Dear Parents/Carers,

We were disappointed to cancel our Cross Country Event this week due to the state of the grounds after the cyclone. Ironically, it chose to rain yesterday morning! Given we have lost a week of school, it was impossible to fit in the whole carnival in Week 9 or 10. We may look for an opportunity for a Fun Run next term. It's always a challenge when something has to be postponed or cancelled to find another place for it to go in what is already shaping up to be a busy term 2. 

BIKE AND SCOOTER SAFETY

A reminder to parents/carers that in Queensland it isn't legal for a child under 16 to ride an e-scooter without an adult and to ride a bike of any kind without a helmet.  My 19 year old son had a scooter accident last year, learned the hard way about the consequences of not wearing a helmet and broke his jaw. Sucking fluid through a straw for 9 weeks was difficult for a strapping young man, but certainly better than what could have been a life changing outcome. In our fortnightly progress visits, the doctor shared many stories with us about their emergency staff almost doubling due to the impact of e-scooter injuries. Parents/carers may be called to collect their child if it is clear they would be riding a scooter home without an adult or if a child attempts to leave the school-grounds without a helmet in their possession. Local families are reporting to us that some of these children are seen putting themselves in unsafe situations on the roads and footpaths, so clearly they need more support to ride safely to and from school. 

CYCLONE ALFRED

We are still dealing with some of the after effects of Cyclone Alfred with some work to be done with the long term support of the Department of Education needed. 

I'd like to thank the leadership team and staff for their efforts in getting things back to normal. We also greatly appreciate the supportive words of a number of community members who went out of their way to send through some kind sentiments in what was a frustrating time for everyone. 

Thanks to Alfred, our newsletter didn't make it out last week in Week 7 as is usual hence why we are sending it out today. Our next newsletter will be a short update in Week 10 and will resume its normal cycle in Week 1 of next term. 

P and C ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

This meeting has been postponed to Monday March 31 and all community members are welcome. The P and C in this school are a proactive and positive group therefore the meetings are very well attended. 

I'd like to take the opportunity to thank outgoing Vice-President David Gunsberg whose twins graduated at the end of 2023 and his continued passion for this school kept him involved until our February 2025 meeting. David has been a great advocate for our school and advisor to the P and C and school executive teams across many projects. David wrote an open letter to our community which I think is important to share. The link is JHSS_VP_Final_Report.pdf. These words from David's report particularly resonate with me having worked with a number of P and C Committees over many years. 

"Jamboree Heights State School’s motto is ‘Learning for Life,’ and over the past six-plus years, I have come to appreciate just how much this applies to us as parents and citizens as well. I leave with invaluable lifelong lessons—lessons that have shaped me not just as a parent and community member, but as a person. For this, I am immeasurably grateful.
‘Jambo’s’ is a special place. Its culture is greater than any one of us, yet it requires the contributions of every one of us to nurture and sustain it. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of it."

Jade Lewis, our outgoing President whose son finished at the end of last year, has also indicated she will be around to support the P and C Executive in 2025 which saw us all breathe a sigh of relief, as we weren't ready to lose both David and Jade at once.

Jade and David are amazing community members and it goes to show what a special place Jamboree Heights is, when individuals like Jade and David choose to continue their contribution even after their children have moved to secondary school. I look forward to walking beside all those who put up their hand to be part of our great P and C in 2025. The Davids and Jades of the world are hard to replicate but everyone brings their own special skills and qualities to support our school to improve for the benefit of our learners, your children.

Have a great weekend,

Kathy