2025 Term 3 Week 2 Newsletter

Principal's News

A personal message from the Principal, Carol Ann Coonan

After seven years as Pittsworth SS Principal, I will take indefinite leave as of today, sadly not by choice, but by circumstance.  I have been diagnosed with a health concern that requires immediate and long term treatment. 

Mr Lars de Gier, Southbrook Central SS Principal, will relieve in my position in the short term, and the department will appoint a longer term Principal within the next few weeks until at least 14 July 2026.  I acknowledge that Lars' relieving placement at such short notice does affect the Southbrook school community and I wish to express my gratitude to the families in accomodating this unexpected change.

As always, please continue to communicate to a member of the admin team or with your child's teacher for any queries or concerns. 
Mr de Gier will provide further information to you in relation to any future Principal appointments.

Art Show - a message from the P&C

We are very excited about the school Art Show, coming up on Friday 1^st August. The PSS P&C will be catering this event.  We are now seeking volunteers to cook the hot meals for the evening.  We will need help cooking the following:

• Zucchini slice vegetarian option- no bacon
• Spaghetti bolognaise
• Beef stroganoff
• Soup - the cook's choice!
• Butter chicken
• Curried sausages
• Rice
• Spaghetti
• Mashed potatoes

If you are able to assist, please email psssecretary@outlook.com.  If required, the P&C may be able to assist with the cost of meat.  Please contact us if needed.

School Opinion Survey

This year’s School Opinion Survey runs from 28 July to 22 August. Parents, carers, students in selected year levels, and staff have been emailed a link to participate. Your feedback will help us understand our school’s strengths and areas for improvement. Survey responses are confidential. Find out more on the School Opinion Survey webpage or contact school administration.

Lost & Found: Check Your Child's Bag

Please check your child's school bag for any mistakenly taken hats, jumpers, or other uniform items. If your child has accidentally brought home someone else's belongings, please return them to the school office promptly. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated!

Important Reminder: Bus Zone Restrictions

To ensure student safety and smooth traffic flow, please remember that the bus zone directly in front of the school is strictly for buses only between 8:30am - 9:00am and 2:45pm - 3:30pm daily.

We've received feedback from bus companies regarding vehicles parking or waiting in this signed zone. Please use the designated car parks at both ends of the school during these times. Your cooperation helps keep everyone safe.

Curriculum

ICAS registration closing on 28 July
ICAS:  What is ICAS?

ICAS is an online academic competition that gives Years 2-6 students the opportunity to challenge their higher order thinking and
problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling Bee, and Digital Technologies.

Every student who participates is celebrated and recognised with a printed certificate in each subject area, and online results report
to track development each year. Top performers are eligible for one of the highly coveted ICAS medals.

To learn more about this year’s exciting ICAS competition, visit: icasassessments.com/products-icas/ 

Please see flyer below to register your child to participate in ICAS.
Registration for all subject areas closes on Monday 28 July at 11:59pm.

This year, our Years 2-6 students can elect to sit the following assessments:

Time Flies When You're Having Fun:
100 Days of Prep!

Can you believe our amazing Preppies have already hit their 100-day milestone at school? They were a bit surprised to learn 100 days doesn't fast-track them to Year 1, but they're now halfway through their first school year! If only they knew they have approximately 2,500 school days ahead!

Our celebration theme was "When I Grow Up" and our Preps came dressed as their future selves. It's clear our future is in capable and diverse hands, featuring aspiring doctors, nurses, police officers (and a super-secret spy!), teachers, various workers, ballerinas, sports stars, soldiers, sailors, vets, a palaeontologist, and even the magical 'tooth fairy'!

The day was brimming with creative and active pursuits. Students decorated biscuits with sprinkles, tried their hand at dot painting, made necklaces, built with Lego, decorated crowns, got their bodies moving, searched for 100 shapes, and built towering structures with 100 cups. To top it off, Preps also enjoyed special NAIDOC activities, making boomerangs and bracelets. What a brilliant day for all!

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LIONS EYE HEALTH - FREE VISION SCREENING

Thanks to Pittsworth Lions, ALL of our students have the opportunity to undergo comprehensive and FREE Vision Screening by trained Eye Health Facilitators and Lions volunteers (training approved by Centre for Eye Health.)

1 in 5 children have an undetected vision condition. It is important to pick up any problems as soon as possible to reduce the impact on their development.

The vision screening requires students to complete 4 assessments, which only take a few minutes to perform.  There is NO physical contact made with the child and NO eye drops administered. 

Results are sent as personalised letters identifying &/or highlighting any areas of concern that should be referred on to an Optometrist for further examination if required.

Please see below Permission Form for more information.

Homework Centre for Years 3-6 students

The Department of Education has funded our Homework Centre for another 12 months for which we are truly grateful.  Homework is an important part of every child’s education but finding time to help children get their homework done can be a challenge for busy families.  Homework Centres provide a supervised and suitable learning environment in which students can complete their homework before they go home. 

Mrs Fletcher and Miss Edwards manage our Homework Centre each Wednesday from 3pm – 4.15pm in the Library for students in Years 3-6. 

If you would like your child to attend Homework Centre, please contact a member of the Admin Team or email admin@pittsworthss.eq.edu.au

Year 7 in 2026:  Pittsworth State High School

Please see flyer below with information for Year 7 in 2026 at PSHS.

NAIDOC week activities

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Win Books for Our Library!

Book Week is almost here, and our school has an exciting opportunity to win up to $2,500 worth of new books for our School Library, thanks to QBD Books!

Here's how you can help us win:

1. Visit QBD Books: Drop by your local QBD store (Toowoomba Grand Central is closest) any time between July 1st and August 23rd.
2. Hand in our Flyer: Simply present our school's flyer (attached below) to the team – no purchase is necessary!  If you want a printed flyer, ask a member of our Admin team.
3. Every Flyer Counts: Each flyer submitted equals one entry for our school. The school with the most entries wins!

Let's work together to boost our library collection!

Sporting News

Tilly D, Nevaeh K and Umika L made the Inner Downs Girls Rugby League trials at the end of last term and are off to Darling Downs on Friday 25^th July. Good luck girls!

Consent & Payment for Sporting Trials

For Parents and Carers nominating children for Qld Schools Sporting Trials (9 years - 12 years):

There is a clear process that parents & carers must follow when nominating their child to participate in a Qld School Sports Trial.  It is the parent's responsibility to ensure the "School Sport Trials Permission & Student Health Information Form" is returned to the school within the specified timeframe.

The Principal or HPE Teacher is required to sign the "School Permission section" of this form to give approval for your child to attend. The form then needs to be returned to you and handed to officials on the day of the trial.  The trial fee must also be paid via Qkr! by the due date for your child to be eligible to attend.  Pittsworth State School cannot see who has paid or not paid, as we do not manage payments and registrations.

Failure to return the form and/or pay the trial fee by the due date will render your child ineligible to attend the trial. This decision is made by the zone convenor and not Pittsworth State School.

No form = No trial.  No payment = No trial.  As a parent/carer of a sporting child, nomination and payment is your full responsibility.

2025 Inner Downs & Darling Downs School Sport

Please contact Ms Will for further information regarding these events. These events will be open to students that are interested and have experience in these sporting events. Nominations come out a few weeks prior to events so please let Ms Will know closer to the event if your child is interested.  Students will only be nominated for Swimming, Cross Country and Track & Field if they have made qualifying times.  Ms Will’s email: bwill641@eq.edu.au or 46198333

The Arts

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CGEN 2025:  Congratulations to our incredible group of dedicated staff, students and volunteers involved in this year’s Creative Generation - State Schools Onstage. We have been rehearsing and preparing for this year’s CGEN event since February and last week we all travelled to Brisbane for Show Week - a fantastic week filled with music, dance, new friends and excitement.

A huge thanks goes to our dedicated parents and supervisors who spent countless hours organising paperwork, costumes, food, transport and accommodation - for endless rehearsals and also during Show Week.  Special thanks to teachers and volunteers, Mrs Dillmann, Mrs Wheeldon, Mrs Greenwood, Mrs McEwan and Mrs Sacagio who looked after the Massed Choir kids, and to Mrs Chenyl, Mrs Salgado, Mrs Rayfield and Mrs Brose who supported our dancers.

Featured Junior Dancer: Carly L

Massed Dance: Matilda B, Dacian S, Mirabelle R, Zara S, Charlotte T, Carly L

Massed Choir: Heidi D, Arabella S, Oskar D, Eliza D, Phoebe H, Esther B, Indy P

It was wonderful to be part of the Pittsworth Cluster, with students from Pittsworth SHS, Pittsworth, Southbrook, Mt Tyson and Biddeston all combining for rehearsals and performances.

We performed in five massive (two and a half hour) shows … a full dress rehearsal on Friday morning, followed by matinee and evening shows on Friday and morning and afternoon shows on Saturday. Such a huge commitment from our highly energetic and talented kids!

CGEN is one of the most phenomenal experiences to participate in!  I would encourage all students who are keen to sing or dance (or even play in the Massed Strings!) to be involved in next year’s amazing event.  Please contact Mrs Wheeldon if your child would like to be part of our brilliant CGEN team for 2026!

And check out our fun photos from Show Week … and stay tuned for a special CGEN performance featuring our Pittsworth students at an upcoming school parade!

CGEN 2025 will be televised on Channel 9 later this year.

Choir:  Thank you so much to Mrs Gordon, Mrs Murphy and Mrs Briggs who looked after our weekly choir practices last term while I was away on long-service leave. Regular choir rehearsals continue every Wednesday this term - 8.00am at Bottle Tree Hall!

ART EXHBITION:  Please see the attached flyer advertising our Art Exhibition which is being held on Friday 1 August.  Anyone keen to assist with planning, setting up and packing up the exhibition is invited to attend a meeting this Thursday 24 July from 8.30am - 9.30am in the Arts Space. Please email Mrs Wheeldon directly if you can attend the meeting (bwhee1@eq.edu.au ) or if you are unable to attend the meeting but can assist with setting up or packing up. Thanks to those parents who have already indicated their availability!

Pittsworth Amateur Theatrical Society Production: ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’

Congratulations to Emily G who has successfully auditioned for a role in this year’s PATS production. She will be joined in the cast by Mr Santsingh, Mrs Wheeldon, Mrs Grover and Mrs Watts! There are also many past parents and students of Pittsworth State School in the extensive cast. ‘Joseph & the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat will be staged at the Pittsworth Town Hall on the weekend of 15 August. Tickets on sale now! See attached flyer.

Date Claimer:          

1 August - ‘Where the Forest Meets the Sea’ Art Exhibition

15-17 August - ‘Joseph & the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’

Mrs Beth Wheeldon
Arts Teacher
CGEN Co-ordinator
Choir Conductor

P&C Patch

TUCKSHOP

Tuckshop continues on Wednesdays and Fridays this term.  Orders to be placed via the Qkr! app by 8.30am.

We are seeking Friday volunteers for Term 3.  If you can spare a few hours on any Friday morning, please contact Karla Trott via the school office or email psssecretary@outlook.com.   Thank you to our regulars that have already put their name down.

Pie Drive

This term, the PSS P&C will be running a pie drive.  Further information to come.

VOLUNTEERS – MANDATORY TRAINING
There is a small amount of mandatory training that must be completed in order to volunteer at school.   It is quite quick to complete (10-15 minutes).  Please sign the form at the back and return to the school office.

Mandatory Volunteers Training 

P&C Bank Account Details

Download the Qkr! App to order tuckshop

Tuckshop open Wednesdays and Fridays

SRC News/Eco Club News

School Management

QParents 

Join QParents today to enable you to:

• Give consent for excursions without having to sign paperwork! Imagine no more signing forms!
• Notify the school of your child's absences
• Pay invoices online
• Access your child's Report Cards

All you need to sign up is your Driver's Licence and Medicare Card.

QParent Invitations have been sent out. If you have not received the email with the invitation, please contact the office.

Community News

Cost of Living Support

Families and individuals are encouraged to check their eligibility for concessions and other support by visiting:  https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/