Kimberley Park State School eNewsletter

Principal News

Dear Kimberley Park State School parents and carers,

At this time of year, it often feels surprising that we are already on our way to term 4, Graduation and Christmas. I could not be more grateful for the personal support the Kimberley Park community gives.

Building Strong Partnerships

At Kimberley Park State School, we share a common goal: to see every child grow into a respectful, resilient and responsible young person. We know that raising children is a journey filled with many proud moments — as well as times when they make mistakes and need guidance. Both are equally important in helping children learn the skills they need to thrive in school, at home, and in the wider community.

Why Consequences Matter

When children make a poor choice at school, they may receive a consequence. This is not about punishment, but about helping them reflect on their actions and understand how their behaviour affects themselves and others. Experiencing fair and consistent consequences is one of the ways children learn responsibility, resilience, and citizenship.

It is very common for children to come home with their own version of what happened. They may feel they were not listened to or that something was “unfair.” Children see events through their own lens, and their stories may not include every detail of the situation. This doesn’t mean their perspective is wrong — it simply reflects how they experienced it.

What matters most in these moments is how the adults around them respond. If children hear different or conflicting messages from home and school, it can make it harder for them to accept responsibility and to grow from the experience. But when parents and school stand together, children learn a powerful and reassuring lesson: that the adults in their lives are united in caring for them and helping them become their best selves.

What a Genuine Partnership Looks Like

We talk often about “partnerships” between home and school. But what does a genuine partnership really mean? At its heart, it is about:

Trust: Believing that both parents and teachers want the best for each child.
Respect: Listening to one another with care, even if perspectives differ.
Consistency: Backing each other up so children hear a clear and united message.
Collaboration: Working together to guide children positively through challenges.
Growth: Seeing mistakes not as failures, but as opportunities to learn and improve.

When children witness this partnership in action, they feel safe and supported. They also learn what respectful relationships look like, and they begin to understand that they are part of a community where everyone plays a role in helping each other succeed.

Building Citizenship and Resilience

The world our children are growing up in is complex, and resilience is one of the most valuable skills they can develop. By learning to accept consequences, reflect on their behaviour, and make better choices next time, children build the strength they need to face challenges with confidence.

They also develop a stronger sense of citizenship — the awareness that their actions affect others, that they are part of a community, and that being respectful and responsible helps everyone. These lessons will serve them well beyond school, preparing them to contribute positively to society as they grow.

Our Shared Goal

At the end of the day, parents, carers, and schools all want the same thing: for children to feel safe, respected, supported, and capable of making thoughtful decisions. By working together as genuine partners, we provide children with the consistency and care they need to flourish.

I want to thank all our families for the trust you place in our school. Your support allows us to guide children not only in their learning, but also in their growth as people. Together, we are building a strong, caring community — and raising confident, compassionate young people who are ready to make a difference in the world.

Celebrating Creativity at Our 40th Anniversary Spring Fair

One of the highlights of our 40th Anniversary Spring Fair has been the incredible effort and imagination of our classroom teachers and students. Each class has worked together to design and create a unique masterpiece that reflects the ideas, talents, and contributions of every child. These artworks are not just beautiful to look at—they are a true representation of collaboration, creativity, and pride.

We want to sincerely thank our dedicated teachers for guiding and inspiring our students throughout this process. The care they have shown in helping each child’s voice be included is something we are very proud to celebrate.

We are also deeply grateful to our P&C for providing the opportunity to showcase these projects as part of such a special occasion. This celebration reminds us that when our children, families, staff, and wider community come together, we create something truly memorable.

40th Anniversary Spring Fair Artwork

We are deeply grateful to the band of volunteers who continually show up to support our classrooms, tuckshop, Mother’s and Father’s Day stalls, swimming programs, excursions, sporting events, science activities and performing arts. Your generosity of time, care and energy is the heartbeat of our school.

Without you, our school would not be the welcoming and supportive community it is today. Most importantly, our children see, feel and learn what true support looks like through your example. You are helping to grow not only their education, but their understanding of kindness, giving, and community spirit.

Thank you!

Where are you Modelling to Cross the Road?

To keep all children safe, we kindly remind parents not to cross the road at the Drop and Go zones. Doing so blocks moving traffic and creates a dangerous situation for students and drivers.

The safest model for our children is to always use the designated School Crossing with the help of our Crossing Supervisor before and after school. This routine not only protects students but also helps them build strong road safety habits as they grow towards independence.

We truly appreciate the support of our school community in reinforcing these important safety practices. We all want them safe.

Projects Booked for September holidays installation:

Pathway concrete grinding throughout the school (Workplace Health & Safety)
Concrete circle around the scar tree (Workplace Health & Safety)
Concrete section just outside back door of the hall
Repair more AstroTurf in Prep area
Gutters cleaned all buildings
Carpets cleaned all buildings
Pest control all buildings
Pathways and eating areas pressure cleaned
Garden Beds serviced
Oval sails $27,000, a P & C project if Spring Fair income permits. If not, the school will fund. The sails will match the existing sails. This will finalise the need for oval sails. (Workplace Health & Safety – Sun Safe)
Year 1 Area, synthetic grass a school project; this resolves the unlevel ground and dust/asthma issue. (Workplace Health & Safety)

Community Events

Week 1

King’s Birthday public holiday, Monday
P & C Meeting, Wednesday, 6.30pm
Year 3 History in a Box Excursion, Thursday MCUR I & II
Year 3 History in a Box Excursion, Friday MADVI, II & MEXPII

Week 2

Year 2 Wolston Farmhouse Excursion, Monday – JDIS I & II
P – 6 Assembly, Monday, 2pm
Year 2 Wolston Farmhouse Excursion, Tuesday – JEND I & II
KP Comets commence Wednesday
Band Workshop Level 1, Springwood SHS, Wednesday
FLOURISH Thursday
VIP Grandparent’s Day, Friday

Week 3

Nude Food Day – Change Makers Project, Tuesday
STEM Cutting Edge for Kids – Year 6
Strings demonstrations for Year 2 families, Thursday, 2.15pm
2026 Instrumental Music Program, Parent Information Session, Thursday, 4pm
Wonder of Science Conference at KP, Friday

Week 4

Year 5 Emu Gully Camp, Wednesday – Friday
Day for Daniel, Friday

Libby Jordan
Principal

Prep - Year 2 Deputy News

As you are aware, our dedicated staff plan, prepare, deliver and assess our Key Learning Areas of English, Math, Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, Health and Physical Education, Music, Japanese, Design Technology, Digital Technology, Visual Arts and Dance and Drama. In addition, they are also committed to explicitly teaching and building students’ Social Competencies.

Social competence enables children to navigate their social world, to positively interact with peers and adults, to form friendships, and to understand the needs of others. Lisa Fichou, our Learning Engagement teacher, works tirelessly to create resources and lessons for staff and support student diversity the diverse range of student needs.

A variety of visual supports are used to help students understand themselves, others and their relationships. A combination of simple images and captions help to simplify complex concepts. Social conflict involves, emotions, perspectives and actions that can be difficult for children to grasp. Visuals, break down abstract ideas into easy-to-understand steps. As primary students benefit from repetition, our visuals are reviewed and referenced regularly.

Below are examples of a few of the visuals we use on a regular basis across the school to support all students in developing awareness.

Tools like these aid communication and support language development. They prompt children to reflect on their emotions and actions whilst encouraging self-review and assessment. For example, the Catastrophe scale helps children to regulate their emotions and assess whether the size of their reaction matched the size of the problem typically experienced in a school context.

Visual supports enhance comprehension, they effectively teach children about their role during conflict and how their emotions sometimes drive actions. In addition, they can help students gain more independence and problem solve.

Our High 5 strategy provides some measures that could be taken when interacting with a peer in a proactive and empowering way.

As a parent myself, I understand the challenges faced when trying to support our children to build their social capabilities and independence. We hope these resources offer you guidance during conversations with your child at home. As educators we’re focused on “Every Child Successful, Ready For The Future”. We thank you for your support and value our partnership in achieving this goal.

Janelle Ireland
Deputy Principal, Prep - Year 2

Year 3 - 6 Deputy News

Hi Families

Listening to a TV show the other day I heard a statistic that made me stop and listen further. It was a discussion about how much time families spend together per day, and it led into a discussion around family dinner times. The speaker commented that families are more time poor than ever before and that on average children were spending 49 minutes per day with their parents. That sounded so little to me. Then I rationalised this with the fact that in 2025 most families are working hard to stay afloat. Is it any wonder then that family time, and consequently family dinner time at the table has suffered? I went in search of some solid research to find out more about this.

The research from a highly reputable source stated ‘that children and adolescents who share frequent meals with their families report better nutrition indicators, family relationships and mental health. Yet, little research has examined whether parents who share meals with their families report the same indicators of wellbeing.’ A growing body of research suggests that frequent family meals support the healthy development of children and young people. Family meals are opportunities for families to prepare and share healthy foods. Children and young people who frequently share meals with their families report better nutrition and eating behaviours like eating more vegetables and less fast food’.

‘Family meals also provide opportunities for communication, sharing of values and family bonding. Research suggests that adolescents who have frequent family meals report greater family connection and parental monitoring and communication. These findings may explain, in part, existing evidence that suggests family meals are protective against adolescent participation in health risk behaviours and promote emotional wellbeing’.

It can be no surprise that by encouraging our children to talk about their day, taking time to genuinely listen and reflect with them, we are communicating to them that we value them. Family dinner time isn’t just about food, it is a time to laugh, connect and share the stories of the day. Coupled with families tidying away dinner ‘things’, stacking the dishwasher and wiping down the kitchen bench it is also a valuable time for important life skills. It is important to acknowledge that it doesn’t have to be ‘perfect’, it is easy to let ‘perfect be the enemy of the good’. Taco Tuesday, Pizza Friday or even a picnic on the floor can all be ways to share this time and enjoy each other’s company.

Writing this has made me reflect on time with my own family. I am sure that my ‘children’ who are now 22, 20 and 17 still benefit from this connection. I am lucky enough to have my two older children still at home, and whilst there are times that I go to bed early for some peace and quiet, I will still strive to make family meal times happen on the days that it is possible. This has been a great reminder for me to get back to basics and make it happen.

Here is the research that I used to write the article. QUT have provided a really helpful ‘5 tips to ease the pressure’ suggestion.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6309329/

https://www.parents.com/recipes/tips/unexpected-benefits-of-eating-together-as-a-family-according-to-science/

https://www.qut.edu.au/insights/health/are-we-overthinking-family-meals

Important Information for Year 6 Families

Sian Haywood
Deputy Principal, Year 3 - Year 6

Inclusion News

Working with Therapists

At Kimberley Park, we strive to build strong relationships with our families to ensure every child is understood, valued, and supported across both home and school environments. Our children will thrive and reach their potential when everyone is on the same page and working towards a common vision.

For some students, therapeutic input is also essential and valued, whether your child has a disability or is receiving additional support to manage the challenges sometimes faced during childhood. Therapeutic support can be one of the keys to opening the door to ensure our children are happy, thriving and successful.

With parent consent, Kimberley Park staff have regular contact with a range of therapists including speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and psychologists. Some of our students attend weekly or fortnightly therapy sessions – some in-clinic and some on our school campus.

By far we find that students who make the most progress with therapeutic input are those whose parents are actively involved with their child’s therapy team, are aware of the goals being worked towards, continue with any assigned therapy ‘homework’ and are actively implementing any recommended strategies and supports throughout each and every day.

An obvious example relates to children who are receiving fortnightly speech language therapy. Children will only make limited progress if they simply see the therapist every fortnight without families and school staff ensuring they are well supported and practising their developing skills across the remainder of the fortnight. Ensuring the ‘village’ around your child – families, school staff and therapists – are using suggested supports and strategies each and every day will give your child the best opportunity to reach their potential.

Families, teachers and therapists working together is the gold standard for our children who require additional support. Our KP Kids deserve the best! Let’s continue to make it happen!

Anne Purdy
Head of Inclusive Learning

Curriculum News

Spotlight on Learning: Teacher PD in Action

Kimberley Park State School is committed to providing a comprehensive range of professional development opportunities for our teachers. By investing in the growth of highly skilled educators, we ensure the delivery of engaging teaching and learning experiences that support the best possible outcomes for our students.

We are committed to supporting our teachers through engagement in regular professional learning that is targeted, collaborative, and aligned with our school priorities.

Staff Meetings

Weekly staff meetings provide a dedicated space for professional dialogue around our priority areas—Literacy, Numeracy, and Student Wellbeing.

Professional Learning Teams (PLTs)

Teachers participate in an additional weekly one-hour professional development session. These meetings, held in Year Level Teams, allow staff to focus on team-specific priorities such as student data analysis, curriculum planning, moderation, and tailored support for individual learners.

Year Level Planning Days

Each term, year level teams work together for one day to collectively discuss and fine tune teaching and learning programs for the following term. These days provide vital targeted time for our teachers to tap into the expertise of their teams as they focus their creative strength in planning lessons full of activity-based learning to promote high levels of student engagement for the term ahead.

Watching Others Work (WOW Sessions)

During the first half of Terms 2, 3 and, 4, teachers are released from class for one-hour sessions to observe nominated colleagues in action. These peer observations offer valuable insights into a range of teaching strategies, classroom management techniques, and content-specific approaches. This real-time, practical learning supports teachers in refining their own practice and applying new ideas directly within their classrooms.

Setting Performance Goals (SPGs)

All staff set professional goals for the year ahead, with each goal supported by a clear action plan to guide its achievement. Check-ins are held throughout the year to monitor progress and provide support. These goals are also used to inform the development of each term’s Professional Learning Schedule, ensuring alignment with individual and whole-school priorities.

At Kimberley Park, we believe that when our teachers grow, our whole community grows. That is why we are committed to supporting staff in the ongoing development of their professional practice, ensuring they remain informed by current research and aligned with best practices in education. By nurturing expert educators, we create a dynamic learning environment where our students—and their families—truly thrive.

Cathy Day
Head of Curriculum

Dates to Remember

Term 4

Administration News

Leaving Kimberley Park SS in 2026?

If you are leaving Kimberley Park SS at the end of 2025, or if your child/ren will be starting after 27 January 2026, please complete the below form and email to kwhit86@eq.edu.au

If your child is in year 6, you do not need to complete this form.

Click here to download Returning letter.pdf

Payment Reminders:

Activity	Payment Due Date
Year 3 Fort Lytton Excursion	$37 due 17/09/2025
Year 6 Camp - Hervey Bay	$790 due 18/09/2025
Year 2 Wolston House Excursion	$43 due 19/09/2025
Year 5 Camp - Emu Gully	$350 due 08/10/2025
Year 4 Camp - Runaway Bay	$300 due 20/10/2025

Payments can be made as follows:

QParents App
Selecting the payment link at the bottom of your invoice
Direct deposit (BSB 064 401), Account 00090295, Account Name Kimberley Park State School General Account) – please note student’s full name
Centrepay – Centrepay is a voluntary bill-paying service which is free for Service Australia customers. Use Centrepay to arrange regular deductions from your Services Australia payment. You can start or change a deduction at any time. The quickest way to do it is through your Services Australia account online. Go to servicesaustralia.gov.au/Centrepay for more information.

P&C News - Spring Fair

Thank You to Our 40th Anniversary Spring Fair Sponsors!

The Kimberley Park State School P&C and school leadership would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the generous sponsors who have stepped up to support our 40th Anniversary Spring Fair. Your contributions are helping us bring this milestone celebration to life for our students, families, and wider community.

We are incredibly grateful for your support and belief in our school. Thanks to you, our students are set to enjoy an unforgettable afternoon filled with fun, community spirit, and lasting memories.

From all of us at KPSS – thank you!