Killarney eNewsletter Term 3 - Week 6 | 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
| August | |
| Monday 25th | Year 10 Canberra Trip – students and parents: 3:10pm - room to read |
| Friday 29th | Students not in the musical - JS Ag Expo |
| September | |
| Friday 26th | Year 10 RYDA |
| Thursday 11th | Year 7/8 Arts Camp – students and parents: 3.10pm in the JS |
| Monday 15th - Friday 19th | Year 10 Canberra excursion |
| Tuesday 16th - Wednesday 17th | Year 7/8 Arts Camp |
EXPLICIT IMPROVEMENT AGENDA
From the Principal
As I shared with you all, we will be welcoming Mr Peter Collins to the school, starting on Monday.
Peter has been the Deputy Principal of Burpengary State Secondary College since 2019. However, in this time he has undertaken acting positions as Principal of Monto SHS, Deputy Principal at the Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technologies and Deputy Principal at Wellington Point SHS.
I wish Peter all the very best and know that he will enjoy working with this wonderful community,
families, staff and students. I hope that I continue the connections I have made here from my position back at Allora P-10 State School.
The school term continues to motor through with the many co-curricular activities which include the School Musical, class excursions, work experience (Year 9) and of course our Year 10 Canberra Trip. Please note the school calendar that will have the dates of all these events listed.
On top of all this is essential learning happening over all subject areas and I urge all students to remain engaged and focussed as we head towards assessment tasks.
What also is important is to attend school regularly. Unfortunately, there are some students who are demonstrating a very high absentee rate. This significantly affects their ability to successfully engage with the required curriculum content and achieve successful outcomes. It also puts a barrier to maintaining relationships with their peers. As a Queensland State School, we are legally required to follow an ‘Enforcement of attendance’ process for chronic and sustained absenteeism if contact with parents and carers are not resulting in an improvement in a student’s attendance at school. So please remember ‘Every Day Counts’.
On a final positive note, I would like to thank everyone here at Killarney P-10 State School for supporting me in my short tenure and allowing me to engage with such a wonderful group of students.
Leanne Kanowski
Acting Principal
From the Head of Department
Wow, it’s the end of Week 6 already. As we move through to the end of Term3 my reflection is that we are not slowing down. Thank you for keeping up.
Musical cast excursion
Thank you to Mrs D and Ms McCauley for a fun night at the Empire Theatre last night. The Addams Family was funny, sad and amazing all rolled into one. We are so proud of our students and their behaviour both in and out of our school boundaries.
Year 9 Work Experience
Mrs Power and I have been discussing and making phone calls to get the work experience sorted for Week 10.
Vape Concerns
Unfortunately, we have had some reports of students using vapes. I addressed the JS students earlier this week and shared with them some information about the chemicals in vapes. I believe that there is a thought that vaping is not ‘dangerous’. I urge parents to have a discussion with their sons/daughters. I have included a parent fact sheet with this edition of the newsletter to assist with the conversations.
Meetings:
Year 10 Canberra Trip – students and parents: Monday 25/08 at 3.10pm in the Room to Read
Year 7/8 Arts Camp – students and parents: Thursday 11/09 at 3.10pm in the JS
JS Excursions:
Tuesday 26/08 Year 10 – RYDA
Friday 29/08 JS students not in the musical – JS Ag Expo
Both of these excursions have fully funded transport and we thank the SDRC for sponsoring the bus to the JS Ag Expo.
Monday 15/09 – Friday 19/09 Year 10 Canberra excursion
Tuesday 16/09 – Wednesday 17/09 Year 7/8 Arts Camp
Thank you for acknowledging the staff who work hard to ensure these programs and activities are available for students to engage with.
Southern Downs Youth Council
Thank you to Emalee for representing our school at the SDRC Youth Council. I know the connections that you have made with students from other schools will be a positive as you move on to Year 11 in 2026.
QPS Cyber Safety
We recently hosted a visit from Warwick police officers Cam and Tim to share their thoughts with the JS students around online safety. Thank you to the QPS for their commitment to keeping our community safe.
School News
YEAR 3/4
Creating a Safe Learning Environment for All
The Year 3/4 team have been exploring what a ‘safe learning environment’ means; behaviours that help everyone feel safe and included; and strategies that build a respectful and supporting learning environment.
Students began their lesson with a Warm-Up where they analysed given scenarios, decided if it was ‘safe’ or ‘unsafe’ and the reason ‘why’. Our group discussion moved to ‘Why do safe behaviours matter for everyone’s learning?’
We learnt that a safe learning environment is ‘a place where everyone feels respected, included and able to learn without fear’. We brainstormed the ‘looks like’, ‘feels like’ and ‘sounds like’ for such a place.
The team engaged in a ‘Think, Pair, Share’ activity to help us generate strategies we can commit to doing to keep our learning environment safe. Our class agreement is currently in draft form, and we will be excited to share it with you.
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
