2024, T2W2, Kilcoy State School Newsletter
28.04.2024
Acknowledgment of Country
This staff memo 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: Mrs Nash
Dear Parents and Carers
One of the highlights for me of the past two weeks has been my delight at seeing so many parents come to cheer their children on at the Cross Country. Congratulations to Mackenzie house members for the win. What a great community event!
Another highlight was seeing the parents who showed up to our P-2 Reading Workshops to learn more about how they can help their child learn to read, in line with the way we now teach reading. In case you weren't aware - this has changed significantly over the past 5 years as we have aligned our reading teaching with best practice methods. Thank you to Mrs Somerville (1/2C) and Mrs Pendergast (P/1) for creating and presenting these important sessions, twice in one day! More sessions will be available later in the year. If you have any questions or missed the session opportunities, please see your child's classroom teacher.
Last week, our Year 5/6 students enjoyed a lesson from Mr Shane Williams, President of the Kilcoy RSL, learning about ANZAC Day, and creating special postcards to present, honouring the service men and women of Kilcoy. By all reports, the postcards were very well received.
ANZAC Day 2024 - What a beautiful day it was to come together as a community group to show our respect and appreciation for the sacrifice that our armed service men and women have made and make ever day for Australia. We were so proud to see that long line, four students wide, of Kilcoy State School students marching - out largest group ever!
ANZAC Day 2024
On Tuesday 7/5/24, our P&C are hosting a Mothers Day stall to provide an option for students to purchase a small gift for the special person in their life. Classes will be provided with a time to visit and purchase on this day and you are welcome to send a small amount of cash (not more than $10) with your child. We are still looking for parent helpers with the stall so if you can assist, even just for an hour, please contact the office on 5422 3333 or email admin@kilcoyss.eq.edu.au
Spotlight on Attendance - Our current attendance rate is 90.6%
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.
Queensland Engagement and Wellbeing Survey
In Term 2, students at our school in Years 5 & 6 will be asked to take part in the Queensland Engagement and Wellbeing (QEW) Survey.
We know that wellbeing and engagement are important parts of your child’s life at school. The QEW Survey is designed to measure how students view their wellbeing and engagement across different topics. The information we get from the survey helps us better understand and support our students.
An information letter will be sent out to parents and carers closer to the time. If you have any questions, please contact the school. More information, including FAQs, can be found on the Education website: (https://qed.qld.gov.au/publications/reports/statistics/schooling/students/queensland-engagement-wellbeing-survey).
Kind regards, Belinda Nash.
Deputy Principal: Mrs Webster
The first 2 weeks of term has been packed - Cross Country Carnival, Anzac Day, Postcards for Veterans. ANZAC Day is a time that takes me back to the days I served in the Army Reserve. I was a Musician in the Army Reserves and we were required at many parades. I fondly remember the marches - ANZAC Day was a favourite. Having a rum with a veteran at 6am, after the Dawn service certainly inspired me to be humble and grateful. Listening to their stories of service left me wondering what personality trait to keep them going? I decided it was 'grit'. In the English dictionary, grit means 'courage and resolve; strength of character'. Watching our students run in the Cross Country showed plenty of grit. During walkthroughs in the classroom, I see evidence of grit! To have grit, requires us to keep going no matter what. When it comes to learning, the deep learning happens when we come across something that is difficult. If learning is easy it would lead us to assume that we already know what we are being taught. Grit is important to finish the cross country, to enter into the deep phase of learning and grit is important to honour the ANZACs. During this year in the Prep and Prep/1 classrooms, I have seen students show grit and determination to do well at school. A challenge we have set for them and one they have accepted. This week, teachers will come together to have rigorous conversations about student work to ensure progress of all students. I would like to acknowledge and thank the teachers for their grit!
Warm regards, Lisa Webster.
Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL)
Autism Awareness Month
April has been Autism Awareness month and with it came an opportunity for Kilcoy State School to celebrate the unique talents and perspectives of individuals on the Autism Spectrum, while also developing understanding and acceptance in our wider community.
Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a developmental condition that affects how individuals interact and perceive the world around them. Each person with Autism has their own set of strengths, challenges, and talents, making it essential to embrace neurodiversity and promote understanding within our community.
The Resource Centre window has become a showcase of awareness and inclusivity in the hope to start conversations within the community about autism and importance of embracing neurodiversity. If you haven’t already seen it, we invite students, teachers, and families to stop by the Resource Centre and check it out.
Sports News
After a rained out first cross-country date, the weather was spectacular for our rescheduled day! Everyone showed up in a sea of red and blue and put in 110% effort.
A special thank you needs to go out to the parent volunteers, the P&C for supplying the celebratory end of race icy poles and to our Year 6 students for their awesome effort of helping the junior runners and keeping the team spirit alive.
Mackenzie came away with the win of the day with a massive 277 points. Somerset wasn’t far behind them with 216 points.
Good luck to all those runners that made it districts. We'll be cheering for you!
Cross Country
P&C Association
Welcome to term 2 parents and caregivers!
Our Mother's Day raffle is in full swing, please see the dates below to know when money needs to be returned and when the prizes will be drawn.
Our Mother's Day stall will be open for classroom visits in week 4 and there will be extra days where purchasing will be available before or after school, depending on availability. If anyone is available to give us hand with the Mother's Day Stall, please get in touch at the office.
Pie drive letters will go home around the 13th May. Our pies come from Coff and Co bakery and are always a winner on a cold night. Thank you Coff and Co for your support.
Unfortunately, our next P&C meeting planned for Wednesday May 1st has needed to be delayed - more information will be sent soon.
-The P&C Team
Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter. If you have any suggestions for content, please forward them to admin@kilcoyss.eq.edu.au
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