30 May 2025

DATES TO REMEMBER

PRINCIPAL NEWS

As we approach the midpoint of Term 2, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight some key expectations that are vital to maintaining a positive and productive school environment for all students.

The Importance of Wearing the Correct Uniform

Wearing the correct school uniform is more than just a requirement; it fosters a sense of identity, discipline, and equality within our school community. When students wear the same attire, they feel more connected to their school and peers, promoting a sense of unity and belonging.

We kindly ask parents to ensure that their children come to school each day in the correct uniform, adhering to our school's dress code. This includes appropriate footwear, hats, and any other specified items. Consistent adherence to the uniform policy helps maintain the high standards we set for our students.

You will find our school uniform policy on our school website 

The Importance of Daily School Attendance

Regular school attendance is crucial for your child's academic success and personal development. Consistent attendance ensures that students receive a continuous education, build strong relationships, and develop essential life skills.

We understand that occasional absences are unavoidable due to illness or other valid reasons. However, we encourage parents to prioritize school attendance and communicate with the school regarding any absences. If you are facing challenges that impact your child's attendance, please reach out to us so we can provide the necessary support.

Student Behaviour Before and After School

We would like to remind students and parents about the importance of appropriate behaviour on school grounds before and after school hours. Maintaining respectful and responsible behaviour during these times is essential for the safety and well-being of all students.

Students are expected to:

• Arrive at school on time and be prepared for the day.
• Leave the school premises promptly after dismissal unless participating in supervised activities.
• Respect school property and the belongings of others.
• Follow the instructions of staff members and adhere to school rules at all times.

Parents can support us by discussing these expectations with their children and reinforcing the importance of good behaviour.

Thank you for your continued support in upholding the standards and values of our school community. Together, we can ensure a safe, respectful, and engaging environment for all our students.

Teaching of Reading

The Department of Education is rolling out an updated teaching of reading program in QLD schools. Grand Avenue State School staff are engaging in the latest research and professional development. Parent information sessions will be held to help families and carers understand the teaching of reading through the Australian Curriculum. Please look out for further information and see below the important information on the teaching of reading for parents and carers. 

Being able to read and write is profoundly transformative, both for individuals and for population-health and wellbeing more widely.

Snow, P 2021, ‘The Science of Language and Reading’, Child Language Teaching and Therapy, vol. 37, no. 3, pp. 222–233

Important School Events to put in your Calendar for this term

Wednesday 28 May – Wear your State of Origin Jersey
Wednesday 4 June – Evening of Music
Tuesday 17 June – P&C Meeting (online)
Wednesday 18 June – Athletics Day – Year 4 to Year 6
Monday 23 June – Athletics Day – Year 2 to Year 3 (AM) and Prep to Year 1 (PM)
Thursday 26 June – Attendance Celebration
Friday 27 June – Under 8’s Day

Until next time,

EVACUATION / LOCKDOWN PROCEDURES

General Reminder - Scheduled Drills - Term 2

Due to a range of potential risks from within and outside our school, it is necessary for the protection and safety of students that Grand Avenue has well-advertised and rehearsed Lockdown and Evacuation Procedures.  Although the purpose of the procedures are shared and practiced with students regularly, it is important that parents are aware of, and also discuss the procedures with their children.  For your information, details of the procedures are:-

Lockdown – students are to be seated on the floor out of line of sight of any external door or window while windows and doors are secured by school staff.  Students and staff need to be protected from various situations, aggressive intruders (eg: estranged adult, large dogs etc) and environmental mishaps (eg: dangerous chemical spill).  A broken siren wail signals lockdown (SHORT SIREN – STAY).

Evacuation – students and staff must be able to evacuate buildings quickly in the case of fire or bomb threat.  A continuous siren signals evacuation (LONG SIREN – LEAVE). The evacuation assembly area (EAA) is the school oval on the other side of the cricket pitch.

Should the school be without power, members of the school leadership team are allocated various teaching blocks to sound an evacuation alarm.  This will be two short bursts of a whistle, followed by the words ‘EVACUATION” and two more short bursts of a whistle.  They will then move onto their next allocated building.

Practices must occur at least once per term.  Generally, practices happen during class time and lunchtime breaks.  The school may also have a practice before school or on the afternoon dismiss bell as potentially an incident could occur during the short time before classes begin for the day or at the end of the day.  In the event of a lockdown before school, parents who are waiting with their children outside classrooms can enter the classroom.

During the school day unless volunteering in classrooms, adults who are not staff members will NOT be admitted to any classroom during a lockdown.  At all times parents and visitors are asked to follow the directions of staff members.  Visitors/volunteers working in classrooms should not leave the school grounds during an evacuation but accompany the class/group they are with to the Emergency Evacuation Area.

For any reason, should parents arrive at school during an evacuation or lockdown procedure, for your safety you are asked to remain in the public car park.

In the event of a real situation, school staff and the public will be directed by Queensland Police and Emergency Services.

Scheduled Dates:
Lockdown – Week 6 – Tuesday 27 May.  First session
Evacuation – Week 8 – Tuesday 10 June.  Last session

Thank you for your interest and cooperation.

JUNIOR YEARS NEWS

Celebrating National Volunteer Week – Thank You!

Last week, we proudly celebrated National Volunteer Week – a time to recognise and thank the amazing volunteers who generously give their time, energy, and heart to our school. From classroom support to the tuckshop, excursions, reading groups, and special events – your efforts help create a rich, supportive learning environment for our students. Thank you!

We also acknowledged P&C Day and took the opportunity to thank our very active and dedicated Parents and Citizens’ Association. As P&Cs QLD reminds us, P&Cs truly are the "heart of our school communities." Our P&C’s ongoing commitment enhances learning opportunities, builds school spirit, and supports every student’s success. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a passionate and hardworking team.

Writing in Prep – Wonderful Progress!

I have been so impressed with the writing progress in our youngest learners in Prep. It’s incredible to see their confidence growing as they begin forming letters, building words, and even writing short sentences. The excitement they show when sharing their writing is a joy to witness!

How You Can Help at Home:

• Encourage writing for fun – shopping lists, birthday cards, or drawing with captions.
• Celebrate effort over perfection – praise their attempts and ideas.
• Talk about their day – discussing events helps build vocabulary and sentence structure.
• Read daily – listening to stories helps develop an ear for sentence patterns and storytelling.
• Provide tools – pencils, paper, and a quiet space to draw and write.

Until next time,

2026 PREP ENROLMENTS - NOW OPEN

MIDDLE YEARS NEWS

Helping Your Child Build a Strong Learning Mindset

TALK ABOUT IT
Ask your child about their day using questions that build reflection and resilience:

• Did you make a mistake today? What did you learn?
• What did you do today that was difficult?

PRAISE THE PROCESS
Instead of “You’re so smart,” focus praise on effort and persistence:

• “Wow, you must have worked really hard on this!”

ENCOURAGE FAILURE
Let your child know it’s okay to fail. Each time they try again, their brain grows. Don’t step in too quickly—failure builds perseverance and confidence.

THE BRAIN CAN GROW
Remind your child that intelligence isn’t fixed. Struggling is part of learning, and every challenge helps their brain form new connections.

SUPPORT POSITIVE SELF-TALK

Help your child reframe negative thoughts. If they say, “This is too hard,” guide them to say, “I can’t do this yet, but I will keep trying.” Model it yourself too.

“I used to be scared of mistakes. Now I know trying new things—even when they’re hard—helps everyone learn.”

Together, we can help our children develop a mindset that celebrates learning, effort, and growth.

“It has become a common practice to praise children for their performance on easy tasks, to tell them they are smart when they do something quickly and perfectly. When we do this we are not teaching them to welcome challenge and learn from errors. We are teaching them that success means they are intelligent and, by implication, that errors and effort mean they are not.”

 Carol Dweck 2017

SENIOR YEARS NEWS

This week, our students showcased great spirit and sportsmanship during our interschool sports fixtures against Pallara SS and Forest Lake SS. In rugby, soccer, and netball, all of our teams played with determination and skill. It was wonderful to see everyone giving their best on the field, demonstrating not only strong athletic ability but also respect towards opponents, referees, and teammates.

I want to congratulate all students for their positive attitude and teamwork throughout the matches. These experiences are invaluable in building confidence and camaraderie. Well done to everyone involved – you’ve made us proud!

As we move deeper into Term 2, I wish all students well in their learning journeys. The upcoming assessment period for report cards is an important time to reflect on progress and set goals for growth. Keep up the hard work and stay focussed – your efforts will pay off.

Let’s keep up this fantastic energy as we move into the next weeks of term.

Cara Middleton
Year 4, 5 & 6
Deputy Principal

EAL/D (ENGLISH AS AN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE/DIALECT) AND FIRST NATIONS UPDATE

Hi everyone,

This week is:

National Sorry Day 26 May

This is an annual day of remembrance.  This day is an opportunity for people to come together and share the steps toward healing.

In the community you may take part in or see:

• Concerts or barbecues
• Reconciliation walks and marches
• Flag raising events
• Morning teas and lunches

National Reconciliation week 27 May – 3 June

This is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories and cultures.  It is a time to identify how we can all achieve reconciliation. 

This year the theme is “Bridging Now to Next.” The theme reflects the connections between past, present and future.

During the week the students at Grand Avenue State School will participate in some art activities.

Until next time.

Rebecca Carruth
Deputy Principal
EAL/D and First Nations Student

ACROSS THE DESK OF THE GUIDANCE OFFICER

Raising Resilient, Kind Children in a Changing World

In today’s fast-paced world, raising children who are both resilient and kind is more important—and more challenging—than ever. At Grand Avenue State School, we believe that social and emotional development is just as vital as academic achievement. As the school’s Guidance Officer, I wanted to share a few practical ideas and reflections that may support you in nurturing these essential qualities in your children.

What Is Resilience?

Resilience is a child’s ability to bounce back from challenges, adapt to change, and keep going even when things are tough. It’s not about avoiding problems, but learning how to work through them with courage and confidence. Resilience helps children manage stress, handle disappointment, and build healthy relationships.

What Builds Resilience?

1. A Safe, Supportive Environment
   Children thrive when they feel secure and loved. Routines, boundaries, and consistent care form the foundation for emotional strength.
2. Letting Them Try (and Sometimes Fail)
   When we allow our children to face manageable difficulties—like forgetting a library book or not winning a game—we teach them to solve problems, ask for help, and learn from mistakes.
3. Modelling Calm and Optimism
   Children look to the adults around them in times of uncertainty. By showing them how we manage our emotions and keep perspective, we help them do the same.

Why Kindness Matters

Kindness isn't just a nice trait—it's a powerful tool for social connection and emotional wellbeing. Acts of kindness, both big and small, help children feel more connected to others and increase their self-esteem.

Here’s how we can encourage kindness at home:

• Celebrate kind acts rather than just achievements.
• Talk about empathy—ask your child how someone else might be feeling and what they could do to help.
• Model kindness in your own interactions, especially in challenging moments.

Our Role as a Community

Together—parents, carers, teachers, and staff—we create the environment that shapes our children’s hearts and minds. Let’s continue to work hand in hand to help our children grow into thoughtful, resilient young people who care for themselves, each other, and the world around them.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s social or emotional wellbeing, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m here to support you and your family in every step of the journey.

SOCIAL WORK UPDATE

HEAD OF CURRICULUM / LIBRARY NEWS

On Monday 22^th May, as part of the National Simultaneous Storytime book, Grand Avenues students enjoyed listening to The Truck Cat and engaging in activities using The Truck Cat as a stimulus.

National Simultaneous Storytime Book

Premier’s Reading Challenge 2025

I am delighted to invite all Grand Avenue State School students to join in the 2025 Premier’s Reading

Challenge (PRC). This year's theme is 'Where Will Reading Take You'.

Students are encouraged to select a range of fiction and non-fiction books suited to their reading

ability and record books read during the reading period, from 6 May to 22 August.

A reader record form can be collected from the classroom teacher or the library, and completed to tally the books read throughout the challenge.

To complete the challenge:

• Prep to Year 2 must read or experience at least 20 books
• Years 3 and 4 must read at least 20 books
• Years 5 to 6 must read at least 15 books.

Experiencing books can include shared reading, listening to stories, or reading picture books. The aim

for the 2025 challenge is to encourage students to make time to read. Last year saw more than 215,000 children from around the state participate, reading 1.9 million books. What an outstanding achievement!

Every student who completes the challenge, and returns the completed record reader form, will receive a Certificate of Achievement. I look forward to seeing as many of our students as possible take part in the 2025 Premier’s Reading Challenge.

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs McLennan on mmcle196@eq.edu.au. 

THE RESILIENCE PROJECT - GEM

Building a Culture of Gratitude, Empathy & Mindfulness at Grand Avenue

At Grand Avenue, we prioritise student wellbeing across our school community. As a proud Resilience Project school, we focus on Gratitude, Empathy, and Mindfulness (GEM) through weekly lessons that build resilience, emotional regulation, and positive relationships.

We’re also bringing GEM into homes with our weekly GEM Chat question—shared on Facebook and school signs—to spark meaningful family conversations. So far, we have reflected on:

Gratitude:

Who is someone who makes you happy?

Empathy:

How were you kind today?
These simple reflections create powerful opportunities for connection.

Why It Matters

When wellbeing is supported at school and home, we teach our children that feelings, kindness, and growth matter. Together, we’re building a community rooted in compassion, reflection, and resilience.

Join us in making wellbeing part of everyday life. Look out for the GEM Chat each week and explore it as a family.

YEAR 3 NEWS

It’s been a busy term for Grade 3! Every Monday, we’ve been enjoying Sporting Schools, where all the students have participated with great enthusiasm. We’ve been lucky enough to have external coaches come in and teach us new skills, games, and strategies—it's been a fantastic opportunity for everyone to grow their confidence in sport.

Assessment is now underway, and the students are working hard to show what they’ve learned this term across all subject areas.

In 3B, we love investigating random questions—just for fun! Last week, one of our students asked, “How come mud huts don’t wash away when it rains?” So, we rolled up our sleeves and dug into the science behind it.

We discovered that mud huts are made from a mix of mud, straw, and other natural materials that help bind everything together. Once dried, the mixture becomes quite sturdy and resistant to rain. Clever building techniques like sloped thatched roofs and protective coatings also help keep the walls standing strong through all kinds of weather!

Our random question this week? It was all about Chinese dragons—so you can probably guess what we’ll be diving into next!

MUSIC NEWS

Music Notes

Our end of semester Evening of Music concert is coming up next week, Wednesday 4 June in the Auditorium. We are doing it a bit differently this year, the Junior music ensembles will perform at 4pm and the Senior music ensembles will perform at 5pm. Tickets are free but you still need to book them online. Go here to book tickets… https://www.trybooking.com/DCDQM

We look forward to seeing everyone and hope you can join us.

Alisen McLeod
Class Music Teacher
Instrumental Music Coordinator

DANCE NEWS

STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AT GASS

At Grand Avenue, we know that student success is built on strong partnerships between home and school. There are important areas of our school that we would love our parent and carer community to get behind. Each plays a powerful role in creating a positive, engaging, and supportive environment for our students.

PBL – Positive Behaviour for Learning

Our current PBL behaviour focus is: “Respect Everyone – Use manners and kind words at all times.”

Each week we deliver a PBL lesson to our students to address problematic behaviour that we are seeing in the school. We encourage families to talk to their children about what this looks and sounds like both at school and at home. When students hear consistent messages from both school and family, it helps reinforce the importance of positive behaviour and respectful relationships.

Even small reminders like, “What’s the behaviour focus this week?” or “How did you show respect at school today?” make a big difference.

Before School & Lunchtime Clubs

Our school offers a fantastic range of before school and lunchtime clubs designed to give students positive, structured activities during break times. These clubs support wellbeing, build friendships, and help students engage in meaningful experiences outside the classroom.

One standout initiative is our student-led Coding Club, started by a group of passionate Year 5 students with the support of their amazing teacher. It’s a great example of student voice in action and is open to students who are interested in learning coding through platforms like Scratch.

Library Lunchtime Activities

• Years 1–3: First break
• Years 4–6: Second break
  Students are welcome to enjoy quiet reading, drawing, games, and other creative activities during their allocated break time.

We have a range of other lunchtime clubs running throughout the week. Posters are displayed around the school with full details, including:

• Who facilitates each club
• Which year levels can participate
• What day(s) of the week each activity is offered

We encourage all families to take a moment to look over the club options with their child and have a conversation about joining one or more. Engaging in structured play is one of the most proactive ways to support a successful, safe, and social lunch break — much like being part of a weekend sport under the guidance of a coach or referee.

Grand Helpers – Become a School Volunteer

We’re inviting parents, carers, and grandparents to become part of our Grand Helpers team — a group of volunteers who support our school through helping in classrooms, assisting with school events, or giving time behind the scenes.

Volunteering even just a small amount of time can have a big impact. When students see their families and teachers working together, it builds a strong sense of connection and belonging.

If you’d like to be involved, please see the attached flyer and reach out — we’d love to welcome you to the team.

Together, through shared messages, active involvement, and strong routines, we can make a big difference in the school experience of every child.

P&C NEWS

P&C Updates

A big thanks to everyone who helped out with and participated in the School Disco last week. It was great to see everyone bringing that lively Friday night spirit to the dance floor - you really made the event shine!

Student Engagement Coach, Reece Neyland, joined our May P&C meeting last week to share his exciting plans to welcome parents and carers to become “Grand Helpers.” Volunteering is a fantastic way to stay connected with the school, build relationships with staff and other families, and support your child’s learning journey. Grand Helpers will be invited to help in a number of ways, including classroom support, reading groups, breakfast club, and special school events and celebrations. Please see the poster below for more details on getting involved.

A warm welcome to the P&C’s newly-appointed Secretary, Emma Lund! We look forward to having Emma’s support with recording and distributing monthly meeting minutes and reports and assisting with email correspondence and communications between meetings.

We are still seeking a Vice President to join our executive committee. The P&C Vice President oversees executive minutes, summarises discussions, and ensures necessary agenda items are presented at general meetings. This role also requires stepping in for the President when needed.

Please reach out to P&C President Jessica Watson if you’re interested in this role.

Upcoming Events

Next P&C Meeting – Tuesday 17 June at 6:00 PM

Save the date for the following P&C meetings on 15 July and 19 August. The July meeting will include a 30-minute parent information session on the Life Education lessons that will be provided to students in August.

Outdoor Movie Night – Date to be confirmed

Ekka Day – 13 August

Planning is well underway now, with vendors from last year’s postponed event being given first preference. We still have a range of food vendor and market stall vacancies and would like to invite Grand Avenue families to put in expressions of interest via email. Volunteer sign ups will begin in June - this exciting event is held on our school grounds and is a great opportunity to get involved with fundraising and community awareness. Showbags, rides, and fireworks have already been secured!

Father’s Day Stall – 2-4 September

Family Photos – 15 November

Tuckshop & Uniform Shop Reminders

Tuckshop – Flexischools remains our preferred payment method. We have observed an increase in over-the-counter purchases, requiring students to queue before school from 8:30 AM. If you need assistance with Flexischools, please let us know.

Uniform Shop – The uniform shop is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Fridays from 8.15-9.30am. Orders can also be made on Flexischools daily.

Thank You!
We sincerely appreciate the ongoing support of our wonderful parents, carers, and volunteers. Your contributions, whether big or small, help make Grand Avenue a fantastic place for our children.

For any questions, suggestions, or if you’d like to get involved, please contact us at pandc@grandavenuess.eq.edu.au or stay updated via our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/gasspandc.

Grand Avenue State School P&C
Jessica Watson
GASS P&C President

OSHC NEWS

As we settle into the term, we have been getting very crafty with our mornings and afternoons! The children have loved exploring their creativity through a range of activities, from colouring pages to word searches to painting spontaneously. We have been using new materials in the craft room, which is exciting to see the children experiment and share their creations.

Alongside our craft adventures, we’ve been busy making the most of our time both in the hall and outdoors. We have introduced Wellness Wednesday to our program. It is a day at the service where our centre will enjoy fun a mindful activities that help us feel happy, calm, and healthy.

Not only have our children been busy, but our parents have also been busy! Thank you to Camilla for fixing up our fairy garden at the front of the centre. Be sure to check it out when walking past.

Regards
OSHC Team

QPARENTS

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COMMUNITY NEWS

WOODCREST STATE COLLEGE AFL EXCELLENCE PROGRAM

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SAMFORD SCOUTS QLD - JULY HOLIDAY PROGRAM