Term 4 - 2024 Week 9 Newsletter

Principal's Message with Mr Ionn

A Special Time of Year

It is a real treat to witness our Warriors enjoying the latter part of the year. Both junior and senior swim carnivals were tremendous. The Year 2 raft races lived up to their reputation, with big smiles and hearty competition. The event had all the aspects of a regatta, brough to life in rubbishy waste recycling material. Just brilliant!

The Wynnum State School Celebration Ceremony this week was a wonderful event to reflect on our achievements as a school, recognising our award winners, and celebrating student leaders and our departing Year 6 cohort of students.

At this event, I shared the pride of our full school review in 2024, commending the work that has taken place in the last four years and the opportunity this raised to celebrate great progress. I am proud of the numerous positive outcomes we have achieved together as a school. Our Warriors have made remarkable strides in their academic growth and social-emotional development. 

This year has been one of growth, achievement, and community spirit. To raise a child, it takes a village, and our village could not be stronger. All of what the students have achieved so far could not happen without the support of leaders, staff members, P&C, student leaders and school community.

I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the entire staff at WSS. The impact you have on the lives of young people is immeasurable and powerful. This team never fails to keep at the forefront of what a school is all about: students. Together they do their work to provide opportunities for students to Believe, Achieve Succeed.

Thanks go to our P&C for the dedication and ongoing support throughout the year to enable students to have the resources they need to excel and the connection to community to thrive. Schools cannot work in isolation, and I would like to acknowledge our P&C president Vanessa Maguire, executive team and members.

In 2025, our focus will continue on our core strategies to be the best we can be.

· Rolling out Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) in our second year

· Schoolwide teaching and learning practices

· Strong Curriculum Delivery for every learner.

Over the next two weeks, I look forward to the P-3 Celebrations of Learning, activity days (including the Year 6 Immersion days) and celebrating our departing Year 6 students at their Farewell evening.

The last two weeks presents as an opportunity to finish off strong. Let’s go for it!

2025 Enrolment Confirmation

Enrolment numbers determine school funding, including how many teachers we have. This is why it is imperative that if your child/children are NOT going to be attending WSS in 2025, please notify the front office ASAP. Also, if you have a Preppie for next year, please let us know, so the enrolment process can be completed asap.

Library Matters with Mrs Sutton & the Library Team

…Yep, looking forward to any library books being returned this week.  Keep checking high and low because they will be there somewhere!  Replacement payments will follow for those books still unaccounted for.

Our library does not lend books over the school holidays, however, can I encourage students to utilise our local library for their reading 'fix' and summer holiday program.

A number of our wonderful Wynnum families have donated some great preloved books to the library this term.  We are so grateful for your donations, thank you for your generosity!

And finally, we have many of our students pursing an interest in board games and jigsaw puzzles.  We know there are many benefits of playing board games and solving puzzles e.g. they get brains buzzing and boost language skills, teach the value of teamwork, board games soothe anxiety and show students how to be a good loser.  Therefore, if you were looking to declutter your board game or jigsaw collection, our library would be most keen to offer them a new home.

Just keep reading Wynnum Warriors…

P-2 Science with Mrs Crowe

As the year begins to draw to a close, investigations have “ramped up” in the Junior Science Lab!

Our Preps were extra enthusiastic about being ‘Ramp Racers’ while testing out the laws of physics. In small groups, our young physicists used a variety of items including marbles, cars, blocks, glue sticks, pencils and bottles with a ramp of their own design. Each physicist observed, compared and recorded movements of chosen items on their ramp. It was very surprising and lots of fun for all …even for the head physicist (Mrs Crowe)!

Year One lit up the Science Lab with expressions of wonderment and awe as they investigated how light works. The light box was a very engaging tool which stimulated much scientific experimentation with light. Glass prisms bent white light into the spectrum in front of wide- open eyes. Colour-changing binoculars, kaleidoscopes and torches extended light investigations and discussion throughout every lesson!

Year Two used our new STEM sets to consolidate their learning about “Push-Pull” forces. The ‘Skate Park’, ‘City’ and ‘Playground’ sets tested how the laws of physics work in a challenging and fun way for young scientists. Look at the satisfied faces once each group finally solved their physics challenge to create a successfully moving design!

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 20

Next

From the Senior Science Lab with Mrs Brooks

Enjoy some snapshots from the Senior Science lab where the Year 3, 4, 5, and 6 students have been exploring the movement of heat, forces, magnets, light and electrical circuits. 

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 13

Next

Sports Report with Mrs Cousins

The past two weeks have seen our Wynnum State School community dive into action with the exciting Junior and Senior Swimming Carnivals, both of which were a fantastic showcase of talent, sportsmanship, and house spirit!

Junior Swimming Carnival Last week’s Junior Swimming Carnival was a splash hit! The younger students competed with great energy and enthusiasm in various events, including freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke and relays. It was wonderful to see our Wynnum Warriors supporting each other and cheering on their teammates.

A special shoutout to our Year 6 leaders and swimming helpers for showing their support at the carnival, encouraging their housemates to cheer on the younger students.

Congratulations to Kanni on winning the Junior Swimming Carnival.

Senior Swimming Carnival Yesterday, the Senior Swimming Carnival was filled with fierce competition as students raced to secure points for their houses. Each event showcased the talents of the senior students, with the teacher vs. student relay standing out as a highlight. The relay perfectly captured the strong spirit of both the senior students and the staff (who, by the way, won)!

The crowd was loud and proud, cheering on our Warriors throughout the day.

The winning house for the Senior Swimming Carnival was Merrigimpa.

The fastest six swimmers from each age group competed in an Age Champions Competition, whilst still earning points for their House. The results of this competition are:

9 Years Girls 1st - Lena Weile 2nd - Chloe Greenham 3rd - Emily Parker 9 Years Boys 1st - Ollie Lake 2nd - Lennox Calligaris 3rd - Eli Pimpinella

10 Years Girls 1st - Lola Barrett 2nd - Elissa Cousins 3rd - Naomi Bartle 10 Years Boys 1st - Oliver Plumbley 2nd - Lars Taylor 3rd - Austin Cumerford

11 Years Girls 1st - Mei Arnett 2nd - Ella Knox-McLennan 3rd - Evie Jordan 11 Years Boys 1st - Jack Harper 2nd - Jake Eadie 3rd - Orlando Cantwell

12 Years Girls 1st - Clara Steinhardt 2nd - Annika Weisse 3rd - Anastasia Lee 12 Years Boys 1st - Tomasi Williams 2nd - Slater Finlay 3rd - Slaine Groves

This year we also introduced the King and Queen of the pool, where the six fastest male and female swimmers competed in 50m of Freestyle.

This Years King and Queen of the Pool went to Oliver Plumbley and Lena Weile.

A big thank you to all the students, staff, and volunteers who made these carnivals such a success. Both events were a wonderful celebration of school spirit, sportsmanship, and swimming talent. Well-done to everyone who participated!

Please keep an eye out for our Week 11 Newsletter for photos of both Carnivals!

CONTAINERS FOR CHANGE UPDATE

Great News for our recycling community from the WSS P & C!

The P & C greatly appreciate your support and enthusiasm for containers for change at WSS.

For 2024 we have reached $1000 worth of donations!

Our school community (including two supporting businesses) have returned 10,235 containers this year that will NOT be going into landfill.

Over the Christmas Holidays:

The P & C would like to encourage families to obtain a 'white bag' from Mega-Bite cafeteria for collecting your containers over the Christmas holidays. Pick up from PCYC can be arranged.

Options for return are either to the large bins near Mega Central (Wynnum Rd entrance) or direct to the container recycling centre using the P & C member number – C10062108.

Don’t forget that any container that has the 10c symbol are eligible for a refund.

Helen Hope

Classroom Teacher WSS

Guidance Officer Message with Nathaly Manning

Dear parents and carers,

I cannot believe that we are almost at the end of term 4 already. As we approach the end of the school year, it’s natural to feel a mix of emotions—both excitement for the upcoming break and a sense of urgency to finish the year strong. For our students, this time can bring highs and lows, from the pride of accomplishments to the stress of report cards, saying goodbye to their current teacher and the unknown of what the new school year will bring.

I would like to encourage you to check in with your child/ren during this time. Open and honest dialogue is a powerful way to help them feel supported. Ask them about their feelings, listen to their concerns, and celebrate their successes—big or small. These conversations can provide them with the reassurance and encouragement they need to navigate the remaining weeks. It’s also important to maintain routines and strategies that have worked well throughout the year. Consistent sleep schedules, balanced meals, and designated times for reading, etc can go a long way in helping students stay focused and energized. Reinforcing these habits will ensure they have the stamina to tackle the end of the year with confidence.

I’d like to remind you of the Smiling Mind resource that also featured in my article last week. Smiling Mind is a free mindfulness app that helps children manage end-of-year school stress by teaching mindfulness techniques that promote calm and focus. Its guided meditations and exercises support emotional resilience during busy and challenging times. Visit Smiling Mind (https://www.smilingmind.com.au/ ) for more information and to download the app.

Together we can keep the momentum going and make these final weeks a time of growth and reflection. Thank you for being active partners in your child’s education and well-being. As always; if you have any concerns, please have a conversation with the classroom teacher so that we can support you as best we can.

If your child or family needs support, below are some services to keep in your contact list should you need support at home:

• Police / Ambulance – 000 (emergency)
• Lifeline provides 24hr telephone counselling for people in crisis or emotional distress on 13 11 14
• Kids Helpline is a free 24hr counselling service for Australian kids and young people 1800 55 1800
• Parentline provides confidential counselling for parents, from 8am-10pm, 7 days a week 1300 301 300

I look forward to celebrating the successes of 2024 with you all during the next few weeks.

Wishing you a great fortnight.

Nathaly

Student News

Dance Club News…

Hello Wynnum Warriors

Some of you might already know about ‘Dance Club’ which takes place on the library verandah each week, on Mondays and Wednesdays at 2^nd break. Of course, if you don’t, well this might be an awesome lunch activity option for you to consider.

We have been learning some dance moves that hopefully we can perform on stage when we have polished some of our moves.

Dance Club is currently thriving with more students coming each week to learn more about dance and join in on the fun. Many thanks to Mrs Sutton and Ms Sellars for their support in making dance club the place to be each week. Make sure to come along and give it a go.

(No payment or past experience needed)

Dance Club leader Isabella P

Give Back Day - Monday December 2

P&C News

🎒 Uniform Shop Extended Hours

The January openning hours will be Wednesday 22nd 9am - 3pm, Thursday 23rd 11am - 5pm and Tuesday 28th 8am - 9:30am. More information will be available on our page WSSPandCPick up optionsWe offer flexible pick up arrangements when ordering through Munch Monitors. Please select your preferred pickup location whether Mega-Bite Cafeteria any morning of the week or PCYC any afternoon. Orders are filled each Tuesday and Thursday and delivered to the chosen location. Any questions please email wynnnumss.pandc@gmail.com

🎊 Wrapping Up 2024 with Gratitude and Excitement 

As the year draws to a close, we want to thank our incredible Wynnum State School community for all the support, enthusiasm, and dedication you’ve shown in 2024. Here's our final update for the year—and a little sneak peek into what’s to come in 2025!

⭐ Supporter Spotlight
A huge thank you to Allied Interest, our Gold Sponsor, for your continued support. Your contributions make a real difference in our school!

If you are a business who is interested in becoming a P&C sponsor, we would love to hear from you and share our Sponsorship Packages!

♻️ Waste Smart Champions

Thanks to our amazing Angus Gorrie - Vice President for representing us at the WasteSMART awards this month and taking home the win!  Our award will be proudly displayed in the school administration area and you will see our winning entry on digital display near Brisbane City Hall!  Well done team!

Together, we’ve achieved so much with Containers for Change:

• 10,235 containers returned!
• $1,000 raised for our school community.

Let’s keep the momentum going! Grab a ‘white bag’ from Mega-Bite Cafeteria and collect your containers over the holidays. Drop-off options:

• Large bins near Mega Central (Wynnum Rd entrance)
• Direct drop at the recycling center using our member number
• 

👋 Welcome Prep Families!
We loved meeting our new prep students and families during orientation. A huge thanks to Vanessa (President), Ruth (Secretary), and Kelly (Vice President) for sharing everything P&C with our newest families. Thank you to the amazing Kate Parfitt for opening and running our Uniform Shop during this time!

🎉 End-of-Year Celebration

Our final P&C meeting at the Wynnum Bowls Club was a fantastic way to wrap up the year! We celebrated our achievements, welcomed new members, and bid farewell to long-serving volunteer Kathryn S., who has dedicated so many years to our P&C. Kathryn, we’ll miss you as your children head to high school!

Mark your calendars for 2025:

• First meeting in February
• AGM in March

Join us next year to keep the momentum going! 

📯🥳 Exciting Announcements

• New Staff Member Coming Soon: We’ve been interviewing for a new member of the Business Services team (Tuckshop and Uniform Shop). Stay tuned for the big announcement!
• Grant Success: Thanks to the Port of Brisbane, we’ll be installing a new scoreboard for the Wynnum Wahoos. Keep an eye out for this exciting addition!
• New Event on the Horizon: We’ve got something special planned for early 2025. Stay tuned for more details in the new year! 

📧 Stay Connected—Become a Member

Want to stay in the loop with all things P&C? Join us as a member! You’ll receive monthly updates, meeting minutes, agendas, and special announcements. Plus, you’ll help make a real difference in our school.

📖 Learn more about who we are and what we do in our P&C brochure

🚦🚸Slow for Sam Update
Thank you for your feedback on the Slow for Sam Speed Awareness Initiative. We’re excited to see this important project come to life on our local roads in 2025. 

💖Thank You, Wynnum State School!

To our wonderful community: thank you for an amazing year. From your feedback and fundraising efforts to your volunteer hours and enthusiasm, you’ve made 2024 truly unforgettable.

Wishing you a safe and happy holiday season. See you in 2025!

Warm regards,
The Wynnum State School P&C

2025 Student Book packs!

Online ordering is now open for the 2025 Student Book packs. Order by December 12. 

www.kookaburra.com.au/login

Username: WYNNU006

Password: student5

2025 Prep Enrolments Now Open

School Facebook Page

Please visit the page via this link https://www.facebook.com/WynnumStateSchool  and click Like!

Qparents

Have you downloaded the Qparents app?

QParents is a secure, online portal that has been created to provide parents/carers of Queensland state school students with 24-hour access to their child's information.

Qparents allows you to securely access information about your child and communicate directly with your child's school.

Features of Qparents:

• attendance details
• report cards
• invoices
• payment history
• excursion permissions

Currently we have roughly 80 percent of parents/carers on Qparents. If you haven’t already made an account with Qparents, new invitation codes have just been emailed home.

Any further questions please contact the school office.

Absentee Line

To notify the school of your child's absence, please text your child's name and reason for absence to 0429 467 361.

2024 School Term Dates

School Bus Services

Reminder that we have a bus service that runs from Wynnum State School. Below is a link to both services.

https://jp.translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/timetables/bus/T/815

https://jp.translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/timetables/bus/t/819/outbound/2022-05-31

A Go Card will need to be purchased to be able to utilise this Translink bus service. The following link lists retail outlets of where to purchase a Go card https://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/go-card/locations 

Community News