Term 2 – Week 8– Tuesday 10th June 2025

Principal News

Academic Reports and Assessment

Teachers are currently finalising student work, assessments and project tasks in preparation for Semester 1 Report Cards. While assessment is ongoing throughout the term, some tasks are deliberately scheduled towards the end to capture the most recent demonstration of student learning.

Following report finalisation, teachers will begin diagnostic testing to monitor student progress and inform future teaching. Please help by ensuring your child is at school each day, with everything they need. Of course, if your child is unwell, they should stay home to rest and recover.

Reminder: Report Cards will be issued through QParents. Please contact the office if you need help accessing or registering for the service.

Early Departure Procedures

Just a reminder that any student arriving late or leaving early must be signed in/out through the office by a parent or guardian. This helps us maintain accurate records and ensures student safety at all times.

Please note:

• Early departures are for emergent reasons only
• Gate closure times should be considered when planning pickups
• Pickups during lunch breaks (11:00–11:40 & 1:20–2:00) can take longer due to student movement and access to bags/classrooms

Cooler Weather is Here

With the cooler mornings settling in:

• We're seeing more non-uniform jumpers. Please ensure your child wears either a school jumper or a plain black jumper. Hoodies must not be worn over the head.
• As the day warms up, jumpers often come off—label all items clearly (first and last name) so they can be returned if misplaced.
• The Lost Property box (outside the rear of the office) is quickly filling—please check here if something is missing.

Student Absences

Thank you to all families for your continued focus on learning. Terms 2 and 3 can be tricky with winter illness, but every learning day matters. The easiest way to notify us of absences is via QParents. If you're not yet connected, please reach out to the office for support.

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: 70.16% families signed up to QParents.

Current Percentages by Year Level

Jorgen Neilson
Principal

Deputy Principal (Year 3 to Year 6)

Report Cards

Semester 1 Report Cards will be released via QParents on Wednesday of Week 2, Term 3. If you haven’t signed up to QParents yet, please contact the office. If you would like to request a paper copy of the report card, please let the office know by Wednesday of Week 9, Term 2. Paper copies of report cards to requested parents will be released on Friday of Week 2, Term 3.

Andrew Shonhan
3-6 Deputy Principal

Deputy Principal (Prep to Year 2)

Sun Safe School

It is important to remember that protecting our skin is just as important as enjoying the outdoors. That’s why we are proud to be a Sun Safe School, committed to keeping our students safe while they play, learn, and grow outside.

Parents and carers, you can help by ensuring your child has a clearly named, sun-safe hat in their school bag every day.

Students without hats have the option of going to one of these three areas during playtime: Library, Welcome Room or the Sun Shelters on the Oval.

Mitchell Taylor
Prep-2 Deputy Principal

Guidance Gossip

Strong Communities Term 2 Parent Programs

The Raising Healthy Minds app is a free, personalised, pocket resource to help parents and carers raise confident, resilient children. Co-designed with parents and experts and funded by the Australian Government, Raising Healthy Minds aims to support children’s social and emotional wellbeing with evidence-based information.  

You’ll find information on topics like dealing with worries and making friends, as well as ideas for day-to-day life, like creating family routines, looking after yourself as a parent, and building strong relationships.  

The app offers a mix of quick-read articles, videos and animations aimed at parents and carers of children aged 0-12 years. You can tailor information to the age of your child and opt-in to receive helpful tips.  

Raising Healthy Minds provides simple-to-use information at your fingertips with clear actions you can start today.  

Download from Google Play or the App Store or go to raisingchildren.net.au/rhm to learn more and raise a healthy mind 🧠 😊  

Amy McDonald
Guidance Officer

Library News

Book Club Issue 4 is out now!

Your child will have recently brought home a book club catalogue. Inside you will find award-winning books and bestsellers, as well as old and new favorites. The books span a wide range of children’s reading levels and interests, with some books costing as little as $3. Each order helps earn free books for our school library.

TO ORDER: The Book Club LOOP platform for parents allows you to pay by card. Your child’s order is submitted directly to the school and books will be collect from the library when they arrive. You can place your child’s order at scholastic.com.au/LOOP or use the LOOP app, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.

Please note: No cash or cheque payments are taken at school. You can only order via the LOOP App.

Orders are due by Thursday 12^th June

Book Fair

Thank you to all the parents, students and staff that made this year’s Book Fair a success!

We had 6 Book Fair voucher winners who were super excited to come back through book fair and spend their voucher.

We also ran a competition for our Book Fair Rainforest theme “guess the snakes in the jar”.

Congratulations to 6A who were our class winners! They got the opportunity to come back through Book Fair and spend their voucher for the whole class.

Every student who completes the challenge and returns their reading record sheet to Miss Nadina in the library will receive a certificate.

To complete the challenge:

Prep to Year 2 must read or experience at least 20 books.

Years 3 and 4 must read at least 20 books.

Years 5 and 6 must read at least 15 books.

Experiencing books can include shared reading, listening to stories, or reading picture books. The aim for the 2025 challenge is to encourage students to make time to read. Last year saw more than 216,000 children from around the state participate.

Spare forms are available from the library front counter.

The Challenge runs until 22^nd August. Happy Reading!

Welcome to the Kin Kora Arts Department

Instrumental Music

Ms Rackemann is teaching every Thursday afternoon and all-day Friday.

Mr Allen teaches all day Tuesday, and Wednesday afternoons.

Beginner and Continuing Instrumental Music Lessons

Our lesson timetables are now displayed outside the Instrumental Music classroom. Students should also have a timetable attached to their desk, and their classroom teachers have also displayed a copy in their rooms.

Band and Orchestra

Junior Orchestra (for all 2025 recruits) began in Week 5 (27^th February) at the beginning of Second Break.

Senior Orchestra (Continuing strings students) rehearse Friday morning.

Concert Band (students in their 2^nd and 3^rd years) rehearse every Tuesday morning.

Morning rehearsals commence @ 7.45am so please arrive in time to set up and be ready!

2025 Choir Times

All choirs rehearse FIRST BREAK from 11.00am 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

String Orchestra performing on Monday 23^rd June at 9.00am in the COLA

The String orchestra will be performing at the Good to Great Parade, Week 10 this term, in the COLA.

Please wear your Music Shirt for this performance.  If you don't have a Music Shirt yet, you can purchase one at the Uniform Shop which is opened every Tuesday from 8.30am to 10.00am.

Students will have a quick run-through in the Music Room, Monday morning 23^rd June at 8.15am, and then head down to set up our stands and some chairs for the cellists. Don't forget your music!

Keep practising at home, especially Chin Wagging!!!

Did you know?

Between the ages of 8-14, the brain is completing 2 main tasks: developing executive function (“grown-up skills,” independence, emotional regulation), and pruning “unnecessary” information. During this pruning stage, you may notice that your child plateaus a little in their learning and is the reason why adults retain so few memories prior to age 7. Neurologists have discovered that for young music learners, this pruning lasts for around 6 months, as opposed to 18 months for students who have not been exposed to regular music learning! This helps students’ brains get back to processing learning at full capacity sooner, putting them ahead of their peers in their development!

QSO Concert – Term 2, 2025

All eligible Kin Kora Instrumental students will be invited to this concert held at the GECC later on in the term. The first 58 students will be hopping on the bus with our lovely IM teacher Ms Rackemann and myself.

Parents – check QPARENTS  for this offer!

Maree Maitland
Music Specialist

P&C Operations

P&C would like to thank Side by Side for their continued partnership with our daily Breakfast Club in 2025. Their support helps us in providing access for our whole school to start the day on a full stomach and ready to learn. 

Thank you to all our helpers for Sport’s Day. It was a great few days and we couldn’t have done it without the support of our whole community. A special shout out to Toolooa State High School for sending some of their students to assist throughout the 2 days. Their assistance was invaluable.

Pie Drive is coming back! Keep an eye out in your child’s bag for order forms very soon. Also follow us on Facebook to stay up to date on all events, Kin Kora SS P&C.

Our next general meeting is Tuesday June 17^th from 4:30pm in the Resource Centre (Library)

 Is it time to update your precious family photos?   

We have booked Bede from Laura Jean to take professional family portraits at our school on Saturday 21^st June.

You’ll receive an 8x12” family photo & keyring for just $20.00.

Available once per family, these funds will go towards new water bubblers 😊.

Additional poses are taken on the day, available obligation free in print + digital, at heavily reduced prices.

Appointments will fill quickly - availability is limited.

Outdoor portraits on school grounds with studio backup in our library.

Book your ideal time and pay by clicking:  www.trybooking.com/1408446

Please share with local friends, they don’t need to attend our School.

For more information - https://www.laurajean.com.au/for-families/ 

Larissa Mylonas
President
P & C Association

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 2 – 2025

Community Events & Notices

Turning into Teens Workshop

Tuning into Kids Workshop

Circle of Security Parenting

Circle of Security ONLINE Program

Shop For Schools

Financial Resilience Service