Term 4 Week 2 Newsletter

Principal's Report

Welcome to our final term of 2025—it’s hard to believe how quickly the year has flown by! Term 4 is always a busy and exciting time as we celebrate the many achievements of our students, farewell our wonderful Year 6 cohort, and prepare for the new school year ahead.  Our Year 6 students are certainly counting down the days with a mix of excitement and nostalgia as they get ready to embark on their next big adventure. We look forward to making their final term at our school a memorable one!

Celebrating Our Incredible Staff – World Staff Day

Last week, we proudly celebrated World Staff Day, taking a moment to recognise the incredible people who make our school such a vibrant, supportive, and inspiring place to learn and grow. From our dedicated teachers to our hardworking support and admin teams, every staff member plays a vital role in shaping the heart of our school community.

A special thank you to our wonderful P&C and Communa Cantina, Everton Park, for generously providing a delicious lunch for all staff. Your kindness and support made the day even more special and truly appreciated by all.

Thank you to everyone who helps make our school such an awesome place to be!

Pre-Prep Transition Program Welcomes 2026 Prep Students

Last week, our Pre-Prep Transition Program continued as we welcomed our future 2026 Prep students to experience the excitement of school life. It was wonderful to see their enthusiasm as they explored their new learning environment and began building connections with teachers and classmates.

We’re looking forward to our upcoming Orientation Mornings, which will be held on:

• Wednesday 12 November, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.
• Monday 24 November, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.

Families will be notified of their child’s 2026 Prep Teacher on Monday 8 December.

If your child is due to start Prep in 2026 and you haven’t enrolled yet, please do so as soon as possible to ensure they can take part in these valuable transition experiences.

Staffie’s Got Talent Finals 
Last term, some of our talented students took to the stage for the Staffie’s Got Talent auditions, and what an incredible showcase it was. From acting and dancing to singing and playing instruments, it was wonderful to see the wide range of talents on display. Every student who participated should feel proud as it takes great courage to perform in front of an audience.
We are excited to announce that the Staffie’s Got Talent Finals will be held on Friday 24 October in the school hall, starting at 9:15 a.m. All families are warmly invited to come along and enjoy the amazing performances from our talented students.

Save the Date – Culture Connect 2025

We warmly invite all parents, caregivers and families to join us for Culture Connect, a special event celebrating culture, building connections, and strengthening our community.

The event will take place on Tuesday 11 November 2025, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm, in the Stafford Heights State School Hall.

It will feature a range of engaging activities including:

• Cultural food
• Smoking ceremony and blessing
• Yarning circles with local Elders
• Services expo

More information to come—stay tuned! We look forward to sharing this meaningful event with our school community.

Sarah Abdy

Principal

Head of Curriculum

Home Reading

This is the last term to reach one of the milestones in our Home Reading program.  Reading every day is important for children learning to read.  Reading in a quiet space will help to establish an important routine of home reading that will continue as they grow to develop a love of reading. 

A reminder to sign the blue Home Reading card every day that a book is read or listened to. Bring the card to school regularly for the teacher to check.

English

This term in English all students will be studying imaginative stories to explain how authors develop characters and themes in picture books or completing a novel study using real world or imagined settings.   The end of term assessment for students will be to read, view and comprehend an imaginative text as well as create a written narrative.

Year 3 Pillowcase Program incursion

Students in Years 3 participated in a disaster resilience education workshop run by Australian Red Cross, called Pillowcase.

Designed to help children prepare for, cope with and respond to an emergency, the workshop included a discussion about the importance of being prepared, as well as interactive activities to help students prepare their minds for an emergency and consider what to pack in an emergency kit. Each student was given a pillowcase to decorate and take home, to start their own personal emergency kit.

Whether your child participated in the workshop or not, Red Cross would encourage all of us to get prepared for the emergencies that life throws at us. They have also stressed how important it is to not only make an emergency plan but to discuss and practise that plan with children. 

Getting your household prepared:

Red Cross have provided a checklist of actions to prepare our households and children for emergencies. I encourage you, if you haven’t already, to complete these as a household. 

• All the children in our house know what an emergency is (a serious, dangerous and scary situation where help might be needed)

• All the children in our house know how to stay calm by ‘breathing with colour’ (slowly breathing in their favourite colour and then slowly exhaling their least favourite colour to regulate their breathing)

• All the children in our house know how and when to call for help (For guidance visit triplezero.gov.au)

• We have a safe meeting place outside our house and have practised how to get there

• We know who to call if we can’t find each other

• We have an emergency kit packed ready to go if we have to leave our house quickly.

For further guidance or to create a household emergency plan you can download Australian Red Cross’ Get Prepared app or visit  redcross.org.au/prepare.

My New Gallery

Majella Cooper

Head of Curriculum 

Head of Inclusion

Transition to High School

Term 4 is an exciting time for our year 6 students as they embrace the transition phase to high school. Each school will have their own processes surrounding possible Orientation Days for all enrolled 2026 Year 7 students. Please connect with your chosen high school if you have any queries surrounding information or upcoming dates and events. The Orientation Days are a valuable opportunity for students to engage and become familiar with expectations and people involved in their year 7 school experience. It is normal to feel a range of emotions, and all schools are here to support your family on this journey. This is an opportunity for growth and new experiences.

 Ways families can help support their child with this phase include:

• planning and getting organised.
• visiting the school and encouraging your child to go to any secondary school orientation days/programs. 
• doing a trial run with travelling to school, including taking public transport and using a travel card. 
• inviting older siblings or friends to share information about the school system i.e. timetable, changing classrooms
• practising ‘what if?’ scenarios 
• establishing routines including relaxing and fun activities 
• Stay connected and interested in your young person’s learning.
  

(headspace 2025)

Transition sessions are available for students who may require additional support as they navigate this new phase of schooling. We encourage you to connect with the chosen high school around upcoming transition dates or opportunities. Please contact your high school or the HIVE for any additional days. Please let your class teacher or the HIVE know if you are planning on attending or you would like an opportunity to discuss any specific transition supports.

Community Resource Unit -CRU

The Community Resource Unit is supported by the department to provide information to families about inclusive education.

Please refer to the flyer attached for Term 4 workshops which have a focus on planning for the 2026 school year.

Shelley Kemp

Head of Inclusion

Enrolments

What to Include in an Enrolment Application

• Proof of address and residency documents
• State School Consent and school permission forms
• original birth certificate for each child
• passport and visa for any children born overseas
• recent report card
• Any relevant medical information and health action plans.
• Any current court orders or custody details related to the enrolling child/ren
• Any other information that you consider important for us to know about your child/ren.
• For students with an international passport and an Australian visa the following are also required: 
• visa grant notice from the Department of Home Affairs. Please note, a VIVO check does not provide details necessary for school enrolment.
• passport photo page.
• An official, English translation of their birth certificate may be requested.
• An Authority to Enrol in a Queensland State School is required for all subclass TR500 visas and is arranged by contacting Education Queensland International External link External link.
• All temporary visa holders should refer to Education Queensland International  External link External link to determine if an Authority to Enrol is required for their visa subclass.

Once you have completed the necessary forms, please return them (along with the necessary documents) to admin@staffordheightsss.eq.edu.au or alternatively contact Sonia Yates our enrolments Officer directly.

Leaving Stafford Heights in 2026

This term we commence planning for the 2026 school year.  If your family is planning to leave Stafford Heights at the end of the 2025 school year, could you please notify the office by email - admin@staffordheightsss.eq.edu.au

If you know of families wishing to join our Stafford Heights community, please encourage them to also contact the school office by email - admin@staffordheightsss.eq.edu.au 

Pre Prep News

PREP ENROLMENTS FOR 2026

Applications for Prep 2026 are now being accepted.

If you have a sibling that is due to start in 2026 please make sure you come and see us in the office to receive an enrolment pack.

Please visit our school website at: https://staffordheightsss.eq.edu.au/enrolments to download our enrolment forms or alternatively collect from administration.

Please note: Our school is now catchment managed therefore we require the following documents to be sent through with the enrolment forms and permission forms.

The right age for Prep 2026 is for all children born between 1 July 2020 and 30 June 2021. Our Prep program is planned and designed to cater for all children at all levels of development who are born in this 12 month period

General School Information

Office Reminders

• Office Hours – 8.15am-3.15pm

• No Hat No Play Outside

* Student Birthday’s

If your child is celebrating a birthday and would like to bring cake to school to celebrate with the class please make sure that you contact the teacher or the office to ask how many students are in the class. We ask that you bring in something that can be easily given out to students for eg: cupcakes, freddo frogs and zooper doopers. (Please note: no full sized cakes as classrooms do not have the facilities to cut up slices to hand out)

• Students with Long Hair - All students with long hair should tie their hair back with a blue hair tie while at school (as 
per the Stafford Heights SS Student Dress Code)

• Early Pick Up of Students - If you need to pick up your child early throughout the day please come up to the 
office and sign your child out on the IPad.

• Family Holiday’s during School Term – if your family is going on a holiday during the school term, please email the office to inform them of the dates so that we know why your child will be absent from school. If the time away from school 10 school days or more the office will require you to fill out a specific form.

• Students Late to School – if your child is late to school (arrive after 9am), please make sure you come to the office first to receive a late slip to hand to their teacher. 

• Animals on School Premises – Please note that no animals are to enter school grounds at all as per the signs on each of our school fences.

Book Swap

Cultural Connections Corner

Save the date! Culture Connect is coming soon — Our school is proud to host Culture Connect, an afternoon dedicated to celebrating and strengthening connections with our Indigenous families. We warmly invite you to join us for this meaningful event. Stay tuned for more information.

Our first RAP (Reconciliation Action Plan) Working Group meeting - Tuesday, 21st October at 8.15am - Staffroom

We’re inviting parents, carers, and families to join our RAP Working Group. This group will play a vital role in guiding our school’s journey towards reconciliation and making sure community voices are heard and valued. Our first RAP Working Group meeting will be held on Tuesday, 21^st October at 8:15 AM in the Staff room. We hope to see you there. 

Deadly Choices - Year 1 and Year 2

What a deadly start to our Deadly Choices program! This week, our Year 1 and 2 Indigenous students enjoyed an engaging first session with Noah, learning about healthy choices and strong culture. Everyone’s already counting down and looking forward to next week!

Student Lunches

We have two lunch breaks a day that are:

FIRST BREAK 11:00 am – 11:40 am and SECOND BREAK 1:10 am – 1:40 pm

We have noticed that quite a number of students eat all of their lunch at first break therefore have nothing to eat at second break. Please ensure that you remind your child to not eat all of their food at first break so that they have food to eat second break as well.

School Lunchbox Ideas

First Break Eating - This is our biggest break for eating so it's suggested that this is when students should eat their main items such as: Sandwich, Yoghurt, Veggie Sticks (carrots, celery, cucumber etc)

Second Break Eating - This break should be items that are non-perishable, this is a short eating break, so it's suggested to have snacks such as: Fruit, Savoury Muffins, Crisp breads, Popcorn

Tip: please make sure you pack items that your child likes 

Medication at School

If your child requires medication at school, please bring the medication in the original 
packaging with a label from the chemist along with a letter from the Doctor stating the child’s name, medication, dosage and time to administer. You will then be required to fill out forms to give us permission to administer this medication during school hours.

Please note: where the dosage of a medication requires tables to be halved, we have to request that parents/carers supply a pill cutter, labelled with your child’s name.

If medication supply is running low, you will receive a phone call to bring more tablets to the office. Please DO NOT send tablets in a zip lock bag with your child to hand to the office, we require a parent/carer to come to the office to give the extra tablets.

Collecting Medication at end of year procedure

Please ensure all medications that are in the office (including ventolin) are collected from the office by 3pm – Friday 12th December  

Medication Drop Off 2026

All students that require medication/ventolins etc to be administered during school hours will need to bring their child’s medication to the office on Tuesday 20th January from 8.15am. During this time, we will require you to fill out 2026 permission to administer medication forms. Please note: all medications including asthma puffers will need to have original packaging with your child’s name, Dr’s name on the label along with a Dr’s letter stating that they require to take that particular medication and the dosage that they need to take.

Student Absences

Even though you may have notified your child's teacher we still require you to inform the office when your child is away from school. Please note: all Unexplained absences are noted in a child’s Report card.

1. Leave a message on 3621 2333 OR
2. SMS: 0426 305 697 OR
3. QParents App – Submit Absence OR
4. Email: admin@staffordheightsss.eq.edu.au

Even though absences may result in missed learning opportunities, the main reason we ask that you notify us when your child is away is so we are made aware that your child is SAFE.

QParents - ALL Excursion Consent Forms will be on QParents only from Term 1 2026

We are trying to reduce our carbon footprint and streamline our office processes, so for this reason as from Term 1 2026 ALL excursion consent forms will be on QParents ONLY, there will be no physical copies handed out to students. If you are not signed up for Qparents please email admin on: admin@staffordheightsss.eq.edu.au so that we can send through an invite to sign up for Qparents TODAY.

Benefits of QParents

It’s a user-friendly portal which provides secure online access to information about your child’s schooling including attendance, report cards, excursion consent forms, invoices and payment history. QParents also provides ease of viewing and updating your child’s details (including address and medical conditions) and helps both schools and parents through improved administration efficiencies and reduced printing and mail-outs. Please see the QParents Fact Sheet below for details about how to sign up.

PBL News! - "Respect for Property"

Our PBL focus for this week is to Keep the School Clean which falls under Respect for Property and the Staffie Life Skill of Perseverance.

This school expectation is a nice one to focus on this week to ensure that our school is being looked after by the students properly. It is a great time for us to remind students that taking pride in how our school looks, how our classroom looks and how our tidy trays look, can make us feel good, feel smart and help us feel ready to learn as we approach a busy last term of the year – tidy tray, tidy mind! Not to mention help our very special cleaners.

At home, this might be a good time for a bedroom tidy, uniform inventory or clean out of the school bag to ensure that students feel as prepared and are as organised as they can be for the last term of the year.

Health & Physical Education

Term 4 and we are as busy as ever in our sport programs.

Swimming

We started our swimming term this week and it was fantastic to see so many of our student arrive with their gear.  A few reminders:

1. All students need a swimming cap – these can be purchased from Variety Stores like Kmart and Big W, or Sports stores like Rebel Sport or Hart Sport. There are also plenty of online options. Please ensure that you are arranging for a cap for your student if they don’t have one.
2. Names on items, this includes School Uniforms – we had a few mix ups this weeks that are sorted out more easily if items are named.
3. Swimming is part of the PE Curriculum and as such – unless your student is unwell it is expected that they will participate in the lessons. Please make sure you are sending a note either to myself jjard16@eq.edu.au or to the class teacher if your student is unwell. 
4. Exclusions from the pool. In order to keep everyone safe there are times where your student should not be swimming.  If they have had diarrhoea – they should not return to the pool for 14 days after their last incident.  If your student has active, untreated infections they also should not be swimming.  Please respect other students and staff by keeping everyone safe.
5. Parent helpers – we are always in need of helpers in the Prep to Year 2 Space. If you can assist with your students class, whether it be one lesson or every lesson we would love to hear from you. Please email me at jjard16@eq.edu.au.  Please understand that Parent Helpers will be required to get into the pool to support the lessons.  There is no spectating from the stands and younger siblings are not able to be at the pool.
6. If your student brings home something that doesn't belong to them, please return it to school so that it can be returned to the correct owners we often have mix up in the change rooms. 

Term 4 Gala Sport

Notes have been sent home this week and are due back Friday for Gala Sport.  This term we are participating in Tipsy Cricket which will be held at Stafford Heights Starting Friday 31^st October.  Parents are welcome to attend to watch. First game will commence at 11.30am and all games will be completed by 2pm each Friday. 

Students will be practicing during second break each Monday and Wednesday.

Volleyball Cup

In Week 8,  we will be having a Volleyball Cup day at Stafford Heights with Stafford State School and Somerset Hills State School.  This is for students in year 5 and 6 who had been part of the Volleyball Cup Teams which were scheduled to attend Craigslea State High School back in August.  Practice for these teams will happen on second break on Fridays until Gala Sport Starts and will then move to either a Monday or Wednesday.

2026 School Sports Program.

Plans have been underway for considerable time for changes to the Met North Structure which includes all pathway sports for our 10, 11 and 12 year olds.  While all minor details are not yet known at the school level, it is time for everyone to begin to understand that what we have know for several years about team trials and the ‘Big 3’ – swimming, cross country and track and field will all look different.  This may include processes around selection and participation or even simply timing of events.  

Changes to note at this time is Met North will now be made up of Six Districts which include students 10yrs to 19 yrs. Rather than a mixture of Primary School 10-12 Districts and High School 13-19 Districts, Independent districts and also combinations of 10-19 Districts which have been the case for a number of years. In this restructure, some schools are being shuffled around into different districts from those that they previously competed in, Stafford Heights is one of those schools. We have been moved from North District into Central District from 2026.  

As I become aware of more information around these programs and changes it will have for students and families I will let you know. Please be patient and understand that the primary focus of the District and Regional Sports Program is to provide opportunities for students to participate in ‘Pathway Sports Programs’ and this focus will continue.

 Looking forward to another great Term.

Mrs Jardine

HPE Teacher.

Swimming

Year 6 Graduation Fundraiser

Arts News (Dance, Drama, Music)

It has been a great start to the term in the Arts room with lots of learning, expression and movement taking place.

Preps, Year 1s, 2s and 3s are all continuing with their drama units and will begin their performance tasks over the next few weeks. Preps and Year 1s will also continue with regular music lessons focusing on beat and rhythm, as well as singing and playing along with untuned instruments.

Year 4s, and 5/6s classes will spend term 4 focusing on dance. Over the past fortnight students have started to learn a dance for a class performance piece and unpack the theme of the dance unit which they will choreograph movement for.

Dance Troupe and Choir have kicked off their rehearsals for the term. Both groups will be performing their piece for the week 2 Grandparents’ Day Assembly. Then in a few short weeks they will be showcasing a new piece Friday week 8, 28^th November. What a busy term it is going to be.

My New Gallery

Class News - 3A & 3B

Hi SHSS, it's 3A and 3B here! We are so excited that it is Term 4! Even though it is a busy term with so much to do, it is also a term for celebrating all of the hard work we have done, and everything we have achieved. We are so excited to be back swimming again, it's our favourite part of the year. We are doing narrative in English and writing amazing stories that hook our readers. We are focusing on place value this term in Maths, and we are looking at states of matter in science, with some cool experiments and observations planned over the next few weeks. Lastly, we got take part in an amazing workshop run by the Red Cross Emergency Relief about preparedness during natural events of disasters. We all got to decorate and take home a pillowcase to use for our emergency kit. We hope everyone has a great end to their term!

3A and 3B

Student Awards

Student of the Week - Week 1

Respect Award - Week 1

Instrumental News

Expressions of Interest Instrumental Program 2026

There is still time to register your child for the 2026 Instrumental Music Program. Places are filling fast! Please find form below regarding Expressions of Interest for your child to participate in the Instrumental program in 2026 by Friday 24^th October.

If your child is interested in participating in the instrumental program in 2026, please fill out the form and return it the office if you can't attend. Please note if your child already participates in the Instrumental program they should have received a letter on Monday to fill out and hand back to the office.

Library News

Rules for Borrowing:

* You must always have a Library Bag with you to borrow a book from the library (no exceptions)

* You may borrow one (1) book for the week (prep to Year 3)

* Remember always keep your book safe by placing the book back into your Library bag when not reading it.

* Always bring your returning Library Book and bag back to school on borrowing day.

* If you misplace your library book, or the book has been damaged beyond repair, the school's policy requires replacement or reimbursement for that resource.

P&C

Welcome to Our New Vice President!

We’re excited to welcome our new Vice President, Nick Morel, to the P&C Exec team! We’re looking to benefiting from Nick’s skills, experience and enthusiasm!

Bake Sale – THIS Friday 17 October

Our next Bake Sale is happening tomorrow, Friday 17 October. Bring your sweet tooth (and some coins or your card) and grab a tasty treat before school. Every bite helps support our school community!

Night in Nature – Quiz Night, Saturday 18 October

It’s almost time for our biggest fundraiser of the year! Join us for a fun-filled Night in Nature on Saturday 18 October, as we raise funds for a stunning fig tree in our new Nature Play space.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Pre-order pizza by Friday 17 October to enjoy dinner on the night.
• Raffle tickets are available on School 24 — so even if you can’t make it in person, you can still join the fun and win some great prizes!
• Haven’t bought your tickets yet? Don’t worry — you can grab them at the door on the night. It’s shaping up to be a fantastic evening — don’t miss it!

World Teachers’ Day

We celebrated World Teachers’ Day on Friday 10 October with a special lunch for all staff, organised by the P&C Executive and supported by Communa Cantina. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make the day so special!

Thank you Communa Cantina

Storage Room Clean-Up

A massive shoutout to those who spent part of their holidays tackling the P&C storage room next to the old kitchen. The space is now sparkling, organised, and officially rat-free! Thanks for helping turn it into a space we can actually use.

Community News

APPLY NOW for QACI Brilliant Futures  - a two-year selective-entry preparation program for student participation in Year 7 and Year 8. Current Year 6 students are welcome to APPLY NOW. QACI Brilliant Futures provides impactful, collaborative extra-curricular learning experiences aligned with the International Baccalaureate Learner Profile, including inquiry, critical thinking and reflection.