Term 1 Week 3 Newsletter 14 February 2025

From the Principal

Welcome to 2025 and the beginning of a new year at Thangool State School.  We have had a wonderful first couple of weeks with all students settling in well to their classrooms. It was great seeing returning and new families. This year we welcome -19 new preps and 7 new students -throughout our classes to our Thangool school community. We hope you enjoy your time at our school. A huge thank you to our wonderful staff in ensuring our classrooms and grounds were ready for our students and to our supportive parents for having everything ready to go for your child.

Please do not hesitate to contact myself or your child’s teacher at any time if we can help you in anyway.

Our school newsletter will come out twice a term and classroom newsletters will come out in week 1 and week 5 of each term.

Have an awesome week everyone!

Fiona

School Mission Statement/Capable Learner

Our school mission statement forms the basis of all decisions made by the school. Our first question in all we do is always “what impact does this have on our students?”

Our school has developed its own Thangool State School (TSS) Capable Learner. Our capable learner works to support our mission statement looking at all aspects of what makes a student a capable learner at Thangool. Our SEL Program enables weekly sessions to explicitly pull apart the different rules, values and dispositions needed to support and nurture the whole child with all stakeholders working together.

Student Absences - Every Day Counts

As we start the new school year, parents are reminded of the importance of sending children to school every day. Being at school every day counts, with one day absent each week quickly adding up to two months of missed lessons in a year. Research shows that students who have a good attendance record are more likely to achieve high results. Unless your child is ill, it is expected that your child will be at school learning every day of the school year. More information on the importance of regular school attendance is available at http://education.qld.gov.au/everydaycounts/i ndex.html

Parade

Our school weekly parade occurs first up on a Monday morning at 8:50am. Our weekly parade enables: -

• Great way to start our week off having whole school together
• Any messages for week can be delivered first up with everyone hearing the same message
• Our rule reminders, focuses for week are given Monday morning which means students are hearing the message at the start of the day/week.
• Students can be told what the “kids Shed” activities are for the week, play areas any changes.
• Not as hot in our summer months in the afternoon.

Parents are welcome to attend our Monday morning parades.

Playground - Outdoor Classroom

We have wonderful outside space with our “Kids Shed” operating every lunch time with set activities for any child to participate in. Our tennis court area is now fully covered which enables another great space for our students to play. We also have our cubby area, forts, sandpit, mud pit and oval all with different options for our students.

Technology Groups

This year on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we have technology clubs running with students during first break. Students have an opportunity to be involved in Minecraft and lego robotics.

Breakfast Program

Our Breakfast Program runs each morning Monday-Friday 8:35-8:50am. We have year 6 students rostered on with Mrs Cathy White.

Student Safety and School Routines

 Given that it is a new year, I thought I’d remind people about a few safety issues that come up from time to time, and get us all back into routine.

Before School

 Students should not be at school before 8:15am. When students arrive at school they are to sit in the eating area under the building. From 8:15-8:35am our teacher aides are on duty and supervise morning play.  On a Monday, Wednesday & Friday students are involved in SMART Moves which is organised and run by our year 6 Wellbeing officers- under the super vision of staff.

Parking

Parents are also reminded that there is no parking under the tree opposite the school. Our buses depart by 8:15am of a morning so please ensure you are not in bus zone before this time and in the afternoon, they arrive from 3:05pm so please ensure your car is not parked in the bus zone from this time on.

Bus Procedure

Bus rolls are updated EACH TERM. Please ensure your details are up to date. Changes to normal bus routine need to be made to the Office by 2:30 pm so that the office team can adjust the bus rolls and get messages to the child/ren about the change. Parents are also to notify their bus driver of any changes

GENERAL RULE REMINDERS

1. All students need to wear a hat- A hat is one that has a broad brim – not a cap. Our school sells a bucket hat that we encourage all students to wear.
2. Student Absences: It is a requirement that student absences are explained. This can be done by phone call, note, or email either before the absence if it is a planned one, or after the event. Unexplained absences are recorded in the student’s records. MAKE EVERY DAY COUNT.
3. Uniforms: Boys – green school polo shirt with black shorts. Girls – green school polo shirt with black skirt/skorts or shorts. All students are to wear broad brimmed hats (preferably school hat) and shoes and socks. House colours (ie yellow for Kariboe, red for Kroombit) with black shorts/skirts. Socks need to be worn at ankle height – not half way up the shins or at knee height. Uniform shirts can be purchased from our school uniform shop and QKR app.
4. ALL GEAR NEEDS TO BE NAMED!
5. Jewellery: The only jewellery items allowed to be worn at school are sleeper or stud earrings, cignet rings and medic alert necklaces/bracelets.
6. Temporary tattoos/makeup: These items are not permitted. This includes fingernail polish.
7. Arrival time at School: If children arrive before 8:15 am, they are to sit and wait quietly in the under cover eating area until 8:15 am a teacher aide starts duty.
8. Mobile Phones/iPad/personal digital assistants/etc: Students are discouraged from having these items at school. If one comes to school, it needs to be named and placed at the office. They can be collected from the Office at 3:00pm.
9. Lunch box contents – healthier food options such as sandwiches or similar (rice cakes, wraps) and fruit are encouraged to be eaten before the packaged biscuits and chips. Water only in water bottles. NO chocolates or lollies

Away for the Day

Students across Queensland must have mobile phones switched off and ‘away for the day’ and notifications disabled on smartwatches during school hours. Our school is committed to enhancing student wellbeing and creating a learning-focused environment free from distractions. At Thangool State School, Away for the Day means that phones (and other electronic devices) are to be taken to the office upon arrival at school and picked up at the end of the day. Smartwatches will need to have ‘Notifications’ switched off. To find out more, visit https://tinyurl.com/329kup6u

NAPLAN

For students in year 3 & 5 NAPLAN dates are 12-20 March. Our school will again deliver this test online.  More details in coming weeks.

Staffing 2025

Business Manager:- Ros Zischke

Admin assistant:- Carmel Davis (Monday and Wednesday)

Librarian :- Cathy White 

Mudpit

2025 Camps

Camps offer our students opportunities to experience learning opportunities away from the classroom. Our Year 6 students will head out to Pelican Point in week 6 on Thursday 6 and Friday 7 March for their Year 6 Leadership Camp. Our 5/6 camp this year is our Brisbane trip which will occur in term 4.

Medication

 All staff and teachers must follow the Departmental Policy on the issue of medication to children at school. ANY medication supplied for the school to administer MUST be prescribed by a doctor, be in it’s original container and have an attached pharmacy label. Requirements for plans for students who are at risk of anaphylaxis and/or asthma are also detailed in our guidelines.

School Photos

Wednesday 19th February 2025

SEL News - It's Your Move

Welcome to a new year at Thangool State School! This year, our focus is gratitude—a practice that enhances happiness, resilience, and strong relationships.

To support this, we are integrating gratitude with daily reading in our Prep to Year 2 classes. Each student will receive a reading log to track progress, celebrate achievements, and encourage family connection through reading. Inside, you’ll find:
✔️ Daily gratitude prompts to spark meaningful conversations.
✔️ Weekly family gratitude activities to strengthen positive habits.
✔️ Parent tips and QR codes linking to research on Gratitude, Empathy, and Mindfulness from the Resilience Project.

Please ensure your child brings their reading log to school each day. Your classroom teacher will provide further details.

For Years 3-6, students will also receive a Resilience Project Diary, which includes:
📌 Key dates & reminders to support organisation.
📌 Parent-teacher communication section for easy updates.
📌 Healthy habit tracker to encourage well-being.
📌 Daily gratitude reflections to build a positive mindset.

We encourage families to explore these resources together. By making gratitude a daily practice, we can help our students thrive in and beyond the classroom.

HOC News

Curriculum: This year our teachers will begin to implement the latest version (v9) of the Mathematics. 

Reading:  Beginning in 2021, our school began an inquiry that focussed on improving reading.  During this time, we have investigated the research, participated in professional learning, purchased resources and developed the TSS Reading Policy. In 2025, we will continue with using high impact teaching practices based on research and continue implementing our reading policy.  

Home Reading: Our school has evaluated the effectiveness of some long-established teaching practices and this includes homework.  Using the research of John Hattie, we have examined our homework policy and the impact it has on improving student outcomes.  Based on this research, we have re-evaluated our approach to homework, and our ‘homework,’ now focusses on improving reading.  To support the tracking of student progress, we have started reading logs.  Further information has been provided by Ms Hyland and your class teacher.

School Performance Tour: As this year is our town’s centenary, we have booked for this term, the incursion ‘Look How We Have Changed’.  This will be held on Thursday, 13th February at 2pm.  It focuses on Science and Technology, History, Drama and the importance and impact of technology in our lives and how it has changed over the centuries.

Sports News

Please see the attached letters and calendars regarding Representative Sport for 2025.  This is for students born in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

P&C News

Welcome back to all returning and new families! We are looking forward to another exciting year this year! Please find an update on what's happening in our P&C world. 

* Our first major fundraiser is just around the corner. "Disco Diva's" will be held at the Thangool Race Course on March 8th, and we are excited to say all tickets were sold within hours.

We are now looking for support from our families in way of donations. Please see the information provided below and contact Leonie for any further information or to secure your donation. All profits from the event will go back to the School for purchasing resources/equipment or activities. 

** Term One Meetings are scheduled for: 

1. Monday 24th Feb 3.15pm at the School Library, Week 5
2. Monday 24th March AGM and Meeting 5pm with venue TBC, Week 9

All welcome, even if not a current Member. We can't wait to welcome some of our new families.

We are excited to announce we will now have Zoom at all our meetings, so if you are unable to make it and wish to participate please let us know. 

*** We are so lucky to have a Tuckshop service each Friday at our school, run by the P&C. It's a great way for parents/grandparents to volunteer as well. Please see the flyer to see how you can help.

From your P&C team

Date Claimers - Term 1

Community Flyers