Dear Parent / Caregiver,

As Term 1 draws to a close, we have much to celebrate and reflect upon. From my perspective it’s been a highly productive term filled with impressive academic progress, community spirit, and exciting extension and extracurricular opportunities for our students including our new Elite Minds Academy. As always, we have lots to celebrate and the kids have really enjoyed engaging in these opportunities

Welcome to the New P&C Executive Team

Recently the P&C conducted its AGM where the newly elected Parents and Citizens Executive Team was chosen. Big thanks to the following parents for giving up their time to support the school in 2025:

President                     Kyanne Hooper

Vice Presidents            Ben Amos, Charlotte Buckley, Erica Jenner

Secretary                     Emma Daniels

Treasurer                    TBA

The school looks forward to working with the new team to support and enrich our school community throughout 2025. The P&C has already generously supported the school STEM and Chaplaincy programs financially this year which is greatly appreciated.

Celebrating Student Success

Not only are the Baringa students performing wonderfully well academically but we also have some amazing students performing individually at an exceptional level. Congratulations to two of our students who are currently shining in the arts and sports areas.

• Aliria Luong from Year 3 who has been selected as a Feature Vocalist for Creative Generation, Queensland’s largest youth performing arts initiative. This prestigious program will see Aliria perform alongside over 2000 talented young singers, dancers, and musicians, as well as professional artists. Congratulations, Aliria, on this outstanding achievement! We can’t wait to see you take the stage! 

• Mark Fedorenkov has achieved remarkable success at the recent Queensland State Swimming Championships, earning gold medals in the 50m and 100m breaststroke events. Mark will now represent our school and state at the Australian Swimming Championships in Melbourne later this year. Best of luck, Mark – we are all cheering for you!

Welcome Back, Year 6!

A warm welcome back to our Year 6 students and staff, who returned this week from their camp at Mapleton. It was a few days filled with fun, teamwork, and unforgettable memories. I was fortunate to join in with the camp on Tuesday afternoon. Despite the wet weather the kids were really enjoying the range of activities available for them to participate in with highlights being the chair swing, mud pit and rock-climbing wall. A big thank you to our dedicated teachers who gave their time to ensure the camp’s success. Your efforts in creating these enriching experiences for our students are truly appreciated.

Upcoming Events

As we approach the end of term, please note the following events:

Senior Cross Country: Our planned Senior Cross Country for next Thursday is looking a little doubtful due to the ongoing wet weather. The oval is currently saturated and it may be difficult to run the cross country without some much-needed sun. A decision will be made early next week here so please stay tuned for more information.

Easter Hat Parade: Our youngest students in Prep to Year 2 will showcase their creative talents in the Easter Hat Parade next Friday in the school hall. We look forward to seeing their amazing creations and celebrating the joy of Easter together. Please come along and join in the fun!

Happy Easter

As we head into the holidays, we wish everyone a safe and relaxing Easter break. Thank you for your ongoing support and involvement in our school community. We look forward to seeing you all refreshed and ready for another exciting term.

School recommences on Tuesday April 22.

Warm regards,

Mick 

Year 1 Excursion to Sealife Mooloolaba – Wednesday, 28th May

As part of their Science learning in Term 2, Year 1 students will visit Sealife Mooloolaba on Wednesday, 28th May to explore underwater sea animals and their habitats.

Transport: Students will travel by bus, departing from Baringa State Primary School at 8:45 AM and returning at 1:00 PM.

Cost: $34.00 per student. Parents who consent will receive an invoice. Annual pass holders are not able to use their passes for this activity. For refund policy details, please contact the school.

Activities Include:
✔ Guided tour of Sealife
✔ Ocean Tunnel walk with sharks, rays, and large fish
✔ Close encounters with penguins, sea turtles, and reef fish
✔ Shark and ray display tanks
✔ Interactive rockpools to touch marine creatures
✔ Daily feeding sessions and educational talks
✔ Meet the seals and learn about their unique abilities

Uniform: Students must wear their full school uniform (school polo only, no sport polo shirts). Hats are not required.

Food & Drinks:

• Pack first break food (sandwich/wrap, fruit, snack, and drink) in a named, disposable package (e.g., zip-lock bag).
• No tuck shop orders on this day.
• Students should also bring their normal lunchbox with a snack for second break, which will be eaten back at school.

Supervision: The excursion will be fully supervised by school staff. Parent volunteers are not required.

For any questions, please contact your child’s teacher. 

Parent Teacher Interviews

Parent-teacher interviews are invaluable in the ongoing educational progress of your child. They provide a valuable chance for you to discuss your child's progress in school, including their academic performance, behaviour and social development. It is a time for you to learn more about your child's strengths and areas where they may need additional support. Through these meetings, you can also gain insights into your child's learning style and how you can support their education at home. Additionally, you can share any concerns or questions you may have about your child's schooling. 

Parent teacher interviews have been scheduled for Monday 31 March, 2025 and will take place in the school hall.

The purpose of the parent teacher interview will be to:

• Provide individual student progress in English and Maths
• Encourage parent teacher cooperation and build confidence.
• Gather and discuss important information about your child (e.g. family background…).
• Discuss personalised homework needs.
• Discuss attendance and its direct link to learning. 

To book your session, please visit www.schoolinterviews.com.au and enter the code (q9rt6). Please find instructions attached. If you have any difficulties, please contact the school on (07) 5390 2333 where our friendly office staff can assist you. Please book your interview by Thursday 27 March (3.00pm)

The P&C will have a BBQ available for parents to purchase food and drinks between 2:45pm and 6pm. Please note that payment at the BBQ must be made via eftpos only. 

Rescheduled Swimming Sessions for 4E, 4F, and 2C

John Wallace Swim School have offered our school a makeup session on Friday, 28th March for 4E, 4F and 2C, following the cancellation due to Cyclone Alfred. This has now been confirmed.

As a result, students in these classes will have swimming on both Thursday, 27th March and Friday, 28th March, at their originally scheduled times:

• 12:10 pm – 12:40 pm – 4E, 4F
• 12:40 pm – 1:10 pm – 2C

Thank you for your understanding. Please ensure students bring their swimming gear on both days that week.

Celebrating Year 1 and Year 2 Writers!

Our Year 1 and Year 2 students have been working hard on their writing skills and we couldn’t be prouder of their progress!

Year 1 students are creating short written and multimodal texts, including recounts of stories with engaging events and characters. They are developing their sentence-writing skills by using correct punctuation and capital letters for proper nouns.

Year 2 students are expanding their writing abilities by crafting stories to inform, express opinions, adapt ideas and narrate for an audience. They are also learning to punctuate both simple and compound sentences effectively.

Well done to all our young writers for their creativity and dedication! Keep up the fantastic work!

National Ride to School Day – Friday, 21st March

A huge congratulations to all students who participated in National Ride to School Day! It was fantastic to see so many students choosing to ride, scoot, or walk to school.

Well done to everyone who entered the raffle – we gave away 10 movie tickets and 5 passes to The Big Boing! ? Enjoy your prizes!

RideScore Active Schools

1. Do you live close to school?
2. Does your child have a bike or scooter?
3. Would you like your child to get an active, healthy and fun start to the day?
4. Would you like more time in your day, and avoid the traffic queue at the school drop-off and pick-up?
5. Would you like to receive confirmation that your child has arrived or departed school safely?

If you answered YES to these questions, then RideScore is for you!

We are one of 11 Sunshine Coast schools that are enjoying RideScore Active Schools Program funded by councils Transport Levy.

What is RideScore?

RideScore is an incentive-based program delivered by Sunshine Coast Council and We Ride Australia to increase active travel to and from school. The program is open to students who are able to ride a bicycle or scooter to school.

Participating students receive a beacon to attach to their bicycle or scooter. The school bicycle storage facility has a Bluetooth reader that detects the signal from the beacon and sends a notification to the nominated contact, via the RideScore app, to inform them that the student has arrived at/or departed the school. 

Each trip is recorded by the RideScore app, providing incentives when the students reach their milestones. Students are able to earn great prizes at the following milestones:

• 20 Trips – Mystery prize
• 70 Trips – Movie ticket
• 120 Trips – Bli Bli Aqua Park voucher. 

Activities will be planned throughout the school year to promote and encourage riding and scooting, including fun events and bicycle skills classes for all year 4 students.

How do I register?

Step 1 - Download the app (search ‘RideScore’), complete your registration.

Step 2 – Receive your starter pack (posted within one week) that will include:

• Your child’s beacon & instructions on how to pair and fit
• A scorecard for the fridge (your app will also keep a live score)

Step 3 – Start riding and scooting!

Visit the RideScore website for more information, great resources and safety tips.

RideScore is proudly funded by Sunshine Coast Council’s Transport Levy 

Easter Bonnet Parade

Get ready for an egg-straordinary event! 

Hop on over and join us for our Easter Bonnet Parade, a fun-filled celebration of creativity, laughter, and Easter joy!

✨ Event Details: ✨
Date: Friday, 4th April (Last Day of Term 1)
Where: School Hall
⏰ Time: 9:00 AM
Students Involved: Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 students

We invite all Prep, Year 1, and Year 2 students to craft their own fabulous Easter Bonnet at home and wear it proudly during the parade! Think big bows, fluffy chicks, colourful eggs and lots of sparkle! 

Parents and caregivers, don’t miss out on this egg-citing event! Come along, cheer for the little ones, and enjoy a morning filled with music, fun and festive cheer. 

Let’s make this Easter Parade the most egg-stra special one yet! 

We can’t wait to see all the fantastic bonnets and celebrate with you!

Newsletter Article Year 3/4 Deputy

ANZAC DAY

Our school ANZAC DAY Ceremony will be held on Thursday 24^th April at 12pm. All students from Years 3-6 will attend. The junior students will attend a practice ceremony earlier in the day.

As this is a formal event, senior students are asked to wear their formal uniform, they will not be required to wear this on the first Tuesday back of term, as there will be no assembly.

Parents are welcome to attend this ceremony. We ask that any parents attending are seated before the ceremony begins at 12pm.

Jiu Jitsu

During Term 1, a group of our Year 3 students had the opportunity to participate in a Jiu Jitsu program, and it has been a hit! The students have thoroughly enjoyed learning the discipline and techniques of this martial art. Due to the positive feedback, we are excited to offer this program to students in other year levels as well. An Expression of Interest (EOI) will be sent out early in Term 2 for those interested in joining.

Indigenous Cultural Activities Committee Meeting

If you're interested in helping and can commit to attending one meeting per term, please join us and share your ideas.

Please RSVP by emailing: admin@baringass.eq.edu.au, so we can plan for numbers.

Bag Tags and Toys: A Reminder to Students and Parents

Recently, there have been a number of reports from students about items going missing at school. Many of these items are attached to the outside of their school bags. While staff do their best to ensure the safety of students' belongings, it’s important to remember that bringing items of sentimental or monetary value to school can increase the risk of them being misplaced or taken.

To help reduce the chances of this happening, I’ve asked all Year 3 students to limit the number of tags on their bags to just one. This will help minimize the number of items that could potentially go missing.

Additionally, we kindly ask parents to encourage students to leave toys at home. This simple step will make it easier for everyone to keep track of belongings and ensure a smoother school day.

Thank you for your support in keeping our students' items safe!

Sally Donohue

3/4 Deputy Principal

We're thrilled to share with you the electrifying adventures and unforgettable memories made during our recent Year 6 Camp! From conquering towering heights to navigating through muddy terrains, our students embraced every moment with boundless enthusiasm and courage.

The camp was a whirlwind of excitement, offering a plethora of activities that left our Year 6 students buzzing with exhilaration. Here's a glimpse into the thrilling escapades they embarked upon: 

Mud Mania: What's a camp without a little mud? Our adventurers dove headfirst into the muck, relishing the messy fun as they tackled challenging obstacles and emerged victorious, sporting proud smiles and splattered clothes. 

Giant Slide: Screams of delight echoed through the air as our students zoomed down the towering giant slide, feeling the rush of adrenaline of the long slide. The sheer joy on their faces was truly infectious! 

Archery: With steady hands and focused determination, our young archers took aim and let their arrows fly. Guided by skilled instructors, they honed their marksmanship skills and discovered the thrill of hitting the bullseye. 

Giant Swing: Suspended high above the ground, our students braved the Giant Swing, soaring through the air with hearts pounding and spirits soaring. It was a moment of sheer exhilaration and pure exhilaration – many screams were heard throughout camp. 

Flying Fox: Against the backdrop of breathtaking rainforest scenery, our adventurers soared like birds on the zipline, feeling the wind in their hair and the freedom of flight beneath them. It was an experience that left them feeling empowered and alive. 

Rock Climbing: With grit and determination, our students scaled the towering indoor rock walls, overcoming challenges and reaching new heights both literally and metaphorically. Each ascent was a testament to their strength, resilience, and teamwork of our year 6 students. 

We extend our gratitude to the dedicated staff who made this unforgettable experience possible. Their expertise, guidance, and support ensured that our students could embrace every moment of adventure and discovery. 

Student Council News – Easter Raffle

Get ready for some egg-citing fun with the Student Council Easter Raffle! 

This Easter, the Student Council is bringing you an egg-stravaganza of prizes with our amazing Easter Raffle! There's 3 baskets full of chocolates to be won! 

Support your student council and grab your tickets for a chance to win egg-cellent prizes while contributing to exciting initiatives and projects led by the Student Council. 

Raffle tickets will be on sale for $1 each morning from 8.15am. We will sell the tickets each morning up until our Easter Bonnet Parade. 

Students will be selling tickets at two locations - the main school entry (near the Admin building) and also the Edwards Terrace school entry (opposite the IGA). 

NAPLAN Testing – A Reflection on Our Students’ Efforts

Last week, our students in Years 3 and 5 participated in the annual NAPLAN assessments. These tests provide valuable insights into students’ literacy and numeracy skills, helping to guide teaching and learning strategies.

We commend our students for their efforts and perseverance throughout the assessments. We also extend our gratitude to our teachers and support staff for their dedication in preparing and supporting students during this time.

While NAPLAN is just one measure of academic progress, it is an opportunity to celebrate our student’s successes and growth. The data collected will not only help us identify areas for improvement but also highlight our strengths and achievements as a school community.

Families will receive NAPLAN results later in the year, and we look forward to using this information to further support our students’ learning. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for your ongoing support in fostering a positive learning environment for our students. 

Senior Cross Country

Next Thursday morning, all Year 5 students, along with the older Year 4 students, will participate in the Cross Country event. Parents are welcome to attend as spectators and are asked to remain in the designated spectator area.

The younger Year 4 students will have their Cross Country event after the holidays. For further details, please refer to the notes sent out. 

School watch

All parents and community members are reminded to call 13 17 88 if they see any intruders or people acting suspiciously on our school site in after hours or holiday time.

Look, Listen, Report. Call School Watch on 13 17 88.

If you see a crime in progress, call Triple Zero (000).