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SCHOOL CAPTAINS' ADDRESS- Phoenix and Mirabelle
Mrs Cocciolone spent time this week asking our School Captains what they are looking forward to during 2025.
“We are looking forward to running assemblies, helping students, taking on leadership roles this year and helping staff with jobs they may need. We are also trying to be excellent role models for the other students within the school. We can’t wait to have our official badge ceremony next week.’
Phoenix and Mirabelle
WELCOME BACK TO 2025
2025 SCHOOL PRIORITIES- a summary of our focus areas in 2025
CURRICULUM- Connection Week and specialist learning offerings
CLASS INFORMATION SESSIONS- Wednesday 19 February - keep an eye on your inbox for details from your child’s teacher on class routines
GET INVOLVED- please volunteer if you are able
FACILITY WORKS- our facility enhancements
SCHOOL ACCESS- to access the school during school hours, please use the Wondall Road pedestrian gate
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE- every day counts!
UNIFORM POLICY- reminders on our student dress code
SWIMMING- Years 1-6 starts this week
SHARING OF FOOD- Be Allergy Aware, considering the needs of all when it comes to food
COMMUNITY PARKING- please be mindful of parking locations
NAPLAN- Test window commences 12 March, Week 7
2026 PREP ENROLMENTS- open now!
WELCOME
Welcome to 2025 at Wondall Heights State School. We are excited to have an enrolment of over 590 students across 25 classes. We particularly welcome our new families and staff members to the school and know that the Wondall community looks forward to meeting you!
2025 is going to be another great year of learning in our school with many academic, sporting, social and cultural activities for our students to participate in.
2025 SCHOOL PRIORITIES
Each year, schools identify priority areas that will shape the direction of the teaching and learning in the school. Our two key priorities for 2025, are listed below and will be unpacked as we progress through the school year.
CURRICULUM
Week 1, the theme in classrooms was ‘Connection’. This focussed on students and staff reviewing our whole school PBL expectations, setting up their class routines and team building activities.
In 2025 we will have the following specialist offerings:
- Years 3-6: Languages- Japanese (weekly lessons).
- Prep-Year 6: Technology (Design and Digital, weekly lessons)
- Weekly PE lessons
- Weekly Arts lessons with specialist teacher (Music and Dance)
CLASS INFORMATION SESSIONS
- Your child’s class teacher looks forward to welcoming you to the Parent-Teacher information sessions to be held on Wednesday 19 February. In these sessions, your child’s teacher will present information about their class routines and also the broader school. The 30-minute sessions will be delivered twice for families with multiple children at 3:20-3:50pm & 4:00-4:30pm.
GET INVOLVED
There is nothing greater than having family members engaged and supporting students in our school. If you are able to help out in your child’s class, please chat with their teacher around your availability. All helpers are required to sign in via the office and complete the Key Messages for volunteers. Family members, not direct guardians are also welcome, however may require a blue card. Chat with our office staff about these requirements.
We are fortunate to have an incredibly supportive and generous P&C who run our tuckshop, uniform shop, WOSHC and fundraise for our students, your children. They are always looking for helpers with their different events. Reach out to the P&C via PandC@wondallheightsss.eq.edu.au
The first meeting for 2025 will be held in the WOSHC building at 6pm, Tuesday 11 February.
FACILITY WORKS
Over the holiday we have had a number of facility enhancement works completed:
- Full Classroom Renovations- C Block upstairs
- Painting
- Internal of E Block
- Pathway gurneys
- Gutter cleaning
- In progress…. Tractor shed
SCHOOL ACCESS
For student safety during school hours, all gates to our school are locked. The Wondall Road pedestrian gate- closest to the Administration Block remains unlocked as a point of entry. Please ensure that you latch it closed again after opening.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
A new year brings new opportunities and learning experiences for your children. It is so important that your child is at school every day unless they are sick or there is some other significant reason. We want to ensure all of our students have the best education and regular attendance can support this.
If your child is away, please do the following:
- phone the office absence line 3906 6460
- email the class teacher or office (admin@wondallheightsss.eq.edu.au)
Where possible, limit appointments within school hours and schedule holidays for the school breaks.
If you ever need help with supporting your child’s attendance at school, please call the office and we can assist. Our Deputy Principals will be in touch, should they be alerted to your child/ren having excessive absences or patterns of absences.
UNIFORM POLICY
We take pride in our appearance at Wondall Heights State School and therefore we have our endorsed school uniform policy.
We are a Sun Smart school and require students to wear a Wondall Heights wide brimmed hat when outside. Caps are not permitted. We have a No Hat – No Play rule. Jewellery, except for a watch and sleepers or stud earrings, is not permitted.
Students are expected to wear their sky-blue striped shirt or school dress and all black shoes when not a PE day.
The sports uniform should only be worn on days when they have a scheduled Physical Education lesson, to interschool sports and other school sporting events.
Students are encouraged to wear their house colour on sports carnival days.
SWIMMING- We still need parent volunteers
This weather is making our pool look even more enticing, with lessons for Years 1-6 commencing this week. Swimming will occur on your child’s normal PE day, with some adjustments around excursions and other events. All students are expected to participate in swimming lessons as it is part of the school curriculum. If your child has a medical condition preventing them swimming, please ensure a note is sent along. Parents will be notified if your child doesn’t swim. Students will need to bring the following for swimming-ensure it is all named: bathers, rash shirt, swimming cap, towel (optional: goggles). During swimming sessions, we will provide for them a bright coloured cap to put over their own swimming cap to assist with easy identification in the pool.
To help facilitate our swimming lessons, we urgently need parent helpers to act as ‘supervisors’ on the pool deck and in the pool. Without volunteers, swimming lessons may need to be adjusted for safety reasons, so please help if you can! Due to the requirement to be actively moving and scanning the pool, we ask that no younger children attend with helpers. All helpers will be required to complete the Mandatory Training document and also review the risk assessment.
If you can help (please!), please register through SOBS https://eq.sobs.com.au/pt3/parent.php?schoolid=70382 , or call/email the office (3906 6444 or admin@wondallheightsss.eq.edu.au) or Mrs Butterworth (ybutt1@eq.edu.au). For more information about swimming, see further information in the PE section.
SHARING OF FOOD
There are a number of reasons why Wondall Heights State School does not promote the sharing of food, this includes for birthdays/celebrations.
- Food Allergies – there are an increasing number of students who are presenting with complex food allergies. It is up to the individual parents/caregivers as to what they choose for their child to eat in a day – school staff will not be responsible for distributing food to students.
- ‘Smart Choices’ – schools have an important role in promoting healthy eating to students and providing an environment that supports a healthy lifestyle. Please refer to ‘Smart Choices Strategy': EG: Whilst Zooper Doopers fall into the Amber category, again it is a parent/caregiver’s choice as to how often and when they choose for their child to consume these types of foods.
- We will not use food as whole school rewards at school.
With all these factors in mind, the following school-based decision has been made: Wondall Heights State School does not promote the sharing of food, this includes for birthdays/celebrations. Staff will not distribute food to students. We ask that you do not send food products for sharing at school.
When food is to be used as part of the curriculum, teachers will inform families prior so you are aware.
If parents wish to arrange celebrations for their child, we encourage this being done outside of school hours. Non-food alternatives (stickers, bubbles etc) may also be considered. Individual teachers still work to recognise these celebrations for children in their class.
COMMUNITY PARKING
We ask that all members of the Wondall community take care and respect the local neighbourhood when dropping off and picking up children. Please do not park across driveways or obstruct the clear viewing! This is about the safety of all members of the community. We know schools are busy places particularly at drop off/pick up times so be extra cautious. The Stop, Drop and Go is staffed until 3:30pm, so delay by 5 to help avoid the peak!
We ask the same courtesy is extended by ensuring your child isn’t walking in gardens/ entering private property whilst walking.
Although we recognise that the top carpark is used by parents dropping children off at WOSHC- prior to 7:30am, please be mindful that this carpark is actually a designated staff carpark. When in operation, the boom gate will be down. Please do not park in reserved Administration car spaces and only use the disabled car space if you have a permit.
NAPLAN – Year 3 and 5 Students
The NAPLAN test window starts on Wednesday 12 March and finishes on Monday 24 March 2025. Schools are advised to schedule the tests as soon as possible within the testing window, prioritising the first week. As a school, we will complete all assessments within the first five days of the test window. A test schedule will be published in the coming weeks.
If you wish to withdraw your child from NAPLAN please contact Amy Cocciolone on 3906 6444 to complete the relevant paperwork.
For further information, please follow the links below: or see the attached information in our newsletter.
NAPLAN Information for Parents and Carers – 2025
NAPLAN Public Demonstration Site
https://nap.edu.au/naplan/public-demonstration-site
We are excited for a great year of learning at Wondall Heights State School and look forward to working with the Wondall community to achieve positive outcomes for all of our students.
SAVE THE DATES!
Please note: dates and times may be subject to change - please keep an eye on the newsletter calendar for the most up-to-date information!
POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR FOR LEARNING (PBL)- Wondall Learners are respectful when they follow instructions.
Following instructions the first time helps us save time, show responsibility and promotes teamwork. Responding politely creates a positive and respectful classroom atmosphere, fostering effective communication and cooperation. Respecting others' right to learn ensures that everyone feels safe, valued, and able to focus on their studies.
| Excursion | Consent Due | Payment Due | Cost |
| Yr 5 & 6 Parliment House | 7th Feb | 19th Feb | |
| Prep Minibeast Incursion | 7th Feb | 21st Feb |
Consent must be given before an invoice is issued for payment. Payment plans are available, please contact Business Manager. Ph: 39066444
Welcome to the 2025 year of School Sports!!!!
YEARS 1-6 SWIMMING LESSONS
A reminder school swimming lessons from Years 1-6 has now commenced. Please see table below. Swimming lessons are fortnightly for 1hr, except for 1C who will attend weekly 30 minute lessons.
Students are encouraged to wear their own red swim cap, which may be purchased from the school uniform shop. However, the school has spare red caps if your child needs to borrow one. Please ensure your child has all of their belongings clearly named, including school uniform, red swim cap, swimmers, goggles and towel.
Parent helpers are still required for certain sessions. Please register through the SOBS booking system or contact Mrs Butterworth. A friendly reminder only registered volunteers will be permitted at the pool during the duration of the swimming lessons.
DISTRICT SPORTS TRIALS (Students born 2015/14/13 – 10-12yrs)
If your child would like to be considered for a District Sports Trial this year, please check they have completed the Expression of Interest Form by no later than Monday 10 February. Please note that completing an Expression of Interest Form is no guarantee of selection. There are selection criteria for each of the sports trials. These trials are for students who demonstrate a very high level of skill and proficiency in their respective sports. Nominations for some trials have already closed.
NATHAN REARDON AFTER SCHOOL CRICKET CLINIC
Wondall Heights State School is excited to be running the NATHAN REARDON COACHING PROGRAM after school. Please register your child for this event if interested. This is a wonderful opportunity for our cricket enthusiastis. Please see flyer in this newsletter.
