Week 8, Term 4 2024
- Principal Pen
- Updates from the Admin Office
- Year 5 and 6: Our Learning Highlights
- EALD Pathways Students Explore 'At the Farm' Theme with Fun Farm Day Activities
- Green STEM Celebration: Inspiring Solutions for Marine Debris
- Glowtastic Spooktacular Disco Recap!
- Celebrating Strings: Aitkenvale Students Shine in Townsville’s Orchestra Event
- Celebrating Culture: Wearable Art Project Highlights Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage
- Thank You for Making Kindness Shine: Celebrating Our Kindness Wall
- Thank You for Supporting McHappy Day: A Special Shout-Out to Our Volunteers!
- Building Leadership and Teamwork: Year 5 Students Shine at Paluma Workshop
- QParents Sign-On Session Announcement
- Final Transition: 2024 Marks the End of the Old School Uniform
- Regional Transition Day - Wednesday, November 27th
- Swimming Carnival - 28th November
- Join us for the Celebration Concert
- Celebrating Excellence: Student Academic Awards Ceremony
- Prep Information and Enrolment Sessions
- Join us for our Prep Transition Days
- Camp Australia Newsletter - Week 8
- Celebrating Our Students of the Week
- Student of the Week - Week 8
- Playgroup: Wednesdays from 9:30 to 11:30
- Does my child start kindy or school in 2025?
- Lost Property
- Important: Updating Student Details
- School Watch
- Like us on Facebook
Principal Pen
Wadda Mooli, Habari, Bonjour.
We are nearing the end of Week 8, and as this is an 11-week term, we have 3 weeks remaining of the school year. The last few weeks of school provides us with a great opportunity to support students in transitioning to the following year as well as many fun activities and events. This year school finishes on Friday 13th December. Please advise the school office as per normal procedure if you have made holiday arrangements during that week and your student will not be attending. Throughout the week of December 2 – 6 we will have the Academic Award Ceremony, Year 6 Celebration Days, end of year concert and Whole School Rewards Days.
REMEMBRANCE DAY
On Monday 11th of November, we stopped and observed a minute’s silence to remember and honour all servicemen and women. It was a simple but nice service where all of our students showed their respect. For more than 100 years Australia has, through its dedicated servicemen and women, stood in harm’s way to defend world freedom and peace. From the trenches of the Great War to the deserts of Afghanistan they have continued to service in defence of those who cannot defend themselves, both in war and in peacekeeping missions. We remember and honour their service.
SWIMMING
Swimming lessons have started and by all accounts the students are loving being in the water. Thank you to Mrs Leedie, Ms Diamond, Miss Samara and other staff who are in the pool with the students every session. I have heard good things about the swimming from the staff involved. Keep up the great work
DISCO
Thank you to all of the students who attended the P&C Disco. We had a great turnout, and we all had a great night full of colour and fun. Thank you to all the staff who came along to help it was greatly appreciated. Thank you to the P&C for putting the event on and supplying us all with glow products and food. Can’t wait for the next one!
ONLINE BEHAVIOUR
A reminder about online behaviour even when you are not at school. Even though a lot of this behaviour is out of school, as part of the Student Code of Conduct, it comes back to the school to manage.
Where the online behaviours of students have negatively impacted the good order and management of the school community, the principal can take appropriate follow up action in accordance with the school’s behaviour plan.
Many of the social media platforms are not for Primary aged children and they should not be on these sites. Recently the government has announced steps they are taking to block children from these platforms until the age of 16.
PREP ENROLMENTS
We are now taking all Prep enrolments for 2025. Children born 01 July 2019 – 30 June 2020 are eligible to attend Prep next year. Make sure you get your enrolment forms completed and handed into the office as soon as possible.
ENROLMENTS
We are beginning our planning for 2025! If you know of a family looking to enrol at Aitkenvale State School, or know of a student looking to change schools, please contact the office by phone on
44212333 or email admin@aitkenvaless.eq.edu.au so we can ensure children have access to the best possible transition to school.
ARE YOU TRANSFERRING TO ANOTHER SCHOOL IN 2025?
We will soon commence the process of coordinating class compositions for 2025. We would appreciate early notice if your child or children will be transferring to another school in 2025. Please inform the office by phone on 44212333 or email admin@aitkenvaless.eq.edu.au at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your assistance.
YEAR 6 into 7 2025
It is important for parents and carers of Year 6 students to make contact with their high school of choice for next year, if you haven’t already done so. The Regional Transition Day for all State High School is next Wednesday 27th November. Any student attendance at Term 4 open days or transition days is always subject to involvement in a current enrolment process at that particular high school and confirmed enrolment at that high school for 2025. If Year 6 students and families have not had an enrolment interview, the high/secondary schools do not allow students to attend their respective open/transition days.
ATTENDANCE
Our Goal for 2024 was set at 85% attendance for the whole school as of week 8 Term 4 we currently sit at 86%. This is an increase of nearly 5% for the year. Let’s see if we can increase the % even further throughout Term 4.
Attendance – Every day Counts & School Starts at 8.30am
1. Parent Responsibility – to make sure their child is attending school EVERY DAY!
2. Parent Responsibility – to explain their child’s absence and if late to school.
3. School Responsibility – to make contact with families if their child is absent and it has not been explained.
4. School Responsibility – to meet with families if students are having continued absence or a high amount of absence (even if explained).
ESAFETY
Have you accessed www.esafety.gov.au to support your child’s online experience? eSafety educate Australians about online safety risks and help to remove harmful content such as cyberbullying of children, adult cyber abuse and intimate images or videos shared without consent. There are pathways for Parents, Educators and a range of users including Young People, and Kids. There are webinars for parents and carers, and some excellent information about what to do if you are being impacted by cyberbullying.
We encourage parents/caregivers to closely monitor their child’s use of devices, particularly Social Media, and ensure children who are using devices are age appropriate and equipped with skills to report any concerns they might have. Parental Controls are a great place to start. https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/issues-and-advice/parental-controls
School Priority 1
Maximise student engagement and wellbeing across all settings through a reduction in reported behaviour incidences
School Priority 2
Improve Level of Achievement in English for all students (Prep - Year 6) through a focus on lesson planning and delivery
Thank you for working with the school as partners in your child’s learning.
Lee Braney
Principal (Acting)
Updates from the Admin Office
Office Hours 8:00AM - 3:30PM
Supervision on gates begins at 8:00am
Gates Close at 2:50pm - all remaining students will then be escorted to the office to await collection.
Important Dates
QParents sign on Session -
- 22nd November 8:00am - 9:00am
- 29th November 8:00am - 9:00am
Sign on sessions will be held in the Administration Building
- Regional High School Transition Day - 27th November
- Swimming Carnival - 28th November Prep - Year 2 - 8:30- 10:30 am 🏊♀️ Year 3 -Year 6 - 11:30 - 2:30pm
- Academic Awards Ceremony - 2nd December
- Year 6 Graduation - 4th December - 6:00pm
- Year 6 Celebration - 5th December - 11:30 - 1:00pm
- Celebration Concert - 6th December 9:00 - 10:30am
Final Reminder: 2024 Student Resource Scheme Payments Due Now
This is a friendly reminder to finalize all outstanding payments for the 2024 Student Resource Scheme. Statements have been sent home, and we appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.
Payments can be made at the front office via cash or EFTPOS. Additionally, BPoint and Centrepay payments are accepted through the invoice you received.
For detailed instructions on making payments via BPoint, please refer to the following link: https://aitkenvaless.schoolzineplus.com/_file/media/26/bpoint_parent_instructions.pdf
All late slips and early pick-up requests for students are now handled at the student counter. Please follow the signs to the window at the back of the Administration Building.
Donate Your Old Uniforms!
Are you graduating?
Have you outgrown your old uniform?
Don’t throw them out – donate them to the school!
We are accepting donations of new uniform shirts, black shorts, and shoes. Your generous donations will help other students in need. Thank you for supporting our school community!
Year 5 and 6: Our Learning Highlights
In year 5A we have been comparing 'The Lorax' novel to its feature film adaptation. Pictured are some character profiles students have made and an image of our Truffula Tree forest.
This term in English 5B have been comparing and contrasting the Dr Seuss story of The Lorax – starting with crafting our very own Trufulla seedlings. Students have been identifying similarities and differences between the original book published in 1971 and the animated film created in 1972. They will produce a Vlog intended to influence their peer group. We have really focused on the power of improved word choices – building better vocabulary!
6B has been constructing short stories this term, focusing on language features and making thoughtful editorial choices. Additionally, they have been engaged in a novel study of Wylah the Koorie Warrior.
EALD Pathways Students Explore 'At the Farm' Theme with Fun Farm Day Activities
EALD Pathways students have been studying ‘At the Farm’ this term and last Thursday, students participated in a farm day. Students completed teamwork races: three legged races, egg and spoon races and sack races. They did rotations to complete farm craft, photo booth, milk the cow and make butter. Students enjoyed fairy bread, icy poles and fresh fruit. Huge thank you to Lamberts for their donation of a voucher used to buy a bale of hay for the photo booth and watermelon and oranges for everyone to enjoy.
Green STEM Celebration: Inspiring Solutions for Marine Debris
On Monday, Laura and Mackenzie attended an evening of celebration to showcase their fantastic work in the Green STEM project. They displayed their marine debris pick up tools and shared their marine debris team projects.Laura and Mackenzie confidently conducted an interactive quiz with the audience of parents, teachers, and students. Aitkenvale is very proud of what they have achieved and how they represented the school. Congratulations!
Glowtastic Spooktacular Disco Recap!
What an un-boo-lievable night! Our Glowtastic Spooktacular Halloween Disco was an absolute blast! 
From ghoulishly creative costumes to glowing faces on the dance floor, it was a night to remember! 
The energy was electric, and the kids had an absolute blast dancing, playing games, and showing off their spooky (and glowing) selves! 
Costume winners – You all looked AMAZING! Glowstick fun – Who knew we had so many little rave dancers among us? 
Prizes & treats – Delicious snacks and spooky prizes made it even more special! 
Huge thanks to everyone who came and made this event so spook-tacular – parents, teachers, and of course, all the fantastic kiddos who brought the Halloween magic to life!
Celebrating Strings: Aitkenvale Students Shine in Townsville’s Orchestra Event
The Celebration of Strings event, where over 400 students from primary schools across Townsville (and out west!) came together to form 5 different levelled orchestras. Aitkenvale was proud to have 7 students participating, and they were absolutely AMAZING! 
The Dynamic Orchestra (green shirts) rehearsed both Saturday and Sunday, while the Essential Orchestra (yellow shirts) had their workshop on Sunday. All orchestras came together for a fantastic concert in the afternoon. Our Aitkenvale students showed incredible dedication, giving their best, listening to their teachers, and being wonderful role models throughout the weekend. We are so proud of their hard work and achievements!
Celebrating Culture: Wearable Art Project Highlights Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage
Students from across the school were invited to an event this week as part of People, Culture and Country Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Project. The children have spent many hours learning new skills as they have collaboratively designed and created a Wearable Artwork based on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culture and country.
Thank You for Making Kindness Shine: Celebrating Our Kindness Wall
A big THANK YOU to all the wonderful students who took part in our Kindness Wall activity! Your heartfelt messages and acts of kindness have truly lit up our school community. 💖
Every note, smile, and kind word shared has sparked a ripple of positivity, reminding us that even the smallest gestures can have a huge impact. Let’s keep the kindness flowing every day, not just today.
Thank You for Supporting McHappy Day: A Special Shout-Out to Our Volunteers!
A huge thank you to everyone who supported McHappy Day on Saturday! A special shout-out to Mr. Braney and Mrs. Leedie for their dedicated volunteer efforts. Your contributions truly make a meaningful impact!
Building Leadership and Teamwork: Year 5 Students Shine at Paluma Workshop
Our Year 5 students recently participated in an exciting leadership and team-building workshop, organised by the Paluma Environmental Education Centre. The workshop, held over a full day, offered a mix of indoor and outdoor activities designed to help students develop important leadership skills, work together as a team, and have fun while doing it!
Throughout the day, students engaged in a variety of challenges that encouraged problem-solving, communication, and collaboration. It was a fantastic opportunity for our Year 5s to strengthen their leadership abilities and build positive relationships with their peers.
A big thank you to the Paluma Environmental Education Centre for organising such a valuable and memorable experience for our students!
QParents Sign-On Session Announcement
We’re excited to announce that starting in 2025, we will be transitioning to a fully digital platform! To assist parents with this transition, we are holding sign-on sessions.
Starting next year, consent forms will be sent home via QParents, as part of our effort to reduce paper usage and become more environmentally friendly.
Please bring the following items to your session:
- 100 points of ID
- Your child's EQ number
- Invitation code
These sessions are a great opportunity to get hands-on help and ensure a smooth transition to our digital services. We look forward to seeing you there!
Final Transition: 2024 Marks the End of the Old School Uniform
We are excited to announce that 2025 will mark the introduction of our new school uniform, and as such, the transition year is now coming to an end. Starting in 2025, all students will be required to wear the new uniform, which aims to foster a sense of unity and pride throughout our school community.
The new school uniform will include the following items:
- Aitkenvale State School polo shirt ($30)
- Aitkenvale State School bucket hat ($15)
- Black shorts, skirt or pants
- Enclosed shoes (suitable for school activities)
- White socks
Uniforms are available for purchase through the school office. If you have not yet ordered your child’s uniform, we encourage you to do so as soon as possible to ensure you are ready for the start of the 2025 school year. This change applies to all students, and the current uniform will no longer be accepted starting in January 2025.
We would like to thank you for your patience and cooperation during the transition year. Your support has been vital in helping us make this change as smooth as possible for our school community.
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to reach out to the school office on 4421 2333.
Regional Transition Day - Wednesday, November 27th
On Wednesday, 27th November, Year 6 students will attend the high school they are enrolled at for the 2025 school year as part of the Regional Transition Day.
Please check with your intended high school for specific details regarding their Transition Day. Students are required to wear full school uniform, including enclosed shoes and socks.
Swimming Carnival - 28th November
Join us for the Celebration Concert
Get into the holiday spirit with our Celebration Concert! 
Enjoy a festive event filled with beautiful music, performances, and all-around cheer. 
Date: Friday 6th December
Location: School Hall
Come celebrate the season with us – bring your friends and family for a morning of holiday magic!
Celebrating Excellence: Student Academic Awards Ceremony
Prep Information and Enrolment Sessions
Join us for our Prep Transition Days
Camp Australia Newsletter - Week 8
Celebrating Our Students of the Week
Prep A | Maiyah | For having a go at sounding out words during reading. Your confidence is growing every day! |
Prep A | Matthew | For writing so many sentences to explain your new story event and ending. What a legend! |
Prep B | Fatouma | Striving for excellence in her English writing skills. |
1A | Ikran | For consistently applying herself to all work and enthusiastically seeking feedback. |
1A | Allan | For an excellent effort writing a descriptive retell about Tiddalick the frog. |
1B | Ka’ade | For using interesting words when writing a retell. |
1/2C | Mohamedamin | Consistently demonstrating excellent time management skills. Keep up the great effort! |
2A | 2A | For working hard and completing their English Assessment. |
2B | Grace | Working independently on her English task by trying her best. |
3A | Sara | For working hard on her English Poetry Task with amazing results. |
3A | Goudja | For volunteering be the first to present his poem Triantiwontigongolope. |
3B | Harmony | For taking on feedback and working hard to complete her poem. |
4A | Rebecca | For showing improvement in reading fluency and comprehension skills! |
4B | Jeanette | For being a kind, considerate, welcoming and hardworking student. What a star! |
5A | Issa | For being a considerate and thoughtful member of the class. |
5B | Lasharni | For committed conscientious classroom accomplishment. |
5C | Aleena | For demonstrating outstanding Leadership skills when working with the Year 2's. |
6A | Obed | For wonderful resilience starting Grade 6! |
6B | Akim | Following instructions and being a team player. |
Technology | 5A | For completing their assessment with dedication and precision. |
Literacy Pathways | Asiya | For working very hard on her reading and writing. |
Literacy Pathways | Zouleytou | Trying hard to stay focused and complete her work. |
Literacy Pathways | Junior | For being a good friend to others |
Literacy Pathways | Emmanuella | For always trying her best in all learning activities and following instructions first time. Keep it up! |
Literacy Pathways | Junior | For participating in classroom discussions and tackling writing activities independently. Keep it up! |
Student of the Week - Week 8
Prep A | Saleh | For making such wonderful progress with your spelling and writing this term. Well done! |
Prep A | Landry | For making such wonderful progress with your spelling and writing this term. Well done! |
Prep B | Riphain | For putting in great effort during English. |
1A | Kalone | For writing a detailed and descriptive retell of Tiddalick the frog. |
1A | Heidi-May | For demonstrating resilience and working to the best of her ability. |
1B | Abdirahman | For confidently articulating mathematical thinking when solving problems using skip counting sequences. |
1/2C | Meleya | Being kind, caring and helpful. Your empathy toward others is truly inspiring! |
2A | Xavier | Showing resilience during all assessments this term |
2B | 2B | For being resilient and finishing all of their assessments. |
3A | Dominic | Displaying resilience through assessment |
3A | Declan | Displaying resilience through assessment |
3B | Sudias | For being a supportive and helpful peer. |
4A | Anika | For trying her best in all of her work. |
4B | Win Kyi | For settling well into your new school and learning classroom routines and expectations. Well done |
5A | Halime | For being a dedicated learner. |
5B | Natalya | For being a pertinent plus patient plus positive participant. |
5C | Nickolas | For seeking out constructive feedback and using it to improve his writing. |
6A | Sienna | For creating a captivating and inspiring short story. |
6B | Sally | Excellent work ethic and persistence |
Literacy Pathways | Win Kyi | Working hard to listen, learn English and participate in all activities. |
Literacy Pathways | Eliora | Beginning to work hard to complete work and listen. |
Literacy Pathways | Akim | Trying his best in Learning Pathways and staying on task! |
Literacy Pathways | Miriam | Trying to complete all of her work independently and sounding out words correctly. Keep it Up! |
Playgroup: Wednesdays from 9:30 to 11:30
Does my child start kindy or school in 2025?
Lost Property
We’ve come across some lost property here at Aitkenvale State School and would like to return it to its rightful owners. If you’ve misplaced any of the following items, please come by to collect them:
- Lunchboxes
- Drink bottles
- Jumpers
- Hats
The items are available for collection near the base of B Block stairs.
Please check your belongings and feel free to stop by to claim anything that may be yours!
Important: Updating Student Details
UPDATING STUDENT DETAILS
It is extremely important that students' personal details such as contact telephone numbers, email addresses and emergency contacts are correct and up to date so you can be contacted if your child is unwell or needing medical attention. It is also very important that we are aware of all medical conditions.
Please email admin@aitkenvaless.eq.edu.au or contact the office to update your child’s details.
School Watch
The School Watch Program is a partnership between Education Queensland, the Queensland Police Service and the State Government Protective Security Service. It aims to reduce criminal activity in Queensland schools and encourages everyone to look out for after-hours crime in our schools. If you see anything suspicious, please don’t attempt to intervene.
Look, Listen, Report. Call School Watch on 13 17 88.
If you see a crime in progress, call Triple Zero (000).
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