As Term 2 comes to a close, I’d like to reflect on what has been a wonderful and action-packed term here at Jamboree Heights.

Our learners have enjoyed a wide range of experiences both in and out of the classroom. From the excitement of the Junior and Senior Sports Days to the talent on display at our Winter Music Concert, there have been countless moments of pride and celebration.

Some other highlights this term have included Crazy Sock Day, Pyjama Day, and of course, the Year 4 Camp, which was a memorable adventure for our learners. We also took time to commemorate ANZAC Day with a respectful and moving service, and our students proudly represented Jamboree Heights at Interschool Sport and Choral Fanfare.

These rich and varied experiences help make our school a dynamic place to learn and grow. The list of Term 2 highlights could go on and on, and I’d like to sincerely thank our dedicated staff, supportive parents and carers, and of course, our amazing learners for contributing to such a successful term.

As we look ahead to the school holidays, I encourage everyone to take the opportunity to rest, recharge, and enjoy some well-deserved downtime. Term 3 promises to be another busy and rewarding term, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready to go.

Wishing all of our Jamboree Heights families a safe and relaxing holiday period.

Is My Child Ready to Walk to School Alone?

In Queensland, there’s no set legal age for when a child can start walking to or from school on their own. However, it’s important to know that leaving a child under 12 unsupervised for an unreasonable period may have legal consequences. That’s why it’s essential to carefully consider your child’s readiness and the surrounding circumstances.

Things to Think About:

Your Child’s Maturity:
Can your child follow directions, stay alert to their surroundings, and respond appropriately in unexpected situations?

The Route:
Is it a short, safe walk through a quiet area, or does it involve busy roads and complex crossings? The child should start at school and finish at home (without any stop offs). Walking to the shops or other community locations potentially creates a range of safety risks.

Area Safety:
Look at things like lighting, traffic crossings, and whether the route is regularly used by others. Are there any potential risks?

Your judgment:
Every child is different. You know your child best, and you are in the best position to decide when they’re ready for this step toward independence.

Helping Your Child Build Confidence:

• Start small: Walk the route together and talk through different situations they might encounter.
• Talk safety: Make sure your child knows what to do if they get lost or feel unsafe.
• Have open conversations: Ask how your child feels about walking alone and talk through their worries or questions.

Tip: The Daniel Morcombe Foundation provides excellent child safety tools to help your child build confidence and learn how to stay safe when out and about. Their “Recognise, React, Report” approach is easy to remember and empowers kids to trust their instincts.

Useful Resources from the Daniel Morcombe Foundation:

* Keeping Kids Safe – Parent & Carer Resources
Scan to explore guides, videos, and conversation starters.

* Child Safety Curriculum
Tools to support safety education at home.

* Need Help Now – Support Services
Access helplines and advice for kids and parents.

Walking to school can be a great way for children to develop independence, but it’s a decision that should be made thoughtfully and gradually. With preparation, conversation, and safety tools, it can be a really positive step forward.

ZINGERS!

A huge shout out to 3B for being nominated for a whole class ZINGER for their beautifully neat bookwork! Mrs Boundy was very impressed with the accuracy and neatness on display by the 3B learners when completing a range of exercises linked to place value.

Well done, 3B!

Holiday Activity

Looking for a fun activity for the holidays? Enter the Design an AFL Ball competition run by the AFL.

Two lucky winners will win 100 x Sherrin footballs in their unique design for their school.

How to enter:

1. Click on this link: https://play.afl/design-afl-ball
2. Download the Sherrin football colouring in template.
3. Complete the entry form and upload your design between 10 June - 13 July 2025. 

After an extended period of bereavement leave, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our wonderful school community for the incredibly warm and thoughtful welcome back. Your kindness and support have meant alot to me.

What a vibrant and joyful fortnight it’s been – from the Winter Concert and Junior Athletics Day to the Ditto Show, PBL Magic Show, Jinda Jam and more. It’s been a whirlwind of energy, talent and togetherness, and I couldn’t have asked for a more uplifting return.

As Term 2 draws to a close today, I’d like to wish all of our learners and families a safe, restful and well-deserved winter break. Enjoy this special time with loved ones, we look forward to seeing everyone refreshed and ready for another exciting term.

PBL Term 2 Celebration

To celebrate the end of Term 2, our students were treated to something truly special—a magical performance by the amazing Magician DRACE!

DRACE wowed our learners with fun tricks, surprising illusions, and lots of laughter. Everyone was especially excited to meet his adorable rabbits, Chelsea and Chad, who were the stars of the show!

It was a wonderful way to celebrate the positive behaviour and great effort our students have shown throughout the term. A big thank you to DRACE for putting on such an entertaining show, and a huge well done to all our students—you made us proud!

We look forward to an exciting Term 3 ahead!

As we wrap up another fantastic term, we are excited to celebrate the many students who have reached special Gotcha milestones through our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) program!

Throughout the term, students have been earning Gotchas for consistently demonstrating our school expectations - Safe, Respectful, Responsible Learners. Reaching 25, 50, or even 100 Gotchas is no small feat, and it’s been wonderful to see so many learners proudly visiting Kooka’s Shop to receive their prizes. Kooka’s Shop has been a fun and meaningful way to acknowledge the positive choices our students make every day.

A big congratulations to all the learners who reached a milestone this term, we’re so proud of your efforts and the example you set for others.

A huge thank you to our dedicated school leaders who have done an outstanding job running Kooka’s Shop each week. With friendly smiles and helpful attitudes, they’ve taken charge of organising, managing, and supporting their peers throughout the term. Their leadership and commitment have been truly appreciated.

We look forward to seeing even more Gotchas earned next term, keep up the great work, everyone!

We are incredibly proud of the fantastic writing produced by our Year 5 and 6 students this term! Their creativity, imagination, and hard work have shone through in a range of texts—well done to all our young authors! Please take a moment to read some of their amazing writing below.

Junior Sports Day

What an amazing day last Friday for Junior Sports Day! The weather was spectacular and our learners participated in a variety of activities both energetically and enthusiastically. Thank you to Mrs Tovey and all the staff for helping the day run so smoothly. Thank you also to the parents who attended. It was great to see so many parents on the hill and our learners loved having a crowd to cheer them on. 

Year 1 Fireman’s Visit

The Year One learners had the pleasure of welcoming a team from the Mt Ommaney Fire & Rescue, who visited to discuss the importance of fire safety at home. They spoke about how families need a fire safety plan for evacuating their homes in the event of an emergency. We also had the opportunity to practise the fire safety skills 'get down low and go, go, go' and 'stop, drop, and roll'. We got a close look at the fire truck and learned about the purpose of its different pieces of equipment. At the end, we even had the chance to hold the fire hose and spray water.

I would like to wish all of our learners and their families, a safe and restful winter break and I look forward to seeing everyone back when school resumes on Monday, July 14.

Prep 2026

Please check your QParents account for any outstanding invoices. The following payments are due soon:-

• Prep Wildlife to You - $14 - due17.07.25
• Year 2 Ocean Life - $13 - due 29.07.25
• Year 5 Starlab - $11 - overdue
• Year 5 "Talk About It" - $26 - overdue
• Year 6 "Talk About It" - $38 - overdue

Supporting Diverse Learners at Jamboree Heights – NCCD Collection

Our school support model is based on the  Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). Students who face specific challenges or disabilities, and who require additional support, may be included in the NCCD. 

The NCCD recognises that learners require different levels of adjustment and categorises support into four tiers:

• Quality Differentiated Teaching Practice (provided occasionally)
• Supplementary (provided often)
• Substantial (provided most of the time)
• Extensive (provided at all times)

At the school level, any learner included in the NCCD will have a Personal Learning Record that outlines their specific areas of need and the key adjustments in place. One of the strengths of the NCCD is its inclusive approach to all types of disabilities, with a focus on the strategies we use to help learners access the classroom curriculum and school activities.

If your child is currently included in the NCCD or is being considered for inclusion, you will be contacted individually in the coming months to discuss this. For more information on the legislative requirements and what data is shared with the Australian Government, please refer to the  NCCD Fact Sheet.

It’s important to note that a student does not need to be included in the NCCD to receive additional support. In our classrooms, we recognise a wide range of learning needs and strive to support all learners every day through high-quality teaching practices. Many students who receive support do not have a diagnosed disability. This includes students who need enrichment or extension, those learning English as a second language, and those with mild learning difficulties or behavioural challenges.

For further information about the NCCD or the data collection process, please contact Alister Warren at awarr26@eq.edu.au.

ICAS Testing 2025 – Year 2 to Year 6   

ICAS testing will be again offered this year to Year 2 to 6 learners, with tests available in the areas of English, Maths and Science (open to Year 2 to 6) and Writing (open to year 3-6).  To reduce disruptions to regular class and learning, we will be trialling running these tests before school on the following dates and times.      

• Writing (Y3 to 6) – Tuesday 5 August - 7:45-9:00 am

• English (Y2 to 6) – Tuesday 12 August – 7:45-9:00 am 

• Science (Y2 to Y6) – Tuesday 19 August – 7:45-9:00 am 

• Mathematics – Tuesday 26 August – 7:45-9:00 am 

Learners will complete the tests online using their iPads.  For the writing test, a “locked down” browser will need to be downloaded for this test (https://www.icasassessments.com/support-locked-down-browser/)  

For your child to participate in the tests, you need to register and finalise payment by Monday 28 July.  For further details around the tests and how to register, please refer to the ICAS Instructions.

Further details, including the testing location and general preparation advice, will be provided to registered participants closer to the testing date.

Any questions about ICAS tests or participation can be directed to Alister Warren via email (awarr26@eq.edu.au)    

Readers Cup

Congratulations to our two Readers Cup teams – they placed 9th and 18th on the day, with over 45 teams competing. This is an amazing result, in only our second year entering teams. Congratulations: Emma C, Matthew V, Chase H, Laura L & Sophie E; Miles L, Olivia K, Neel G, Krutir K & Sofia L.  In total, over the 5 books, they have read an amazing 1675 pages!

ILF Book Swap – Coming in Term 3, Date to be confirmed

Start putting aside a book or two and a gold coin for our ILF (Indigenous Literacy Foundation) Book Swap next term.

• bring in one or two books they no longer want, that are suitable for their current age
• a gold coin donation for the ILF
• choose one or two books to keep from the table

Money raised helps the ILF to provide culturally relevant resources and books in First Nations languages to send to remote Communities. More information will be sent out next term.

CBCA Book Week 2025 – “Book an Adventure”

The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book Week takes place 16-23 August. More information will be provided next term, but usually our dress-up day assembly is held on the last Friday of Book Week, Friday 22nd August – this will be confirmed next term.

Library at Home

A reminder, all families and learners can access our library catalogue remotely. From our library portal there is also access to the Storybox Library (fun read-alouds) and redElearn (curriculum linked information database for juniors). Use the links on the Orbit Homepage. Note, SORA ebook library is available to all learners from year 2-6, login with school MIS ID. School to select is “Education Queensland” not JHSS.

Premier’s Reading Challenge

Well done to those who have already returned their form! The reading period closes 22 August. Still plenty of time to achieve the 15 books read for year 5 & 6, 20 books for Prep to year 4. You can access the form here. When finished, print and send back to the library OR feel free to email it to Ms Edwards gedwa16@eq.edu.au or your child’s teacher.

Questions?

If you have any questions, email Ms Edwards – gedwa16@eq.edu.au

You can access our school library catalogue here. Parents are welcome to become library borrowers, too. Drop in and see us if you’d like to sign up.

Sports Representatives

It has been another very busy and hugely successful term of sport!

Over the last semester we have had 30 JHSS Athletes represent across 40 Northern Eagles District teams and 7 Metropolitan West teams. This is one of our most successful years in representative sport to date and is a credit to the commitment and determination of all of our young athletes!

We have 50 learners who have been selected into the JHSS Track and Field team who will compete at the Northern Eagles Athletics trials across a two-day carnival in week 2 next term. We wish all our athletes the very best of luck!!

Running Club

Running Club will continue on Tuesday mornings next term, starting in week 3, due to District Track and Field. Any learner in Years 1-6 may join us in the mornings for some running fun! Learners will require a hat and water bottle. A change of socks and/or shoes is recommended as the oval can be quite damp in the mornings.

Representative Singlets

Any runners who still have a JHSS representative singlet from Cross Country could you please return to Mrs Dragona asap as we will need the singlets for the Athletics trials in week 2 next term. If any families have a singlet at home that they would be happy to donate, please drop to the office.

Coming up soon in our school music calendar

Term 3 - Week 3 – Instrumental workshops (Westcent/Centenary Corinda Cluster Workshops)

Term 3 - Week 8 – Singfest (Senior Choir)

Winter Concert

What a fabulous night of performances celebrating our ensembles and their hard work so far in 2025. It is always great to hear how far they have come in a short time, especially those beginners!

Congratulations to all of the performers.

Beginner Days

On Thursday 26th June, the beginner string and beginner band students had a great day of music learning with other schools. We hosted the day here at Jamboree Heights and musicians from Jindalee and Middle Park came over. Some students from Centenary State High came to help the beginners and tutor them. Music could be heard all over the school! What a great boost these young musicians playing – a whole day of playing their instrument! Congratulations Beginners – you are coming along so well. Thanks to the Instrumental Teachers for providing this experience for our beginners.

Year Six Ukulele

The Year Sixes have been learning the ukulele in Music over the last 12 months. They have recently completed their assessment and their playing was excellent! Here is 6C playing You are My Sunshine to brighten your day! Next term they will begin to create some digital music using the app GarageBand.

A Little Bit of Music Fun

Here are the clips that upper school students have watched recently in Music. We often only watch part of the clip in class due to time constraints and the learners are always asking to watch the rest. I tell them to ask their parents to show them from the newsletter. Why not watch them as a family and share the fun!

Week 9 -  Something Just Like This / Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 - Line Rider - The Piano Guys

Week 10 – Pirates of the Caribbean Kaboom Cover

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

Parentline service supporting parents and carers

Parentline is a free, confidential counselling service available for all Queensland parents and carers.

If you need support navigating challenging situations, Parentline offers qualified counsellors who can help with expert advice, emotional support and referrals when needed.

Parentline’s services include:

• practical parenting resources on their website
• live webchat with professional counsellors
• phone support for immediate assistance (1300 30 1300)
• the option to pre-book ongoing sessions with the same counsellor
• online counsellor-facilitated parenting forums for shared support
• referrals to other family support services when additional help is needed.

Visit their website (parentline.com.au) for more information today, or give them a call on 1300 30 1300.

Little Athletics