Volume 2 - 21 February 2025

From The Principal

Principal’s message

Welcome to our school newsletter for week 4. It's hard to believe that we are almost halfway through the term.  A focus for us this year is to improve student attendance across the school. Currently our attendance rate is 79.6%, our target is 90% so we still have a bit of work to do.  Student attendance will be focused on by the student engagement team. We will look at ways to better engage our students, so they really want to be here and be part of something special.  Our teachers are working hard on building stronger connections with our students and supporting them in any way they can, so they feel welcomed and valued as part of a class.

Our School Priorities for 2025

We are currently looking at previous data to establish priorities for the next 4 years. Currently we are looking at making the following our whole school priorities moving forward. (Draft)

• Student engagement
• Improve student reading
• Build staff capability
• Inclusive practices

New HODC

This week Belinda Whittet started at Leichhardt State School in the role of Head of Department Curriculum. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Belinda to Leichhardt I know she will find the new role extremely rewarding. The HODC role supports the teachers in the area of curriculum, what our children are taught and how our teachers teach using research-based strategies to better support our students.   Each teacher will be given more time each week to work with Belinda in the area of planning.

P&C

This week we had a P&C meeting in the library.   I would like to give a special shout out to our crew of P&C volunteers. I have been a principal for 20 years in multiple schools all over the state and I have never had so many people at the P&C meetings. Thank you to all of those people who gave up their time to attend.

Student Leaders - School Civics Program

Today our two school captains attended the Civics program. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Honourable Milton Dick MP, in partnership with Mayor Teresa Harding, hosted local student leaders at the Ipswich City Council Chambers. The program brought together more than 100 primary and secondary student leaders from 26 schools across wider Ipswich to discuss ideas, explore common concerns and build networks between schools. Tailored to their grade level, the students learnt about the levels of government, the role of government and their rights and obligations as local citizens. It was a very nice morning, and our school captains represented our school beautifully.

Welcome From Our New Head of Department - Curriculum

Dear Leichhardt State School Families

I am very excited to join the Leichhardt State School team as Head of Department – Curriculum. My main role is to develop quality teaching and learning with teachers, but it is also important that I build relationships with students and their families.

Over the past 14 years, I have taught at various schools within Ipswich, South Brisbane and surrounds. 

I look forward to meeting you.

Belinda Whittet

From The Head of Department - Student Engagement

At Leichhardt State School, we are committed to supporting our students in their emotional development through the use of the Zones of Regulation framework. This approach helps students identify and manage their emotions, guiding them to recognize where they are emotionally and how to shift toward a more regulated state. By working with the Zones of Regulation, we aim to foster emotional intelligence and resilience in our students, preparing them for success both in school and beyond.

It is important that students not only understand the language of the Zones but also feel supported by consistent messaging both at school and at home. As a parent or caregiver, you play a crucial role in reinforcing this language and helping your child learn how to navigate their emotions. The key takeaway is that all emotions—whether they're in the Blue, Green, Yellow, or Red Zones—are okay to feel. What matters most is helping the child understand what they need and want to become more regulated and ready to engage in learning and other activities.

We encourage you to use this language at home and engage in conversations with your child about how they can self-regulate when they experience big emotions. With your support, we can help students build a toolbox of strategies to manage their feelings effectively.

PBL Focus of The Week

Device Expectations

We emphasize the importance of using classroom technology responsibly. Our device expectations ensure that technology serves as a powerful tool for learning while promoting a safe and productive digital environment for all students. Together, we will work to uphold these values and create a school year filled with growth, respect, and achievement.

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Sun Safety

As the warmer weather continues, it is important for all students to practice sun safety. Please encourage your child to:

• Wear a broad-brim hat to protect their face and neck.
• Apply sunscreen regularly throughout the day.
• Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated.
• Seek shade whenever possible, whether under a building or tree.

Let’s work together to keep our students safe and healthy in the sun!

Best Class on Parade

We’re excited to continue the ‘Best Class on Parade’ Trophy! This award will go to the class that best demonstrates the SHELL behaviour during Parade and leaves the hall the quietest.

Let’s all work together to enjoy ‘Best Class on Parade’ trophy by showing our best behaviour! The winning class will enjoy VIP seating at Parade the following week as a special reward—a fun and exciting perk for all the hard work!

Congratulations to 2A!!

Good luck to everyone!

Practice Family Engagement

 I would like to thank our families for partnering with us around Positive Behaviour for Learning. The Department of Education has outlined the benefits for students of family-school engagement including: improved academic outcomes, stronger relationships with adults and peers, better social skills; and improved mental health. When families and schools work together to reinforce positive behaviours, students benefit from clear expectations and consistent reinforcement both at home and in school. This collaboration helps to create a cohesive approach to behaviour management, fostering a sense of community and shared responsibility for students' well-being and success.

If you would like any more information regarding PBL in practice, family engagement. Please visit the link below.

Ms Everingham

Head Of Department - Student Engagement

From The Head of Special Education Services

If you are a Year 6 parent, it is never too early to begin the high school enrolment process for Year 7. Transition to high school occurs later in the year, but students need to be enrolled to attend the orientation and transition days. If you require assistance locating forms or filling out the forms, please send me an email on jrive24@eq.edu.au to schedule a time to meet to start the enrolment process.

Just a friendly reminder of the NDIS process. A parent request form is required to be completed and submitted to the school before a therapist can start onsite. After we receive a parent request, we then need to complete the agreement plan between all parties. Once this is all completed and signed, then the therapist will be scheduled a time to utilise the office space we have available. Unfortunately, if a therapist arrives for an appointment, and this process has not been completed first, we will have to ask them to reschedule the appointment with you. If you require a parent request form, please see Emma in the Sanctuary.

Jessica Rivett

Head of Special Education

From The Teachers

Prep

Prep-1B’s Learning Adventures

This week in Prep-1B, our young learners have been busy exploring new sounds and numbers! They have been learning the letters m, r, h, e, d, and c, practicing their sounds, and recognising them in words. In numeracy, they have been counting from 0 to 4 and working on writing these numerals correctly.

To strengthen their handwriting, students have been engaging in fine motor activities that help develop their pencil grip and hand control. You can support their learning at home with fun activities such as threading cereal or beads onto string, peeling and placing stickers on paper, clipping clothes pegs onto objects, or playing with playdough to build finger strength.

Keep up the great work,

Kate, Sukhdeep and Brittney

Year 3

Dear Families,

3A and 3B are still impressing their teachers-Mrs Couch and myself (Miss Greenwood) with their big hearts and growth mindsets.

Across year three we are continuing to embed our classroom expectations for success. We are also continuing to have some great discussions around emotions—how to recognize and manage them, and how we can support each other when things get challenging. A highlight of last week was during science when we observed a variety of materials having a chemical reaction due to heat… they melted! 

We have also been working on number concepts and mapping during our Maths lessons. During English we are continuing to explore The Lorax. 

- Mrs Couch and Miss Greenwood

3-6 HPE

Welcome to the first term of HPE at Leichhardt in 2025! Students in Grades 3 to 6 have made a fantastic start to the academic year, engaging in a variety of activities that promote physical skills, teamwork, and personal growth.

Term 1 Activities

This term, students have been focusing on:

• Throwing and catching ball games
• Soccer skills and ball mastery
• Respectful relationships, with an emphasis on self-identity

Students have already learned three new games—Battle Ball, Survivor, and Hideout—each designed to enhance hand-eye coordination, teamwork, honesty, and integrity. Be sure to check in with your child and ask them about these exciting activities!

In soccer, students have been working on ball mastery, specifically learning different dribbling techniques using various parts of their feet. We’ve seen incredible improvements from Week 1, so if you catch your child practicing their soccer ball juggling, be sure to give them a well-deserved congratulations from us!

Classroom Learning: Self-Identity

Inside the classroom, students have been exploring the concept of self-identity, discussing factors that can and cannot be changed about themselves. These discussions have led to meaningful conversations, with students sharing personal stories and learning more about each other.

2025 Soccer Programme

The highly anticipated 2025 Soccer Programme is underway! Training sessions have been organized as follows:

• Grades 4 & 5 – Mondays, Sessions 3 & 4
• Grade 6 – Thursdays, Sessions 8 & 9

All students were invited to participate, and a squad has now been selected to represent Leichhardt in the Ipswich Zone competition this year. The most exciting part? This season’s games will be hosted right here at Leichhardt, thanks to our new soccer goals and marked pitch!

As we continue to grow, our main goal remains the same—to ensure our students thrive and enjoy soccer. Stay tuned for regular updates on the 2025 Soccer Programme in upcoming newsletters!

Mr. Scott

From The P&C

Tuckshop News

The tuckshop has had a great start to the term with fantastic feedback from our students and staff.

Please note that we cannot accept payment via bank card at the tuckshop without the named adult present. For convenience, refer to our Online Ordering App, QKR!

If your child is sick and you have ordered tuckshop, please contact the tuckshop as soon as possible so we can hold your order for another day. Unfortunately, if the order has been fulfilled (Hot food only), we cannot refund those items.

P&C Meeting - AGM

The P&C AGM Meeting will be held on the 27th of March at 3:30 pm in the Conference Room (near the Office)

Pancake Day Tuesday 4th March

Get excited for Pancake Day coming up on the 4th of March! Pre-order will be open from the 25th of February on the QKR! app. Tuckshop will also be taking over the counter orders with 3 options - Choc chip, plain with jam & cream or plain with syrup at $3 each. Pancake day is being donated by our local Beacon Community Baptist Church and all Profits will be going towards Year 6 Camp.

Mother’s Day Stall & Raffle

We are in the works of organising our annual Mother’s Day Stall and Raffle. Exciting things ahead! Dates and times will be sent out in the coming weeks.

Qkr! Accounts Reminder

Please take a moment to check your child's details in your Qkr! accounts. We've been receiving orders for students in the wrong classes and year levels, and we want to ensure everyone gets the right items at the right time.

Uniform Shop Updates

The uniform shop is now open on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:00 am to 9:00 am. We are currently awaiting a restock of size 8’s, which are in production and expected to arrive around week 6. Please contact the office if you would like to pre-order. Our online ordering system has been updated with a new pick-up option for added convenience. Online orders will be processed on tuckshop days. If you need your order at other times, please contact the office, and we'll be happy to assist you.

Volunteer Appreciation

A gentle reminder: Our P&C is run by volunteers from the Leichhardt community who dedicate their time and effort. Let's show them kindness and appreciation for all they do. If you would like to join the P&C and volunteer at our incredible school, please feel free to contact the office or have a friendly chat with our volunteers in the morning at the tuckshop.

From The Community