IMPORTANT NOTICES

What if my child is unwell?

Any child who is showing signs of illness or feeling unwell, should stay at home.

If a child is showing signs of illness at school, the school will contact the parent or carer to collect the child.

We hope this message finds you well and thriving in the midst of Term 1. As we continue to navigate through the academic year, we have some important updates and reminders to share with you.

Year 5 Camp Payment Information:

We are excited to announce that preparations for our Year 5 Camp in Term 3 are well underway. In the coming weeks, we will be issuing invoices for this memorable event. We understand that this expense may require planning, and therefore, we are pleased to offer flexible payment plans. If you wish to discuss setting up an agreement, please don't hesitate to contact us at bsm@newfarmss.eq.edu.au.

Reminder for Outstanding Accounts:

This is a gentle reminder to those families who have outstanding accounts with us. Reminder notices have been dispatched, and we kindly request that these accounts are settled within 14 days. Your prompt attention to this matter is greatly appreciated. For your convenience, invoices can be easily viewed and paid through the QParents app. If you require any assistance in setting up the app, our front office staff are available to help. Additionally, payments can be made directly at the front office or via the link provided on your invoice.

New Payment Options:

We are pleased to announce that New Farm State School now accepts BasicsCard payments at our front office. Families holding a BasicsCard can conveniently settle their school fees using this method. Furthermore, we are currently in the process of applying for Centrepay and will notify families promptly once this payment option becomes available.

We hope these updates streamline your experience with us and contribute to a smoother administrative process for all involved. Should you have any questions or require further assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Enjoy the last weeks of Term 1!

This Friday 1st March 12pm to 3pm, we will be running our Colour Explosion School Run 4 Fun! It’s going to be a really fun day, so make sure you’re here. All children will need to bring a WHITE shirt for the Fun Run, to make the colour extra bright. Students will change into their white shirts in class groups ahead of their allotted sessions on the Oval.
It is not compulsory to register or donate to participate in the run on the day - the run is inclusive and all students are able to participate in the activities on the oval and will be given a pack that includes a rainbow headband and pair of sunglasses to keep.
If students have registered and have raised over $50 they go into the drawer to SLIME one of our lucky 15 Staff Slime Volunteers.
Families are welcome to attend to watch the fun, however please be mindful students will remain under teacher supervision until 3pm.
Below is an approximate timetable. Please be advised the timings may change depending on logistics of the day.

Colour Explosion Fun Run Timetable

12:05pm - 12:35pm Year 5 & 6 Colour run

12:35pm - 1:05pm Year 2 & 4 Colour run 

1:40pm - 2:10pm Year 1 & Year 3 Colour run

2:10pm - 2:40pm Prep Colour Run

2:45 – 2:55pm Teachers slimed

3pm – 6pm BBQ and Bar open at Memorial Area

* Session times include breifing, transitions, time on the oval and photo booth time.

BBQ and BAR after the Fun Run (near the memorial area)

After the Colour Explosion Fun Run, from 3pm we are inviting all children, parents and carers to stay and meet some other New Farm State School families.  This is the first time this year we have the opportunity to bring everyone together and look forward to seeing you there.  All are welcome.  We will also be holding a BBQ, with bar – where you will be able to purchase a sausage sizzle, drinks, and snacks. 

Menu
Sausage Sizzle $3.50 (options include vegan sausage and onion)
Chips $2
Soft drinks /Water $3
Ice Block $2
Beer $8
Wine $8
 

Incentive Prizes

Fundraising for our Colour Explosion School Run 4 Fun is entirely online. At the end of the fundraiser either order prizes to receive or donate to a cause – Carbon Neutral (tree planting), Great Barrier Reef Foundation (coral planting or turtle protection), The Smith Family (reading support) or OzHarvest (providing meals).

You only need to raise a minimum of $10 to receive an incentive prize and $20 to donate to a cause!

Monty the Monstar Prizes!

Monty the MonSTAR is giving away lots of extra prizes to help you reach for the fundraising STARS! Will you collect them all? Check out your sponsorship booklet to see what Monty has up for grabs.

$10,000 Budget Booster Bonanza Shopping Spree!

What would your family buy with a $10,000?! The highest fundraising student in our school will go into the draw to win: $2,500 Coles Card, $2,500 Woolworths Fuel Card, $2,500 Harvey Norman Card and a $2,500 Visa Card.

Win a PlayStation 5 Gaming Bundle!

Do you have a need for speed? The highest fundraising student in Australia will take home an awesome PlayStation 5 gaming bundle, complete with a NEW PlayStation 5 Console, VR2 Headset and Sense Controllers!

You have to be in it to win it! If you haven’t already, make sure you start fundraising online at www.australianfundraising.com.au. Happy fundraising!

New Farm State School is excited to introduce the Media Project Group, a creative student leadership team dedicated to celebrating and commemorating significant milestones at our school using various forms of media.

Throughout 2024, this dynamic group will lead various initiatives, including coordinating assembly media, crafting engaging slideshows, designing exciting flyers, and producing captivating videos.
Already busy with their first projects, the Media Project Group is excited for further opportunities for growth and improvement.

They warmly invite the school community to join them on this journey of innovation and achievement together.

Please contact Mr Jones jjone401@eq.edu.au with project requests.

Get ready to make a splash! We're excited to remind all Kingfisher swimmers that our beloved Kingfisher Swim Club will be back in action this Friday night, following the awesome fun run.

Date: Friday, March 1

Time: 5:15pm

Location: New Farm State School Pool

Whether you're a freestyle fanatic, a backstroke buff, or just love to paddle around, this is your chance to dive into the excitement of our swim club. Parents, we encourage you to come along and cheer for our young champions!

It's not just about swimming; it's about building friendships, staying active, and having a whale of a time!

We can't wait to see all our primary school swimmers there, ready to make a splash and have a ton of fun. See you at the poolside!

Splashingly yours,

Paul Scott

Kingfisher Swim Club

Next working bee this Saturday afternoon: On Saturday, March 2nd from 3-5pm, we will be planting out seedlings in Little Patch. All are welcome. Enter from the Heal Street entrance to the school and please sign up here if you would like to attend:https://signup.zone/HAvQuFD3kGCmX2nQj We have an abundance of basil, vietnamese mint, sage, rosemary and other herbs, which volunteers are welcome to take home. Taking inspiration from some of our school parents who took bouquets of basil for Valentine’s Day, we will also be making pesto in the tuckshop kitchen.

Erosion warriors: 

Our grade 5 students have been ‘erosion warriors’, working hard on implementing erosion mitigation strategies in the Beeston St garden for their science unit. On the undeveloped hillside they used the ‘chop and drop’ technique, which leaves the roots of weeds in place to secure the soil but sees the rest cut into small pieces to make mulch and build up the soil. This is a win-win, the weeds are dealt with and there are no needs for pesticides. 

On the more established hillside, they planted out some native shrubs, which were kindly donated by Vicki Howard’s team at Brisbane City Council. The students also moved the rich piles of compost that had gathered around the drain area, shovelling it back onto the garden to enrich the soil. Refreshed areas were covered with tea tree mulch and secured with coir netting. Thanks to the students for their excellent work, and to the teachers working with the Habitat Group to make outdoor learning fun, embodied and practical!

Gardenlife before-school program: Do you walk your child into school on Wednesdays or Thursdays? Would you like to join us in the Little Patch garden next to the tuckshop from 8.30-8.45am? No gardening experience is required. This activity is an opportunity to be with other parents and students to enjoy our edible garden. Last week, for example, we collected faded sunflowers for our students studying life cycles so they could brush and save the seeds.

School zone times have been standardised in Queensland to help motorists remember when to slow down. The standard operating times for most school zones in Queensland are 7–9am and 2–4pm, with some operating all day between 7am–4pm.

Speeding remains a significant concern, contributing to fatalities and injuries, and police will be on the lookout for speeding motorists. Keeping below the signed speed limit in school zones helps keep everyone safe. This simple adjustment may have minimal impact on travel time but has the potential to significantly contribute to saving lives.

Children's crossings are identified by children's crossing flags, displayed near crossings before and after school hours. 

When the crossing is supervised, you, as a motorist, must:

• Wait until all pedestrians, bicycle riders, or personal mobility device riders have crossed the road and the crossing supervisor has returned to the footpath.
• Abide by the direction given by the School Crossing Supervisor.

Please keep our children safe by staying alert, slowing down and obeying our school crossing supervisors who are there to help kids cross the road safely.  

You can also help children become more road safety aware by:

• Showing them how to look for vehicles coming in and out of driveways and discourage them from playing behind parked cars, or with toys or balls when walking to school. 
• Ensuring your child knows the safest route to and from school. This is usually the way with the least traffic and the fewest roads to cross and teach your child to always walk on footpaths. 
• Showing your child how to cross at traffic lights when the green 'walk' sign is showing at pedestrian crossings when vehicles have stopped and at supervised school crossings when the supervisor has signalled it is safe to do so. 
• Accompanying children when walking or riding to school until they are old enough to understand road safety (usually around 10 years or older). 
• Teaching your child if they catch the bus to never cross in front of or behind a bus; wait until the bus goes before crossing the road. 
• Making sure wheeled devices (bicycle, scooter, skateboard, or rollerblades) used to travel to school are well maintained and that the appropriate protective and safety gear (for example, helmet, visible clothing, knee and elbow pads) are used. 

Visit the Street Smarts website for more information about what to do at pedestrian and children crossings.

If your child/ren have a medical condition requiring regular or emergency administration of medication, please make sure you have supplied school with the following:

1. A CURRENT Action Plan for Asthma and Allergies – these are to be reviewed on a yearly basis, if your current action plan expires by the end of March 2024 please arrange a new one.
2. A 'Consent to Administer' form – providing guardian consent to administer the provided medication, detailing when, why and how much medication is required to be administered at school.

IF YOUR CHILD/REN SELF ADMINISTER THEIR MEDICATION THIS NEEDS TO BE CLEARLY DISPLAYED IN BOTH THE LETTER FROM THE DOCTOR AND IN THE ACTION PLAN

Parents are also required to provide a letter detailing their consent for their child/ren to administer their own medication.

1. Medication must be in the original container and must have a pharmacy label with your child’s name and the prescribing Doctor/Dentist’s details.
2. If required, Parents will need to fill out an “Administration of Medication” form. If your child requires more than one medication, a form for each medication will need to be filled out.

Providing Medication to the School

Parents are welcome to drop medication to the Admin Office between 9am – 3pm daily.

Students are not permitted to transport their own medication. An adult must attend and provide medication and complete any require consents.

For all emergency medication, once it has been received and recorded by administration, all medication (e.g. asthma medication, anaphylaxis medication) will be put into a labelled box and stored in the administration building First Aid Room.

If your child/ren’s medical status changes (e.g. asthma action plan no longer relevant, allergy severity decreased etc) please let the school know via email through firstaid@newfarmss.eq.edu.au so that we may update our systems.