Issue 8 22 May 2024

From the Principal's Desk

We've reached the halfway mark in Term 2, just in time for some much cooler weather, certainly not the tropical stuff I'm used to, that's for sure. Around the school you may have seen some beautification taking place, with our groundsman Graeme refreshing our garden beds. In addition to this, some classes will begin 'garden adoptions' soon, with the aim to beautify a space close to their classroom. If you would like to volunteer to help with this, let me know. 

For the most part, our classroom tone is excellent at Kingaroy State School, with the vast majority of students consistently displaying our three expectations around RESPECT. I urge parents and carers to continue to support our efforts at school with consistent messaging at home around the need to follow our expectations. 

Over the past few weeks, we have had to manage the fallout of activity on online messaging apps. It is a parent's/carer's choice how you manage your child's access and activity, but just in case you're not aware, most apps are not age appropriate for primary-aged children. Most apps require users to be 13+. This includes TikTok and SnapChat. Click the link here to read more from the eSafety Commissioner. https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/issues-and-advice/are-they-old-enough

Last Friday KSS students in Years 4-6 had the opportunity to engage in the Winter Carnival, with Netball, Soccer, Touch and Basketball competitions happening across our community. I was able to attend the Soccer and Touch and was very proud of our students, who conducted themselves with respect and displayed great teamwork and skill. Well done kids, and to staff who supported the students. 

Before signing off, can I again thank parents and carers who support our efforts to ensure our students are engaged positively at school. The business of education is increasingly challenging, and we cannot do our jobs without your support, especially when things get tricky.

Have a great week.

From the Deputy Principal

It is hard to believe it is Week 6! There has been so much happening around the school. Our PBL focus this fortnight has been Kind Words and Actions and Hands and Feet to Self. Students have been working hard filling the buckets of the people around them and setting a new challenge for themselves every day by increasing the number of buckets they fill as the fortnight has progressed.

There are still lots of WOWs for students to sign up for. Please chat with your child about these and encourage them to sign up at the office.

Today was National Simultaneous Storytime, an Australian-wide group reading and literacy event, where schools and libraries gather together to read children a chosen picture book. The story for 2024 was “Bowerbird Blues” by Aura Parker. This is a moving story of longing for connection, which unravels as a bowerbird takes flight across sea, sky and city. Mr Cass and I really enjoyed spending time with students reading this beautiful book.

A huge congratulations to Miss Moffat and the Kingaroy State School Concert Band for their stellar performance at Fanfare yesterday. This was a fantastic opportunity for our students to both play with other band members in a competitive performance setting and watch other school bands perform. We are so proud of the students who played beautifully and walked away with silver!

At Kingaroy State School caring for our environment is one of our values. A huge thank you to our team of volunteers who have been caring for our gardens.

As you are aware, At Kingaroy State School, one of our priorities is the wellbeing of our students, staff, families and community and we are lucky enough to have The Resilience Project. Students have been working on weekly lessons to help them build resilience and make meaningful connections. One of our focuses has been on empathy. Working on empathy helps us to identify, understand and feel what another person is feeling. When we show empathy or we do something kind for someone else our brain releases oxytocin. This leads to increasing our self-esteem/confidence, energy levels, positivity and overall happiness.

Neighbourhood Kindness Challenge

As a family, choose an act of kindness from the list below that you would like to do for a neighbour or family friend.

• Write a note to put in their letterbox thanking them for being a great neighbour or friend.
• Design them a Thank You card.
• Pick or buy some flowers to deliver to them.
• Choose a little plant from your garden to give them.
• Make them a gift from things around your house.
• Offer to do a job for them, like wash their car or water their garden.
• Offer to take their pets for a walk.
• Recommend one of your favourite books to borrow and read.
• Say hello next time you see them, and ask them how their day is going.

P&C Meeting - Our second P&C meeting of the term is happening tonight at 6pm in the library. We have a great P&C team who actively support our school. We are always looking for new people to be involved with this committee, all parents and community members are invited to come along and be part of our P&C.

Out and about with Year 2

In Week 4, the Year 2 cohort were lucky to explore the local Kingaroy museum. This finished off their recent unit about changes to technology over time. They enjoyed the peanut detective search, looking at the real life threshers, exploring the town and finishing the day playing at the park.

Year 2 - Kingaroy Museum

The Arts with Mrs Watson

In Art this term , we have been covering Visual Arts and have all enjoyed participating in a variety of engaging activities to help learn about the Visual Elements of Art.

Years P6C to Year 4  have been completing activities throughout the term around the Visual  Elements of Art – colour, line, shape , form , texture, space, value, pattern and tone.

We have also completed numerous activities using different mediums – watercolours, poster paints, oil pastels, chalk pastels, plasticene and collage materials and begun to look at artwork by William Kandinsky and Pablo Picasso.

The students should now be able to identify what Primary and Secondary colours are and the older students will also know the Tertiary Colours and be able to identify cool and warm colours.

The last few weeks we have been learning about line and shape and how to create pictures using irregular and regular shapes, curved and straight lines to depict self and abstract portraits.

We have thrived in this different classroom setting , utilising our lovely outside spaces in our school to share resources and art with our peers

Recycling News

Last Wednesday we held a celebratory parade welcoming special  guests, Mayor Kathy Duff, Deputy Mayor Danita Potter and Councillor Debbie Dennien from South Burnett Regional Council and Chrissy, Tayla and Carl from Containers for Change. This parade was held in recognition of the change makers we have at Kingaroy State School. Over the past five weeks we have been collecting containers to recycle. In just 5 weeks we have recycled over 7500 containers. Each Wednesday when students return their bags to recycle their name goes into a special draw. In week 5, we had our first draw with winners receiving prizes that ranged from soft toys, Lego, hats and gift cards. Our next prize draw is in week 10. Don’t forget to return your bags each Wednesday to go into our next draw. Thank you to our special guests, our sponsors and parents who came along to the parade.

(Pictures of students helping write out raffle tickets). 

Recycling News

P & C News

To Our Volunteers,

The Kingaroy SS P&C want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for your incredible dedication and hard work during our Mother's Day Stall and at the Kingaroy Show Canteen. Your tireless efforts and unwavering support have made these events a resounding success.

Your commitment to our school community is truly inspiring. From setting up and organising the stalls to assisting customers with their purchases, your enthusiasm and professionalism were evident. Your friendly smiles and willingness to go above and beyond to ensure a memorable experience for everyone involved did not go unnoticed.

The funds raised from these events will make a significant difference in enhancing the educational opportunities for our students. Your contributions have allowed us to provide resources and enriching experiences that would not have been possible without your invaluable assistance.

On behalf of the entire school community, the P&C want to express our appreciation for your time, energy, and dedication. Your selfless acts of kindness and support have made a positive impact on the lives of our students and their families. We are truly fortunate to have such wonderful volunteers.

Thank you once again for your unwavering commitment and for being an integral part of our school community. Your generosity and hard work are deeply appreciated.

With heartfelt thanks,

Kingaroy SS P&C

Dates to Remember

Community News