Welcome to Term 3, 2025

I hope you had the chance to enjoy some quality time with your children over the winter break. Term 3 is a significant time for teaching and learning. During this term, students will build on the knowledge and skills developed in Semester 1 while also exploring new concepts across the curriculum.

Our teachers have planned engaging and meaningful units of study to spark curiosity and support student growth. I look forward to connecting with students and hearing about their learning experiences, achievements, and enjoyment throughout the term.

Attendance Matters

As mentioned in last term’s newsletters, regular school attendance is a vital part of a student’s education. Every day and every minute of learning counts.

At our school, we:

• Monitor student attendance daily
• Notify you of any unexplained absences as soon as practicable on the day of your child's absence and follow up as needed
• Use effective teaching strategies to encourage and engage your child in learning
• Support families with strategies to help encourage regular school attendance
• Provide assistance where needed to overcome barriers to attendance

If you are experiencing challenges in getting your child to school, please don’t hesitate to contact their teacher—we are here to help.

This term, in response to an increasing number of students arriving late and a growing number of unexplained absences, we are focusing on two key goals:

• Ensuring all students are at school from the first bell to the last bell every day
• Achieving 100% explained absences for all student absences

We value your ongoing support in helping us reach these goals together.

Student Movement To and From School

During the last week of Term 2, several members of our school community raised concerns about unsafe behaviours observed among students walking or riding bikes and scooters to and from school.

We kindly ask all parents and caregivers to speak with their children about the importance of travelling safely. Please remind them to be aware of their surroundings, follow road rules, and use designated crossings where available.

By working together, we can help ensure all students arrive at and leave school safely each day.

NAPLAN 2025

Parents in years 3 and 5 will receive your child’s NAPLAN report. The following is from the ACARA, ‘From 2023, NAPLAN results are reported against proficiency standards. There is a standard for each assessment area at each year level. Proficiency standards provide clear information on student achievement. They are set at a challenging but reasonable level expected for the student at the time of NAPLAN testing, based mainly on what has been taught in previous years of schooling. Student achievement is shown against 4 levels of proficiency: Exceeding, Strong, Developing and Needs additional support.’

As a school we use these results to help identify students who need greater challenges or extra support and identify strengths and areas of need to improve school based teaching programs. NAPLAN assessment are a one of assessment that does not calculate towards a students level of achievement that is awarded on their biannual report cards.

Staffing

We have a number of staff changes with the commencement of term 3. They include:

• Suzanne Fleming-Keys is replacing Kevin Noon on 6E
• Carly Brett is replacing Angus Ellard on 6A
• Alicia McAuliffe will be moving from 1F to Inclusion Teacher (Prep)
• We welcome Bree Lowing who will be teaching 1F

On behalf to the staff and students I would like to thank both Mr Ellard and Mr Noon for their time of service at Ferrnbrooke SS and wish you both all the best with your new adventures.

Have a great fortnight,

Scott

Fernbrooke State School STARS awards are handed to students by their class teacher and acknowledged at their assembly. Students are nominated by their class teacher. Each week Fernbrooke STARS recipients are shared in the newsletter. All Fernbrooke students are STARS because they are Safe, are Thinkers, Attend school, are Respectful and Successful learners.  As a community, we congratulate all these students in their efforts to Exceed Expectations.

Welcome back to Term 3! It's been wonderful to see students return with such energy and enthusiasm, ready for another great term of learning and growth.

We have several exciting events and updates to share:

We’ll kick off the term with a full school assembly on Friday 18th July at 8:45am in the hall. We look forward to welcoming back our students and sharing some important updates—families are always welcome to attend.

Prep Sports Day will be held on Friday 18th July from 8:30–10:30am.

This is a highlight on the Prep calendar, filled with fun, movement and plenty of cheering! Parents and carers are warmly invited to join us. A detailed timetable of events will be communicated closer to the day. Unfortunately, this will mean that the Prep students will not be attending the full school assembly on Friday morning. 

Our Prep area has had a fantastic new addition over the holidays—the mud kitchen has been installed and will officially open next Monday 21^st July. We can’t wait to see what delicious muddy recipes our students come up with! A huge thank you to all staff involved in organising and installing our mud kitchen.

On Monday 21st July, our Year 2 students will head to the hall for their ‘Step into History’ excursion. This immersive learning experience helps bring the past to life and is always a favourite among students. We know they’ll have a great day exploring and discovering.

⏰ A quick reminder about the importance of attendance and being on time each day. Starting the day on time helps students settle in, connect with peers, and feel ready to learn. To encourage this, students will earn a Perry Point every day they arrive on time—a small reward that reinforces a big habit!

Lastly, a heartfelt thank you for your support during Mrs Parker’s time away. She will return in Week 3 from her incredible trip to Africa—we look forward to hearing all about her adventures and welcoming her back into the Fernbrooke community. I will be returning to my role in Perry’s Nest as the Engagement Coach.

Here’s to a fantastic term ahead!

Miss Curwen

Welcome Back to Semester 2

Welcome back to all our students, families, and staff for Semester 2 and Term 3! We hope everyone had a restful and refreshing holiday break. Term 3 is always a busy and exciting time of year, full of learning opportunities, extracurricular events, and moments to celebrate our students’ growth and success. Your child is now officially closer to the next year level with every day that passes. It was lovely to see so many of our children return with smiling faces and a readiness to exceed expectations in everything they do as learners and Fernbrooke students.

Keeping It Smart and Sensible – A Friendly Reminder About Uniform Expectations

At Fernbrooke State School, we pride ourselves on maintaining high standards in all aspects of school life – and that includes wearing our correct school uniform with pride. As we embrace the colder months, we’d like to take this opportunity to remind families of a few important uniform guidelines to help keep our students warm, comfortable, and looking their best:

• Layer Up – and Label Everything!
  With chilly mornings becoming the norm, it’s wonderful to see so many students rugged up in their plain black, hoodless jumpers or school uniform jackets. However, our Lost Property bin is quickly filling up with unnamed items. To avoid the daily game of “Whose jumper is this?”, we kindly ask all families to clearly label every item of clothing, especially hats and jumpers. A simple name tag or permanent marker goes a long way in helping lost items find their way back home.
• Uniform Matters
  Our school uniform is designed to be practical, comfortable, and promote a sense of belonging. It is also a ‘leveller’ in that everyone is wearing the same clothing without superiority of fancy, expensive brands etc. As such, I’d like to remind families that make-up, coloured hair, and temporary tattoos from recent holiday adventures should be saved for home. While we love hearing about the fun had over the break, we ask that students return to school ready to meet our uniform expectations and focus on learning without these adornments.
• Dressing Appropriately
  I’ve noticed a few students coming to school in tight-fitting garments like Lycra tights, bike shorts, or spandex-style clothing. Please note that these items are considered underwear or base layers rather than outerwear. If students choose to wear these for warmth or comfort, they must be worn underneath appropriate school uniform clothing such as a skirt, dress, or shorts. Likewise, no branded clothing items are permitted as a school uniform item e.g. black shorts with popular sporting brands on them or jumpers with hoods etc. All uniform items are to be plain black if not a school logo item.

By adhering to our uniform policy, we help foster a positive school culture where every child can feel included, respected, and ready to learn.

Upcoming Events at Fernbrooke

There are plenty of exciting learning opportunities and celebrations happening this term:

• Year 3 – STARLAB Incursion
  Our Year 3 students will be exploring the wonders of space during their STARLAB incursion on Thursday, 31st July. All permission forms and payments have now been finalised – we can’t wait for this out-of-this-world experience!
• Year 4 – Remondis Waste Management Excursion
  Year 4 students will be attending their excursion to Remondis Waste Management on Tuesday, 29th July or Thursday, 31st July. This is a free excursion, and the permission period to attend has now closed. We’re excited for our students to see real-world sustainability in action.
• Junior Athletics Carnival – Year 3
  Don’t forget – our Year 3 students will be participating in the Junior Athletics Carnival on Thursday, 7th August. We encourage all students to show their team spirit and give their best effort on the day! Parents are welcome to attend and spectate.
• NAIDOC Assembly – Celebrating Culture and Country
  Our school’s NAIDOC Assembly will take place on Friday, 8th August. This is a whole-school event celebrating the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. All parents and carers are warmly invited to attend and be part of this important celebration of our First Nations culture.

Thank you, as always, for supporting our school community and encouraging your child to be a proud Fernbrooke STAR. Let’s make Term 3 a great one.

See you on the crossing.

Shane

Welcome back to Term 3!  We hope all our families enjoyed a restful break and had the opportunity to spend some quality time with loved ones. It was wonderful to see all our students return ready for another exciting term of learning.  I will be taking some long service leave from Monday, July 28 – Friday, August 10.  During this time Ms Kelli Turnbull will be replacing me as the Senior Years Deputy. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Kelli if the need arises during this time so she can assist you with your query.

Staffing update

We have had two changes in our Year 6 staffing line up.  Mr Ellard has left us for the lure of travel and has been replaced by Ms Brett, while Mr Noon is moving interstate, with Ms Fleming stepping in to take his place.

Uniforms

As the cooler weather has set in, we have noticed a growing number of students not following our uniform expectations, particularly with incorrect clothing items being worn. At Fernbrooke State School, our uniform is more than just clothing; it is a symbol of belonging, pride, and equality. It clearly identifies our students and represents the values of our school within the wider community. Wearing the correct uniform contributes to a strong sense of school spirit and fairness among students.

We remind families that:

• Full school uniform (including the hat) is to be worn each day with enclosed footwear.
• All shorts, pants, and jumpers must be either Fernbrooke embroidered or plain black with no visible branding or logos.
• Lycra or Spandex garments are considered undergarments and should not be worn as outerwear.
• Any jewellery should be of cultural or religious significance and should be worn under the shirt to protect it from damage or loss. Earrings should be studs or sleepers.
• No make-up, including nail polish is to be worn.

As a school, we appreciate the support of our families in maintaining high standards and helping all students represent Fernbrooke State School with pride. If you need any support with this, please reach out to the office.

Year 5 Street Science                                PERMISSION/CONSENT AND PAYMENT DUE Friday July 25^th - COST IS $20.00

On Monday, August 4^th 2025, our Year 5 students have the opportunity to participate in the Street Science “See the Light” Stage Show and Workshop. The Year 5 Signature Science show will feature demonstrations with fire, liquid nitrogen, and other curious chemicals to engage students in an unforgettable observation exploring particles of matter and light.  Students will also participate in the “See the Light” Workshop where students will explore concepts of light absorption, reflection, refraction and how shadows are formed.  

Year 6 – Destination High School survey                                                                    PLEASE RETURN BY:  FRIDAY JULY 25^th

Transitioning to high school is a significant milestone in a student’s academic and personal journey. Fernbrooke has already begun some processes to support our Year 6 students to make the transition into high school a successful one. This week your child will bring home a survey asking you to identify their destination high school.  This information will help us to reach out to the appropriate high schools to organise transition events.  Please complete the survey and send it back by Friday July 25.

Year 6 Parliament House Excursion                                                           PERMISSION/CONSENT AND PAYMENT CLOSED

The Year 6 students will be participating in an excursion on either Tuesday 22^nd OR Wednesday 23^rd July 2025 to visit Queensland’s Parliament House in Brisbane.

Year 6 Camp                                                               PERMISSION/CONSENT AND PAYMENT DUE Friday September 19^th

We are finalising our preparations for camp in Term 4. This term you will receive another copy of the permission forms and camp equipment list, so you have time to prepare.  Camp payments will close on Friday, September 19.

Week 1 PBL Focus:  RESPECTFUL- Follow Classroom Rules

PBL around the grounds

Market Place is Coming to a Classroom Near You

With its great success last term Perry’s Marketplace will continue to go mobile! On Thursdays and Fridays Mr Medford and I will be visiting classes with our new Trolley full of goodies for our students to purchase. We can’t wait to see the excitement of our students!

Attendance Bingo Begins

Attendance Bingo is starting next week, and we are aiming for all students to achieve an average attendance percentage of 90%. There are some great prizes to be won. Once a class has reached 5 in a row (Bingo) a class representative will come down and spin the wheel to receive their class prize.

Fernbrooke’s bi-annual Handball Competition was a thrilling event, showcasing incredible talent, friendly rivalry, and outstanding sportsmanship. Students battled it out across the courts, but it all came down to an exciting final between Malakai and Lincoln. With quick reflexes and cool composure, Lincoln claimed the title of Grand Champion in a nail-biting finish that had everyone on the edge of their seats. Congratulations to all players for their effort, energy, and enthusiasm!