29 October 2025

Principal News

Dear Kimberley Park State School parents and carers,

Social Media Posts – Child Safety Adjustment

We want to ensure that the school’s Facebook page is used safely, respectfully, and in a way that protects the privacy and wellbeing of students, families and staff. The school’s Facebook page is a communication and celebration platform to share positive stories, important updates and school achievements with our community.

We are committed to not publishing identifiable images or personal information of students without written parental consent.

To ensure that our school remains committed to Child Safety we are shifting from as many photos with children’s faces to:

• Posts describing the celebration, learning opportunity or acknowledgment
• Photos demonstrating the event with broad pictures, photos of the activity and where possible no full faces
• Exemptions to this are School Camps and Student Award celebrations as these photos are more as a community service:
• Families want to see their child on camp as a check in that all is well
• Award photos are helpful for families that are unable to attend the assembly

We have completed a Kimberley Park State School Facebook Guidelines document which sits beside the Education Queensland Social Media policy.

2026 Principal Update

Parents have been asking about the new Principal for 2026. I so understand why families would like to know who will be in the role. Heer is where things are up to:

• The 2026 Kimberley Park State School principal position has been advertised. Applications close on the 3^rd November.
• The Selection Panel has a KP, P & C Executive on it. The remainder of the panel will be Principal Supervisors and possibly a principal from a larger school than KP. I asked to be on the panel, but this opportunity no longer exists for retiring principals.
• The Panel will shortlist the applicants for interview on the 27th November
• Interviews will be on the 4^th December
• I am keen for the new Principal to be with us at least for Week 10, the last week of Term 4 so that everyone can meet them before the holidays
• The new principal will be an Acting Principal for a period. When the position becomes available as ‘permanent’ they will go through another panel process. This provides an opportunity for KP to have the ‘best fit principal’.
  

Composite Class Information

In 2026 there will be a:

• Year 2/3 class which will be a part of the Year 3 cohort
• Year 5/6 class which will be a part of the Year 6 cohort

2026 Student Leaders Process

Earlier this year I met with all Year 5 students regarding the opportunity to be a Student Leader in 2026. We discussed that leadership is about service not status.

Year 5 students have been provided with occasions to demonstrate their willingness to give up their time for others; cleaning chairs, setting up events, picking up rubbish, supporting Loose Parts and Prep play activities.

Interested students, have earned ‘points’ through their participation, engagement and ‘going the extra mile’ attitude. This process has been a transparent conversation with students.

In addition to the above ‘informal’ trials to ‘shine’, the following will also take place for the 2026 Student Leader selection.

Kimberley Park State School 2026 Student Leadership Selection Process for:

School Captain, STEM Captain, Student Well-Being Captain, Environmental Captain, Production Captain, Sports Captain, Dance Captain, Visual Art Captain, Japanese Captain, Band Captain and Strings Captain.

Libby Jordan
Principal

Prep - Year 2 Deputy News

The Importance of Water Safety

As the weather warms up many families are seeking the many pristine waterways and pools in Australia to cool off.  Kimberley Park State School, each year provides water safety activities for all students.  We do this as it not only helps build confidence and water safety knowledge, but Queensland also has one of the highest numbers for drownings in Australia. 

Water play is a fun activity for children with many benefits – from developing their motor skills to exploring their senses. However, playing with water comes with risks. Drowning is a leading cause of death for Australian children; it only takes 20 seconds and a few centimetres of water for a child to drown. Babies and toddlers are at a higher risk of drowning as they do not understand the dangers of water and are top-heavy, so they cannot always lift themselves out of water when they fall – no matter how shallow it is.

Near drownings, also known as ‘non-fatal drownings’, can have serious consequences and lead to permanent injuries.

The once-a-year water safety programs on offer at Kimberley Park State School - swimming lessons for students in Prep to year 2 and Beach Safe Days for students in years 3 to 6 - are not enough to ensure your child is water safe.  Families always need to follow this up and be aware of the hazards your children face around water. Information for our Term 4 programs will be provided to families in the next week. 

We would like to extend our thanks to Logan Aquatic Centre and Queensland Surf Life Saving for supporting the school once again for our water safety programs.

Below are some key points that we need to remember when we are enjoying the water this season to ensure we are safe around water.

Article adapted from https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Water_Safety/

Key points

• NEVER leave a child alone around water. Always watch children in, around and on water.
• A child can drown within 20 seconds, and a drowning child may make no noise or splash.
• Restrict access to all water sources – from large pools to small ponds.
• Empty baths, buckets and paddling pools immediately after use.
• Learn child first aid and CPR to help your family in an emergency.
• Build your child’s knowledge of and confidence around water.
• Learn the water hazards around your home and backyard.
• Call an ambulance (000) in a drowning or near-drowning emergency.

Basic rules of water safety

Following these four simple safety rules will help you keep children safe around water. 

Water safety in different environments

At bath time

• Always actively watch children under five in the bath and never leave older children or siblings to supervise.
• Stay within arms’ reach of your child – even when using a bath seat or cradle.
• Drain the water as soon as your child is out of the bath.
• Never leave your child unattended in the bath, even for a moment.
• Ignore all distractions during bath time, such as phone calls or the doorbell.
• Run cold water with hot water to get a safe water temperature, between 37–38 degrees Celsius and stay with your child at all times while the bath is filling up.
• Keep bathroom and laundry doors closed when you are not using them.

At the beach

• Actively supervise your child at the beach – both on the sand and in the water. You must be able to reach children under five at all times and see children under 10 at all times.
• The safest beaches are those patrolled by lifesavers. In Australia, teach your child to swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches – this is the safest part of the water.
• While in the water with your child, regularly look back at the beach to ensure you are still between the flags.
• Pay attention to warning signs and read about any risks, such as rip currents or dumping waves.
• Teach your child what to do if they get in trouble: stay calm, float on their back and raise an arm to signal for help.
• Make sure your child wears a lifejacket while on a boat.

Around a pool

• Always watch your child in, on or around pools – even if a lifeguard is on duty at a public pool. You must be able to reach children under five at all times and see children under 10 at all times.
• Only go out of your depth when in the water with your child if you are a strong swimmer.
• Remove objects like chairs and pot plants from pool areas that someone could use to climb over the fence.
• Do not prop open pool gates and ensure your pool gates are always in working order and latch correctly.
• Check inflatable pool toys for leaks before use. Pool toys are not life saving devices. 
• Always deflate pool toys and store them safely when not in use; never leave them in the pool.
• If you leave the pool area, even for a moment, take your child with you – never leave them unattended in the pool.

By a lake or river

• Lakes, rivers and inland waterways can be unpredictable; always supervise your child when swimming in these areas.
• Always check it is okay to swim before allowing your child in the water – even if you have swum there before.
• Never let your child dive into a body of water, as it may not be deep enough.
• Set rules with your child not to go near inland waterways without you or another adult.
• Teach your child not to swim in fast-flowing water. Objects like trees and branches may not be visible under the surface and can cause serious injury.

What are the rules for children wearing lifejackets on boats?

Different Australian states have different lifejacket laws. In Queensland, wearing a lifejacket is compulsory:

• when boating alone or accompanied only by children under 12 years in an open boat less than 4.8m in length and underway.
• during the crossing of a designated coastal bar in an open boat, as well as in any open area of a boat of any length, and on certain craft.
• when boating between sunset and sunrise in an open boat less than 4.8m in length and underway.
• children aged over one year and under 12 years must wear a lifejacket when on an open boat or in the open area of a boat of any length while it's underway.

Lifeguards and surf lifesavers are not substitutes for actively supervising your child at a public pool or beach.

Janelle Ireland
Deputy Principal, Prep - Year 2

Year 3 - 6 Deputy News

Friendships are a vital part of our lives. They offer joy, connection, and important social learning. Sometimes friendships do not go smoothly. Conflicts, misunderstandings, shifting social dynamics, or even unkind behaviours can cause once-strong friendships to unravel. As a parent, it can be heartbreaking to watch — and sometimes hard to know how best to help. Every parent will know how hard it is to navigate this appropriately.  Particularly as children will often make friends again and we are left wondering what happened there. I have experienced those moments with my three children.

It’s important to remember that not all friendship breakdowns are bad. In fact, they can offer valuable opportunities for growth. Learning how to manage conflict, set boundaries, and move on from unhealthy dynamics are essential life skills. This is how we have learned how to navigate being an adult - we got to practice the skills in our younger years.

Our children and tweens may not see it that way — especially in the moment. Whether it's a sudden exclusion, a slow drifting apart, or a particular issue, the emotional toll can be high. Your support, guidance, and cuddles can make all the difference.

How families can help

• Listen First

Sometimes, your child just needs a safe space to vent. Research suggests if we resist the urge to jump in too quickly with advice or judgments it is helpful for children. Reflect back what you hear, validate their emotions, and show them you’re on their side.

“That sounds really hard. I can see why you’re upset.” “What do you need right now from me to help.”

• Resist the urge to fix the problem

As tempting as it can be to call another parent or intervene directly, resist unless the situation involves bullying or safety concerns. Kids gain confidence from learning how to solve their own social problems — with your support in the background.

• Help them name what’s happening

Not all children can articulate the subtle feelings of being left out or mistreated. Help them identify what's going on without labelling the other child as “a problem.”

“Do you think this friendship feels one-sided right now?”
“It sounds like you're feeling left out right now — is that right?”

• Talk about healthy vs. unhealthy friendships

Discuss the difference between normal friendship ups and downs versus patterns that are consistently hurtful. Encourage your child to think about how a good friend acts and how they feel around that person.  It can be tempting to point out where other children are going wrong.  If we do that, we reduce the opportunity for our children to notice for themselves and learn what they do and don’t find acceptable in a friendship.  This is a valuable skill that we need when we are older.  If we support children to develop this in childhood, they can approach the complex teenage years with experience and confidence.

• Build social resilience

Encourage friendships with a range of peers so your child isn’t overly dependent on one group or person. Support opportunities for new social connections through clubs, sports, or hobbies. Chat to them about other games or groups to learn what they know about children beyond their immediate friendship circle. If we consider our own relationships, it is likely that we have different friends for different times in our life eg school parent friends, friends from our own school times, work friends etc and they bring different qualities to our lives.

• Model and teach boundaries

Use your own experiences (when appropriate) to talk about how you’ve managed difficult relationships. Talk about respect, kindness, and knowing when to walk away.

Friendship heartbreaks are painful, but they’re also a part of growing up. With the support of the village our children develop stronger, wiser, and better equipped for future relationships. Sometimes what feels like the end of a friendship is the beginning of learning more about ourselves — and an opportunity to find new connections.

Year 6 Graduation

Year 6 Transition to High School

Many of our Year 6 students have now successfully enrolled in their chosen high school for 2026. Transition days have already begun and our brave, mature students are beginning to see what year 7 will look like for them.

If you have not yet enrolled your child in a high school, the beginning of term 4 will be the final chance to visit schools on Open Days / Principal Tours.

Please contact the schools directly, check their websites or Facebook pages for details. When your child enrols in a state school we are automatically informed of their destination. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

Fort Lytton Excursion

Sian Haywood
Deputy Principal, Year 3 - Year 6

Inclusion News

Transitions   

Transitions happen across all aspects of our lives. A transition can involve moving from one activity to the next or from one setting to another. Transitions can be daunting for some people, especially those who experience anxiety, rigid thinking or are perhaps on the autism spectrum. 

As we move towards the end of 2025, I’m sure many parents are thinking ahead to 2026 which includes upcoming changes for children to a new year level, class and teacher and, for some families, the transition to high school. Transitioning into any new environment can be stressful, however, pre-warning and preparation for the change can relieve some of this stress. This can also help to make a new setting more predictable and familiar. Having said that, our experiences show that having these discussions too early can actually increase children’s anxiety – for a child it is still a long, long time until the end of this school year! Please ensure your child enjoys the remaining time in their current class before too much attention is placed on their 2026 class.

Strategies at Kimberley Park SS

At KP, staff are already planning for upcoming changes in 2026.

For our continuing students we are:

• ensuring students’ information on OneSchool is up to date so next year’s KP teacher or, of course, high school teachers get to know their students before Day 1
• embedding conversations about the upcoming move to ‘Year X’ in everyday discussions
• planning a ‘handover’ of information from the 2025 teachers to the 2026 teachers
• running our ‘Meet and Greet’ session on 10 December, where students meet and spend time with their 2026 teacher in their 2026 classroom
• planning additional ‘visits’ for some students who require repeated visits to their future classroom and/or teacher
• compiling photographic transition booklets to a small number of students who require additional supports and visual reminders of next year’s classroom and teacher.

For students new to Kimberley Park, we are:

• meeting with parents/caregivers to gain an understanding of each and every child
• running the yearly Cometsik9p8o program where our amazing Mrs Whitman and helpers provide an exciting introduction to Prep at KP
• organising our yearly ‘Welcome BBQ’ for all new families on the 11 November
• running our ‘Meet and Greet’ session for all new and existing students on 10 December, where they meet and spend time with their 2026 teacher in their 2026 classroom.

For students moving to high school, we are:

• meeting with high school staff to personally discuss the strengths and possible supports required for each and every student already enrolled at the high school
• liaising with high schools who offer additional visit days to ensure identified students visit in small, personalised groups before the whole school ‘Orientation Day/s’ in November
• encouraging all Year 6 students to attend their destination high school’s upcoming Orientation Days.

Let’s remember to celebrate and talk positively about change to ensure our children are settled, well informed and looking forward to what the next adventure holds. If you have any particular queries regarding your children’s transition to the next year level, or of course high school, please don’t hesitate to contact your Class Teacher or Inclusion Staff.

Anne Purdy
Head of Inclusive Learning

Curriculum News

Moderation Matters – Fair and Consistent Judgement of Student Work

At Kimberley Park State School, we are committed to providing fair, consistent, and high-quality education for every student. One of the ways we ensure this is through a process called moderation.

But what exactly is moderation, and why is it important?

🔍 What is Moderation?

Moderation is a quality assurance process where teachers work together to review and compare portfolios of student work to ensure marking is consistent across all classes and year levels.

For example, if two different teachers mark the same type of task moderation helps ensure both are applying the same criteria and expectations, so every child is assessed equally.

With Semester Two reporting approaching, our teachers are in the process of preparing for their next round of moderation. Our teachers moderate English each term and Maths, HASS and Science each Semester.

🤝 How Does It Work?

Moderation typically involves teachers:

• bringing a range of samples of student work
• identifying the skills demonstrated in each piece
• discussing how each piece was marked and assigning an overall grade
• confirming judgements if correctly matching the criteria
• adjusting where necessary to ensure consistency

✅ Why It Matters for Your Child

• Fairness: Every student is assessed against the same criteria, no matter which teacher or class they are in.
• Accuracy: Teachers develop a shared understanding of curriculum standards, leading to more precise and meaningful feedback.
• Improvement: Teachers reflect on their assessment practices, leading to better teaching and learning outcomes.

🧠 Supporting Learning at Home

As a parent, you don’t need to be involved in moderation directly, but you can support your child by:

• Encouraging effort and a positive attitude towards learning
• Talking with your child about their learning and any feedback they have received
• Attending Parent-Teacher Conversations to understand how your child is progressing

Cathy Day
Head of Curriculum

Mentors News

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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. 

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