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 transports students to an activity 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

Chinese New Year – Lion Dance

Thank you to Ms Lee for once again organising our annual Lion Dance Performance.  Prep – Year 6 students, staff and families enjoyed the performance Friday 7^th Feb.  The performers were full of energy and the audience loved it. 

Look Out Program & Safer Schools Parking Update

Thank you to all parents who have registered for the Look Out Program. Registering means you understand the rules of our Pick Up / Drop Off zone and get a name tag to display on your car visor. Most drivers are doing a great job and we greatly appreciate the cooperation we’ve seen so far. However, there are still a few concerns:

• Parking and Leaving Vehicles: Please remember that drivers should not park and leave their vehicles in the Annie Street zone.
• Name Tags: Many cars are not displaying student name tags clearly, which can delay the process.
• Crossing the Road Safely: Parents should not walk between cars to cross the road. Please use the designated crossing, as this is crucial for safety and helps staff who are assisting students.
• Heal Street: This area is not our designated Pick Up/Drop Off zone and is not supervised by staff. Please adhere to regular traffic rules when using this street.
• Parking Compliance: Brisbane City Council and Traffic Police are responsible for issuing infringement notices. Please avoid parking too close to corners or on yellow lines.

As part of the Safer Schools Program for Term 1, 2025, New Farm State School is working with Brisbane City Council to ensure safe parking practices. Council officers will be visiting throughout the term to patrol the area, both on foot and in marked vehicles, using technology to monitor parking compliance.

We understand parking during busy times can be challenging, but safe and legal parking is vital to protect our children and ensure smooth traffic flow. For guidance on common school zone parking signs, please visit the Council’s website and search "School Parking."

Thank you for helping us create a safer school environment for everyone. If you haven’t already, please send in your Look Out Registration Form to get a new label for your car.

2025 Student Leaders – Congratulations to all our Captains, see below. The official leaders’ induction and badge ceremony is scheduled for later this term on Tuesday, 11 March.  Year 6 parents and families are welcome to attend.

Workplace Health and Safety

As part of our regular processes, each term our school conducts both an Evacuation Drill practice where we assembly on the school oval and a Lockdown Drill practice where we remain in rooms.  If you happen to be visiting at any time and a drill is in process, please either go to the oval for evacuation or to the office or area you were visiting (e.g. Tuckshop) for a lockdown. 

Loren Schmidt

Uniform Expectations

I am noticing a lot of students wearing multicoloured socks lately. Please be reminded that our uniform policy states that it is an expectation that students wear plain black, blue or white socks. Additionally, many students have been wearing their hair down or adding elaborate hairpieces to their styles. The uniform policy states that hair that is shoulder length or longer, is tied up or back using a plain hair band or hair tie. Please support your child to wear the appropriate uniform, including hairstyle, each day, as this helps build a sense of community and pride within our school.

NAPLAN

NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) is occurring in March this year within a period from the 12^th – 24^th. It is a nationwide measure through which parents/carers, teachers, schools, education authorities, governments and the broader community can determine whether or not young Australians are developing the literacy and numeracy skills that provide the critical foundation for other learning and for their productive and rewarding participation in the community (NAPLAN, 2024). Students in Year 3 and Year 5 will be required to complete 4 tests – Writing (Paper based – Year 3s), Reading, Conventions of Language and Numeracy, all of which are completed online on school iPads (Year 3) and BYOD iPads (Year 5). Each test duration is approximately 45 mins. They are completed on separate days in your child’s classroom. 

Families can access the Public Demonstration site where students can have exposure to the types of questions and skills required when answering questions on a device. Please click the following link to access the Public Demonstration Site https://nap.edu.au/naplan/public-demonstration-site.

If you have any questions regarding your child accessing the NAPLAN tests, please feel free to contact your child’s classroom teacher. Our school Inclusion Team are also available to answer any questions, should you like to make an appointment.

Before School Procedures 

Students should arrive at school near 8:30am and move to the undercover area outside of Reception to wait for the 8:30am bell. Before this time, there is no formal supervision for students and we recommend using our School Plus service in this instance.

The 8:30am bell is the signal that students can move to a designated before school play area, including the oval or netball court (Years 1-6), and the Prep play area outside Prep N and Prep D (for Prep students only). Please note, that whilst Prep students are permitted to play in the space outside the classrooms, we ask that parents remain onsite to supervise their child/children until the 8:45am bell, which is the signal that students can move to their respective classrooms. Under no circumstance are students permitted to play on the playground in the Prep area outside Prep B, or the playgrounds in the Bark and Memorial areas. For students in Year 1 to Year 6, families are not permitted to go into the classroom blocks until the 8:45am bell as teachers are still preparing for lessons before this time.

Stan Williams

Important Invoice Information

Dear Families,

We would like to inform you that the following invoices have now been issued:

• Year 1-6 Swimming (due 12th February)
• Year 4-6 Dance (due 12th February)
• Year 6 True Relationships Incursion (due 27th February)
• Year 1 Nudgee Beach Excursion (due 11th March)
• Whole School SRS (due 21st March)
• Year 6 Camp (due 4th April)

All families with overdue invoices have been notified via email and SMS. Please be reminded that if invoices remain unpaid without a valid payment agreement, children will not be able to participate in the respective activities.

Year 6 Families:

The due date for camp payments is approaching. If you require a payment plan for this invoice, please reach out as soon as possible. The camp must be paid in full for your child to attend. If you need to set up a payment plan, it must be arranged now to ensure it is paid in full prior to the camp.

As always, we are here to support families experiencing financial difficulties. If you need to apply for a payment plan or are claiming financial hardship, please contact us at businessmanager@newfarmss.eq.edu.au.

Sandy Chambers

‘Learning To Read’ Parent Information Session

At New Farm State School, students in Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 learn to read using a Synthetic Phonics method. The Synthetic Phonics program that we use is called Read Write Inc (RWI).

You are invited to attend a RWI parent information session:

When – Thursday 27^th February, Week 5

Time –  8:55 to 9:30am (straight after the Prep Parent Information Session)

Where – In the Hall

All welcome.

The National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) for our Year 3 and Year 5 students is next month.

Assessment Details:

Below is the detailed schedule including session times, materials required, and the specific dates for each test domain:

An introductory session of approximately 15 minutes will precede each test.

Technology Requirements:

To facilitate the digital aspects of the assessments, all Year 5 students are required to have the NAP Locked Down Browser app installed on their iPads. This app is essential for accessing the test.

Preparatory Measures:

We encourage ensuring your child is well-rested and nourished on the day of the test. A positive approach towards the assessment is beneficial.

Withdrawal Process:

Should you wish to withdraw your child from the NAPLAN assessments, it is necessary to complete a withdrawal form available from the office. Simply keeping your child at home does not suffice as formal withdrawal.

Additional Resources:

NAPLAN assessments are an important tool in assessing educational progress. They are not a pass/fail test but a means to understand and support your child's learning needs.

For any further questions or clarifications, please do not hesitate to contact our office or classroom teacher.

Week 4 Classroom Awards 

Olivia in Year 4 competed at the Regional Little Athletics championships recently. 

She came 1st in Discus and Hurdles and 4th in 70m sprints.

Olivia now qualifies to compete at the state championships in March.  

Join the Kingfishers Swim Club!

Looking for a fun, friendly swimming club where every child is celebrated? Welcome to Kingfishers!

We're a community-focused swim club where participation and encouragement matter more than performance. If your child can swim 20m with a kickboard, they're ready to join the fun!

Who can join?

• Primary school children (including Prep)
• Younger siblings welcome
• Open to all schools in our community

What makes us special?

• Supportive, encouraging environment
• Focus on fun and participation
• Lots of cheering and celebration
• Family-friendly atmosphere

Every club night includes:

• Swimming activities for all abilities
• Delicious sausage sizzle and snacks
• Refreshments for parents (including beer and wine)

When: Every Friday until end of Term 1 Arrive: 5:15 PM Start: 5:30 PM Finish: 7:00 PM

No pre-registration required - just come along and join in!

Questions? Email Paul at pf_scott@yahoo.com

Join our friendly community where every swimmer belongs!