Dear Parents/Carers,

CLASS ALLOCATION PROCESS 2026

During Term 4, teachers commence the process of class allocations for next year. Teachers have considerable expertise and motivation in allocating learners to classrooms where they think they will learn best particularly when they have worked with a group of learners all year. The first priority is to attempt (with the best knowledge we collectively have), the creation of balanced class groups according to social, emotional, academic and behavioural characteristics. Teachers (through a set process appropriate to each age level), will take into account the friendship networks of the learner (based on the learner's perspectives and teacher observations) as another part of the placement picture bearing in mind that learners may not always work best in a classroom with particular friends. At certain times, a change from being in a classroom with a particular friend or group is necessary for learner growth and classroom balance. The teacher is best placed to make this decision.

If parents wish to express a point of view about your child’s allocation, this needs to be put in writing to the Year Level Line Managers. These are:  Year 1 (Mrs Jean Gibbs: jgibb11@eq.edu.au); Year 2 and 3 (Mr Scott Matthews:smatt138@eq.edu.au); Year 4 (Alister Warren: awarr26@eq.edu.au); Year 5 (Lyndel Ivory-Lisle livor2@eq.edu.au) strictly by Sunday October 12 (end of Wk 1). Please frame this in terms of an educational reason focusing on your child’s social, emotional and academic needs. In a school of this size, it is not always possible for students to all be placed with a teacher or student favoured by themselves or their parent. There is no guarantee that certain teachers will be attached to their 2025 year level.

There are many complexities involved in forming classes and although parent views are definitely taken into account other circumstances can affect a child’s class placement. We can assure parents this is a lengthy process that is given a great deal of time and effort and thank you in advance for your understanding.

If your child is not returning to Jamboree Heights for 2026 or returning late, please click this link. We do understand that circumstances do change but an indication will help with making plans.

ARBORIST WORKS

For the greater part of this year, we have been working with the Department of Education's Infrastructure Team to secure approval for new roofs for Block A (admin), Block B (Library) Block C (Year 4) and Block D (Year 1). You can imagine this is a massive funding commitment. The first step is a series of tree removals and maintenance which will happen over the holidays to ensure the new roofs are not compromised (as they have been) by the surrounding vegetation. The Department of Education has provided significant funding to the school for this tree removal and maintenance which will happen as follows:

• Commencing Wednesday 24th September and working right through into the beginning of Term 4
• First stage of works will commence in the Prep Playground area and at the front section of Prep 1 and Prep 2
• Time permitting the contractors will also move throughout the school grounds, prioritising the trees overhanging roof spaces, the remaining works will be completed as and when possible out of school hours
• The contractors will be on site from 6am to 6pm and there will be vehicle movements within the school grounds during this time
• Please take care to avoid the area where the works are being conducted to ensure your safety

We will keep you posted about this and other adjustments we need to make regarding movements around the school to ensure this essential work is done.

Finally, I would like to thank our staff and learners for their kindness and engagement in their work and learning this term. Topping off the term with Kindness Day this week is an important reminder for me about what makes Jambo special. 

Have a great break from routine,

Kathy

Wishing all our learners and their families a wonderful Spring holiday break. I hope you enjoy time together and return refreshed, ready for an exciting Term 4.

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL Celebration) Term 3

This term we celebrated our Positive Behaviour for Learning with Kooka’s Carnival on Wednesday. Learners from all year levels joined in a variety of fun activities during the middle session, including Minute to Win It, water play, and an Amazing Race, just to name a few! The day was filled with excitement and plenty of positive energy as everyone came together to celebrate. A big thank you to our staff for their support in making the day such a success.

Elective Experience – Year 6 visit Centenary High School

It was a great experience that gave us a better understanding of what next year might be like. First, we got on a bus and travelled from school to Centenary State High School. The teachers divided us into different groups so that each group could take part in various activities with high school students, activities that we might be doing next year.

My class, 6G, first went to the Woodwork class. There, the teacher showed us how to use woodworking tools like a drill and a hand saw. It was actually very difficult to saw! We made a wooden game, and it was a useful and fun class with lots of hands-on learning.

After that, we went to the Sports session, where we played team games that were really exciting and fun. Then it was time for a break to eat. During break, we played with the wooden games we had made, and some of us also talked or played with the high school students.

After a short rest, we went to Chinese class. The teacher was full of energy and very passionate. You could see how much she loved teaching Chinese to students. We watched a funny rap video in Chinese and sang along with it, then we made a craft related to the lesson.

Next, we went to the Business class. A kind teacher gave us questions about business that we had to solve in groups. After that, we had another short break and then returned to our own school.

Overall, it was a fantastic and memorable day that taught us a lot about high school. Many of us are excited about the prospect of venturing to high school next year.

Ashida 6G

Year 6 Celebrations Term 4

Wet n Wild

• Wednesday, 3rd December, 2025

Graduation Ceremony

• Wednesday, 10th December 2025
• 9:00am in the Multi-Purpose Centre

Year 6 Disco

• Wednesday, 10th December 2025
• 6:00–8:00pm in the Old School Hall

Year 6 Break-Up Day

• Thursday, 11th December 2025

Further information regarding the formation of a Graduation Steering committee, student attire, and event organisation will be sent home after camp in Term 4.

Celebrating Kindness Day

Congratulations to our school community for once again putting on a truly memorable Kindness Day! The school was abuzz with excitement and positive energy as families entered the gates, greeted warmly by our Year 6 Kindness Committees and surrounded by a colourful display of Kindness chalk murals created by our learners.

The day was a wonderful celebration of the values we hold dear at JHSS. Our Kindness Assembly was a highlight, showcasing the incredible talents of our learners. Musical performances from the Senior Band, Senior Choir, and Year 3 Choir filled the hall with uplifting songs and were made possible by the dedication and passion of our talented music team – Mrs Brydon, Mrs Robertson, and Mrs Zorzetto.

Kindness was also celebrated across classrooms, with students engaging in meaningful activities that encouraged them to reflect on what kindness looks like in their daily lives – from thoughtful writing tasks to collaborative art projects and discussions about the importance of caring for others. It was wonderful to see learners actively sharing and demonstrating kindness with their peers and teachers throughout the day.

Kindness Day is more than just a special event – it’s a reminder of the little things we can do each day to make a big difference in the lives of others. We look forward to continuing to spread kindness throughout the year and carrying this positive spirit into Term 4!

Conservation Club- Scavenger Hunt Winners

Thank you to all the learners who joined in our JHSS Scavenger Hunt as part of National Tree Planting Day!

Our mystery word for Year 1–6 learners was BIODIVERSITY, and for our Preppies it was TREE.

We are excited to announce our lucky winners, drawn from the many entries received:

• Prep: James (Prep V)
• Junior: Jack and Alex (3Z)
• Senior: Maddy (4L)

A huge thank you to our wonderful teachers and parents who helped organise this year’s Scavenger Hunt – Mrs Stuart, Mrs Mannheim, Mrs Fowler, Clare Hourigan and Maria Wilson. Your support makes these fun learning opportunities possible, and we appreciate it!

Year 2 Writing Success – Information Reports

Our Year 2 learners have been working incredibly hard this term, building their skills in writing Information Reports. Through research, planning, and careful drafting, students have been learning how to organise facts, use technical vocabulary, and structure their writing to teach others about fascinating topics.

We are very proud to share that three of our Year 2 learners – Bella, Isaac, and Oscar – were nominated for a ZINGER in recognition of their outstanding effort and achievement in writing. Bella and Isaac impressed with their detailed and engaging reports on the Dugong, using topic-specific vocabulary. Oscar’s report on the Manta Ray also stood out, as he put in a huge effort, and he used compound sentences to add depth and detail to his writing.

Congratulations to these learners for their effort, persistence, and creativity in showcasing what they have learned. We can’t wait to see how our budding writers continue to develop their skills throughout the year!

RACQ Streets Ahead

We are very fortunate to have the RACQ Community and Education Team delivering the RACQ Streets Ahead road safety lessons to Prep to Year 5 learners from Monday, 13 October – Thursday, 16 October 2025 and Year 6 learners on Thursday, 23 October 2025. The focus of these sessions is pedestrian, passenger and riding safety. Class teachers can be contacted for session times.

Prep 2026 Interviews

In-catchment families have been emailed information and booking details for the upcoming Prep 2026 interviews. If you are unable to attend or have not yet received this email, please check your junk mail and contact administration on 3725 5666 for further assistance. If you know of anyone who has a child commencing Prep in 2026 who hasn’t enrolled yet, we are happy to assist in the enrolment process. We look forward to meeting you all again in October.

Prep Interviews

Friday 24th October

Prep Orientation Morning

Friday 14th November - 9:00-11:00am

We would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday and we look forward to seeing all of our learners on Tuesday, October 7.

Soundfield Systems Now in Every Classroom – Thanks to our wonderful P&C!

We are thrilled to share that every classroom at Jamboree Heights State School is now equipped with a Soundfield System, thanks to the generous support of our Parents and Citizens’ Association (P&C).

Following a recent contribution of $55,000, we were able to purchase 16 additional soundfield devices, completing our rollout across all learning spaces. This builds on the P&C’s earlier support in 2022, and we are deeply grateful for their ongoing commitment to inclusive and high-quality education.

What Are Soundfield Systems?

Soundfield systems are classroom amplification tools designed to improve audio clarity. They work by evenly distributing the teacher’s voice (and multimedia audio) throughout the room, ensuring that every student hears clearly, no matter where they are seated.

Why They Matter

• Improved focus and comprehension for all students
• Supports learners with hearing challenges, auditory processing difficulties, and attention needs
• Reduces vocal strain for teachers
• Enhances engagement during group discussions and multimedia lessons

These systems are a powerful tool for creating inclusive, equitable, and engaging learning environments.

We thank our P&C for making this possible and for their continued support of student wellbeing and achievement. Your investment is making a real difference in every classroom, every day.

Book Fair / Book Club

Next term we will hold our Scholastic Book Fair in week 3, starting Wednesday 22nd October and finishing Monday 27th. 40% of all sales comes back to the library in dollar-for-dollar reward points!

Book Club orders have all been delivered (issue 6). We will be handing out brochures for issue 7 early next term. Thank you for your ongoing support.

Author Visit

We have had some amazing author visits this year, including Tony Armstrong and Andy Griffiths. In week 2 next term we will welcome author Sarah Armstrong to our school. She will be talking to our Year 4 and 5 learners about her new book, Run, and the writing process and what it is like to be an author. Learners will be able to purchase a copy of the book and have it signed by Sarah on the day of the visit.

Overdue Books

Learners are welcome to borrow and keep books for the school holidays.

We currently have over 250 overdue books - please look for any library books during the holidays and return these in week 1, term 4. Invoices will be issued for missing books in term 4 – $10 fee for a library book / $5 for home readers.

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.

Upcoming Music Events – Term 4

Week 3 – Choral Honours Camp – selected students

Week 5 –Tuesday 4 November (note new date) Choral Gala Concert in the MPC @ 6PM.

Wednesday 5 November – Instrumental Gala Concert in the MPC @ 6pm

Week 6 – no choir rehearsals – all choirs are finished for the year

Week 7 – Christmas Choir begins (more information coming soon)

Week 9 – TBC Saturday 5 December Christmas Choir performances

Music Ensembles Break up party – Date TBC

Instrumental Recruiting

Instrumental recruiting for 2026 is well underway. This week interested Year 2 and 3 students tried out some instruments and completed the physical testing. Any learners who were away will be caught up early next term. Below is the timeline for the recruiting process in Term 4. If you have any questions please email Mrs Brydon dbryd1@eq.edu.au.

Whole School Singing

What a fabulous assembly on Wednesday when we had our whole school singing together. The song we sang was called We Shake the Ground and is part of the Together Sing program which we participate in each year, joining with over 100,000 other singers around Australia and even internationally. The song is all about getting the message out that we need to be kind to others, we are important and how our voices matter.

The learners enjoyed singing the song. Here is a link to the YouTube video in case you want to have a sing at home and shake the ground together! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgSuPGAs1yM

Also, here is a link to the video of our school singing it together with the band playing and some important messages from some of our Year Sixes! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xOTwfbPYpU

Singing together is a lot of fun but there are so many other benefits which is why we try to have at least one whole-school singing event each term.

Choir Performances

Following on from their Singfest performances, the Senior Choir performed Flooding Rains very dramatically at Wednesday’s assembly.

Our Year 3 Choir performed K-I-N-D at our assembly this week as well – what a beautiful job and an important message.

Year 5's in Music

During our classroom music lessons last term, our Year 5 learners were discovering how to describe music using the elements of music and connect how a composer might use the elements of music to convey themes or emotions in their work. Responding to music in this way uses a broad range of thinking skills such as: analysis, identification, comparison, and active listening. See below for some outstanding analysis of Khachaturian’s iconic Sabre Dance from our Year 5 learners. Have a read through them and then listen to the piece of music and see if they agree. (Link to Sabre Dance)

“He communicated the emotions of fury and revenge using a mainly forte dynamic, showing deep hatred for the opposition in war. He used a presto tempo to show the feeling of glory and victory as if his country is better than the opposition. He uses bright and rich instruments to motivate the soldiers…I do not like this music because of the fast tempo and forte dynamic as it is very heavy on the ears. “(Naeha 5D)

“The composer used strong and loud dynamics, such as forte, to express fury and revenge and the tempo was presto to represent victory or the struggles and triumphs of war. The decrescendo made it appear to have quietened down to end the song but then got forte to finish with a crescendo. The song’s texture was very thick because the drums kept the beat and the trombone and xylophone indicated the tension in war at that time. The timbre of the drums helped to create the mood because of its hollow, dark, deep tone.” (Sofia 5C)

“I like this music because it is very forte and presto. I like how there’s a crescendo then a decrescendo at the end because it tells you that the song is ended and I like how the tempo was finished at the end.” (Thomas 5W)

“The main dynamics in this piece are forte creating a sensation of violence. Along with the presto tempo, the forte dynamics pair well and form a stronger and more powerful feeling of fury, anger and victory. The trombone in this piece also brings up a rising sense of action and power, almost as if in your stomach itself. This piece of music appeals to me because …the trombone and xyophone go together to create powerful feelings such as fury and even triumph” (Aydin 5S)

“He used forte dynamics and a presto tempo. The dynamics helped communicate with soldiers with loud, fast paced music and instruments like trombone to motivate strong and brave emotions. I like this music because it has presto tempo and forte dynamics. It also had a decrescendo to crescendo and ended with a bang” (Harlan 5V)

Sports Representatives

Huge congratulations to Emmie and Edie who have been selected into the Met West Athletics team! Emmie will be competing in the High Jump, 100m sprint and the 4x100m relay event and Edie will be competing in High Jump! We wish both girls the best of luck as they compete at the State Championships in Townsville next term.

JHSS Touch Football - Blues Cup

Well done to our JHSS Touch Football teams who competed in the two-day Blues Cup Touch Football Competition last weekend. Both teams performed strongly on day 1, earning a spot in the top division of Sunday’s comp. With some narrow losses and close games, including against the eventual competition winners, both teams showed skill, determination and heart, representing our school with pride!

Huge thanks to Mr Cumner, for his time, effort and commitment to coaching our teams and to Mr Crow for his time and support at the carnival!

Running Club

Running Club will continue next term, on Tuesdays at 8am on the oval for learners from Years 1-6. Runners will need to bring a hat, water bottle and a change of socks or shoes as the oval can be damp in the mornings.

Swimming in HPE Term 4

Year 1 to 6 are swimming in PE next term. Swimming will start in week 2 and go for 5 weeks. Learners will require togs, rashie, towel, cap and goggles. Please name all their equipment including school uniform, it is very easy to misplace items in the changerooms and difficult to return if un-named. If a learner is unwell and cannot participate in their swimming lesson, please send a note or an email to their class or PE teacher.

• 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

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.