Celebrating Student Leadership

We strongly believe that every Year 6 student is a leader in their own right. This is reflected in their learning, their behaviour and the positive influence they have on our school culture.

This year, our leadership positions for students include School Captains, Sporting Captains, Library Captains, Music Captains and Technology Captains. Each of these students has demonstrated exceptional dedication and resilience throughout the rigorous application process. We commend them for their hard work and commitment to excellence. Congratulations to all those who earned a leadership role!

In addition to these official positions, a larger portion of our Year 6 cohort is considered senior leaders. These students consistently showcase their leadership skills through their daily actions and interactions, setting a strong example for others throughout the school.

Later this term, we are excited to take our captains to a Youth Leadership Conference. This conference will provide them with the opportunity to dream big, learn from inspirational speakers and network with other primary school leaders. It is a fantastic chance for them to continue growing and bring back fresh ideas to benefit our school community.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the families who have supported their children in their educational journey, regardless of the position or badge. At Aspley State School, we nurture leaders in all forms, as reflected in our school motto: ‘We Who Learn Succeed.’

As our Year 6 students approach their final year of primary school, we look forward to celebrating their achievements and providing them with opportunities to make a lasting, positive impact on our school culture.

School and Community Partnerships

Parents and Citizens’ Associations (P&C)

Parents and Citizens' (P&C) associations work in productive partnership with the school, Principal and community to promote the interests of the school, and facilitate its development and further improvement, to achieve the best possible outcomes for students.

Our P&C is comprised of a group of dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly to strengthen our community. Providing special celebrations, strong advocacy and valuable support, advice and feedback, all with the goal of ensuring every student has the opportunity to receive a high-quality education.

In week 8, Tuesday 18 March we will hold our second P&C meeting for the year, which is also our AGM (Annual General Meeting). This meeting is a special one as applications for new/renewed memberships are accepted at the AGM. At the AGM, the P&C members present must elect an Executive Committee. The Executive Committee includes a President, at least one Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and any additional officers as decided by the associations.

I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank the current members of our P&C for their years of unwavering commitment and tireless efforts. I am truly in awe of your dedication and support for our wonderful school. As we look ahead to 2025, we are seeking interested parents who would be willing to join our P&C, particularly those interested in the positions outlined below.

Nominations for the executive positions are welcome. If you have any queries about how you can join or assist with our P&C, please email me at Principal@aspleyss.eq.edu.au .  I look forward to honouring our school by supporting all who may wish to join.

School Council

All Independent Public Schools (IPS), like Aspley State School, are required to establish a school council. School councils enable greater involvement of the school community and other stakeholders, such as industry, and setting the strategic direction for the school.

The council works closely with the Principal to perform its role in accordance with legislation and in a way that achieves the best learning outcomes for the school's students.

I would like to thank our members:

• Mr Kevin Russell (Chair)
• Mrs Alice Long and Mrs Kirsten O’Connor (P&C Presidents)
• Mrs Amanda Witt (Parent Rep.)
• Mrs Rynel Evans (Staff Rep.)
• Mr Kendall Simpson (Staff Rep.)
• Mr Kyle Rankine (Staff Rep.)

I extend my thanks to those continuing in our council and welcome the new members, grateful for their leadership in supporting our school.

The School Council has played a vital role in supporting Aspley State School in various strategic initiatives. Their contributions have enhanced our academic, cultural, sporting and enrichment activities.

With the council, the school has initiated in 2025 an expansion of our Instrumental Music program, which reflects our commitment to providing enriched learning experiences for all students. Wellbeing programs such as Play is the Way and Respectful Relationships have also been implemented through council consultation, aiming to support students mental and emotional wellbeing now and into the future. These initiatives are aligned with our broader vision of fostering a nurturing environment where students can thrive.

In 2024, another milestone supported by the council was the introduction of the Academic Award Celebrations. This initiative celebrates the achievements of our students and is in line with our ongoing efforts to recognize and reward academic excellence.

School strategic plans are developed after a comprehensive school review, guiding our journey towards continuous improvement.

As we move into 2025, I look forward to continuing our work with the School Council to further support the students of Aspley State School and our broader community. Together, we are committed to delivering high-quality education, striving for excellence and most importantly, staying true to our vision: Dream, Believe, Create, and Succeed at every stage of the learning journey.

Animals and Pets on School Grounds

Schools can engage in a wide variety of activities involving interactions with animals or pets. Whilst these activities are invaluable for student learning, there are considerations for all to consider.

No pets should be on the school grounds, this includes our friendly fur-family. The potential health risks associated with animal interactions require appropriate precautionary measures, to reduce risks to those involved.

In 2024, the school engaged with a clinical therapy dog training request. Over the year, Teddy visited the school with his owner. Teddy is a Goldendoodle, a mix between a Golden Retriever and Poodle.

The school has worked with Teddy’s family to complete a comprehensive risk assessment to ensure proper supervision and control measures. We are mindful of all factors, including appropriate waste removal and sanitising equipment for clean up if required.

Teddy will visit our school in 2025! Students will be reminded at assembly of Teddy’s presences on the school grounds and appropriate interactions. Teddy has progressed in his training and will have an opportunity in 2025 to visit our Learning and Innovation Centre (old library).

School Car Park

Over the past four weeks, we’ve seen significant progress on the development of the new car park. The project is still anticipating completion in March as previously communicated, provided we experience favourable weather and no unforeseen delays.

We understand that it may be difficult to conceptualise the finished product at this stage.  We are including the original concept image of the car park to give a clearer idea of what the completed space will look like. We are excited to see this facility upgrade come to life, as it will not only benefit our community but also improve the safety of our students.

In the meantime, we would like to take a moment to thank our students for their continued safe behaviours when exiting and entering vehicles. We also want to acknowledge the vigilance of our staff who remain on duty before and after school to ensure everyone’s safety. Additionally, we are grateful to our families for their care and consideration when dropping off, picking up or parking in the local area.

As always, the school will keep the community updated on any significant developments or changes. We look forward to accessing the new car park this term and will continue to work together to ensure a safe and efficient environment for everyone.