Term 1 - Week 2 – Tuesday 4th February 2025

Principal News

Welcome back to a new and exciting school year. As always there are plenty of things going on as we settle into routine for the year. I would welcome the students, parents and staff, ready for a smooth start to what is going to be a wonderful year. 

Parent Meet and Greet

We are excited to invite all parents and guardians to our upcoming Parent Meet and Greet with our amazing teachers! This is a great opportunity to connect with educators, learn more about what your child will be working on this year, and ask any questions you might have.

📅 Date: 11^th February

🕒 Time: 3.15pm - 4.15pm

📍 Location: Classrooms

Whether you’re new to our school or have been with us for a while, we’d love to see you there! It's a wonderful chance to build relationships with our teaching staff and stay informed about your child’s educational journey.

Let’s work together to make this a fantastic year for all our students!

Before 8.45 am

All students who are at school prior to 8.45am are required to meet in the Tuckshop area. Staff members who see people in the wrong areas will ask them to move to the correct area. The reason for this is that it ensures people in our school are supervised, and safe.  Parents should consider access to OSHC if they have ongoing needs to drop students at school early.

Attendance Counts!

Remember that EVERY DAY IS A LEARNING DAY AT KKSS! It is important that your child/ren are here every day (illness and emergencies aside).  If we can be of any assistance in supporting you with attendance, routines, or even school refusal – please contact the office.

Day 8 – Student Enrolment Collection

At the start of Term 1 each year there is a central data collection of student enrolment done on the 8^th day of the school year. This data is used to determine school staff and resource allocations for the year, therefore it is important that students (where possible) have already commenced school by this date. Parents are asked to ensure the following:

• That students have returned and attended school before this day - being Thursday 6th February 2024 this week (this will be most students).
• If you are having a late return, sometimes due to emergent issues or extended holiday, please contact our office so we can record this.
• If you know of people starting at school in this year, it is important that they are enrolled ASAP - advise them to contact the office on (07) 4971 5111.

9.00am to 10.00 am – our Hour of Power

We have successfully started a focused learning block here at school between 9.00am – 10.00am. Parents are asked to make sure students are here on time, and that teachers are able to commence roll marking/start of day at 8:50am.  This learning time will mean that all teachers, leaders and teacher aides are engaged in learning – so we also ask that meetings are scheduled outside of this time, and phone messages etc are made after 10.00am. We are very eager to see how a focused and calm start can strengthen the learning outcomes for our Kin Kora kids!  Thanks for your co-operation.

Parking and School Gates

Parking is always difficult at our school. Occasionally, we see high numbers of parent vehicles inside the school grounds which presents a risk to students. Parents are asked to ensure that, unless picking up a sick child from the office, all vehicles remain parked on the street.

Parents are also asked to remember that the parking spaces at the top of the “Stop Drop and Go” are marked, and parking in ways other than those signed endangers children’s lives. If the area is full, alternative (street) parking must be used, or students dropped off (ie: drivers remain in vehicle).

Gate times are fixed to ensure student safety, so calls to the office to ask for gates to be opened will be politely declined. There is no access through the Hibiscus Avenue front gates between 8.30am to 9.30am, and between 2.40pm and 3.15pm each day. Also, the school car park off Sun Valley Road is strictly for staff only.

Please also be considerate when parking on the street and to not block or hinder access to private properties.

Thank you very much for your efforts to keep every student safe.

School Newsletters and Communication

This year, newsletters will be circulated 3 times each Term – Week 2, 5 and 8 by emails registered on the Schoolzine Website.  To be completely connected at school parents should ensure:

• Your QPARENTS account is active (our office can help here if needed).
• Your email/ mobile contacts are up to date. If you have changed either please email admin@kinkorass.eq.edu.au. SMS and email from the school or teachers is the main communication stream.
• School Facebook page is “liked” and followed.
• You must be connected to the Flexischools App for Tuckshop and Uniform orders.

We have amazing things that happen at our school every day- don’t miss out on a thing!

QParents

QParents  is a secure, online portal that has been created by the Department of Education to provide parents of Queensland State School students with 24-hour access to their child's information. The portal allows you to securely access information about your child and communicate directly with your child's school.

QParents provides secure, online access to student information such as:

• attendance details
• consent forms
• payment of invoices
• payment history
• behaviour
• report cards and assessment dates
• upcoming events
• timetables
• student photo

In addition to the information provided, it's important to note that the QParents portal only sends invoices to the parent/carer who is listed first. This means that if there are multiple parents or carers who share responsibility for payments, only one of them will receive the invoice through the portal. It is important for parents and carers to communicate and coordinate payment arrangements if they are sharing the responsibility for fees. 

The reality is that any family not connected on QParents runs the risk of not getting information as required.

We encourage you to register for QParents. To do this, simply express your interest by emailing nkenn81@eq.edu.au or by phoning (07) 4971 5111 and Mrs Kenny will email you an invitation to register (which includes your log-in code) and your child’s unique EQID number.

Goal: 90% of families signed up to QParents.
Current: 67.37% families signed up to QParents.

Current Percentages by Year Level

Deputy Principal (Prep to Year 2)

Welcome to 2025!

Welcome to the first newsletter of the 2025 school year! I’d like to extend a special welcome to our many new families joining our wonderful school community here at Kin Kora State School – particularly our newest Preppies who are starting their school journey with us.

We’ve had a fantastic start to the 2025 school year. Our teachers have been busy getting to know their students, and students have been forming strong connections with their classmates and teachers. These productive learning relationships set a solid foundation for an exciting year of growth and learning ahead.

Thank you to all our families for your efforts in preparing your children for the start of the school year. As a parent myself, I know how busy this time can be. Your organisation and support have helped ensure a smooth transition back to school.

Now that we’ve settled into the routines of school life following the short first week, we’re looking forward to a fantastic year of learning and achievement together.

Attendance: Every Day Counts

As we begin the school year, it’s essential to highlight the importance of consistent attendance. Missing school means missing out on valuable learning opportunities, and the effects can add up quickly:

Playgroup

Our amazing Playgroup “Little Bee’s” will be starting back up in Week 3 on Wednesday 12th February in Prep A from 9:00am until 10:30am. We are looking forward to a great year together. Please bring hat, water bottle and morning tea.

Deputy Principal (Year 3 to Year 6)

Welcome to 2025!

As we step into the new year, I want to extend a warm welcome back to all of our students, staff, and families. It’s with great excitement that we begin another year of learning, growth, and community spirit. I hope everyone had a restful break and is feeling recharged for the year ahead.

We are thrilled to see our returning faces and to welcome new students and families to our school community. This year promises to be filled with opportunities to challenge ourselves, discover new passions, and work together to make our school an even better place.

In my role as Deputy Principal, I am committed to supporting every student and staff member as we embark on this journey. Our shared goal is to continue fostering an environment where respect, collaboration and achievement are at the forefront of everything we do.

I encourage you all to stay involved, whether by attending school events, joining our parent-teacher meetings, or simply connecting with your teachers and peers. We are stronger when we work together.

Guidance Gossip

Gladstone Mindcare – Family Drug Support – Free Information Session

Parent to Parent - MyTime Parent Meeting Dates

Amy McDonald
Guidance Officer

Welcome to the Kin Kora Arts Department

Instrumental Music:

Welcoming a new face to our Strings department in 2025 – Ms Grace Rackemann. Ms Rackemann will be teaching every Thursday afternoon and all-day Friday.           

Beginner Strings Lessons:

Lessons for Beginner Strings will be on Thursdays in 2025, commencing in Week 2 (Thursday 6^th February 2025). Our lesson timetable will be displayed in and outside the Instrumental Music classroom for students to check if they are unsure, and their classroom teachers will also have a copy. If you have purchased an instrument, please bring it along on Thursday 6^th February.

Orchestra:

Junior Orchestra (for all 2025 recruits) will begin in Week 5 (27^th February 2025), at the beginning of 2^nd Break.

Continuing Strings Lessons:

Lessons: Lessons for continuing String players will be on Fridays in 2025, commencing in Week 2 (Friday 7^th February 2025). Our class timetable will be displayed in and outside the Instrumental Music classroom for students to check if they are unsure, and their classroom teachers will also have a copy.

Orchestra: Orchestra will also recommence on Friday 7th February, starting at 7:45am.

Mr Chris Allen continues in 2025 for Brass, Woodwind and Percussion tuition.

Mr Allen will be visiting Kin Kora State School every Monday morning and all-day Tuesday.

Beginner lessons: Start Tuesday 4^th February. Please bring along your instrument and textbook. Timetables will be issued on the day and can also be found outside the Music Room window.

Continuing Lessons: Lessons for students who are continuing in the WBP program will commence Week 3. A timetable will be available outside the Music Room. Band for continuing students will also commence Week 3 – Tuesday 11th February at 7:45 am!

Please contact our friendly IM staff if you should have any further questions. We are always very happy to help!

2025 Choir Times:

Choir will recommence in Week 3. As the timetable is quite full, all choirs will rehearse FIRST BREAK at 11am to 11:40am. All students are welcome to bring their lunches to the Music Room.

Tuesday: 1 2 choir
Wednesday: 5 6 choir
Thursday: 3 4 choir

Strings Bootcamp and Kickstart Workshops – 2025:

In Week 4, all Strings students will have the opportunity to attend a workshop held by Mr Mark Sullivan. He is INCREDIBLE!

Mark Sullivan graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music specialising on Performance on Violin and conducting studies. Mr Sullivan worked as an orchestral director for over 30 years in both Australia and the USA and has now retired after a distinguished career as a Strings Teacher and Director of Instrumental Music at Brisbane SHS and Brisbane Grammar School. Since retirement, Mark has been in extremely high demand as an adjudicator, visiting clinician, and mentor. Mr Sullivan thoroughly enjoys working with the Instrumental Music students of the Gladstone Region and the opportunity to have Mr Sullivan educating our beginners at the start of the year will provide a boost to every student’s string journey in 2025.

Permission notes and health forms have all been distributed in Week 1. (Please see Ms M if you have misplaced yours).

Please see the table below for information, dates, times and cost for each workshop.

Please note all permission forms and payment needs to be completed by C.O.B Thursday 13 February 2025.

P&C Operations

Tuckshop:

The Tuckshop is open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for lunches and Tuesday 2nd Break for Iceblocks only. Flexischools can be used to order for both Breaks. Cut off is 8:40am on the day it is ordered for.

Uniform Shop:

Uniform Shop Open TUESDAY’S 8:30am – 10:00am              Cash / Eftpos / Flexischools available

(Please allow for 1 week turn-around on all Flexischool orders).

Email  uniformshop@kinkorass.eq.edu.au with any uniform shop related queries.

Nadia Horsten
Tuckshop/Uniform Coordinator
P & C Association

School Calendar – Term 1 – 2025

Back to School Road Safety Messages

As part of their ongoing commitment to promoting road safety awareness among the schools and the wider community, we are pleased to share with you some road safety messages from the Department of Transport and Main Roads to help reinforce the importance of safe practices on and around roads, particularly within school zones.

School zone safety – advice for motorists, parents and carers

With school back for 2025, we need to keep safety top-of-mind when travelling through active school zones and around our school community.

School zone times have been standardised in Queensland to help motorists remember when to slow down. The standard operating times for most school zones in Queensland are 7.00am–9.00am and 2.00–4.00pm, with some operating all day between 7.00am–4.00pm.

Speeding remains a significant concern, contributing to fatalities and injuries, and police will be on the lookout for speeding motorists. Keeping below the signed speed limit in school zones helps keep everyone safe. This simple adjustment may have minimal impact on travel time but has the potential to significantly contribute to saving lives.

Children's crossings are identified by children's crossing flags, displayed near crossings before and after school hours. 

When the crossing is supervised, you, as a motorist, must:

• Wait until all pedestrians, bicycle riders, or personal mobility device riders have crossed the road and the crossing supervisor has returned to the footpath.
• Abide by the direction given by the School Crossing Supervisor.

Please keep our children safe by staying alert, slowing down, and obeying our school crossing supervisors who are there to help kids cross the road safely.  

You can also help children become more road safety aware by:

• Showing them how to look for vehicles coming in and out of driveways and discourage them from playing behind parked cars, or with toys or balls when walking to school. 
• Ensuring your child knows the safest route to and from school. This is usually the way with the least traffic and the fewest roads to cross and teach your child to always walk on footpaths. 
• Showing your child how to cross at traffic lights when the green 'walk' sign is showing at pedestrian crossings when vehicles have stopped and at supervised school crossings when the supervisor has signalled it is safe to do so. 
• Accompanying children when walking or riding to school until they are old enough to understand road safety (usually around 10 years or older). 
• Teaching your child if they catch the bus to never cross in front of or behind a bus; wait until the bus goes before crossing the road. 
• Making sure wheeled devices (bicycle, scooter, skateboard, or rollerblades) used to travel to school are well maintained and that the appropriate protective and safety gear (for example, helmet, visible clothing, knee and elbow pads) are used. 

Visit the Street Smarts website for more information about what to do at pedestrian and children crossings.

Gladstone Junior Touch Association

The Club is still accepting team nominations, with their season starting on Monday 10^th February 2025.