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. 

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.

Dr Carmel McGrath

2025 Student Leadership Process

Congratulations to all our successful students, who are listed below.  It was a credit to all students involved that they were so enthusiastic and resilient during the process. Our final selection of successful candidates is a very worthy group.

As in all previous years, a badge ceremony for all school leaders will take place at the end of Term 1 with date to be advised early in 2024.

Instrumental Music Annual Gala Performance

Congratulations to all instrumental students Years 4-6 who are performing on Tuesday 26^th November at Fortitude Valley SHS. Parents and carers are invited to attend and watch the Junior and Senior Band and Choirs perform under the instruction of Mr Colin McIntyre and Ms Rebekah Davis. 

Reporting

Many classes are currently finalising assessment before staff begin reporting for semester 2.  Report cards will be finalised by end of week 10 and distributed to parents and carers in week 11 (Thurs 12^th Dec). 

Curriculum Focus

Over the next fortnight class teachers will be reviewing their 2025 term 1 plans with a focus on updating assessment guides and learning sequences. As part of our new Digital Teaching and Learning actions, Ms Krohn will be working with teachers to identify the specific use of digital tools within different subject areas and homework tasks. This information will be shared with parents on the term’s curriculum overviews at the beginning of each term. Any further questions or feedback on this information can be emailed to HOD Ms Merrilyn Krohn at mkroh1@eq.edu.au .

Upcoming events:

• Tuesday 26 Nov – Instrumental and Choir Gala Night 5:30pm drop off, performance 6-7pm
• Wednesday 27 Nov – Parent Screen Sanity session in hall 6-7pm
• Thursday 28 Nov – P&C meeting (final for the year) in Library 6-8pm
• Thursday 28 Nov - Prep & Yr 1 Swimming Carnival - 9-11am
• Thursday 28 Nov - Yr 2 & Yr 3 Swimming Carnival - 11:40-3pm 
• Friday 29 Nov - Yr 4-6 Swimming Carnival - All day 

Kay Bradley

Uniform Reminders

We have noticed that over the last term we have a number of students wearing make-up to school, which is not permitted. The wearing of make up by a few students can cause pressure on others to begin to alter their appearance.  At a time when our girls are heavily influenced by media, it’s important that school is a place where they feel comfortable with their appearance. 

Students wearing make-up will be asked to remove it and parents may be called. 

Medication Collection 

Message for all students with medication stored at school.

We ask parents please collect their medication before school closes for the year.
We request you attend the administration office between 1:30pm and 3:30pm Friday 13 December.

Or as you collect your child on their last day for those finishing the year early.

ANY MEDICATIONS LEFT AT SCHOOL AFTER 3:30PM FRIDAY 13 DECEMBER WILL BE DISPOSED OF VIA A PHARMACY.

If your child/ren’s medical status changes (e.g. asthma action plan no longer relevant, allergy severity decreased etc.) please inform the school via email firstaid@newfarmss.eq.edu.au 

I am looking forward to a safe and enjoyable end to the year for all students, staff and families.

This week in junior school classrooms…

Prep – learning to create teddy bear and rocket animations using Keynote. Students form images from basic shapes, group these and add in an animation.

Year 1 – Welcome to Mr Cerrato’s cooking class! Students are role-playing how to make a hot chocolate or milo and writing a set of instructions as a procedural text.

Year 1 – Using the app Book Creator to publish a set of instructions to make a pizza. Students add in text and images to enhance their creation.

Year 1 – Group Rotations including writing and using counting blocks to understand subtraction.

P-2 Dance Celebration 

This term our Prep-Yr 2 classes have been participating in dance classes provided through Creative Dance Industries. As the term comes to an end…

You are invited to our P-2 Dance Finale Celebration

When: Week 10, Tuesday 3rd Dec

Time:    Prep – 5:15pm arrive and meet teachers

             Yr 1 – 6pm arrive and meet teachers

             Yr 2 – 6:30 arrive and meet teachers

Where: Meet teachers on the decking outside the hall. Teachers will be in performance order.

Wear: Details will be confirmed. 

Things to Note:

• Priority seating will be available for parents and friends for each year level.
• Please allow teachers to vacate the hall with students after year level performances.
• Please vacate your seat and collect your children from the NETBALL court immediately after year level performances to allow incoming parents access to priority seats.

Now more than ever, navigating screen time and social media presents a significant challenge for parents, as we strive to balance the benefits of technology with the importance of healthy, real-world interactions for our children's development. 

We are pleased to invite you to a session, to support parents tackling this universal issue.

Founded in the USA in 2018, then expanded into Brisbane in 2021, not-for-profit Screen Sanity Australia, supports families to navigate this era of digital overwhelm for parents, caregivers, educators, and most importantly, children. 

They have developed a ground-breaking program called the ‘Screen Sanity Parent Workshop’ that raises awareness about healthy technology use. During the 2 hour workshop, a host of topics are covered equipping parents with actionable tools, insights and resources to give you the confidence to raise happy, healthy digital natives, and know that you are not alone. 

We are delighted to be bringing the Parent Workshop to New Farm State School, and invite you all to the parent/carer community evening on Wednesday, 27th November from 6-8pm.   

The New Farm State School P&C are kindly sponsoring the cost of the workbooks for each family in attendance, as well as light refreshments, and key members of the Screen Sanity team are kindly donating their time to our community, free of charge. 

To register your interest in attending please go to Screen Sanity Tickets.

New Farm’s Got Talent – Finalists Announced!

A huge congratulations to all the students who auditioned for New Farm’s Got Talent! It was fantastic to see your excitement and enthusiasm shining throughout the auditions.

After much deliberation and tough decision-making, the finalists were announced on Monday. Well done to those students!

Finalists need to submit their music to Mr. V by Friday, 22 November, as an MP3 file. Files can be shared via email, transferred using a USB, or saved to an iPad and sent via AirDrop.

We can’t wait to see your amazing performances in Week 11!

For more details, please refer to the attached information flyer.

The New Farm’s Got Talent Teaching Team

Band Recruiting for 2025

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

All parents of current year 3 students only, are invited to click on the link below for information, and to apply for, our band instrument instrumental music program in 2025. Learning and performing a musical instrument in a group environment indeed has many developmental benefits with the fun factor being my favourite!

For any questions please contact Mr Colin McIntyre via email cmcin13@eq.edu.au

Band walk to school bus: Shout out to the brave band members who marched and played their way to school last Friday along with the other walk to school students. We sure made an impact in the streets and the school, showing what an active life looks like!

Instrumental Music Annual Gala 

In 2025, our students in Year 6 will be going to the PGA Kindilan Camp site at Redland Bay as part of the school camping program. The camp is booked Monday the 28^th of April to Wednesday the 30^th of April (three days, two nights).

To secure your child’s place at the camp please complete the attached form by the 28th of November 2024. 

More information, including a parent information session, will be held in term 1 of 2025.

Year 6 Camp EOI 2025

BOOK CLUB issue 8 is here!

Look out for your copy of Book Club in your child's schoolbag! It's packed with hundreds of books and starting from just $3 to help you on your child's reading journey. This the last chance this year to get some great summer reading books and fun activities (away from the screens!)

Please place your order by Friday 22.11.24

No cash orders will be accepted at school. Please use the LOOP order and payment function.  Scholastic.com.au/LOOP or download the LOOP app

Look out for a copy of the brochure in your child’s bag, or at this link here

https://www.scholastic.com.au/book-club/book-club-parents/

There is never any obligation to purchase from Book Club, but each order earns also earns more resources for our library and classrooms. Thank you.

The New Farm Kingfisher Swim Club is back, and we’d love to see all New Farm State School students get involved! ? This community-focused event is open to all primary school-aged kids and is held right here at the New Farm State School Pool. It’s a great way to unwind, make new friends, and enjoy a fun and relaxed Friday night! ?

Whether you’re a confident swimmer or just starting out, as long as you can swim 20 meters with a kickboard, you’re welcome to join! ? It’s free to attend, no registration is required, and there’s a sausage sizzle ? and drinks ? available for a small cost, making it a great night out for the whole family.

We are also looking for volunteers to help get the kids ready for the races and assist with running the BBQ and drinks stall. Please contact me if you are interested in helping with the BBQ—your support will make the event even more fun! ?

Details:

• First Event: Friday, 4th October
• When: Every Friday night starting from the first Friday of Term 4
• Time: Arrive at 5:15 PM for a 5:30 PM start. Events finish by 7 PM ⏰
• Where: New Farm State School Pool
• Who: All primary school-aged kids are welcome! ?

We look forward to seeing all our New Farm State School families for some splash-tastic fun! ? Come and join the community spirit!

Any questions please call Paul 0403666060

If your child will not be returning in 2025 please complete a Student Departure Advice, this does not include year 6 graduates. 

Our enrolments for 2025 are open, be sure to submit your expression of interest now!