2025 Term 1 Week 8

Welcome to Week 8

Dear parents, caregivers, students, staff and our wider communities.

eNews

We are so excited to bring you our new eNewsletter this week, and hope you enjoy the extra space we now have to share images with you. If you're reading this in hard copy and would like to be added to the electronic newsletter list, please let the office know.

This is the first of a number of updates we'll be making over the semester. Please, let us know what you think!

NAPLAN

As we move further into Term 1, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the hard work and dedication our students have shown, particularly in completing their NAPLAN tests. The tests indicate to the school what work we need to focus on, as well as being an opportunity for students to demonstrate their learning. I am incredibly proud of the way they approached each test with determination and resilience. Well done to all who participated and gave their best effort!

Please note, the test window is about to close - Monday 24 March 2025 is the last day for catch up tests to be taken. 

P&C AGM

I also want to remind families about the upcoming P&C Annual General Meeting. Our P&C plays a vital role in supporting the school, and this is a great opportunity for parents and community members to get involved. Your input and ideas help shape the future of our school, and I encourage you to come along and be part of the conversation. The meeting will be at 4:30 PM Thursday 27 March 2025 in the school library.

Manners

This week, I would like to highlight the importance of manners. A simple “please,” “thank you,” or “excuse me” can go a long way in creating a respectful and positive school environment. Good manners reflect kindness and consideration, and I encourage all students to continue demonstrating these values in their interactions with teachers, peers, and the wider community.  In class, students have been practicing using manners when entering classrooms. The expected routine is: 

1. Three firm knocks on the door
2. "Excuse me, can I please ….
3. “Thank you”

We are so lucky to have a school community that values keeping our school clean. There is very rarely any need to remind students to pick up litter. Students sitting under the Secondary steps have, however, needed reminding that they must put their rubbish in the bin, not down the drain. 

Finally, I want to acknowledge the outstanding behaviour and enthusiasm of our students who have recently attended school camps and excursions. The way they represented our school with responsibility and respect made me incredibly proud. These experiences provide valuable learning opportunities beyond the classroom, and it’s wonderful to see our students embracing them so positively.

Thank you for your continued support. Let’s keep up the great work as we approach the final weeks of term!

Health & Wellbeing

Weekly Wellbeing Focus

Our 2025 approach to student learning and wellbeing across the whole school is well underway, as set out in our new school diaries. Designed to build on students’ individual strengths to optimise learning and wellbeing, the program is organised around the five domains of body, relationship, stamina, engagement and character.

So far, we've been exploring Domain 1: Body to optimise students’ learning and wellbeing. In Weeks 7 and 8, students across the school have been learning to recognise and regulate their reactions to stress so that they can keep themselves creative, focused, motivated and ‘in the flow’.

If you would like further information, school diaries outline the schedule of topics and activities that will be completed throughout the year.

Wallumbilla's School Based Youth Health Nurse

Hello everyone! 

This term at Wallumbilla State School I am providing a health education lesson to each high school cohort alongside the teaching staff. Each session has been designed to complement the learning from Health and Physical Education units and aligns with the curriculum. The focus for the Year 7s and 8s has been discussing adolescence and the changes they may experience, and the Year 9s and 10s have been looking at health campaigns (directly related to their assessment).

If you have any questions or concerns about this, please contact me or the school directly.

As the year continues, the health education that students receive will be directed by both the curriculum and school staff. If you or your young person have any health-related concerns, or topics you would like discussed, please get in touch. 

You can email me directly: emma.Thompson5@health.qld.gov.au or text me on    0429 894 466. Make sure you add your name and your date of birth (DOB), so I know who to get back to. Please note, this email address and phone are monitored by other Queensland Health staff and are only monitored during school terms.

School Based Youth Health Nurse, Emma

Weekly Awards

Students of the Week in Week 7

Week 7 Reading Awards

Students of the Week in Week 8

Week 8 Reading Awards

Curriculum Corner

Year 5/6 Science Experiments

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Primary News

What's been happening in Primary? 

Out and about...

Year 1/2 Science Excursion to Columboola

On Tuesday 18 March 2025, Year 1/2 students and adults excitedly rode the bus to Columboola Environmental Educational Centre. At Columboola students enjoyed catching yabbies from their habitat using string, meat and a scoop. Students had to be patient and also quick. After catching many different sized yabbies, we took one yabby plus some other small animals found in the wet habitat to a microscope. It was very interesting inspecting the external features of these animals and how they are suitable for the environment they live in.

We then got creative using recycled materials to make an animal that lives in a wet habitat. Afterwards, we bravely sat in a circle and had a close encounter with a Woma Python and a Blue Tongue lizard. Students were able to ask many questions and have a pat of the reptiles.

Students had a quick bite to eat before boarding the bus for a very quiet trip back to school.

Thanks to the Columboola Environmental Educational Centre staff for a fascinating excursion.

Year 7s and 8s at Camp Fairbairn

Year 7 and 8s have been having an amazing time at Camp Fairbairn this week. Situated on the foreshore of Fairbairn Dam, 25km south of Emerald in the Central Highlands, students are enjoying the varied bushland and the water environment of Lake Maraboon. They have been canoeing, traversing the high ropes, catapulting... and have really stepped up in their cleaning and cooking duties too. We are very proud of their incredible participation in all of the activities as they learn about building success through teamwork and challenge. 

Sports Report

Representative Sport

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

• Toby W for making it into the SW Rugby League Team. He will compete at the State Championships in Gladstone next term.
• Thomas W for making it into the R&D Rugby League Team.

Well done to these students!

Important upcoming trials and events:

• Mitchell TRYathlon – Friday 4 April 2025 (nominations due 24 March)
• R&D 10-12 Tennis Trials – Wednesday 19 March 2025 – Roma

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

Cross County

Students are busy preparing for the Week 10 Cross Country. Who will take the title in 2025?

Arts & Cultural Activity

Book Fair: 26 - 30 May 2025

Music

Instrumental Music lessons are sounding fabulous. Keep up the great work students and remember... you don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.

Student Council Notices

Congratulations to the 2025 Student Council team!

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Student Council's first event: Lots of Socks

World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), 21 March, is a global awareness day that has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012. 

The aim of the ‘Lots of Socks’ campaign is to raise awareness of Down syndrome among the community, as well as raise funds for Down Syndrome Australia. The idea behind the ‘Lots of Socks’ initiative is acceptance of all our differences, and what makes us unique as an individual.

Socks come in all shapes, sizes, and designs, just like each of us.

Parents & Citizens News

AGM 4:30 PM on on Thursday 27 March 2025 in the school library

The Wallumbilla P&C invites family and community members to attend our Annual General Meeting (AGM), followed by a General Meeting, starting at: 4:30 PM on on Thursday 27 March 2025 in the school library.

The Wallumbilla P&C Association exists to create a better future for our community's children. It's about all of us working together, advocating for the best interests of our children, promoting parent and community engagement, and supporting our school in every way possible.

We also want to make sure that every parent's voice is heard. Whether you've been involved in P&Cs for years or are just starting your journey, your perspectives and ideas matter.

Please come along to our next meeting. We're here to listen and create a space where your concerns, suggestions, and dreams for our children's education are valued and considered.

Tuckshop Menu & Helpers

Community Noticeboard