Attendance FAQ's

What if my student 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.

Does School Plus automatically know we are away?

No. If you have a regular booking with School Plus Outside School Hours Care, it is your responsibility to notify them directly if you need to cancel or amend a booking, will be away or if your student is absent due to illness.
Please phone 0458 052 153 or email newfarm@schoolplus.com.au 
If you fail to notify School Plus of an absence Police may be notified in accordance with the 'Missing Child Policy'.

What if my student is attending a school activity somewhere else?

If the school trasnports students to an acitivity via bus or walking groups, the school will mark a roll and account for the students.

If you transport your student to the activity, please notify the school they have arrived and are participating in the activity. 
To advise of an off campus activity, you can:
1. email absences@newfarmss.eq.edu.au 
2. phone student absence line (07)3358 7333 option 1
3. QParents app via 'Notify Absences' tab

How does the Absence SMS from school work?

If your student is not present at 9am roll marking and the office has not been notified they would be away, an SMS is generated and sent to parents. You are able to reply text to this SMS. 

Dr Carmel McGrath

Pupil Free Day – Friday 30 August

A reminder to parents that this Friday is a state-wide pupil free day.  Students do not attend school on this day as no staff will be on site.

Book Week  

Thank you to Mrs Norman, Ms Joynson, Ms Smith, Ms Chambers and parent volunteers for coordinating this year’s Book Week activities.  Students and staff were excited about the book character dress up day on Friday 26th August.  Thank you to all who attended our library activities and book week parade in the hall.  Thank you also to Mrs Maslen and Ms Davis who created the fairy garden writing stimulus for students to enjoy.

World Teacher Aide’s Day Friday 06 September

Next week we celebrate the professional team of teacher aides who work in our school supporting our students and teachers.  Thanks to these hard-working dedicated staff members, we are able to provide valuable programs and adjustments for students needing additional support, care and extensions.  Our teacher aides are positive and always strive to do deliver quality programs for our students.  They are a valued part of our school team.

Staff Update

Congratulations to Ms Eurell who has been successful in securing a promotional position interstate as Head of Special Education Services (HOSES) to begin in Term 4 this year.  I thank Ms Eurell for the outstanding role she has played over the past few years leading our Inclusion Pillar at New Farm.  I am currently recruiting for an Inclusion Coach and will keep you informed once finalised. 

National Science Week 

A big thank you to Mr Curby for his work with P&C to make a fantastic science science week happen. A big thank you especially to our parent voulenteers Courtney Taylor, Kara McKay, Lara Keating and Raquel Cruz who supported National Science Week Setup and Fair, we could not have done it without you. 

Kay Bradley

Formation of Classes 2025  

This term, we will begin the process of forming classes for 2025. This involves gathering information from teachers, students and parents. 

You are invited to share some information relating to your child’s learning and any particular personality clashes that you would like us to consider, in forming classes.  Parent voice in this process, does not include requesting certain friends or particular teachers.

Please use this link if you have important information to share, as this will ensure your information is captured.  Conversations or emails with class teachers may not be passed on. Use this link to begin the survey.

This link will remain live until the beginning of term 4.

As always when classes are formed, they remain in draft until day 8 of 2025 when our staffing numbers are confirmed by Education Queensland.

Dignity Vending Machine

A Dignity Vending Machine, providing free sanitary products, is now available for senior girls. In order that this is accessible, but less vulnerable to vandalism, it has been installed in a toilet, next to the staff toilets, in E block. Please discuss this with your girls, at the time that is appropriate to them. This machine will be accessible at all times and staff will be able to remind them of the location.

Melinda Norman

Book Week

Last week we had a fabulous time in the library during break times. There were a variety of activities for the students and the magic garden writing stimulus was a hit! The parade saw students and teachers dressing up as their favourite book character which was loads of fun! Well done to all involved in making our Book Week so special. 

Kookie’s Playgroup

Do you know anyone who has a child starting Prep next year? In Term 4 Kookie’s Playgroup will now be held on Fridays 9:15-10:15am on the following dates:

• Friday 18^th October
• Friday 25^th October
• Friday 1^st November
• Friday 8^th November
• Friday 15^th November
• Friday 22^nd November

Year 5 Chinese Temple Excursion 

OPTIMINDS

On Sunday 25 August this wonderful group of students participated in the Optiminds Engineering challenge.  

They have spent the last term and a half working very hard learning new ways to think creatively,  critically and collaboratively. 

They certainly did themselves and New Farm proud. 

A special thank you to Marianne Lien (Elizabeth’s mum) for giving up her time in facilitating this group. 

Regional Athletics Success

Last week, several of our students had the opportunity to compete in the Metro-North Regional Athletics Track Meet. We want to congratulate all those who participated and represented our school with pride and determination. A special acknowledgement goes to Theodore, who achieved an outstanding second place in the 10-year-old discus event with an impressive throw of 26.63 metres. Theodore's excellent performance has earned him a place in the state competition. We wish him the best of luck as he takes on this exciting challenge!

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. All medications must be in the original container and have clear chemist labels with the students name
2. Any allergy/asthma/anaphylaxis plans must be completed and signed by a GP
3. All parents must also complete a consent to administer form that aligns with the GP directed plan - there must be a form completed for each medication

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.

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.

Our enrolments for 2025 have now opened, be sure to submit your expression of interest now!