Welcome Back to School!

Hello Everyone,

Welcome back to Freshwater State School for 2025! We hope you had a wonderful break and are feeling refreshed and ready for the exciting year ahead. As we begin a new school year, we’d like to share a few important updates and reminders to ensure a safe, positive, and productive environment for all our students.

Schools work hard to ensure that their school communities remain abreast of what is happening and the priorities for the upcoming year.  As a team we have identified the following priorities to ensure that the teaching and learning of all students at Freshwater State School continues:

1. Whole School Framework for Staff and Student Engagement for Learning

• Focus on Respectful Relationships and Positive Behaviour for Learning

2. Implementation of V9 English Curriculum

• Focus on Detailed Read (Reading to Learn)

3. Implementation of V9 Mathematics

• Focus on Problem Solving and Resourcing

Rainy Days & Safety

As the weather changes, please be mindful of the forecast and prepare your child for rainy days. We encourage students to bring raincoats, umbrellas, and continue to wear appropriate shoes for school, Crocs etc are not appropriate footwear for school. We have amended our play breaks according to the weather to try and ensure that students have time for play outside of the classroom but are safe at the same time.

Safe, Respectful Learners

We are committed to fostering a community of safe, respectful learners. Our goal is to create an environment where all students feel valued and supported. We encourage every student to be respectful towards their peers, teachers, and the school environment, and to always uphold the values of kindness, responsibility, and cooperation. Together, we can create a positive space for everyone. Part of this process is the role that classroom teachers play in the communication with parents.  Teachers are the first people to speak with regarding any concerns, as they will more often than not, have more information to share.  

Leader Investiture Ceremony

We are excited to announce our upcoming Leader Investiture Ceremony! This special event will honour our new student leaders for their dedication, hard work, and commitment to our school community for 2025. We invite all families to join us in celebrating these inspiring students as they take on their new roles and responsibilities. As there are a number of events occurring, the date for the investiture has been pushed out to Week 4.

Leader Investiture Ceremony: Term 1, Week 4, Wednesday 2pm

Pictured above: Karryn with our New Student Leaders 2025

We are looking forward to a year filled with growth, learning, and success for not only our new school leaders but all of our students.

Stay Connected

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, look out for our newsletters, letters home and text messages for the latest updates and events. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to us. Together, we’ll make this year memorable and impactful for all!

Wishing you all a fantastic start to the year!

Yours Sincerely,

It’s been wet and a tad wild with our current weather event, nevertheless still a wonderful start to 2025 at Freshwater State School. As always, thank you to our families for helping your children to settle in and be ready with their books and uniforms to the start the year off well. Being organised and on time, having the right equipment really does help to make the transition into a new year easier for your child. This means they can focus on learning the new routines that are associated with their new year level and build a strong relationship with their peers and classroom teacher.

We welcome our new Prep students for 2025 into our school and congratulate them all on a wonderful start to ‘big school’. It has been a real privilege to visit them over the past fortnight and observe how quickly they have adapted to the new routines of Prep at Freshwater, especially the wet weather procedures during the lunch breaks. The students are really engaged and focused in the classrooms, participating in a variety of activities and building relationships with their peers. They are learning all the new instructional routines that come with being in a school setting which is often different to the Kindy environment. When the Prep children hear the bell, I am observing a sea of lime green hats responding so quickly and moving to their line up area, ready for their teacher. A massive congratulations and thank you to our Prep staff, Prep Aides and our Support Team for helping to support the transition for our Prep children over the past fortnight.

Our students in Year One, Two and Three have also had a great start to the year with new learning taking place across all the classrooms including writing an English pre-assessment to kick off the year.

In Week 3, we invite you to attend a meet and greet session that your classroom teacher(s) will run so you can hear about the instructional routines in the classroom and ask any questions you might have about curriculum or upcoming events. I’d encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to connect with your child’s teacher so you can form an early partnership and make the connection. There will be supervision for our students in Prep, Year 1  and Year 2 in the conference room while parents attend the meet and greet.

 Kind regards,

It’s been a fantastic start to the school year! I’m always impressed by how quickly our students and teachers dive into learning, and the last two weeks have been no exception. As I walk through the classrooms, I see students settled and fully engaged in their work. A big thank you to all our parents for ensuring their children are prepared with the necessary equipment and books—it’s made the transition back to school much smoother for everyone.

Despite the rainy weather making lunch breaks a bit tricky, students have adapted well, making the most of the concrete paths and canopy areas. This year, with soccer being off the table for now, we’ve seen lots of cricket and basketball being played during breaks.

Next week, our Year 6 students will head to the Holloways Beach Environmental Education Centre for a leadership day. They'll take part in activities that help build connections with one another and it’s a great opportunity for them to learn more about themselves as leaders in the school.

Our leadership badging ceremony for new student leaders will take place in Week 4, we’d love for you to join us in celebrating this important event in our school calendar.

Also, Parent Evening is coming up next week where you’ll have the chance to meet your child’s teacher. This informal session will give you an opportunity to connect with the teacher and learn more about how the classroom runs. Each session will be approximately 30 minutes and we look forward to seeing you there.

I’m looking forward to a great year ahead with all our students and staff.

Have a wonderful week ahead!

Semester One Year Level Unit and Assessment Overviews

Families will be emailed overviews in week four. These provide a summary of Term 1 and Term 2 units of work and associated assessment tasks, for you to understand what your child is learning and how they will be assessed. It may also provide you with a context for discussing your child’s learning with them.

The Australian Curriculum version 9 English and Mathematics

This will be implemented in each P-6 classroom in 2025. This year familiarisation and planning of Science, Technologies and Health and Physical Education (HPE) will be a focus of scheduled planning days.

Religion

Commences week three, Thursday 13th February with 30-minute classes in the Combined Christian group, Catholic group and Bahá’ group. Students are allocated to religion classes as specified on their enrolment or subsequent updates from parents or caregivers. There is no requirement to re-enrol your student in a religion class group. Students not enrolled in a religion group are supervised in year level classrooms. Requests to change religion permissions or preference must be made through the office.

Enrichment

This semester students in years 5-6 will have the opportunity submit expressions of interest (EOIs) for following enrichment opportunities. A selection process will determine the final participants. Communication to students about these enrichment opportunities has commenced in week two.

Year 6: Brisbane Urban Environmental Education Centre News Writing Course

The 2025 Brisbane Urban Environmental Education Centre self-guided QLearn online writer’s course is beneficial in developing planning, writing and editing skills. Completed work is also used to select students for a coveted place at the News Writing Camp (Show Camp) held at the Ekka each year. Freshwater students have been selected as part of the twenty students from across the state, who attended Show Camp in 2023 and 2024.

Year 6: Readers Cup

​Readers Cup is organised by the Qld Branch of the Children's Book Council of Australia. It is a state wide competition for young readers. Teams of four to five students together read a set of books, and then compete with other teams to answer quiz questions from the books. Readers Cup competitions challenge students to read widely, work collaboratively and continue developing a love of reading. It allows readers to compete at a regional and state level similar to sporting competitions and to meet other students with an equal passion for books. Over the last two years Freshwater State School achieved third place in Readers Cup.

The expression of interest and selection process for year 6 students, will commence this term for the 2025 Freshwater Readers Cup representatives.

Years 5-6 Queensland Virtual STEM Academy

The Queensland Virtual STEM Academy (QVSA) is a unique partnership between the Department of Education (DoE), regional host schools and university and industry partners, with the vision and drive to achieve improvements in education outcomes and workforce participation in Queensland. Through the online courses delivered, like-minded Year 5 – 9 students connect, collaborate, and explore their STEM interest and passion with regionally based researchers, government, and industry. The QVSA also provides opportunities for students to build their STEM portfolio through a blended model of delivery via virtual and face to face learning.

Three rounds of QVSA courses are offered over a school year, providing the opportunity for years 5/6 students to participate in at least one course in 2025.

Regards,

This term we are trialling new routines in regards to eating and playtimes. Students in all year levels, will now eat in their classrooms from 10:40am to 10:50am supervised by their classroom teacher.  During this time students will learn about our Freshwater State School Expectations, the social emotional program - Respectful Relationships, as well as participate in discussions around healthy food choices.  Students will then play from 10:50am to 11:25am.  They will have 5 minutes to transition from play time to the classroom and prepare for learning.  In the afternoon, students will go out and play from 1pm – 1:30pm and then return to their classrooms for a snack from 1:30pm to 1:40pm. 

These changes are being trialled to assist us in teaching our positive behaviour for learning expectations and allow students to eat in a cool, quiet, calm environment with supervision from their classroom teacher.  Students will also no longer need to take their lunch boxes out to eating areas which will decrease incidences of lost lunch boxes and decrease litter around the school.

Open Times

Our office is open on school days from 8.15am and closes at 3.30pm. Prior to 8.15am our team are busy getting everything ready for the day. Our office does close at 3.30pm. If you are experiencing any difficulty collecting your child prior to 3.10pm on a regular basis, please keep in mind our OSHC does have some availability.

General enquiries:

OSHC Admin

Office Mobile: 0491 202 342 (9:15am - 3:15pm)

After Hours Mobile: 0400 905 502 (6am - 6pm)

Email: oshcbooking@freshwaterpandc.com.au

Student Resource Scheme 

A friendly reminder to please pay any outstanding invoices, our preferred payment method is BPOINT. There are still a large number of unpaid Student Resource Scheme Fees, invoiced at the start of the year. Instrumental Music will be invoiced this week.

If you would like to set up a payment plan, contact our office on 4058 9222 or send an email to principal@freshwaterss.eq.edu.au

Collecting your child 

If you need to collect your child early, or during the school day please inform the teacher and office prior. Please keep in mind that the class may not always be in their classroom, which can make it hard to locate, if prior notice is not given.

Please try and inform your child where they will be collected prior to school, this minimises disrupting learning time. 

Absences

If your child is going to be away from school please text or email with the following information:

• Student's Name
• Student's Year Level/Class
• Reason for Absence (Illness, Family Reasons, Appointment etc)
• Period of the absence

Text: 0426 305 960

Email: absences@freshwaterss.eq.edu.au

Medication

All students who require medication administered during school hours need a Consent to Administer Medication Form, completed and returned. This includes all long term, short term, as needed medication, anaphylaxis and asthma.

Any child that has Asthma and/or Anaphylactic, the school also needs an Asthma/Anaphylactic (In Colour) Action Plan completed from their GP. 

Please be reminded any medication that is handed in needs a pharmacutical label, this includes over the counter ie. Panadol/Paracetamol.

Date Saver: School Photos

Admin Team 

Ab

by, Lexie, Natashs and Sam

The Department of Education has advised us the volunteer members for the New Multi-purpose Hall Internal Consultative Group have been selected.

The department has advised all those who nominated for the consultative group of the outcome of their application.

Eight Parent/Carer representatives, four P&C Committee representatives and one Freshwater State School staff representative will work closely with and provide feedback to the department’s infrastructure team as it continues to plan for the delivery of our new multi-purpose hall.  

The names of consultative group members will be shared on the project webpage (below) subject to the department receiving their express consent.

We have been told that the first face-to-face meeting of the consultative group will be held soon, with members advised about the date as soon as it has been settled on.

We also understand the department will publish updates for the community after each meeting.

Questions about this project can be sent to BuildingFutureSchools@qed.qld.gov.au.

Updates about the project can be found on the Building Education website.

Thank you to everyone for their commitment to the betterment of our school.

• Green FSS Polo
• Assigned Sports Shirt on P.E. days 
• Mostly Black joggers or school shoes (enclosed) with white socks is the preferred footwear (no crocs, sandals, lights, glitter,roller balls etc due to safety). 
• Earstuds, sleepers and watches (not smart) are permitted (neckchains, rings, anklets etc are not permitted due to safety). 

Hi, my name is Amy Fulwood and I am the Japanese teacher at Freshwater State School. I teach students from Prep to Year 6 Japanese and our lessons are packed full of language and culture. I really enjoy sharing my love of Japan and its language with the students. I started learning Japanese in high school here in Cairns and have loved it ever since. I’ve been to Japan many times over the years but my favourite trips have been when I have taken my own family over with me. It makes me feel happy when students call out “konnichiwa” or tell me about their connection to Japan. It’s amazing how many families have been to Japan recently or a planning to go soon! Japanese Club each week on a Thursday and Friday is the highlight of my week.

Please see below the list of units being covered in Semester 1:

Prep - A Package from Japan

Year 1 & 2 - Who am I?

Year 3 & 4 - Amazing Places

Year 5 & 6 - What is in a name? 

I hope you and your students have a fabulous 2025.

Welcome to the Library

Another exciting year of novel discoveries has begun. Sit back and relax in your favourite chair, there are so many new and exciting places to check out! Yes, that’s right, the school Library is now open. Encourage your child to visit and engage with our vast array of literature. We have something for all readers, from fantastical and fanciful Fiction to far-out, noooo, that can't be true Non-Fiction.

Student book loans are for two weeks, with the ability to extend if required. Each week automated overdue reminder notices are sent via email to help busy families keep track of their borrowing. Please check your junk mail, as sometimes emails end up there.

Students also have their very own eLibrary! Sora has over 60,000 eBooks and audio books available 24/7.

Lunchtime at the Library

Each lunchtime is dedicated to a different age group to maximise participation. Students, however, are able to return or borrow any day of the week. During break times, there are multiple activities students are able to participate in, such as school-based computer and iPads programs, colouring in and the reading of all the very best books. Our Computer Zone is now set up as a designated area where homework, assessment and assignments can be completed during lunch breaks. Various clubs also run throughout the week; these are for all year levels.

Lego Club – Monday and Wednesdays at first break. If anyone has spare Lego lying around looking for eager children to play with, send it my way!

Chess Club - Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday second break, pawns, kings and queens are lined up and ready for action! We are hoping to participate in the Inter-school Chess Competition each term and are looking for contenders.

Board Games Club – Every Tuesday at second break.

Creative Writing Club – every Thursday at second break.

I look forward to seeing you at the Library. 

“If I was a book

I would like to be a library book,

so I would be taken home by all different sorts of kids.”

-Cornelia Funke, Author-

Yours in literary adventures,

Amanda Glaspy

Library Officer

Welcome back to PE and Sport in 2025!

It would be great if students wear their House sports shirt on their PE day. Hair tied back too please.

TCN (Trinity Coast North) 10 - 19 Years School Sport District trials will be held for students born in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 in 2025. 

For TCN trials, please remember:

• All trials will be advertised by the classroom teacher, on Facebook and in the newsletter.
• Some trials for 10 -12 years sports are held after school in Mossman and/or Port Douglas.
• There often will be a large number of students’ trialling for a TCN team in each sport, so it is imperative if you wish to make the TCN team that you attend the set trial date. If for some reason you are unable to make a trial, you must complete an exemption form before the trial. (Available from Mrs Knight)
• You must see Mrs Knight to collect all permission forms and information.
• Once parents sign permission forms, students must return all forms to Mrs Knight. Mrs Knight will organise for Mrs Brunetto to sign them. Please do not take your forms to the school office.

Peninsula Squash Trials

The Peninsula 10-19 Squash trials will be held at Sportsworld Fitness on Friday 28 February from 9am - 1pm. As there are no TCN trials for this sport, any interested students may nominate directly via the attached QR code.

Trials are for students born in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. Please see Mrs Knight for more information and required paperwork.

Brisbane Roar After School Program

Freshwater State School is excited to announce that Football Queensland & Brisbane Roar After School Program is coming to our school!

Key program details can be found in the attached flyer. All participants must be registered prior to the clinic starting, using the link below.

Register here: https://registration.squadi.com/userRegistration?organisationId=0f742cbf-573b-412e-8006-8af2cdaf3e83&competitionId=8a5b1b98-02a3-45a9-9c37-6418c999cc29

For any questions, please contact the FQ x Roar team at community@footballqueensland.com.au. 

Before School Running

Looking forward to seeing you all again in 2025, 

The Music Team 

Please check the timetable for the commencement of all of our choral, club and instrumental groups for 2025.  All of our communications throughout the year will be made via parent email, school newsletter or facebook page.  We are looking forward to an exciting year of music making at Freshwater State School!

Have a great start to the new school year,

Welcome Back to Freshwater State School for 2025!

A warm welcome back to all our families and students at Freshwater State School, and a special welcome to our prep and new families joining us! I hope you all had a wonderful break and are feeling refreshed and ready for 2025.

I'd like to extend a huge thank you to our amazing community for your patience and understanding during the recent transition to School 24 for ordering P&C products. As you know, this move was voted on at our last meeting, and we're confident it will bring significant benefits, including lower fees for families, a more user-friendly interface, and a new way for you to communicate with the P&C about volunteering opportunities.

Speaking of volunteering… Do you have one spare hour per week?

Pop in and see Melissa. For those keen to lend a hand in the uniform shop, please we would absolutely love to see more parents and community members get involved, even if it's just for one hour a week! Your support makes a real difference to our school. If you’re interested in helping out at the tuckshop, please chat with Kyla. Every little bit helps!

Looking Ahead to 2025

This year, the P&C will be focusing on supporting the school with several exciting projects. These include:

• Building the Fig Tree Outdoor Learning Area: This will be a fantastic addition to our school’s resources, providing a wonderful space for students to learn and connect with nature.
• Developing Concept Design Plans for a New OSHC Building: We are working towards creating a modern and purpose-built OSHC facility for our children.

If you have expertise in town planning, architecture or funding applications, we would be incredibly grateful for your assistance with these projects. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you're able to lend a hand.

For an update on the Hall and Upper School playground construction, please join us at our next P&C meeting on 17th February 2025 at the School Administration Building Staff Room. All are welcome!

Thank You!

A big thank you to the wonderful Charmaine and our OSHC staff for providing a terrific Vacation Care program over the holidays. It’s always heartening to see children enjoying friendships and engaging in special activities when I’m at school during the holidays. I also appreciate the opportunity to plan for the year and support the uniform shop during this time.

I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to my executive team – Erminia, Bree, and Carla – for their ongoing support throughout the year. The P&C has navigated many transitions, including the appointment of an Operations Manager (thank you, Alana!) and engaging a local accounting firm to manage our finances. The P&C operates a substantial $1.65 million turnover, and considerable measures are required to ensure accountability and transparency. Working together, we constantly strive to improve policies and processes to ensure the long-term sustainability of our organisation.

P&Cs across Queensland are facing challenges, with some closing due to a lack of volunteers with business acumen. Therefore, I urge the parents and citizens of our community: if you have expertise in finance, business administration, funding applications, or even just a willingness to make coffee, please get in touch! We would love for you to join our wonderful team!

We look forward to a productive and successful year in partnership with you all.

P & C Meeting Schedule for 2025

17^th February GM 6pm 

17^th March AGM 6pm followed by GM 7pm 

12^th May GM 6pm

9^th June GM 6pm 

4^th August GM 6pm

1^st September GM 6pm

27^th October GM 6pm

24 November GM 6pm

Warm regards,

Suzannah Jackson

President

Freshwater State School P&C Association

E: president@freshwaterpandc.com.au

P: 0410083952

Welcome back to all students, families and staff, we look forward to a fantastic year ahead! 

This week we changed over to our new platform, School24. Please remember all orders are required by 9am on the day, this assists us to prepare for the day.

Please see below or alternatively visit our website for further details: 

 https://freshwaterss.eq.edu.au/facilities/tuckshop

Please be advised due to road closures there may be items on the menu that are unavailable, this will be displayed on School24. 

If you require any assistance please email tuckshop@freshwaterpandc.com.au

Mel, Gail, Tomo, Kat
Tuckshop