Volume 16 - 11 October 2024
From The Principal
Andrew Goldie - Principal
Pre-Prep Transition Program
Our Leichhardt State School pre-prep program is off to a fantastic start! It’s a valuable opportunity for new families to connect and for future students to become comfortable in the school environment. A huge thank you to our Prep teachers for their hard work in making each day meaningful! We will continue to welcome our 2025 preps every Tuesday for the next five weeks, and those weekly interactions will surely help everyone feel more at home. Special thanks to the mums and staff who helped set up the chairs, tables, and biscuits for the afternoon. We look forward to seeing all of our families in the coming weeks!
Swimming
School swimming is happening this week! Thank you to the staff involved in teaching our students this essential life skill. Knowing how to swim and being able to survive in the water is crucial. Please remind your children to bring their swimming gear so they are well-prepared.
Leichhardt State School is proud to be a PBL school!
The Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) framework is a powerful way to foster a positive school environment. We take a proactive approach to teaching expected behaviours and providing tailored support for our students. Emphasizing social-emotional learning (SEL) equips students with the skills to manage their emotions and build strong relationships, which has a lasting impact on their success.
The benefits of integrating SEL within the PBL framework include:
- Reduced bullying
- Improved emotional regulation
- Enhanced wellbeing
This approach not only helps students thrive academically but also contributes to a safer and more supportive school community. Exciting times lie ahead as we continue to implement this initiative!
School Review – Strategic Plan
Our staff will soon be reviewing our school report to develop a strategic plan for the next four years. This plan will focus on our current position, our goals, and the steps we will take to achieve them. We will analyse various data sets and feedback gathered from the report to drive positive changes within our school community. Key areas of focus will include academic achievement, attendance, behaviour, planning, teaching, assessment, communication, professional learning, and more. We will be seeking parent and community involvement as we work through this planning process.
It has been a wonderful start to the term for me. I have enjoyed getting to know everyone a little better and look forward to building those connections further.
School Grounds update
B Block continues being refurbished and is expected to be finished at the end of October, however they did find some more improvements that could be made so this may extend the work a little. Once the rooms are completed the students will have a beautiful new room to call their own.
The prep playground is just getting started but already the children are excited about what is happening, and I know that once it is finished, they will love it.
Thank you!
Andrew
From The Deputy Principal
Mrs. Finlay - Deputy Principal
Term 4 English @ Leichhardt
Supporting Our Students' Writing and Reading Journey This Term
This term, our students are working on their writing skills by creating retells, recounts, or narrative stories based on the texts they are reading in class. We encourage you to ask your child about the book they are currently reading and what they enjoy most about it—it’s a great way to engage with their learning!
In addition to their writing tasks, students will be completing reading comprehension activities throughout the term. To support your child’s reading development, we suggest setting aside just 10 minutes each day to read together. It’s a simple way to build confidence and foster a love for reading.
We also remind families that online platforms such as Reading Eggs and Education Perfect are available to help students practice their reading skills at home. If you have any concerns about your child’s reading progress, please don’t hesitate to reach out to their teacher for support.
Attendance Achievements in Week 1 @ Leichhardt
A big congratulations to 3A for reaching and surpassing the attendance goal of 90% in Week 1—well done, 3A!
Week 1, in the Senior School, 5A led the way with the highest attendance, achieving an impressive 86.67%. Keep up the great work, 5A!
Why Does School Attendance Matter?
Regular school attendance is vital for student success. It ensures students don’t miss important lessons, helps them build friendships, and teaches responsibility and punctuality. Consistent attendance keeps students engaged, reduces the risk of falling behind, and improves graduation rates. Plus, it allows access to school support services when needed. Let’s work together to ensure every student has the best chance to succeed!
Let’s aim for even higher attendance across all classes in the weeks to come!
Parent Teacher Interviews @ Leichhardt
Parent Teacher Interviews are scheduled for Thursday 17 October from 2:45pm to 5:15pm in the Hall. If you have not yet booked an interview with your child’s teacher but would like to discuss how they are progressing with their learning, please contact your child’s teacher to book an interview time.
Reminder for Prep Parents and Carers: Return AWL Visit Permission Note
The Animal Welfare League (AWL) will be visiting our Prep classes on Friday, 18 October, for a special presentation on responsible pet care. During the visit, students with parent/carer permission may have the chance to pat a well-trained dog or cat under the AWL officer’s supervision.
Please return the permission slip to let us know if you give consent for your child to pat the visiting pet. If you have any questions regarding this incursion, please contact Mrs Finlay (Deputy Principal – Teaching and Learning) on efinl9@eq.edu.au.
Prep Hearing Screening @ Leichhardt
On Wednesday, 23 October, staff and Master of Audiology students from the University of Queensland will be on site to conduct hearing screenings for our Prep students. To ensure your child can participate, please complete and return the permission forms to the office as soon as possible. Questions regarding the hearing screening to be directed to Mrs Finlay (Deputy Principal – Teaching and Learning) on efinl9@eq.edu.au
From The Head Of Teaching And Learning
Miss Everingham - Head Of Teaching And Learning
Positive Behaviour For Learning
Week 1 and Week 2 PBL focus was about; using every opportunity to learn how to speak to one another with respect and discussing way in how to treat others students belongings. Belongings including; pencil cases, back packs, lunch box, water bottles, hats and shoes.
Here are some actions and verbal responses you can discuss with your child
- Saying “may I”, “please” and “thank-you”
- Speaking in a kind and friendly tone
- Using kind and friendly words
- Showing thumbs up
- Showing others that you are listening to what they are saying
- Asking if you can use other people’s belongings such as pencils and rubbers and returning them
Year 5 and 6 Reminders
To assist our Year 5 and 6 students for high school, students have been taking more responsibility for their supplies, such as their pencil case and ruler, between classes. Please remind your student to ensure their ruler, pencil case, complete with lead pencils and an eraser, are in their bag each morning before they leave for school. Thank you, Miss Greenwood, for creating our posters to remind students to organise their belongings.
With the warmer weather quickly approaching, we encourage all students to apply sun safety
- wear a broad-brim hat,
- apply sunscreen,
- have a water bottle and
- seek shade – under a building or tree
‘Best Class on Parade’
Over the last few weeks, we have returned the ‘Best Class on Parade’ Trophy. The trophy goes to the best class who demonstrate SHELL during Parade and leave the hall the quietest.
S – sitting quietly
H – hands together
E – eyes facing the speaker
L – listening ears on
L – legs crossed
Congratulations to the following classes;
Week 1 – Ms Jaya – 2A
Fantastic work from all students, showing SHELL during Parade time!
Teachers and students have continued to work together as a team, to keep school and personal property safe. This includes; staying on task, storing and charging our devices after use, and placing our school bags in a neat manner. As part of the PBL process, teachers and students have had conversations about how to use devices. As a school, we are in the process of creating positively stated expectations to embed throughout the school.
Watch this space for what is to come!
Upcoming Events
High Five
Students are encouraged to use the ‘High Five’ when needed. This is reviewed every assembly as well as in class and in the playground, in order to support our students in making good behaviour choices.
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 this link
From The Head Of Special Education
Ms. Rivett - Head Of Special Education
Welcome back for our last term! Just a friendly reminder that if you are requiring observation letters or behaviour records to please see Anna in the main office to complete the External Request Form and Consent to Share documents. These can also be found on the school website. When completing the forms, please remember to put the date of the appointment, the clinic’s name, and email address. This enables us to forward to the clinic, so they can attach the documents to your child’s file. We also still require 2 weeks to complete these requests so staff can contribute to the observation letter.
Forest School has also started for the term so if your child received a permission form, please return to the office as soon as possible.
From The Teachers
Prep
Prep A have jumped straight into Term 4 exploring numbers and addition in maths. The students are continuing their learning of friends of 10, number formation and the concept of different number formations.
In English, the students are practicing their writing and sentence structure. The students are discovering that a sentence needs a capital letter, finger spaces between each word and a full stop. I can't wait to see what our writer's workshops will look like at the end of the term.
Have a great fortnight,
Mrs Krings
Year 1
The grade 1's joined classes to have a session with Aunty Marly learning about the native plants that are around the school and some of the benefits they have. We also visited the veggie garden to look at how well all of the plants and vegetables have grown. The students loved engaging with Aunty Marly outside of the classroom and will be doing more lessons throughout the term.
Sports Report
Touch Football
Our 4 Touch football teams heading down to the field last Friday on what was a hot and humid day. Our senior girls put on a dominant performance beating rosewood state school 12-0. Our junior girls had their best game of the year drawing with Ipswich Central State School 2-2. Every girl on the junior team defended their line so well to hold out central from scoring the game winner.
Our Senior boys took on the top of the ladder Ipswich Central and went down 7-6 in what was an amazing showcase of skill and teamwork.
Our Junior boys also took on Ipswich Central and were outclasses 9-3. None of the junior boys gave up however and continued to try their best throughout the game.
Mr. Woody
Swimming Report
Swimming lessons have begun this week for each and every student. It is extremely important that children are attending each and every week so they can continue to improve and gain vital water safety and swimming skills. Students will be assessed from their swimming lessons as a part of the HPE curriculum.
In week 3 and 4 there will, be some changes to the timetable due to the pool being pre booked by another school on Wednesdays. Please keep an eye out on social media for when your child/children's lesson will be on during these 2 weeks.
Mr. Woody
From The Deadly Room
Our Year six students have begun their BRIXS Program, which stands for Resilient Indigenous Kids for School. This initiative is designed to support and empower Indigenous students, fostering resilience, confidence and academic success through a range of engaging activities and learning experiences.
Year One students are exploring the connection between reading and indigenous cultures, deepening their understanding of storytelling and the significance of Country. through books and stories by Indigenous authors, they learn about the rich traditions, values, and deep connection to the land that is central to Indigenous Cultures.
Year 5 students are embracing Indigenous dance as part of their curriculum, learning traditional movements that tell stories and express a deep connection to culture and Country. Through this experience students gain greater appreciation for Indigenous heritage, understanding the significance of dance conveying history, beliefs and the natural world.
Gardening Club
A huge Thank You to Miss Brittney and her Family for keeping all our beautiful veggies and plants alive over the school holidays! You're a Gem Miss Brittney!
From The P&C
Welcome to Term 4!
Leichhardt P&C association is very excited to announce that this year we will be covering the dinner cost of all Graduating Year 6 Students.
Tuckshop is back up and running for Term 4, however we have had complications and cannot offer Eftpos payments on site at this time. If you could please download the QKR! app and create a profile for your student so that you can order tuckshop online as well as any uniform orders. Tuckshop is offering a Term 4 Special only available Fridays, of a Burger/Hotdog Deal with hot chips, drink and an Icy Pole for just $10.
It has been a wonderful year of reaching targets with the help of our community and families but we haven’t stopped yet! With a couple more events happening throughout the term so please stay tuned!
If you have any time during the weekdays and have considered volunteering, please come on down and see the admin staff or come have a friendly chat at the tuckshop for details on how you can help too!
From The Community
