8 May 2025

Principal’s Report

Welcome back. I hope you had a wonderful break with family.

Classroom visits

The leadership team visit classrooms to celebrate student learning, and we also conduct Learning Walk and Talks. When speaking with students about their learning we generally ask students five questions to see how they are progressing with their learning. The 5 questions are:

What are you learning? Why?

How are you doing?
How do you know?
How can you improve?
Where do you go for help?

Teacher’s co-construct Bump It Up English Learning Walls that are designed to assist students to better understand the expectations of the English unit. Our school improvement agenda is to lift results for all students in English, in particular, to increase the number of students who receive an A or B in English.  

Reading sits alongside this school priority. Learning to read is a process that needs step-by-step teaching and plenty of practise at school and at home. Unlike walking or talking, reading is not a skill that we learn naturally — everyone needs to be taught how to read. Reading requires two very important skills:

• decoding (reading) the words on the page
• making meaning from the words, sentences and paragraphs that are read.

For children to learn how to decode words, they need to understand how sounds and letters link together. They are taught that:

• words can be broken up into sounds
• the sounds in words can be represented by letters or groups of letters.

As children develop their understanding of letter-sound correspondences and apply this knowledge to reading words and texts, they learn more complex English spellings.

• The same sound can be represented by different letters; the words ‘play’, ‘rain’ and ‘stage’ all contain the sound /ay/ but the spelling is different in each one.
• The same letter can represent different sounds; the letter ‘c’ can represent a ‘k’ sound as in ‘cat’, or an ‘s’ sound as in ‘race’.
• Small parts of words can have a meaning all their own; in the word ‘walked’, the ‘-ed’ tells us that the walk has already happened — it marks past tense.
• Children practise their word reading skills by reading decodable texts that contain only the letter-sound correspondences children have been taught.
• As children develop their decoding skills and their reading becomes more automatic, they will move from reading simple decodable texts to authentic texts. Authentic texts are any texts that are read for enjoyment or learning and that support word reading, language development and engagement.

Children develop their language skills through the language they hear and read. In the early stages of reading instruction while children are developing their decoding skills, it is very important that they hear lots of new words and learn about new things that they may not yet be able to read about themselves.

Parents play an important role in helping children learn to read by both:

• listening to your child read aloud to practise decoding words
• reading aloud to your child to build their understanding of language and literacy.

Please refer to the flyer for supporting material

Mr Phil Allen – retiring

After 32 remarkable years of dedicated service to Kuluin State School, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Mr. Phil Allen for the incredible legacy he leaves behind. Phil has had a profound and lasting impact on the lives of countless students, staff, and families, shaping not only learning outcomes but the very spirit of our school community. His influence reaches far beyond the classroom, as seen in the many past students who return just to thank him—and sometimes slime him during fundraising events, a true testament to the joy and connection he brings. Phil is not only deeply respected but also dearly loved by all who have had the pleasure of working with or learning from him. We wish him all the very best as he steps into retirement, knowing that his legacy will live on in the hearts of the Kuluin community for many years to come. A special parade will be held Monday 23 June at 2.15pm in the hall. If you are a previous student, staff member or parent and would like to contribute to the parade please contact me principal@kuluinss.eq.edu.au

P&C

I would like to sincerely thank our dedicated Executive for the countless hours they invest in volunteer work. The recent Colour Fun has ensured we will now install five water chillers attached to existing school bubblers. Students will be able to fill their water bottle up with cold water and the drinking fountain will be chilled. Installation will commence over the next few weeks. The Executive team have held their positions from the previous year. Congratulations to President – Emily Palmer, Vice President - Alison Bennett, Treasurer - Carmen Munro and Secretary – Monique Anderson. I want to acknowledge the work of Kayla Tratt and her support of the Kuluin community. Kayla has recently resigned from her role as the Operations Manager at Kuluin State School. The P&C has advertised for this position. I am looking forward to continuing our strong relationship between parents and the school. The next P&C meeting is Monday 19^th May in the Resource Centre at 6pm.

Pedestrian Crossing

The Crisafulli Government is providing specific funding through the School Transport Infrastructure Program (STIP). Funding through this program is granted to road authorities or schools to improve their safety and operation through new or improved infrastructure at either the school or on the surrounding road network. It gives me great pleasure to advise that $281,000 has been approved for Kuluin State School in the most recent funding round. The construction of the new pedestrian crossing near the roundabout of Tallow Wood Road will improve the safety of students and the wider community travelling to and from our school. Work on this will be timed by the relevant road authorities. This is also a timely reminder to drive safely around our school and to not park in the bus lanes directly outside our school. Together, we can make our school safer.

Anzac Day
Thankyou to Mr Phil Allen for organising our school Anzac Day parade and Student Leaders, the Student Council and School Choir for their input into the commemoration. Mrs Larraine Houlihan Director and Treasurer from Maroochydore RSL also spoke to our students. She captured the ANZAC spirit – courage, sacrifice, loyalty and mateship and also spoke of a personal story capturing the courage of her two uncles. I would like to acknowledge the children and families who participated in the Anzac Day March at Cotton Tree. For more than a century Australian servicemen and women have become renowned for their bravery, sacrifice and skill. From the Boer War, to the present day, Australians have continued to answer to the call of democracy and freedom in the defence of our nation.

Parent Teacher interviews

I would like to thank all of our teachers and parents who attended our Parent Teacher interviews at the end of Term 1. We will offer interviews again late in Term 3 in the same format – in the hall for a 10-minute conference. Please feel free to contact your teacher between these time frames if needed. Parent communication is highly valued in our school community. Communication with your child’s class teacher provides you with valuable feedback on your child’s successes and areas for further growth.

Guidance Officer Week

Guidance Officer Week is from Monday 28 April – Friday 9 May. Guidance Officers provide counselling and advice on educational, personal, mental health and wellbeing issues for students. Our school Guidance Officer Tracey Axelsen contributes to the development of a comprehensive student support and wellbeing program that is responsive to the needs of the Kuluin community. We are so grateful to Tracey for all the work she does.

Maroochydore State High School
Please refer to the flyer for the wonderful musical that many of our ex-students will be involved in. 

Kind Regards,
Corrie Connors
Principal

Deputy Principal’s Report

Year Prep to 2

What a wonderful start to the term we’ve had across our Prep–Year 2 classrooms! It’s been a busy but exciting time, and I’m so proud of how quickly our students have settled back into school routines and jumped straight into their learning.

This term, students across the early years are exploring information reports in English. It’s been fantastic to see how teachers are bringing learning to life in each year level:

Prep students are investigating farm animals and have been fully immersed in hands-on learning. They’ve created their very own farm spaces in the classroom, labelling animals, designing signs, and using craft materials to construct animals and enclosures. The excitement and creativity has been incredible!

Year 1 students are diving deep under the sea as they learn about marine life. To help connect their learning to the real world, they’ll be heading off on an excursion to Sea Life Aquarium—a fantastic opportunity to see some of their favourite sea creatures up close and inspire their writing.

In Year 2  students are rocketing into space! They are exploring the fascinating world beyond our planet, and we can’t wait to see the rich, informative texts that come from their investigations.

Alongside this learning, I’ve been thrilled to visit classrooms to celebrate superstar writers and cheer on our confident, fluent readers. It’s always a joy to acknowledge the incredible progress students are making in their literacy development.

We’re also looking forward to a very special event for our Prep students—Outdoor Learning Day. This day is all about connecting with nature and learning in new and exciting ways. Students will enjoy reading in tents, creating artworks from natural materials, and exploring our Murri Trail. It’s a beautiful way to build curiosity, creativity, and connection to Country.

Our 2026 Prep enrolment process is now underway, and we’re excited to welcome future families into our Kuluin community. Prep tours begin Wednesday 7th May and will run fortnightly. If you have a little one starting Prep next year, we’d love to meet you and share what makes Kuluin Prep so special.

Here’s to another amazing (and busy!) term full of learning, laughter, and growth.

Kind Regards,
Jess Thompson
Deputy Principal P-2

Year 3 to 5

I hope you all had an amazing break with plenty of time with friends and family. I am very excited to be staying with the Kuluin SS a little longer and looking forward term 2 and 3.

Year 3 - Australia Zoo.

In Week 6,  as part of their Science and English, Year 3 will be off to explore the Australia Zoo!

Our Year 3 students will be investigating Information Reports in English and Living and Non-Living Things in Science.

Students will use the information from this excursion to inform and extend their knowledge and understanding.

On the day we ask students attending the excursion to be at the classroom at 8:15am for an 8:30am departure. They will return to school at approximately 2:45pm.

Date: 27^th May 2025

Cost: $42.80  (includes bus, zoo entry, a 45-minute workshop and a bag of kangaroo food to share between two.)

Payment due: no later than 20 May 2025.

What to Bring: Students will need to be in full school uniform with their hat, packed lunch in a small carry bag/backpack (no large lunch boxes), along with a clearly labelled water bottle.  

(Students will be carrying their own bags all day so a small backpack or drawstring bag will be suitable.)

Please note: No money is to be brought by students, No sports uniforms and Zoo passes cannot be used for the excursion.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

Year 4 Living Histories Incursion

In Week 6, Year 4 will be provided with an enriching experience, focusing on Colonial Australia and the First Fleet.

The Living Histories team provides a highly engaging day full of activities, which really brings history alive.

Our students will be engaging with various activities to extend their learning through viewing and manipulating various artefacts to support their understanding.

Date: 29^th May 2025

Cost: $19 (Payment and consent due by 23rd May 2025.)

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

Helpful Podcast: Happy Families

Being a parent is the most important job in this world and we are all aware that being a parent is getting tougher, especially with how fast our world is changing.

Happy Families is an easy-to-listen-to podcast with a short sharp approach. (15-20 min)

Happy Families,  provides helpful and easy-to-use tips and hints to make life easier and happier for everyone.

Highly recommended, as with all podcasts, fish through the information for what works for you and your family.

https://happyfamilies.com.au/podcast    (also available on Spotify)

Looking forward to continuing to work with the Kuluin SS Family,

Kind Regards,
Pete Fittler
Deputy Principal 3-5

Year 6

A Positive Start to Term 2

It’s been a strong and settled start to Term 2, and I’d like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the positive energy and focus I’ve seen across classrooms and in the playground. The Kuluin School community continues to impress with its commitment to high expectations, student wellbeing, and strong partnerships between home and school.

We’re hitting the ground running this term with plenty of rich learning experiences underway and a clear focus on consistent behaviour expectations, positive acknowledgement, and inclusive practices. Our staff remain dedicated to creating a learning environment where every student feels safe, valued, and supported to do their best.

Please know that I’m always happy to have a chat if you have any questions or need support. As we continue our work together this term, I look forward to deepening connections with students, families, and staff.

Gula Gold Update

Our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) focus continues with the exciting Gula Gold initiative, which has been embraced across the school. This fast and frequent acknowledgement system celebrates students making positive behaviour choices in all areas of school life.

Here’s a quick reminder of how it works:

• Students earn Gula Gold tokens when staff spot them demonstrating positive behaviours.
• Tokens are added to classroom boxes, counted weekly, and then pooled into year-level collections.
• We’re working together towards a whole-school target each term… when we hit it, we celebrate with a special reward day!
• Students are actively involved, working with their teachers to define and model the positive behaviours that matter in their classrooms.

The energy around Gula Gold has been fantastic, and we’re proud to see our students taking ownership of their behaviour and supporting one another.

Let’s continue to celebrate Safety, Respect, and Learning!

ANZAC Day Service

Our recent ANZAC Day service was a meaningful and respectful event that brought our school community together to honour those who served and sacrificed for our country.

I want to commend our students for the maturity, reverence, and empathy they demonstrated during the service. From laying wreaths to reciting poems and observing a minute’s silence, each part of the ceremony reflected their understanding of the occasion and their pride in being part of The Kuluin School.

These moments are powerful reminders of the importance of history, service, and gratitude. I thank all families and staff who supported students to engage in such a significant event.

Queensland Engagement and Wellbeing Survey – Week 3

In Week 3, students in Years 5 and 6 will be participating in the annual Queensland Engagement and Wellbeing Survey. This important Department of Education initiative helps schools better understand how students feel about their learning, their relationships, and their sense of wellbeing at school.

The feedback gathered supports our ongoing commitment to building a safe, inclusive, and engaging learning environment. Participation is voluntary and confidential, and all responses are used to guide planning and supports at both school and system levels.

We encourage families to talk with their children about the survey, and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Celebrating GO Week

This week we also celebrated Guidance Officer (GO) Week, an opportunity to recognise the incredible support our Guidance Officer provides to students, staff, and families at The Kuluin School. From helping students navigate social and emotional challenges to supporting wellbeing and learning needs, their role is essential in creating a safe and supportive school environment.

A big thank you to our amazing GO, Mrs Tracey Axelsen, for the care, expertise, and positivity they bring every day. We’re very lucky to have them as part of our team!

Kind Regards,
Benjamin Gaske
Deputy Principal 6

Curriculum News

Australian Curriculum: English Version 9.0

In Australia, the national curriculum has undergone significant changes with the introduction of version 9 of the Australian Curriculum. At Kuluin, version 9 of the Australian Curriculum: English is being implemented this year.

Version 9: English aims to ensure that students: 

· learn to purposefully and proficiently read, view, listen to, speak, write, create and reflect on increasingly complex texts across a growing range of contexts

· understand how Standard Australian English works in its spoken and written forms, and in combination with non-linguistic forms of communication, to create meaning

· develop interest and skills in examining the aesthetic aspects of texts and develop an informed appreciation of literature

· appreciate, enjoy, analyse, evaluate, adapt and use the richness and power of the English language in all its variations to evoke feelings, form ideas and facilitate interaction with others.

This term students across Prep to Year 6 will be engaging with informative texts. See below for an overview for each year level in English Term 2.

Sports News

District Cross Country

Following our school cross country, 30 Kuluin students have been busy training for the District Cross Country which was held last Friday. This event includes students from 20 different local schools with some races having over 80 competitors. All of our runners did a fantastic job representing our school. Many ran personal bests and placed in the top 20 of their races. A special mention to Archie K (4th U11 boys), Tanner S (5th U11 boys) and Casey L (5th U11 girls) on earning selection in the district team. They will now compete at the Regional Cross Country next month. Goodluck!

SEQ Soccer Championship

Kuluin recently attended the Nambour District Soccer Carnival. This is a part of a progressive competition with the winning school then playing another champion team from another district within South East Queensland. This year we entered both a male and a female team. Both teams performed well and represented our school very well both on and off the field. Both teams finished second in their pools meaning they narrowly missed out on the final. The male team finished with 2 wins and a loss while our female team finished with 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss. Congratulations everyone!

Kuluin Athletics Carnivals

Our school athletics carnivals are scheduled for the end of Term 2. Our Grades 3-6 Senior Athletics Carnival is scheduled for 19th and 20th June. Our Prep-Grade 2 Carnival is scheduled for 27th June. Further information and programs will be shared in the next newsletter addition.

Kind regards,

Mitch Woods

PE Teacher

Chappy News

Hi All,

As we head into Term 2 I want to let you know about some changes happening in the chaplaincy space.

I have reduced my workdays and will only be working Monday and Wednesday.  I will still be supporting staff, students and families as required.

From week 4 Chappy toast will be on a Wednesday morning still serving the same variety of options and we look forward to seeing you there.

Chappy Tracey

Queensland Engagement and Wellbeing Survey

In Term 2, students in Years 5 and 6 will be asked to take part in the Queensland Engagement and Wellbeing (QEW) Survey.

We know that wellbeing and engagement are important parts of your child’s life at school. The QEW Survey is designed to measure how students view their wellbeing and engagement across different topics. The information we get from the survey helps us better understand and support our students.

If you have any questions, please contact the school. More information, including FAQs, can be found on the Education website:(https://qed.qld.gov.au/publications/reports/statistics/schooling/students/queensland-engagement-wellbeing-survey).

nambour state college-open night

We are excited to invite families from your school community to Nambour State College’s Open Night on Wednesday, 14 May 2025, from 4:30pm to 6:00pm. This is a fantastic opportunity for prospective students and their families to explore what our college has to offer. 

Event Details:

Date: Wednesday, 14 May 2025
Location:

• Senior Campus Tours: Starting 4:30pm from Hungerford Hall
• Showcase & Presentations: 5:00pm – 6:00pm in Hungerford Hall

This event is designed for families with students starting secondary school within the next three years. It will feature student-led tours, performances, and engaging presentations highlighting the outstanding opportunities available at Nambour State College.

Attached is a flyer with further details and families can register via this link here.

If you have any questions or would like printed materials to distribute, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

We look forward to welcoming families to our Open Night!

C&k kINDERGARTEN KULUIN

123 Magic Parenting program

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

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 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 until your 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 provide 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