2 May 2025

What’s Happening

Principal’s Report

Welcome back everyone! With such a short first week, it felt a little like Week 2 was our 'proper' start to the term. I trust that everyone had a great break and it is always fantastic seeing our smiling faces arrive back through the gates safely.

This term, we welcome aboard Mr David Capill as our Deputy Principal for Years 4-6. I know that Mr Capill has been impressed with our school already and has appreciated all those who have approached him and introduced themselves. Mr Capill possesses a strong skillset that I am sure will value add to our school and I am excited about this prospect. We wish him all the best in settling in around the school.

Guidance Officer Week

It’s Guidance Officer Week (28 April to 9 May) and we’re celebrating the invaluable contribution of our guidance officer Marisa Anderson. Marisa provides our students with educational, career, mental health and wellbeing support.

If you think your child could benefit from advice and support, contact a member of administration to discuss further.

Visit the Education website for more information.

Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) Prevention Month.

May is Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) Prevention Month. This year’s theme is ‘Take positive action today to build a safer Queensland’. Our school is taking positive action by helping students learn about safe and respectful relationships, and assisting students and families impacted by DFV to access support. Visit the Queensland Government’s DFV prevention month web page to learn more about:

• DFV
• the support available
• how to help someone experiencing DFV
• the DFV prevention month activities taking place in our community.

Anzac Day Ceremony

Thank you to all involved in our Anzac Service Week 1. I would like to acknowledge the efforts of Mrs Simone Hielscher as the event coordinator.

It is truly such a deeply respectful occasion and one which we all step up as a community. The grounds and surrounds looked amazing thanks to Joel and the cleaners, choir were fantastic as usual with a special mention to Mrs Muino who filled in whilst Mrs Burnett was on leave, music cued well by Mr Milo, Our Instrumental Music Teacher Mr U playing the Last Post live, school captains speaking well, and special guests such as Mr Kevin Lloyd-Thomas from Southport RSL Sub Branch were impressed with student behaviour and the overall service. Also, the after-morning tea catered by Angelique was phenomenal – just the right softness in the ANZAC biscuits for our 91-year-old veteran Allan Burrows😊.

Thank you to our class teachers and students for preparing class wreaths as well – not an easy task with such a short turnaround but worth the effort.

As mentioned earlier, it’s been great to see everyone back and I look forward to another monumental term of learning.

Andrew Stewart
Principal

Deputy Principal Senior Report

My name is Mr Capill and I’m very excited to have joined the Southport SS community as Deputy Principal. I’d like to sincerely thank the staff, students, and families for the incredibly warm welcome I’ve received.

Over my first week, I’ve spent a lot of time in classrooms and speaking with teachers, and it has been fantastic to hear and see so many positive things happening. Our classrooms are calm, focused spaces where students are fully engaged in their learning – it is a real credit to both staff and students.

Last week’s ANZAC Day ceremony was a real highlight. It was wonderful to see our school community come together for such an important reflection. Our students and student leaders conducted themselves with great respect and maturity throughout the event.

We also held our senior school Cross Country Trials last week, with our fastest runners now selected to compete at the district trials this Thursday. Thank you to Mr Milloy for organising this and we wish all students competing the very best! We look forward to celebrating their achievements with a medal presentation at our Week 6 senior assembly.

Thank you once again for making me feel so welcome. I’m excited for the term ahead!

Dave Capill
Deputy Principal Senior School

Deputy Principal Junior Report

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.

What are the benefits of using the PBL framework?

• PBL helps schools to be consistent in the way they support and respond to behaviour. 
• PBL enables schools to develop clear expectations and boundaries for behaviour and ensures that behaviour support is differentiated according to need.

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.

School Photos

You should have received the photo order forms this week. If you have not received an order form, please touch base with your child’s teacher.

Late arrivals and parents running late

I have noticed that we have had an increase in students arriving late to school. Our school start time is 8:55am. It is important that students arrive on time so that they don’t miss vital morning messages and routines and are not missing out on their learning.

Additionally, our school time finishes at 2:55pm. If you are running late, which is arriving any time after 2:55pm, please call the office to let them know, so the teacher is aware and/or the students can be brought to the office and supervised until you arrive.

If you are unable to consistently pick your child up at 2:55pm then we do have the Outside School Hours Care that you can enrol your child in and they can be contacted on 55311138.

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.

Snack Shack Reminder

Food will not be sold to students during the allocated ‘eating time’. Students who would like to purchase items from the Snack Shack such as ice blocks, drinks, muffins, chips etc must do so during play break and no later than the end of the eating bell. Students who have pre-ordered ice blocks and drinks for second break and receive a slip, must also hand these in to the tuckshop before the end of the play break bell. When students purchase food during play break time, they are required to sit in the tuckshop area to consume the food and drink.

Gabrielle Baldwin
Deputy Principal Junior School

Head of Curriculum

Inform and Empower

This term, our students will continue to engage with the Inform & Empower Cyber Safety & Digital Wellbeing program.

Prep: Learning this term will focus on active vs passive screen time. We will explore the difference between creating and consuming whilst considering how this can help us make clever screen time choices.

Year 1 and 2: Learning this term will focus on the importance of balancing screen time with green time, the value of healthy sleep habits, and why it can be hard to put our devices down.

Year 3 and 4: Learning this term will focus on the importance of balancing screen time with green time and discuss how to manage uncomfortable feelings that may arise from device use.

Year 5 and 6:  Learning this term will focus on how some technology is designed to be addictive and how that impacts us. We will learn how to take charge of our technology use and develop healthy digital habits.

Please find attached Term 2 parent tip sheets to help support your child at home.

Reporting to parents

Academic reporting is about communicating to parents and students about achievement and progress in the curriculum provided. Academic reports provide point in time information about achievement at the end of each reporting period. School reporting processes are clear and transparent for parents, so they understand the learning expectations for the student, the student’s achievement against expected standards, how well the student is engaging with the expected learning and how the student may be able to improve.

In 2025, the Department of Education has updated the Reporting Scales used from Prep to Year 2. This table outlines the new Reporting Scales and descriptions:

Prep students will now receive an Effort rating for each reportable learning area and an overall Behaviour rating. This creates consistency from Prep to Year 12.

Teachers will be completing Semester 1 Report Cards later this term. Student reports will be emailed out on Thursday, 26 June. No reports will be handed out prior to this date. If you are unsure about your current email address, please see the ladies in the office.

Report cards will be sent from this email: OneSchool.application@dete.qld.gov.au. We suggest you add this address to your list of safe senders to ensure report card emails aren't sent to the junk folder.

Tania Biddulph
Head of Curriculum

Health and Physical Education

The following students have qualified for the district cross country team. A big congratulations to the following:

Toki – Year 6
Subaru – Year 6
Lewis – Year 6
James – Year 6
Lucia – Year 6
Sadie – Year 6
Anna – Year 6
Myles – Year 6
Pranav – Year 6
Diego – Year 6
Jay – Year 5
Reece – Year 5
Hana – Year 5
Haya – Year 5
Ilaisaane – Year 5
Bay – Year 5
Limu – Year 4
Oliver – Year 4
Luca – Year 4
Mickaela - Year 5
Nami – Year 4
Skyela – Year 4

Kieran Milloy
Health and Physical Education Teacher

Guidance Officer

The Power of Showing Up    (Reference: Information by Dr Daniel Siegel)

One of my favourite Authors and professional is Dr Daniel Siegel. In his book, The Whole-Brain Child, he shares how simple it is to make the biggest difference in a kid’s life. Parents and teachers are usually the two major constants in a child’s world, so let’s all connect to make 2025 a success.

Do You Really ‘See’ Your Child?
Enjoy this New York Times article on the Power of Showing Up!

Parenting is hard, and lots of children
are struggling these days, because of
anxiety, busy schedules, screen time,
parental distractions, or something
else.  What does the research say can
make the biggest difference in kids’ lives? 
When a caregiver Shows Up for
them and offers The Four S’s, helping
them feel Safe, Seen, Soothed, and
Secure.

Marisa Anderson

P&C News

The Uniform shop opening hours are changing. Opening hours will now be 8am – 11am on Monday and Thursdays. Winter jackets are now in stock, including small sizes. Please be aware we are currently transitioning to a new style of jacket. The new style jackets are $50 with limited sizes available of the old-style jackets.

Mothers’ day stall will be held on Thursday 8^th May. Vouchers are now available on QKR or students can bring cash on the day. Please remember to bring your own bag!

Volunteers needed! Are you available to help on Thursday 8^th May at the Mother’s Day stall? Two timeslots are available for volunteers either 8.55am – 11am or 11.30am – 1.30pm.  Please email Donna president@pcsouthportss.school or send a message through to the P&C facebook page.