21 February 2025

Principal’s Update

Dear Parents,

It is difficult to believe we are at the half way point of Term 1 already. You can expect that your children are going to be feeling tired. The beginning of the year uses up lots of energy and emotion in our young students and it is very common at this part of the term to see evidence of fatigue setting in. Often parents and staff are feeling tired at this time as well. The best advice I can give to support your children through this phase is to ensure they are getting plenty of sleep. In addition to this, putting digital devices away at least an hour before bedtime assists our brains to calm and get ready for sleep. Taking iPad and phones to bed does not help kids to wind down and robs them of precious time required for rest and renewal.

All parents will have school drop off and pick up routines in place by now. I have to report however that there are many parents who continue to ignore Qld Road rules, parking in bus zones, blocking driveways and allowing children to run between traffic to get into cars. I cannot stress enough how dangerous this behaviour is for your children and community alike. I once again ask that parents obey the road and parking signage around the school.

Holloway St at the back of the school continues to be a very dangerous area due to significant congestion and double parking and drivers backing in and out of the staff carpark to collect children. Unfortunately, some parents recently received infringement notices from Police officers. The QPS do not often notify us when they will be around and therefore, I would strongly encourage parents to obey road signage and choose an alternative to Holloway St for daily drop off and pick up.

Children can safely access the school via Gate #2 on Brightwater Bvd and Gate #1 on Dianella Dr.

I would also encourage parents of students who ride a bike or scooter to school to also provide a bike lock so that your child’s bike/scooter can be stored securely throughout the day.

Staffing Update: P-3 Deputy Principal, Ms Kristin Hill has been appointed as Acting Principal of Pacific Paradise State School. At this stage, Ms Hill will be there until the end of Term 1 however the position may be extended. Our staff wish her the very best as she embarks on this new leadership journey.

Mrs Jo Rothwell will be Acting P-3 Deputy Principal starting on Monday 24th February. Many families will already know Mrs Rothwell from her HoD-Student Services role. Mrs Rothwell is very excited to take on this role and is looking forward to working with our P-3 families in the weeks ahead.

Regards,
Robyn Taplin, Principal

Deputy Principal News

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Prep Parent Homework Session

Prep Homework will begin to come home in Week 5. This is not to be an onerous task and should only take a maximum of 15 minutes a night. To support our wonderful prep students, our Prep staff will be running a Prep homework session for parents/carers on Monday 24 February from 2.00-2.45pm. This session is to explain the Prep homework routines and allow parents/carers to ask questions, including some tips and strategies to allow your child to flourish and grow by practising what they are learning at school!

Prep homework information session will be in the Prep block, please follow the signs that will be out upon your arrival. Gates will open around 1.45pm to allow you to get a seat. 

My First Year Prep Photos

On Thursday 6 March Sunshine Coast Daily will be coming out to take photos of all our Prep classes in what is their annual ‘My First Year’, which celebrates the exciting first steps of all those entering school in 2025. The Sunshine Coast Daily has captured these precious moments with special galleries of all the 2025 Prep classes across the Sunshine Coast. The paper will be available to purchase in March. We will let parents know when you can purchase this memorable newspaper on Facebook. Permission forms will be coming next week for your child to participate in the photo opportunity.

Regards,
Kristin Hill, Deputy Principal

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Upcoming School Programs

• Permission notes have gone home with students for Yr 6 camp and Yr 2 -5 swimming. Reminder that permission and payment is required to attend.
• Community Fitness morning program will start on Monday 6 March and then every Tuesday thereafter. Great way to have a fun run in the sun before school. Thank you to Miss Pettifer for her organisation of this no-cost event.
• NAPLAN 2025, Yr 3 and Yr 5 students will be conducting NAPLAN 2025 on Wednesday 12^ March. We aim to complete the tests over the course of a week. Catch-up tests for those who are participating will be conducted during this time also. Information has been sent out to families.

BYO Devices

• Locked Down Browser download for BYO devices and working plug in headsets required for NAPLAN participation. Yr 3 will use school issued iPads.

STAR Values at School

• STAR values - remember our STAR values, Safe, Thoughtful, Active Learner and Responsible. Reminders to students about our values are daily and we appreciate our families supporting with conversations around this at home as well to reinforce.
• Uniform - thank you families for your efforts in maintaining our uniform policy. We are proud to be a part of the Brightwater community and our students look amazing in their uniforms.
• Bikes, scooters etc, once you are through the gates we kindly ask that riding of these modes of transport cease, and they are walked through the grounds. We don't want to see any unforeseen accidents occurring. Remember to lock your items.

Yours in gratitude,
Phil Theofanes, Deputy Principal

Student Engagement and Celebrations

Student Engagement

The Brightwater State School’s behaviour expectations are underpinned by four values that form the basis of our school standards, Safe, Thoughtful, Active Learner and Responsible. Each fortnight students focus on a STAR value. Here are the focuses for the coming weeks.

Whole School STAR (Safe, Thoughtful, Active Learner and Responsible) Focus:

Week 4-5 – I am Safe – I use my hands and feet safety.

Weeks 6-7 – I am an Active Learner – I use my strengths as a learner to participate.

Introducing new programs for 2025

This year we have launched two new programs to support students’ social and emotional learning. Both programs are aligned to the Australian Curriculum Personal and Social Capabilities.

Prep – Year 3 – Peaceful Classrooms

The ‘Peaceful Classrooms’ program supports all children in the classroom to develop an ongoing Mindfulness practice, learn about Mindfulness and be able to embed this into their day to day lives.  Simple, effective and proven exercises help students to stay calm, relax, focus and learn more effectively during the day.  Peaceful Classrooms helps students to build their emotional resilience, so they are better equipped to deal with the day-to-day stresses that life brings them.  

Year 4-6 – The Better Me Project

In Term 1 students will be learning how their human AARMA protects them and others from the challenges of being human. The five AARMA principles are Awareness, Acceptance, Regulation, Motivation, and Accountability. Through unpacking each of the AARMA principles students will discuss how their human AARMA can help handle feelings and actions better, supporting them to make choices to be a better person, a better friend and help them feel happier and more confident every day.

Jo Rothwell, Head of Student Services

Sport News

Swimming Program

This week the Year 2 & 4 and the Year 3 & 5 Water safety notes went out through a hardcopy permission and via email (please ensure that we have up-to-date email addresses).

This program is designed to develop and improve the water safety of students at Brightwater. Students in Year 2 & 4 will attend the water safety program in week 8, 17to 21 March, and students in Year 3 & 5 attending in week 10, 31March to 4April. Students will attend swimming and water safety lessons at Mountain Creek Aquatic Centre with lessons run by qualified swimming instructors from Alite Edvantage and Brightwater staff.

All Year 2 & 4 students will participate in 5 x 40-minute lessons. Activity Consents and payment for this program are due back to the school by Monday 10 March 2025.

All Year 3 & 5 students will participate in 5 x 40-minute lessons. Activity Consents and payment for this program are due back to the school by Monday 24 March 2025.

Cross Country

Our Brightwater State School Cross Country Carnival will be held on Friday 28 March which is week 9 of term 1. In the coming weeks, students will begin training for the Cross Country in HPE lessons and with their classroom teachers. Students are encouraged to train in the lead up for this event with endurance/distance running which are great skills for all sporting codes, overall fitness and bonding time with family.

The emphasis for the day is on participation, student enjoyment and House Spirit. Students born in 2015, 2014 or 2013 who would like to compete for age champion and district selection are invited to run in our Brightwater Championship Run. This is a competitive distance for students who have been training. Nominations for the championship event will be taken by class teachers prior to this event. This year, the Cross Country and Championship course for all year levels will be in the school grounds with some year levels completing laps of the course. Parent/Carer Information including a timetable for the event will be sent out on the 7 March.

Cross Country Distances                                           

• Prep course – 400 metres
• Year 1 and 2 course – 700 metres
• Year 3 course – 1.2 kilometres (competitive)
• Year 4 to 6 Course – 1 kilometre (non-competitive)

Championship Run Distances

• Students Born 2015- 2 kilometres
• Students Born 2014 and 2013 – 3 kilometres

Morning Fitness

At Brightwater State School, we provide our students with 5-star extra-curricular activities. During Term 1, we will be focusing on Cross Country and fitness training for the upcoming sporting seasons. This session will be open to the whole school to develop a sense of community and belonging while focusing on physical and mental health & wellbeing.

Students are invited to join Miss Pettifer and staff on the senior oval to walk, jog and or run!

Students that wish to train for district trials (eligibility for consideration for those born in 2013, 2014 and 2015) can use this as an opportunity for training for the event however, this is open to all students regardless of running and fitness ability. EVERYONE including parents/carers are welcome.

Students in Prep and Year 1 must attend with their parent/carer. They must walk, jog or run with them at all times and support in changing into their school uniform after the session is complete, allowing students to be on time for class start times at 8:40 am.

Your child must come dressed in their sports uniform and running shoes but will need to bring their school uniform and school shoes to change back into after each session with a dry, clean pair of socks. They are to bring their bag to the session and will need to bring along the following items.

• A towel
• A water bottle
• School uniform
• Black school shoes
• A pair of grey socks

Bags will be left on the stage of the CCA and students are asked to meet at 7:50am for a prompt 8am start! The session will start at 8:00 am and finish by 8:30am.

If a session is going to be cancelled, you will be notified on the school Facebook page at 7:30am on the day.

Benefits of physical activity children and adolescents:

Improved….

• physical fitness.
• cardiometabolic health.
• bone health.
• cognitive outcomes.
• mental health and well-being.
• reduced body fat

Session Dates

Kawana Waters State College - Junior football Program - Year 5 and 6

Kawana Waters State College junior football program is again offering their junior program in term 2 and 3 of 2024.  This program is designed to provide school-based football development opportunities for talented and motivated junior footballers.  Junior Football Program participants can apply from any primary school and will participate in a range of football and futsal skill development sessions with other students of similar ability.

The aim of the Junior Football Program is to provide footballers with targeted training to improve their technical ability.  These sessions will be focused on skill acquisition in the four core skills; first touch, running with the ball, striking the ball and 1 v 1.  These sessions focus on ball mastery and promote good football habits in students.  Throughout the sessions, students will be challenged and extended in their personal football development.

When:                  Monday – Term 2 & Term 3 2025
                              7:00am to 8:00am

Where:                Kawana Waters State College
                              Secondary Ovals
                              Sportsmans Pde, Bokarina, 4575

Cost:                     $100 (includes training shirt)

Contact:              Adam Walker
                              P: 5436 9363
                              E: awalk139@eq.edu.au 

Applications are due by Friday 14 March 2025.

For further details or application forms please visit:

Buntie Pettifer and Steve Smith
HPE Teachers

School Messages

Messages for students

It is essential that teachers and children are able to work in class each day with minimal disruptions.  We request, where possible, for parents to please remind or advise your child before coming to school of any changes to their normal pick up routine. Please also let your children know if you are not at your usual pick up location the best place to go is the front office. We usually have children wait for approximately 10 minutes for your arrival and if you don’t arrive at the office by then we will call you.

Messages phoned in after 2:00pm are difficult to deliver especially during weeks when afternoon assembly is held. Whilst student safety is of paramount concern, unless the message is of an emergent situation that cannot be avoided, we are unable to ensure messages will be passed on. Please assist in this regard by only phoning in messages for students in an emergency.

P&C News

Café

Don’t forget to get your morning coffee from the School Café. Full barista coffee is available.

Uniform Shop

The second-hand uniform shop is open every Monday & Tuesday morning from 8:15am to 8:45am. Our second-hand Uniform shop is run by your P&C Association and is another source for us to raise much needed funds for the school. The uniform shop is always in need of uniforms (formal, sports, other) jackets, jumpers, hats. All sizes needed. Please check your cupboards for uniforms that no longer fit and please donate back to the uniform shop.

Container for Change – Number

If you want to use your containers as a way of donating to the school P&C you can do so by quoting the following number C10005823 when you drop off your empty drink containers. We are looking to provide container bags for pupils to take home in order to make it easier for people to donate their containers.

Have a great fortnight!

Kind regards,
Anne Newland-Nell President
Brightwater State School P&C Association

Contacting the P&C Association

Email: pandc@brightwaterss.eq.edu.au  

Facebook: search Brightwater SS P&C Association or visit the link below.  

Date Claimers

School Information