Term 4 – Week 2 – Tuesday 14th October 2025

Principal News

Hi everyone, welcome to Term 4!

Welcome Back!

I trust that you had an enjoyable and relaxing break.  The time with family is great, not only to recharge the batteries, but also to prepare students for the last Term of the year. The partnership between home and school is critical in attaining the best possible outcomes for all children.  Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or Administration if you have any questions or concerns regarding their education.  We look forward to another strong term working together to ensure the best possible learning environment for your children.

Class Planning for Next Year

As planning is already in progress for 2026 classes, we ask if you would kindly email admin@kinkorass.eq.edu.au or phone the office on (07) 4971 5111 as soon as possible if you intend leaving Gladstone at the end of this year OR if you wish to enrol a student for next year.

We also remind you now to ensure all Prep 2026 Enrolment Forms are returned to the office for processing as soon as possible.

We need this information to determine class structures and staffing requirements. Please contact the office if you require additional information. Please note, the more accurate our information here, the less likely we are to have any possible class changes after the year starts.

Parking Concerns

Parking is always difficult at our school. We are seeing 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.

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 2.30pm and 3.15pm each day. Also, the school car park off Sun Valley Road is strictly for staff only.

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

Before School Bell Times

• The official start of the day is 8:55am when classes commence.
• We are routinely seeing students arriving at school, unsupervised, before 8.00am. This is a long time to wait for the day to commence. It increases the likelihood of issues and accidents when children are here for a long period of time.  Students arriving before Duty starts should be accessing Outside School Hours Care - School is not to be viewed as a free care facility please. For details of booking into OSHC – please see https://www.helpinghandsnetwork.com.au/find-us/kin-kora-state-school/
• Parents are asked to ensure that the arrival time at school, via drop off or transit, is approximately 8.30am. Students and parents are asked to wait in the covered area at the Tuckshop at this time. 
• There are staff on Duty at the Tuckshop covered area from 8.30am.
• At 8.40am students will be released from the covered area at the Tuckshop. This will allow some time to prepare, unpack, go to the toilet, get a drink, etc.
• As soon as teachers open their doors, students are able to enter the room and prepare for the day.  Otherwise, students are asked to wait quietly at their classroom.

QParents – Get Connected Now!

Everything in one place – excursion forms, payments, medical details, absence reporting, and early access to report cards. Fast. Easy. No follow-up texts.

Not on QParents yet? Call or visit the office today – you’ll be set up in minutes!

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 admin@kinkorass.eq.edu.au or by phoning (07) 4971 5111 and we 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: 72.35% families signed up to QParents.

Current Percentages by Year Level

Jorgen Neilson
Principal

Deputy Principal (Year 3 to Year 6)

📌 2026 Class Placement Request Forms 📌

If there are specific issues that may impact your child’s learning and need to be considered during class placement decisions for 2026, you are welcome to complete a Class Placement Request Form.

Please note:
✅ Teacher requests will not be considered.
✅ Forms are available from the school office or can be requested via email: admin@kinkorass.eq.edu.au

✅ Completed forms must be placed in an envelope marked: “CONFIDENTIAL to the Principal”
✅ Deadline: Friday 31st October by 3:00pm

⏰ Forms submitted after this date will not be processed.

Thank you for your understanding and support in helping us make informed class placement decisions.

High School Enrolments

A reminder that these are due now. Students must be enrolled at a High School to attend transition and orientation days.

Term 4 Class & Enviro Captains

Congratulations to the following students for their leadership role in Term 4.

Class Captains

6A – Aaliyah
6B – Rocco
6C – Sorhen
6D – Jennifer

5A – Adella
5B – Kaili
5C – Zara
5D – Illah
5/6E – Clara

4A – Layla
4B – Addison
4C – Frankie
4D – Danakah
4E – Sophia

3A – Scarlett
3B – Kate
3C – Abigail
3D – Evalyn
3E – Phoenix

Enviro Captains

6A – Orlando
6B – Allie-May
6C – Brynden
6D – Scarlett S

5/6E – Jacob M
5A – Max
5B – Delilah
5C – Harper
5D – Lily

4A – Amaya
4B – Zahra
4C – Eden
4D – Charlotte
4E – Skyler

3A – Alexandra
3B – Elijah L
3C – Jonathan
3D – Dean
3E – Ryder

2A – Thea
2B – Abel
2C – Jaxson
2D – TJ
2E – Jaxon

1A – Elsie
1B – Carter C
1C – Olivia
1D – Ella
1E – Helix

Prep A – Saynt
Prep B – Sloan
Prep C – Reuben
Prep D – Hudson
Prep E - Lane

Year 7 Enrolment Packs for 2026

The 2026 Year 7 Enrolment Packs are now available to collect from the Toolooa State High School & Gladstone State High School office. If you have a current Year 6 student heading to TSHS or GSHS next year, please collect, complete and return your Enrolments direct to the High School.

Year 7 Transition 2026

Andrew Shonhan
3-6 Deputy Principal

Deputy Principal (Prep to Year 2)

Hour of Power

It’s been a great start to Term 4, with students quickly settling back into strong learning routines. Each morning from 9:00 – 10:00 am is our school’s ‘Hour of Power’ a dedicated block for structured literacy. During this time, every class is focused on reading, spelling, writing and vocabulary through our evidence-based literacy model.

This hour is one of the most important parts of the school day. When students arrive on time and are settled, they can take part in the full lesson and build the skills they need to keep progressing in reading and writing. Even a few minutes late means missing valuable instruction that can be hard to catch up on later.

We really appreciate families making that extra effort each morning to have students at school, ready to learn, by 8:50 am so they can make the most of the Hour of Power.

Year 1 Pevan and Sarah -  Excursion - 23^rd October, 2025

A huge thank you to our amazing P&C for fully funding our upcoming excursion to see Pevan and Sarah at the Gladstone Entertainment Centre. The cost of the show and bus transport has been completely covered, allowing all students to take part in what will be a fun and engaging learning experience.

2026 Prep Students

We’re also busy preparing to welcome our 2026 Prep families. If you have a child starting Prep next year and haven’t yet submitted your enrolment paperwork, please contact the school office as soon as possible. Early enrolments help us plan classes, transition events and ensure every child has a smooth start to their first year at Kin Kora.

Term 4 Success

Over the next few weeks, teachers will continue to build on learning from earlier in the year while beginning to gather end-of-year assessment evidence. Our message to students is simple - finish the year the way you started: working hard, showing kindness, and giving your best effort every day.

Thank you to our families for helping students start each day ready to learn. Your support with routines, reading at home, and consistent attendance makes a real difference.

Do you have a child starting Prep in 2026?

If your child was born between 1^st July 2020 and 30^th June 2021, they are eligible to enrol for Prep next year. 🌟 Enrol now for your chance to win! 🌟 Collect an Enrolment Pack from the office and return it before the end of Term 3 to go into the draw to win a school uniform. Feel free to share this with your family and friends to spread the word. 

Our Step into Prep transition sessions have now begun! These sessions give your child the chance to explore classrooms, meet teachers, and make new friends, helping them feel confident and excited about starting school. If you have any questions about Prep 2026, please contact our Prep Transition Officer Kahlee McCarthy, at kcoll193@eq.edu.au. As we prepare to welcome our 2026 Prep students, we are going to share some tips to help your child feel confident and ready for school. 

Erin Morgan
Prep-2 Deputy Principal (Acting)

Guidance Gossip

The Smith Family Saver Plus

Amy McDonald
Guidance Officer

School Dental Van

Library News

Book Club Issue 7 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 favourites. 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 students will receive their order 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 Friday 24th October

Happy reading!

Nadia Winning
Librarian – Resource Centre

Sporting News

2026 DEVELOPMENT SQUAD TRIALS

Clinton FC’s 2026 Development Squad Talent ID trials are being held on Tuesday 21st and Thursday 23rd October at 4.30 pm at Clinton Park.

The club is excited to be offering girls only Development Squads in 2026.

Age group details are listed on the flyers.

Expressions of interest are to be completed at the below link prior to the trials.

It is requested that no Development or Premier team kits be worn for the trials.

Enquiries can be sent via message to the Clinton Facebook page.

Clinton looks forward to another fantastic year of player development and encourage all interested players to attend the trials.

Robbie Peters
4-6 HPE Teacher

Welcome to the Kin Kora Arts Department

Instrumental Music 2025

RECRUITING for 2026

By now, all students from Grades 2 and 3 have received a recruitment package for our 2026 intake. Interested students from year 4 also received a package. If you wish for your student to be considered for the recruiting process, please do not hesitate to contact our friendly Music dept. All forms need to be returned by Friday 17^th OCTOBER!

BENEFITS OF LEARNING A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT:

Increased ability to focus and concentrate on tasks
Increased ability to retain and remember information
Increased social awareness skills
Increased emotional regulation skills

Make new friends across multiple year levels and make new friends at workshops with other schools in the Gladstone, Calliope, Tannum Sands and Miriam Vale area.

*Parent INFO night – Tuesday November 18^th CQ University
 (for all new students enrolling in 2026)
* Music Tradeshow Night – Tuesday 25 November – Toolooa SHS

(for all interested in purchasing musical wares – violins/violas/trumpets/glockenspiels/cellos/clarients/flutes/spare     reed/strings/cleaning equipment/tuition books etc)

Ms Rackemann, our Strings instructor, will be teaching every Thursday afternoon and all-day Friday.

Junior Orchestra (for all 2025 recruits rehearse Friday morning with the continuing students - 7:45am.

Seniors Strings rehearse every Thursday 2^nd break – DON’T FORGET YOUR INSTRUMENT!!!

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

Mr Allen visits Kin Kora SS every Tuesday, all day and Wednesday from midday.

Concert Band rehearsals are held every Tuesday morning 7:45am and now include the BEGINNER Woodwind, Brass and Percussion students!

Thank You to those students who REGULARLY attend these early morning rehearsal!!!

All lessons for term 4, are now displayed outside the instrumental music classroom. Students should also have a copy displayed in their classroom.  Attendance to our group rehearsals and lessons is important and formed part of the agreement parents signed at the beginning of tuition! Please let your child’s tutor know when you will be unable to attend.

VERDI Strings tour – Wednesday October 21st (week 3)

Kin Kora Students from year 2 and 3 will be excitedly attending the Verdi Strings Concert in the COLA from 10 – 10:30am, Wednesday 21^st October.

We are lucky to have 6 of our students in this group of advanced musicians! We look forward to seeing Caleb, Max, Charlie, Kaili, Lilly and Emily touring all schools for the day.

CHOIR - Term 4

Students are now busily preparing for

1. Grandparents Day - Monday 27 October
2. Mayor’s Carols sound check – Thursday 4^th December
3. Mayor’s Christmas Carols – Friday 5^th December
4. Kin Kora Carols Evening – Wednesday 10^th December

Our rehearsals are now TWICE a week: Tuesday FIRST break and FRIDAY 2^nd break.

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 everyone that supported our Father’s Day Stall and Disco. Both events were extremely successful and couldn’t have happened without all our incredible volunteers. We are a step closer to our new water bubblers.

Tuckshop:

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

Please Note:

Iceblocks are no longer available on Tuesday 2nd Break.

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

Lost Property Box

The school’s big red Lost Property Box out the back of the Administration building is overflowing with un-named lost property. There are lunch boxes, plastic containers, drink bottles, hats, jackets, jumpers etc. Please ensure to come and check for your student’s missing things as soon as possible as due to the volume of items we will have to start disposing of un-named articles shortly.

School Calendar – Term 4 – 2025

Community Events & Notices

Young Engineers Program

Gladstone Women’s Health

Gladstone Regional Council

Magpie Season Information

Council urges the community to stay safe during swooping bird breeding season from July to November, with peak swooping activity taking place from August to October.

While being swooped can be scary, there are simple steps that can be taken to reduce safety risks to young children and the community.

 Some native bird species, including magpies, plovers, butcherbirds, and crows, are well known to swoop during the spring breeding season. Swooping may occur from July to November, peaking between August and October. When native bird species have eggs or young in their nest, a small percentage can become protective and may swoop people entering their nesting territory. Research suggests aggressive swooping occurs when the birds have had previous negative interactions with humans, for example, had stones or sticks thrown at them, their chicks, or their nests.

 Some ways to manage swooping bird interactions during the breeding season are to:

• Avoid swooping hotspots and find an alternative route by consulting the ‘Gladstone Regional Council Swooping bird hotspot web map’ (https://www.gladstone.qld.gov.au/wildlife) Or https://www.magpiealert.com/
• Ensure children wear appropriate headwear (helmets, hats, umbrellas), eyewear (glasses, sunglasses) and clothing to help protect them from unwanted swooping risks.  
• Ensure children avoid threatening or scaring nesting birds, as this will increase the intensity of swooping.
• For more information about swooping birds and tips to avoid being swooped, a ‘Living with Magpies’ fact sheet and an interactive swooping bird hotspot map, jump on Council’s website https://www.gladstone.qld.gov.au/wildlife#swooping.

Additionally, Council manages swooping birds by providing community awareness and information, undertaking swooping bird assessments, and implementing an appropriate response on Council-controlled land. If your establishment has a problem with a swooping bird, you may contact a licensed wildlife contractor to assess the bird for relocation. Please note that Council is unable to respond to swooping bird complaints on private or state-controlled land.

 If you have any questions or wish to discuss this further, please contact the Environment & Conservation team on 07 4970 0700.

Waste Education ♻️🎓

Be a Recycling hero...🛑STOP Wishcycling! Wishcycling is putting items in the recycling bin in the hope that they will be recycled. Usually these items are not, which leads to contamination in the recycling stream while also increasing costs for sorting and processing. To stop wishcycling, always check local recycling guidelines to confirm what is accepted, as well as rinse containers, scrape out food, and never put items like plastic bags or greasy pizza boxes in the recycling bin. Our Tip Shops at Gladstone and Benaraby are now open three days a week from 8am to 4pm to make it easier to donate your pre-loved goods. Find more Super heroes at our Transfer stations and at our upcoming PopCon festival! 

Here are some ways you can be a Recycling hero:   
♻️ Recycling Bin Sticker: Use our Bin Sticker as a guide to confirm what is accepted in your recycling bin. If you don't have one, email us and we'll have them sent out to you. 

👍🏻👍👍🏿 Recycle Mate: Another handy tool is Australia's first community supported app - Recycle Mate. Go to our page https://www.gladstone.qld.gov.au/recycle-mate available on our website with a handy AI Chatbot to answer all your recycling questions. 

🖥️ Website: Council's waste pages on our website on https://www.gladstone.qld.gov.au/waste lists information on specialised goods like gas bottles and e-waste items that can be recycled at our Waste facilities.

Recycling Bin Sticker Program

❔ Recycling Bin Stickers to tell you what you can place in your yellow-lid bin. 

• From May 2025 to August 2025 Council ran the Recycling Bin Sticker program with the aim to provide the stickers to kerbside residents.
• 25,080 stickers were delivered to kerbside residents, the libraries, handed out at community events and schools and at our Waste Facilities.
• The recyclables that you place in your yellow bin are collected fortnightly by our Recycling trucks and brought to the recovery holding facility at the Benaraby Landfill. 
• From there the material is loaded and transferred to the MRF (Materials Recovery Facility) - a state-of-the-art facility located at Nambour on the Sunshine Coast.
• This MRF is currently utilised by all the CQ Councils and has the capacity to process over 60,000 tonnes of material a year. 
• Recycling properly helps reduce waste going to landfill as the materials be reused and turned back into new products, helping our environment. 

Let's Get It Sorted Gladstone Region!