2 May 2025

Principal’s Report

ANZAC Day Commemorations

Thank you to all families who supported our ANZAC Day activities. It was wonderful to see such strong community involvement in both our school service and the wider community events. A special thank you to Mr Kidd for delivering the ANZAC message during our school service and helping students understand the importance of this National day.

We were proud to see our students and school leaders represent the school with respect and pride at the Dawn Service, Stenhouse Park ceremony, and the Community Parade.

Parent–Teacher Meetings

Over the coming weeks, we will be holding our parent–teacher meetings. These meetings are a valuable opportunity to discuss your child’s progress and learning goals. We look forward to having these positive and productive conversations with you, as we work together to support your child’s education.

Our Focus on Literacy and Numeracy

Our school continues to place a strong emphasis on developing students’ literacy and numeracy skills. Over the past few years, we have seen pleasing growth across the school as a result of this focused work.

Every day, students participate in a dedicated literacy and numeracy block. This time is carefully structured to build core skills in reading, writing, number, and problem-solving. These blocks are a key part of our daily routine and support strong foundations for learning across all areas.

Homework Matters

We encourage all families to support their child in completing homework each week. Homework provides valuable reinforcement of skills taught in class, particularly in reading, spelling, and mathematics. By completing homework regularly, students strengthen their understanding and build confidence in their learning.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Jeff Jepson
Principal

Deputy Principal’s Report

Our Fortnightly Focus for the Mount Archer Day has been Respecting the Right of Others to Learn. 

We have been teaching the students the importance of doing the following things so that everyone can learn:

• Show the 5L’s and SLANT.
• Ask before we move around the classroom.
• Put up our hand before we speak.
• Work quietly so everyone can focus.
• Follow directions the first time.

The importance of respect

From a young age, children may start to believe there are reasons or certain situations that make disrespectful behaviour acceptable. Some of the things adults say or do may unintentionally give the message that particular behaviour towards others is ok.

It is important to be aware of the things we say to our children. Parents, carers and other family members have the greatest potential to shape positive attitudes.

Factsheet: Role of parents and carers in building respectful relationships (PDF)

Respectful relationships education in schools can support families and communities to ensure students understand how to interact with others and to develop positive, respectful relationships as they grow and become adults themselves.

Respectful relationships education in schools, and educating children and young people about healthy and respectful relationships at home, is an important strategy for helping to prevent and reduce domestic, family and sexual violence. More information on what respectful relationships education students may learn in schools is available in the What students learn in the Respect program page.

Where society, communities, workplaces, sporting clubs, faith organisations, classrooms and families insist on respect and equality, gender-based violence, such as domestic and family violence and sexual assault, along with other issues like harassment, bullying or discrimination based on race, ability, gender and sexuality are far less likely to occur.

Julie Griffin
Deputy Principal

MSP Photography

Student school photos will take place on 26 & 27 May. Envelopes and further information will be going home soon.

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 

Help and more information

Further help with registering for QParents can be found on the QParents Help page at 

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

Classroom Foyer Displays

5W

To commemorate Anzac Day, 5W was involved in creating a wreath for display at our whole school assembly. Each student made multiple poppies for display on the wreath. The red poppy is a widely recognized symbol of remembrance, particularly for fallen soldiers and military personnel. This association is deeply rooted in the experiences of World War I, where poppies were a common sight in battlefields, especially in Belgium.

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).

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 7:30–9am and 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

Helping Hands Network

Shotokan Karate

Term 2 Young Engineers

Strong Communities

Strong Communities has free parenting programs available in Term 2. These programs provide valuable support to families and individuals, helping to strengthen parent-child relationships and equip caregivers with practical skills.

We have three programs available:

• Circle of Security – Supporting parents to better understand their child’s emotional needs.
• Tuning in to Kids – Helping parents develop emotional intelligence in their children.
• CQ Dads for Kids Program – A dedicated program for fathers, with weekend and online options available.

We also have Play & Connect sessions held during the school holidays in the Rockhampton Region.