Killarney eNewsletter Term 1 - Week 2 | 2025

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Githabul people as the  Traditional Owners of the sky,  waterways and land on which we learn and play. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present. We acknowledge the knowledge, memories, traditions and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and commit to fostering a culture of learning in the spirit of togetherness.

We thank Githabul artist Nathan Charles for allowing us to publish his artwork. 

Date Claimers

From the Principal

Welcome to 2025 at Killarney P-10 State School!

Make a cuppa, find a comfy spot and enjoy our first newsletter for the year. It's a long one, filled with important information so everyone can enjoy a safe and happy year of learning together. 

Welcome to our new families who are joining the Killarney school community for the first time this year and of course, to our families who have returned for another great year.

The start of school this year has been extremely smooth, and we thank our families for your efforts in ensuring each and every child has the resources to ensure success in 2025 and for returning to school dressed in uniform. Thank you also to our staff for being well prepared to welcome everyone.

I am so proud of each of our students and their achievements and the positive manner in which students are engaging with each other and with adults across the school. At Killarney we value learning, we value respect and we value community and we are looking forward to working together in 2025. We are Killarney Strong!

Communication

Killarney P-10 State School has various communication modes for communicating with parents and families. These include our school website, email, school text messages, school notes, school phone calls and Facebook page and student planners. All students have been provided with a Killarney School 2025 Student Planner and students are expected to have these with them at all lessons. Parents are welcome to include messages to teachers in the planners and are asked to remind their child to show any messages to their teachers.

Our online newsletter is published via Schoolzine in Weeks 2, 5 and 9 each term. Parents and carers receive this via the email address recorded at the school. The link is also available on the school website.

Our Electronic Sign at the front of the school advertises our weekly and future events and celebrations.

The Facebook page celebrates school life, provides updates and information throughout the week. Killarney community notices are shared on Fridays.  When students are offsite at excursions, updates about return times are posted on this page.

When contacting parents/carers, the school will use the contact details of the main parent/caregiver listed on the enrolment form and recorded on One School, so it is important parents notify the school of any changes to phone numbers, address or emergency contacts.

We are very proud of our home-school relationships and work hard to maintain effective and positive relationships with all to ensure the best possible education can be achieved for all of our children. Your child’s class teacher is the first point of contact for any questions, concerns or issues regarding your child. If you wish to raise any concern that may require time to address, please arrange a mutually convenient appointment with your class teacher. Appointments can be arranged through the office, via email or face to face with your teacher.

Social Media, please be mindful, that staff members' social media platforms are private. If families have a concern or question about their child or a school matter, please contact your teacher via the school office or at their classroom. Please do not message staff via their private social media platforms about school issues.

Early Arrival

Families are reminded the students should not be at school before 8.00am. No supervision of students is provided before this time. Parents are requested to pick up students promptly after 3.00pm from the front of the school.

Dress Code

All students are expected to follow the school dress code, including jewellery expectations, which was reviewed and endorsed by the P&C Association last year. 

All staff agree that our school is a place for learning, and everyone wants to direct their energies to supporting students to achieve their potential. However, there is an expectation that all students respect and follow the school dress code and students will be addressed about their presentation if they choose not to follow the dress code.

If your family is experiencing difficulty sending your child in the correct uniform, please speak to me, Mrs Bartz or Mrs Barling, so we can support you.

Phones Away All Day

A reminder of the State Government and Education Department Phones and Smartwatches Away All Day Policy.

This policy requires all students in State Schools to:

• If students choose to bring their phone to school, they must switch it off and keep it in the office during school hours.
• Smartwatches and other devices can be worn, however, notifications must be switched off.
• This includes during lessons and break times, as well as during other school activities.

At Killarney our expectations are as follows:

• Every morning when students enter the school grounds, they will be required to switch their phone off and leave it at the OFFICE. Phones are stored securely in the strong room for the day. Students are allowed to turn their phones back on once they leave the school grounds.
• Students with smartwatches or other devices will be required to turn their notifications off from when they enter the school grounds and until they leave the school grounds. A good rule of thumb would be to set the notification silence time from 8:00am – 3:00pm.

Students who require their phone or smartwatch for medical attention and monitoring will be exempt from this policy. Any questions regarding this new policy, please see Mrs Bartz or Ms Hibberd for support.

We appreciate your support of this policy and we look forward to collaboratively working together to ensure that continued effective implementation is achieved across our school.

Parking

We completely understand that car parking during drop off and pick up can be a little frustrating at times. Please always be mindful of safety when choosing where you park.

Thank you for choosing to always cross the road at the supervised crossing. Our students, your children’s safety is everyone business.

Swimming Carnival

Tomorrow is our annual swimming carnival. In years past, the carnival was held at the end of the previous year, however we have moved it Term One. House Captains, Sophia and Dacia, are doing a fabulous job drumming up team spirit across the school and encouraging all students to participate. They have negotiated with the P&C to provide a free BBQ lunch, popper and treat for all students. There will also be watermelon, grown by our Ag Science students, for all. Thank you, Sophia and Dacia for a strong start to your house captaincy and to the P&C for your generosity providing and cooking the BBQ.

All families are invited to attend the carnival, catch up for a chat and cheer along our swimmers.

Captains Induction Ceremony

Next Friday 14 February at 9.30am we invite all families to our annual School Leader Induction Ceremony. Mr James Lister, MP, is once again generously supporting our school community by attending the ceremony.

From the Head of Department

Traecy Bartz - Head of Department

Welcome to the 2025 school year!

Please do not hesitate to contact me to make a time to share celebrations or concerns with me.  

JS Laptops - This week the JS students have been invited to take part in the take home laptop program.  The students have received the charter and a letter introducing them to the program. On Monday 3^rd February, all families with an email address registered, will receive an email from me with the intent for all families to indicate that they have received and understood the details within the email.  Thank you to our school and the P&C who continue to contribute to funding to ensure programs such as this can continue.  Please do not hesitate to make a time to speak with me if you have any questions.

Swimming Carnival – Friday, 7^th February.  Excursion letters and info have been distributed week.

PBL        We value community

                 We value learning

                 We value respect

                 We are Killarney strong!

Southern Downs Youth Council - Our school captains, Emalee and Angus, have opted to be part of the SDYC this year.  They will attend meetings each term with leaders from Junior Schools across our region.  This is a great opportunity to engage with our community, our wider Southern Downs community and make connections with other schools.  Thank you to Emalee and Angus for being brave.

Mobile Phones - A reminder to all students, we are a student phone free zone.  Students who bring phones to school are expected to enter the school via the office and leave their phone at the office for the day.  The phone is signed in and then collected at home time.  Phones left at the office are stored safely in the office during the day.

School Dress Code - endorsed and supported by our P&C

     * plain navy mid-thigh length shorts or skort (no visible emblems)

     * KSS polo shirt

     * mostly white or black sports shoe (not canvas slip ons)

     * plain white, black or navy socks

     Thank you for taking the time to ensure our dress code is followed.

School News

Welcome to Our New Staff

Are your excited for Friday's Carnival?

Dacia and Sophia can't wait!

Prep News - Mrs D

Year 1/2 News - Ms McCauley

Year 3/4 News - Miss B

Year 5/6 News - Mrs Brown

Mr Modra's News - Year 7/8 History

Mr Modra's News Year 9/10 English

Mr Bell's News

Mrs Diete's News

Mrs Hay's News

Miss Kelly's News

Mrs Bunday's News

Attendance

2025 School Calendar - Queensland State Schools

https://education.qld.gov.au/about/Documents/2025-school-calendar.pdf  

P&C News

Tuckshop Convenor

The P&C is looking for a parent or member of our community who would be interested in volunteering to be our Tuckshop Convenor. The opening times/day would be the choice of the new Convenor. The menu would also be the Tuckshop Convenor's choice, in negotiation with the school to comply with  Healthy Choices guidelines. Please contact the P&C for further information or to express your interest by emailing: pandc@killarness.eq.edu.au.

How to order School Uniforms

New stocks of polo shirts have arrived so we now have all sizes available. Parents may now place a uniform order via email and pay by direct deposit!  We hope this will make purchasing uniforms easier. Students can come and see Mrs Diete during break times to try on uniforms if they are unsure of sizes. 

Parenting Tips

ThinkUKnow

ThinkUKnow Australia has been run by the Australian Federal Police for more than 10 years. They develop resources and advice for parents, carers and educators, children and young people to prevent online child sexual exploitation.  

Their website is www.thinkuknow.org.au. You'll also find them on Facebook and Instagram.

The article below is from their website. 

Community News