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FOCUS ON FLUENCY IN READING
At Wondall Heights, we are continuing to strengthen the way we teach reading. One of our key priorities this term is fluency. Reading fluency is more than just reading quickly – it’s the ability to read accurately, smoothly, and with expression. When children read fluently, they can focus less on working out each word and more on understanding the meaning of the text.
Fluency acts as a bridge between decoding (sounding out words) and comprehension (making sense of what is read). Research shows that fluent readers are more confident, engaged, and able to enjoy reading for pleasure and learning.
You can support fluency at home by encouraging your child to:
- read aloud daily – even short passages make a difference,
- reread familiar books to build confidence and expression, and
- listen to you or audiobooks to hear how fluent reading sounds.
EVEN MORE ATHLETICS SUCCESS!
Congratulations to Daisy, Fraser and Neave who proudly represented Wondall Heights at the Regional Track and Field Trials last week. A huge applause goes to Daisy, who has qualified for the State Finals in both the 800m and 1500m runs – an incredible achievement! We are very proud of all three students for their effort, commitment, and sportsmanship.
STUDENT FREE DAY - FRIDAY
This Friday is a Student-Free Day (5 September, 2025) and is allocated for staff professional development. Students are not required to attend school.
PARENT WORKSHOP - BEHAVIOUR, BIG FEELINGS AND SELF-REGULATION
Families are invited to attend this valuable workshop with psychologist Karen Young on Wednesday 10 September, 5:30–7:00pm in the Wondall Heights SS Hall.
Karen is an outstanding speaker, well-known for her practical strategies to help children manage anxiety, stress, and big feelings. This session will provide parents and carers with simple, evidence-based ways to build resilience and support self-regulation at home.
This is a free event for our community, and I believe it will be incredibly worthwhile.
Book here: https://forms.office.com/r/Hhx3RFYc
Yours in Education,
Jonas Shantz
Principal
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISY WEEK 7 - we thank and acknowledge our school based Speechie!
TEACHER AIDE APPRECIATION WEEK -we thank and appreciate all our Wonderful Teacher Aides here at Wondall.
STUDENT FREE DAY - a reminder that this Friday 5 September is a Student Free Day. WOSHC is also closed.
WORLD PHYSIOTHERAPY DAY - 8 September
TOYS AT SCHOOL- a reminder that no toys from home should be brought to school.
BEHAVIOUR, FEELINGS, AND SELF-REGULATION COMMUNITY WORKSHOP- Wednesday 10 September 5:30-7:00pm – don’t forget to register!
R U OK? DAY- Thursday 11 September – Wear yellow and join us for our R U OK? Day.
TERM 3 LEARNING CELEBRATION- Friday 12 September 2:30-3:00pm
PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS- Tuesday 16 September 3:30-8:00pm
PARENT AND COMMUNITY CODE OF CONDUCT- Reminder of appropriate conduct expectations for our school community.
UPCOMING DATE CLAIMERS- we have lots of events to round out the term!
PREP ENROLMENT INFORMATION- Enrol now, formal prep transition events start in Week 9 by invite only!
SPEECH PATHOLOGIST APPRECIATION WEEK
Thank you to our ‘Speechie’, Jen Payten, for all your care and dedication to our Wondall students and families.
TEACHER AIDE WEEK
STUDENT FREE DAY
This Friday 5 September is a Student Free Day. It is important to note that WOSHC will also be closed on this date. Please ensure appropriate supervision of your children has been arranged for this date.
WORLD PHYSIOTHERAPY DAY
September 8 is World Physiotherapy Day! Queensland state school physiotherapists support students with disability to access and participate in class, move around the school, join camps, and engage with their peers in the playground and through school sport. Physios work with school teams to build capability to understand students’ environments, ensuring students are supported to participate fully in all aspects of school life.
TOYS AT SCHOOL
Students are reminded not to bring trading cards and toys to school, including toys that hang off hats (keyrings on bags are exempt). These items can cause distractions during learning time and are not appropriate for the school environment. The school will not be held responsible for any loss or theft of such items. Any toys brought to school without prior permission from a staff member will be confiscated and will be available for collection at the end of the school day.
Please note that fidget tools will be provided by the school as needed. If your child has specific needs regarding fidget tools, please discuss these with your child’s Classroom or Inclusion Teacher.
BEHAVIOUR, BIG FEELINGS, AND SELF-REGULATION COMMUNITY WORKSHOP
Would you like to learn how to build resilience in your child, especially when anxiety, stress and big feelings are impacting your child’s ability to function, learn and sustain relationships?
Register your interest via the QR code or via the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/Hhx3RFYcHf
R U OK? DAY
R U Ok? Day is on Thursday 11 September; we will be recognising this important day by inviting our community to wear yellow on Thursday 11 September with a community walk and talk.
We encourage everyone to have regular, meaningful conversations with those around them, to build trust and normalise talking about what is really going on, so when the people in your lives find themselves struggling, they know that you are someone who they can talk to.
For more information, please visit https://www.ruok.org.au/r-u-ok-day .
LEARNING CELEBRATION
Parents and carers are invited to come and visit our classrooms next Friday to see what we have been learning!
PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS
Parent Teacher Interviews will be held on Tuesday 16 September 2025, from 3:30pm – 8:00pm in the Hall. Entry to interviews will be via the foyer and exit via the opposite side (carpark side).
There is no supervision provided for children.
Bookings will be via SOBS (our online booking system) from Tuesday 26 August 6am and will close Friday 12 September at 6pm. SOBs can be accessed via the school’s website or the link below.
https://eq.sobs.com.au/pt3/parent.php?schoolid=70382
Please note, the following changes to Parent teacher Interview Sessions:
- Prep B - Lorna Wheeler may be unavailable as she is conducting interviews for 3A. Leanne McPherson will be conducting interviews for Prep B.
- 2D - Komal Arora - Unavailable after 6:00pm on 16 September – additional P/T Interviews will be organised throughout Weeks 7-9 via the teacher.
- 3B - Megan Salisbury – Unavailable on 16 September - P/T Interviews will be conducted by Lorna Wheeler on 16 September.
- 3/4C - Anne Macqueen – Unavailable on 16 September - P/T Interviews will be organised during Week 8 via the teacher.
- 4A - Sarah Skeet – Unavailable after 4:50pm on 16 September – additional P/T Interviews available on 9 September via SOBS – please access via 4A Alternative T3 Parent Teacher Interviews. Bookings open Tuesday 26 August 6am.
We look forward to meeting with you to work in partnership to best support your child!
PARENT AND COMMUNITY CODE OF CONDUCT - REMINDER
2026 SCHOOL INTENTIONS
We are commencing our planning for 2026 classes and it is appreciated if you can notify the office ASAP if your family is NOT returning to Wondall in 2026 (current Prep-Year 5 students only). Please respond to the survey sent to all families or contact us on 3906 6444 or admin@wondallheightsss.eq.edu.au .
Our waitlist is open with some availability across year levels, so please let your friends know if they are looking at Wondall for 2026, to make contact now!
SAVE THE DATE
NEWS FROM 2A
Do you have a younger sibling ready to start Prep next year?
or
Do you know of family/friends/neighbours that have children who live in the Wondall Heights SS school catchment zone ready to start Prep in 2026?
If you do… we are putting a call out to enrol your child at Wondall Heights State School ASAP so they don’t miss out on invitations to our exciting transition events, which have now commenced.
Call the office now on 3906 6444.
PBL- Wondall learners are safe seek or offer help.
Our students will be exposed to language and lessons around respectful ways to ask for help and to offer support to their peers. RUOK day is a community day which will also add to the conversations around mental health and when to ask for support.
Our students are loving the new Dougie Vouchers. Below is a snippet of what’s on offer this Semester.
***Dougie’s shop will be open this Thursday due to Pupil Free day!
DOUGIE'S DEN DONATIONS NEEDED
| Excursion | Consent Due | Payment Due | Cost |
| WAMM Yr 5 | 25 August | $ 25.00 | |
| WAMM Yr 6 | 25 August | $ 50.00 | |
| Year 1Habitat Heroes | 8th September | 9 October | $ 45.00 |
| Prep Pevan & Sarah | 12th September | 21 October | $ 35.00 |
Reminder:
Consent must be given before an invoice is issued for payment. Payment plans are available, please contact Business Manager. Ph: 39066444 for any questions.
METROPOLITAN EAST TRACK & FIELD TRIALS
Well done to Daisy C (1500m, 800m), Neave A (100/200m) and Fraser M (100/200m, long jump) who attended the Metropolitan East Track and Field Trials last Thursday and Friday. You represented yourself and Wondall with pride.
A special congratulations to Fraser and Neave who were so close to making the Met East Team and also a huge congratulations to Daisy who has qualified in the 800m and 1500m. We wish Daisy all the best at the State Titles which are being held in Townsville from the 13-15 October.
WONDALL SCHOOL AEROBIC TEAMS
Last weekend the Wondall School Aerobics Teams competed at the Aerobics National Finals which was held down at the Gold Coast. Your hard work, commitment, and team spirit were on full display. Congratulations on representing the school with such energy and enthusiasm – we are super proud of you all. Our teams placed 4th and 5th in their respective competitions.
SHANE WEBCKE CUP
Congratulations also to Knox S, Ben D, Ezra M and Chase M who competed at the Rugby League Shane Webcke Cup on the weekend! Their team was undefeated in all 3 of their games.
TERM 4 (PREP-YEAR 6 SWIMMING LESSONS)
A friendly reminder swimming lessons will resume next term for all year levels. A timetable will be sent home shortly. Students are encouraged to please wear a red swim cap. These may be purchased from the uniform shop. Please add your child’s name to the outside of cap. ALL students must also wear a sun safe shirt over their swimmers. Goggles are optional but recommended.
