2 May 2025

Acting Principal

Abi Hurdley

Dear Graceville Families and Friends,

Welcome back to Term 2! I hope everyone enjoyed a restful and refreshing break. It’s been wonderful to see the energy and excitement as students have returned, ready for another term of learning, growth and connection. We’re looking forward to the many opportunities this term will bring and can’t wait to see what our students achieve over the coming weeks.

GRACEVILLE STATE SCHOOL STRATEGIC PLAN (2024 -2027)

Graceville State School’s Strategic priority focus areas are:

1. Innovative Teaching and Learning
2. Empowering and Nurturing Environment
3. Connected Community

This year we will have two priorities in our Annual Improvement Plan that will guide our work for each of these focus areas:

• Enhance and extend a whole school, inclusive approach to support student learning beginning in the classroom so that resources are most effectively used to lift student learning.
• Deepening personal empowerment and embedding a nurturing environment to maximise curiosity, positive engagement and success for all.

Our school is committed to a number of key strategies to enhance teaching and learning. We are deepening our understanding of the Australian Curriculum (Version 9) and working towards implementing a conceptual curriculum with an inquiry-based approach that fosters critical thinking and curiosity in our students.

This week, both staff and students had the valuable opportunity to work with educational consultant Kath Murdoch. Staff participated in a planning session with Kath and then collaborated with her in the classroom to deliver a lesson. During the lesson, Kath modelled elements of the planned content, allowing teachers to observe her pedagogy in action and reflect on their own practice.

This experience was particularly valuable in supporting teachers to deepen their understanding of the Australian Curriculum (V9) and how to design and deliver a conceptual curriculum through an inquiry approach. Through observing and engaging in this process, teachers were able to see firsthand how to structure learning experiences that promote student agency, critical thinking, and meaningful connections across learning areas.

ANZAC DAY

Last week, our school community came together to commemorate Anzac Day with a respectful and moving ceremony. It was wonderful to have parents and members of our wider community join us, including our Adopt-a-Cop, Senior Constable Lisa Euston, whose presence added special significance to the occasion. We were also proud to see so many of our students and families take part in the Graceville Anzac Day March on 25 April, representing our school with pride and honour. Thank you to everyone who joined us in remembering and paying tribute to those who have served and continue to serve.

GUIDANCE OFFICER WEEK

This week is Guidance Officer Week, a perfect opportunity to recognise and celebrate the incredible work of our Guidance Officer, Louissa Chalk.

Louissa supports our school community every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing deep expertise, compassion, and care to everything she does. She is a key member of our STRIVE Team, providing leadership, case management, and support for students. Louissa offers valuable advice and counselling on a wide range of issues, including educational, behavioural, social, family, and mental health concerns. If you see Louissa around the school, please take a moment to thank her for the meaningful difference she makes in the lives of our students, families, and staff.

GRACEVILLE STATE SCHOOL P&C

This week, we held a community meeting to welcome new P&C members and elect our 2025 P&C Executive Committee. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces returning, as well as to warmly welcome new members to the committee.

Thank you to everyone who has joined our P&C this year and to all those who nominated for an executive position. Following the election, we are pleased to announce our new Executive Committee:

• President: Anna Law
• Vice President: Katrina Dunn
• Treasurer: Ann Farley
• Secretary: Robyn Curtis

Thank you to all who attended the meeting. We look forward to working together with our P&C to continue achieving great things this year.

COFFEE AND CONNECT SESSIONS: CONVERSATION WITH THE GSS LEADERSHIP TEAM

This term our Coffee and Connect session will be on Friday 20 June. The school leadership team will be providing information about the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD), an annual program that collects data about students with disabilities who receive adjustments. Coffee will be available for purchase from the coffee van from 8:15am, with the session starting at 8:45am. We look forward to seeing you there!

Abi Hurdley
Principal

Upcoming Events

Planned events are listed – we may have to postpone or cancel based on advice closer to the time.

Deputy Principal

Lisa McKeaten

Photo day is next Wednesday 7^th May. Ordering information is in the attachment.

Sibling photos will commence at 7.45am. Parents need to supervise their own children during this before school process.  I suggest getting here early to queue. There are already quite a few bookings. All sibling photos need to be completed by 8.40am.

Students are required to wear their main school uniform – yellow shirts or the dress; no house shirts on the day; ankle length white socks, only school coloured (yellow & blue) hair accessories and no jewellery.

Deputy Principal

Liam Bray

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a restful and enjoyable holiday break. As Term 2 begins, we are excited to see our students return with bright smiles, ready to learn, grow, and make the most of the term ahead.

This term promises to be filled with new opportunities for learning, engaging events, and continued collaboration between home and school. Whether it's through inquiry and learning in classrooms, sporting activities, or special events on the school calendar, we are committed to fostering a vibrant and supportive environment for every student.

Let’s make Term 2 a fantastic one!

Colour Run

We will be holding our Colour Explosion Run on Thursday 8^th May. Thank you to all the families who have made donations as part of this. This fundraising will be so important to helping support our students at Graceville State School.

Below is the timetable for the day.

Please see the dot points below for more information:

• Students can wear their white colour run clothes to school and then after they have completed the course, they will be able to get changed in the swimming pool change rooms. Please pack a towel.
• We are running a modified timetable on Thursday; first break will be from 10:45 to 11:15 and second break will be 12:30 – 1:00pm for all students. Tuckshop will be available as normal.

Year 1 Incursion

As part of the Year 1 Science inquiry this semester, we are investigating the needs of living things and identifying how habitats can meet those needs. On Tuesday Geckoes Wildlife presented the children with a range of different animals and we encouraged the children to pose questions and make observations to further their learning. The children really enjoyed meeting and learning about a Long Neck Turtle, Tawny Frogmouth, Squirrel Glider, Magnificent Tree Frog, Blue Tongue Lizard, Inland Bearded Dragon, Stimson’s Python and a Freshwater Crocodile.

Term 2 Junior Assembly Timetable

Please note that our Junior Assemblies will start at 2:05pm in the school hall.

Prep 2026 Enrolment information

It is hard to believe that we are already looking at 2026 Prep enrolments! Please visit the school website https://gracevilless.eq.edu.au/enrolments/prep for all the information about Prep 2026 including dates for Get Set for Prep sessions.

In catchment enrolments

Parents can download the enrolment forms via the school website. Or can pick up a hard copy from the Office. These enrolment forms can be handed into the office anytime from Term 2.

Out of catchment enrolments

We have made some changes to our process for out of catchment enrolments. Out of catchment enrolments will open on Tuesday 22^nd April at 9:00am. Parents are to complete the out of catchment form located on the school website. And send this via email to prepyear@gracevilless.eq.edu.au from 9:00am Tuesday 22^nd April.

Please visit https://gracevilless.eq.edu.au/enrolments/prep for all the information.

If you have any questions or concerns about 2026 enrolment, please contact the office.

Music Matters

Naomi Lindh

Have you seen this clip-on social media yet? If you haven't, it provides some very insightful information by Tim Minchin about why music is hugely important in schools, that all students should have access to music and the many benefits that it provides to children, including developing the neural pathways of the brain as well as social and communal experiences. 

Welcome back to Mr Chin who was on long service leave last week. We hope all of our students have enjoyed returning to rehearsals and music lessons over the last couple of weeks.

In week 4 our Junior Choir will be singing at the Junior Assembly, on Thursday 15 May at 2:05pm. They will be singing 2 songs and families are welcome to attend to listen to their performance and enjoy the assembly. Mr Stewart is currently organising Senior Concert Band students to perform at the Corinda SHS Open Day on 17 May. He has sent an initial email out to families and further information will be sent out ASAP. 

Our Beginner String students will be attending a one day workshop at Sherwood State School on Wednesday 28 May, with students from other local state schools, to further develop their skills and perform a short concert at the end of the day. Please check Q Parents to ensure permission has been given for this excursion. Parents are requested to drop students at Sherwood SS and collect them there for this special event. 

We appreciate all of the commitment from our students and families for attending rehearsals, lessons and ensuring home instrumental practice happens regularly. Please contact your child's teacher if they are experiencing any issues with their instrument so they can support your child. Regular practice or particular pieces/scales/notes can provide challenges at times which our IM teachers can help with if they are aware. 

Thank you for supporting your child's involvement in our music program!

Music Teacher Contact Details
Mr Alex Chin - Instrumental Music Teacher - Strings - Email: achin4@eq.edu.au
Mrs Naomi Lindh - Classroom Music Teacher/Choir Conductor - Email: nclos1@eq.edu.au
Mr Tom Stewart - Instrumental Music Teacher - Band Email: tstew97@eq.edu.au

Active School Travel

Hello families, I am excited to announce the Active School Travel target for May. This month, we hope to increase the number of students and families WALKING to school. Walking to school has many benefits including improving physical wellbeing, reducing stress, and enhancing cognitive function, as well as reducing traffic on roads and pollution in our atmosphere. Therefore, we encourage all families to walk to school, or if you live too far to walk, to try parking a few blocks away and walking from there.

We will be hosting a Footloose Walkathon on Friday the 16th of May. All families are invited to meet at Brew Moon café prior to 8:00am wearing crazy socks! We will leave Brew Moon cafe at 8:00am and walk to school as a group. Therefore, if you are interested in grabbing anything from the cafe, please allow time to do so beforehand. You will be greeted by our enthusiastic Active School Travel Crew who will be leading the way. However, please note that you will be responsible for your child during this event.

We look forward to meeting you there!

Thank you for your help.

Kind regards,
Mia Crawford | Year 6 Teacher
Graceville State School

Junior Community Rotary Award

A group of about 20 year 6 students have decided to undertake the Junior Community Rotary Award this year. This exceptional program, generously supported by the Rotary Club of Brisbane Taylor Bridge, offers students the opportunity to engage in a variety of community-based projects that foster personal growth and social responsibility. One of our students, Seamus, has already been very busy working towards this award and has agreed to share some thoughts about the program.

“I’m volunteering at Meals on Wheels as part of my Rotary award. I travel with an adult volunteer to deliver food to people in our local community. I’m getting to know the people we deliver to and I now know exactly where to store their food when I arrive at their home. I also attended the 4EB Radio broadcaster’s meeting as part of my award. This is a multicultural radio station, so everyone at the meeting was from a different country with a unique accent. I am learning a lot about the community which I would not usually have seen."

Anne Hornstra
Year 6 Teacher

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Anger is an emotion that tends to be easy to see. However, anger is often just the tip of the iceberg. Other emotions may be hidden beneath the surface.

In some families, anger is seen as more acceptable than other emotions. A person might express anger in order to mask emotions that cause them to feel vulnerable, such as hurt or shame.

I have attached an image document from WeHeartCBT to help describe the ‘Anger Iceberg’ analogy.

The iceberg graphic aims to help in the understanding of the behaviours that we can see (above the surface) and the associated feelings that we may not be able to see - which are ‘under the surface’. 

Anger may be fuelled by different emotions at different times, or by a combination of emotions. Sometimes, however, anger is just anger.

I hope you find this image both interesting and thought-provoking.

This article is linked to our Graceville Core Priority: Empowering and nurturing environment.

Louissa Chalk
Guidance Officer
Graceville State School (Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday)

Chappy’s Chat

John Erichsen

It’s great to see everyone back for Term 2. We have already experienced some wonderful things this term.

Last week’s ANZAC commemoration assembly was very moving, and our students did so well during the ceremony. It is always a special time at Graceville State School, where we come together to remember the incredible sacrifices made by so many brave people, in times of war and conflict. 

Update on Chaplaincy fund raising for 2025 including our Golf Day $14000 raised so far.

Yesterday, our Cross-Country runners competed at the District Meet, with the top 6 finishers making it through to Regionals. All our students did well, on a warm day, with six from Graceville earning their spot in the Regional Competition. Several others finished in the top 15, which is a strong performance against some very good runners. Well done everyone!

Last night, Graceville State School elected a new P&C Executive, and I would like to congratulate all those successful in gaining these positions. They will have a big job to fill, given the tireless work of the past P&C Executive, who contributed so much to the school community, in these voluntary positions. I look forward to the upcoming P&C events and supporting the Executive and these events however I can. I would like to pass on my appreciation to all the outgoing P&C executive members for all they have done over many years, for the betterment of the Graceville State School Community. Thank you.

Interschool sport commences this week for our Year 5 and 6 students, so we wish them well over the new few weeks of competition. May these weeks be one where you find the success you need the most and learn some of the lessons that competitive team sport offers. Good luck all.

Have a great week!

John Erichsen
(Chappy)

Tuckshop

Hope you had a great break and welcome to term 2 from all of us in the tuckshop!

Satay chicken is still available on the menu and we have chilli con carne meals returning this term if you’re looking for something different as the weather finally cools down a bit. Also don’t forget to keep an eye on the sushi menu, we will be regularly adding new items from our new supplier Big Crunch.

If you’re interested in how the tuckshop runs and how you can help, please join the Tuckshop volunteers WhatsApp group using the link below or QR code to keep in touch:

We begin morning preparation in the tuckshop from 8am each day and students from each class come to collect lunches at the beginning of first break at 10:45am. At 11am the tuckshop counter is open for students to collect pre-ordered frozen treats and buy snacks over the counter (they always love to see you there!). Even if you just have 15mins after drop-off, all help is very welcome during the morning food prep.

Tuckshop Ordering

Ordering for Tuckshop is all done through the online platform Qkr!, either using the web portal, or the Qkr! App on your mobile device. If you haven’t used it before, you need to create a new account and add the details for each of your children before you can make purchases. Please have a look at the how-to guides below for details. 

• Orders must be placed by 8am. Classes collect the tuckshop at 10:45am and take it to the class eating areas.
• To collect frozen treats, the students need to bring their tuckshop bag showing their order to the tuckshop counter during the play period of break after 11.00am, except for the Prep students who will receive frozen treats in their tuckshop bags.
• Year 1-6 students and staff can also purchase a range of snacks and drinks from the tuckshop counter with cash or card during the play period, 11:00 - 11:20am. 
• The Emergency Menu is available until 11:30am daily for cases of lost or forgotten lunches or other unforeseen circumstances.
• If your child is absent, you can cancel your order before 8.00am using the Qkr! app. After that time, please call us as soon as possible and we may still be able to cancel or postpone the order (we won’t necessarily have a chance to check emails during the morning).

Please feel free to get in touch and let us know of any dietary allergies or sensitivities that your child might have so we can do our best to accommodate them.

Team Tuckshop
tuckshop@gracevillepandc.org.au
Ph. 37162777 (main school office and ask for the tuckshop)

Uniform Shop

Michelle Fanning

SENIORS COMMEMORATIVE SHIRTS

The shirts have finally arrived! By now, your child should have brought theirs home and if not, it will be in their classroom with their teacher.

WINTER GEAR

We have an extensive range of winter items to keep your children comfy cosy throughout the winter months.

Our range includes –

• Polar Fleece Jacket - super soft and super warm, front zip style and pockets
• Sports Jacket - lighter weight quick dry fabric, front zip style and pockets
• Rugby Jersey - long-sleeved polo shirt style in a thicker jersey fabric
• Long Sleeve Gold Polo - the same fabric as our short sleeve polo
• Track Pants - fully lined, quick dry fabric with pockets, elastic/draw string waist and zip at the ankle
• Leisure Pants - straight leg, thick stretch fabric with elasticised waist and zip pockets

We encourage you to wear our winter range and perhaps find a bargain on our second-hand racks that are currently well stocked. Don’t delay in browsing as they always sell fast!

BACK IN STOCK

All sizes in our sports anklet socks - FINALLY!! 

2nd HAND STOCK

Why not look at our 2nd hand rack. Items start at just $5 and are always marked at 50% off or less! Pop by the store on a Tuesday or Thursday morning for a look or send me an email with what you’re after so I can help.

RETURNS/REFUNDS

Please be advised that refunds will only be given if you have your receipt which will be sent to you via email or text message. Items should be in perfect condition so should not have been worn or washed and any original tags should still be attached. You have 60 days for returns and refunds.

DONATIONS

We are always grateful for donations of 2nd hand uniforms that are freshly washed, in saleable condition with no tears or holes. We also ask that donations are our SCHOOL BRANDED ITEMS ONLY, so no items from any outside stores. Please do not leave donations at the uniform shop when it is closed. Thank you for your generosity and understanding.

Email address for school uniform store is
uniformshop@gracevillepandc.org.au

Thanks everyone!
Michelle

Tennis

TENNIS HOT SHOTS – NEW SESSIONS OPEN FOR TERM 2 2025!

HUGE News! Ash Barty Joins the Tennis for Kids Team!

Attention parents! We are excited to announce that Ash Barty, 3 time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1, is joining the Tennis For Kids team as the official ambassador! Ash’s inspiring journey from grassroots to Grand Slam champion embodies tennis's possibilities for all young people.

Tennis for Kids is our school’s official coach partner, delivering super fun sessions before and after school. With new sessions for Term 2, now’s the perfect time to sign your child up for the Tennis for Kids program!

Ash is passionate about kids playing sports. She shares Tennis For Kids’ belief that children can learn far more from a tennis program than just forehands and backhands. That’s why Ash is backing Tennis for Kids - a program designed to teach kids fundamental tennis skills and valuable life lessons.

“I have so many happy memories from my younger years playing tennis. I not only learnt tennis skills, but made friends, built confidence and most importantly, had so much fun! Working with the Tennis For Kids team, I hope to help Queensland kids have a positive tennis experience.”

Limited places are still available for Term 2 Tennis Lessons and Fixture Leagues.  

ENROL ONLINE at https://tennisforkids.com.au

PRIVATE AND SEMI-PRIVATE LESSONS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

Should you have any questions please contact Tennis for Kids on info@tennisforkids.com.au or 0408 187 741. 

ALL NEW CHILDREN ENROLLING IN TERM 2 WILL RECEIVE A FREE JUNIOR TENNIS RACQUET!

Tennis For Kids is a FairPlay activity provider and therefore can accept Government FairPlay Vouchers - www.qld.gov.au/fairplayvouchers - please email us if you wish to use your voucher towards enrolment.

PICKLEBALL SESSIONS AVAILABLE

We are excited to announce that Pickleball sessions will be offered at some school venues.  Social play sessions are available for both adults and children. Children and parents from all schools are welcome to attend any of the sessions listed online.

Community Notices