8th August 2025

IMPORTANT DATES

• Monday, 11th August- Logan Ekka Holiday
• Wednesday, 13th August- Prep- Year 1 HOLD World of Math incursion
• Friday, 15th August- School based police office talk- Respectful relationships
• Monday, 18th August- Year 2- Year 4 HOLD World of Math incursion
• Tuesday, 19th August- Year 4- Year 5 HOLD World of Math incursion
• Tuesday, 19th August- P&C meeting at 9.15am 
• Wednesday, 20th August- Year 5- Year 6 HOLD World of Math incursion
• Thursday, 21st August- Year 6 QLD Olympics Unleashed
• Friday, 22nd August- Book Week Parade
• Friday, 29th August- Year 5 & 6 Street Science Incursion
• Wednesday, 3rd September- Father's Day Stall
• Thursday, 4th September- Father's Day Stall
• Friday, 5th September- Student Free Day
• Friday, 12th September- P&C Colour Fun Run
• Friday, 19th September- Last Day of Term 3

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

School Review

This week we welcomed three reviewers into our school. They engaged with parents, community members, students, and staff to gain insights into our school. The team shared many affirmations and have provided some great improvements moving forward. Once we have the finalised reports we will share these in greater detail.  Thank you to the many staff, parents, students and community members who took the time to speak with the review team.

School Opinion Survey – STILL OPEN

This year’s School Opinion Survey runs from 28 July to 22 August. Parents, carers, students in selected year levels, and staff have been emailed a link to participate. Your feedback will help us understand our school’s strengths and areas for improvement. Survey responses are confidential. Find out more on the School Opinion Survey webpage or contact school administration.

Enrolments 2026

We are currently looking at Browns Plains State School’s planning needs for the 2026 school year. Part of this planning is considering the number of students we will have enrolled in the school. If your child is of Prep age for the 2026 school year and you are considering enrolment at Browns Plains State School, can you please let us know your intentions by contacting the school. This is not binding and the catchment area and enrolment requirements still apply.

QParents

As of 2026, we be using the QParents platform for consent management. Parents with children at schools using QParents External link can easily access and manage their child's information, complete administrative tasks and stay connected with the school through the application.

Please note: The term 'parent' is used throughout to denote parents, carers, kinship and families.

QParents is a free and secure online application that enables Queensland state schools to provide parents with digital access to various student data and administrative functions, including:

• view upcoming events
• access and provide digital consent
• view timetables
• view and update attendance details (including future absences)
• view behaviour information
• view and pay invoices
• access payment history
• access report cards and assessment planners
• access enrolment history.

As a school we have commenced utilising the consent function and will continue to explore the additional functions for use in 2026. Please register for QParents as soon as possible. If you require support to do this, please contact the office. 

FROM THE DEPUTY

Book Week is Coming!! 

Book Week is a key celebration event for our school. This year’s celebration will run throughout Week 6, 18th to 22nd August, finishing with our Book Week Parade at 9:30am on Friday. 

The 2025 theme is Book an Adventure! During the week, classes will be involved in a variety of experiences and celebrations, including prizes for the best class door decorations. 

On Friday, students are invited to dress as their favourite character from a book. We are always surprised and delighted by the amazing and clever costumes. Please endure that students are still wearing clothing that is appropriate and safe for school, particularly their footwear. 

All parents and families are welcome to attend the Book Week Parade to be held in the hall at 9:30am on Friday, 22nd August. Prizes will be awarded for best costumes. 

We look forward to seeing you then. Happy reading!! 

Students of the Week 

Congratulations to this week’s “Students of the Week”. Thank you for always learning, always being safe and always being respectful. You make Browns Plains SS a better place to be. Well done! 

Enrol for Prep 2026

Enrolment have begun for Prep students for 2026. Do you have a child born between July 1st, 2020 and June 30th, 2021? Enrolment packs are now available from the office. GET SET FOR PREP transition days will be held in Term 4. This is an important opportunity to support a comfortable and confident start to Prep. Book a time for your enrolment interview as places will fill quickly.

Jellybean Playgroup

Come and join us Wednesdays – 9:15-10:45 am in the hall room. At playgroup, your child can:

• enjoy early learning activities

• develop friendships and social skills

• build school readiness

. . . as well as a great opportunity to meet and share with other parents

Kindergarten is a part-time educational program for children in the year before Prep. Kindy is 15 hours per week, 40 weeks per year and is free for Queensland children attending a government-approved kindergarten program.

In Kindy, children have great opportunities to make friends, explore new environments, build confidence and have fun learning. Kindy offers meaningful experiences and interactions that support your child's early learning, wellbeing and development and give them a great start to school.

You can find more information about free Kindy programs here.

Leesa Warwick,
Deputy Principal

FROM THE DEPUTY

We’re nearly halfway through the term, and there's already been so much exciting learning happening across the school. From STEM adventures to preparations for Year 6 camp, we have lots to share with our school community this week.

Year 5 Students Shine at Griffith University STEM-athon

On Wednesday 31st July, a group of enthusiastic Year 5 students had the privilege of attending the Logan Griffith University STEM-athon. During the day, students took part in a range of hands-on STEM workshops including rocket building, Lego coding, and using solar-powered equipment. They also enjoyed an engaging science show and participated in outdoor games and a beautiful Indigenous weaving workshop during the lunch break. A big thank you to Griffith University for not only inviting our students to take part in this fantastic opportunity but also for generously providing transport for our learners. We are so proud of how our students represented Browns Plains State School!

Welcome Mr Bruning to Year 5

We are thrilled to welcome Mr Bruning to our teaching team as the Year 5 classroom teacher for the remainder of the year. Mr Bruning joins us all the way from the UK and brings with him a strong passion for mathematics and sport. We know he will be a wonderful addition to our staff and a great support to his students.

We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Mrs Sodenkamp, who has done an exceptional job teaching the class for the past 10 weeks, all while continuing to support diverse learners. Your commitment and flexibility have not gone unnoticed—thank you!

Farewell to Miss Ward

Today, we say goodbye to Miss Ward, who will be returning to the UK for personal reasons. We would like to thank Miss Ward for the energy, warmth, and commitment she brought to her classroom, both academically and in building strong learning relationships with her students. She will be greatly missed by staff and students alike.

To maintain consistency of learning, Miss Mills (our Engagement Teacher) will be stepping into the class to continue curriculum delivery and uphold school-wide expectations until a new teacher is able to commence. Parents of students in 3B will receive more detailed information once final arrangements are confirmed. Thank you for your understanding and support during this transition.

Countdown to Year 6 Camp is On!

Excitement is building as we count down the weeks to the Year 6 Camp! A friendly reminder to families that all payments must be finalised by 15th September so we can confirm numbers with the camp facility.

If your child is attending camp and requires medication, please ensure you collect a Medication Administration Form from the office as soon as possible. All medication must be clearly labelled with the child’s name and instructions from a doctor to meet safety guidelines.

We can’t wait to see our Year 6 students enjoy this fantastic learning experience!

Theresa Kooyman,
Deputy Principal

FROM THE HEAD OF DEPT- STUDENT SERVICES

Bullying No Way Week

This year Browns Plains State School will be participating in the Bullying No Way: National week of action, 11 to 15 August 2025. On Friday 15th August, we invite staff and students to wear purple sun safe clothing. Students must wear normal school shoes.

Bullying No Way Week is a commitment being made by thousands of schools and supporters across the country. It provides an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to bullying prevention. It gives us an opportunity to connect with students, staff and school communities to implement workable solutions to prevent bullying.

The theme for this year's campaign is Be Bold. Be Kind. Speak Up.

It takes a community to be brave and address bullying behaviours, within and beyond the school gate.

Students can be bold, kind and speak up to support others being bullied. While trusted adults are there to support children and young people learn how to be kind to each other and report bullying.

This Bullying No Way Week, we’re asking you to be bold and say something, be kind and support someone and be proud to speak up against bullying.

For more information about Bullying No Way Week and bullying prevention, visit the Bullying No Way website - https://qedgov.eventsair.com/2025-bullying-no-way-week/

During the week we will be engaging students in meaningful discussions and activities aimed at promoting empathy, understanding and respect for diversity. We encourage families to take this opportunity to have open and honest conversations with your child about the impact of bullying and what they can do if they need support. On Friday the 15th of August the Logan School Based Police Officers will be attending the school to deliver a presentation focused on Respectful Relationships.

Morning Muster

This year we began conducting mini parades, known as Morning Muster, to review the PBL and Reboot focuses as well as deliver important messages to the relevant year levels. We are now presenting awards at Muster in between parades. Morning Muster is held for the following year levels in their undercover areas at 9am:

Year 1 and Year 2 – Tuesday

Year 5 and Year 6 – Wednesday

Year 3 and Year 4 – Thursday

Prep - Friday

Break Times

Our new Ninja Warrior Playground is now open and students in Year 3 – 6 have been enjoying the course at break times.

Congratulations to the listed classes for the Best Attendance and Most Improved Attendance for Week 2 – Week 3

During Week 3 our classes who achieved the Best and Most Improved Attendance for Term 2 enjoyed a pizza party each! Congratulations to Prep B, 2C, 3A and 6A.

Attendance Parades

Earlier this term we celebrated the students who achieved our school target of 90% attendance and 100% attendance for Term 2.

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Please ensure your children are at school every day if they are well. If your child is absent from school, provide a reason for their absence using one of the methods listed below.

• Phone: 07 3809 6222
• Reply to the text message sent by the school on the day of your child’s absence
• Return the Unexplained Absence letter with a reason and signature

Unexplained Absence letters are generated and distributed to students each fortnight. These letters provide dates of your child’s absences which have not already been explained. If you receive one please fill in the reason/s for your child's absence/s, sign and have your child return it to their class teacher. Please work with us to reduce the number of unexplained absences in 2025!

FROM HEAD OF DEPT- CURRICULUM

This week as part of their English unit, 2C and 2D had a visit from the Big Bad Wolf. Students prepared questions to ask the wolf to find out information to develop their opinion about whether the wolf is innocent or guilty! Students also wrote some letters to the Pigs and Wolf

Dear Alexander T. Wolf,

I have gotten your letter so I will help you. I will write a letter to the guards because I want them to let you out.

Kind Regards,

Poppie-Rose

Dear Percy Pig (The third little pig),

Why were you so mean to the big bad wolf? He just wanted a bit of sugar for his cake for his sweet sweet, granny. You were so mean to the wolf. For so the wolf and make the cake for the sweet old granny for her birthday.

From Elleanor

Dear T. Wolf,

I have gotten your letter so I will help you. I will write a letter to the guards and I want them to let you go. I want to know why did you climb down the chimney and why did you eat two pigs? They were friendly pigs.

I will only let you go if you do not blow houses down and you can’t climb down chimneys so you don’t get burnt again. And if you go anywhere you have to bring tissues.

Signed by Gracie

World of Maths- Hands on workshops

As part of the learning this term, we have invited World of Maths (a travelling, interactive Maths Workshop) to visit our school.

World of Maths offers an ideal opportunity for students to see how mathematics is applied to everyday life situations and explore Maths in a hands-on environment.

The Student Council has kindly offered to subsidise the cost for families, and we are pleased to be able to offer this experience for a low cost of $5 per student.

These workshops will be held during weeks 5 and 6. Please pay this ASAP.

FROM ECDP

Does your preschool child require additional support before they start school. Browns Plains have an Early Childhood Development Program attached to Browns Plains State School.

FROM THE P&C

ADMINISTRATION NEWS

HAVE YOU REGISTERED FOR Q-PARENTS YET?

Thank you to the families who have registered for Q-Parents. From Term 3 2025, all consents for school related forms, for examples, excursion consent forms and student resource scheme participation agreement, will be done through QParents, no hardcopies will be given to families. If you have not registered for QParents please register ASAP.

QParents is a free and secure online application that enables Queensland state schools to provide parents with digital access to various student data and administrative functions, including:

• view upcoming events
• access and provide digital consent
• view and update attendance details (including future absences)
• view and pay invoices
• access payment history
• access report cards
• access enrolment history.

If you are having issues with uploading your ID when registering, please email your documents to admin@brownsplainsss.eq.edu.au

Contact details

• There are times when we may need to contact parents and carers. Do we have your most up to date contact details?  If not, please contact the school on 3809 6222 or admin@brownsplainsss.eq.edu.au so we can update our records. These details include parent/carer’s name, address, phone numbers, email address and emergency contact details. Please remember to contact the school if any of these details change.

Absence notification process

• Please remember to call the school on 3809 6222 or email at admin@brownsplainsss.eq.edu.au early in the morning if your child is going to be away or late for school so your child’s absence can be recorded correctly.

Same day notification

• Our school will contact parents as soon as practicable on the day if a student is not at school and we don’t know why.  If you are advised by the school that your child is away without a reason, please contact us as soon as possible by 3809 6222 to let us know where your child is. We will follow-up with parents if no response is received.

FINANCE NEWS

Payment Options Available:-

BPoint

Visit:-  www.bpoint.com.au/payments/dete  and complete steps CRN can be found at the bottom of your statement.

Eftpos

Finance Window open Wednesday and Thursday 8am -10.00am.

CONTACT DETAILS

It is important that your contact details are up to date. This can be overlooked sometimes but can be easily updated on our website.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Parentline: Support and advice for all Queensland parents and carers

Being a parent can be rewarding—but it can also be challenging. Whether you’re trying to support your child with school issues, friendship challenges, behaviour, or tough moments at home, it’s completely normal to feel unsure about what to do next.

Parentline is a free and confidential service available to all Queensland parents and carers. No problem is too big or too small—and reaching out early can make a real difference.

Parentline offers advice and support on a wide range of parenting topics, including:

• bullying and friendship issues
• parent–child relationships
• parenting strategies and behaviour management
• mental and emotional wellbeing—for both children and parents

You can speak with a trained professional by phone or webchat (6am-midnight), seven days a week.

An online bullying support forum is also available. This is a safe, moderated space to connect with others, ask questions, and share experiences.

📞 Call 1300 30 1300

💬 Visit parentline.com.au

Because parenting doesn’t come with a manual—but help is here when you need it.

Home Fire Safety - Mandatory

All Queensland homes, including caravans and motorhomes, must have interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms by 1 January 2027. These alarms are faster at detecting fires and when one goes off, they all do, giving you more time to escape.

It’s also important to create and practise a fire escape plan with your family. It only takes a few minutes and could save lives.

Learn more at Queensland Fire Department