19 February 2025

Principal’s Report

Yours in education,
Peter Davey
Principal

Student of the Week

TERM 1 WEEK 2

TERM 1 WEEK 3

Top Kurwongbah Staff

Date Claimers

Due Dates for Payments

Student Leaders 2025

Last Friday during Parade our 2025 Student Leaders were presented with their leadership badges by our special guests Moreton Bay Regional Councillor Jim Moloney.

Our Student Leaders for 2025:

Kurwongbah State School Tours

Chappy’s Big Breakfast – Friday 21st February

NAPLAN 2025

The 2025 NAPLAN testing dates are Wednesday 12^th March to Monday 24^th March.

NAPLAN is used by governments, education authorities and schools to determine whether young Australians are meeting important goals in literacy and numeracy.

Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 are expected to sit the NAPLAN tests, which are held in Term 1 each year.

NAPLAN gives a snapshot of how children are performing in reading, writing, spelling, punctuation, grammar, and numeracy. It complements other effective classroom assessment and reporting practices.

School Photos

School photos for 2025 have been scheduled for Wednesday 5^th and Thursday 6^th March. Information on class schedules and payments will be sent out closer to photo date.

Parade Presentations 2025

Whole school Parades are held each Friday morning from 8.55am in our school hall. Parents are most welcome to attend. During the year each class or year level will present a Parade Presentation.

Below are the 2025 Parade Presentations:

Evacuations and Lockdowns

During Term 1 the school will be involved in emergency evacuation and lockdown drills for all staff and students. An emergency evacuation drill is signalled by an intermittent “on” an “off” bell ringing for 1 minutes. On hearing the evacuation signal all staff, students and school visitors should walk to the assembly area on the oval. Students then sit in class groups adjacent to corresponding letters fixed to the fence on the oval. Rolls are checked and all students, staff and visitors on site must be accounted for. It is very important that any parents/volunteers that are working in the school sign the volunteer register at administration when entering and leaving the school.

A school lockdown drill is signalled by the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” of at least 1 minute. Lockdowns are used to isolate staff and students from an identified threat. These could include aggressive or violent intruder, dangerous animal, armed robbery or lightning/severe storm, chemical spill etc.  During a lockdown all buildings and windows are locked and lights turned off to reduce visibility into buildings from the outside. All class teachers have discussed procedures with students so that they know what to do should an emergency arise. Drills are conducted four times a year and are a mandatory requirement within Education Queensland.

Bell Times

Parents are reminded of the bell times.  If you are planning to collect your child during the break times, please ensure you contact the office to advise, so we can have your child waiting at the office.  We can’t otherwise guarantee to locate your child until they transition back to their classroom.

Student Safety

The safety of students and staff is very important. Members of the school community are asked to observe the following:

• Students are required to have their Kurwongbah school hats at school EVERY day and students must wear hats during both play breaks regardless of where they are playing
• Students who bring scooters to school must secure them in the bike area. Scooters are NOT to be stored in class areas
• Parents and carers are also asked to use the school crossings (Eacham Street and Eucumbene Drive) when bringing their children to and from school. This teaches our children the correct road safety rules. Thank you for your support with these safety precautions
• Parents and carers are permitted to photograph their own child at school events and activities but are requested to refrain from taking photos of other children or posting school material online (including Facebook)

Absences

State schools are required to notify parents on the same day any student is absent from school without explanation.  Rolls are marked at 8:50am and 2:10pm each day. An SMS message will be sent to any parent of a student with an unexplained absence by 11am.  Students who are not in their class at 8:50am will be marked absent and MUST collect a late slip from the office. Parents collecting their children early must sign them from the office before collecting from the classroom.

Absence Notification Process

Please remember to contact the school early in the morning if your child is going to be away or late for school so your child’s absence can be recorded correctly. The preferred method of reporting an absence is via the SMS number 0429 919 560. Otherwise, you can contact the school absence line on 3481 4366 or the main school admin line on 3481 4333.

Please be sure you indicate the following when reporting the absence:

• Name of child (especially if there is more than one child in your family)
• Absence reason – Please indicate if your child is sick or at an appointment etc. Indicating that your child is not coming to school, does not give a true reason for the absence
• Late Arrival – If your child will be late due to an appointment, please indicate an approximate time of arrival
• Dates of absences, if longer than 1 day

Contact Details

It is important that the school have the correct contact details.  This is especially important in emergency situations or if your child presents as unwell during the school day. If you have changed your mobile phone number, address or email address, complete the attached form and forward to the office.  Please be also aware if you have a change in emergency contacts. If parents are registered through QParents they are able to update details through this app.

Storm Warnings

If the weather forecast is indicating storms or we have heavy rain at 3.00pm, your child will be kept in class until your arrival at the classroom. Please do not panic when collecting your child as this can distress other students.

Mobile Phones Away for the Day 2025

Student Use of Mobile Devices

If students choose to bring their phone to school, they must switch it off and hand in at the office for safe keeping during school hours.  Phones should not be left in school-bags.

Smartwatches and other devices can be worn; however, notifications must be switched off.

This includes during lessons and break times, as well as during other school activities. 

Students not complying with this policy will be referred to school leadership and parents contacted.

Why is This Happening?

This approach is being implemented in all Queensland state schools to:

• Reduce distractions in the classroom
• Increase face-to-face interactions between students
• Promote student health and wellbeing
• Reduce the potential for student exposure to negative impacts of the digital world, such as cyberbullying

More Information

Guidelines and supporting documents have been developed in consultation with school leaders and key stakeholders.

Scan the QR code to visit the phones away for the day online hub, for parent/carer and student resources.

School Parking Programme

Moreton Bay Regional Council (MBRC) Local Laws Unit undertakes a School Parking Patrol Program where officers complete scheduled school patrols, both in the morning and afternoon, to ensure that vehicles are parked in a safe and lawful manner. The primary aim of the program is to ensure that students and family members/caregivers are able to safely move around the school area as part of dropping off or picking up students from the school.

The Moreton Bay Regional Council Local Law No.5 (Parking) 2011 and Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 control parking or stopping of vehicles on footpaths, bicycle paths, marked yellow lines, shared paths, dividing strips and nature strips, along with vehicles parking across resident’s driveways and within ‘No Stopping’, ‘No Parking’, and ‘Bus Zones’ and Pick-up / Drop -off zones. Council is legally required to enforce these areas and the School Parking Patrol Program forms part of this process. Drivers are reminded that footpaths and nature strips are in place to promote pedestrian movement in a safe manner along roadsides and that drivers and residents must not stop on a bicycle path, shared path, dividing strip or nature strip. Please also note that vehicles that are parked with two wheels up and two wheels down is not considered as a lawful parking practice.

Local Laws officers conduct enforcement through the issuance of Penalty Infringement Notices as part of each School Parking Patrol. Please be aware that Council officers may take photographic evidence of vehicles stopping or parking illegally with Penalty Infringement Notices to be issued via mail at a later date to the offending vehicle’s owner.

Visit www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/parking for further guidance on parking restrictions.

For any further information, members of the School community are welcome to contact Moreton Bay Regional Council on 3205 0555.

Eco-Marines News

The 2025 EcoMarines will be announced in the next few weeks and this year we have some exciting changes to our program. We are being more ambitious with the projects we are getting involved in and hoping to get the whole school community behind us.

We will be starting with our new ‘Container Drive in Week 5’. Each term the EcoMarines will be collecting containers to recycle in Week 5 to raise money for sustainability projects in our school. You will have received a white bag to collect them in.  Please can you fill with as many the 10c eligible containers as possible (even if it’s just a couple). The class that collects the most containers will earn a pizza party for the term. Please can you wash them out to help our lovely volunteer counters. We will also be running a sausage sizzle at Bunnings in Term 2 which we are busy planning with our wonderful P&C.

Keep an eye out for further EcoMarine news.

Kurwongbah Kids Playgroup

Inclusion News

New Process for Requesting Information for Therapists & Specialists

We would like to inform parents and caregivers about a new process for requesting information from the school for external therapists or specialists. If you require documentation, such as completion of questionnaires or letters for paediatricians or GPs, these must first go through the school office.

To streamline this process, a Request for Information form must be completed before any paperwork is provided. This form is available at the front office. Please note that the turnaround time for these requests can take up to 10 working days, so we ask that you plan accordingly.

Requests should not be directed to the classroom teacher. All paperwork must go through the office to ensure the appropriate processes are followed. Additionally, as per Education Queensland policy, staff are unable to complete questionnaires via an online link. If a request comes directly from a specialist, a Consent to Share Information form must be completed before any further action can be taken.

Once the necessary forms have been completed by the relevant teachers, they will be returned to you or your child. If you require this information to be sent directly to the specialist, a Consent to Share Information form must also be completed.

We appreciate your cooperation in following this process, as it ensures all requests are handled efficiently and in line with school policies. If you have any questions, please contact the school office.

Beth Kent
Acting Head of Special Education Services

STEM & Enrichment Education News

Makerspace Lunchtime Timetable

Design Technology

Year 5 students are creating a service for an edible plant as part of their Design Technology unit and assessment. Students will need to bring in a container or repurpose an item that they would like to plant their plant into for the assessment. Items can be brought to the Makerspace for collection. Milk containers, tubs, tins and plastic bottles are just a few ideas for this project.

Solid Pathways

Solid Pathways – STEM is a program specifically designed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in Years 4 – 6. The program’s objective is to support, nurture and encourage high achieving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to continue their academic success within STEM fields. Solid Pathways provides students with the opportunities they need to develop as problems solvers, critical and creative thinkers and provides them with the tools to harness a passion for change and innovation.

Coding and Robotics

Students are enjoying using their coding and problem-solving skills to solve the obstacle courses they create for their robot. Come and join in the fun at the Makerspace and test your skills!

Music News

Instrumental Music Notes

Please ensure all outstanding loan agreement and SRS forms are returned to the office as soon as possible. Your child can not take home a school instrument until these forms have been returned to the office.

Performance Uniforms

Students in all Instrumental Ensembles (except Year 3 Beginner Strings) and Choirs will start to be fitted over the coming weeks. Once all students have been fitted and payment has been finalised, your child will be able to take the uniform home (this will be towards the end of the Term 1).

Rehearsal Times

Below is the rehearsal timetable. Please note that Junior Band does not commence until Term 2.

Book Club News

How Book Club Helps Your Child’s School

Every time you place a Scholastic order, your School is being rewarded!  For example, for every Book Club order you place, Scholastic receives 20% of your total order spend to your school as Scholastic Rewards.  This allows the school to purchase books and resources for your child’s classroom and the library, helping students reach their highest potential.

How To Order

The Book Club LOOP platform for parents allows you to pay by credit card.  Your child’s order is submitted directly to school and the books will be delivered to your child’s class.  You can place your child’s order at http://scholastic.com.au/LOOP or using the LOOP app, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.

Cash orders can be handed into the library.  Simply fill out the order form on the back of the catalogue, place the form and the exact cash amount into an envelope or clip seal bag and drop off to the LIBRARY ONLY!

Julie Collins
Book Club Coordinator 

P&C News

Save the Date

Our Parents and Citizens Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 12^th March 2025 at 6:00pm in the Staff Room. This will be followed at 7:30pm by our March General Meeting. Come along and hear about what is happening in our school community.

Nominations are Open – President, Vice President, Treasurer & Secretary

Become a P&C Member

Our P&C association is a friendly group and the meetings are a good way of finding out what is happening at our school. Each year members work together to grow community spirit and work towards the benefit of all children at the school. Members may choose to volunteer in the classroom, library, tuckshop, uniform shop, at sporting events and organised activities/working bees. P&C membership also allows members to have a say in what should be done to help the school community, and how best to fundraise to work towards important goals throughout the year.

Drop your membership form into the school office or email it to: secretary@ksspca.qld.edu.au. Membership forms are also available at the Uniform Shop.

Tuckshop News

Start of Year Reminders

Tuckshop lunch orders can be made online through the QKR app prior to 8am on day of ordering, alternatively orders can be placed directly at our Tuckshop counter. Please ensure your students profile has the correct year and matching class, otherwise your orders will automatically be delivered to Prep A classroom (as the default class in our system) and delay your child receiving their order. Please make sure your child is aware if they have a Tuckshop order for that day, so they are delivered/collected on time. 

PLEASE NOTE: Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 orders are delivered to the classrooms via the esky system.

Year 3 to Year 6 students will need to collect orders from the Tuckshop counter.

Prep Ice Blocks/Frozen Treats

Our Prep students can order ice blocks however our Tuckshop staff will deliver these items to the classroom freezers. We are unable to accommodate slushy orders at this point in time. 

Ordering

The preferred method of ordering is online via the QKR app, as all details of in stock items are available.  We also accept over the phone orders and cash orders over the counter.

Cash

Tuckshop is once again accepting cash sales via the bag system and for over the counter items in break times.

Phone Orders

Parents can place a phone order, by phoning the tuckshop directly on 3481 4337 and paying by credit card.  Cut off for phone orders is 9:00am.

Online Ordering

Parents can order via the online QKR app.  Cut off for online ordering is 8:00am.  Please ensure you have your child’s correct class, so your child’s meal is prepared and ready in the correct collection place.

Allergies

We currently cater for many students with allergies.  If you have any concerns, please feel free to contact our team and we will be able to give you up to date information regarding our products.

Tuckshop Hours

Sandra
Tuckshop Convenors 
3481 4337
tuckshop@ksspca.qld.edu.au 

Uniform Shop

Uniform Fittings

If you need a uniform fitting, you do not need to arrange an appointment. Simply come to the Uniform Shop during opening times.

Qkr! Online orders are delivered to class during Uniform Shop hours.

School Backpacks

School backpacks are available for $50.  These backpacks are chiropractic approved and have a guarantee for the full time your child is at school. We have new stock arriving Monday 20^th February.

Second-hand Uniforms     

If you have uniforms that you no longer require, please bring them into the Uniform Shop. We urgently need all sizes.

You can either sell them through the shop or donate them.  If you can’t get into the Uniform Shop to drop off your second-hand uniforms you can leave them at the Office with Uniform Shop written on the bag. 

Ordering Through Uniform Shop    

Uniform Shop Hours

Thank you 
Michelle
3481 4338
uniformshop@ksspca.qld.edu.au 

Containers for Change

Community Notices

Pine Rivers Bears 2025 Season – Registration Open