
| Week 2 | S08 | Letting go of negative thoughts | Use the power of positive thinking. |
| Week 3 | B15 | Mandalas | Tools for relaxation not just de-escalation. |
| Week 4 | B16 | Escalation/de-escalation | Knowing when to energise and when to relax. |
| Week 5 | E01 | Positive emotions | Using positive emotions to be engaged. |
| Week 6 | E02 | Flow | In the flow - finding challenges that are just right. |
| Week 7 | E03 | Savouring | Make the time to enjoy what's working! |
| Week 8 | E04 | Movement and rhythm for learning | Positive primers and brain breaks are great regulation strategies. |
| Week 9 | B17 | Present. Centred. Grounded. | There's a reason why it's called the 'present'. |
| Week 10 | B18 | Ready to Learn strategies (revision/additions) | Make sure plans stay relevant. |
4. Awards
Students of the Week in Week 9
Week 9 Reading Awards
Attendance Trophy
Class Attendance Award
The Year 1 and 2 students have finished the term with a bang! We finally secured the attendance trophy as students have worked very hard to be here each day to maximise their learning. Students are very excited to have earned 1,500 Dojos and can celebrate this achievement with a movie, hot chocolate and a morning of Show and Share. Thank you for a great Term Year 1 and 2.
Premier's Reading Challenge Progress
5. Wallumbilla School Community
6. Student Council Notices
Get Ready for Crazy Hair Day – This Friday!
The Student Council is thrilled to announce Crazy Hair Day is happening this Friday! It's time to let your creativity run wild – spike it, spray it, colour it, or twist it into something totally wacky. The crazier, the better!
This fun-filled day is not just about outrageous hairstyles – it’s also a gold coin donation fundraiser to support the fantastic work of our Student Council. Every dollar raised will go towards student-led initiatives and events that make our school community even better.
So, bring your gold coin, bring your wildest hair ideas, and get ready to turn heads. Let’s make it a day to remember!
When: Friday, 27 June 2025
What to bring: A gold coin donation and your craziest hairdo
Why: To support the Student Council and have a blast!
Thanks for your support – we can’t wait to see your hair-raising creations!
7. Arts & Cultural Activity
Premier's Reading Challenge
Students are busily reading and recording for our Premier's Reading Challenge. Those participating enjoyed a hot Milo and marshmallow toady. A reminder that students have until August to complete the reading challenge.
Happy Reading!
Mrs Dickson
8. Sports Report
Congratulations
Congratulations to the following students for competing and being selected in representative school sport recently:
- Congratulations to Lauren H and Charleigh F for competing at the South West Rugby League Trials in Chinchilla this week. Both girls have been selected for the SW team, to compete in Townsville next term.
- Congratulations to the 39 students from years 4-10 who have been selected to represent WSS at the R&D Athletics Carnival next term.
Well done to these students!
Athletics Day Wrap-Up – A Close Finish!
Last Friday 20 June, our school came alive with energy, colour, and team spirit for our annual Athletics Day – and what a day it was!
From sprints to relays, long jump to ball games, students gave it their all in every event. The competition was fierce, the cheering was loud, and the sportsmanship on display was something to be proud of.
In the end, it was an extremely tight race, but Bendemere just edged out Maranoa to take home the Athletics Day shield. Congratulations to Bendemere for their outstanding effort – and a huge well done to all students who participated and supported their houses with such enthusiasm.
A big thank you to our staff, volunteers, and families who helped make the day run smoothly. We’re already looking forward to next year!
9. Parents & Citizens News
Tuckshop Helpers needed
The P&C is also in need of helpers on a Thursday. Without a helper it's not possible to offer the full menu - so please, if you have the time, come along and give Petrina a hand.
10. Community Noticeboard
DON’T FORGET PET REGISTRATION
Registration renewals are due by Monday, 30 June 2023.
A secure online payment portal is available allowing registration payments to be made with a credit card. Visit Council's website www.maranoa.qld.gov.au and click the 'Make a Payment' tab.
Other options include:
- Online via BPay
- By phone – call 1300 007 662
- By mail – PO Box 620, Roma Qld 4455
- By visiting a Council Customer Service Centre
If you have not received a renewal notice by Friday, 13 June, please contact Council’s Community Safety Team on 1300 007 662.
Please note that failing to register your dog or cat may result in a fine being issued.
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