What a great start to term 3.  All students have been engaged in their learning and working hard across all learning areas.

YEAR 4

In year 4 English, students have been learning about persuasive arguments.  Student’s ideas were provocation when after reading ‘The Day the Crayons Quit,’ they walked into their classrooms the following morning to see that their chairs had ‘quit’.  Piled in the corner with a letter attached from the chairs.  Students read the letter from the chairs and had to brainstorm and write a persuasive letter trying to persuade the chairs to come back. 

YEAR 3

In Year 3 have been looking at symmetry and patterning with in mathematics.  They have been using hands on materials as well as digital representations.    

        

Year 3 excursion to ‘Opals Downunder’ is quickly approaching with consent form and payment due Friday 22 August.  This excursion is linked to our Term 3 Science unit and gives all students the opportunity to bring real life experience to class learning.

Please if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact your child’s class teacher.

Welcome to Term 3! 

What’s happening this term? 

Our students will verbally retell a familiar personal experience with their classmates.

Term 3 math, we build our understanding of shapes and measurement with comparing the length of different objects, comparing how much different containers can hold, and comparing how long different tasks take (such as building towers of different heights). 

We are also looking at practical situations involving counting, equal sharing, adding to and taking away from collections to 20.  We continue to develop our understanding of number by counting beyond 30 and back from 20.

 In Term 3 HASS, we explore the characteristics of places and maps. We learn why places are special to people for various reasons, terms to describe directions and locations, ways to care for places, and the consequences of neglecting them. 

In Term 3 Science, we describe observable properties of materials that make up everyday objects.

 This term students will have new heart words to practise.

What are heart words?

Heart words are high-frequency words that young learners need to memorize because they contain irregular spellings or sounds that are difficult to decode using basic phonics rules.

* The "heart" part of the word highlights the specific sound-spelling patterns that need to be learned by heart. 

Staffing

We would like to inform you that our PE teacher, Mr. Ryan Chisholm, is currently on sick leave and taking time with his family to focus on rest and recovery.

In the interim, we are actively sourcing a replacement teacher to ensure continuity of the PE program.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding during this time.

Yours in education, 

Ashleigh Woods

Deputy Principal

Learning Walls

When you walk into any classroom at Pumicestone State School, you’ll see our Learning Walls – large, colourful displays that help students understand what they’re learning and why it matters. These walls clearly show the key ideas being taught and what students are expected to achieve by the end of the term. Each Learning Wall includes a clear learning intention and a step-by-step guide known as the Guide to Making Judgements, which shows students exactly what success looks like. Teachers work through this guide with their class so that every student knows what is expected of them.

More than just a display, the Learning Wall is an everyday tool that helps students track their progress. As they improve their work, students can see how far they’ve come and what they still need to work on, which builds their confidence and keeps them motivated. They can check the wall at any time to remind themselves of what they’re learning, why it’s important, and how to move forward.

Students are also learning how to reflect on and improve their own work using tools from the wall—like the five key questions, student work samples, and clear success steps. Because the wall is built together with students, it becomes a visual and interactive part of their learning journey. It also gives teachers valuable insights into how each child learns best, so they can provide the right support and help every student succeed.

So, when you sit down to dinner tonight or when you’re driving to school tomorrow, ask your child about their class Learning Wall. Questions like, “What are you learning about in English?” or “Where can you go if you need help with your work?” will create meaningful conversations with your child about their learning journey.

Anna Wells

Head of Department: Curriculum

The City of Moreton Bay regulates parking or stopping of vehicles on footpaths, bicycle paths, shared paths, dividing strips or nature strips. Please note that vehicles that are parked with two wheels on the footpath/nature strip and two wheels on the road is not considered as a lawful parking practice. 

Council is legally obliged to enforce these regulations, and our Proactive School Safety Patrol Program contributes to this enforcement.   

During Proactive School Safety Patrols, enforcement of unlawful parking is applied by obtaining photographic evidence and issuing a penalty infringement notice.   

Council prefers that vehicle drivers are educated. 

For more information in relation to parking regulation and expectation please see attached our Parking in School Zones Fact Sheet. Additionally, we recommend reviewing the City of Moreton Bay’s published material regarding parking Parking - City of Moreton Bay .

SRS Fees

A friendly reminder that your SRS fees are now overdue.  Unless you have a current Centrepay in place, please make your final payment via, BPoint, QParents, or EFTPOS.

If you have concerns or would like to discuss the SRS scheme, please send an email to our Business Manager at bsm@pumicestoness.eq.edu.au

Payment Plans via Centrelink

Did you know we accept Centerpay. Make sure your SRS fees are paid on time SET & FORGET! 

Did you know once your fees are paid, your account will go into credit. You can then use this credit to pay for School Camps and Excursions. 

Mobile Phones

It is assumed that any child bringing a mobile phone to school needs it for safety when travelling to and from home, but not during the school day.

Therefore:

• Phones are to be turned off and submitted to the office on arrival at school where they are checked in via a register
• They are to be collected and signed out at the end of the school day
• No student mobile phones are permitted to camp or on excursion as students are in the direct care of Teacher

Student Break Times

Office staff are unable to locate students during break times. Should you need to collect students during breaks, please ensure you have pre-arranged this with the office.

First Break: 10:30am - 11:05am

Second Break: 1:05pm -1:40pm

Thank you for your understanding.

Scooters & Skateboards

We kindly request that you remind your children that scooters and skateboards are not permitted on school property and not an acceptable mode of transport for school.  Please ensure that your child is aware of this policy and refrains from bringing scooters or skateboards to school.

Bikes

We kindly remind those students who ride bikes to school, to bring a bike lock each day. This helps ensure the security of their bicycles while on campus. Thank you for your attention to this matter and for supporting a safe school environment.

Car Park Feedback

As our carpark falls under the management of the Moreton Bay Council, we encourage you to reach out to the council with any complaints or suggestions you may have, as they are best equipped to address and resolve such issues effectively.

Pumicestone State School has implemented the "Look Out" program to reduce congestion at the Cottrill Road Loading Zone.

Our aim is to enhance safety for all students and parents using the car park. Community cooperation is vital for the smooth operation of this initiative, ensuring hassle-free school pickups. 

Program Overview

School finishes at 2:30 pm. In the afternoon, staff supervise the loading zone on Cottrill Road. They monitor and prevent unsafe practices such as: 

• Children loading into double-parked cars,
• Loading from the driver's side of vehicles,
• Vehicles idling for more than 2 minutes in the zone,
• Queuing that obstructs the school crossing.

Registration and Participation

Parents will receive a registration link via email in the coming days.

Once registered, you'll receive a name tag for your sun visor which will be sent home with students.   

Process at the Loading Zone

Upon arrival, staff will call for waiting children. The first three vehicles in line can load and depart before the next set of vehicles.

If your child isn't present when your vehicle reaches the front, please proceed and re-join the end of the queue, or park in the car park.

Only cars with name tag on the passenger side sun visor to use the pick-up zone. 

Non-Compliance 

Vehicles not adhering to rules or engaged in unsafe practices will be reported to Police Link and/or Moreton Bay Regional Council.  

Parent Responsibilities

• Arrive at the loading zone during monitored times 2:30pm to 2:45pm
• Display the name tag on the passenger side sun visor for staff to identify.
• Stay in your vehicle; do not exit.
• Ensure adequate space for children inside the vehicle. 

Encouragement for Children

• Arrive promptly at the loading zone as close to 2:30 pm when school finishes.
• Be seated in your house group with your family members and listen for their name to be called.
• Be prepared with school bags and belongings to quickly, yet safely, enter vehicles. 

Key Actions for the Look Out Program

1. Display your name tag clearly.
2. Queue and remain in your vehicle.
3. Move forward safely when directed.
4. Load your children promptly and depart. 

 Please support the program as it is designed to assist all famiies to pick up their children promptly and safely.