Principal's news
Dear mums, dads, carers and colleagues
It was a busy week at school but this weekend will be even busier for us.
P&C awards are this weekend
Our P&C is the BEST. We know this and tomorrow night, I am very hopeful the they will receive special recognition at the P&C Conference and annual awards.
While they are short-listed in two categories, to our school they are far more important than just OSHC and the cafe. The P&C executive are all volunteers who dedicate many hours each week to ensure that:
- Our children and families are supported each day with Breakfast Club, school uniforms, and other necessary requirements
- Important whole of school programs (like The Resilience Project) are offered to every child
- School activities like sports days are successful - and fun!
- School facilities continue to be first class for our children
- FUN-draising activities like the Colour Explosion, Discos and the coming fete are all successful for our school community, and
- Their two businesses - OSHC and Crusaders Cafe - operate successfully.
I hope that the judging panel agree with us - our P&C is definitely the BEST.
Community Fete
Save the date - Saturday August 2
Solid Pathways awards
Congratulations to these young high performers - Yasin, Muhammed, Ziarah and Scarlett. They participate in an enrichment program called Solid Pathways. It is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) on-line program for high-achieving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. The program focuses on developing STEM capabilities and nurtures their scientific curiosity through critical and creative thinking. The program also embeds the cross-curriculum priority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures. Students have the opportunity to build upon both their existing sense of cultural identity as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and their self-efficacy as high achieving students.
The program is overseen by our Indigenous Champions team and is operated by Miss Katie in the iCentre. Well done ladies.
Bookfair round up
The Resilience Project
Staff Conference
This week, several members of our staff had the opportunity to spend the day engaging in professional learning with The Resilience Project (TRP). This inspiring day focused on deepening our understanding of the key pillars of wellbeing -Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness (also known as GEM), which are central to TRP’s mission of building resilience in children and young people.
You may have already heard your child mention GEM Club—an initiative inspired by TRP and designed to support students in practising these values regularly at school.
The day began with a powerful keynote from TRP’s founder, Hugh van Cuylenburg. Many of you may recognise Hugh from his best-selling books or his widely popular podcast ‘The Imperfects’. He shared stories and research highlighting the long-term impact of building resilience from a young age and the importance of fostering emotional literacy and meaningful connection in our everyday lives.
The team also heard from a range of guest speakers, including Darius Boyd and Ali Brigginshaw from the Brisbane Broncos, who spoke candidly about their personal journeys and how they integrate TRP’s values into their sporting careers and personal lives.
Staff walked away energised and inspired, with many even purchasing ‘GEM cards’ to start conversations about gratitude, empathy, and mindfulness with their own families at home.
We’re excited to continue embedding these practices in our school and look forward to sharing more with you throughout the year.
To find out more about TRP and how to use it at home please click here.
Report card changes for Semester 1
Two big changes are coming
Change 1: The department has changed the look of report cards for this year. They will be more succinct and, for our school, will link directly with parent-teacher interviews.
Change 2: Our teachers will continue to focus on teaching and assessment through to the end of term. This will allow every student to demonstrate their learning and obtain the strongest possible report card grades. This means that report cards will now be sent home in Week 2 of next term. And parent-teacher interviews will be held on Monday of Week 3.
Kokoda challenge is tomorrow
Tomorrow is the final test in our fitness journeys when our four school teams compete in Brisbane at the Kokoda Schools Challenge. We take on the brutal 18km course. We are fit and ready to go.
I travelled up to Brookfield in Brisbane after work today to stake our place for tomorrow. It is worth the early set-up as tomorrow will be very busy with around 3000 participants hitting the course.
Special visitors are coming next week
A review for our school
In Week 8, we will host four visitors to our school. They are from the Department of Education and are undertaking a review for our school. They will be speaking with staff, families, students and our community to gauge opinion about how the school is progressing. We are looking forward to learning about their observations and recommendations for further improvement.
Have a lovely weekend
Kind regards
Vic