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