Carmel McGrath 

Deadly Choices Program

Kirilla visits NFSS each Monday to facilitate the regional ‘Deadly Choices’ program. Deadly choices is a health education and capacity development program aimed at supporting Indigenous students to be positive role models and mentors for their family, peer group and community by leading a health lifestyle. 

National Reconciliation Week 27 May – 3 June

Find out more about National Reconciliation Week  #MoreThanAWord  #NRW2021

This week on assembly Ms Sueche spoke to the students about Sorry Day and the two significant milestones in reconciliation week 1967 referendum and the Mabo decision. 

National Sorry Day is Wednesday 26 May; a day which acknowledges and raises awareness of the history and continued effect of the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from their families, communities and culture. National Reconciliation Week celebrates and builds on the respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians.

Class Activity – Sueche has given the teachers an activity for students where they will be creating their own five petal flower to display in our garden as a way of representing our acknowledgement of the meaning behind Sorry Day. Some examples can be seen here.

The dates for NRW are the same each year; 27 May to 3 June.

These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey— the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively.

27 May 1967 On this day, Australia’s most successful referendum saw more than 90 per cent of Australians vote to give the Australian Government power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and recognise them in the Census.

3 June 1992  On this day, the Australian High Court delivered the Mabo decision, the culmination of Eddie Koiki Mabo’s challenge to the legal fiction of ‘terra nullius’ (land belonging to no one) and leading to the legal recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of lands. This decision paved the way for Native Title.

Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Attached for our students is a colour In Poster for Reconciliation Week.  Please see the symbol meanings and once complete, hand in to Mrs Lamb at the Library. Action by Jessica Johnson, is the story of the land and community sharing the united call for action on reconciliation.

2022 Enrolments

Our enrolments for 2022 students is now open! Click Here to find out more information and to arrange your Expression of Interest. Interviews are commencing this week, and will be conducted on Fridays. Please check your inboxes (and junk inboxes) for any follow up communication from our administration team. We look forward to welcoming your children and family to New Farm State School in 2022! 

Upcoming events:

• Evacuation Drill – Thurs 27 May
• P&C – Thurs 10 June 6-7pm
• Planning days – Mon 14 June to Friday 18 June
• Last Day Term 2 – Friday 25 June

Kay Bradley

Grand Friend Visit 

This morning, I accompanied student representatives and class teachers from Prep E, Prep B, Prep M and 1H to AVEO.  We were visiting our Grandfriends’ home and enjoyed morning tea as well as a tour of the beautiful accommodation.

The children were wonderful; polite, enthusiastic and engaging with all the people we met.  Our Grandfriends enjoyed showing the children around and we hope the visit will encourage more residents to ‘sign up’ for our Grandfriend project.

Melinda Norman

School Visit to Indigenous Garden

A quick visit to Kelvin Grove State College recently gave SueChe some great ideas for our local Indigenous Garden at NFSS. Teachers, Daniel and Jimmy offered a tour and SueChe can’t wait to see what New Farm SS will cultivate with our beautiful surroundings and significant history.    

Did you know New Farm is one of Brisbane’s oldest suburbs and was once called Binkinba (place of the land tortoises) by the indigenous Turrbal tribe.

Prep M Fun with Ms McLeod

Mother’s Day at the beginning of this month was an exciting time for our Prep students as they tapped into their creative side to make our Mums feel extra special.

Cross Country

The weather at our recent Cross Country completion made for a wet and sloshy run, but it was definitely a day to remember. A big congratulations to all students who ran in this event. You did a great job!

1S Sock Puppets

1S have been busy with creating sock puppets as part of their ‘Drama Fun’ unit. Students will perform ‘in role’ to an audience using their Sock Puppet characters.

Fun Run!

Our students had a great time at the recent Fun Run! Heidi and Elizabeth received their ribbons at assembly and wore them with pride. Well done!

Free Community Connections Workshop – Save the date

Come along to our free Early Years Community Connections workshop on Thursday 5^th August 6:30pm – 7:30pm to see our very own Inclusion Coach, Ms Judy Loudon presenting ‘The Inclusive Mindset’ at Community Place: 17b Skyring Terrace, Newstead. Inclusion is seen as a universal human right. The aim of inclusion is to embrace all people, but what does this really mean for your child? All welcome!

Look out for the flyer coming your way soon.

Sandy Chambers 

Prep Vision Screening Program

The State Government is offering a prep-aged vision screening program to all primary schools in Queensland under the Primary School Nurse Health Readiness Program. This will involve a registered nurse screening the vision of children in their first year of formal schooling. Early identification of vision problems can result in better school achievement and health outcomes which lead to more productive and healthier lives in the future.

There is no cost for your child to participate in this prep screening service. You will, however, be required to return a parent consent form. The online parent consent form link can be found here. https://visionscreening.health.qld.gov.au/ParentalConsent/0812aDfW.

 Only one parent/guardian needs to fill the consent form in per child. This consent form link will close on Saturday, 5 June 2021.

This is a strict timeline and any forms completed after this date may result in the student being ineligible to participate in the program. Screening will commence at New Farm State School on Tuesday 13^th July, Term 3, Week 1.

This service is only a screening test and is only available for prep students. If you have other concerns regarding the vision of your child or other children in a different year level, please have them assessed by an optometrist. 

Please do not hesitate to contact the school office if you have any questions or concerns regarding this vision screening program.

Sandy Chambers