National Volunteers Week 2025 – Connecting Communities 

From May 19 to 25, we proudly celebrate National Volunteers Week, recognising the invaluable contributions of volunteers in our community. This annual event provides an opportunity to reflect on the profound impact of volunteering in schools, local sports clubs, community groups, healthcare, emergency response teams or environmental initiatives. Volunteers enrich our lives, strengthen connections and make a lasting difference in the world around us. 

The Heart of Our School Community

Schools thrive because of the dedication of volunteers, and Aspley State School is no exception. We are grateful to our P&C, School Council and all community members, who contribute their time and expertise to create a vibrant and supportive learning environment.

From assisting in the tuckshop, organizing Mother’s and Father’s Day stalls, running the recent Democracy Sausage BBQ, supporting our music evenings, Scholastics Book Club and Colour Extravaganza, or quietly offering their skills in classrooms. Each volunteer plays a vital role in shaping our school culture. 

Thank You 

With volunteers - some seen, some unseen – we make a difference. We thank every individual who generously gives their time. Your dedication ensures that our students, staff and families experience a connected and supportive school community. 

When signing in at the office next week, we encourage our volunteers to visit our administration staff. There is a small treat waiting for you as a token of our appreciation for your valuable contributions.

Colour Extravaganza 2025 

We are thrilled to announce the upcoming Colour Extravaganza, a vibrant and exciting fundraising event for our school community. We extend our sincere gratitude to our P&C for their incredible efforts in planning and preparing for this special occasion. Their dedication has ensured that families have received all necessary information, including permission forms and event details. 

A Celebration of Community and Fundraising 

The Colour Extravaganza is more than just a fundraiser - it is a community celebration where students, families, staff and supporters come together to enjoy a fun-filled day. Previous events have successfully raised funds for literacy, numeracy and curriculum resources from Prep to Year 6, as well as upgrades to our hall with stage risers. This year, proceeds will contribute to the upgrade of shade for our stadium seating on the top oval, providing enhanced comfort and functionality for future events. 

Key Details and Participation 

• Online Profiles & Permissions: Families are encouraged to set up their online profiles as soon as possible and return participation permissions to classroom teachers.
• Inclusive Race Options: Our school is committed to inclusivity. Students can choose between the Colour Extravaganza Run or the new improved Sensory Run, ensuring everyone can participate in a way that suits their needs.
• Families with specific health queries are encouraged to speak with classroom teachers for further information.

 Stay Updated & Get Involved 

• Keep an eye out for newsletter updates with more details about the Colour Extravaganza.
• Most importantly, watch for the list of teachers who will self-nominate to be slimed based on the funds raised!

We appreciate the time and effort families invest in supporting the Colour Extravaganza.

Included below are the permission letters and correspondence from the P&C about the Colour Extravaganza.

School Car Park 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our community for your patience and consideration as we transition to using our new school car park. As with any new facility, it takes time for all members of our community to familiarise themselves with the logistics, including parking, drop-off and pick-up procedures and pedestrian movement within the space. 

Your care and attention have been greatly appreciated in ensuring the safety of all users, as well as being mindful of the impact on adjoining streets. We also acknowledge the feedback received from parents and caregivers and encourage further input via the administration email. All feedback is carefully considered and where possible, shared with contractors and our regional infrastructure team to ensure ongoing improvements. 

Community Feedback

Some of the most frequent feedback received includes: 

• Entry Adjustments: The entrance to the car park has been noted as a tight squeeze for turning vehicles. This concern has been addressed with our infrastructure team. 
• Lighting Review: Investigations are underway to ensure car park lighting is turned on earlier, accommodating those who use the facilities in the early morning or late evening. 
• Fencing and Signage: Improvements are ongoing, with additional fencing planned and updated signage being introduced to provide clearer guidance for drivers. 

Positive feedback has highlighted the ease of use of the car park and the reduction of traffic congestion on Horn Road. Many parents have appreciated being able to find parking spaces during the school day. 

Important Reminders 

• Disability Parking: These spaces are strictly reserved for permit holders. They provide essential access for students and community members who require safe and convenient entry to the school grounds. 
• Car Park Usage: The car park is open to visitors, workers, staff and volunteers at the school. However, reports indicate that some vehicles are parked for extended periods. We will continue to monitor this to ensure the space is used appropriately and not occupied by commuters accessing public transport. 

Staff Supervision

• Staff will continue to be on duty from 8:15 am in the mornings to supervise students and assist the community with familiarising themselves with the car park procedures.
• As usage patterns stabilise, additional support staff present during the first few weeks of operation will be gradually reduced.
• Afternoon supervision remains in place from 3:00 pm to 3:20 pm. At 3:30 pm students will be directed to the administration building for collection. 

We sincerely thank Aspley State School’s students, families and the wider community for their commitment to safe practices and for working together to ensure the smooth operation of this space.

Open Mornings Success and 2026 Prep Enrolment Information        

Our recent Open Mornings were a great success, with many families taking the opportunity to visit Aspley State School and learn more about what makes our school a special place to learn and grow. Visitors explored our vibrant Prep classrooms and school facilities and were warmly welcomed by our School Captains and Leaders, who proudly led tours and shared their personal insights into life at Aspley. Their pride in our school was evident and greatly appreciated by all who attended.

We look forward to welcoming these families back in Term 3 for our Prep enrolment meetings as we continue preparations for the 2026 school year.

 Prep 2026 Enrolment Process

• Enrolment Paperwork: Families can submit enrolment paperwork now.
• Prep Enrolment Meeting: Throughout Term 3, the school will conduct meetings for 2026 Prep enrolments.
• Transition Program: In Term 4, Pre-Prep students will be invited to participate in our age-appropriate Prep Transition Program to support a smooth and confident start to school life.

We encourage families to submit paperwork early and look forward to welcoming new students and families to our Aspley community.

 North District Cross-Country Success                                 

The North District Cross-Country Trial, held on Wednesday 7 May in perfect weather, was both an enjoyable and highly successful event for Aspley State School. Congratulations to all of our runners who gave their best and demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship throughout the day.

We’re proud to announce that four Aspley students, including Toby M, Sophia L, Narlu I and Marli T, have been selected to represent the North District at the Metropolitan North Regional Trials on 27 May.

Thank you to all the parents and carers who came along to cheer on our students—it was a great day of competitive spirit and community support.

Student Financial Accounts

"TRAINING PURPOSES ONLY" Invoices
Recently invoices were raised with "TRAINING PURPOSES ONLY" water marked on them. The Department has confirmed these are valid invoices and to able to be paid through QParents or the BPOINT link. Unfortunately the school is unable to remove the water mark from the invoices. 

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
  • Invoice 2: Due 7 Feb 2025
  • Invoice 3: Due 21 March 2025
  • Invoice 4: Due 2 May 2025
  • Invoice 5: Due 20 June 2025 - Final invoice raised 16/05/2025
    Please ensure your students account is up to date with payments for the Canberra Tour.
• 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.

Office Reminders

The office is open 8am to 3:30pm on school days, to assist with your enquiries. Student supervision hours are from 8:15am to 3:20pm on school days. Plesae ensure to organise alternative care for your students outside of these hours. 

The office is only able to accept the correct cash if making a payment as no cash is kept on site. All cash payments must be received by the school onday to Thursday by 11:00am.  

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.

Year 4 and 5 Camp

Consents forms were sent out via QParents this week for the Year 4 and 5 2025 school camps. Those families registered with a QParents account are able to complete the permission digitally through QParents. If you are yet to create a QParents account, you are able to collect a paper copy of the permission form from the front office or request for a paper copy to be sent home with your student/s. 

Permissions are due back to the school by friday 30 May 2025. Once permissions have been received and camp numbers finalised invoices will be raised. Full payment is required before the camp to ensure your student/s are able to attend. 

Canberra Tour

Final invoices for the 2025 Canberra Tour were raised Friday 16 May 2025. The final invoices are for $200 and due on 20 June 2025. 

Full payment for the tour is to be received no later than 20 June 2025 to ensure your student/s participation on the tour. Reminder to families you are able to use QParents and the BPOINT link on invoices to make multiple smaller payments if required. 

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.  

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.

School Photos

School photos will be held Monday 16 June and Tuesday 17 June. Closer to the date a timetable will be shared for the individual class days and time slots. Please ensure the correct formal school uniform is worn on the required photo day. 

Please contact the front office to check or change your students permissions regarding photos. 

• Formal school uniform:
  • Aspley formal white striped collared shirt
  • Maroon skorts or shorts
  • Plain white, ankle socks
  • Black shoes (plain black joggers, no logos/colours)

In addition to the formal school uniform, please ensure the following school dress standards are followed:

Our SSS Case Managers and teacher aides work closely with students who have additional needs, helping to put tailored adjustments in place to support their learning and wellbeing. They collaborate with classroom teachers to implement these adjustments effectively and also provide social and emotional support to ensure every student feels included and supported at school. Over the coming weeks, SSS staff will share some information about themselves and the work they do to support your children.

Paula Evans – SSS Case Manager Years Prep, 1 & 6

As part of my Student Support Services role, I work closely with the class teachers in Prep and Year 1. I teach through 1:1 and group activities reinforcing the learning taking place in class. The majority of my teaching focuses on phonics, reading and writing. I would like to share some word and sound games you can try at home with your children. Remember... Phonics is FUN!

Prep 

Try writing the single sounds in chalk on the pavement. Say a word (sit) the child can segment the word into sounds (s-i-t) then jump in the sounds and say the word. Repeat with different sounds and words

Use fridge magnets to build words. Draw sound lines (every single sound you hear draw a line) add the letters to match the sounds you hear. Try to manipulate the sounds/letters. Change the first sound from a c to a b- what is the new word?
Change the middle sound from an a to a i. What is the new word?
Paper plate and plastic spoon. Build rhyming words (same sound at the end), nonsense words (non-real words) are okay when rhyming. How many rhyming words can you make?

Year 1 
Write your child's high frequency words on post it notes. Place around the house for the child to 'swat' the words when you say them.Build words using digraphs (two letters making 1 sound) manipulate the beginning, middle and end sounds to make new words.

Hearing sounds in words- say cheese what is the first sound you can hear? ch
What is the middle sound? ee
What is the last sound? se

SSS Staff Member Spotlight

Learning and Innovation Centre News

This term during classes the students will be continuing learning information text.Year 3 to 6 are looking at how to take notes from text and putting that information into informative sentences. Prep to 1 and looking at simple sentence. We are finding the ‘who’ and the ‘do’ in each sentence. For example, ‘The cat (who) sat (do) on the mat. Year 2 are writing informative sentences using compound sentences.

Lunch time

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 Fair

The schoolbook fair opened with excitement as students eagerly walked into the decorated library, eyes wide with curiosity. Tables were filled with colourful books—ranging from picture books to thrilling chapter novels—carefully arranged to catch their attention. Teachers and parents smiled as children browsed through the selections, chatting about their favourite stories and making wish lists. The atmosphere was cheerful and buzzing, with everyone excited to explore new adventures waiting between the pages.

Borrowing News

Your child has weekly borrowing time at the LIC. (Please see timetable below. Their classroom teacher will bring them each week to borrow but they MUST have a library bag. If they have missed borrowing time then they can come down at second break with their library bag and books to return and reborrow.

How many books can my child borrow?

Prep – 3 books – Preps are now able to borrow from the Jr Non-Fiction section. They have loved this opportunity to look at information texts which links to their English unit this term.

Years 1-6 – 4 books

Responsible Reader Awards

Congratulations to these classes over the last two weeks who have no overdue books. You have worked as a team to support each other.

Outstanding Fees

If you have outstanding fees for lost books from last year, could you please pay these as soon as possible. Your child is unable to borrow until this matter is resolved. If your classroom teacher or child lets you know about a over due 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

ASPLEY MUSIC DEPARTMENT 

SEMESTER ONE MUSIC EVENING

The Aspley State School Music Department will hold its Semester One Music Evening at the Aspley State School Hall on Wednesday 18 June commencing at 6.30pm. Instrumentalists and Choralists have had a fabulous first semester rehearsing in their ensembles, and we are all very excited to share our musical achievements with the Aspley Community.  All performing musicians will be receiving a copy of the parent information letter outlining the finer details of this exciting performance event in the very near future. 

The following ensembles – Junior Concert Band, Senior Concert Band, Junior String Ensemble, Senior String Ensemble, Junior Choir AND Senior Choir will be performing.  All members of these performing ensembles are expected to attend this performance evening.   **Please note – Beginner String students are not required to perform at this event. 

The Aspley Music Performance Uniform is required to be worn at the Semester One Music Evening by all performing Choralists and Instrumental Music Students - Long Black Dress Pants, Long Sleeved White Dress Shirt, Black Socks and Black Shoes.   

Save this date into your calendars, it promises to be a very special musical evening.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

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 & Paymentlink 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.

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.

Year 5 and Year 6 – Version 9

In Years 5 and 6, students learn to take positive actions for their wellbeing. They relate to and communicate well with others. They ask challenging questions and seek answers. Students make informed decisions and act responsibly. The development of digital literacy skills increases across the curriculum at this level.

English

Students read and discuss texts for enjoyment and learning. They express their thoughts and opinions about what they have read. They write a wide variety of well-constructed texts such as reviews, reports and narratives. They transfer the literacy skills developed in English to other learning areas.

Students learn to:

• understand how authors organise their texts  
• select vocabulary to represent ideas, characters and events  
• discuss and compare information in different texts
• use evidence from a text to explain their response to it
• find historical, social and cultural ideas in literature by First Nations Australian, wide-ranging Australian and world authors
• create written and multimodal texts to develop and explain ideas
• write a range of sentences, including complex sentences
• use topic-specific vocabulary  
• use accurate spelling and punctuation  
• use speaking strategies including questioning, clarifying and rephrasing to contribute to class discussions.

Mathematics

Students extend their knowledge of the key areas of mathematics, particularly fractions, decimals and percentages. They increasingly use mathematical models, pictures and symbols to represent and communicate mathematical ideas and solve practical problems. Students learn to:

• position positive and negative numbers on a number line and use them as coordinates in the Cartesian plane
• solve problems involving addition and subtraction of fractions and decimals
• explain mental strategies and discuss the reasonableness of calculations involving all 4 operations
• apply their mathematical knowledge and skills to model and solve practical problems including financial contexts
• convert between 12- and 24-hour time and interpret timetables
• use algorithms and digital tools to experiment with numbers, describing and explaining emerging patterns
• measure length, perimeter, area, capacity and mass using appropriate metric units
• list outcomes of chance experiments
• conduct repeated chance experiments and simulations using digital tools
• compare and interpret statistical graphs
• pose appropriate questions and conduct statistical investigations.

Classroom News 

Prep B

This Term in Prep B we have been applying our knowledge of sounds to read and write informative texts about known animals. So far, we have investigated animals such as rabbits, turtles, pigs and hens. In Science we have been exploring a variety of materials around us and describing their properties. In Mathematics, we are enjoying learning simple addition using blocks and counters and using our creativity to compose silly mathematical number stories to model.

1B

In English 1B have been exploring the difference between Fiction and Non-Fiction texts by comparing Fact Files on different animals and picture books.  This week we read Koala Lou and learned all about Koalas.  We wrote some sentences about what they look like (appearance), where they live (habitat), and what they eat (diet).  We all learned some very interesting facts like: Koalas are very good swimmers … who would have thought?

2B

This term in 2B, we have been learning to read, view and comprehend informative texts. We have explored animal information reports and attempted to create our own about penguins. We included text structures of a title, subtitles, images and diagrams to make our information reports stand out! We have enjoyed learning about how turtles propel themselves on the land and in the ocean, and how their eggs look like ping pong balls.

3B

In 3B, we’ve been diving into exciting informative texts that link to our learning in Maths and the world around us! From discovering how things work to writing our own reports, students are building their vocabulary and learning to spot key features in different types of texts. In Maths, we’ve been on a number adventure—solving problems using clever strategies like partitioning, regrouping, and mastering our 3-, 4-, 5- and 10-times tables through games and challenges. We’ve also been busy measuring time and comparing durations as part of our hands-on investigations. Students love explaining their thinking and showing their working like real mathematicians. It’s been a fantastic start to the term, and we’re so proud of all the progress and enthusiasm in 3B!

4B

This term in English 4B students have been learning to create and comprehend informative texts. To achieve this, we have been analysing text structure and learning how to answer various types of questions. Students know that informative texts consist of a title, paragraphs with sub-headings and images which further inform the reader. Students have enjoyed learning about the Tasmanian devil, the carbon cycle and how our carbon footprint affects the earth and the giant panda. As students have read about and co constructed these texts they have also been learning to answer several types of questions relating to these topics. For example, the way we answer an inference type question is to, look for the evidence or clues in the text and combine this information with our prior knowledge to form an idea or arrive at a conclusion. We have also worked out how to recognize what the main idea of a text is, how visual features of composition and framing create salience and how language features of technical vocabulary, objective language and quotes help to shape the meaning of the text. Soon students will be putting all of these skills together to create an informative text all on their own and they are very excited to do so.

5B

Science – Our Place in the Solar System

This term in Science, the students of 5B have been exploring the fascinating topic of Our Place in the Solar System. Through a variety of engaging activities and lessons, they are developing a deeper understanding of the planets, their characteristics, and the vastness of space. We began the unit by learning about the structure of the solar system, including the Sun, planets, moons, and other celestial bodies. Students have been actively reading and researching to compare the sizes of the planets and their distances from the Sun. This has helped them appreciate the immense scale of our solar system and the unique features of each planet. Currently, the students are in the process of researching their favourite planet. They are using their inquiry skills to gather interesting facts about their chosen planet that will contribute to their upcoming assessment. It has been a truly exciting term so far, with plenty of discovery and discussion. 

6B

English: Exploring Biographies

This term, 6B students have been diving into the world of biographies, learning about the lives and achievements of inspiring individuals. Together, we’ve explored the stories of Eddie Mabo, Jane Goodall, and Evonne Goolagong Cawley, discovering how their actions have made a lasting impact in their fields and communities.

As part of this learning, students have been reading and viewing a range of informative texts that tell real-life stories. They’ve been developing their comprehension skills by connecting ideas and comparing information from different sources. Along the way, they’ve learned to recognise the features of biographies — such as timelines, headings, and visual elements like maps and diagrams — that help bring these life stories to life.

 In the coming weeks, students will be using their research skills to create their own biographies. They’ll be exploring how to organise their ideas clearly and use language that explains and expands on important details. We’re looking forward to seeing them bring together facts and stories in creative and thoughtful ways!

SEMESTER ONE REPORT CARDS

INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES 

Updates to Report Card Layout and Reporting Scales in 2025

Each semester, academic report cards provide point in time information about your child’s achievement at the end of each reporting period.

At the end of each semester, teachers make an ‘on-balance’ judgement about students’ overall levels of achievement, against the aspects of the achievement standards being assessed in the different learning areas. This judgement is based on evidence of student learning demonstrated during summative assessment tasks and takes into consideration the most recent evidence.

 This year your child’s report will include:

• a new streamlined view of each learning area provided in the semester
• your child’s achievement against the reporting scale in each learning area
• an effort rating for each learning area
• an overall behaviour rating for this semester
• An overall comment of your child’s learning habits and engagement with English and Mathematics.

Future newsletter instalment will contain more information about the updated departmental reporting scales in these areas.  For now, click the links provided to see the new departmental effort and behaviour scales.    

Aspley State School teachers participate in cyclic, evidenced based moderation processes to ensure that our judgements are consistent across each year level.Our Termly Overviews are available on our school website and contains information regarding the learning areas and curriculum content your child has experienced this Semester.   

 Your child’s reported card will be available in the QParents App, and will also be emailed to you on the afternoon of Thursday 26^th June, from 3:00pm.

To ensure you receive these reports on time please ensure you;

• contact our administration as soon as possible to update your contact and email address details if they have changed.
• contact our administration team if you do not have an email address, and require a paper copy of the report.
• add ONESCHOOL@qed.qld.gov.au to your list of safe senders to ensure report card emails are not directed to your Junk folder by default. 

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.

Art Classes