Term 3 Week 6 -

1. Welcome to Week 6

Hello everyone,

I am excited to be back at Wallumbilla this term. It is great to see all the smiling and excited faces around the school.

Last week was National Science Week and it was great seeing students having the opportunity to spend some time in the Science Lab of a lunch time looking at the microscopes and being immersed in science. Thanks, Mr Moore for sharing your love of science with the students.

This week, we have book week. I am excited to see everyone’s book week costumes on Friday at our Book Week Parade. Some of the students have loved going to the library with week and being read to by Mrs Dickson and Mrs Dorrstein. Thank you, Mrs Dickson and Mrs Dorrstein, for spending time reading to our students and fostering a love of lifelong learning.

As we head through the last part of winter and look forward to spring, staff have been vigilante around health and safety. We have noticed a number of students have been sharing food which poses a health risk with the spread of germs. On Friday last week, the school started a new lunch sharing policy. Students at Wallumbilla are not to share food with others, unless a parent has provided writing consent to share food for that day. Students will still have opportunities for sharing food at events like end of term rewards.

Just a quick reminder for students who catch the bus, you need to please notify the staff on bus duty if they are not travelling home on the bus. We have had a number of afternoons where staff have been looking for students that haven’t told the staff they are not on the bus

I look forward to seeing everyone around the school and continuing the amazing learning that is happening every day.

2. Curriculum Corner

Primary Snapshot 

Kindy/Prep

Last Thursday, the school had an evacuation drill.  The K/P class were unaware this was going to happen and quickly stopped what they were doing and followed instructions when they heard the siren.  All class members walked safely onto the oval and had their name marked off the roll.  Well done K/P class!

Year 1/2 

Year 1 and 2 students went on a science field walk around the Wallumbilla community. They took photos using their iPads of natural, constructed and managed features of the landscape. Students demonstrated the values of Wallumbilla State School the whole time and enjoyed exploring some of the features. We also had a bit of fun posing for photos along the walk.

Year 3/4 

In Year 3/4 this week, we have been exploring heat energy in Science. Our focus has been an investigation into how different amounts of ice affect the temperature of hot water. Using thermometers, we carefully measured the temperature changes, recorded our observations, and then represented our data in a bar graph to clearly show the results and patterns.

Year 5/6 

Our Year 5/6 students have been working incredibly hard this week! In English, we’ve been diving into persuasive texts. After co-constructing paragraphs as a class, students are now confidently beginning to write their own. With the help of their persuasive writing checklist and TEEEL structure bookmark, they’re developing strong arguments and creative ideas.

Junior Secondary Snapshots 

Our high school maths classrooms are developing into engaging learning spaces with the introduction of learning walls. These walls showcase key concepts and strategies to support students across all year levels.

In Years 7 and 8, the learning walls are being built up with important examples, notes, and strategies to guide students through their current topics. For Years 9 and 10, students have taken it a step further by creating their own posters to display, focusing on areas such as Pythagoras’ Theorem and trigonometric ratios.

ADF Careers Presentation 

🎖️ ADF Careers Visit – Supporting Our Students’ Futures!

We were excited to welcome representatives from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Careers Team to our school!

They were here to talk with students about the wide range of career pathways available in the ADF — from engineering, trades, health and IT to leadership, aviation, and more. Whether students are interested in full-time roles, gap year experiences, or part-time service, the ADF offers something for everyone.

This was a fantastic opportunity for our students to explore career options, ask questions, and gain insight into a future filled with challenge, purpose, and possibility.

3. National Science Week – “Decoding the Universe”

Last Thursday, as part of National Science Week, our Year 5 and 6 students joined with the Year 5 and 6 students from Yuleba State School to take part in an exciting day of science activities run by STEM Punks.

This year’s theme, “Decoding the Universe,” encouraged students to think like scientists and explore the hidden patterns, codes, and systems that shape the world around us. Throughout the day, students engaged in hands-on activities that inspired innovation, teamwork, and creative problem-solving.

Students had the opportunity to:

• Explore Space Resource Extraction Concepts – learning about asteroid mining, lunar ice extraction, and Martian regolith processing.
• Develop Technical Skills – using SMART Sensor Boards to analyse space-like conditions and share data through an IoT dashboard.
• Encourage Innovation – coding an autonomous Lunar Rover to navigate planetary surfaces using AI and machine learning tools.
• Inspire Future STEM Careers – combining hands-on STEM learning with insights into real-world space exploration careers.
  
  

The event was run by STEM Punks and proudly sponsored by Santos, MPK, and Origin Energy, and we thank them for supporting our students’ curiosity and love of learning in science.

4. Health & Wellbeing Matters

School Based Youth Health Nurse News

The SBYHN service is available to all secondary students in state schools and supports social and emotional wellbeing. Wallumbilla's SBYHN, Emma, is a Registered Nurse employed by Queensland Health and provides whole of school health promotion, classroom education and individual student consultations that are confidential and voluntary within school hours. Students can self-refer, be referred by peers, school staff and parents. She can also provide resources and education to parents as requested.

If you have concerns or feel there is an issue within schools that requires attention, please let school staff or Emma know. Emma visits Wallumbilla every two weeks during the school term. Don’t hesitate to contact her if you have any questions or concerns.

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 3: 'Stamina', 'Body', and 'Engagement'

In Term 3, we begin by building Stamina through resilience—exploring what it means to learn from setbacks and how to reframe failure as a natural part of growth. Students reflect on the idea that “FAILure is the First Attempt In Learning” and practise letting go of negative thoughts by harnessing the power of positive thinking.

As the term progresses, we will revisit the Body domain with a focus on tools for both relaxation and regulation. Students experiment with using mandalas as calming tools, learn to recognise signs of escalation and de-escalation, and explore how movement, rhythm, and mindfulness support their learning and wellbeing.

In the second half of the term, we shift into the Engagement domain—highlighting how positive emotions help students stay engaged and find their flow. They will practise savouring what’s going well, seeking out “just right” challenges, and using strategies like brain breaks to stay present, centred, and grounded.

We finish the term by revising and updating our Ready to Learn strategies, making sure each student’s plan continues to support their growth and readiness for the final term of the year.

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!

Term 3 Weekly Topics

Overview of Nurse Navigator – Rural Generalist Service

• Full time Clinical Nurse Consultant position based in Roma. This position covers the Roma, Injune, Wallumbilla, Surat and Mitchell areas.
• The purpose of the Nurse Navigator service is to assist clients with complex healthcare needs through what has become an increasingly complex health system.
• This can be through the GP, community, or primary healthcare setting, through local or tertiary inpatient or outpatient services.
• The Nurse Navigator works across multiple specialties and acts as a central point of contact for all stakeholders.
• The Nurse Navigator role is underpinned by four key principles which are: coordinating patient centred care, creating partnerships, improving patient outcomes, facilitating systems improvement.
• A patient can self-refer to the Nurse Navigator or be referred by any healthcare provider.
• Please contact swhhs-nurse-navigator@health.qld.gov.au for any questions regarding Nurse Navigation.

5. Awards & Celebrations

Students of the Week in Week 4

Week 4 Reading Awards

Students of the Week in Week 5

Week 5 Reading Awards

End of Term Class Celebration

As classes work toward achieving their whole class Dojo goal, they will be eligible to participate in the end of term class celebration.

These will occur in Week 10 of the Term, with more information sent home closer to the date. 

Book Week 18 – 22 August 2025

We are having a “Guess How Many Bookworms in the Jar?” competition running throughout Book Week.  K-10 students will all get a chance to have a guess of how many sour worms are in the jar.  Winner will be drawn at parade.

We are also encouraging students to come dressed in a costume related to the 2025 Book Week theme ‘Book an Adventure’, or in a dress up costume they like.

Book Week is a much-loved annual celebration of literature, imagination, and the joy of reading. This year’s theme, Book an Adventure, invites students, educators, and families across Queensland to explore the endless journeys that books can offer.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”
— Dr. Seuss

Let’s celebrate the power of books to inspire, educate, and transport us to new worlds. Happy Book Week!

6. Student Council Notices

7. Sports Report

Congratulations to the following students for competing and being selected in representative school sport recently:

• Good luck to Jorja T, Jordan J, Ryon B, Lauren H, Carter P, Lachie B, Ewan B and Lucy B who are competing at the Southwest trials in St George at the end of August.
• Congratulations to Carter P for representing Wallumbilla at the State Touch Football Championships last week in Roma.

Well done to these students!

Upcoming trials:

• SW Athletics trials – St George – 28^th to the 29^th of August

If you have not yet received information about these upcoming trials, please see Mr Macpherson or Ms Warren at school.

Afternoon School Netball 

Last week Miss Babarovich and Miss Duncan kicked off after-school netball for our high school students, running every Wednesday from 3:15–4:15pm. We had 9 students join for the first session, and numbers are already looking to grow this week.

Wallumbilla Swim Club 

The Wallumbilla Swim Club AGM will be held Wednesday 27th August at 3:15pm in the school library. All parents of current and future members are encouraged to attend to provide input on the upcoming season, including the logistics of Roma Swimming Club members participating in our club nights.  

Kind Regards Katie Frith 0437 777 822 

8. 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. 

9. Community Noticeboard

On behalf of Mayor Wendy Taylor, I am pleased to share with you the attached invitation and flyer for the upcoming official opening of The Wheat Shed to be held on Sunday 14 September 2025.

This landmark project represents a significant milestone for our community, and we would be delighted to have you join us in celebrating this special occasion in Wallumbilla.

We look forward to welcoming you to the event and sharing in the achievements that this project brings to our region.  Please RVSP to Janice.rees@maranoa.qld.gov.au or call 07 4629 9002 to confirm your attendance.

MARANOA REGIONAL COUNCIL COMMUNITY GRANTS

We’re pleased to let you know that Round 1 of Maranoa Regional Council’s 2025/26 Community Grants Program is now open.

Applications are open from 4 August to 26 September 2025.

This program offers financial assistance to support the important work of our community and not-for-profit groups.

Grant types available:

• Senex Small Grants: $500–$3,000
• Community Grants: $3,001–$10,000
• Major Grants: $10,001–$20,000

Categories include:
Community Development, Community Events, Culture and Heritage, Sport and Recreation, Environment, and Economic Development.

To apply, fill out a Major and Community Grants Application Form or Small Grants Application Form.

Please reach out if you require any assistance – happy to sit down with you and go through the application form.