Dear Parents/Carers,

I have recently returned from six weeks long service leave. Thanks to Scott Matthews, the leadership team and staff for keeping all the cogs moving whilst I was enjoying myself. I am very fortunate to work with such capable and caring colleagues. 

SCHOOL OPINION SURVEY

This year’s School Opinion Survey runs from 28 July to 22 August. Parents, carers, students in selected year levels, and staff have been emailed a link to participate. Your feedback will help us understand our school’s strengths and areas for improvement. Survey responses are confidential. Find out more on the School Opinion Survey webpage or contact school administration.

BULLYING NO WAY!

Next week, is the Bullying No Way: National Week of Action.

What bullying is

Bullying is the ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that intends to cause physical, social and/or psychological harm.

It can involve an individual or a group misusing their power (or perceived power) over 1 or more persons who feel unable to stop it from happening.

Bullying can happen in person or online and it can be obvious (overt) or hidden (covert).

Bullying behaviour is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time (e.g. through sharing of digital records).

It can have immediate, medium and long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders.

What bullying isn't

• Conflict, fights or arguments between equals
• One-off acts of meanness, spite or social rejection, or not liking someone
• Isolated incidents of aggression, intimidation or violence

Inappropriate behaviours may still be serious and require appropriate responses from the school community.

Addressing bullying

We all know that bullying does not only occur in schools. It extends beyond the school gate—occurring on sporting fields, in workplaces, online and throughout the community. This is why bullying prevention and action requires a community-wide response.

It takes a village to address bullying

Preventing and responding to bullying is a shared responsibility. When parents, carers, schools and communities work together, we can create safer, more inclusive learning environments. By modelling kindness, empathy and respect, we help young people feel safe, valued and connected.

Watch this short animation to learn more about what bullying is External link—and what it isn't—based on the national definition.

Understanding what bullying is—and isn't—helps parents and carers respond with confidence and work effectively with the school to support their child.

My child is being bullied

Reach out to an expert

Parentline External link offers free, confidential support for Queensland parents and carers. Their experienced counsellors provide personalised advice.

Getting help early can make a big difference. Whether you're not sure how to talk to your child, work with the school, or just need someone to talk to—Parentline is here for you.

Working with your child's school

If your child is being bullied or you have concerns about bullying behaviour at school, working together with the school is the best way to find a solution.

Steps you can take:

1. Listen and support—encourage your child to share their feelings and reassure them it's not their fault.
2. Stay calm and positive—it's understandable that you may feel an emotional response however your child needs you to remain calm, confident and reassuring.
3. Get the facts—ask gentle questions to clearly understand what's happening, when and who is involved.
4. Document incidents—keep notes on specific events, including dates, places and details.
5. Partner with the school—reach out to the school to create a collaborative plan to address the bullying. If you would like assistance in partnering with the school, you may wish to speak to a Parent Navigator through Parentline.
6. Seek additional support—connect with services such as Parentline for additional support.

BESTIES

You have no idea the amazing things I see and hear around this school every day. These little moments always bring a smile to my face and remind me why I love my job. I spend a bit of time in the Year 1 and 2 eating area and noticed Sophia and Cedar had an absolutely identical lunch. Apparently this is "a thing" that when they have tuckshop, they synchronise their orders every time to make sure they have exactly the same items. The students in the first Year Six class I ever taught at Geebung State School in 1988, would now be 48 years old possibly with grown up children of their own. Since then, many things have changed. Mums would write the tuckshop order on paper bags and synchronising orders would need to happen with a phone call (no texting) between the Mums over a corded telephone fixed to a wall with a circular dial. Many things have changed but little girls and boys still cherish their besties and want to share everything! 

Have a good week,

Kathy

Exploring Japanese Culture in Year 3

As part of their English learning this term, our Year 3 learners have been writing Information Reports about different countries. To support this unit of learning, our wonderful Year 3 teacher aide, Miss Sayumi, has been sharing her knowledge and experiences of Japanese culture and traditions.

Students have learned about various aspects of Japanese life, including traditional foods, celebrations, language, and clothing. Over the past two weeks, learners have particularly enjoyed hands-on experiences such as making origami and attempting the fun (and sometimes tricky!) challenge of picking up Skittles using chopsticks. This activity certainly encouraged persistence and resilience!

We extend a warm thank you to Miss Sayumi for helping to build our learners' understanding of Japan and for supporting their English development throughout Term 3.

Sustainability Update

A huge thank you to the dedicated parents and staff who continue to lead engaging and meaningful sustainability initiatives at JHSS. Our amazing volunteer parents, Clare and Maria, have our garden thriving with the help of our eager Garden Club students. Their passion and hard work are creating a wonderful space for hands-on learning and environmental care.

We also extend our thanks to Mrs Stuart and Mrs Mannheim for their ongoing support of both the Garden and Conservation Clubs. Their commitment is helping our students develop a deeper understanding of sustainable practices and the environment around them.

Upcoming Events

• Week 6 – Tree Scavenger Hunt:
  As part of National Tree Planting Day, we’ll be hosting a Tree Scavenger Hunt around the school. Students will investigate the different tree species on our school grounds and use clues to locate them. It’s a fun and interactive way to explore our natural environment!
• Week 7 – Annual eWaste Collection:
  Our eWaste collection will run each morning from Monday to Friday. This is a great opportunity for families to safely dispose of unused or broken electronic items in an environmentally responsible way. Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks!

NAIDOC 2025

This week, our school proudly celebrated NAIDOC Week 2025 under the theme "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision, Legacy." The theme encouraged us to honour the strength, resilience, and ongoing cultural contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and to recognise the importance of nurturing the next generation of leaders and changemakers.

Throughout the week, students participated in a range of engaging activities that celebrated First Nations cultures, stories, and histories. These experiences sparked meaningful conversations in classrooms and deepened our collective understanding of the world’s oldest living cultures.

Our NAIDOC Assembly on Friday was a special highlight. We were privileged to welcome two remarkable guest speakers:

• Tylissa Elisara, an inspiring author and storyteller who shared her journey as a proud Aboriginal woman using writing to amplify cultural voices.
• Larissa Chambers, elite athlete and Australian representative, who spoke passionately about her journey as an athlete, representation, determination and persistence.

We also extend a heartfelt thank you to:

• Indi, who delivered a thoughtful and respectful Acknowledgement of Country.
• Kirriana and Anthony, who proudly shared their own stories and perspectives.
• Mrs Halliday, who spoke with warmth and pride about her personal and cultural journey.
• Our Year 3 Choir and Mrs Robertson gave a beautiful performance.

We thank our entire school community for embracing this important week with respect, reflection, and enthusiasm. NAIDOC Week 2025 was a celebration of culture, connection, and the powerful legacy being shaped by today’s generation.

Year 5 Writer's Day

On Wednesday, the 28th of July, Poppy, Evelyn, Lucy, Grace and Hudson, students from grade five, were chosen to participate in a Writer’s Day at Centenary State High School for the day. We carefully planned out and wrote a short story about whatever we wanted, with the help of some year nine mentors. It was a very fun experience where we could be as creative as we wanted. We also got to play a game of bingo. There were about 20 kids in total there, and many from other schools. If you like writing then I would recommend this program.

Poppy 5W 

JHSS MetWest Gala Day

This week on Thursday, hosted at the Lions Soccer Club, 12 skilled students competed at the MetWest Gala Day. This group of talented Year Sixers qualified for the tournament by winning all their games at inter-school sport in Semester 1. In the competition, they played 5 matches in total, having 2 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw. Thanks to their hard work and dedication from training hard all week, they placed 3rd overall in the region. This epic feat couldn’t have been achieved without Mr McNae and Mrs I, the team’s coach and manager.

Overall, everyone had a great day full of fun, teamwork and mate-ship. The whole team benefited from this great experience, where everyone had a blast together, soaking up every minute in their last soccer tournament for JHSS.

Flynn 6F

Prep 2026

It was great to meet our new and returning families at our recent Prep Transition sessions. Just a reminder for those families who were booked to attend on Wednesday, August 6, these sessions have been rescheduled to Wednesday, August 20. We will run with the same booking times and the same booked participants. If you can longer make your booked session, please call administration on (07) 3725 5666. We thank you again for your understanding.

Prep Transition Sessions

Wednesday 20th August

Prep Interviews

Friday 24th October

Prep Orientation Morning

Friday 14th November - 9:00-11:00am

Prep Sports Day

Just a reminder, weather permitting, we will be holding our Prep Sports day with Jamboree C&K from 9am – 11am on:

• Tuesday, August 12 – Prep F and Prep D
• Thursday, August 14 – Prep C, K and V

We start the day with 60m sprint races and then move into rotational activities. Parents are welcome to attend, and we ask that you view from the banks of the oval as the grandstand will be filled with our Prep learners and our C&K friends. Prep Learners are welcome to wear their sport house shirt on their sports day. Please see the timetable below and keep an eye out for emails from your class teacher for any further information.

Lunchtime Clubs and Activities

For Term 3, we continue to offer a wide range of clubs and activities designed to engage and support our learners. With something on offer for everyone, we’re confident your child will find an activity that sparks their interest.

Please note that some clubs have updated times this term. Refer to the Club Overview Term 3 for full details of what’s available. A few key changes to note:

• Garden Club will again run on Tuesday 1st break and Thursday before school
• Lego Club has moved to Friday 1st break (previously Wednesday)
• Maker Space will now be held only on Tuesday 1st break – open to all year levels
• Conservation Club – now confirmed to be open to Year 1 to 6 learners

We encourage you to explore these options with your child and support them in trying something new. If they’re unsure about joining a club, we suggest they attend at least once—it might be just the right fit!

Clubs in the spotlight

Bracelet Club is Booming! - Year 3 & 4 |  Thursday 1st break in 4F classroom

Bracelet Club began as a creative idea by Nadia and Grace back in Year 4—and with a little help from some supportive parents, it quickly became a hit. Now, it’s going sigma (as Nadia and Grace would say), with huge numbers of students joining in!

At Bracelet Club, students can choose a ready-to-go bracelet bag and create all sorts of fun items like bracelets, keychains, and bookmarks. It’s a fantastic way to get creative, connect with friends, and enjoy some hands-on fun during break times.

Left - Nadia and Grace (club founders)   Right -Mrs Finn, Mrs Ellwood (parent helpers) and Grace

Minecraft Club: Creativity in Action! - Year 3 to 6 | Monday 1st break in 4J & 4M Classrooms

Minecraft Club continues to be one of our most popular and well-attended clubs. It’s incredible to see how this digital platform inspires creativity and collaboration among students.

Recently, Aoife from Year 3R proudly shared her latest creation—an amazing treehouse! Her favourite features include a beautiful enclosed garden filled with flowers and buzzing bees, and a relaxing spa area complete with pandas. What a fantastic showcase of imagination and design!

Coming up soon in our school music calendar

Week 6 – Instrumental Recruiting begins

Week 8 – Singfest (Senior Choir)

Do you want your child to play an instrument beginning in 2026?

If your child is currently in Year 2, they can be considered to begin a string instrument.

If your child is currently in Year 3, they can be considered to begin a band instrument (percussion, brass or woodwind).

More information will be coming soon. Expressions of interest will open in Week 6. Year 2 and 3 families will be emailed then.

Here is the timeline for the recruiting process. If you have any questions please email Mrs Brydon dbryd1@eq.edu.au

Enhanced Listening through Music

Did you know that music lights up more areas of the brain than almost any other activity? When children engage with music—through listening, performing, or creating—they stimulate regions responsible for memory, attention, motor skills, language, and emotional regulation. It’s a full-brain workout wrapped in joy! 

Read more about how music affects the brain here: 

https://lonestarneurology.net/others/how-music-boosts-cognitive-development-in-children/ 

Interschool Sport

Our Year 5 and 6 learners are competing in the West Akuna Interschool Sport competition again this semester. JHSS learners will participate in games against other schools on Fridays in week 6, 7 and 9 of term 3 and week 1 of term 4. Permission and invoices have been sent out this week. The permission form has all details relating to Interschool Sport including venues and approximate times. Please note, both permission AND payment must be given before a learner can participate.

Our learners are training on Friday afternoons in weeks 3, 4 and 5 so they are ready to compete in week 6. As always, thank you to our wonderful teachers for training, coaching and organising out teams!

Running Club

Running Club continues on the oval at 8am Tuesdays for Years 1-6. Please bring a hat, water bottle and a change of socks or shoes as the oval is quite damp in the mornings.

JHSS Football team

Massive congratulations to our JHSS Year 6 Football team who, after finishing the semester 1 Interschool Sport season undefeated, progressed to the Met West Gala Day which was held on Thursday! Well done to all the boys who trained hard and performed brilliantly, finishing 3rd place!! Huge thanks to Mr McNae for coaching and organising the team!

Before School Play

• Before school each day, all students must be sitting in the Junior Shed unless sitting with a parent near their classroom. We insist on NO play on the various playground structures or playing handball before school even if parents are supervising as it entices others to join in, and we have no formal supervision in place before school.

Allergies

At Jamboree Heights State School, we have a number of students who suffer from a range of allergies. For some students, these allergies can be life-threatening. Therefore, we ask the following of parents of children with an allergy:

• Discuss your child’s allergy with their teacher as soon as possible and consider giving permission to share your child’s medical condition with other students and families
• Ensure all medical records are up to date on our school system
• If your child suffers from Anaphylaxis, please ensure their Action Plan and Epi-Pen are current and renewed annually
• Continue educating your child about allergy management
• Plan with the teacher for camps, excursions, sport, cooking at school, and special occasions throughout the year

For all other families, we ask the following:

• Find out from teachers if there is someone with an allergy in the classroom
• Try to consider children with allergies when sending in special treats like birthday food
• Educate your child about allergies, not sharing food, washing hands, and finding help if a friend is showing the symptoms of a reaction
• Be mindful of lunchbox contents such as foods containing nuts and eggs and the impact it may have on children with an allergy. We have a NO SHARING policy!

Finally, our school staff are educated annually on the topic of allergies and also undertake training in the use of Epi-Pens.

Homework

Our school’s policy on Homework:

At Jamboree Heights State School homework will include nightly reading (using appropriate levels and text types) and Computer or iPad tasks such as Reading Eggs, Reading Eggspress, Mathletics, Maths Seeds, Mighty Maths, etc. and occasional alternative tasks such as research, sight words, unit-based tasks, etc. but NO weekly homework sheet or grid, etc. If parents wish for their child to be given NO homework or only certain aspects above, then they can make a formal request in writing (or email) to the teacher. If computer or iPad access at home is difficult then students can make arrangements with their teacher for additional access before or after school or during breaks.

QParents

QParents allows parents to connect instantly with us to access and manage their child’s student information, anytime, anywhere, through a smartphone, tablet or computer. 

• Attendance and absence details, as well as the ability to notify the school of an absence 
• Academic report cards 
• Viewing unpaid invoice details, payment history, and making payments online 
• Viewing and updating personal student details, including medical conditions and address 
• Enrolment details 
• Online excursion permissions

For more information see the QParents page on our website.

School Payments

Please note that payments must be made by due dates to ensure your child can attend the various extra-curricular events. Departmental financial practice dictates that we must immediately write off invoices for non-payment and therefore notify numbers based on this. At the end of each term we are required to provide Debtor Statements to those with outstanding invoices attached to their account, so it is very important that invoices are removed in a timely manner for each excursion/incursion or event.

Full details of payment methods can be found on the school website.

Messages from Parents

Requests for messages to be relayed to students during school hours, particularly regarding afternoon pickup arrangements interrupt both the office staff and teachers in the classroom. It is a good idea to confirm with your child each morning what the plan is for the afternoon, and have a regular meeting spot for them to go to if they are ever unsure. While some appointments and changes of plans are inevitable, we would appreciate your efforts in keeping these to a minimum.

The Administration email address is admin@jamboreeheightsss.eq.edu.au.

• All student mobile phones MUST be signed in at the office each morning.
• Students are NOT permitted to have any medication on them, all medication MUST be held at the office.
• Jewellery is NOT permitted except ear studs, watches and medical bracelets/necklaces.
• Playgrounds are NOT available to students before school.
• CLASSES START AT 8:50am EVERY DAY! (late arrivals impact on the learning and teaching).
• Student Absence Email Address: We now have an email address for notifying the school about student absence if you find email more convenient than phoning the school office (absentees@jamboreeheightsss.eq.edu.au).
• Payments: We are no longer able to accept cash payment. Both QParents and BPoint are easy, convenient online payment options. Full details of payment options are available on our website. Our office is currently open for payments from 8:00am-9:30am or 2:30pm-3:30pm, Monday to Friday.
• Office Hours: Please note the office hours below. Whilst staff are in attendance before and after these advertised times, these are the times that are available for our community to access office staff:
  
  • 8:00am to 3:30pm

APPLY NOW for QACI Brilliant Futures  - a two-year selective-entry preparation program for student participation in Year 7 and Year 8. Current Year 6 students are welcome to APPLY NOW. 

QACI Brilliant Futures provides impactful, collaborative extra-curricular learning experiences aligned with the International Baccalaureate Learner Profile, including inquiry, critical thinking and reflection.

Learn more: https://qaci.eq.edu.au/enrolments/brilliant-futures-brisbane-program