Killarney eNewsletter Term 3 - Week 3 | 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

EXPLICIT IMPROVEMENT AGENDA

From the Principal

Over the years I have had the good fortune to work with Killarney P-10 State School and also have had opportunities to engage with the wider school community. I am so thankful that I have been given the opportunity to fulfil the role of temporary Acting Principal for the first 5 weeks. The recruitment and selection process for the extended Acting Principal position is nearing completion and I hope to be able to communicate the outcome with you all over the coming days.

In my third week I already have had the chance to meet the students here and have enjoyed seeing firsthand the positive culture and values that are evident across the school. This must be in part due to the support that you give along with the rest of the Killarney school community to ensure the wellbeing and education of each student who attend this great school. You are part of a strong, cohesive and supportive community and I am thankful that I have the opportunity to be part of the team.

This term is off to a flying start with student engagement in units of work across all learning areas. I would like to give a shout out to the dedicated staff at this school, who are working hard to make sure that your children are learning and achieving every day.  This term is also full of sporting carnivals for both our Primary and Junior Secondary students.  Other great co-curricular activities this term include the School Musical, class excursions, work experience for our Year 9 students, a Year 7/8 overnight Arts camp and finally the Year 10 Canberra trip. Please note the school calendar that will have the dates of all these events listed. 

I understand that there have been higher than usual student absences, because of the 'flu' doing its rounds across the community. This has impacted not only students but some staff as well. Thank you for taking the measures to stop the spread by keeping sick children at home. However, it is a good time to remind everyone that if students are well, we need to see them at school. Days away from school, impacts a student's ability to learn the content needed in all Learning Areas and students who are consistently away are significantly at risk of missing the important learning milestones, regardless of age or year level. So please remember, 'Everyday counts'!

Leanne Kanowski, Acting Principal

From the Head of Department

Newsletter from Traecy – Week 3, Term 3

Welcome back for Term 3, another busy time of the school year. Our main focus for this Term is our Musical – ‘The Wrong Way Round’. Congratulations to Mrs D and Ms McCauley who are working tirelessly to be ready in time for our Musical extravaganza on Wednesday 3^rd September.

Bringing ‘special’ things to school

JS students have been reminded that bringing things from home to occupy time in the lunchtime, is at their own risk. Items brought from home are the students’ responsibility.

Attendance Celebrations
This week the Primary classes (Prep, 1/2, 3/4 and 5/6) will celebrate 90%+ attendance across the first 2 weeks of Term 3. Each of these classes have negotiated 30 minutes of supervised ‘free’ classroom time. We also recognise the Year 8 class 87% attendance across the first 2 weeks. The Year 8 class will be invited to share in a hot chocolate on Wednesday.

A reminder from our Dress Code expectations:

*Jewellery or other adornment is not to be worn to school except a modest wristwatch, a single set of small plain sleepers or studs and a plain ring. Medical information jewellery is permitted. 

*Facial piercing is not permitted. Any existing piercing must contain a clear small stud. Safety requirements are that piercing must be removed for physical activity and removed or covered for food handling lessons. 

*Ear Spacers are not permitted. Any existing spacers must be solid and skin coloured. 

*Visible tattoos are not permitted. Any existing tattoos must be covered at all times. 

*Nail polish or make up is not to be worn.  

*Hair longer than shoulder length must be tied back neatly. Only school navy ribbons, clips or scrunchies may be worn. Hair must remain a natural colour. 

*Shoes – The rules of the Factories and Shops Acts (1960 – 1973) and Education Queensland require that footwear providing adequate protection (impervious material) and covering of the entire foot shall be worn in all workrooms (workshops, laboratories, art, graphics, textiles and food preparation rooms).  

Year 9 Work placements

The Year 9 students have been provided with information about a work placement opportunity in Week 10: 15-19/09.

Students should get their request forms to Mrs Bartz by Friday 8^th August to be eligible to attend.

Canberra Trip update

With just 6 weeks until take off the excitement is building. This year Mrs Bunday and Ms Genner will accompany the students on this fabulous opportunity flying out of the Gold Coast airport on the 15^th September and returning on Friday 19^th September. Invoices have been issued for the last payments and we would appreciate it if this could be actioned as soon as possible.

Year 10 to 11 Transition

As a continuation for supporting our Year 10 students to be prepared for Year 11 in 2026 at WSHS, in Week 9 we will welcome Mrs Waples from WSHS to discuss subject choices/selection for 2026.

Year 6 to Year 7 Transition

This week I had the please of speaking briefly with the Year 5/6 class about the Year 6 to Year 7 transition process within our school. My main message was that it doesn’t matter if they will be at our school, or an alternate school, there will be new learning. I shared with the students some of the exciting things they will experience in our JS at our school and invited them to come and chat with me if needed. Looking forward to working with the Year 6 class to ensure a smooth transition.

From The Support Teacher

SPORTS

School News

Year 3-4 PBL Focus lessons

Each week, we explore our PBL focus so we can demonstrate the expected behaviour with more consistency and independence. This week, our focus is ‘Find Help’. We discussed why finding help is important; when we should ask for help; and how we ask for help. In small groups, we acted out a scenario for the whole class. The class then discussed why finding help was important for each scenario.

Science

In science this term Year 7&8 will be designing and building self-propelled vehicles. Year 7 will be focusing on the forces in action whilst year 8 will be focusing on the energy changes in action. We will be developing our scientific method skills throughout the process. Students will submit a portfolio of their plan, method, results, and analysis and evaluation at the end of the term.

Year 9&10 have a busy term ahead. They have started to look at atomic structure and how different atoms react in the presence of each other. They will use their understanding of atomic structure and the periodic table to make predictions about chemical reactions. They will be examined on this in week 6. Later in the term students will carry out an investigation, applying the scientific method, looking at factors that affect the rate of chemical reactions. They will submit their scientific method of this investigation at the end of week 8. Week 9 will be spent learning about and researching radioisotopes. Students will submit a radioisotope report before they leave for camp in week 10.

Digital Technologies

Year 7&8 have started to research handheld gaming devices to produce a fact file. They will use this research to start developing ideas about what makes a good handheld gaming device. Students will then plan, design and build a mock version of a handheld gaming device. They will submit a portfolio at the end of term 4 that shows their design process and evaluates the success of their design. Students have been told that they can bring in any old handheld gaming devises in for us to look at. They will not be played on, as we are only looking at device design, and do not even have to be in working condition.

Maths

Year 7&8 are doing statistics followed by probability. In statistics, we are looking at how data is collected, presented and analysed. Students will be assessed on statistics at the beginning of week 5. After week 5 we will move on to probability which will be assessed in week 9.

Year 7/8 Civics and Citizenship

Dear Parents/Guardians of Year 7/8 students,

Welcome to Term 3!

In this unit, students will investigate active citizenship in Australian democracy, enabling them to:

• Analyse features of Australian democracy and explain features of Australia’s democracy that enable active participation.
• Recognise different types of law in Australia and explain how laws are made.
• Identify ways they can be active and informed citizens in different contexts.
• Identify the diverse belief systems in Australia.
• Communicates using appropriate texts, subject-specific language and concepts.

Assessment:
The assessment task for this unit is a collection of work. The purpose of the task is to explain how Australian democracy enables active participation within the context of different types of law.

The context of the task is Australia’s contemporary society, which provides students with the opportunity to analyse the features of Australian democracy that enable active participation; identify the types of law in Australia and explain how laws are made.

Timetable:

Students will have 1 Civics and Citizenship lesson, scheduled on Friday (period 2).

Contact:

I encourage you to reach out to me with any comments, concerns, or questions you may have throughout the term. Your cooperation and support are essential in supporting your child's learning, and I am here to assist in any way possible.

As I work part-time (Tuesday and Friday only), email is the most efficient way to contact me, and I will strive to respond as promptly as possible. Phone calls are also welcomed on my scheduled work days.

I look forward to the term ahead!

Kind regards

Theresa Hay

thay3@eq.edu.au

Year 9/10 Maths

Dear Parents/Guardians of Year 9/10 students,

Welcome to Term 3!

We’re excited to start off Term 3 with a focus on Algebra, delving into the abstract language of mathematics, exploring the use of symbols and variables to represent relationships and generalize patterns.

YEAR 9:

Unit: ALGEBRA

In this unit, students will:

• Expand binomial products, and factorise monic quadratic expressions.
• Use mathematical modelling to solve problems involving change in financial and other applied contexts, choosing to use linear and quadratic functions.
• Graph quadratic functions and solve monic quadratic equations with integer roots algebraically.

Year 9 Maths Assessment:

• Week 5: Examination - To solve quadratic functions graphically and algebraically, and make connections between graphical and algebraic representations.

YEAR 10:

Unit: ALGEBRA
In this unit, students will:

• Use mathematical modelling to solve problems involving growth and decay in financial and other applied situations, applying linear, quadratic and exponential functions as appropriate, and solve related equations, numerically and graphically.
• Solve problems involving simultaneous linear equations and linear inequalities in 2 variables graphically and justify solutions.
• Interpret and use logarithmic scales representing small or large quantities or change in applied contexts.

Year 10 Maths Assessment:

• Week 9: Examination - To perform calculations, utilising graphing to solve growth and decay problems, simultaneous equations, linear inequalities, and interpret logarithmic scales.

Timetable:

Students will have 4 Maths lessons: Tuesday (period 1 and period 2) and Friday (period 1 and period 3). Due to the dynamics of composite classes, students will be working more independently, at times, as explicit year level content is delivered.

Contact:

I encourage you to reach out to me with any comments, concerns, or questions you may have throughout the term. Your cooperation and support are essential in supporting your child's learning, and I am here to assist in any way possible.

As I work part-time (Tuesday and Friday only), email is the most efficient way to contact me, and I will strive to respond as promptly as possible. Phone calls are also welcomed on my scheduled work days.

I look forward to the term ahead!

Kind regards

Theresa Hay

thay3@eq.edu.au

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. 

Community News