Welcome to Term Two: Honouring the ANZAC Spirit

We welcome our students, staff and families to Term Two. We hope everyone enjoyed a safe and restful Easter break and school holidays. Returning to school with a shorter three-day week provided our students with a wonderful opportunity to ease back into learning routines and reconnect with their peers.

One of the key highlights of Week One was our ANZAC Commemorative Service. It was heartening to see our school community come together in recognition of this important national event. We thank all staff, students and community members who attended the service.

During the service, students explored the significance of the ANZAC spirit, reflecting on values such as integrity, determination, dedication, honour, mateship, initiative, teamwork, loyalty and patriotism. The symbolism of the poppy featured prominently, reminding us of the courage, friendship and sacrifice embodied by the ANZACs.

This solemn occasion offered a meaningful opportunity for the Aspley community to reflect on the legacy of the ANZACs and honour the generations of Australians and New Zealanders who have served our countries.

Lest we forget.

Cross Country: A Celebration of Team Spirit!

In Week 2, our Year 3 to 6 students finally had the chance to lace up their runners and hit the track for our much anticipated Cross Country Carnival at Ben Lomond Park. Originally scheduled for Term One, the event was postponed due to wet weather. The wait was worth it, as the day turned out to be one filled with energy, determination and team pride!

It was a true celebration, not just of athletic ability, but of effort, resilience, and teamwork. While nominations for the Metropolitan North District have already been decided, the focus of this day was on something even greater: Team Aspley spirit.

Our sporting teams, Mitchell, Kennedy and Oxley were out in full force, cheering on every runner with enthusiasm. Whether students were striving for a personal best, supporting their friends, or simply giving it a go, the atmosphere was one of inclusion, fun and celebration.

Although the original course couldn’t be used due to damage caused by a recent cyclone, the revised route still challenged students while offering a safe and engaging track through the natural environment. Ben Lomond Park provided the perfect backdrop for students to explore, connect with nature and create lasting school memories.

A huge congratulations to all students who participate, you made the day a success just by showing up and trying your best! And of course, we must congratulate our house teams for their efforts:

• Mitchell House: 263
• Kennedy House: 250
• Oxley House: 195

Thank you to our staff, volunteers, and families who made this day possible. Here’s to more events where we challenge ourselves, lift each other up, and celebrate what it means to be part of Team Aspley!

P&C Meeting Postponed 

We wish to advise our school community that the P&C meeting originally scheduled for Tuesday, 6 May has been postponed. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.

Key details:

1. The rescheduled meeting will now be held on Wednesday 7 May from 6:30pm, in the school staffroom, located above the Learning Innovation Centre (library), with parking available on site.
2. As always, we thank our P&C for coordinating this important opportunity for community involvement. For those unable to attend in person, the meeting will also be accessible via TEAMS.

We understand that changes can be disruptive and we apologise. We look forward to seeing you soon and thank you for your continued support.

School Car Park

We are pleased to announce that the newly renovated school car park on Horn Road was opened on Thursday, 1 May.

While the car park is operational, please note that minor works will continue over the coming weeks. Some of the works to be finalised include the installation of signage around the car park to support the stop, drop and go process, additional fencing to enhance safety, the inclusion of plants and mulch in the garden bed areas and possible installation of watering facilities to support ongoing maintenance.

It is important that over the next few weeks our community and school make full use of the car park. We will be conducting careful observations of its usage and making necessary adjustments and enhancement on both our findings and community feedback.

Car Park Features:

• Designated visitor and disability parking bays are available and clearly signed.
• Entry and exit routes for cars follow the traffic flow design, with road markings and signs to guide the traffic.
• Five drop-off and pick-up bays marked 1 to 5, along the black fence line leading to the exit.
• An external lane for vehicles accessing the drop-off and pick-up zone.
• An internal lane for cars moving through the car park.
• Three pedestrian crossings installed, to support safe and convenient movement of our students and community members between the school and their vehicles.
• Lighting has been reinstalled in the car park to improve visibility and safety for after school activities and night time use.
• Fencing installed along the internal and external boundaries of the car park, to ensure safe and clearly defined passage for pedestrians and vehicles using the area.

 Car Park Procedures:

• Morning drop-off begins at 8:15 am, with staff on duty to supervise from this time. Students are to wait in their designated year level area on the eastern side of the hall.  Prep waiting area remains under ‘B’ Block.
• Students will be dismissed at 3:00 pm, those waiting for pick-up will be supervised and guided by staff to the correct bay.

• Students who are not collected by 3:20 pm will be escorted to the school office.
• Drivers and passengers must remain in their vehicles at all times and students are to load safely and promptly.
• Students using the car park crossings or walking to parked vehicles must always be accompanied by an adult at this time.

 Reminders:

• Only vehicles with a valid permit may use the disability access parking.
• The drop-off and pick-up facilities at Maundrell Terrace remain available.
• Pedestrians may enter and exit the school through the Maundrell Terrace gate, the footpath adjacent to the administration building or continue using the footpath located between the car park and old prep building, leading to Horn Road.
• For those who cycle to school, the bike rack facilities will remain near the old prep building.
• Brisbane City Council will be updating signage on Horn Road to reflect the car park opening. The temporary drop-off and pick-up zone will not be available from Thursday, please be mindful of the parking regulations.

To support a smooth transition, classroom teachers will show students a video outlining safety procedures and operations relating to our car park.  These procedures and operations will be reinforced throughout the term on assembly. We will continue monitoring usage of this space over the next few weeks and adjust as needed. Below is a graphic representation of the car park with images, to assist you with managing the car park operations.

We would like to express our gratitude to our school community for your continued patience and support as we navigated the delay in the car park opening. We understand that this situation has caused some inconvenience, we appreciate your understanding and flexibility during this time. Your positive feedback and kind words about how our staff have managed the challenges have been both encouraging and deeply valued. It’s through this shared spirit of support that we continue to move forward together.

Religious Instruction (RI) Program Commencing Term 2, 2025

We previously advised our school community that a faith-based group leader approached Aspley State School with a request to provide RI. At that time, we shared detailed information regarding the RI program and its alignment with the Queensland Department of Education guidelines. That information remains available in our earlier (24 May 2024, Week 6 Term 2) newsletter located here.

We are now able to confirm that the RI coordinator is finalising arrangements and RI lessons are scheduled to commence in Week 4 of Term 2, 2025.

Program Structure and Participation

• RI lessons will be held on Monday afternoons, every second week, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm. All lessons are supervised by a classroom teacher.
• These lessons will alternate with year-level assemblies to reduce disruption to student timetables.
• Whole School Assemblies and Academic Award Celebrations will continue to be held in week 1 and week 10, during which time RI lessons will be suspended to allow all students to attend.

Students who have parental permission to participate will engage in lessons delivered by a trained and accredited RI instructor. The current program to be offered is of the Christian faith . Only students with permission to particiapte in a Christian faith RI program will be included.

Families were contacted via email in 2024 with the opportunity to confirm or update their child’s participation in RI. This was communicated in our earlier (19 July 2024, Week 2 Term 3) newsletter located here. If you wish to change your child’s status in the program, please contact our school administration. All requests must be submitted in writing.

Non-Participating Students

Students not participating in RI will remain with their year-level peers and will take part in supervised activities.

Student Financial Accounts

Please check the below list of issued and upcoming invoice that might be relevant for your Student/s (Italic text invoices have not yet been raised):

• Year 6 Canberra Tour
  • Deposit invoice: Due 6 Dec 2024
  • Invoice 2: Due 7 Feb 2025
  • Invoice 3: Due 21 March 2025
  • Invoice 4: Due 2 May 2025
  • Invoice 5: Due 20 June 2025
• Year 1 & 2 Swimming: Due 25 Jan 2025
• Instrumental Music Fee: Due 6 Dec 2024
• Instrument Hire: Due 6 Dec 2024
• SRS Fee: Due 21 March 2025

Term 2:

• SRS Fee Instalment 2: Due 13 June 2025
• IM Instalment 2: Due 13 June 2025
• Term 2 GALA Days: Due 28 April 2025 ($48)
• Senior Choir: Due 25 April ($20)
• Junior Choir: Due 25 April ($10)

Term 3:

• SingFest 2025: TBC ($24)
• IM Instalment 3: Due 5 Sept 2025
• Year 4 Camp: $399
• Year 5 Camp: $389

Please ensure to use QParents or the BPOINT link on invoices to make payments to the school. If payments are received directly to the bank account you must use your students EQ ID number as the reference, without this the payment will not be able to be matched to the student or applied to an invoice.
If you have made a payment directly into the school bank account this year, please contact the front office with the details (date, amount and account name) to check if an unknown payment is yours.

If you have a credit on your student/s account, please contact the office requesting it be applied to an invoice/s on your student/s account. Credits on student accounts are unable to automatically be applied to invoices by the school.

Year 4 Online Consent

Tuesday 1 April 2025, paper consent forms for the year 4 – 6 online services were sent home. Wednesday 2 April the consent was also activated through QParents. If you have a year 4 student please ensure to complete the QParents consent or if you do not have a QParents account please complete the paper form and return to the front office as soon as possible.

QParents

In 2024 the School successfully commenced using QParents for consent for various activities. This method of parents providing consent via QParents will continue in 2025 onwards.

If you have not yet created a QParents account and linked your student, one can easily be created. This will not only allow you to provide digital consent to various activities, you are also able to notify the school of Past, current or future absence. In QParents you can also review and make payment on invoices for your student.

A registration Process Guide for Parents can be located on our website.

You require your Students EQ ID number; this can be found on school issued report cards or invoices.
Should you not have the require points of ID, please come past the office with your ID for the team to confirm your account.  

Did you know you can use the BPOINT link on School invoices to make multiple payments? Simply click the link on your invoice and enter the nominated amount you wish to pay in that transaction. You can repeat this process until the invoice has been paid in full. This can be useful when paying for larger expenses like school camps. If you happen to lose track of the remaining balance just reach out to the front office and they will be able to provide the outstanding amount for you. You can also check for outstanding amounts through QParents.

Student Resource Scheme

SRS invoices have been issued for those who have returned the payment agreement form for 2025. If you are yet to complete and return this form please ensure to do so as soon as possible. New invoices for student returning late payment agreement forms were raised on Thursday 1 May 2025. Invoices for future late forms being returned will be raised on a fortnightly basis. 

Access to the online resources will be provided to students once their invoice has been paid in full. 

The Payment Agreement Forms can located on the school website. Please ensure the Payment Agreement Forms are complete in blue or black pen, not digitally signed as we are unable to accept digital signatures per Departmental Policy.

General Updates and Reminders

Aspley State School Hall will be used as a polling location for the upcoming election on Saturday 3 May 2025. Our P&C will be hosting a sausage sizzle outside the hall on election day.

School Photos will be occuring Monday 16 June and Tuesday 17 June. Please ensure the correct school formal uniform is worn on these days. 

Closer to the date a timetable will be provided to confirm the photo day for each class. 

Consulting with Teachers

Education providers must make adjustments (see reasonable adjustments below) to help students with disability to join in. I encourage you to contact your child’s teacher or case manager to discus your child’s difficulties/differences and ways that we can support your child’s success. It is important that we work together!

The Australian Government Department of Education has released new resources for students with disability and their parents and caregivers. The resources provide practical information about the rights of students with disability and the obligations of education providers under the Disability Standards for Education 2005. The resources were co-designed by people with disability, with help from Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA).

Find out more at: www.education.gov.au/students-with-disability-resources

 Reasonable Adjustments

Reasonable adjustments are actions that support students with disability to take part in education in a similar way to their peers. They can be:

• People (e.g., support staff)
• Materials (e.g., screen reader)
• Changes in how things are done (e.g., rest breaks)

The Disability Standards for Education 2005 (DSE) explain the rights of students with disability and what education providers must do to support students with disability. Reasonable adjustments are a key part of making sure students get these rights. For example, a reasonable adjustment could be a student who is sensitive to sound uses a pair of ear protectors in class to focus on an activity.

Reasonable adjustments are recorded in Personalised Learning Plans. Personalised Learning Plans are documents developed by teachers to identify learning goals, strategies and support needs.

ASPLEY MUSIC DEPARTMENT

Junior Concert Band commences this coming Tuesday 6^th May (Week 3) at 8.00am in the school hall. This rehearsal is for all 2025 Beginner Brass, Woodwind and Percussion Instrumental Music Students. Ms Jabs is looking forward to seeing you all at this first Junior Concert Band rehearsal for the school year. 

NORTHSIDE HONOURS MUSIC WORKSHOP

Congratulations to selected successful Senior Instrumental Music students for their acceptance into the Northside Honours Music Workshop to be held on Tuesday 24 June through to and including Thursday 26 June, 2025 at Wavell State High School.

Successful nominees families are reminded to register for this activity using the online iVvy Registration & Payment

link provided on the acceptance letter.  Online registrations to this event will close at 10am, Friday, 30 May 2025.  No extension to this close-off date will be possible – requests for late registrations will be refused.  If you wish for your student to participate in the Northside Honours Music Workshop, please ensure to complete and return the excursion consent form to the school administration office no later than Friday 30 May 2025.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC (IM) RECRUITMENT PROCESS 2026

The recruitment process for the 2026 Aspley State School Instrumental Music (IM) Program will soon begin!

This is an exciting opportunity for students who are interested in learning a woodwind, brass, percussion, or string instrument.  Ms Christine Jabs (Woodwind/Brass/Percussion), Mrs Julianna Kim (Strings), and Mrs McIntyre (Specialist Classroom Music Teacher) will be leading the process.

Students currently in Year 2 and Year 3 will receive an Expression of Interest form with all the important details about the program on Friday 20 June 2025. To be considered for the 2026 IM Program, this form must be completed and returned to school by Friday 25 July 2025.

Learning a musical instrument is a wonderful journey. It builds confidence, supports learning across other subjects, and is lots of fun!  We look forward to receiving your child's Expression of Interest to be part of our vibrant IM Program in 2026.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mrs McIntyre.

UPCOMING MUSICAL EVENTS – TERM TWO:

The Aspley Music Team

(Mrs Macca, Ms Jabs and Mrs Kim)

Curriculum News 

Australian Curriculum – Refined – Version 9

The Australian Curriculum sets the learning goals for all students as they progress through their school life – wherever they live in Australia and whichever school they attend, and when parents/carers are actively involved in their children’s education, children achieve better results.

The goal for the Australian Curriculum is to develop successful learners, confident and creative individuals, and active and informed young people who are ready to take their place in society. To achieve this goal, the Australian Curriculum includes 3 parts:

• 8 learning areas which are sometimes referred to as subjects, 
• 7 general capabilities which as sometimes known as the 21st century skills 
• 3 cross-curriculum priorities

From 2025 our teachers and students will be operating in Version 9 of the Australian Curriculum, in subject English and Mathematics, with other subject areas to roll out over the coming years.  This gradual release schedule allows schools to make adjustments, changes and refinements to our curriculum delivery at a reasonable and steady pace.  

What do English and Mathematics look like in Version 9.

Over the coming newsletter instalments, I will be giving you a brief tour of what is expected in subjects English and Mathematics across difference sectors of primary schooling.

Years 1 and 2

In Years 1 and 2, priority is given to the important areas of literacy and numeracy development. English and Mathematics are the core subjects for this, but literacy and numeracy are found in all subjects. By the end of Year 2, students have a much stronger understanding of themselves and have begun to connect with the wider community.

English

Students develop literacy using texts that entertain, inform and persuade, such as picture books,
non-fiction books and films. Students grow into more independent readers, learn to create a range of different texts and become more confident when they communicate.

Students learn to:

• listen to and discuss information books, stories, films and digital texts
• independently read simple books and discuss what they have read
• discuss the characters and events in texts written by First Nations Australian and wide-ranging Australian and world authors
• decode words
• write to express thoughts and ideas
• tell a story or talk about topics they have learnt in class
• use simple punctuation, such as capital letters and full stops
• spell common words and write in sentences  
• create texts using digital tools
• give short oral presentations on topics of interest
• develop legible handwriting.

 Mathematics

Students develop number sense as they build their understanding of place value. They are introduced to mathematical symbols and learn different ways to represent numbers. They begin to use mathematical language to communicate and explain mathematical ideas, pose basic mathematical questions, and develop simple strategies to investigate and solve practical problems.

Students learn to:

• describe number sequences and locate numbers on a number line
• begin to use number sentences with mathematical symbols to represent simple additive situations
• represent simple fractions using pictures, words, objects and events
• describe and draw shapes and objects
• use informal units to measure length, capacity and mass
• tell the time from both analog and digital clocks
• use a calendar to determine the date
• position and locate objects using directions and pathways
• investigate data collected through surveys, observations and experiments.

Classroom News 

Prep A 

Prep A has had a busy 3 day start to Term 2. We spent a lot of time exploring ANZAC Day. We read stories, drew Anzac Ted, made poppies and even gobbled up an Anzac biscuit. We also began work on our new science unit - materials. We looked at what a variety of classroom items were made of and sorted them according to their material: wood, metal, fabric, paper, cardboard and plastic.

1A

Students in 1A have had a wonderful start to Term 2! In English, students began exploring differences between information and fiction texts. We created an information text on emus and read the story ‘Edward the Emu’. Check out our fabulous emu artwork! In mathematics, students are developing their place value skills by building numbers using bundles of paddle-pop sticks. We also reflected on the meaning of Anzac Day and created a poppy and wristband to proudly wear to the Anzac Day Ceremony.

2A

This term in English, Year 2 students are learning to write Information Reports.  In week 1, 2A students learnt and wrote about the Night Parrot.  This bird is unique to Western Queensland.  We watched a video and read a Non-Fiction Text to learn facts.  We learnt the night parrot was thought to be extinct for 100 years.  Scientists recently sighted it in Western Queensland in 2019. In the last month, additional Night Parrots were found in Western Australia. This unique and special parrot is nocturnal.  Read our Information report to learn more!

3A

In English this term, Year 3 will be focussing on creating a multimodal informative text. We will be concentrating on using the correct format for an information report including paragraphs that begin with a topic sentence and ideas and details drawn from sources. The students will be using language features such as sentences with adjectives in noun groups, compound sentences and topic specific vocabulary and visual features.

4A

Last term, students in 4A had fun exploring visual art conventions including colour. They learned how artists use colour to share their ideas and feelings. For example, bright colours can show joy while cool colours can create calmness. Students discovered that colours can evoke specific emotions: red might mean passion or anger, while blue often feels tranquil. They also learned how artists use colour contrasts to create depth or highlight important parts of their work.  This helped them understand how artists communicate through colour and appreciate its importance in art.

This term we will continue exploring colour, shape and space as we learn more about visual art conventions, techniques and processes to make our own expressive drawings and artworks.

5A

ANZAC Day Reflections in Year 5A

This week, our class had a special opportunity to learn more about the significance of ANZAC Day in a truly memorable way.

We were fortunate to have a student’s parent visit our classroom to share his experiences from serving in the military. He spoke to us about the meaning of ANZAC Day and why it is such an important day for all Australians and New Zealanders. He also showed us some fascinating items from his time in service, including his uniforms, webbing bag, tools, and medals.

The students were incredibly engaged and curious, asking thoughtful questions and listening carefully. Seeing real military items and hearing personal stories helped bring history to life in a way that books and videos can’t always do.

To honour what we learned, the students also created beautiful poppy-themed art and craft projects. These artworks are now proudly displayed in our classroom as a reminder of the bravery, service, and sacrifice that ANZAC Day represents.

This experience helped us all gain a deeper appreciation for the day and the people it honours.

Lest we forget.

SCHOOL STUDY TOUR 2025 - SEEKING HOST FAMILIES

Aspley State School has a long-standing tradition of hosting study tours, providing both our students and international visitors with enriching opportunities for cultural exchange. After a pause during the pandemic, we are excited to once again welcome students from Japan (Ritsumeikan Uji Junior High School) for this year’s study tour. These tours not only allow our students to learn firsthand about different cultures, but also provide a valuable chance for our international guests to immerse themselves in the Australian way of life.

Cultural immersion is a powerful tool for fostering understanding, empathy, and lifelong friendships. For our students, it enhances their Japanese language skills, broadens global perspectives, and strengthens connections with peers from across the world. For our Japanese students, staying with local families offers an authentic experience that deepens their connection with Australian culture, helping them practice English in a welcoming, real-world setting.

We are currently seeking host families who are willing to provide a homestay for our visiting Japanese students. By opening your home, you can play an essential role in this unique exchange, supporting the development of lasting international friendships and enriching both the Japanese and Australian students' lives. Information regarding homestay follows this message. We hope you can help us continue this exciting tradition at Aspley State School! Thank you.

Play is the Way

During Term 2, students will be discussing a new key concept - Be brave – participate to progress.

We will explore:

• Some fears that people experience which prevent them from getting the most out of school.
• Why it is sometimes scary to try something new in front of people.
• The many ways people behave to hide their fears.
• Making mistakes and failing may make us feel bad. It takes courage to overcome these feelings and to keep trying.

Students were introduced to a new game Snake.  This game requires students to work together in pairs to wind their way through a slalom course of hula hoops.  It takes considerable social and emotional skills to work cohesively as a unit to become a ‘snake’ that eventually glides its way through the course with speed and control.

Art Classes