Edition 69

Principal's Message

It feels like only last week I was welcoming everyone back to what has been a very busy Term 3! This term has flown by with so many exciting events. We have:

• Acknowledged NAIDOC Week
• Celebrated Book Week
• Acknowledged National Week of Action Against Bullying
• Raised funds for Cystic Fibrosis with a crazy hair day
• Embraced colour and support our P&C to raise over $15,000 at our Colour Run
• School photos
• Bought gifts for the special ‘Dad’ figures in our lives
• Met with parents/carers for Parent Teacher interviews
• Held our very first ever school musical

And all of this happened in less than 10 weeks. Students (and staff!) are certainly ready for a holiday after such a busy term.

I would like to wish everyone a very safe and restful break.  Term 4 resumes on Tuesday 7 October.

Farewell Mr Morley… again!

It is with mixed emotions I inform you that Mr James Morley, Deputy Principal, will not be with us in Term 4 and possibly longer.

Mr Morley is on leave for the remainder of this term. From the beginning of Term 4, he will be Acting Principal at Sunset State School in Mount Isa. This is a great opportunity for Mr Morley, and I wish him every success.

Currently, Mrs Danielle Martin is Acting Deputy Principal in Mr Morley’s absence. As his absence is for a term or longer, a recruitment process must be undertaken.  Mrs Martin will remain acting Deputy Principal until this process is finalised, and an acting Deputy Principal officially appointed.

It is expected that this role will be filled in early Term 4. I will provide an update once the recruitment process is finalised.

Additional Deputy Principal position

As Everleigh State School continues to grow, we are close to reaching the student enrolment threshold for a third Deputy Principal in 2026. In order to ensure we can commence the 2026 school year successfully; I am pleased to announce that a new Deputy Principal will be commencing in Term 4.

At times, schools are required to consider appointing permanent employees who require relocation for a number of reasons. Everleigh State School has been fortunate enough to be provided with the relocation of a very experienced Deputy Principal. Mr Grant Pyke, who has worked as Deputy Principal at schools within our local area and other schools across Logan, joins our school community from Tuesday 7 October.

At this stage, there will be no changes to the current line management structure. This will allow Mr Pyke to familiarise himself with Everleigh State School. Any changes to school leadership structures will occur from 2026 and will be communicated to the school community later this term.

Planning for 2026

We are starting to consider our staffing needs for 2026. We are expecting at least 170 Prep students for next year in addition to new enrolments across other year levels. If you are leaving us at the end of this year, can you please contact the office as soon as possible. This will assist with planning the number of classes needed for 2026.

Additionally, if you have a child who is due to start Prep in 2026, and you are yet to enrol, please contact us as soon as possible. Our important Prep Start Program commences early in Term 4 and spaces are filling fast.

Oh, what a night!

Thank you to all of staff, students and families for your support with our first ever school musical. After months of planning, prop development, script and song learning, and practices, our students performed twice on Thursday 11 September, once to our staff and students, and again at 6.00 pm to an audience of more than 300 people! It was amazing! Thank you to the families and staff who attended our performance. I am so proud of the efforts of the staff and students, as this was a massive commitment. A very special thank you to Park Ridge State High School staff and students who assisted with lighting and sound. It made for a magical and memorable night. It certainly brought tears of pride and joy to my eyes.

After such a successful event, we hope to do it all again in 2027!

Deputy Principals' Message

As we wrap up Term 3, we take a moment to celebrate the incredible progress our students have made. From academic achievements to personal growth, it’s been inspiring to witness their resilience, curiosity, and commitment to learning. Whether it’s mastering new concepts, collaborating with peers, or showing kindness in the playground, every step forward is worth celebrating.

We also want to extend our heartfelt thanks to our parents and carers. Your partnership this term has been invaluable—whether through helping with homework, attending school events, or simply encouraging your child each day. Your support makes a real difference, and we are grateful for this partnership.

Keeping Learning Alive Over the Holidays

The upcoming break is a wonderful time to rest and recharge, but it can also be a great opportunity to keep learning alive in fun and meaningful ways. Here are a few simple ideas to help keep your child connected to learning over the holidays:

• Read together: Visit our local Greenbank library or swap books with friends. Reading for pleasure builds vocabulary, imagination, and a love of learning.
• Explore the outdoors: Nature walks, gardening, or even a trip to the park can spark curiosity and conversation.
• Get creative: Drawing, writing stories, cooking, or building something together encourages problem-solving and creativity.
• Play games: Board games, puzzles, and card games help develop critical thinking and social skills.
• Reflect and set goals: Chat with your child about what they enjoyed this term and what they’re looking forward to next.

Communication with the school

We value open and respectful communication between families and the school. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child, please reach out to your child’s class teacher as your first point of contact. They are best placed to support your child’s learning and wellbeing and will pass on any matters requiring further support to the Deputy Principal. If you feel your concern has not been resolved, you are then welcome to contact the school office, and they will direct you to the appropriate member of the Executive Team to assist in managing the enquiry. Working together ensures the best outcomes for our students.

We hope you enjoy a safe, restful, and fun filled holiday period. Thank you again for being such an important part of our school community. We look forward to seeing everyone refreshed and ready for Term 4!

Messages From The Executive Services

2026 Senior Polo Shirts – LAST DAYS TO ORDER for Jan delivery

Ordering will soon be closing for our 2026 Year 6 Senior polo shirts first round. Please see special ordering details. As these are a custom order, there are only two rounds of production occurring. Please ensure you get your orders in quickly, so you don’t miss out.

First Round Orders Close: 17^th Sept 2025   -   Delivered January 2026

Final Round Orders Close:  11^th Feb 2026   -   Delivered during term 2 2026

Student Finance

Statements for student accounts will be emailed today.  Statements are emailed at least once per term and show all outstanding invoices; credit note adjustments and prepayments.

Statements are issued regardless of a debit or credit balance.  Please be advised that if your statement shows a credit amount (a negative) DO NOT pay this amount as it will place your account into further credit. Please contact Admin is you authorise the credit to be applied to an invoice.

If you have a current payment plan arranged with the Finance Officer, such as Centrepay, scheduled Direct Debit or private agreement - thank you.

Payments via BPoint and QParents are preferred and eftpos payments are welcome in the office.  A reminder that we are a cashless school.

All Student Resource Scheme fees and iPad Hire invoices should be paid by the end of Term 3.

Camps and Excursions

• Year 2 Beenleigh Historical Village – Payments are due 13 October.
• Year 5 Camp – Payment due 06 October 2025
• Year 6 Sydney Canberra - Payment due 7 October 2025 – please keep instalment payments coming until finalised
• Swimming EOI (Expression of Interest, Permission) due today 12 September.  Invoices will be generated next week.

Year 6 High School enrolment packs

For parents & carers of our Year six students, we have enrolment packs for Park Ridge State High School and Flagstone Community College available at our school office. Please feel free to pop in and collect one if needed.

Spare change of clothes reminder

With the colder weather, students are experiencing more toileting accidents. Please ensure you have a spare change of clothes in your child’s bag just in case. Please include underwear, black shorts/skort/pants and socks.

Change of contact details

Please advise Executive Services if any of your details have changed. For example:

• Address
• Best contact phone number
• Work details
• Emergency contacts other than parents/carers

Please use the Q Parents app, or you can pop into the office to complete a change of details form, or email admin@everleighss.eq.edu.au to update your details.

Lost property

Name labels make all the difference in helping us to returned lost items to the correct students. We kindly remind parents to name hats, jackets, lunch boxes, water bottles, etc. We really appreciate your assistance with this. Any lost item that is labelled is returned directly to the classroom.

All unclaimed, unnamed items are disposed of or donated at the end of each term.

Student Absence Procedure

If your student will be absent, parents/carers have a legal obligation to notify the school, including advising the reason for the absence. We kindly request you let us know by 9am on the day of the absence. We have two preferred methods for advising absence:

1. Via the Q-Parents App – please see reception if you require information on this.
2. Via our dedicated Student Absence Line – (07) 2899 5160, where you can leave a message any time of the day or night. Please save this number in your phone.

Failure to advise absence reasons will result in your child’s absence being recorded as “unauthorised”.

Reminder: You will also need to advise YMCA if your child is booked in and will be absent.

YMCA absences should be advised before 2:15pm via email aev@ymcabrisbane.org or via text or phone call 0459 905 087.

Don’t forget to also cancel your canteen order if you have pre-ordered ahead: (07) 2899 5125

Q Parents

Q Parents

We remind all parents and carers to set up their Q Parents app. It is a simple way to quickly access and keep on top of all our services, such as:

• Attendance/absences
• Report cards
• Consent forms
• View outstanding invoices
• Pay invoices
• Update contact details

If you require any assistance to set this up, please contact Executive Services.

Message From The Head of Department - Curriculum, Ms. Tanya Conway

As Term 3 comes to a close, we celebrate the learning and growth of our students and take this opportunity to reflect on the many teaching and learning experiences that have enriched our school.
Learning Growth Across the School

From Prep through to Year 6, students have been engaging in a range of deep and meaningful learning opportunities. A key highlight has been our whole-school focus on Speaking and Listening. Every student, across all year levels, has worked towards presenting their ideas with clarity and confidence as part of their assessment task. The progress since our first Speaking and Listening unit in Term 1 has been remarkable, with students demonstrating growth in both their oral language skills and their ability to listen respectfully and respond to others.

Professional Learning and Teacher Collaboration

Behind the scenes, our teachers have been actively engaging in fortnightly Professional Learning Teams (PLTs). These sessions provide valuable time for staff to collaborate, moderate, and ensure consistency and clarity in teaching sequences and assessment tasks. This commitment to professional growth ensures that our teaching is aligned, purposeful, and ultimately, that every student benefits from high-quality learning experiences.

Last Friday, during our Student Free Day, staff came together for a collaborative day of planning for Term 4. These opportunities are always invaluable, a chance to pause, reflect, and align on the best ways to support our students.

At Everleigh, we are proud to support students who are learning English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D). These students may speak a language other than English at home or use a different dialect of English. Our commitment to supporting our students helps ensure every child can fully access the curriculum, build confidence in their language skills, and feel a strong sense of belonging at school.

We extend our sincere thanks to Steph Brewer and Bettina Wechselberger, (EAL/D Senior Education Officers from the Southeast Region, Queensland Department of Education), who joined us. Steph and Bettina worked alongside teachers across all year levels, sharing their expertise on the importance of looking through a language lens when planning. Their personalised approach helped teachers to address specific classroom wonderings and embed language-focused strategies into their units of work.

This professional learning is particularly meaningful in our context, with 25% of our families identifying as EAL/D and projections already showing 30% of our 2026 Prep students coming from an EAL/D background. Building teacher capability in this space is vital to ensuring that every child has access to learning and feels a strong sense of belonging.

We are grateful to our dedicated staff for their engagement in this work, and to Steph and Bettina for making the day such a purposeful and inspiring professional learning opportunity.

Positive Climate for Learning

This term, we have also noticed a wonderful sense of calm and focus across our classrooms and playgrounds. Students have been engaging more positively in their learning and interactions, which has contributed to a strong, supportive learning environment where all children can thrive.

Looking Ahead

As we move into Term 4, we look forward to continuing to build on this positive momentum. With end-of-year celebrations and new learning opportunities on the horizon, it promises to be an exciting and rewarding term for all.

On behalf of our staff, thank you for your continued support and partnership in your child’s education. We are proud of the growth our students have shown and look forward to sharing their next steps in learning as the year progresses.

Message From The Head of Special Education Services, Mr Josh Newby

🌟 Benefits of Early Childhood Intervention

Helping your child grow, learn, and thrive — right from the start.

👶 1. Helps Your Child Reach Milestones

• Supports walking, talking, learning, and playing.
• Catches delays early so your child can keep up with others their age.

🧠 2. Supports Brain Development

• A child’s brain grows fastest in the first 5 years.
• Early support takes advantage of this important time to build strong skills.

🧒 3. Boosts Confidence and Independence

• Helps your child feel more confident in everyday activities.
• Builds life skills for now and the future

🎓 4. Prepares for School Success

• Children who receive early help often do better in preschool and kindergarten.
• May need fewer special education services later.

👨‍👩‍👧 5. Empowers and Supports Parents

• Gives you the tools and knowledge to help your child at home.
• Reduces stress by helping you understand your child’s needs.
• You’re not alone — you’ll have a team supporting your family.

💰 6. Saves Time, Stress, and Money Later

• Early help can reduce the need for costly services in the future.
• The earlier the support, the easier it is to make progress.

❤️ 7. Strengthens the Parent-Child Bond

• Encourages positive interactions through play and communication.
• Builds stronger relationships and trust

🌍 8. Gives Every Child a Fair Start

• Supports children with delays, disabilities, or medical conditions.
• Promotes inclusion and helps all children reach their potential.

Early intervention isn’t about labelling your child — it’s about giving them the right support at the right time.

Message From The Guidance Officer - Mrs Mel Bashford

Thursday 11^th September is R U OK Day. It’s our National Day of Action when we remind Australians that every day is the day to ask, “Are you OK?”. It’s about what we can all do to help our friends, classmates and family to get through tough times. Students at Everleigh School will be doing age-appropriate activities in class. They will learn how to start a meaningful conversation, whenever they spot the signs that someone they care about, might be struggling with life.

While children can't be expected to fix someone’s problems, they can be encouraged to listen to what their friend is saying, show they care and tell a parent, teacher, guidance officer or other trusted adult if they are worried about their friend. The four steps for children to ask, “Are you OK?” are:

1. 

Be relaxed and friendly in your approach.

Help them open up by asking questions like "How are you going?”

If they don’t want to talk, ask if there is someone else, they’d like to talk to. 

2.

You could say “I’m here to listen”.

Don't interrupt or rush the conversation.

Don’t judge

Show that you've listened by repeating back what you’ve heard 

3.

Ask: “What have you done in the past to manage similar situations?”

Ask: “How would you like me to support you?"

Encourage them to speak to an adult.

4.

Check in later.

 You could say: “How are you today” or

“Do you need more help?”

Stay in touch and be there for them.

 Ask what things they like doing, and help them make plans to do them, or offer to do them together. 

By asking R U OK? then listening, encouraging action and checking in, your conversation could change a life. 

Have a great week,

Mel Bashford

(Guidance Officer)

PBL Focus Weeks 9 & 10 - Commitment - From The PBL Team

P.E. Message from Ms. Beck & Mr James - Junior Sports Day Program

UMS Uniform Shop News

Sharks Volleyball Clinic

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