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.

2026 Student Leadership Positions

At this time of year, we begin our organisation for 2026. As well as structuring our classes, we also select our Year 6 leadership team. These leadership positions are awarded solely on merit. Students nominate themselves, present speeches to their peers, and are then voted on by fellow students. Those with the highest number of votes are invited to interview, and final selections are based on their interview performance.

It’s my pleasure to announce that our School Captains for 2026 will be Joni and Davis.

Our Vice School Captains are Avalon and Zumchung.

Merthyr House Captains will be Everleigh and Ruby. 

Binkinba House Captains will be Elle and Elizabeth.

Teneriffe House Captains will be Sean and Edith.

Congratulations to all our successful candidates, I am looking forward to working with you next year.

World Teachers’ Day

This Friday marks World Teachers’ Day, and I want to celebrate and acknowledge the remarkable team of teachers who make New Farm State School such a special place for our children to learn and grow.

Every day, our team of classroom teachers bring passion, creativity and care into their teaching. They nurture curiosity, build confidence and guide each student with dedication and heart. Our specialist teachers - whether in the arts, physical education or languages - enrich our students’ experiences in ways that go beyond the classroom. Their expertise and enthusiasm help our students discover new talents and broaden their horizons. And our relief teachers, who step in with professionalism and warmth whenever needed, have an ability to create calm, engaging environments at a moment’s notice.

I feel incredibly fortunate to work alongside such a dedicated, talented and compassionate team. Happy World Teachers’ Day!

Emma Kemph

As we recognise Day for Daniel on Friday, 31 October, it’s an important time to remind all families about the need to be vigilant with children’s online activity. This national day, held in honour of Daniel Morcombe, focuses on child safety, protection, and awareness — both in the physical and digital world.

Recent media coverage surrounding the popular game Roblox has highlighted growing concerns about student exposure to inappropriate and sexualised language online. Teachers have also reported hearing some of this language being used at school, which often stems from online interactions.

Many online platforms include messaging services that allow users to communicate freely unfortunately, this can also provide opportunities for adults to pose as someone else. In a recent classroom discussion, approximately half of the students reported receiving messages from people outside their friendship group. One child even commented, “But it was the Captain of the Brisbane Lions,” illustrating how easily children can be deceived online. We strongly encourage parents and carers to:

• Monitor your child’s online use closely.
• Review your home internet safety and privacy settings.
• Use parental controls or monitoring apps to help keep your child safe.
• Have open, ongoing conversations about safe and respectful online behaviour.
• Ensure close supervision

Below are some trusted resources to help you get started:

 eSafety Commissioner – Parental Controls

• Step-by-step guides to set safety and privacy settings on devices, games and apps.
  How to set up Parental Controls

Common Sense Media – Family Tech Planners

• Free templates for deciding “when, where, and how long” technology is used at home.
  Family Tech Planner (Common Sense Media)

 Daniel Morcombe Foundation – Family Technology Agreement Guide

• A practical guide to creating your own family technology plan, tailored to your needs.
  Download the Guide (PDF)

See below Digital Wellbeing section for more information. Thank you for your continued support in helping us promote safe, respectful, and responsible digital citizenship among our students — not just on Day for Daniel, but every day.

Dear Parents and Carers,

Over recent weeks, teachers and parents have shared concerns about what children are encountering online — particularly on popular platforms such Roblox and YouTube. Please see the attached links from Common Sense Media. Some students have reported seeing or hearing content that isn’t age-appropriate, or interacting with people they don’t know online.

We understand that keeping up with the fast-changing digital world can be challenging. For many children, online spaces are where they play, learn, and connect. Our aim isn’t to discourage technology use, but to help families guide children towards safe, balanced and positive online habits.

At New Farm State School, we’re committed to working alongside families to help every child use technology safely and responsibly. Below are trusted resources and a Family Tech Agreement template to support conversations and create shared expectations around technology use at home.

Trusted Resources for Families

 eSafety Commissioner – Family Tech Agreements

• Printable agreements for different age groups (including 5–8 years).
• Encourage open conversations about when, where and how children use technology.
   Create a Family Tech Agreement (Australian Government – eSafety)

 eSafety Commissioner – Parental Controls

• Step-by-step guides to set safety and privacy settings on devices, games and apps.
   How to set up Parental Controls

Common Sense Media – Family Tech Planners

• Free templates for deciding “when, where, and how long” technology is used at home.
   Family Tech Planner (Common Sense Media)

Daniel Morcombe Foundation – Family Technology Agreement Guide

• A practical guide to creating your own family technology plan, tailored to your needs.
   Download the Guide (PDF)

Creating Your Family Tech Plan

A Family Tech Agreement helps children and parents set clear boundaries and expectations together. You might include:

• When technology can be used (e.g. after homework, no screens before bed).
• Where devices are used and charged (e.g. shared family spaces).
• Which apps or games are appropriate and how chat features are managed.
• Who your child can communicate with online.
• What to do if something online makes them feel worried or uncomfortable.

The most important step is having regular, open conversations — and reminding children they can always speak up if something doesn’t feel right.

Why This Matters

Children are spending more time online than ever before — for learning, play, and connection. While many experiences are positive, risks such as exposure to unsuitable content, online contact from strangers, or unkind interactions can occur.

By setting clear expectations both at home and at school, we help children build digital resilience, manage screen time, and make thoughtful choices online.

Working Together

At school, we are embedding lessons on online safety, respectful communication, and digital wellbeing into our programs. We encourage families to complement this at home by using the resources above and discussing online experiences regularly.

If you have any concerns or questions about your child’s online activity, please reach out. Together, we can help every child become a safe, responsible and confident digital citizen.

Kind regards

Peter Curby

Our Year 5 and 6 students recently represented New Farm State School at the Gala Days, taking part in touch football or cricket. It was a fantastic opportunity for students to demonstrate teamwork, sportsmanship and resilience while having plenty of fun on the field.

The energy and enthusiasm were contagious as students cheered each other on, celebrated great plays, and showed persistence through every game. Many walked away with new skills, new friendships, and plenty of smiles!

A big thank you to the teachers and coaches who supported the day, your encouragement made the experience even more enjoyable for everyone. We’re so proud of our students for the way they represented New Farm with pride, respect and a great sense of fair play.

If your child will not be returning in 2026 please complete a Student Departure Advice, this does not include year 6 graduates. 

BAND INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC RECRUITING FOR 2026

Let the music making begin!

Each year we complete a recruiting process for positions in the departments instrumental music band program delivered here at NFSS.

Parents/caregivers of students currently in year 3 only are invited to express their interest now for their student to apply for a position in this program from 2026.

Please complete the survey using the link below or ask at the office for a paper copy to complete and return and if possible please email me to let me know if you are completing a paper copy. 

Applications close 31st October. 

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

Mr McIntyre

Families are advised that if a fault is found in the jacket zippers within a reasonable time frame after purchase, the item can be returned to the uniform shop for assessment. If the fault is genuine, the jacket will be replaced by the team.

This process also allows School Locker to investigate whether the issue is isolated or part of a broader batch concern.

For more information, please refer to School Locker’s https://www.schoollocker.com.au/exchanges-and-returns.

Kingfisher Swim Club is Back!
We’re excited to let you know that the Kingfisher Swim Club will be back in Term 4, starting on the first Friday night October 10.

The club is a fun, family-friendly way for kids of all ages and abilities to enjoy swimming. If you can swim at least 10m with a kickboard, you’re welcome to join in! We run kickboard races, one- and two-lap races in all strokes, plus a medley, fun relays, and even a free swim at the end.

There’s no cost, no pre-registration, and no pressure—just turn up, have a go, and enjoy the atmosphere. The tuckshop will be open with sausages, chips, and drinks to keep everyone going.

Come along and be part of the chant: Kingfishers, Kingfishers… GO, GO, GO!