Dear Pumicestone Families,

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks for the warm welcome upon my return from maternity leave. It has been truly wonderful to reconnect with our school community, preparing alongside our dedicated team to welcome both familiar and new faces back to school.

This year, I am thrilled to be working as the Deputy Principal for Years 3 and 4. Having previously supported these cohorts in various leadership roles—including Head of Department for Student Services, Head of Special Education Services, and Deputy Principal for Prep and Year 1—I am delighted to continue this journey with them. It is a privilege to see their growth and development firsthand.

I am also pleased to introduce our outstanding 2025 Year 3 and 4 teaching teams, made up of many familiar Pumicestone faces. I look forward to another fantastic year of learning and collaboration with our students, staff, and families.

Inclusion

I would also like to take this opportunity to introduce Mrs. Stephanie Johnston to our school community. As one of our dedicated Inclusion Teachers, Mrs. Johnston supports students across Years 3 and 4. She and Miss Hughes form a highly collaborative and dynamic team, working together to ensure all students receive the support they need to thrive in their learning journey. We are excited to have Mrs. Johnston as part of our team and look forward to the positive impact she will have on our students.

I am pleased to formally welcome Mrs. Janelle Moore to our team. Mrs. Moore is our instrumental music teacher and is based at Pumicestone State School on Thursdays. While she is already familiar to some of our Year 5 and Year 6 students, she has now commenced initial assessments for Year 4 students interested in learning an instrument.

We are excited to advise students in years 4 - 6 can apply to participate in our schools Instrumental Music Program for 2025.

Music is a unique and integral part of life. It has the capacity to inspire all students' creativity and imagination, engage them in the art of expression, immerse them in a language and history that is rich in culture, provide them with opportunities beyond the classroom and excite them about life and learning. 

If you would like to place an expression of interest in this program, please complete this form here at EOI Instrumental Music

Please be aware places are limited.

Our First Day!

The first day of the 2025 school year was a fantastic start! I was incredibly impressed with our Year 3 and Year 4 students and how smoothly they transitioned into their new classes and routines. They adapted well to their lunchtime eating and play schedules, demonstrating resilience and enthusiasm. It was wonderful to see so many friendships rekindled in the playground, with students eagerly sharing their excitement about their first morning in their new learning environments.

On Monday afternoon, we held our first Year 3-6 assembly for the year. It was fantastic to see our students demonstrating respect and engagement throughout the assembly. We were especially proud to celebrate the many student achievements, setting a positive tone for the year ahead.

Curriculum Learning and Highlights

From 3A and Mr Davie

In 3A, we read Twig by Aura Parker, a beautiful story about how starting school can sometimes feel like being camouflaged—blending in so much that others might not notice us. Through this story, we explored the importance of including others and making sure everyone feels seen and valued. Inspired by nature, we then took our learning outdoors, where we worked individually and in groups to create stunning 'nature mandalas' using leaves, flowers, sticks, and other natural materials. This hands-on activity reinforced the idea that, just like in nature, every unique piece contributes to something beautiful when we come together.

Mrs. Holden and the students of 4D have engaged in some excellent transition activities this week, designed to foster collaboration and build a strong sense of community within the classroom. One of the activities involved students standing behind their partners, 'drawing' on their backs, and then having their seated partner transfer the drawing onto their whiteboard desks. These activities not only promote teamwork but also contribute to creating a positive and engaging start to the day, helping students feel a sense of belonging as they begin their learning.

Below from left to right: (1) Jaxon and Jaiden doing some Fine motor activities on Friday. Some very happy faces as they challenge themselves (2) 3B have been exploring the features of texts. On Friday they made an artwork to link up to their learning of the three little pigs. Hunter very proudly showing his artwork (3) Some great morning Maths work from Willow (4) TJ, Elias and Bonnie from 3A shared their awesome writing with Mrs Szasz

Attendance

Regular school attendance is vital for every child’s academic success, social development, and overall wellbeing and feeling of belonging at school. Every day of learning builds on the previous one, helping students develop the skills and confidence they need to thrive. When children miss school, they miss valuable learning experiences that cannot always be made up.

We understand that some families may face challenges in ensuring consistent attendance, and we are here to help. If you are experiencing any difficulties getting your child to school, please reach out to us. Our school offers a range of supports, including support teams, wellbeing programs and community resources, to assist families in overcoming any barriers. Together, we can ensure that every student has the best opportunity to succeed.

A special mention to 3B and 4D for their excellent attendance efforts in the first week. And a great effort from 3C and 4B in week 2.

Online Safety

In today’s digital age, it's important that our young learners enjoy a healthy balance
between screen time and real-world play. While technology can be a valuable learning tool, reducing overall tech use helps foster creativity, social skills, and physical activity. We encourage parents to monitor and limit access to social media to ensure that online experiences remain safe, age-appropriate, and supportive of your child’s development. Establishing clear boundaries at home can empower our children to build balanced, mindful habits that will serve them well both now and in the future.

There are many available resources online through the mighty heroes program if you were interested in exploring these with your child here: Online Safety Mighty Heros

Have a great week and I look forward to sharing some more updates on student curriculum, teaching, and learning in our week 6 newsletter.

Yours in education,

Elyse Szasz
Deputy Principal