Filter Content
- Principal Message
- Deputy Principal - Prep - Year 3
- Deputy Principal - Years 4-6
- Term 1 Dates
- Office Updates - Business Manager
- Introducing Guidance Officer - Belinda Fraser
- Head of Special Education
- Head of Department-Curriculum - Karen Newton
- Music News
- Learning and Innovation Centre (LIC) Update
- Health and Physical Education
- P and C News
- News from Camp Australia
- Community News
Welcome to the 2025 School Year!
We welcome our students, staff, families and community members as we begin the 2025 school year. We are grateful for the ongoing support from our families in helping our students re-engage with their learning and school routines. This time of year, can be busy for families, we truly appreciate your efforts in ensuring your children arrive on time, prepared for their lessons and ready to learn.
Students are now engaged with their units of study. If you notice that your child is becoming reluctant to come to school, please take the time to speak with their classroom teacher. Just like adults, students can feel fatigued or overwhelmed as they adjust to the demands of their academic studies. We are here to support both our students and families during this transition.
If your child is settling well into the school year, we encourage you to take a moment to celebrate their successes. Be specific in acknowledging the progress they’ve made, whether it is in their daily or weekly experiences. Recognising their growth will help them feel proud and motivated as they continue to develop.
I am pleased to be returning to Aspley in 2025, continuing my journey that began in 2023. These past two years have been a rewarding opportunity to work with our dedicated community, staff and students to create a positive school environment focused on academic achievement and the wellbeing of our students. As I continue in my role as Principal, I look forward to furthering our work together.
A special thank you goes to our Parents and Citizens Association (P&C) and School Council for their unwavering support of our school community. Their collaboration has been invaluable in supporting my transition to the school and in helping to drive our strategic initiatives. We express our gratitude to the P&C for assisting our families with the all-important school uniforms. Our students look amazing and wear the uniforms with pride.
We remain committed to providing the best educational experience for your child, we look forward to another successful year together.
Annual Implementation Plan – School Improvement
At Aspley State School, we are committed to providing high-quality education for every student. As part of our ongoing efforts to ensure excellence, we prepare an Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) each year. This plan outlines an explicit improvement agenda over a 12-month period and aligns with our long-term School Strategic Plan.
For 2025, our AIP focuses on three main priorities aligned with our strategic goals:
- Educational Leadership and Teaching Expertise in English (link): Excellence in teaching and learning underpinned by the Australian Curriculum (AC).
Our first priority will centre on English as our Explicit Improvement Agenda (EIA), with a focus on teaching practices aligned with the Australian Curriculum. Teachers will engage in targeted professional development and collaborative planning to strengthen their teaching of English across all year levels. This initiative directly supports the Department of Education Equity and Excellence Strategy (link), which aims to provide all students with the opportunity to succeed.
- Educational Leadership and Teaching Expertise: Implementing a whole-school approach for the teaching of reading through the Australian Curriculum.
The second priority of our plan is to continue to develop and refine a whole-school approach to reading. With a focus on enhancing reading proficiency across all stages of learning delivering a multi-tiered approach, ensuring that all learners make measurable progress.
- Educational Leadership and Teaching Expertise : A focus on wellbeing and engagement, fostering confidence and resilience for all. Creating meaningful pathways for every student is key to lifting their learning experience and learning outcomes.
The third priority will focus on a sense of belonging and connection to school. Support teachers will deliver developmentally appropriate learning experiences via the Play is the Way (link) program and Respectful Relationships (link) program. Our strategies will aim to engage students in learning and create an environment where all students feel safe, supported and valued.
Our AIP will be finalised this term, once endorsed by the region it will be shared with our community. Our AIP will provide a clear roadmap for the year ahead, with set targets, ensuring that we stay focused on what matters most for our students and their future success.
Back to School Notices
As we settle into the new school year, we remind our community and our students to be mindful of the school routines and our school expectations.
School Uniform
The school Uniform Dress Code (link) is located on our school website. The school uniform is worn with pride by all students. It offers an inclusive approach, supporting all student’s engagement at school as well as being comfortable, smart and sun safe. Classroom teachers are taking time to ensure all students are aware of the dress code expectations. Teachers will touch base with parents and caregivers, to confirm if you or your family require clarification or support with the dress code. The formal uniform is worn from Year 1 – 6 on a Monday for assembly, special occasions and the school photos. The sports uniform should be worn on other days and for Physical Education lessons.
Attendance
Every day at school is an opportunity to grow, learn and flourish. We understand that from time to time students will need to be away. If your child needs to be away, contact the school office. We will send you a text message regarding your child’s absence, if we did not receive a notification from you about their absence. We ask that you reply to this message to confirm the reason for their absence.
School Routines
Students should not be dropped off at school prior to 8:15 am. Staff are on duty from 8:15 am to offer supervision, student safety is a priority. Our outside hours school care, Camp Australia, can assist with before and after school care arrangements. Please see our administration staff for the Camp Australia contact details.
- Year 1-6 students are invited to wait outside the hall (eastern side), from 8:15 am Monday to Friday. Prep students can wait near there precinct at this time. Staff are on duty from 8:15 am and can offer supervision.
- The school bell will ring at 8:45 am, to signal a transition to class which will commence at 8:50 am. Classroom teachers will mark the class roll for daily attendance at 9:00 am. A late slip should be collected from the office if students arrive after 9:00 am.
- School concludes at 3:00 pm. There is staff on supervision at the drop-off and pick-up zone on Maundrell Terrace and Horn Road. Please confirm your family pick up location, in the afternoon.
- Our office is open from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm Monday to Friday, if you need to contact us feel free to email admin@aspleyss.eq.edu.au or phone 3863 9111.
- All student mobile phones are handed into our office at the start of the school day, for safe keeping. Wearable devices, such as smartwatches must be switched off so that phone calls or other notifications cannot be sent or received during the school hours.
- Assembly is held every Monday in our school hall, from 2:00 pm. A whole school (P-6) assembly is held in the first and last week of the term. The P-2 assembly is held on the even weeks of the term and the Year 3-6 assembly is held on the odd weeks. We celebrate our student achievements, share school and P&C messages at this time.
Car Park Update: Working Together for a Safe Solution
As many of you are aware, the ongoing car park works on Horn Road are still in progress. We understand the inconvenience this has caused for students, staff, parents and local residents.
A recent update was received from our regional facilities team, that the project is progressing and is now expected to be finalised in early March. We have shared our community disappointment and frustrations with the delays to the relevant stakeholders, including the Brisbane City Council (BCC), Transport and Main Roads (TMR), the regional facilities team and contractors involved in the project.
Please be assured that the school is doing everything within its capacity to ensure that students, parents and our community have the safest possible options during this time. We continue to work closely with the BCC, TMR and contractors to address the situation and make sure that the car park project is completed as soon as possible.
In the interim, we need the support of everyone who uses the roads around the school, whether as pedestrians or drivers. We ask that pedestrians use the safest routes available to cross the roads and that drivers remain mindful of oncoming traffic and students around the school zones. During the first two weeks of school, we have ensured additional staff are on duty to assist with drop-off and pick-up procedures and to help manage traffic flow as best we can.
We recognise the concerns and frustrations that have been raised by families and community members regarding the current situation. We have responded to each communication with appreciation and respect and we continue to work with the relevant authorities to address the challenges being faced. We are grateful for the patience and consideration shown by our school community.
The Metropolitan North Regional Facilities Team has offered their ongoing support and should you have any questions or concerns about the car park project, they have offered for the Aspley community to contact them directly. Best contact is Tony Clark, Infrastructure Advisor Regional Operations – Metro North and North Coast Region, Tony.CLARK@qed.qld.gov.au
If you have any further enquiries or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the school. We encourage you to reach out to the appropriate stakeholders as outlined above, to assist in streamlining your requests for information.
Thank you for your cooperation at this time as we continue to work together.
Deputy Principal - Prep - Year 3
A warm welcome to our new families joining Aspley State School and a heartfelt welcome back to our returning families. It has been delightful to see the students' smiling faces as they walk through the gates each morning and to reconnect with families during drop-off and pick-up times. The students are settling in well and adjusting smoothly to school routines.



















Since 2020, I have had the privilege of working with the wonderful students, staff, and families at Aspley State School. As the Junior Deputy Principal, my role is to collaborate with our teachers to ensure every student is making meaningful progress.
This year, our staff remains committed to delivering the Australian Curriculum through effective teaching and learning practices. A key focus will be on literacy, particularly the teaching of reading and writing in the junior school. Teachers will continue to explicitly teach phonological awareness and phonics in the lower year levels to build strong foundational skills. We are looking forward to Friday 14 February, International Book Giving Day, when our P&C have a special surprise for our Prep students.
I look forward to working closely with our school community to support every student in reaching their full potential and to meeting many families at our upcoming Parent Information Sessions. Our P&C are looking forward to welcoming many Prep families on Friday 14 February from 2:30pm outside the Prep Precinct.
Year 1 & 2 Swimming
Water sports and activities are an integral part of the Australian lifestyle, making water awareness and strong swimming skills essential life skills for our students. Our swimming lessons with Swim Solutions kicked off this week—perfect timing with the warm weather!
Below, you’ll find the swimming schedule for your child’s class. If your child is not participating in the 8-week program, they will be supervised in a buddy classroom during these sessions. In the final week, students will enjoy a Fun Activities session to celebrate their progress. The program will conclude on 25 March 2025.
Swimming Timetable for Term 1 2024 – commencing Monday 3 February 2025 |
|||||
9:00am |
9:40am |
11:25am |
12:05am |
12:45pm |
|
Monday |
|
2A |
2B |
2C |
|
Tuesday |
2D |
1D |
1A |
1B |
1C |








Run Around Australia
It's almost time for the annual Run Around Australia to begin! Previously known as The Great Race, this event brings our school community together to track our collective distance and map our progress each week. It’s a fantastic way to stay active, build healthy habits, and connect as a community.
Students are encouraged to run, jog, or walk laps around the big oval each Wednesday and Thursday morning from 8:30 am to 8:40 am during Weeks 3–9. With the Junior Run 4 Fun and Senior Cross Country coming up, this is a great opportunity to boost fitness in preparation.
Last year, we covered just over 7,000 km—let’s see if we can beat that this year!
Run Around Australia kicks off next Wednesday, 12 February. We can’t wait to get moving!
NAPLAN
This year, NAPLAN assessment will take place for students in Year 3 and Year 5 from Wednesday, 12 March 2025 and finishes on Monday, 24 March 2025.
The purpose of NAPLAN is to assess the learning progress of literacy and numeracy skills your child is already learning at school through the school curriculum. Students sit assessments in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. The questions assess content linked to the Australian Curriculum: English and Mathematics.
NAPLAN assessments are not about passing or failing. Encouraging your child to do the best they can on the day is the best approach for preparing your child. Excessive preparation or the use of NAPLAN coaching is not necessary or recommended. To find out more about NAPLAN, visit www.nap.edu.au.
RACQ Streets Ahead Program
The RACQ Community and Education Team will be delivering the RACQ Streets Ahead road safety lessons to Prep to Year 6 students from Tuesday 11 to Friday 14 February 2025. This program is provided free to all Queensland primary schools, and lessons will address the topics of pedestrian, passenger and riding safety through age-appropriate and interactive activities.
This program was booked for students in 2024, to go alongside the opening of the new school carpark. With the delays in the car park project, these lessons will still go ahead as planned, and be delivered in preparation for the new car park’s opening.
If you would like more information on the program, including resources to extend learning at home, visit https://www.racq.com.au/streetsahead
To evaluate this program’s content and delivery, RACQ have engaged the Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety-Queensland (CARRS-Q) from Queensland University of Technology (QUT). As part of the evaluation, students in Year 5 and Year 6 have been invited to participate in a short 15–20-minute paper-based survey about the program they will participate in. Participation in the survey is voluntary, with consent forms for participation sent home with all Year 5 and Year 6 students in Week 1. If you would like your Year 5 or Year 6 child to participate in the evaluation survey, please return the consent form for participation to the office no later than Monday, 10 February 2025. All students will still attend the program session regardless of whether they will be completing the survey.
Parent Information Sessions
It was great to see so many families at our Parent Information Sessions held this week. If you are unable to attend, your child’s class teacher will send an email with the information shared to their families. The following year levels will be holding their sessions in Week 3. All sessions will be held in individual classrooms.
Wednesday 12 February 2025 5:00-5:50 pm |
Year 3 & Year 6
|
Thursday 13 February 2025 5:00-5:50 pm |
Year 1
|
Term 1 Curriculum Overviews
This week, all students in Prep to Year 6 received a copy of the Term 1 Curriculum Overview. This overview outlines what your child will be learning in their year level and specific learning areas during Term 1, including the key concepts to be covered, the skills and knowledge they are expected to gain by the end of the unit, and the assessments to be completed in Mathematics and English. If you'd like more details about the Term Overview, please feel free to reach out to your child’s class teacher.
Year 6 Leadership Investiture Ceremony
All Year 6 families are cordially invited to attend the Year 6 Leadership Investiture Ceremony on Friday, 21 February 2025, at 9:15 am in the Aspley State School Hall.
This ceremony will see our Captains and Senior Leaders receive their role badges, and all students will be acknowledged as Senior Students of Aspley State School.
As this is a formal occasion, all Year 6 students must wear their full formal uniform, including white formal shirt, black shoes, school shorts or skorts and white socks.
Canberra Trip Update
171 days until the Year 6s depart on their Canberra Trip!
For families attending the trip, the Payment 2 instalment was due today. The next payment instalment invoice (Payment No. 3) will be issued on Friday, 14 February, and due by Friday, 21 March.
If you are experiencing financial hardship, please contact our Business Manager, Miss Hannah Payne, or myself to discuss. All details of these conversations will be kept confidential.
Payment |
Issue date |
Amount |
Due |
Payment No. 1 (Deposit) |
Friday, 15 November 2024 (Week 7, Term 4 2024) |
$325 |
Friday, 6 December 2024 (Week 10, Term 4 2024) |
Payment No. 2 |
Monday, 6 January 2025 (School Holiday Break) |
$325 |
Friday, 7 February 2025 (Week 2, Term 1 2025) |
Payment No. 3 |
Friday, 14 February 2025 (Week 3, Term 1 2025) |
$325 |
Friday, 21 March 2025 (Week 8, Term 1 2025) |
Payment No. 4 |
Friday, 28 March 2025 (Week 9, Term 1 2025) |
$325 |
Friday, 2 May 2025 (Week 2, Term 2 2025) |
Payment No. 5 (Final payment) |
Friday, 16 May 2025 (Week 4, Term 2 2025) |
**$325 |
Friday, 20 June 2025 (Week 9, Term 2 2025) |
Aspley State School - Term 1 2025 (These dates are subject to change) |
|
3 February - 25 March 2025 | Year 1 + Year 2 Swimming |
10 February 2025 |
Assembly - Years 3-6 |
11 February 2025 and 18 March 2025 |
P and C Meeting |
12-13 February 2025 |
Parent Information Sessions |
11-14 February 2025 |
RACQ Road Safety Program |
17 February 2025 |
Assembly - Prep - Year 2 |
12 February -27 March 2025 |
Run Around Australia - School Oval (Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 8:30am-8:40am) |
21 February 2025 |
Investiture Ceronmony (School Captains and Leaderss) |
24 February 2025 |
Assembly - Years 3-6 |
27 February 2025 |
St Johns Ambulance First Aid Sessions Year 3/4 Session |
3 March 2025 |
Assembly - Prep - Year 2 |
4 March 2025 |
ThinkUKnow Sessions Years 1 - 6 |
10 March 2025 |
Assembly - Years 3-6 |
12 March - 24 March 2025 |
2025 Naplan |
17 March 2025 |
Assembly - Prep - Year 2 |
21 March 2025 |
Harmony Day |
24 March 2025 |
Assembly - Years 3-6 |
26 March 2025 and 2 April 2025 |
Parent Teacher Interviews |
28 March 2025 |
Cross Country (Wet weather date 3 April 2025) |
31 March 2025 |
Whole School Assembly |
2 April 2025 |
Run 4 Fun |
4 April 2025 |
Last Day of Term Easter Hat Parade |
Office Updates - Business Manager
Student Resource Scheme
Aspley State School has a Student Resource Scheme for our Prep students in lieu of a booklist to assist with families easing into schooling. Our Year 1 – 6 students have a Student Resource Scheme in conjunction with their booklists to provide access to additional physical and online curriculum-based resources.
To participate in the Student Resource Scheme (SRS) families are required to complete a Participation Agreement form and Fee Payment Arrangment form. The Participation Agreement form provides consent to participate in the SRS for the duration of the student’s enrolment at Aspley State School. This is typically completed at the time of enrolment during the enrolment interview. SRS fees are charged at a lower rate in comparison to the retail price of included resources, this is due to the school accessing bulk purchasing prices. By participating in the SRS, families are able to access the schools bulk purchasing pricing and save money on these resources.
The SRS fees are $200 annually for Preps and $100 annually for Year 1 – 6 students.
If a family wishes to cease their participation in the SRS, they are able to do so by completing a new Participation Agreement form opting out of the SRS and returning it to the office. By not participating in the SRS families are required to provide the listed items for their student’s relevant year level to the school for their student to utilise over the course of the year.
Families will receive an email in week 3 with information about the SRS (Student Resource Scheme) including dates for invoicing and payment.
Finances
Please ensure to check your students account via QParents to ensure there are no outstanding invoices from previous years. If you do not have QParents access please contact the front office on 07 3863 9111 or via admin@aspleyss.eq.edu.au to check their financial account.
The schools preferred payment methods are QParents and BPOINT. The school is able to accept cash payments via the front office from 8.30am – 12pm Monday – Thursday. Please note if paying in cash via the front office the correct cash must be provided as we are unable to provide change.
School Payments
Event |
Payment Due Date |
Year 1 and 2 Swimming – Term 1 |
DUE NOW |
2025 - Canberra Payment #2 |
DUE NOW |
2025 - Canberra Payment #3 |
21 March 2025 |
2025 - SRS Fee Payment |
Invoices issued Friday 21 February 2025 Payment Due Friday 21 March 2025 |
If you have a credit on your student/s account, please contact the office by emailing admin@aspleyss.eq.edu.au, requesting the credit be applied to an invoice/s that is outstanding on the student/students account – these are unable to be automatically applied by the school.
Has your student/s been invoiced for an excursion or event that they are not participating in? If so, could you please ensure to let our friendly front office team know by emailing them at admin@aspleyss.eq.edu.au to advise of your students' non-participation. This will assist us in ensuring that your students' financial accounts are cleared of the invoices.
Should your family be experiencing financial hardship, please contact our Business Manager via BSM@aspleyss.eq.edu.au to discuss payment plan options.
Making Payments
BPOINT and QParents are the two preferred payment methods at Aspley State School. The administration team will be able to receipt cash payments, however please note you will require to have the correct amount as we are unable to provide change. Cash payments can be made at the front office between 8.30am – 12pm Monday – Thursday.
Did you know you can use the BPOINT link on your invoice to make multiple payments? This allows for families to make a number of smaller payments towards larger invoices such as the SRS and school camps. Don’t worry, if you lose track of the payments you have made towards the invoice you can always check the remaining balance in the QParents App or contact the friendly front office staff.
Permission Forms
When returning permission forms please ensure these have been completed with either a black or blue pen. The school is unable to receive permission forms that have been electronically signed. We are able to receive scan copies of permissions that have been completed with black or blue pen, scanned and emailed back to the admin@aspleyss.eq.edu.au email address.
QParents
Have you registered for a QParents account?
Did you know that QParents allows you to pay for and check outstanding balances of student invoices from anywhere at any time, all you need is your mobile and the internet. Not only does QParents allow you to check your students financial account, you can also access their report cards. QParents is also a great way to keep the school updated of your students absence. This can be utilised to enter same day student absence by logging in that morning and letting the school know your student/s is away that day. QParents also has the ability for you to advised the school about past and future student/s absences.
QParents now has the added feature of electronic permission forms. Families with QParents accounts are able to complete various Department forms within the QParents App. This will save paper forms from getting lost or eaten by the school bag on the journey to / from school.
Please keep an eye out in your inbox (and junk) for an invitation from the school to create a QParents account if you don’t already have one. The email will provide you with all the relevant information for your student/s and a step-by-step guide to setting up your account.
Introducing Guidance Officer - Belinda Fraser
Hello!
My name is Belinda Fraser and I am excited to have started at Aspley State School in 2025 as the Guidance Officer.
Guidance Officers are experienced educators with Masters level postgraduate qualifications in guidance and counselling and/or educational psychology. Guidance Officers have the capacity to:
- Collaborate with students, teachers, families and community agencies to support every student to learn and achieve within a safe, supportive, inclusive and disciplined learning environment
- Facilitate case management with all stake-holders
- Monitor the wellbeing of students and provide feedback to schools, families and other professionals when students are experiencing difficulties
- Provide counselling and programs for individuals and groups
- Undertake educational and psychological assessment
I have worked as a Guidance Officer in the Department of Education for over 8 years in schools on Brisbane’s North side. I have special interests in the areas of mental health and autism, and I am currently completing post-graduate study in autism.
If you have any concerns about a young person, please raise your concerns with the classroom teacher. As a member of the Student Support Services Team, I work collaboratively with the team to ensure every student receives the support they need to learn. I work Thursdays and Fridays and can be reached by contacting the office, or by email at bfras46@eq.edu.au. I look forward to getting to know the Aspley community!
Welcome to all our new and returning families.
This year, our Student Support Services (SSS) team has grown significantly, with a larger group of staff dedicated to supporting students with substantial and extensive needs, as identified under the NCCD.
The SSS team consist of the following:
Case managers
Paula Evans – Prep, Year 1, Year 6
Donna Boyce – Year 2, Year 3
Melinda Stone – Year 4, Year 5
Kyle Rankine – Respectful Relationships
SSS Teacher Aides
Mel Coluccio
Melita Rossitto
Maryke Whittle
Chloe Pearce
Jemima Shepherd
The team has done an excellent job supporting our new and returning students with disabilities as they transition back to school. Adjusting to a new school year, teacher, environment, peers, and play areas can be challenging for our students, so the dedicated efforts of our SSS team play a crucial role in ensuring a smooth start to the year.
Reminders
If you are working with a paediatrician or external therapists, please keep us informed. Any reports you are willing to share are incredibly helpful in understanding your child and ensuring we provide the appropriate adjustments to support their success.
If you have any information, requests, or questions, please feel free to reach out to me via phone or email at kcarn10@eq.edu.au, and I will be happy to assist.
NAPLAN
We are currently reaching out to parents regarding adjustments for NAPLAN for students with a diagnosed disability. Please sign and return the forms at your earliest convenience.
The SSS team is excited to work with you in 2025 to empower children with additional needs, helping them achieve success and thrive in their educational journey.
Head of Department-Curriculum - Karen Newton
NAPLAN 2025
Key Dates - 12–24 March
Download the 2025 NAPLAN Testing Window Infographic (Link)
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit each year. It is the only national assessment all Australian students have the opportunity to undertake.
As students progress through their school years, it is important to check how well they are learning the essential skills of reading, writing and numeracy. NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through the Australian Curriculum and allows parents/carers to see how their child is progressing against national proficiency standards.
NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process. It does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance, but it can provide teachers with additional information about students’ educational progress.
NAPLAN tests are delivered in an Online environment
NAPLAN tests are designed to provide precise results and are engaging for students. The tests are tailored (or adaptive) which means that each test presents questions that may be more or less difficult depending on a student’s responses. This helps students remain engaged with the assessment.
Tailored testing allows a wider range of student abilities to be assessed and measures student achievement more precisely. A student’s overall NAPLAN result is based upon both the number and complexity of questions they answer correctly.
Your child should not be concerned if they find questions challenging; they may be taking a more complex test pathway.
All Year 3 students will continue to complete the writing assessment on paper in 2025.
Take a look at the Tests
The public demonstration tests show the types of questions students will answer and the functionalities that are available in NAPLAN tests. The following links will take you to these test examples.
After clicking on the link below, choose the type of test you would like to see and then select “Standard Test”. Continue to click the “next” button until the example test appears. Even if prompted, you do not need a PIN to access this public demonstration site just click “next”.
Participation in NAPLAN
NAPLAN is for all Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students. All students have the opportunity to participate in the National Assessment Program. To support all students to participate in the testing, adjustments are available for students with disability who have diverse functional abilities and needs.
Aspley State School teachers and administration will work with parents/carers and students to identify, on a case-by-case basis, reasonable adjustments required for individual students with disability to access NAPLAN. Adjustments should reflect the support normally provided for classroom assessments. We will make contact with families of students that have been identified as requiring adjustments to participate in the testing over the coming weeks.
Parent / Caregiver Withdrawals From NAPLAN
NAPLAN tests are a routine part of the school calendar. However, students may be withdrawn from the testing program by their parent/carer for reasons such as religious beliefs or philosophical objections to testing. This is a matter for consideration by individual parents/carers in consultation with their child’s school. A formal application in the manner specified by the relevant test administration authority must be received by the principal prior to testing.
Notification of Parent/Caregiver Forms must be completed and received by the school Administration by Tuesday 11 March 2025. If you are considering withdrawing your child from the NAPLAN tests this year, please make contact with your child’s teacher and discuss your decision. Classroom teachers will then be able to provide access to the withdrawal of consent forms required by the school.
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 brief tour of what is expected in subjects English and Mathematics across difference sectors of primary schooling.
Foundation (Prep)
In their first year of school, students learn from their teachers and through their interactions with others. They experiment, practise and play in the classroom and school community. Priority is given to literacy and numeracy development as these are the foundations upon which further learning is built. There are opportunities to develop literacy and numeracy in all subjects and particularly in English and Mathematics. Learning in a classroom and belonging to a school community are key to the first year at school.
English
Students engage with texts that entertain and inform, such as picture books and rhymes. They begin learning to read and create texts.
Students learn to:
- communicate with others in familiar situations
- retell stories and personal experiences
- report on topics they have learnt
- read and talk about texts, including stories, information texts and texts by First Nations Australian, Australian and world authors and illustrators
- recognise rhyming words, syllables and sounds
- name letters and the most common sounds the letters make
- listen to, read and view picture books
- write some words and phrases
- recognise some common words
- create texts both orally and in writing.
Mathematics
Students develop a sense of shape, size, number, order, sequence, pattern and position in relation to familiar settings.
Students learn to:
- connect numbers, their names and quantities up to 20
- count numbers in sequences up to 20
- recognise repeating patterns
- compare different attributes of objects
- use materials to represent problems, compare and sort objects, and discuss answers
- group, sort and name familiar shapes
- connect events with times of the day and days of the week
- use location words such as above, below, outside, next to, underneath.
Respectful Relationships
Respectful Relationships education is an essential part of our school's approach to fostering a positive and inclusive environment. This program helps students develop important life skills, including emotional awareness, communication, problem-solving, and conflict resolution.
By learning how to build healthy and respectful relationships, students are better equipped to navigate friendships, collaborate with others, and handle challenging situations. These skills not only support their success in the classroom but also set them up for positive interactions in high school and beyond. For example, students can use problem-solving strategies to resolve sibling disagreements, practice respectful communication with family members, or show kindness and empathy when playing sports or participating in group activities.
By reinforcing these skills at home, families can help children build strong, respectful relationships that will benefit them throughout life. The Respectful Relationships lessons are taught by Mr Kyle Rankine. These lessons support our commitment to enhancing the wellbeing and engagement of our students.
Play is the Way
Play is the Way uses physically active games, key concepts and reflective language to teach social and emotional learning.
In the first lesson, students were introduced to the Golden Rule – Treat others as you would like them to treat you. We then launched into our first game, Piccadilly Circus, a frantic, noisy game requiring good communication skills.
Play is the Way lessons are taught by Mrs Maria Pearce. These lessons support our commitment to enhancing students developmental thinking and interactions.




ASPLEY MUSIC DEPARTMENT
A warm welcome to beginning and continuing young musicians, choralists and musical families to the Aspley Music Department for 2025. Mrs Macca, Ms Jabs and Mrs Kim hope you all have a magical year of musical learning and development participating in our various music programs and ensembles.
Aspley Choral Program
In 2025, Aspley State School will continue with its strong traditions in choral training with Mrs McIntyre who is keen to see the choral program work at its highest level. Mrs McIntyre will be directing the various choral ensembles at Aspley State School - Junior Choir (Girls and Boys in Years 2 and 3 ONLY) and Senior Choir (Girls and Boys in Years 4, 5 and 6 ONLY). Throughout 2025, choral ensembles will be involved in assembly performances, workshops, competitions, local performances, and music evenings.
Students in Year 2 through to Year 6 are invited to attend trial Junior OR Senior choral ensemble rehearsals in weeks 3 and 4 of this term. Trial rehearsals shall take place in the Music Classroom. Senior Choral trials will be held on Mondays at first break from 10.55am – 11.25am and Junior Choir trial rehearsals on Fridays at first break from 10.55am – 11.25am.
Interested students will be given a paper copy of the parent/carer information letter outlining the finer details of participating in the 2025 Aspley Choral Program at the end of trial rehearsals in week 4.
The weekly choral ensemble rehearsal schedule for the 2025 school year is included below for reference:
Choral Ensemble |
Years |
Rehearsal Day/Time |
Venue |
Lunch |
Senior Choir |
4, 5 & 6 Boys & Girls |
Monday 10.55am – 11.25am |
Music Classroom |
Students are required to eat their lunch in year level eating areas. Students are to move to the music classroom in readiness for choral rehearsals to commence when the bell goes to play. |
Junior Choir |
2 & 3 Boys & Girls |
Friday 10.55am – 11.25am |
Music Classroom |
We are looking forward to your child/ren participating in the 2025 Aspley Choral Program.
Music Performance Uniform
All students participating in Junior Choir, Senior Choir, Senior String Orchestra, Junior Concert Band and Senior Concert Band will receive a letter in coming weeks outlining the Aspley Performance Uniform for the 2025 school year. The Aspley Performance Uniform will be available for purchase through the Aspley Uniform Shop.
The Aspley Performance Uniform is worn by all performing ensembles at Aspley State School (excluding Beginner String students. Beginner String students are required to wear the Aspley formal school uniform when performing). All performing ensembles are required to wear the following Aspley Performance Uniform – Long Black Dress Pants, Long Sleeved White Dress Shirt, Black Socks and Black Shoes. Continuing String/ Woodwind/Brass/Percussion and Choral students may already have the necessary uniform requirements from previous years participation.
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
Instrumental Music has kicked off for the year, starting with our excited beginners in Week 2. In Week 3, our regular weekly lesson timetable and ensembles begin. Timetables have been distributed to students, parents and staff.
This year we have 120 students learning an instrument at Aspley SS, with five full time ensembles and two delightful choirs. We believe music comes alive at Aspley, and based on the eagerness within our student body this is evident.




Mrs Kim and Ms Jabs recently attended an inspiring professional development session featuring a keynote from world-renowned music educator, Vaughan Fleischfresser. The session was a great reminder of how incredibly special making music with other people is. Music educates the whole child and the connection it provides is priceless. Mrs Kim and Ms Jabs both feel fortunate to be able to guide our Aspley students on their musical journey, knowing that their music memories will be with them for a lifetime.
Learning and Innovation Centre (LIC) Update
As part of our strategic and future plans at Aspley State School we have moved away from the name Library or Resource Centre and have introduced the Learning and Innovation Centre (LIC). It is the original space, next to our staff car park, – once called the Library - a dedicated space designed to inspire creativity, collaboration, and hands-on learning. It serves as a hub where students engage in problem-solving, explore new ideas, and develop critical thinking skills in an interactive and supportive environment.
My role in the school has evolved over the last two years, commencing in 2022 and 2023 as a part-time Librarian role. In 2025, I will transition to a full-time role as the Learning and Innovation Manager. This is an exciting opportunity for myself and the students as we encourage students to work on interdisciplinary projects, blending different subjects to foster innovation and deeper understanding, supporting all learners and learning styles, especially those high achievers and critical thinkers. Students will visit the LIC once a week for a half hour session. Lessons align directly to the English curriculum or Literacy program, in their classroom. With access to flexible learning spaces, interactive tools, and mentorship, students can take ownership of their learning, developing confidence and independence. We explore the depths of literature, the love, joy and detail authors bring to their writing, specifics that make up varied text including digital texts – like cultural significance, emotions, character development and other literary features.
A key function of a school based LIC is to promote experiential learning. Students can engage in project-based activities, participate in design challenges, and collaborate on real-world problem-solving. Teachers play a crucial role as facilitators, guiding students through inquiry-based learning while encouraging creativity and independent thinking. As part of our strategic plan and AIP, we are seeking to cater for all learning styles and all learners to engage and enjoy learning.
By providing a space where students can experiment, explore, and innovate, a Learning and Innovation Centre helps prepare them for the future, equipping them with the skills and confidence to thrive in an ever-changing world.
Borrowing News
Your child still has weekly borrowing time at the LIC. Their classroom teacher will bring them each week to borrow but they MUST have a library bag.
How many books can my child borrow?
Prep – 2 books
Years 1-6 – 4 books
If your child has outstanding fees for lost books, could you please pay these as soon as possible. I will be going through this year’s overdue books by the end of next week so that the BSM can send out invoices for lost or damaged books.
As we kick off a new school year, the HPE team are excited to dive into a fresh journey of physical education and healthy living! This year, Primary HPE staff will focus on building essential movement skills, fostering teamwork, and promoting the joy of staying active. Our goal is to create a fun, inclusive environment where every student can develop their physical abilities while embracing a healthy lifestyle. Let’s make this year one full of growth, energy, and achievement!
A reminder that our department is focussed on supporting our school’s Sunsafe Policy. Please remember that your student’s hat is part of their uniform and is required for each of their HPE lessons. Hats on play is on! If you have any concerns around a hat please talk to one of your friendly HPE staff. If your student requires sunscreen for their lesson it is available in the Sports Hall.
We look forward to seeing our students thrive both in and out of the classroom in 2025!
HPE team:
Shannon Kelly – Prep – Year 2 HPE (Wed-Fri)
Anthony Schmidt – Year 3-6 HPE, P-2 PMP, Sports Coordinator (Mon-Fri)
Art Classes
Swim Solutions
Sports X - Basketball
Sports X - Cricket
Lyrebird Language Centre
Young Engineers
Pine Rivers - St Andrews Hockey - Come and Try Day