13 February 2025

Principal’s Report

Welcome back to all of our Kuluin students and families. We extend a warm welcome to all the new families that have started with us at Kuluin this year. We have started with 25 classes.  We thank our staff and parents for all the preparation you do to ensure that our students are school ready. As a school community we will continue with high standards of expectations in key school priority areas of teaching and learning, behaviour and attendance.

Our school will focus on Equity and Excellence realising the potential of every student. Class teachers will conduct a meet the teacher session for parents in the first few weeks of school and you will receive an outline of the term 1 curriculum and special events for each year level.

Overall School Priorities:

• Build teacher capabiliity to improve student English results in A and B.
• Increase student engagement through multi-tiered systems of support with Positive Behaviour for Learning, (PBL) and inclusive practices.

Welcome to staff who have been transferred to Kuluin or are working at Kuluin 2025

• Pete Fittler A/Deputy Principal Year 3-5 Term 1
• Meg Gillett – transferring from Mount Isa District
• Kara Jackson – teaching Prep B every Friday
• Keera Hopper – transferring from Mitchell State School
• Shania Craven – teaching in the Special Education Program Term 1
• Lisa Lloyd – teaching in the Special Education Program Term 1
• Helen Mego – music/arts KLA Specialist teacher
• Karen Sigston returning from maternity leave

To facilitate open communication, in the first instance please contact your child’s class teacher. The Leadership Team is also available for support. The Leadership Team consists of

Corrie Connors – Principal
Jess Thompson - Deputy Principal P-2
Pete Fittler – Deputy Principal Year 3-5
Benjamin Gaske – Deputy Principal Year 6, School Operations and Events
Minna Berry – Head of Special Education Services
Tracey Axelsen – Guidance Officer
Rebecca Dehey - Head of Department Curriculum
Sally O’Neal – Business Manager (including payment plan support) 

Our vision statement “Together We Grow” encapsulates the sense of “family” that permeates The Kuluin School community. A community where students, parents and staff form an active partnership of life – long learning and where support, respect, effective communication and a sense of safety are the cornerstones for our academic, social and emotional growth.

Communication with our families is very important.
Newsletters will be sent to family’s week 3, 6, 9 every term.
We will also use our school Kuluin State School Facebook site and/or whole school email to celebrate student achievement and notify families of important news.

Our parades will be conducted at in the hall at the below times

Our school leadership ceremony will be held Friday 14th February in the hall at 9.15am. This will include Student Council, School Captains, Sport Captains, Cultural and Performing Arts Captains. School Captains are the highest level of student leadership at Kuluin. They are, themselves, a promotion of our leadership program. School Captain’s welcome visitors to the school; represent the student body at official school functions and community events; always promote the good image of the school; be actively involved in school activities and assist the Student Council fulfill their responsibilities.

Please refer to the video for our student leader message. Thank you to Mr Gaske for producing.

School facilities 

The first P&C meeting for the year is in the Resource Centre/Library Monday 17^th February at 6pm. I would encourage new families to attend the meeting as a great way to meet new parents, meet the leadership team and to make a positive contribution to school direction and fundraising. Thank you to our P&C who generously donated over $340 000 to the school in 2024 including the OSHC updated and synthetic grass for Year 1 and Year 2 areas.

Next week two major projects will commence at Kuluin SS.  The Year 6 building will be renovated - approximate completion date end term 1. Disability access to the hall - approximate completion date is 4 months. Students will only be able to access the hall from the front entrance. A crossing will be set up inside the boom gate to ensure student safety.

Access to the roundabout near SEP will be restricted during this time. Please contact the office if you access the roundabout carpark so we can support a plan. OSHC - please use the school pathway for access during this time. Thank you for your understanding. We look forward to this improvement for our students.

BYOD Success

We are looking forward to all Year 4-6 classes being involved in the Bring Your Own Device Program 2025. We want to thank parents for the investment you are making to support your child. Almost 100% of parents have purchased a laptop to support our BYOD program.

Kind Regards
Corrie Connors
Principal

Deputy Principal’s Report

Years Prep to 2

Welcome Back to the 2025 School Year!

What a wonderful start to the year! It’s been fantastic to see all our students settle in so well and get back into their routines. A huge thank you to our amazing staff – teachers, teacher aides, cleaners, administration team, and our groundsman – for all the hard work they’ve put in to ensure the classrooms, curriculum, and school are ready for another year of learning and fun!

My name is Jessica Thompson, and I am excited to be working as the P-2 Deputy Principal this year. I look forward to working closely with our dedicated teachers, our enthusiastic students, and our supportive families to ensure each student has the opportunity to achieve success and develop a love for learning.

A special welcome to our new Prep students and families! Stepping into 'big school' is a big milestone, and our new students have done so with great confidence and excitement. We are thrilled to have you join our school community.

This year, we will continue to focus on improving student outcomes in English, in line with both department and school priorities. We will support our students in developing strong foundational skills that will benefit them throughout their learning journey.

We also want to encourage families to build strong routines at home. Early bedtimes, healthy breakfasts, and arriving at school on time are all important steps in helping our students be the best learners they can be. We ask for your support in reinforcing school routines, as a consistent message from both home and school helps children understand boundaries and expectations, giving them the best chance for success.

For the safety of all students, please remember that playgrounds are out of bounds before and after school. This ensures a safe and orderly environment for all.

I am truly excited for the year ahead and look forward to working with you all to make it a wonderful and successful year for our students!

Kind Regards,
Jess Thompson
Deputy Principal Years P-2

Years 3 to 5

I am thrilled to introduce myself as the new Deputy Principal at Kuluin State School, where I will primarily be looking after years 3 to 5.

Thank you, everyone, for the warm welcome to the Kuluin State School family. It is both an honour and a privilege to join such a vibrant and welcoming school community.

I believe our purpose is to support families in building strong foundations for our students, helping them become successful in all areas of their lives.

My goal is to ensure that every student thrives, feels valued, and is empowered to reach their full potential, while also supporting them in building life skills and becoming lifelong learners.

Open communication and shared understanding are key to strong communities.

If you ever need to chat or have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Kind Regards,
Peter Fittler
Deputy Principal Years 3-5

Year 6

Welcome Back to 2025!

Welcome back to all our Kuluin students and families! A special welcome to those joining our school community for the first time—we are so pleased to have you here. We have had a fantastic start to the year, with students settling into routines and engaging in their learning with enthusiasm. Thank you to our staff and families for your efforts in making this transition smooth and positive for all.

As Deputy Principal, my role focuses on supporting our Year 6 students, overseeing school operations, and coordinating key events. I work closely with our teachers and leadership team to ensure a positive learning environment for all students. This year, our school continues to prioritise high expectations in teaching and learning, behaviour, and attendance, with a strong focus on Equity and Excellence—ensuring every student reaches their full potential.

A huge thank you to our incredible Year 6 teachers and the dedicated teaching team that supports them. Their commitment, passion, and hard work set our senior students up for a successful final year at Kuluin. We look forward to seeing our Year 6 leaders grow and shine in 2025.

A quick reminder that regular attendance is essential for student success—every day counts! Attending school every day helps students stay engaged, build friendships, and reach their learning goals. If you have any concerns or need support, please reach out—we’re here to help.

Communication is key, and we encourage parents to contact their child’s teacher as the first point of call. However, if you ever need anything or have any questions, my door is always open, and I am happy to assist in any way I can.

Here’s to a fantastic year ahead—let’s make 2025 one to remember!

Kind Regards,
Benjamin Gaske
Deputy Principal Year 6

Curriculum News

Welcome to the 2025 school year!  My name is Rebecca Dehey and I am the Head of Department: Curriculum at Kuluin State School.  My role involves working with all teachers at Kuluin to ensure authentic and meaningful coverage of the Australian Curriculum throughout the school. 

2025 will continue our implementation of Version 9.0 of the Australian Curriculum.  This year, teachers at Kuluin will begin implementation of Version 9.0 English.  We will also continue to refine our delivery of V9 Mathematics and prepare for our 2026 implementation of Science, HPE and Technologies. 

This year at Kuluin, teachers will be strategically sequencing curriculum delivery in English to ensure consistency across year levels. 

Each term will have an imaginative, informative or persuasive text type.  Each semester students will be assessed on speaking and listening, reading and viewing, and writing and creating.

Rebecca Dehey
Head Of Department: Curriculum

NAPLAN

NAPLAN 2025 – Year 3 and Year 5 - Wednesday 12^th March – Monday 24^th March 2025

Kuluin State School will join with schools nationwide to deliver the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) in Term 1 2025. NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life.  Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 participate in the annual NAPLAN tests in reading, writing, conventions of language (spelling, grammar, and punctuation) and numeracy.  The assessment provides parents/carers and schools with an understanding of how individual students are performing at the time of the tests and allows parents/carers and schools to see how the student is progressing in literacy and numeracy, against the national standard and compared with their peers throughout Australia.

NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process – it does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance.  NAPLAN also provides schools, education authorities and governments with information about how education programs are working, and whether young Australians are achieving important educational outcomes.

Kuluin State School Year 3 and Year 5 students will complete NAPLAN utilising an online format, with the exception of the Year 3 writing test, which is completed using a written format. Further information about NAPLAN, as well as links to a public demonstration site where parents/carers and students can trial the NAPLAN online format is available from the link below.

In preparation for formal NAPLAN tests, students will complete a NAPLAN Practice test, guided and supported by teachers, by mid-way through Term 1. 

Nationwide NAPLAN testing will be undertaken in Week 7 and Week 8 of Term 1.  Parents and carers are asked to note the following dates for the delivery of these tests:

• all tests will be completed between Wednesday 12^th March – Monday 24^th March 2025

Further detailed information on specific NAPLAN test dates will be provided to parents and carers of students in Year 3 and Year 5.

Should parents/carers of students in Year 3 and Year 5 have any questions or concerns about NAPLAN please contact your child’s teacher or make an appointment with a member of the Leadership Team so that we can provide information and/or assistance.

Kind regards,
Linda Bray

Sports News

Welcome back! I hope everybody had a safe and enjoyable holiday while enjoying the opportunity to catch up with family and friends.

Grades 2 and 4 Swimming Lessons:

During Term 1 our Grade 2 and Grade 4 students will take part in swimming lessons at The Flying Fish Swim School. Swimming is not only a potentially lifesaving skill but is also a part of the school curriculum. Our students will take part in 6 lessons over a 3 week period. The first lesson is Monday 3rd March with the program concluding on Thursday 20^th March. Grade 2 swim on Monday and Tuesday. Grade 4 swim on Wednesday and Thursday. Further information regarding swimming will be sent out this week. Please inform the school if your child will not be participating in the program.

Swimming timetable:

Representative School Sport:

Representative sport allows students a pathway to achieve selection in District, Regional, State and National sporting teams. These representative teams are coached and managed by teachers. For those new to Kuluin, our school is located within the Nambour District. Our district includes 19 other local schools. If selected in a Nambour District sporting team, that student will then attend the Sunshine Coast Regional Trials. If selected in a regional team, that student will then attend the State Championships for their chosen sport. These trials are for students that display skills of a representative level. The district 10-12 years trial calendar and any recent announcements can be found on the Sunshine Coast School Sport website below:

Please note that these calendars can change regularly due to weather and other factors. When trial information is released, at a school level all relevant paperwork is distributed to interested students.

Kind regards,
Mitch Woods
PE Teacher

Resource Centre News

Hello and a warm welcome back to the Resource Centre for 2025!

As we enter a new and exciting year, here is a quick reminder for all of our existing and new families.

Opening Times:

Before School

• Open at 8.30am for quiet reading and borrowing only.
• The Library may be closed on occasion due to meetings or staff absences. If the door is closed, please do not enter.

Lunchtime

• We are open each day at First Break for borrowing, quiet reading, games and puzzles.

We are closed after school.

Expectations:

• We expect students to be seated quietly whilst using the library in a morning
• Students are to be respectful to others during this time.
• School Bags are to be left outside the building when visiting.
• A water-resistant library bag (Kuluin brand or similar) is required to take books home.
• The quantity and category of books available to borrow will vary between year levels.

Events:

• Term 2, Week 4 is our Arctic Adventure BOOK FAIR – There’s Snow much to read!
• May is National Family Reading month.
• Term 3, Week 6 is BOOK WEEK! This year’s theme is Treasure Hunt, ‘Book an Adventure’

Here is to a great 2025!

Miss Claire

C&K Kuluin Community Kindergarten

Please be mindful that the Kindy carpark is ONLY for parents with children attending the kindy centre. Please do not drop school children off in the Kindy carpark if you do not have younger siblings attending kindy, this will ensure the safety of all our kids.

Many Thanks
Carly
C&K Kuluin Kindy Director

Bus Passes

Parents/Carers will not need to apply for a school bus pass if their students are already bus pass holders and are (a) staying at the same school and (b) residing at the same address.  Parents/Carers can apply for STAS online here www.qld.gov.au/schooltransportassistance
- One Form
- Up to Five Children
- Any Device

Please note if your student is not eligible for a school bus pass, you will need to obtain a Go Card online or from your closest retailer. For more information please visit https://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/go-card

Please visit our website below for school bus service information.
CDC Sunshine Coast https://cdcqueensland.com.au/bus-services/sunshine-coast-schools/
Phone: (07) 54766622

Email: info.sunshinecoast@cdcbus.com.au

The Smith Family Saver Plus

Uniform Price List for 2025- The School Locker Maroochydore

Kuluin State School uniforms are available from The School Locker Maroochydore, located in the Maroochydore Homemaker Centre at 11-55 Maroochy Blvd, Maroochydore. Uniforms can be purchased instore or online for collection or delivery. 

Regular School Attendance

Reminder school commences 8.50am

Time Out / Illness

Why do I need to keep my child at home? This is a common question many families ask us. Please see attached Time Out brochure and poster that provide information for parents about infectious diseases and exclusion periods in Queensland schools.

Tuckshop menu

Message from your local police

As you are all aware, parking around the school is limited, local police together with the School and council work hard to provide a safe area for the children to be dropped off and picked up.

The Loading Zone for drop off and pick up at the front of the school to work efficiently requires cooperation from all parents to ensure quick movement of vehicles through the area.   Please note that the 2 minute loading zones are designed for the driver to remain in the vehicle whilst the children load or unload. It is not a waiting area you can only stop here once the children are on the footpath. If you do leave your vehicle, no matter how quick you are committing an offence - PLEASE NOTE These areas are designed to keep the vehicles moving and to provide a safe place for our children to get in or out of cars. 

Please do

• Plan your trip to avoid arrival at peak times
• Pick-up or drop-off children via the car’s kerb doors in the designated zones
• Drive out safely
• If your children are not at your arranged spot, go around the block and try again
• Wait to you children are secure in seatbelts before driving off.

Do not

• Stop on Yellow Lines
• Allow Children to get into your vehicle whilst you are illegally parked.
• Get out of your vehicle
• Double park
• Arrive early in the afternoon and sit in the zone
• Use staff parking areas

Cybersafety

The Department of Education & Training (DET) Cybersafety Team have created an eSafety Guide to provided important information on how to protect your information and report inappropriate content when using the latest games, apps and social media.

Click here to visit The eSafety Guide:

Reminders

Just a reminder that all food coming to school for birthdays Eg. cakes have to be bought from the shops. No home baking please due to COVID

Dates to Remember