Hello Fernbrooke Community,

This fortnight, I had the pleasure of visiting classrooms in Years 1 and 6. During these visits, I spoke with several students about how they use their learning walls to support their learning.

I was delighted to hear how students are actively using this visible learning tool to assist, affirm, and even challenge themselves in their learning journey. Providing students with engaging and effective tools is an ongoing practice that our teaching team continuously evaluates.

Hearing directly from students about the positive impact these tools have on their learning is invaluable. It reminds us that everything we do each day should contribute to meaningful growth and success for every child.

A big thank you to all the students who took the time to chat with me about their learning during my visits to Years 1 and 6. Your insights are truly inspiring!

Attendance from the ‘First bell to the last bell’.

This term, we are placing a strong focus on student attendance due to a noticeable increase in absences, with a significant number remaining unexplained.

Last week alone, over 130 students received letters requesting that parents or caregivers provide an explanation for their child’s absence. As part of our shared responsibility, we ask that you notify the school of any known absences in advance, on the day of the absence, or as soon as practicable thereafter.

All schools are legally required to have a documented and valid reason for every student absence. If you receive a letter regarding an unexplained absence, please return it promptly with the necessary information.

We understand that families may sometimes face challenges in getting children to school. If this is the case, we encourage you to contact your child’s teacher. A member of the school team will follow up with you to offer support and explore possible solutions.

Together, we can ensure that every student has the best chance to thrive through regular attendance.

Prep Transitions

We’re excited to announce that enrolments for Prep are now open for 2026!

If you have a little one starting Prep next year, we still have spots available in our Prep Transition Afternoons—a wonderful opportunity for new students to get comfortable and excited for the year ahead!

Prep Transition Sessions from 1:30pm - 2:30pm.

7, 14, 21 & 28 August

4 & 11 September

Don’t miss out on being part of our Fernbrooke family. Contact us today for more information on enrolments and transition sessions!

August P&C Meeting

This will be held in the school’s Community Hub on Tuesday 5 August starting at 1:30pm.

Staffing

For the next fortnight, Mrs. Kelli Turnbull will be serving as Deputy Principal for Years 5 and 6, while Ms. Alberts is on long service leave. We are confident that Mrs. Turnbull will provide strong and supportive leadership during this time.

We are also pleased to inform you that Mrs. Meena Yaganegi will take on the role of Head of Inclusive Education while Mrs. Turnbull fulfills her duties as Deputy Principal.

We have several exciting events happening next week, including the Star Lab Incursion for Year 1, the NAIDOC Assembly on Friday, and the Prep to Year 3 Athletics Carnival on Thursday 7 August.

If you are able to attend the assembly or the athletics carnival, we would love to see you there to support our students.

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.

Starting now and continuing on  into 2026, QParents will include a new feature: Permission for Online Services. This will cover consents such as media permission and approvals for third-party online services used by the school.

This enhancement offers a more streamlined and efficient method for collecting consent information and is designed to make it quicker and easier for parents and carers to provide the necessary permissions.

When you receive the request through QParents, please review the details and indicate your consent by selecting either approve or reject.

Any questions, please contact the Office.  Thank you for your continued support of this service.

Welcome Back, Mrs Parker!
We are thrilled to welcome back Mrs Parker, who has returned safely from her African adventure. We’ve missed her deeply and can’t wait to hear all about her incredible experiences. We know our students will love learning about the people, animals, and culture she encountered—thank you for bringing a piece of Africa back to Fernbrooke!

? 100 Days Brighter – Prep Celebration
Our Prep students are getting ready to celebrate a huge milestone—100 Days of Prep! Join us on Friday 1 August from 8:30–10:30am in the Prep precinct for a bright and bubbly celebration. There’ll be a sausage sizzle, an animal farm, and loads of fun activities. We welcome all families and younger siblings (non-school aged) to come along and enjoy the morning with us. Preps are encouraged to dress in their brightest outfits to mark the occasion.

Junior School Sports Day – Save the Date!
We’re excited to announce that the Prep Sports Day will now be part of our Junior School Sports Day, happening on Thursday 7 August. This will include all students from Prep to Year 3. A detailed schedule will be shared soon so families can come along and cheer on our little athletes. Our P&C will also be holding a Sausage Sizzle for parents attending on this day.

❤️ NAIDOC Week Assembly
Fernbrooke will proudly celebrate NAIDOC Week at our special assembly on Friday 8th August at 9:00am in the hall. We are honoured to be joined by special guests, the Leichhardt State School Deadly Dancers, who will share their culture through dance and storytelling. Families are warmly invited to attend this celebration of First Nations culture and history.

Every Minute Matters – Attendance Counts!
A reminder to all families about the importance of being at school every day, from the first bell to the last bell. Missing just 20 minutes a day adds up—over time, this could mean missing an entire year of learning! Every moment in the classroom is a step toward your child’s success, and we appreciate your support in ensuring students are ready to learn on time each day.

Prep Enrolments for 2026
Do you have a child ready to start school next year? If your child was born between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021, they are eligible to start Prep in 2026! Our Prep transition program begins in Week 4, and spaces are filling fast. Please contact the school office as soon as possible to book your enrolment and secure your child's place for next year.

Exploring, Discovering and Celebrating in The Middle Years

It’s been an exciting and busy week in the Middle Years with so many opportunities for our students to learn beyond the classroom and deepen their understanding of the world around them.

Our Year 4 students had a fantastic time this week visiting the Remondis Waste Management Facility at Swanbank as part of their inquiry into sustainability and waste. The excursion gave students a firsthand look at where household waste from Ipswich goes and what happens to it once it leaves our bins. They were fascinated to learn about how the recycling process works and just how much effort goes into reducing what ends up in landfill. The visit sparked many meaningful conversations about the importance of rethinking, reusing, and recycling, and how the choices we make every day can reduce our footprint on the planet. It was wonderful to see our students so engaged and inspired to become more responsible consumers.

Meanwhile, our Year 3 students took a journey far beyond Earth — all without leaving the school. They participated in the Star Lab incursion, where they were immersed in a magical, sensory learning experience about space. Star Lab is a mobile planetarium that brings the night sky to life, allowing students to experience the stars, planets, and solar system in a way that can’t easily be achieved in a regular classroom. Lying back under the dome and watching the universe unfold above them was a memorable and engaging way to deepen their knowledge of space science.

Looking ahead, we have more exciting events coming up next week:

Flanno for a Farmer – Tuesday 5th August
Next Tuesday is ‘Flanno for a Farmer’ day. Students are encouraged to wear a flannelette shirt to school in support of struggling farmers across Australia. It’s a fun and meaningful way for our school to get behind this great cause. We ask that students bring a gold coin donation, which will be collected by our Student Council and donated to support our farmers doing it tough in rural areas.

Junior Athletics Carnival – Thursday 7th August, 8.30am – 1.30pm on the oval
Our Year 3 students will be participating in the Junior Athletics Carnival next Thursday. Parents and carers are warmly invited to come along and cheer on the children as they give their best in a variety of fun events. The P&C will be running a sausage sizzle and drinks stall throughout the day — so come hungry and support the school community while you're at it!

NAIDOC Assembly – Friday 8th August, 8:45am in the hall
We are proud to celebrate NAIDOC Week at Fernbrooke with a special assembly on Friday morning. NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee, and it's a time when all Australians come together to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. At Fernbrooke, we believe it’s important to recognise and celebrate the First Nations people of this land. Our assembly will be an opportunity to reflect on culture, listen to stories, and celebrate the rich and enduring traditions of Australia’s First Peoples.

From waste education to space exploration, athletics, culture, and caring for others — it’s inspiring to see our students developing into well-rounded, thoughtful Fernbrooke Stars who are truly exceeding expectations every day.

See you on the crossing.

Shane

As Ms Alberts is currently on long service leave, I will be replacing her for the next two weeks. My usual role at the school is Head of Inclusive Education, so I already have a good understanding of the Year 5 and 6 students.  If you require any support during this time, please don’t hesitate to contact the school office, and I will be happy to assist with any queries you may have.

Parliament House excursion

Day of Netball Excellence

Last Thursday I had the opportunity to take 28 of our year 5/6 netball girls to Bremer State High School to take part in a Netball Day of Excellence.  We had a fantastic day and the girls were outstanding.  We took part in:​

• A strength and fitness session with their lead coach​
• Skills session with the Head of Netball​
• Umpiring session with QLD Netball umpiring coordinator​
• Match play against the year 7 students​
• Team building exercises​

​All the girls did Fernbrooke State School very proud. 

​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.  Hoodies are not an item of clothing that should be worn at school, and this has been communicated to students.  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  - This has now closed     

Year 6 – Destination High School survey                PLEASE RETURN BY:  FRIDAY 8 August

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.  Refer to further information in this newsletter regarding transition days for students with disability.  Identified student who have enrolled at Redbank Plains High School will have additional transitions days in term 3 and 4.  Please complete the survey and send it back by Friday August 8.

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

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 2 & 3 PBL Focus: Attends – We arrive on time and are ready to learn

Supporting Positive Behaviour Through Purposeful Play

At Fernbrooke State School, we are continually reflecting on our practices to create safe, supportive, and engaging environments for all students. After reviewing our behaviour data from Semester 1, we identified a number of behavioural challenges occurring during Senior Play time on the oval.

In response to this, we are implementing a new structured play approach during lunch breaks to promote positive engagement and reduce incidents in this space. Our wonderful facilities team will soon be line-marking the oval to clearly define several designated play areas:

• 1 Netball Court
• 1 Soccer Field
• 2 Football Fields

These areas will be actively supervised by staff, providing students with clear expectations, defined spaces, and the opportunity to engage in safe, purposeful play. By creating more structure, we aim to reduce conflict, support smoother transitions into and out of playtime, and make lunchtimes more enjoyable and inclusive for all.

We are excited to see the positive impact this change will have on our students’ social interactions, wellbeing, and overall school experience. Thank you for your continued support as we work together to foster a calm, connected and consistent learning environment.

‘Flanno for a Farmer’ – Student Council Fundraiser

As members of the Student Representative Council, we’ve been learning about how severe weather like droughts, floods, and storms can have a big impact on farmers, their crops, and their animals. These challenges make it harder for them to provide food for our communities and can put a lot of pressure on farming families.

To show our support, we’re holding a fundraising event in Week 4 on Tuesday 5th August called Flanno for a Farmer! We’re inviting all students and staff to wear their favourite flannelette shirt and bring a gold coin donation.

All money raised will go directly to Farm Angels (formerly known as Drought Angels), a charity that helps Australian farmers during tough times. Let’s work together to make a difference for the hardworking people who help feed our country. We can’t wait to see a sea of flannos across Fernbrooke! 

Congratulations

A huge congratulations to one of our Student Council Representatives, and Freeman House Captain, Lachlan for his success in the Districts Cross Country. Lachlan represented Queensland for running and took out 1^st place in his age group. Well done, Lachlan! What an amazing achievement.

P&C Commitee General meeting Tuesday 5 August at 1:30pm in the Community Hub all welcome. 

Exciting times ahead we have a sausage sizzle for grade 1-3 athletics carnival on Thursday 7 August.

Volunteers required - please message Fernbrooke P&C Facebook page for information. 

Thanks Michelle Luscombe 

President Fernbrooke P&C

A GREAT BIG Thankyou

Goes to Lucy and Mylee for their

wonderful donation of books to our Library.

Thank you, girls!  I am sure they will be loved by many students for many years.