2024, T4Wk8, Kilcoy State School Newsletter
26.11.2024
Acknowledgment of Country
This newsletter comes to you from Jinibara Land. In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples today. We are thankful to be able to work, learn and play on Jinibara land.
KSS Vision & Values
"We believe that all members of the Kilcoy State School community have the right to work, learn and play in a safe and inclusive environment."
Our STAR values are:
SAFETY - Taking Responsibility - Active Learning - Respect
Principal's welcome
Dear Parents and Carers
We now have three weeks of the school year left to complete and our plans for 2025 are well under way. Our staff have been working hard to ensure that the best mix of classes and teachers are available to support our students. As a smaller school, we will be starting the year with 11 classes, the same as this year, however we have had some growth in our enrolments this year which is exciting. We plan to share more specific class details with parents/guardians in Week 11, along with the distribution of the end of year Academic Report Cards.
While planning for next year is exciting, our current focus remains firmly on finishing this year well. Our students are demonstrating their understanding in assessment tasks and continuing to build their knowledge base from their current units of learning. Please support your child to have the greatest success by continuing to ensure they attend school every day and are getting a good amount of sleep. While it's natural to be a little nervous/excited, if your child has assessment concerns, please make contact with their teacher to discuss what supports are available.
At our recent P&C Meetings, robust discussion has centred around two possible ideas, both supported by the P&C meeting attendees. The first being an increased number of parents requesting that Kilcoy State School host an OSHC (Outside School Hours Care) service due to a lack of access/choice in the Kilcoy community, and the second being the removal of the white formal shirt from our current uniform, using it instead as a form of recognising our student leadership in future years. Details for both surveys are below.
Survey #1 - OSHC - Further details of the survey attached below. This survey will be sent home in paper form, this week, with all students. Parents with interest in accessing an OSHC should return the form by 6/12/24 at 2pm.
Survey #2 - Adjusting the uniform policy to remove the formal white shirt.
It has been made clear to the school, that with respect to the financial capacity of many families, it is not always viable to purchase and maintain a white formal shirt as well as the green and gold uniform of our school. While it has traditionally been part of the Kilcoy State School uniform, it appears that our community priority is moving towards every family simply being able to afford a set of quality green and gold uniforms. At the core, we believe it is important to maintain a fresh and clean uniform that is easily identifiable as a school, developing pride as a group. This change in uniform would align our school with surrounding primary schools. Students would still be invited to wear their house shirts on Fridays, as has been the well-received tradition for many years. We invite your feedback on this in the following survey by the 6/12/24 at 12pm:
Upcoming events
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Spotlight on Attendance
Our whole school current attendance rate is 90.23%
All year levels who increased their attendance rate are shown in blue. Great work!
Prep: 90.35%
Year 1: 88.76%
Year 2: 91.09%
Year 3: 90.73%
Year 4: 89.38%
Year 5: 90.56%
Year 6: 90.77%
If your child will be absent, please make sure you call the absence line on (07) 5422 3366 to let us know why they are away so that it can be recorded accurately.
Our goal is for every child to be in attendance, every day.
Lisa Webster - Deputy Principal
Grandparent's and Special Friend's Day.
Last week, our school was filled with laughter, stories, and warm embraces as we celebrated Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day! This special occasion was a heartwarming reminder of the love, wisdom, and guidance that grandparents bring into our lives.
From the moment they arrived, our wonderful guests were greeted with big smiles from their grandchildren. The afternoon was filled with fun activities with the grandparents and special friends where generations worked together to create keepsakes.
Thank you very much for taking the time to come and visit. Enjoy the gallery below as evidence of the joy of the afternoon. Thank you to those wonderful grandparents who 'adopted' other children for the afternoon.
Grandparents and Special Friends
Interhouse Swimming Carnival.
Mackenzie House and Somerset House battled it out in the swimming pool recently. Staff were proud of the fierce rivalry and wonderful sportsmanship shown on the day. both days were hot and exhausting. I would like to thank Mrs Jo Smith for leading the staff, who put in a tremendous effort to ensure the success of these carnivals. Thank you to the parents/carers who came to cheer and support their children.
Congratulations to Mackenzie House on the win! It was tight. Enjoy the photo gallery below.
Junior Interhouse Swimming Carnival
Senior Interhouse Swimming Carnival
P&C News
Hello Families,
Our final P&C meeting for the year will be held on Monday 2/12/24 at 3.30pm in the Resource Centre (Library). We hope to see you there.
- KSS P&C Committee
Exciting Filipino Cultural Project launches at Kilcoy State School
We are thrilled to announce the commencement of a special cultural project celebrating the Filipino community within our school. Commissioned by our principal, Mrs Nash, this collaborative initiative aims to create an inspiring art installation and informational notice board that will showcase the rich culture of Filipino students and foster an environment where students can feel pride in their heritage and share it with others.
Central to the project is Queenie Castro, one of our talented Year 6 students, whose vision for the design will be guided by a team of supporters, Mrs. Karen Burton, Mrs. Glezel Ladroma and Mrs. Sheila Maratas. Together, we are working to craft a design that reflects inclusiveness, cultural pride, and community acceptance—hallmarks of the Filipino spirit.
This exciting project is set to span into 2025 and will be constructed collaboratively by Filipino students at the school, with input from parents and families. We warmly invite all members of our Filipino community to contribute their ideas, stories, and creative skills to make this project a true reflection of our shared values and heritage.
Stay tuned for updates as the project progresses, and thank you for your support in celebrating the vibrant diversity of our school community!
- Mrs Karen Burton, English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D) teacher
Nakatutuwang Filipino Cultural Project inilunsad sa Kilcoy State School
Kami ay nasasabik na ipahayag ang pagsisimula ng isang espesyal na proyektong pangkultura na nagdiriwang sa pamayanang Pilipino sa loob ng aming paaralan. Inatasan ng aming punong-guro, si Mrs Nash, ang collaborative initiative na ito ay naglalayon na lumikha ng isang inspiring art installation at informational notice board na magpapakita ng mayamang kultura ng mga Pilipinong estudyante at magpapaunlad ng kapaligiran kung saan ang mga mag-aaral ay maaaring makaramdam ng pagmamalaki sa kanilang pamana at ibahagi ito sa iba.
Ang sentro ng proyekto ay si Queenie Castro, isa sa aming mahuhusay na mag-aaral sa Year 6, na ang pananaw para sa disenyo ay gagabayan ng isang pangkat ng mga tagasuporta, sina Gng. Karen Burton, Gng. Glezel Ladroma at Gng. Sheila Maratas. Sama-sama, nagsusumikap kaming gumawa ng disenyo na nagpapakita ng pagiging inklusibo, pagmamalaki sa kultura, at pagtanggap ng komunidad—mga tanda ng diwang Pilipino.
Ang kapana-panabik na proyektong ito ay nakatakdang umabot sa 2025 at magkakatuwang na itatayo ng mga Pilipinong mag-aaral sa paaralan, na may input mula sa mga magulang at pamilya. Malugod naming inaanyayahan ang lahat ng miyembro ng ating Filipino community na mag-ambag ng kanilang mga ideya, kwento, at malikhaing kakayahan upang gawing tunay na repleksyon ang proyektong ito ng ating mga pinahahalagahan at pamana.
Manatiling nakatutok para sa mga update habang umuusad ang proyekto, at salamat sa iyong suporta sa pagdiriwang ng masiglang pagkakaiba-iba ng komunidad ng ating paaralan!
- Mrs Karen Burton, English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D) teacher
Support Teacher, Literacy & Numeracy
Why is it important to know about Indigenous language? - a follow on from the previous newsletter.
Since starting at Kilcoy State School, I’ve come to learn about the deep connection this region holds with the Jinibara people, the Traditional Owners of the land. As someone with a particular interest in language and its origins, I have been reading about how Indigenous language was significantly impacted by colonization. However, documentation efforts, such as recordings made in the mid-20th century by Willie MacKenzie (Gaiarbau), a Jinibara elder, played a significant role in preserving and understanding Indigenous language and cultural knowledge of the Jinibara people in the Kilcoy region.
Some significant vocabulary that has been preserved includes:
- Jini – “Lawyer vine” (a plant native to the area, symbolizing the Jinibara people’s connection to their land).
- Bara – “People,” forming the basis of the name Jinibara (“People of the lawyer vine”).
- Dundalli – Name of a historical Jinibara leader, often remembered in local narratives.
- Birral – Meaning “river” or “stream,” emphasizing the cultural and environmental significance of waterways.
Learning about indigenous language fosters inclusivity and helps us strengthen our connection as a school community. It’s an opportunity for everyone—students, teachers, and families—to appreciate the rich history and knowledge of the Jinibara people. By showing interest, we help preserve and pass on this heritage for future generations, ensuring it is never forgotten.
Image below: The Jinibara people take their name from this plant. Jini - Laywer Vine and bara - people. They are the people of the Jini or Lawyer Vine.
Inclusion Support
Supporting Students Through Their Transition: Preparing for the Next School Year
As we approach the end of the school year it is important to acknowledge that transitioning into the next grade or new academic environment can bring a mix of excitement and uncertainty. Whether it’s moving up to the next grade level or changing schools, these changes can feel overwhelming for some students.
Over the past few weeks, I have begun planning for the students I support to help them navigate these emotions and prepare for what is coming in the new school year. One of the most effective ways I ensure that students are ready for these transitions is by encouraging open, supportive conversations about their feelings and the changes they can expect.
If you would like additional support for your child’s transition, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m here to help guide them through this process and provide any resources or assistance they may need.
-Mrs Harriet McVeigh
Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL)
Our Term 4 focus is: Respect
In the last column below, you can see what our school-wide positive behaviour expectations are for students, in order for them to be 'Respectful'. Each week, our students have lessons explictily teaching them what it means to show respect at our school. We believe these lessons are universally important and will contribute to our students being well-prepared for life as a respect citizen.
Community News
Thank you for taking the time to engage in your child's school life further by reading this newsletter. We appreciate you staying informed. If you have any newsletter suggestions, please email them to admin@kilcoyss.eq.edu.au.
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