19 September 2025

Principal’s Report

Focus on Literacy and Numeracy

As we have shared with families throughout this year, our school is strongly focused on developing literacy and numeracy skills. Teachers are engaging students in explicit, targeted teaching every day, supported by benchmark assessments to track progress closely. This ensures that the intensive work we are putting in is making a real difference for student learning.

Parent–Teacher Interviews

Parent–teacher interviews will take place from Monday 13 October to Friday 24 October. These meetings are a valuable opportunity to discuss your child’s progress and see how they are moving forward with their learning. We strongly encourage all families to attend, as your involvement plays a vital role in supporting your child’s success. See further information below.

School Uniforms

We have noticed that some students have been choosing not to wear their school uniforms. A reminder that all students are expected to wear the correct uniform each and every day.

• If a student arrives without a uniform, they will be provided with a school uniform to wear for the day and will change back into their own clothes in the afternoon.
• Families who are experiencing difficulties in purchasing uniforms are encouraged to contact the office. We are more than happy to support you, including by arranging a payment plan if needed.

School Holidays

We wish all families an enjoyable and safe holiday period. We hope you find time to relax and enjoy being together. Term 4 will commence on Tuesday 7 October.

Thank you for your continued support in ensuring our students are set up for success.

Jeff Jepson
Principal

Deputy Principal’s Report

Mount Archer Day Fortnightly Focus

Over weeks 9 and 10, our MAD Fortnightly Focus was focusing on the expectations of end of play.

Congratulations to our MAD focus winners 5W & 1P as well as our Erimus award winning class 3S

Erimus Winners

Week 9   

Date Claimer: Year 6 Graduation and Awards Ceremony

Enjoy your week,

Julie Griffin
Deputy Principal

2026 Instrumental Music Program

This week, the Years 2 and 3 students were treated to a performance by our wonderful Instrumental Music Band & String students for recruitment into the 2026 Mt. Archer SS Instrumental Music Program (both Band & Strings). These programs provide your child the unique experience of learning new skills such as reading, playing music & an instrument, working within a team with a common goal and working with students from other year levels. If your child is in Grade 2 (Strings only) & Grade 3, all students received a form on Thursday 11 September. Please fill the form in and return to the school office by the first Friday of Term 4 10 October 2025. If your child is currently in Years 4 and 5 and currently not in the Instrumental Music Program, students are encouraged to apply. Forms and replacement forms are available at the school office to all students currently in Years 2, 3, 4 & 5. Please return your child’s form to the office by Friday 10 October 2025 to be considered for a place in the Mount Archer Instrumental Music Program in 2026.

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Parent-Teacher Interviews

Parent engagement in learning leads to improved outcomes for students of all ages.

Mount Archer State School are offering parent teacher meetings in classrooms throughout Week 2 – Week 3 in Term 4 (Monday 13 – Friday 24 October). These give you the opportunity to discuss your child’s learning with their teacher.

Your teacher has set their availability in School Interviews, our online booking system.

Bookings are now open: www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/59hx6 

*Note: Bookings will close on Wednesday 8 October.

When you click FINISH your selected bookings will be emailed to you instantly.

If you do not receive your email INSTANTLY, please check your junk-mail AND your SPAM folder, or enter the event code again and check your email address spelling. Update your details if the email address is incorrect.

The email will arrive from bookings@schoolintervie.ws

DO NOT DELETE the email you receive. Keep it somewhere safe. You may need to refer back to it at a later date.

REMEMBER TO ADD YOUR APPOINTMENTS TO YOUR CALENDAR - reminders will not be sent.

If you need to view, cancel, change or print your bookings:

Click on the link in the confirmation email you received after you made your bookings

OR return to www.schoolinterviews.com.au and enter the code and the email address you used when making your bookings.

Parent engagement in learning is known to lead to improved outcomes for students of all ages.

The parent-teacher interview is not the only time you can discuss your child with the teacher, but many parents and carers find it's their only opportunity to visit the school. 

Teachers like to talk about the good stuff

If you don't go to parent-teacher interviews, you're also missing out on the chance to hear the positive things about your child that they may not tell you themselves. It's just as rewarding for teachers to share good news with you.

These opportunities to talk to your child's teachers are important and shouldn't be missed.

Here are some tips about how to get the best out of your time with the teacher.

• Take a few minutes before the meeting to jot down any questions or comments you have. 
• Don't be afraid to raise your concerns. You and the teacher are partners in your child's learning. You're on the same team.
• Give the teacher some clue about your concerns, so they can prepare for your conversation. 

Have you made a time to talk with your child’s teacher?

Here are some questions you could ask:

• How is my child fitting in with other children?
• What are the students working on now?
• Is there anything about my child's needs that I should know?
• Does my child ask questions, participate in class discussions and other activities?
• Is my child's progress satisfactory?
• What activities does my child seem to enjoy the most at school?
• Does my child join in with other children in the playground?
• How is my child progressing in comparison to others in the year?
• Is there anything I can be doing to help my child at home?
• Do you have any concerns about my child?
• Can you tell me the best time and way to contact you if I have a query or concern?

Lost and Found Reminder

Lost and Found Reminder

Our Lost and Found box, located near the office, is overflowing with items—particularly school jumpers! We encourage parents to stop by and check the collection for any missing belongings. Please take a moment to have a look, as all unclaimed items will be cleared out at the end of the term.

Classroom Foyer Displays

6O

This term’s Science has been focused around natural disasters and how these extreme weather events effect the Earth’s surface. Students have considered the social, environmental and economic impacts of both floods and bushfires on communities and how they should plan for, respond and recover from these events.

Whilst in HASS, we have focused our learning around the interconnections between Australia and China. We compared the differences and similarities between our styles of governments, religions, climate and location and used appropriate mapping conventions when locating and labelling on maps.

Bookwork Superstars

Congratulations to our Week 9 Bookwork Superstars. We are seeing some amazing writing.

Week 9

4LG

5P

4/5H

Helping Hands Holiday HQ

✨ KidsFest is here! ✨🎉

Did you know… thanks to the way the fortnight falls, you can make the most of your CCS hours during KidsFest? 🙌

👉 Families on the 100-hour cap can stretch those hours right across the fortnight — meaning more play, more fun, and more value for you! 🌈🧒

Don’t miss out on this perfect chance to enjoy all the excitement of KidsFest while getting the full benefit of your CCS. 💡💛

Before and After School Care | Helping Hands Network

Helping Hands Network is the top before and after school care provider in NSW, WA and QLD. Book an adventure program for your child today!

Parentline: Support and advice for all Queensland parents and carers

Being a parent can be rewarding—but it can also be challenging. Whether you’re trying to support your child with school issues, friendship challenges, behaviour, or tough moments at home, it’s completely normal to feel unsure about what to do next.

Parentline is a free and confidential service available to all Queensland parents and carers. No problem is too big or too small—and reaching out early can make a real difference.

Parentline offers advice and support on a wide range of parenting topics, including:

• bullying and friendship issues
• parent–child relationships
• parenting strategies and behaviour management
• mental and emotional wellbeing—for both children and parents

You can speak with a trained professional by phone or webchat (6am-midnight), seven days a week.

An online bullying support forum is also available. This is a safe, moderated space to connect with others, ask questions, and share experiences.

📞 Call 1300 30 1300
💬 Visit parentline.com.au

Because parenting doesn’t come with a manual—but help is here when you need it.

Positions Available

Relief Teacher Aides and Cleaners

We are currently seeking reliable and enthusiastic individuals to join our pool of relief school cleaners and teacher aides for on-call and backfill opportunities.

Roles Available:

• School Cleaners – Maintain a clean, safe, and welcoming school environment.
• Teacher Aides – Support teaching staff in delivering high-quality education and care to students.

Requirements:

• A current PAID Blue Card
• Willingness to consent to a criminal history check
• Flexibility and availability at short notice
• A genuine interest in working in a school environment

Ideal Candidates Will Be:

• Punctual and dependable
• Able to work independently or as part of a team
• Respectful and professional in a school setting

If you’re passionate about supporting students and school communities, we’d love to hear from you!

To apply or express interest, please send your CV and a brief cover letter to:

The Business Manager
Mount Archer State School
242 Thozet Road
Koongal QLD 4701

For further information please contact the Business Manager on 49 235 222

Parent and Community Code of Conduct

Supporting our school’s Parent and Community Code of Conduct

Parents and visitors help keep everyone safe by communicating and behaving appropriately at school and during school events.

In support of this, we have adopted a Parent and Community Code of Conduct so that all visitors to our school can understand what is expected of them.

The Parent and Community Code of Conduct sits alongside our Student Code of Conduct and the Code of Conduct for the Queensland Public Service which applies to all staff.  

A copy of the new Code can be found at https://education.qld.gov.au/parents-and-carers/community-engagement/parent-and-community-code-of-conduct

Online Consent and QParents

Mount Archer State School is moving towards an online consent system for all school-related permissions and communications. This transition will not only streamline processes for our staff but also make it more convenient for you as parents.

To ensure a smooth experience, we highly encourage all parents to sign up for QParents. QParents will be your one-stop shop for all student-related information and permissions, making it easier than ever to stay connected with your child's school activities, view and update important details, and submit consents quickly and securely from the comfort of your home.

Why QParents?

Simplified access: No more paper forms. You can give consent for excursions, events, and other activities with just a few clicks.

Real-time updates: Stay informed with up-to-date information on your child's attendance, reports, behaviour and progress.

Convenience: Access everything you need in one place, 24/7, using your smartphone or computer.

We believe QParents will significantly improve communication and make managing your child's school-related matters much easier.

If you need any assistance with signing up for QParents or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the school office. We are more than happy to help!

Thank you for your cooperation as we make this transition to a more efficient and convenient way of managing school consent.

Read more about QParents at https://qparents.qld.edu.au/#/about

WHAT IS QPARENTS?

QParents is an online portal that is free for Queensland state schools to use and allows parents at your school to:

• view attendance details, behaviour information, report cards, timetables, invoices and a history of payments
• provide digital consent, reasons for unexplained absences and to notify the school of future absences
• view and pay school invoices online
• update student details including residential and postal address as well as medical conditions.

Read more about QParents at https://qparents.qld.edu.au/#/about

Help and more information

Further help with registering for QParents can be found on the QParents Help page at https://qparents.qld.edu.au/#/help

If you have any other questions or require some assistance with the registration process, please contact the Service Centre on 13QGOV (137468).

E-scooters and e-bikes

Does your child ride an e-scooter or e-bike? Did you know that only children 16 and over are allowed to ride e-scooters unsupervised? Is their e-bike legal? If your child’s device has any of the features below, it is illegal to ride in public, and they (or you) may be subject to significant penalties. 

Click this link to get information on e-bikes and e-scooters

Finance- Student Credits on Accounts

We would like to inform you that any available credits on your account will be automatically applied to your upcoming invoice(s). This will reduce the total amount due accordingly.

You will receive notification via text and your invoice as usual, the credit will appear as a line item deduction.  If you do not wish for the credit to be applied to your invoice/s and require a refund you will need to contact the office to arrange.

If you have any questions or would like to review your account balance, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Tuckshop

Normal Operating Hours

Operating hours: 8:20am to 1:10pm Opening Days: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

Tuckshop Menu

Tuckshop orders and payments can be handed daily into the tuckshop directly by students in a brown paper bag.  Online ordering is also available through the QKR App.

Every Day Counts

We continue to emphasise the importance of regular school attendance. Being at school each day helps students stay connected, keep up with their learning, and develop the skills and relationships that support long-term success.

We appreciate your ongoing support in making sure your child attends school every day and arrives on time—unless they are genuinely unwell.

If your child is facing any challenges that make attendance difficult—whether they are medical, emotional, or practical—please reach out to us. Our staff are here to help and can work with your family to find solutions and provide the support needed to help your child attend regularly and thrive.

Upcoming Events

Contact Details & Absences

Contact details

• There are times when we may need to contact parents and carers. Do we have your most up to date contact details? If not, please contact the school office on 07 49235222 or alternatively email - admin@mtarcherss.eq.edu.au and complete the attached form, so we can update our records. These details include parent/carers’ name, address, phone numbers, email address and emergency contact details. Please contact the school if any of these details change.

Absence notification process

• Please call the school on 07 49235222 or send an email to admin@mtarcherss.eq.edu.au early in the morning if your child is going to be away or late for school so your child’s absence can be recorded correctly.

Same day notification

• Our school will contact parents as soon as practicable on the day if a student is not at school and we don’t know why. If you are advised by the school that your child is away without a reason, please contact us as soon as possible by replying to the Absentee SMS or on 07 49235222 to let us know where your child is. We will follow-up with parents if no response is received.

School zone parking and pick-up

• School zone times have been standardised in Queensland to help motorists remember when to slow down. The standard operating times for most school zones in Queensland are 7:30–9amand 2–4pm.
• School zones are areas around schools where, during certain times, reduced speed limits apply. Speed limits and drop-off, pick-up and parking rules exist to keep children, parents and carers safe and to minimise speed and traffic jams around schools.

Community, Sporting and Cultural Events

Rockhampton Cricket

Frenchville Community Workshop

During the September school holidays, Doug’s Dojang is working with the Frenchville Sports Club Community Partnerships Program to offer physical activity workshops for children aged 4 – 14 years.  All workshops are free to attend and focus on getting children activity and healthy.

Junior Water Polo

Fitzroy Frogs Kids Triathlon

NRL League Stars Holiday Clinics!

Megan from the NRL here! We have your students covered this holidays with not one, but two NRL League Stars Holiday Clinics coming to you! Whether you want to rip in with us on the beach, learn some surf safety and development your rugby league skills at Yeppoon Main Beach, or you want to get all the action in town at North Rockhampton State High School, we’ve got something for you 😊 Please see details below and share with your school community!

NRL League Stars x Yeppoon SLSC

Friday 26^th September 2PM – 4PM

Yeppoon Main Beach

Register Here: 

NRL League Stars Holiday Clinic

Thursday 2^nd September 4PM – 5:30PM

North Rockhampton State High School

Register Here: 

CQU Health Clinics

Our Health Clinics deliver a range of health services to staff and students, as well as the general public. With state-of-the art health facilities, the Health Clinics provide practical learning environments for students under clinical supervision by registered health professionals.

Person-centred care is embedded into CQU Health Clinics and throughout all of the Standards developed by the Commission, including the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards and the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards, reflecting its importance to the safety and quality of health care.

Person-centred care is widely recognised as a foundation to safe, high-quality health care. It is care that respects and responds to the preferences, needs and values of patients and consumers.

No referral is required.