2025, Term 1, Week 8, Kilcoy State School Newsletter
23.3.2025
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.
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
2025 Annual Improvement Plan
- AIP Focus area 1: The quality enactment of Version 9 of the Australian Curriculum, leading to measurable improvement in student academic achievement.
- AIP Focus area 2: The development of a school culture which underpins a rich, engaging and consistent learning environment, prioritising excellence in curriculum, teaching and learning, resulting in enhanced staff and student learning and wellbeing.
Principal's welcome
Dear Parents and Carers
We have now finalised our NAPLAN testing and I am pleased to report that 100% of students in attendance completed all tests. This is a pleasing result and will assist us to triangulate our school data to improve its effectiveness. Individual student reports will be sent home to parents later in the year, as they become available. Our students performed confidently, and I was very proud of their commitment to having a go. Their resilience and grit for new learning is increasing!
On Monday morning we will send off our Year 5/6 students to their three-night camp at Noosa North Shore. With a jam-packed schedule of activities, they will be sure to sleep well no matter how exciting it is! I hope the same is true for the staff who are willingly giving up their personal family time to provide our students with this wonderful opportunity. Thank you to Mr Ras, Mrs Corby, Mrs Vella and Mrs Webster for making sure our kids have an amazing time at camp.
In the next 10 weeks, work should start on our new accessible Oval Playground and semi Basketball court! Our staff and students are very excited, and we look forward to this new addition to our active play areas for middle to upper years students. Added to this, our new Sports Shed and new equipment, secured by our P&C through their successful 'Community Benefits Gambling Fund' grant application should commence building at the same time. This will provide our students with a boost, refreshing available equipment and helping play become more active and engaging.
Week 10 will be busy with school events, and we encourage you to join us where possible although we understand you may not be able to attend them all and that it perfectly normal. :) We will be sure to take many photos to share. Due to the number of events in Week 10, there will be no parade that week.
With the help of our School Food Program grant, we are now able to offer our Breakfast Club program three mornings a week. When we are able to get volunteer helpers, we will be able to include more foods and special breakfast mornings. If you are able to help make toast or cut fruit for about 30-45mins in the morning on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday from 8.15am, we would love your help. Even for part of that time. With an enrolment of 275 students, we are hopeful to have a few families able to help out now and then at drop off time.
*Please note that if your child was absent due to the Tropical Cyclone Alfred event, their absence will be noted accordingly as no-fault.
Our next newsletter will be distributed the weekend before the next term commences. Please enjoy a safe and happy holiday with your family and loved ones.
Kind regards, Mrs Belinda Nash.
Upcoming events
| Date of event | Brief event details/reminders |
| 24/3/25 | P&C Annual General Meeting (AGM) and General Meeting |
| 24/3-26/3, Wk9 | Year 5/6 Camp |
| 27/3, Wk9 | Open Classroom Learning Celebration |
| 2/4, Wk10 | Interhouse Cross Country |
| 3/4, Wk10 | P-2 Easter Hat Parade |
| 3/4, Wk10 | 3-6 Kilcoy's Got Talent |
| 4/4, Wk10 | Valley Champs Swimming |
Harmony Day at Kilcoy State School – A Big Success!
A huge thank you to all the students who rocked their orange outfits on Harmony Day! You helped spread the message of kindness, inclusion, and celebrating our differences in the best way possible. A special shoutout to our Year 5 and 6 speakers who absolutely nailed their morning Harmony Day message! They shared some great facts about Harmony Day, including that it’s been celebrated in Australia since 1999—that’s over 25 years of bringing people together! One of the highlights of the day was the incredible art displayed in the hall. Every student decorated a figure to represent themselves, showing how we are all different but still part of one big, connected community. Seeing all those unique creations side by side was a powerful reminder that we all belong. Check out some photos below and keep an eye out for even more in the next newsletter. Thanks again to everyone for making Harmony Day such a fantastic celebration!
More photos coming in the next newsletter!
P&C News
Hello Families,
Last reminder: Please join us for the 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Monday 24/3/25. We have a general meeting at 5.30pm and the AGM immediately after at 6pm. If you haven't been able to attend a previous meeting in time to sign up, the General meeting will be your last opportunity before the AGM. Members wishing to vote must have signed up at a General meeting BEFORE the AGM starts. :)
If you're interested in putting your name down for a position, please come along to the meeting. The more the merrier!
- KSS P&C Committee
Lisa Webster - Deputy Principal
5/6A Classroom Highlight
Students in years 5/6 have engaged with a variety of literary texts that support and extend students as independent readers. Texts include novels, short stories, poems and songs set in real-world and imagined settings. They discuss how literary devices, such as narrative structure, characterisation, rhetorical devices, imagery or figurative language, are used to enhance meaning and for effect.
It was a highlight of mine to see 5/6As responses to the song, 'The Greatest Showman' on their Learning Wall. Mr Rasmussen and the students are very grateful that I didn't launch into song! Learning Walls are present in all classrooms, and I encourage you to view your child's learning wall during the Open Classroom visit on Thursday 27th March. The Learning Wall is often referred to as the 3rd Teacher. After parents and the classroom teacher, the learning wall is a place students can go to see the learning intention and purpose, revise what they are learning about and see examples of what is required of them.
Enjoy the photos of students showing me their work on the Learning Wall.
-Mrs Lisa Webster.
Sports News
We had 46 students attend the Teeball Gala Day at Woodford last Friday. Despite the heat, it was a brilliant day. Our students received many compliments on their behaviour, manners and sportsmanship. We would like to offer a massive thank you to parents Lisa Weller and DJ Whitley, and staff members Miss Mac and Mr Mat for managing the teams as well as the other parents who came to support and cheer us on. Congratulations to all our students. We also had four "All Star" recipients - Paxton, Kaide, Erica and Sophia - well done!
-Mrs Joanne Smith
Support Teacher - Literacy & Numeracy
Year 1 & 2 Students Roar with The Lion Inside!
This term, our Year 1 and 2 students have been diving headfirst into the world of stories, exploring exciting characters and their adventures! One of our favourites so far is The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright and Jim Field.
This heart-warming tale follows a tiny, timid mouse who decides he’s had enough of being ignored. He sets off on a bold mission to borrow a roar from the mighty lion—only to discover that even the biggest and bravest have their own fears. In the end, both characters learn that courage and strength come from within, no matter how big or small you are!
Our Year 1 students have been busy describing characters, while our Year 2 students have been unpacking character traits. Both year levels have been sharing their thoughts on the characters’ journeys and the choices they make along the way.
Want to see their awesome work? Swing by the Resource Centre to check out 1B’s writing and colourful artwork on The Tree of Acknowledgement, inspired by The Lion Inside!
Also, see below Year 2B in action! Our young writers put their heads together to build bold and confident sentences about the characters they’ve met in their stories.
-Mrs Karen Burton
Community News
The Smashing Bumpkins are a bush band like no other, performing a family-friendly bush dance. From classic Australian bush dances to live covers of your favourite hits — think Tina Turner, ACDC, Michael Jackson, Eminem, and Lynyrd Skynyrd — this is a high-energy dance party for all ages.
THE SMASHING BUMPKINS – Somerset Civic Centre
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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