Dear Parent/ Caregiver

Welcome back to what I am sure will be another busy but rewarding term of learning at Baringa SPS. With Term 2 well and truly underway the teaching staff are busy getting through the core curriculum and planning events such as Under 8’s Day, Athletics Carnivals and Level 1 Rewards sessions.

With the last of the long weekends over for a few weeks hopefully we can get back into our regular procedures.

School Routines – Ready for Learning

A reminder to all parents of the school start times. To ensure a smooth transition into the school each day students should arrive at school after 8.00am, assemble in the Year 2/3 Eating Area and move to classrooms on the Bell at 8.15am. This enables all students to be prepared and ready to learn from 8.45am. Arriving late to school can make children anxious and self-conscious particularly those in older grades. A good start to the day really helps set the student up for success with their learning routines.

Students should not be arriving at school prior to 8.00am. Thank you for your support in this matter.

The office kindly requests your support in minimizing interruptions to the school day by scheduling appointments for your child outside of school hours whenever possible. The first two hours of the day are crucial for core learning activities, including literacy and numeracy, which form the foundation for academic success. Ensuring your child is present and engaged during this time helps maximize their learning opportunities and maintains a focused classroom environment for all students. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation here.

Exemptions from Compulsory Schooling

A message to all parents that an exemption from compulsory schooling or the compulsory participation phase may be considered when a child or a young person cannot attend or it would be unreasonable given the individual circumstances to require them to attend school for a period of more than 10 consecutive school days.

Circumstances where an exemption may be granted:

An exemption may be appropriate in the following circumstances:

• diagnosis of terminal medical condition
• illness or hospitalisation (including recovery period at home) for a period greater than 10 consecutive school days (where the student is not participating in a hospital education program)
• diagnosed mental health condition
• temporary interstate or overseas relocation where the family intends to return to Queensland. 

Parents considering applying for an exemption from schooling should contact the school office to discuss their situation and complete the relevant application.

Tadpoles Pre -prep Playgroup

Great to see so many families attend our Tadpoles Playgroup last Friday. Tadpoles Playgroup provides both parents and students with an excellent ongoing transition into the school, building confidence in each child through the fostering of positive relationships. The earlier we get to know your child and their needs the better we can transition them and prepare them for their first year of prep. 

Interested? See details below:

When:             Fridays, 9.30am – 10.30am

Where:            Baringa State Primary School, Prep Classroom

What:              Bring along a water bottle and snack

Parentline service supporting parents and carers

Parentline is a free, confidential counselling service available for all Queensland parents and carers.

If you need support navigating challenging situations, Parentline offers qualified counsellors who can help with expert advice, emotional support and referrals when needed. 

Parentline’s services include:

• practical parenting resources on their website
• live webchat with professional counsellors
• phone support for immediate assistance (1300 30 1300)
• the option to pre-book ongoing sessions with the same counsellor
• online counsellor-facilitated parenting forums for shared support
• referrals to other family support services when additional help is needed. 

Visit their website (parentline.com.au) for more information today, or give them a call on 1300 30 1300.

Student Dress Code Policy

Please note the following updates to the school’s Student Dress Code which was presented and endorsed by the parent body at last week’s P&C meeting. 

Hair & Makeup:

All students must keep their hair neat and tidy, with no hair colouring permitted. Makeup including mascara and lipstick, and eyelash extensions are strictly prohibited. Coloured nail polish and artificial nails are also not permitted. 

Failure to adhere to this policy may restrict a student’s ability to represent the school outside of normal school activities including interschool sports, excursions or other extra -curricular activities. If you have any questions here, please contact the office on 5390 2333.

BEMA Day

Congratulations to our Year 5 and 6 student representatives who participated in this week’s Science Transition Day at Baringa Secondary College. I was fortunate to be able to spend some time with the kids and observe the range of activities that they participated in with students from Nirimba State Primary School including aspects of biology, physics, chemistry and psychology. My thanks to Matt Sampson and the team at Baringa Secondary College for their work here in making our transition program meaningful for the kids.

Have a great week

Mick