Term 3 – Learning, Celebrations and Connection

As we wrap up Week 8 of Term 3, a short but spirited week with a student free day on Friday, 5 September, we take this opportunity to reflect on the vibrant moments and heartfelt contributions that continue to shape our school community.

Honouring Our Quiet Champions: Teacher Aide Appreciation Week

This week marks Teacher Aide Appreciation week, we proudly celebrate the quiet champions of Aspley State School. From 1 to 5 September, we’ve acknowledged the incredible work of our teacher aides, those who support, guide and nurture our students both in and out of the classroom.

• They play a vital role in bridging learning gaps, offering tailored support in literacy, numeracy and curriculum activities.
•  Their presence during school events, playground duties and transitions ensures safety and consistency for our students.
•  With compassion and dedication, they help create an inclusive and supportive environment for all learners.

To our teacher aides, we thank you for your unwavering commitment to our students from Prep to Year 6. You are an essential part of our school team, and your impact is deeply appreciated.

Farewell to Our Study Tour

We also celebrate the successful conclusion of our Study Tour, where visiting students spent two weeks immersed in Australian culture and language learning.

• Their time at Aspley included English language development, cultural exchange and meaningful connections with our students, staff and community.
•  We thank them for sharing their traditions and perspectives and we look forward to future opportunities for international collaboration.

We wish our guests a safe journey home to Japan and hope they carry fond memories of their time in Australia.

Leadership Update

As we approach the final two weeks of Term 3, we share a brief leadership update. I will be on scheduled leave from Monday 8 September, returning in week two of Term 4.

• Mrs Robyn Basa will serve as Acting Principal during my scheduled leave.
• Mrs Naomi Harvey will step in as Acting Deputy Principal for Years 4–6.

Our school remains in the most capable hands, led by a dedicated team of teaching and non-teaching staff, supported by our leadership team and the broader Aspley community.

Wishing all families a productive and joyful end to Term 3. Thank you for being part of the Aspley story.

2026 Planning and Preparations

Can I share information about my child for consideration in their 2026 classroom placement?

Yes, we will accept written correspondence from parents/caregivers who wish to share information, for consideration, for their child’s 2026 classroom placement. This information will be considered, private and confidential and should be sent via email to your child’s 2025 classroom teacher.

The 2026 classes will be constructed by our teachers, who know your child, their learning, engagement and adjustment needs. They will consider your requests, which are not guaranteed.  With approximately 700 students to consider, we spend up to three weeks investing in this process, looking for the best fit for everyone.

Contact your child’s 2025 classroom teacher via email at your earliest convenience.  We will be working on student placement in their 2026 classes from week 1, Term 4. All relevant information must be emailed to the 2025 classroom teacher by Friday 19 September 2025, for review and consideration.

If you feel the information you wish to share about your child is more considered or private, you can email the sector Deputy Principal or Principal. Prep to Year 3, Ms Jenny Gross or Year 3-6 Ms Robyn Bassa can hold these details for you to assist with class placements.

Please take note of this important update regarding school operations:

• Date: Friday, 5 September (Week 8)
• Closure: Aspley SS will be closed for the day, this is a designated student free day.
• No Staff On Site: The school will not have staff on site during this closure.

We appreciate your support in planning ahead and ensuring all family members are aware of this scheduled closure.

Prep 2026

Enrol Now!!!

Is your child born between 1 July 2020 and 30 June 2021?

They are eligible to start Prep in 2026 at Aspley State School.

Planning is well underway to welcome our newest learners!

In Term 2, we hosted our Open Days, a fantastic opportunity to tour our Prep facilities and hear from our student leaders. This term, we are holding enrolment meetings as we prepare for our exciting Transition Program in Term 4.

Key Dates

• Enrolment Forms: Due now
• Enrolment Meetings: Term 3, Week 9
• Prep Transition Program: Term 4, Weeks 3–5

If you live within our catchment and haven’t yet submitted your enrolment forms, please contact the school office:

• admin@aspleyss.eq.edu.au
• 3863 9111

We look forward to welcoming your family to the Aspley community!

Swimming

We are pleased to announce that swimming lessons for Prep and Years 3 to 6 will take place in Term 4. Information about our program and consent permission have been sent to families.

Consent via QParents or return the signed consent form to the school office was due on Monday, 25 August 2025.

Payment is due by Monday, 15 September 2025.

We look forward to seeing our students in the pool and supporting them as they gain confidence and skills that will serve them throughout their lives.

Voices in Harmony at the 2025 SingFest Workshop

On Thursday 28 August, selected students from Aspley State School’s Senior Choir (Years 4–6) joined schools from across the region to participate in the 2025 Education Queensland SingFest Workshop, a joyful celebration of choral music, collaboration, and creativity.

The annual SingFest brought together hundreds of young singers for a full day of music-making under the inspiring direction of guest conductor Kylie Los.  Throughout the day, students were immersed in intensive rehearsals, vocal technique sessions, and ensemble work designed to refine their repertoire and build musical confidence. Kylie Los—known for her dynamic energy and expert guidance, led the singers through a variety of challenging and beautiful pieces, encouraging teamwork, discipline, and expressive performance.

Our Aspley SS Senior Choir students represented the school with pride, enthusiasm, and professionalism throughout the day. They embraced the challenge of working in a large ensemble and were praised for their focus, preparation, and respectful conduct.  A huge congratulations to all our participating students, you did yourselves and our school proud!

 

Beginner Band Blitz Hits All the Right Notes at Aspley State School

Aspley State School was proud to host the annual Beginner Band Blitz on Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 September, a joyful two-day celebration of music, learning, and collaboration.

Each day began bright and early, with students arriving from 8:00am and ready to immerse themselves in a full day of music-making. Under the guidance of specialist Instrumental Music (IM) teachers, students participated in group rehearsals, sectionals, and workshops designed to develop their ensemble skills and musical confidence.

The event culminated each day in a short concert at 2:00pm—an opportunity for families and visitors to witness the incredible progress made in just a few hours of focused work.

Cultural Rhythms Come Alive at Aspley SS with Musica Viva’s “Wyniss”

Aspley State School was thrilled to host a truly unforgettable cultural experience with the “Wyniss” performance from Musica Viva In Schools on Wednesday, 3 September.

Students from Prep to Year 6 were treated to a vibrant and engaging performance showcasing the rich heritage of the Torres Strait Islands through traditional music, dance, games, and storytelling.

From the moment the “Wyniss” ensemble stepped onto the stage, students were immersed in the sights and sounds of island life. With authentic instruments, mesmerizing dances, and captivating stories passed down through generations, the performance brought cultural traditions to life in a way that was both educational and entertaining.

The performers not only showcased their art but also invited students to join in with traditional games and movement activities, creating an interactive and memorable learning experience.

Aspley State School would like to thank Musica Viva Australia and the incredibly talented Wyniss Ensemble for bringing such a meaningful and joyful experience to our school community.

 

Northside Junior String Workshop Hits a High Note

Over two enriching days this week, talented young string musicians from across Brisbane’s Northside, including our own Aspley State School students, came together to participate in the 2025 Metropolitan Region Northside Junior String Workshop.

This annual event brought together second-year string students in Year 4 and above for a vibrant program of ensemble playing, specialist tutorials, and musical collaboration.  The workshop provided a fantastic opportunity for students to step outside their regular school programs and experience the excitement of working within a larger string ensemble.  Under the baton of experienced guest conductors and supported by skilled instrumental tutors, students deepened their understanding of tone, tuning, timing, and teamwork.

We are incredibly proud of our Aspley State School string students who represented the school with enthusiasm, focus, and musical maturity throughout the workshop. They worked collaboratively with peers from other schools, demonstrated respectful behaviour, and showed real growth in their musical abilities.

The 2025 Northside Junior String Workshop proved once again that music brings students together in powerful and joyful ways. Congratulations to all involved on a fantastic event!

Keep calm and carry on

Sometimes school can seem overwhelming. Your child might come home anxious after a disappointing test result, a schoolyard squabble or even a lost library book. Try these techniques to help calm them down.

Discuss the problem

If your child walks in the front door upset, the first thing to do is find out what has happened to upset them. Sit down with them and keep eye contact. Let them talk and try not to interrupt. If your child is upset, even if it is about something that seems trivial to you, let them know that you care that they are upset. Name the feeling they are expressing. For example, ‘I can see that you are feeling disappointed that you were not picked in the team’.

Breathing techniques

Now your child has shared with you the reason behind their anxiety, help them to calm down. This breathing method will replenish their oxygen. Ask them take a deep slow breath and hold it while you count to five. Then ask them to exhale slowly through their mouth. Repeat this five times.

Possible solutions

Once your child is feeling calm, it is time to work out ways to deal with the issue. Encourage them to think of solutions for themselves and suggest some of your own. If they are upset about a test result, talk about how tests just let you know how well you are going at one point in time and discuss ways your child could improve in that area. If your child has had an argument with a classmate, discuss ways to resolve conflict and perhaps suggest other friends they could socialise with.

Most importantly explain to your child that you understand why they are upset, and that you are there to help them get through this tough time. If your child needs extra support at school to get through the issue, contact your child’s teacher to work out a possible solution.

If your child has experienced a significant traumatic event, there are many services out there to support. You can contact eheadspace (call 1800 650 890) or Kids Helpline (call 1800 551 800). Each service provides private and confidential telephone and online counselling services to young people and their families.

Information from the Australian Government Learning Potential website: https://www.learningpotential.gov.au/

Please check the below list for current and future invoices that might be relevant for your Student/s (Invoices in Italic have not yet been raised):

• Term 3:
• Year 1 Puppet Show: Due 11 Sept $9
• IM Instalment 3: Due 12 Sept 2025

Term 4

• Term 4 GALA (Multi sport) Days: Due 19 September $42
• Term 4 Swimming: Due 15 September $78

Instrumental Music invoices for 2026 will be invoiced at the end of this term. If you are a new or returning student please ensure to have all forms completed and returned by the cut off date to ensure invoices are issued for your student/s.

All Student Resource Scheme invoices are now due and require payment to be made prior to the end of Term 3.

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 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.

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.

Want Digital Invoices?

Is your student currently taking a paper invoice home for you to make payment? Would you like to have them automatically emailed to you? If this is you, please email the front office to request your preferred contact method to be updated to email. This will ensure school communications are automatically sent to your email address on file.

Year 4 Multisports:  

In Term 4 the Year 4 students will participate in Friday Multisports. The consent request for this activity has now closed. Invoices for this activity were raised Tuesday 2 Sept and are due 19 September. Please note permission and payment must be received for students to participate in the activity. 

If you have not yet created a QParents account and linked your student, one can easily be created. This will allow you to provide digital consent to various activities, notify the school of Past, current or future absence, view report cards and pay invoices.

Did you know you are able to have delegated viewers or second account owner set up for QParents?

Delegated viewers are able to be invited by the main account owner and do not need to be listed as a parent in OneSchool. The main account owner is able to choose which information the delegated viewer is able to see and can update this as needed. This is great for Grandparents or extended families that like to stay up to date with students upcoming events, checking reports or knowing what invoices are due and when. If provided financial viewing of the students account, the delegated viewer will not be able to see details such as the address or name listed on the invoice, rather get a redacted overview of the invoice reference, cost and when payments were made or are due by.

Second account owners must be listed as a parent in OneSchool, however not share a residential address. This option would allow both account owners to provide consent for the student, by first in best dressed means. If the consent wished to be changed, you would need to contact the school to have it updated. A second account owner is unable to view any finance details for the student unless they have financial responsibility for the student. This means, if one parent is responsible for paying the invoices, the other parent wouldn’t see any financial details.  

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

When creating an account, you require your Students EQ ID number and 100points of ID. Your Students EQ ID number can be located on invoices raised by the school, report cards or by contacting the office.
Should you not have the require points of ID, please come past the office with your ID for the team to confirm your account.  

Students Arriving Late:

If your student arrives after the first bell but before 9am, they are to go straight to class and do not require a late slip. If your student arrives to school after 9am, please ensure to bring them to the office for a late slip to be issued before they go to class.

Facilities:

We are excited to see the new signs having been installed around the school grounds and the main school carpark. These signs are to help support our community keep safe while on site and easily identifying the “Stop, Drop & Go” bays.

On the student free day, works will be completed to upgrade the listening posts across the school. These upgrades will assist all students to clearly hear the class teachers, and support teachers in minimising the strain to their vocal cords while communicating with their classes.

Upcoming Planned Works:

The school is in the process of finalising the following works to occur over the remainder of the year.

- Installation of a new double sided LED sign at the Horn Rd carpark

- Internal repaint of E block and lower D block classrooms

Celebrating Teacher Aide Week

This week we celebrate our amazing teacher aides!

Their dedication, support, and hard work make a huge difference in the classroom every day. Ms Coluccio, Mrs Rossitto, Mrs Whittle, Miss Chloe & Miss Shepherd, thank you for helping our students learn, grow, and thrive—you are truly appreciated!

Parentline Support

Parenting can be rewarding but also challenging at times. Parentline is a free, confidential service for Queensland parents and carers, offering advice on friendships, behaviour, relationships, and wellbeing. Trained professionals are available by phone or webchat 7 days a week, 6am–midnight. Call 1300 30 1300 or visit parentline.com.au.

Wellbeing Focus: The Power of Rest

At the end of the term children start to become tired, which may affect their focus and participation. At home, regular routines, plenty of rest, and healthy meals help boost energy and engagement. If your child has had a challenging morning, contacting their teacher can help us provide extra support and guidance.

Parent Partnerships

Your insights matter! If you’ve found strategies that work well at home, we’d love to hear from you. Working together ensures the best outcomes for every child.

Looking Ahead

As we approach the end of the year, transition planning will begin for students moving into Prep, new classes and high school. We’ll be in touch soon to make this process smooth and positive.

Warm regards,

Kerri Carnall
Head of Special Education

kcarn10@eq.edu.au

Classroom Chronicles: The 16 Elements of Explicit Instruction. 

When it comes to helping students make the most academic progress, one of the most effective approaches teachers use is explicit instruction. This teaching method is clear, structured, and purposeful. It’s called explicit because the learning isn’t left to chance, teachers guide students step by step with direct explanations, clear demonstrations, and plenty of supported practice.

Explicit instruction involves carefully designed scaffolds that help students build confidence as they learn. Teachers explain the “why” and “what” of new skills, model exactly how to do them, and then provide guided practice and feedback until students are ready to succeed independently.

Educational researcher Rosenshine (1987) described explicit instruction as “a systematic method of teaching with emphasis on proceeding in small steps, checking for student understanding, and achieving active and successful participation by all students.”

Element #1 - The Art of Focusing on What Really Matters

Focus instruction on critical content Teach skills, strategies, vocabulary terms, concepts, and rules that will empower students in the future and match the students’ instructional needs.

Parents, have you ever asked your child how their day was at school, only to be met with a very detailed (and dramatic) account of how a pigeon landed on the playground… but not a single word about math?

Welcome to the world of “non-critical content”  !!!!

At school, we know that kids are natural sponges, but sometimes they soak up everything except what we need them to. That’s why Element #1 of Explicit Instruction is all about focusing on critical content. In other words, we make sure our teaching time isn’t spent chasing pigeons (literally or figuratively), but on the big ideas and skills that students truly need to succeed.

Think of it like packing for a family holiday:

• Do you need six pool noodles, a sombrero, and a ukulele? Probably not.
• Do you need sunscreen, snacks, and everyone’s toothbrush? Absolutely yes.

In the same way, teachers carefully choose the “must-haves” for each lesson, those essential concepts that will carry students forward in their learning journey. We leave out the fluff, so kids don’t end up with a suitcase full of distractions.

A Classroom Example and non-example:  (Opps that’s Element #9) 

A Classroom Example:

During a maths lesson on fractions, the teacher focuses on the critical skill: how to find equivalent fractions (½ = 2/4). Students practise with clear examples and use visual models so they really get it.

A Non-Example:

In the same fractions lesson, the teacher spends ten minutes telling the fascinating history of pizza (because fractions + pizza = fun). Interesting? Sure. Critical to mastering equivalent fractions? Not so much.

So next time your child tells you all about who borrowed whose pencil at lunchtime but “can’t remember” the math strategy we practised, just know, we’re working hard on making the important stuff stick!

Parent Tip: You can join in at home by asking questions like:
 “What was the most important thing you learned today?”
 “What’s one skill your teacher said you’ll use again tomorrow?”

Prep D

This term Prep D have been doing lots of learning exploring characters, retelling the events in different stories and how they make us feel. During maths learning we have been adding and subtracting using manipulatives to show our mathematical thinking. We made a weather plate to show the different weather we have been observing this term. 

1D

As part of our science unit ‘Changes Around Me’, 1D students have been busy observing and describing the features of landscapes and skies. They’ve explored how natural and human-made changes such as weather, seasons, construction and the shift from day to night, can affect both themselves and other living things. In the images shown, students have creatively drawn and coloured their interpretations of these changes. Their work captures the impact of a changing world, highlighting their growing awareness of the environment around them.

2D

In 2D, we have been building our understanding of multiplication by exploring repeated addition and arrays. We discovered that multiplication is just another way of showing groups of the same size.

We started with repeated addition.

For example:

Emelia’s example: 3 + 3 + 3 = 9

This is the same as 3 groups of 3 bananas = 9 bananas in total

Next, we explored arrays — neat arrangements of objects in rows and columns.

Ariya’s example: 2 rows of 5 = 10

 (2 groups of 5 donuts = 10 donuts in total)

Samuel’s example: 4 rows of 3 = 12

(4 rows, with 3 apples in each= 12 apples in total)

To support our learning, we created brightly coloured illustrations together.

One chart showed how “3 groups of 4” can be written as 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 or as 3 × 4.

Another displayed student-made arrays, with labels like “4 rows of 2 = 8.”

These posters now hang proudly in our classroom as reminders of the different ways we can represent multiplication. The students are now confidently using repeated addition and arrays to solve multiplication problems — and are very proud of their colourful charts and neat examples!

3D

In Term 3, 3D students have been working on measuring length, mass and capacity in mathematics. Students have been busily measuring objects with the various units of measurement, including millimetres, centimetres, metres, grams, kilograms, litres etc. to estimate, compare, make and classify objects. 3D students have also continued to practice and extend their number knowledge by doing the Number of the Day number activity. In English, students have now completed their persuasive text speech. Well done, 3D! You sure did present some very convincing arguments to the class and I! Next term, students will be learning about the imaginative narrative genre through a novel study.  Students have been continuing their regular Morphology phonemic awareness and Reciprocal Reading lessons. Keep up your excellent learning, 3D! 

4D

In 4D we have been mastering the art of persuasion. So look out parents you might be talked into something you hadn’t signed up for.

5D

In science we’ve been investigating the properties of light. One recent experiment posed many questions about refraction. We used various jars containing water to slow the speed of reflected light coming to our eyes. The recorded results were mind bending!

Another experiment helped us understand that the angle of incidence of a light ray equals the angle of reflection.

6D

In English this term, the 6D students have been studying the art of persuasion. They have practiced using both objective and subjective language, while also incorporating emotive and precise vocabulary. This culminates in the students planning, writing, and presenting a speech on a current issue affecting primary school students. Some of the topics include a four-day school week, lowering the voting age, and, notably, the proposed social media ban for minors. We look forward to hearing their compelling speeches.

Learning and Innovation Centre News

The Learning and Innovation Centre is open every second break. All children from year 1-6 can come into the LIC to read, play quiet games, complete puzzles, colour, and draw. Our year 6 student leaders come in and support the other children and help reshelve books. Please see the timetable below.

Book Week Competition

Congratulations to our Book Week Competition Winners!

A huge well done to the following students for their outstanding efforts:

• Gwen – Prep D
• Stella – 1C
• Deesan – 2A
• Yashvi – 3C
• Raeya – 4C
• Thomas – 5A
• Avani – 6D

We are so proud of your creativity and participation in celebrating Book Week!

Student Council Book Fair

The Student Council will be holding a Book Fair in Week 10 of Term 3 to promote the love of reading across our school. We kindly ask families to donate any preloved books in good condition—no rips, stains, or missing pages, please. Donations can be dropped off at the office or your child’s classroom. Funds raised will go towards a special end-of-year gift for the school from the Student Council. Thank you for your support!

Thank you, P&C

We extend our sincere thanks to our P&C for their generous $10,000 donation. With this support, we have been able to purchase new Hi-Lo (High Interest–Low Readability) decodable readers for our upper school.

Hi-Lo books are specially designed for struggling or reluctant readers. They feature engaging, age-appropriate themes and stories, presented with simplified language, shorter sentences and paragraphs, and often supported by illustrations or graphics. These resources help motivate students, build their confidence, improve reading fluency, and foster a love for reading by making books both interesting and accessible.

This investment will make a real difference in supporting literacy growth for all learners at our school.

Borrowing News

Library Borrowing Reminders

Each class has a weekly borrowing session at the Learning & Innovation Centre (see timetable below). Students must bring a library bag to borrow books.

• If a student misses their class borrowing time, they may visit the LIC at second break with their library bag and books to return or reborrow.
• If a book is not finished, it should still be brought back on borrowing day to be reborrowed, rather than left overdue.
• Students going on early holidays are asked to return their books before leaving.

All books must be returned by Week 9. Please note there will be no borrowing in Week 10.

Responsible Reader Awards

Congratulations to the two classes from last week who had no overdue books. You have worked as a team to support each other.

Outstanding Fees

If you have outstanding fees for lost books, could you please pay these as soon as possible. If your classroom teacher or child lets you know about an overdue book and you are unsure on the matter please feel free to email me and we can try and work out a solution.

Ms Naomi Harvey

npear34@eq.edu.au 

Students were introduced to rhythm games. These games are a valuable tool to help students focus, concentrate and contribute to the success of a collaborative and friendly classroom.

Classes played Piccadilly Circus again. This time, students were challenged to play the game in absolute silence. Discussions centred around the need for effective eye contact, suitable gestures and awareness of facial expressions.

A new game, Islands, was introduced. Playing against the teacher, the class must work cohesively to be successful. This calls for quick thinking, rapid decision making and the willingness to be considerate, inclusive and helpful. An enjoyable sense of panic and rush brings each round of the game to a close.

Sports X

Young Engineers

Artist Wendy

Artist_Wendy_Term_3_2025_Compressed_.pdf

Artist_Wendy_Term_3_2025_Compressed pdf 2.38 MB

Scouts Qld

September_25_Samford_1.pdf

September_25_Samford_1 _pdf 2.48 MB

Tennis Gear

Sharks Volleyball