25 July 2025

DATES TO REMEMBER

PRINCIPAL NEWS

Welcome back for the commencement of Semester 2. We are in full swing for the term already, with our student Semester 1 report cards sent out to families on the last day of Term 2.

Please ensure you share the report card and comments with your child, discussing their developmental and academic levels this year so far. It is also a great time to set new goals and work together with the classroom teacher as a team to ensure that every child has potential to be very successful in the future.

If you wish to discuss your child/children’s report card further, please contact the classroom teacher in writing via email asking to organise a suitable time. You may also contact the school, either by phone or at the Administration Office personally and arrange for a teacher to contact you to arrange a suitable meeting time.

Please note that Teachers are not usually available to respond to emails during teaching time or whilst on playground duty. Teachers will usually access their emails on their rostered scheduled daily. They will aim to respond to a parent or carer as soon a practical during the school week. Please don’t seek to discuss in detail a student’s academic progress learning expectations or behavioural issues by email. These are best addressed in person or over the phone. Use email to arrange a suitable time with the teacher to discuss these matters. When agreed between the teacher and the parent or carer (following a meeting or telephone conversation) email may be used as a form of ongoing communication.

We will offer parent teacher interviews at the end of this term – Tuesday 9 September in our Auditorium from 3pm to 6pm.

It is important that as a team we work together as parent and educator for the best outcomes for every child. Regular contact and communication are key to a successful relationship.

“It takes a whole village to raise a child”

African Proverb popularised by author Jan Cowen-Fletcher, 1994 

Creative Generations – CGen

I watched in awe, as 21 students from Grand Avenue performed in the 2025 Creative Generation (CGEN) – The Next Chapter. It is extraordinary to see such a spectacular event come together with 2000 students from across the state. Their joy and their skills were evident to all in the audience and a reminder that education offers so many ways for students to thrive. 

School Opinion Survey

Each school family will receive one email invitation from the Department of Education to complete the Parent/Caregiver Survey. Invitations emailed to Parents / Caregivers from 21 July – 25 July.

The survey is anonymous, and the results are not reported in ways that an individual’s response can be identified by the school. Parents/Caregivers are encouraged to complete the survey.

The survey can be completed via computers, tablets or smart phones with an internet connection. For Parents/Caregivers who do not have access to the internet school computers/tablets will be available. Parents/caregivers who experience difficulties accessing the survey can request a new survey from the School Opinion Survey team via email schoolopinionsurvey@qed.qld.gov.au.

It’s important that as many parents/caregivers as possible complete the survey, so we would appreciate if members of this committee would raise awareness of this survey with other parents and caregivers. Can’t find your invitation? If your family has more than one parent/caregiver, check that they haven’t received the invitation and/or check your junk email folder.

Attendance

At our school, we believe that every school day counts. Primary school is the foundation of a child’s education—it is where they learn the basic skills they will use for the rest of their lives. That’s why attending school regularly and on time is one of the most important habits students can develop early on.

Why Attendance Matters

Learning Builds Day by Day

Every day in the classroom builds on the day before. Missing even one day can set a child back, especially in subjects like reading, writing, and math. When students miss lessons, they often fall behind, making it harder to catch up later.

Good Habits Start Early

Regular attendance teaches responsibility and self-discipline—skills that are essential not just in school, but in life. Children who attend school regularly are more likely to succeed academically and socially.

Friendship and Belonging

School is not just a place for learning—it’s also where children build friendships, learn to work in teams, and develop their sense of community. Regular attendance helps students stay connected to their classmates and teachers.

Positive Future Outcomes

Studies have shown that children who have good attendance in primary school are more likely to graduate from high school and pursue higher education or fulfilling careers. Attendance habits developed early can shape a child’s entire future.

How Families Can Help

Set a regular bedtime and morning routine to ensure children are rested and ready for the day.

Schedule appointments outside of school hours whenever possible.

Communicate with the school if your child is struggling, sick, or facing challenges getting to school.

Let’s work together to make sure every student is in school, every day. Attendance is a team effort, and your support makes a difference.

If you ever need help or have concerns about your child’s attendance, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to support you and your child every step of the way.

Uniform Check

With the cooler weather upon us, it is a great time to check in around the requirements of our uniform expectations. Please see the pictures below of our Grand Avenue Uniform Policy. A reminder to label all children’s clothing so that they can be safely returned if lost.

STUDENT DRESS CODE

A uniform dress code reinforces in students a pride in their own appearance, instils recognition of

themselves as an integral part of the Grand Avenue State School community, and assists in developing pride in representing the school. Issues of equality, health and safety, and expense are also factors that contribute to the establishment of the following Student Dress Code.

The aim is to:

• promote equality amongst all students;
• develop a sense of pride in, and identification with our school;
• provide durable clothing that is cost effective and practical for our school environment;
• maintain and enhance the positive image of the school in the community.

Grand Avenue State School believes as a school community that there are benefits in students following an agreed dress code. These benefits include:

• Appropriateness: Guarantee that all students are dressed appropriately for all school activities.
• Safety: Promote a safe environment for learning by enabling ready identification of our students in the school grounds; while travelling to and from school and on excursions.
• Equity: Promote an effective teaching and learning environment by eliminating the distraction of competition between students to wear more expensive or fashionable clothing, and avoid the pressure on parents to purchase fashionable clothing.
• Expense: To minimise the cost to families.

In line with the Education General Provisions Act 2006, staff and the Parents and Citizens’ Association of the Grand Avenue State School have endorsed the following Student Dress Code for all students.

Grand Avenue has a dress standard in relation to:

• Clothing worn by students, including headwear and footwear
• Students’ personal grooming and hygiene.

The Grand Avenue Student Dress Code reflects school community standards and is consistent with occupational health and safety and anti-discrimination legislation.

The Uniform Shop is on the Grand Avenue State School campus and all items are only available from school.

Important School Events to put in your Calendar for this term

Friday 25 July – Pyjama Day (wear your PJ’s to school) donate to the foundation

Wednesday 30 July – Academic Awards (Invitation only)

Prep to Year 3 Academic Awards winners – Silver and Bronze - 12:15pm

Year 4 to Year 6 Academic Awards winners – Silver and Bronze– 1:45pm

Prep to Year 6 Academic Award winners – Gold and STAR – 4:00pm 

Week 5 – 11 August to 15 August – Bullying NO WAY Week and Science Week

Wednesday 13 August – Brisbane Show Public Holiday and Grand Avenue Community EKKA event

Tuesday 19 August – P&C Meeting 6pm

Week 6 – Book Week – Monday 18 August to 15 August

Friday 22 August – Book Week celebrations (dress up as a book character)

Monday 1 September – Wednesday 3 September – P&C Father’s Day Stall

Thursday 4 September – Prep to Year 3 Athletics Day – Yr 2 – Yr 3 (9:00am) Prep -Yr1 (11:45am)

Friday 5 September – Student Free Day (no school for students)

Tuesday 9 September – Parent Teacher Interviews

Thursday 11 September – R U OK day?

Tuesday 16 September – P&C Meeting 6pm and 2026 Prep Information Session

Friday 19 September – Last day of the Term

JUNIOR YEARS NEWS

I trust that all our families enjoyed a restful and rejuvenating winter break. It is a pleasure to welcome students and families back as we commence Term 3, ready to engage in another productive and rewarding school term.

On the final Friday of Term 2, we were fortunate to experience excellent weather, allowing us to celebrate our Under 8s Day with enthusiasm and community spirit. I extend my sincere gratitude to the Darra Fire Fighters for their valued participation, as well as to representatives from Cricket Australia, Aus Kick, and the Lions Football Club for contributing to the day’s success. Additionally, I would like to acknowledge the ongoing support of our Parents & Citizens Association for organising the much loved petting zoo, which was a highlight for many of our students.

As we progress through Term 3, I would like to take this opportunity to remind families of the importance of maintaining regular attendance and punctuality. Consistent attendance is critical to your child’s academic growth and social development, ensuring they do not miss valuable learning opportunities. We encourage all students to arrive on time and ready to engage in daily school routines, which provide a stable and supportive environment conducive to learning.

Important Information on NCCD Census Date

As we approach the NCCD (Nationally Consistent Collection of Data) census date in early August, it’s important to understand what this means for our school community. The NCCD helps ensure that all students requiring adjustments under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) receive the necessary adjustments for their learning needs.

Parents of students that meet the criteria for adjustments will receive an email informing them of the adjustments being implemented in the classroom. This communication aims to keep you informed about the support your child is receiving to support their access to the curriculum.

If your child has been recently diagnosed with a disability, please contact me as soon as possible. This will allow us to update our records and ensure that your learner receives the appropriate support and adjustments.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership and support. Together, we can ensure a successful and positive term for all of our learners.

Until next time,

MIDDLE YEARS NEWS

Dear Parents, Carers and Students

Technology is everywhere in our homes and parents and carers play an important role in helping children to develop digital intelligence — the social, emotional and practical skills needed to successfully navigate the digital world.  

Every family is different, and will have their own ideas around what’s considered ‘normal’ or acceptable use of digital devices. However, a good starting point before we help our young people navigate the digital world, is to look at our own digital habits and to make sure we are providing them with what they need – that is, leading by example and being balanced role models who know when to use and when not to use their devices.

Some suggestions for managing the way your children use digital devices at home is to ensure you are informed and have developed some rules of your own. Resources and information is available through the Australian Government - eSafetyparents site. https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents

Nine Digital Technology Guidelines for Parents

1. Know what the rules and expectations are at school
Our school digital device policy and guidelines make a great starting point for families. Make sure that you and your child know what the rules are at school. Importantly, support the school and keep your own expectations in line with the schools.

2. Specify hours for digital use
Set the ground rules for when your children can use their tablets and phones, and when they need to shut them off. It’s just a smart way to build a habit for the whole family so it becomes ingrained and just the way things are done in your home.

3. Consider a digital device ‘contract’
Clearly set out your digital device usage guidelines, and print them in an agreement that you and your children can both sign. If there are any disputes, then you both have the expectations in writing.

4. Lay out consequences from the start
Make the consequences clear for breaking the rules, such as taking away the device for a set period of time. But remember, the goal isn’t to punish them, but just to set clear boundaries. You can develop the guidelines together and they should be reasonable rather than excessive.

5. Talk about respectful relationships, safety and inappropriate websites
Do not let your children loose in the digital world without having several conversations about how to stay safe online, how to show respectful behaviour and be aware of inappropriate websites. Each of these topics is a separate issue on its own, but each is deeply affected by the virtual, boundary-free nature of digital technology.

6. Be prepared to learn
Be ready to learn about social media, and the different apps and games that your children might be playing.

7. Change the rules if necessary
Be prepared to keep evolving your rules based on you children’s behaviour, maturity, sleep habits, their tendency to leave homework or chores unfinished, bullying or any number of issues that will invariably crop to ensure they are clear around your expectations.

8. Keep digital devices out of the bedroom
This is one rule that you should stay firm on.

9. Have a ‘digital detox’ one day a week
The only way that this idea will work is if you join them in making one day a week a digital device-free day. They will probably not like it, and neither will you, but the point of having one day off is to prove that they can live without their digital device, and involve them in different forms of communication and entertainment.

SENIOR YEARS NEWS

Welcome back to Term 3. I hope the break provided some valuable time for rest and connection with family. It has been a pleasure to see our students return with energy and focus, ready to engage in the learning ahead.

As we begin the new term, we acknowledge NAIDOC Week, which took place during the school holidays. This year’s theme, “Next generation: Strength Vision and Legacy”, highlights the importance of empowering young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to continue leading with pride, purpose, and cultural strength. It invites all Australians to reflect on the contributions of First Nations communities and the shared responsibility we hold in supporting a more inclusive future.

Looking ahead, Term 3 offers many opportunities for growth across academic, social, and co-curricular areas. Our staff are committed to ensuring all students are supported, challenged, and inspired in their learning.

Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting our students. We look forward to another productive and positive term.

SPOTTED in Year 4

Word Construction in Action!

Students explored how words are formed by combining prefixes, base words, and suffixes. Using the word “time” as a base, they discussed how affixes like “over-”, “re-”, “-ing”, and “-less” change its meaning. The whiteboard guided the discussion, helping students better understand how word parts build vocabulary and meaning.

ACROSS THE DESK OF THE GUIDANCE OFFICER

Understanding the Link Between Emotions and Behaviour in Children

Why Emotional Awareness Matters for Growing Minds

Emotions and behaviour are closely connected—especially in childhood, when young brains are still learning how to process big feelings and respond in socially appropriate ways. When children experience strong emotions like frustration, fear, excitement, or disappointment, they may not always have the words or self-regulation skills to express them constructively. This can often lead to challenging behaviours such as outbursts, withdrawal, refusal, or defiance.

Recognising the strong link between emotions and behaviour is essential for both educators and families. Behaviour is often the outward expression of an internal emotional experience. For example, a child who throws their pencil and refuses to do their work might be feeling overwhelmed, anxious about making a mistake, or unsure of how to begin. A child who hits a peer during play may be struggling to manage feelings of jealousy, exclusion, or frustration.

Rather than viewing these behaviours as simply "naughty" or "misbehaving," it's more helpful to approach them with curiosity: What might this behaviour be telling us about how the child is feeling? By tuning in to the emotional drivers behind the behaviour, adults can provide more effective support. This might include offering calm reassurance, helping the child name their feelings, teaching coping strategies, or creating predictable routines that build a sense of safety and control.

One powerful concept in helping children build emotional resilience is toggling—the ability to move between a place of safety and comfort, and a place of challenge or discomfort. Just as muscles grow when they're stretched, emotional growth happens when children are allowed to sit with difficult feelings in a supported way. Rather than immediately removing discomfort—like fixing a problem too quickly or avoiding a tough conversation—we can help children "toggle" by offering emotional support while encouraging them to work through it. This might look like sitting with them as they cry, acknowledging that something feels hard, and reassuring them that they are capable of coping.

Allowing children to feel discomfort without rushing to solve or rescue teaches them that big feelings are tolerable—and temporary. Over time, this builds confidence, self-regulation, and independence. It also teaches that while emotions can be uncomfortable, they don’t have to control our actions.

Teaching children about emotions—how to identify, express, and regulate them—is a powerful way to reduce behavioural issues and strengthen their social and emotional development. Programs that focus on emotional literacy, like Zones of Regulation, help children build the tools they need to make better choices, develop empathy, and navigate challenges with resilience.

In classrooms and at home, small, consistent efforts to connect with children's emotions can make a big difference. Empathy, patience, and clear guidance go a long way in helping children understand that all feelings are valid—but not all behaviours are acceptable. When we support children in understanding their emotions and guide them through discomfort, we empower them to grow into confident, respectful, and emotionally intelligent individuals.

SOCIAL WORK UPDATE

Social Work Update 

Knowing how to support your child to use the internet safety can be difficult. Alongside supervised access, being informed and having conversations early and often helps ensure they are safe online and know what to do should they ever have any problems.  

The ESafety Commissioner has helpful website that aims to support parents with this through a range of regularly updated articles and webinars. Their webinars are free and frequent, and information can be accessed in a number of different languages.  

They also have a page specifically for children – it is easy to navigate and helps children explore a range of topics and questions they may have to understand how to be online safely.  

HEAD OF CURRICULUM / LIBRARY NEWS

Introducing the Reading Framework at Grand Avenue State School

At Grand Avenue State School, we are committed to improving literacy outcomes for every student. Our teaching staff began the initial implementation of the Queensland Department of Education’s Reading Framework, a research-informed guide designed to support consistent and high-quality reading instruction across all year levels.

In the early stages, teachers have explored the seven key domains of reading—oral language, phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and text structure. These areas form the foundation of our whole-school approach to reading and are already informing lesson design and student support strategies.

Teachers have engaged and will continue to engage in professional learning and collaborative discussions to build a shared understanding of evidence-based practice. Planning sessions have and will continue to support staff in applying the framework to their classroom practice, helping to strengthen consistency and alignment in how reading is taught across the school.

This is an exciting step in our ongoing commitment to literacy improvement, and we look forward to sharing further updates as implementation continues.

Scholastic Book Club

Issue 5 of the Scholastic Book Club is out!  Come and grab a brochure from your classroom teacher.

To order, log in or sign up to a LOOP account here: Book Club - Parents | Scholastic Australia and follow the steps.  Please note that the school does not take cash payments for book club orders.

Orders can be placed until Friday 1 August.

Queensland Premiers Reading Challenge

Grand Avenue State School is taking on the Queensland Premiers Reading Challenge. Read 15 books between May and Friday 15 August and receive a signed certificate from the Queensland Premier. In addition, there will also be lucky door prizes. So don’t forget to collect your entry forms from the office, your classroom teacher or the library.

THE RESILIENCE PROJECT - GEM

Growing a Resilient Community – One GEM at a Time

At Grand Avenue, we are proud to be continuing our wellbeing journey with The Resilience Project (TRP)—embedding the values of Gratitude, Empathy, and Mindfulness (GEM) into the everyday life of our school. This term, we’ve taken a big step forward by aligning our teaching and learning across all year levels so that every student is focusing on the same GEM theme each week.

Whether it’s through classroom discussions, hands-on activities, or family take-home resources like GEM Chats, our students are learning how to build emotional strength, connect with others, and grow their resilience. Each week’s focus is shared at assemblies and celebrated through student work, storytelling, and shared reflections—bringing the whole school community into the conversation.

Families can support this learning at home by engaging with the weekly GEM take-home activities, which are shared on our school’s social media and digital signage, or by talking about the weekly focus. Together, we are fostering a school culture where every student feels safe, valued, and supported—not only academically, but socially and emotionally too.

STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AT GASS

Pyjama Day & Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) Update

How good was Pyjama Day? A massive thank you to our amazing Grand Avenue school community for getting behind such a fun and meaningful event. There’s nothing better than wearing your pyjamas to school and raising valuable funds to support children in foster care at the same time. Your generosity and enthusiasm make a real difference.

This is our final push for donations—if you’d still like to contribute, you can do so by using the QR code provided. Every donation helps provide care, support, and opportunities for children who need it most. Thank you again for being part of something so special.

PBL Focus – Learning and Safety

Over the past fortnight, our students have been focusing on what it means to be a Successful Learner – Persevere until tasks are complete. This focus has helped students understand that learning often involves challenge, and that by using strategies like asking for help, staying focused, and having a growth mindset, they can achieve their goals.

Next week’s PBL focus will shift to Act Safely – Use equipment safely. This is an important part of helping students make safe and respectful choices in the classroom, playground, and beyond.

We’d like to thank our parents and carers for your ongoing support in reinforcing these behaviour expectations at home. It’s incredibly valuable when families talk about our PBL focus with their children and help make connections to the real world—such as using kitchen tools safely at home, helping pack away play equipment, or showing persistence during after-school activities.

When students understand that the behaviours they learn at school also apply in everyday life, it deepens their learning and strengthens the home-school partnership that underpins their success.

YEAR 3 NEWS

Year 3 Blasts Off into an Exciting New Term!

Year 3 students are full of energy and excitement as we begin a new term packed with learning and fun! This term, we are launching into space as part of our integrated learning unit. Our young astronomers are exploring the solar system to help them create detailed information reports. We are also discovering how day and night occur, which has sparked lots of curious questions and fascinating discussions!

In Mathematics, we are building our skills in measurement—learning how to compare, estimate and measure length, mass, and capacity through hands-on activities and challenges.

There’s plenty happening outside the classroom too! We’re thrilled to have our first incursion this term with Star Lab, where students will step inside a portable planetarium to experience the wonders of space up close. We are also looking forward to our Buy Smart Incursion, swimming lessons, the Cross Country and the much-anticipated Athletics Carnival.

It’s shaping up to be a stellar term, and we can’t wait to learn, grow and enjoy all the adventures ahead!

Year 3 Blasts Off into an Exciting New Term!

YEAR 6 NEWS

6B Mindfulness Song Lyrics

Students in 6B have been focussing on ‘Mindfulness’ during week 1 as part of ‘The Resilience Project’ and building confidence and resilience in learning through positive thinking.

We listened to resilience songs as a strategy to help as music affects mood and energy levels and can create a positive mental space.

After writing some positive mindfulness statements throughout the week which can be seen in the photograph, we then turned these into song lyrics.

MUSIC NEWS

Music Notes

This week our Beginner Band students in year 4, had their first experience of playing in a full band, on the stage. After 6 months of learning, they are now ready to put everything into practice and start playing full band songs. Congratulations to our Beginner Band students.

On Monday, our Beginner Strings students in year 3, will be spending the day practising their instruments and learning new music. We are welcoming students from Forest Lake State School and Durack State School to join us as well. The day will be a fun one, full of music and new experiences. We hope you all have a lot of fun.

Next month, our Senior Band students will be participating in Bandtastic and in September, our Senior Choir will be going to Singfest. As usual, we are looking forward to a great term, full of joyful music making.

Alisen McLeod
Class Music Teacher
Instrumental Music Coordinator

DANCE NEWS

Wishing all of our GASS CGen dancers a wonderful show week this week.

SPORTING NEWS

Regards,
Dave Johnson / Hailinn Diola / Glenn Shaw
HPE Department

P&C NEWS

P&C Updates

Our July P&C meeting included a 30-minute parent information session on the Life Education lessons that will be provided to students in August. If you missed the meeting and would like more information about this program, please reach out to our Guidance Officer Ashleigh Granzin.

Less than a month to go until our Ekka Fun Day makes its return on Wednesday 13 August! If you haven’t already signed up to get involved with our Grand Avenue community, please click [HERE]. Volunteer opportunities on the day include setting up, distributing wristbands, ticket and wristband sales, and packing up. We’d also love some help distributing flyers to our neighbours in the coming weeks to let them know about the fireworks show. This exciting event is held on our school grounds and is a great opportunity to get involved with fundraising and community awareness.

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 19 August at 6:00 PM

Please also save the date for the following P&C meetings on 16 September and 21 October.

Father’s Day Stall – 1-3 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 start Term 3, we want to acknowledge all the fun we had on Vacation Care. These holidays were packed with fun, laughter, and adventure at OSHC! We enjoyed exciting excursions including a bounce-filled day at Inflatable World, a magical live performance of Rapunzel, an adventurous experience at Karawatha and calm time at the movies watching Lilo & Stitch. Whilst at the centre we had a pop-up games show, bubble soccer, and a colour run. There was also plenty of creativity during our in-house activities like cooking, craft, and spontaneous play. Each day had a different theme and offered something new and exciting for the children to enjoy.

One of the highlights was our Colour Run! In which parents/ guardians came to watch and support. The children had an absolute blast running through bursts of bright colour while cheering each other on. It was a joyful and energetic event that brought the whole group together in the most colourful way possible.

We’re off to a great start this Term, keeping busy with a mix of craft, activities, and spontaneous play! We’re always looking for new ideas – so if you or your child have any suggestions for our next Vacation Care, we’d love to hear them!

Regards
OSHC Team

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