Wynnum State School eNewsletter

Message from the Acting Principal Ms Connell

While I love being a deputy principal, it is always a pleasure to fill in when Mr Ionn is away. I attribute this to Mr Ionn setting a clear course for our school and to all the staff, students and families who live our WSS values every day. It was very special to be able to have a front row seat to the wonderfully organised (thank you Miss Gibbons and library staff) and hosted (thank you student leaders) school Anzac Day ceremony. For those families who were not able to join us, I have included my message below. The accompanying photos of both the ceremony and our community Anzac Day March participation the following day speak for themselves.

It will also be my pleasure to be part of the Badge Ceremony on Friday morning to officially welcome the 2025 Student Council representatives. It seems to me about five minutes ago they were all in Prep with chubby cheeks and cheeky smiles. Now they are supporting the rest of our Student Leaders in leading the student body for the remainder of the year, albeit still with cheeky smiles. We are so proud of them all and thank you to the Year 6 staff for creating this opportunity and experience for our Wynnum Warriors.

Congratulations also to Snoop and Darcy, our WSS Therapy dogs, who on Tuesday successfully passed their 2025 Animal Assisted Therapy assessment. This is an annual test conducted by a National Accredited Executive Trainer to ensure that our therapy dogs are being held to the highest possible standards. Lots of students and staff helped out in different ways during the assessment, and Mrs Collingwood and I greatly appreciated your contributions!

Anzac Day Assembly Message

Wynnum Warriors - Today’s assembly is not like our other assemblies. Most of the other times that we come together are times of celebrating, filled with talking, cheering, clapping, sometimes even our school war cry – lots of happy noise. But this assembly is a not a celebration, it is a commemoration, and that is different. A commemoration is an opportunity to remember and show respect. It is a quieter time.

This morning, our bodies are still as we watch and listen, and we remember the Australian and New Zealand soldiers, the ANZACS who, on the 25 April 1915, landed and fought on the beaches of Gallipoli during WW1. ANZAC day is the special time we commemorate those soldiers, and all the soldiers of the wars that came after, and all the people who served in our armed forces in the past and today.

We remember and show our respect in a lot of different ways this morning. You have already done a beautiful job of standing and singing the words to both the New Zealand and the Australian National Anthems. We will also show our respect by listening to words of faith that will soon be shared. We will show our respect by watching the representatives of our school and our community walk up and place on the stage special flowers, the wreaths. We will show our respect by listening a special poem that is read, the Ode. We will show our respect by standing in silence during the minutes silence and listening to the sounds of the cornet and bagpipes that will play.

I sometimes wonder what the Anzacs would think if they could see us today, the Wynnum Warriors today, 110 years later, watching us remembering them, being grateful for the sacrifices that they made. I think that they would hope that you will never be asked to have to make those sacrifices and I think that they would be so proud of the ways you show respect today.

Wynnum Warriors… our bodies are still as together, we watch, we listen, and we remember.

ANZAC Commemorations

Last week was a very special time for Wynnum State School as we came together to honour the spirit of the ANZACs.

On Wednesday, we held our own ANZAC ceremony at school which all of our students attended. It was a moving tribute, with students, staff, and special guests gathering to reflect on the bravery, sacrifice, and enduring legacy of Australian and New Zealand service men and women. Our school captains led the ceremony with pride, and our choir gave a beautiful performance that touched everyone present. Thank you to all who participated and attended to make the event so meaningful.

Then on Friday, Wynnum State School proudly took part in the Wynnum RSL ANZAC March. Students, teachers, and families gathered in the morning to march through Wynnum, showing respect and gratitude to our veterans. It was wonderful to see so many of our students walking with pride, representing our school with great spirit.

Thank you again to our students, staff, and families for supporting these important events. Lest We Forget.

Wynnum State School ANZAC Ceremony

We would like to remind all families of Wynnum State School’s policy regarding student participation in excursions, incursions, camps, sporting activities & musical activities.

In line with Department of Education guidelines, students will only be permitted to attend these activities if both consent and full payment have been received by the due date.

Unfortunately, no exceptions can be made. This means that if consent is not provided or payment is not made by the specified deadline, your child will not be able to participate in the activity.

This policy ensures the safety, planning, and fairness for all students and staff. We encourage families to ensure that all necessary consent forms have been completed, and payments have been received. Should you require any assistance or have questions, we encourage you to contact us at your earliest convenience.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Important Notice - Head Lice

Recent cases of head lice have been reported within the school community. Head lice are common among children and are not a sign of poor hygiene. It is important to work together to manage and prevent the spread.

Parents and guardians are asked to:

Regularly check their child's hair for head lice and nits (eggs).
Promptly treat any infestations using appropriate lice treatment products.
Continue checking and combing daily until no lice or nits are found for at least two weeks.
Remind children not to share hats, hair accessories, or brushes.

If head lice are detected in your child’s class, a letter will be sent home notifying you. Please check your child’s hair upon receiving the note and return it to the classroom teacher. If lice are found, treatment should begin as soon as possible.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping to keep the school community healthy and comfortable for all students. For more information on detection and treatment, please visit the link below.

Schoolzine Website

Library Matters with Mrs Sutton & The Library Team

Playpals at WSS looks a little like this…

Thank you Playpals for supporting our younger students in Prep and Year 1, every day in our play spaces. Apart from developing your leadership skills, each break you are providing play experiences and promoting physical and social opportunities while encouraging positive behaviours. WE LOVE OUR PLAYPALS!!!

P-2 Science with Mrs Crowe

Science News

Year One Palaeontology teams from 1BH,1MH and 1RM engaged in significant research and exploration for dinosaur fossils in the last week of Term One. An official dig site was identified by “Drone Survey from the Science and Palaeontology Departments of Universities across Australia” within our school grounds (roleplay).

The Chief Palaeontologist (Mrs Crowe) visited the site as our teams were in action. She was very impressed with each team’s use of their specialised tools to carefully search for the fossilised eggs. Our young Wynnum Warrior palaeontologists displayed their ability to Persist and Strive for Accuracy as each team member focused very precisely on searching for their fossil, delicately removing it from the dig site and brushing it carefully for photographic recording.

Each scientist was able to keep their fossilised egg. Data was collected and sent back to the universities. Each group of palaeontologists then constructed models to show the features of their dinosaur. A photo of each group, with their models, was also sent to the university as a record of the knowledge gained throughout the Term One investigations. Exciting and ground-breaking research for our teams of young scientists as you will see in the photos below!

Prep botanists created their own “Plant Tag” to show their understanding of the needs of living things. To celebrate the growth of the plants that our young botanists have planted and cared for throughout Term One, all classes enjoyed a “Garden Picnic”. A delicious tasting platter of fruit and vegetables was devoured eagerly while everyone happily observed the insects, birds and lizards that now visit, or live in, our beautiful P-3 garden.

Term Two will be a scientific study of Chemical Sciences in the Prep to Year Three Science Lab:

Prep: What’s it Made of? Observable properties of materials

Year One: Spot the Difference Investigating change in everyday materials and substances

Year Two: All Mixed Up Combining substances and study of mixtures

Year Three: Melting Moments Solids and liquids; melting process

Welcome back everyone!

Sports Report with Mr Blair (PE teacher)

Hello and welcome back to what will be a busy term 2 of sport. Throughout the next eight weeks Interschool sport is happening. I’d like to thank all the staff who are involved to make this opportunity possible for our students. Thank you for returning permission forms on time also.

There has been some individual sporting success recently:

Azayah P played in the Futsal u12 regional titles over 3 days and his team made the grand final. It was one all at full time and the team went into golden goal and after 10 hard minutes they lost by one goal. Azayah has also been selected for QLD for the 3rd year in a row.

Alijah P played in the futsal U11 regional titles for three days. His team made the grand final and WON the regionals. As a result, Alijah has been selected to represent QLD in the national team in Sydney over the Christmas holidays

Evie D made the Met East AFL Girls team. This is an amazing achievement, congratulations Evie!

Elissa C made the goalie position for QLD city regional team in Futsal. Well done and congratulations to Elissa!

This week during PE, some AFL QLD Coaches have visited to promote an Auskick program happening on Thursday afternoons after school in two weeks' time. Some flyers should have made their way home if you wanted to find out more.

Pictured below are some of our Wynnum Warriors kicking the footys into the stratosphere.

From Year 5…

When is a store room NOT a store room?

When it is turned into a Year 5 Podcast Studio of course!

With the lively intro music and the sounds of cockatoos calling, the Year 5 students have launched themselves into the world of podcast recording. Using the audio recording program, Audacity, students have been able to create their very own podcast reviewing the Australian novel, Black Cockatoo by Carl Merrison and Hakea Hustler. To fit out the studio space, it just so happens that Mrs Colledge was able to borrow all the awesome technical gear from her son’s recording studio. Not only was Caleb willing to lend his recording gear but he also composed the musical introduction and taught Mrs Colledge a thing or two about recording. Word has it that Caleb did a little more work setting up the Audacity files for all the Year 5 classes too! While the podcasts will only have a Wynnum State School audience, the students have enjoyed completing their English Speaking and Listening assessment in the storeroom…oh I mean in the Year 5 Podcast Studio!

YEAR 5 ART PATHWAYS

With only three more weeks left of Year 5 Art Pathways, some fantastic artwork is emerging. Students have been creating cold wax batiks inspired by Indigenous art, clay ‘bioforms’ taking on the shapes of marine life, low relief plaster faces inspired by Pablo Picasso and beautifully patterned Zentangles using black ink.

Guidance Officer Message with Nathaly Manning

Dear Wynnum Community,

On Wednesday, 30^th April, Years 4-6 will attended a Safety talk presented by Nathan Vaughan, a QPS Sergeant who is part of the Bayside Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC). Below is information on what will be covered during the session. Please have a chat with your children to reinforce Personal Safety and Protective behaviours.

Cyber safety (including cyber bullying)

what it looks like
their rights
rules/the law around online activities
how to be safe online
where/how to report harmful online content

Personal safety

who to chat with if they feel unsafe
their rights
personal warning signs
safe people (high 5)

Respectful relationships

types of relationships
their rights and responsibilities within any relationship
warning signs when a relationship is not safe and what to do

Bullying

when is it considered to be bullying (knowing the difference between bullying and conflict)
who to go to for support

What can parents and carers do to keep children safe online?

You don’t have to monitor every message or master every app to make a difference. What really matters is being present, proactive, and informed. Here are a few powerful ways you can support your child:

Be Curious, Not Critical - Ask your child what they like about being online. Learn what apps they’re using and who they’re talking to. Keeping the conversation open encourages trust – and helps them feel safe coming to you if something goes wrong.
Set Digital Expectations - Create family rules for device use. These might include screen-free zones at dinner or limits on how long they can be online each day. Revisit and adjust the rules as your child gets older.
Talk About Boundaries - Discuss what’s okay (and not okay) to share online – like personal photos, school details, or home addresses. Help them understand that once something is posted, it can be hard to take back.
Recognise the Signs - If your child seems withdrawn, anxious, or reluctant to go online, take it seriously. These could be signs of online bullying or uncomfortable interactions. Encourage them to talk, and remind them they’re not alone.
Know the Tools - Use parental controls and privacy settings to create safer online spaces. Encourage your child to block or report users who behave inappropriately.

There are some great resources out there if you ever need extra support or just want to learn more:

eSafety Commissioner – gov.au
Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800 (24/7 support for young people)
Lifeline – 13 11 14 (24/7 mental health support)
Parentline – 1300 301 300 (support for parents every day, 8 AM to 10 PM)
Smiling Mind – com.au, a free app to help kids manage stress and build healthy habits

If your child needs support at school, please encourage them to talk with their teacher or a member of our wellbeing team. We’re here to help.

Have a great fortnight!

Inclusion Matters

Olive Receives Highly Commended in the ALEA Meanjin Young People’s Summer Writing Challenge!

We are delighted to celebrate Olive, who was awarded a Highly Commended in the ALEA Meanjin Young People’s Summer Writing Challenge for her touching and powerful story about family, distance, and the ways strong connections endure over time.

The writing challenge encouraged young authors to explore the theme of #Connect, reflecting on relationships with family, friends, nature, and new experiences. Olive’s story follows a close-knit group of cousins who are separated when part of their family moves overseas, and the emotional journey they experience while learning to stay connected — and, finally, joyfully reuniting after years apart.

Through vivid storytelling and heartfelt emotion, Olive beautifully captured what it feels like when someone you love is far away, the small ways we hold onto connection through everyday life, and the overwhelming joy when that bond is restored. Her writing reminds us all that true family connections can stretch across any distance and withstand the changes that life brings.

Congratulations, Olive, on this well-deserved recognition! Your story of resilience, love, and reunion truly moved us all.

Year 6 Senior Shirts Are Here!

Year 6 was buzzing with excitement last week as the senior shirts finally arrived! Students proudly wore their new shirts, showing off their names and the colourful 2025 design.

These shirts mark a special milestone and remind everyone of the leadership and spirit our seniors bring to the school.

Well done, Year 6!

Facebook Pages

To ensure you receive the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding Wynnum State School, we encourage all parents and carers to follow our official Wynnum State School Facebook page and the Wynnum State School P&C Association Facebook page.These are the primary channels for all school communications, event updates, and P&C initiatives.

✅ Wynnum State School Facebook Page – Official school news and important updates.

✅ Wynnum State School P&C Association Facebook Page – Information on community events, meetings, and opportunities to support our school.

We kindly ask families to rely on these pages for information to ensure you are receiving messages directly from the school and P&C. Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership.

Coming up!

2026 Prep Enrolment's Open Now!

2025_ENROLMENT_FLYER_13.03.pdf

P&C News

Spring_Classroom_Newsletter_in_Bright_Green_Yellow_and_Pink_Floral_Style_1_.pdf

From our PCYC

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 been emailed home this week.

For any additional questions, feel free to contact the school office at 3893 5111 or visit our administrative team in person, who will be happy to assist you with the setup.

School Facebook Page

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

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

PDF Details

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