Newsletter 7 February 2025

Principal’s Report

Welcome back to the new year wonderful Southport community.

A special welcome to our 62 new Prep students as well as all of the families new to Southport. 2025 is shaping to be an amazing year as I reflect on the past 2 weeks and the preparation work our staff have been involved in.

This year will see a continued focus on supporting our teachers to implement Version 9 of the Australian Curriculum with a clear focus on improving reading through effective pedagogical approaches.

Staffing News

Welcome to the following staff who are new to Southport:

Mr Jamie Baker – Year 3
Mrs Stephanie Wilson – Year 6
Mr Kieran Milloy – H.P.E Teacher

Amanda Fry, our Senior Deputy Principal has retired and we wish her all the best. We will be undertaking a recruitment process for her replacement over the coming month.

Over the break, our facilities were enhanced in readiness for the return to school. These projects included:

• Refurbishment of the Multi-Age toilets near the Snack Shack
• Tree trimming
• High Pressure cleaning throughout the school
• Repair hall roof leak
• Air conditioners replaced to larger systems in A Block and Music Room
• Downpipes replaced
• New Prep Play seat

I wish to commend our facilities and cleaning teams for ensuring we arrived back to a safe, clean and welcoming environment.

Meet the teacher sessions

Our Term 1 meet the teacher sessions will take place in Week 4 of this term. Please see below for the timetable outlining where and when these will occur.

These meetings provide an opportunity for you to meet your child’s teacher, to discuss the year ahead, preferred methods of communication and to cooperatively better identify your child’s needs.

Student Leadership Positions 2025

Congratulations to the below students who were successful in applying for the following student leadership positions:

We would like to formally acknowledge these leaders during our Week 5 Senior Assembly which will be held between 2:15 and 2:55 Wednesday 26^th February. Invitations have been given to the leaders today.

Happy New Year! Last week, I met many of our students along with Skippa as they arrived on the first day. I wish to thank you all for preparing your child for their first day this year. It has been a very smooth start to the year and I look forward to watching your children demonstrate growth throughout this term and beyond.

Andrew Stewart
Principal

Deputy Principal Junior Report

Welcome back to the 2025 school year.  I would like to extend a warm welcome to the new staff and families that have joined the Southport State School community this year. I am looking forward to developing a positive relationship with all families that supports your child’s education.

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL)

At Southport State School, we promote and encourage the following values which have been identified by our school community. These values are upheld by both students and staff:

“I am a Learner, I am Respectful, I am Safe”

Each week students engage in a PBL focus lesson. These lessons promote the school values and we talk to students about the behaviours associated with them.

The Week 1 & 2 PBL focus value was – Learner: We are all active learners as we launch into learning our expectations and routine.

Southport State School is committed to providing quality education for all in a safe, respectful and disciplined learning environment. We believe these values teach and promote our high standard of responsible behaviour.

This week students engaged in PBL lessons that teach and model the behaviour expectations across all areas of the school.

Before School

I would like to remind all parents that PLAYGROUNDS AND OVALS are OUT OF BOUNDS before and after school, this also includes the Prep playground. If a student arrives to school with a parent or carer, they are to sit with their parent or carer either outside the classroom area or in an undercover area and wait for the 8:50am bell. Students should not be playing ball games, tiggy/tag or be on the Prep soccer area or playground before school, even if parents/carers are with them. We would greatly appreciate your support with this expectation.

Southport State School Expectations and Positive Reinforcement System

Every fortnight on Monday morning, our school chooses to focus on one of the above expectations and explicitly teach it across our campus.

When students demonstrate these expectations and/or positive behaviours, they are provided with a ‘Little Roo” token matched to our values.

Staff will explicitly praise students providing specific feedback for why they received their token. Students record these tokens. Once they reach certain milestones, they are entitled to our school rewards including a collection of safe, respectful and learner certificates, pencils, wrist bands and badges. These milestones reset each term and occur at 20, 40, and 60. When students achieve 10 “Little Roo” tokens, they will receive a “Super Skippa” ticket which will go into the draw fortnightly for a chance to receive a Snack Shack voucher. All students will participate in a termly celebration day where students will have a chance to voice what they’d like to do.

Whole school behaviour

This year we have introduced a whole school flowchart when managing behaviour for the classroom and playground. If you have further questions about this, please speak to your child’s classroom teacher.

Attendance - Every day counts

As we begin a new year, parents are reminded of the importance of sending children to school every day. Regular school attendance will mean that your child gets a better chance at life. Your child will achieve better when they go to school all day, every school day:

•  they learn better
•  they make friends
•  they are happier
•  they have a brighter future

A set routine can help children be ready for the school day

•  have a set time to go to bed
•  have a set time to get out of bed
•  have uniform and school bag ready the night before
•  have a set time for starting and finishing breakfast
•  set a time for daily homework activities
•  speak about school positively
•  be firm, send your child to school every school day including their birthday and the last day of term!

Regular school attendance is an important part of giving your child the best possible start in life. Let us work together to ensure your child is accessing the maximum amount of learning time each day.

School Bell Time Reminder

First bell at 8.50am: get ready for learning – have a drink, go to the toilet
Second bell at 8.55am: learning begins
First break bell at 10.55am: playtime followed by eating
Second break bell at 1.35pm: playtime followed by eating
Last bell at 2.55pm: end of school day

Please ensure your child arrives at school before 8.55am, to set them up for a positive start to school. If, for any reason, your child arrives after 8.55am, please direct them to the attendance window in the administration building to collect a late slip before going to class. This process is to ensure your child is not marked absent on the class roll. When obtaining the late slip, the attendance officer will ask the reason for lateness which must be entered onto the roll system.

If you have concerns regarding your child’s attendance, please contact the office on 5531-9111 to make an appointment to speak with your child’s Deputy Principal.

NAPLAN

Students in Years 3 and 5 will sit for the National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) tests throughout Week 8 & 9, across the 9-day testing window, from Wednesday 12^th March – Monday 24^th March. Classes are scheduled on the below days to complete the writing, reading, conventions of language and numeracy tests.

Gabrielle Baldwin
Deputy Principal Junior School

HOPL Report

How Can I Help My Child to Be Successful?

Unfortunately when it comes to raising children, there is a lot we are unable to control. Luckily, there are a few important things we can do to ensure our children have the best chance to succeed. The below link leads to a short TED talk based on the evidence of a long-term study on human development. The speaker goes on to share some simple ways to improve outcomes for our children.

Poppy Verrall
Head of Personalised Learning

Head of Curriculum

Reading Eggs and Mathseeds/ Mathletics

Reading Eggs and Mathseeds/ Mathletics have now updated their platform to allow for easier access.

Students who are participating in the Student Resource Scheme will have access to these programs at home. Your classroom teacher will provide students with their log on information. Students will now have one username and password to access both programs. Once you log on, you select the program you would like to use.

If you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher.

Year 6 Puberty Sessions

Last week, our Year 6 students participated in the My Lifecycle program delivered by an expert from ‘True Relationships and Reproductive Health’. They led the students in discussions about the physical, social and emotional changes of puberty, looking after their body, strategies for positive body image and healthy relationships.

If students would like further information, True have recommended the Body Talk website. True asked the students to investigate this website with a trusted adult.

Thank you to the P&C for sponsoring this valuable program for our students.

Safer Internet Day is Tuesday, Feb 11.

Safer Internet Day is a global day of action bringing communities, schools, organisations and families from more than 180 countries together to raise awareness of online safety issues and work towards a safer internet. The eSafety Commissioner is calling on all Australians to help make the internet a safer, and more positive place.

Parents and carers play a crucial role in empowering and supporting children and young people to use digital technologies responsibly, respectfully, critically and creatively. There are plenty of ways for you to participate in Safer Internet Day, whether it is by ensuring an open dialogue with your children, educating them to use digital technologies safely and positively, or acting as digital role models.

The eSafety Commissioner has a range of resources available on their website to help start online safety conversations with your children.

Tania Biddulph
Head of Curriculum

Parent Volunteer Induction Meeting

Wanted!
Would you like to be a parent volunteer? We would love your support!
We are running a parent volunteer induction session for any parents who may be interested in volunteering in the following areas –
•    Reading
•    Library resources
•    Tuckshop
•    Fundraising
We have a legal obligation to comply with a range of legislations, therefore all volunteers need to participate in an induction to receive key messages and sign a declaration form.
Date: Thursday February 20th, 9.00am
Location: Library

Music

Welcome to 2025 as we anticipate another fun and productive year in the Music Department.

It is imperative that if your child participates in choir, band or strings that students attend lessons and rehearsals each week equipped with instruments and books. Your support in supporting your child’s musical development with regular practise and attendance on time is a very important role for your child’s musical progress and success.

Below are days for lessons, times and rehearsals for Choir, Band and Strings.

CHOIR – Tuesday 1^st break in the Music room. All students from Years 1 to 6 are welcome to attend and join.

BAND - Thursday in the Music room. Lessons will begin in Week 3. Mr U will email out to parents and caregivers times for students’ lessons. Books and instruments will be allocated then, once payments are made to the office.

Band rehearsals for returning band students will begin in Week 4. Arrival time for band rehearsals is at 7.50am each week.

STRINGS - Friday in the Music room. Lessons will begin in Week 3. Ms Ferrers will email out to parents and caregivers times for students’ lessons. Books and instruments will be allocated then, once payments are made to the office.

String rehearsals for returning students from Years 4 to 6 will begin in Week 2, beginning at 7.40am each week.

Any enquiries, please email me at jburn251@eq.edu.au

We thank you so much for your support and look forward to another creative, musical year.

Julie Burnett

Guidance Officer

Could your family use an extra $500 for education costs? We know that cost of living pressures are continuing to put extra stress on households, with families in particular feeling the effects.

What is Saver Plus?

Saver Plus is a program for people on lower incomes. It’s about bolstering their financial skills, so they can develop (and keep) good savings habits.  Since 2003, Saver Plus has supported more than 62,000 people to start saving.

It’s helped overcome the barriers around education expenses. And it’s set them up for a brighter future.

What are the eligible savings goals?

Eligible savings goals are education related products or services that assist a primary or secondary school student’s education.

Marisa Anderson

P&C News

P&C General Meeting

The next P&C General meeting will be held on Thursday 13^th February, 3.15pm in the Volunteers Meeting Room. Entry is via the Uniform Shop.

Our P&C members make a meaningful impact by shaping school policy, managing financial planning and budgeting, overseeing onsite businesses, supporting school events, fundraising, applying for grants and strengthening our school communities. Their dedication helps create a happier and more connected school environment. For more information, please email president@pcsouthportss.school or come along to our meeting.