2024, T4Wk11, Kilcoy State School Newsletter
13.12.2024
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
Thank you for your support throughout 2024. We have finished our year well and have enjoyed this past 'Wellbeing Week' with our students. It has been refreshing to see their interactions in mixed classes and we look forward to their return in the new school year.
Staffing adjustments: Next year, our Guidance Officer of 13 years, Mrs Andrea Malfliet, is reducing the number of schools she works at in a slow wind-down to her retirement. We thank her for her time with us and wish her all the best in the future. Information about our new Guidance Officer will be shared in the new year. Mrs Chelsea Gauld (Year 1/2 teacher) has also worked with us on contract for a long time. Next year she will move to work only at Mount Kilcoy State School - her permanent base. We wish her all the best as well. Mr County Dillon (Technologies Teacher) has now completed his contract with us and we wish him well next year, no doubt we will see him around the school from time to time. Thank you, Mr Dillon.
Updates: We have worked hard to secure funding for the following exciting projects developing in during 2025, including:
- An increased staffing focus on the Early Years of learning
- A new school hall ceiling
- A new and larger accessible playground (3/4 end of the oval)
- 1:1 laptop provision for our Year 5/6 students
- Additional new laptop pods (coming early in 2025)
- New panel doors in D Block
- Updated allocation to learning resources
- Extended Breakfast Club, provided on more days
- New air-conditioning for the Tuckshop
- A facelift for the Tuckshop!
- Installation of the P&C funded new Equipment Shed
As you might imagine, a list of projects this long takes time to implement. We look forward to updating you throughout the year as we progress. For now, we will see out the year and head off to enjoy a well-earned holiday. The staff of Kilcoy State School wish you a very Merry Christmas and hope that you have the opportunity to spend time with your families and loved ones.
Kind regards, Mrs Belinda Nash.
Returning to school in 2025
School returns on Tuesday 28/1/25 and we invite you to escort your children directly to their classroom. You will have received their class allocation via your registered email on 12/12/24.
Staff will be on hand to help you locate your child's class if you are unsure. Please bring your child's entire booklist requirements on the first day and staff will manage their equipment, supplying to your child directly throughout the year, as needed. Any unused equipment will be returned to you at the end of the school year.
Lisa Webster - Deputy Principal
Enjoy your holidays!
The holidays are just around the corner, offering the perfect opportunity to spend quality time together as a family. What better way to connect and create lasting memories than by playing games? Family games are not only entertaining but also have numerous benefits for children and adults alike. Here are some ideas for games to try and why they’re great for your family:
1. Classic Board Games
Suggestions: Monopoly, Scrabble, or Snakes and Ladders
Why They’re Great: Board games encourage critical thinking, strategic planning, and patience. They also teach children about winning and losing gracefully.
2. Card Games
Suggestions: Uno, Go Fish, or Crazy Eights
Why They’re Great: Card games develop memory, number recognition, and problem-solving skills while being compact and easy to take anywhere.
3. Outdoor Games
Suggestions: Hide and Seek, Frisbee, or backyard cricket
Why They’re Great: Outdoor games promote physical activity, teamwork, and an appreciation for nature.
4. Creative Games
Suggestions: Charades, Pictionary, or storytelling games
Why They’re Great: These games encourage creativity, imagination, and communication skills. They’re perfect for engaging everyone in laughter and fun.
5. DIY Games
Suggestions: Scavenger hunts or homemade trivia quizzes
Why They’re Great: DIY games are customizable and allow your family to work together on planning, building, and playing.
Benefits of Playing Family Games
Strengthening Relationships: Games provide an opportunity to bond, communicate, and share laughter, fostering stronger family connections.
Developing Skills: Many games teach valuable life skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, patience, and resilience.
Reducing Screen Time: Engaging in games can encourage children (and adults!) to take a break from devices and enjoy face-to-face interactions.
Stress Relief: Playtime is a wonderful way to relax, de-stress, and boost everyone’s mood.
Learning Opportunities: Whether it’s counting spaces on a board or creating a strategy, games are a fun way to support learning during the holidays.
Tips for Making Family Game Time Special
Set Aside Dedicated Time: Choose an evening or afternoon to play without distractions.
Let Everyone Take Turns Choosing: This ensures that all family members feel included.
Keep It Light-Hearted: Remember, the goal is to have fun and enjoy each other’s company.
We hope these suggestions inspire some wonderful family moments this holiday season. Share your favourite family game moments with us—we’d love to hear about them!
P&C News
Hello Families,
We look forward to meeting you all at the KSS Family BBQ afternoon, in Week 3, Term 1 where we will welcome everyone back to school. Please join us for a sausage sizzle and a cold drink to meet our staff and welcome the new school year in. Have a safe and relaxing holiday.
Early in 2025, we will hold our P&C Annual General Meeting where we will induct a new 2025 President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and team. Please sign up for a position - we'd love to see as many new faces as possible, helping our kids to have a fantastic year.
- KSS P&C Committee
Instrumental Music Report
It has been a very active year for our instrumental music students. The Kilcoy State School Concert Band has performed for the school community each term this year, showcasing a range of band pieces, duets and solos.
In June a number of year 4 students attended a Beginner Band Workshop held at Burnside State School along with students from five other hinterland schools. Year 5 music students had a similar opportunity and attended an Intermediate band Workshop at Palmwoods State School. These events saw the students enjoying playing in very large bands and experiencing working with different conductors. In October the Kilcoy State School Instrumental Music Captain, Spencer Barnard, attended a Year 6 Hinterland Music Camp in Landsborough where he joined students from six different schools. Well done to all students who took advantage of these opportunities and thank you to the families who supported them in doing so.
If you would like your child to join the music program and enjoy all the academic, physical and social benefits that learning an instrument and playing in a band brings please contact Phil Hayter on pmhay0@eq.edu.au
Maleny State School, Maleny State High School, Kilcoy State School, Kilcoy State High School
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 a
-Mrs Harriet McVeigh
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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