25 July 2025

Principal’s Report

Welcome Back!

We hope you and your family enjoyed a restful mid-year break. It’s wonderful to see our students return with such enthusiasm—judging by their energy and focus, the holidays were a great success!

Focus on Literacy and Numeracy

Over the past eighteen months, our whole school has prioritised the development of strong literacy and numeracy skills. At the end of last term, every student was assessed by Mrs Griffin, Mrs Creek or myself to check their progress. We were very impressed with the results and proud of the dedication our students—and their teachers—have shown. If you would like to discuss your child’s progress, please speak with your classroom teacher or make an appointment with:

• Mrs Griffin (Years 5 & 6)
• Mrs Creek (Prep, Years 1 & 2)
• Myself (Years 3 & 4)

Report Cards

All student report cards were emailed to families at the end of last term. If you did not receive your child’s report, please contact the school office so we can resend it.

Attendance

Our whole-school attendance has slipped recently. Every day at school matters—missing even one or two days each fortnight can affect a child’s learning growth. Of course, please keep your child home if they are unwell. If they are frequently unwell, we encourage you to seek medical advice to support their ongoing learning.

Year 6 Classroom Refurbishment

The Year 6 classes have moved back into their newly refurbished learning spaces. Our department is rolling out upgrades across many schools, and we’re delighted with these improvements. Later this year, our front office will also be refurbished to enhance the welcome and support we provide to our community.

Thank you for your continued partnership in your child’s education. We look forward to a productive and enjoyable Term 3!

Jeff Jepson
Principal

Deputy Principal’s Report

Mount Archer Day Fortnightly Focus

Our Fortnightly Focus for the Mount Archer Day in Weeks 1 and 2 has been to follow instructions. We’ve been focusing on helping students understand the importance of following instructions. This helps keep everyone safe, supports their learning, and ensures our school runs smoothly. Whether it’s listening carefully in class, following playground rules, or lining up sensibly, these simple actions make a big difference. You can support this at home by talking to your child about why instructions matter and encouraging them to follow directions the first time. Praise your child when they show responsibility and cooperation, and remind them that following instructions is a skill that helps them succeed at school and beyond.

NAPLAN Individual Student Reports

Parents and carers of students in Year 3 and 5 will soon receive in the mail, their child’s NAPLAN Individual Student Report.  With the report, we have included an information sheet to assist parents and carers in reading and interpreting the NAPLAN results. A reminder that NAPLAN tests are only one aspect of each school’s assessment and reporting process. As they are held once every 2 years for each student, they cannot replace the extensive, ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance. Your child’s teacher will have the best insight into your child’s educational progress. Along with other school assessment reports, NAPLAN individual student reports can be used to discuss your child’s progress with their teacher.

Julie Griffin
Deputy Principal

Head of Special Education

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD)

Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019).

Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes:

• year of schooling
• category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional
• level of adjustment provided: support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive.

This information assists schools to:

• formally recognise the supports and adjustments provided to students with disability in schools
• consider how they can strengthen the support of students with disability in schools
• develop shared practices so that they can review their learning programs in order to improve educational outcomes for students with disability.

The NCCD provides state and federal governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for the support of students with disability.

The NCCD will have no direct impact on your child and your child will not be involved in any testing process. The school will provide data to the Australian Government in such a way that no individual student will be able to be identified – the privacy and confidentiality of all students is ensured. All information is protected by privacy laws that regulate the collection, storage and disclosure of personal information. To find out more about these matters, please refer to the Australian Government’s Privacy Policy (https://www.education.gov.au/privacy-policy).

Further information about the NCCD can be found on the NCCD Portal (https://www.nccd.edu.au).

Please contact the school if you have any questions about the NCCD.

Amy Runham
HoSES

Year 4 Excursion

What a great day out!

We headed to Stocklands to learn more about frogs, thanks to the Australia Museum FrogID exhibition! Plus... We were treated to a behind the scenes tour to explore how Stocklands is reducing its carbon footprint. Did you know the rooftops of the shopping centre are covered in solar panels?

Thanks Stocklands for making this happen! https://www.frogid.net.au/

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.

PE Report - What’s Happening in Sport

League Stars Program at Mt Archer State School in Term 3

NRL League Stars Program (non-contact)
WHERE: Mount Archer State School Oval
WHO: Year 3 - Year 6 Students
WHEN: Thursdays 3PM - 4PM Week 4 - Week 9

Students can register here: 

Shane Cox
PE Teacher

Classroom Foyer Displays

2H Science: Biological Science

2H examined how living things, including plants and animals, change as they grow.

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Mount Archer Day

Week 1

Following instructions has been the Mount Archer Day Fortnightly Focus, and Prep B and 3L have been voted by staff as demonstrating this with excellence. Well done teachers and students.

Erimus Winners

Week 1

2H have started their day exceptionally, by being chosen as the class who demonstrated the best listening skills on parade. Outstanding 2H.

Positions Available

Part-Time Cleaner – 17 hours per week  

We are looking for a reliable and hardworking individual to join our team as a Part-Time Cleaner – 17 hours per week  at Mount Archer State School. The role involves maintaining a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for our students, staff, and visitors.

Key Responsibilities:

• Cleaning classrooms, offices, pathways and toilets
• Emptying bins and replenishing supplies
• Sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, and dusting
• Reporting any maintenance issues to the supervisor

Requirements:

• Previous cleaning experience (preferred but not essential)
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Good attention to detail
• Commitment to health and safety procedures
• A current PAID Blue Card
• Willingness to consent to a criminal history check

Join our friendly and supportive team in helping to keep our school clean and safe!

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

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 below.

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).

Community Hub Coordinator

Thanks,

Hannah Patson
Community Hub Coordinator

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.

School Dental Clinic

The School Dental Clinic will be based at Mount Archer State School commencing on July 15 2025, offering full dental treatment for students enrolled here. Parents can scan the QR code below for access to an electronic permission form.

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

Play Cricket Week

Qld Touch Football

Season Details

Start: 9th August
End: 22nd November

We will break for the school holidays and resume games on 11th October.

Saturdays: U6s through to U12s
The weekly draw will be posted by Rocky Touch on their Facebook page (and hopefully their website).

Games are played at the Cyril Connel Touch field located at 78 Reaney Street.

Typical time slots run (TBC):

• U6s – 8:00am
• U8s – 8:40am
• U10s – 9:20am
• U12 Girls – 10:00am
• U12 Boys – 11:20am

Registration & Fees

Fees will be as follows:

• $75.00 – Rocky Touch Fee
• $30.00 – QTF Membership (annual, July 2025–June 2026)
• $22.00 – TFA Insurance (annual, July 2025–June 2026)
• Total: $127.00 per child
• Sibling Discount: 3rd child is free, please email admin@rockytouch.com with the name and team of the 3rd child, plus their siblings names and teams to register your 3rd child.
• Playing Multiple Divisions/Teams: If your child is playing in more than one junior team, contact Rocky Touch directly to nominate them for their second junior team. Please only register into one junior team per player. This includes school teams.

Young Engineers

Roseberry Qld

STEPS TO STABILITY

Eligibility for the program is that the parent/caregiver attending the sessions has at least one child under the age of 8.  

The aim of the program is to build capacity, resilience and stability for families through education and provision of information and resources to increase their skills to navigate life’s hurdles and challenges.

Our goal is to build coping skills by empowering people with education, information and the tools to work through adversity. 

The topics covered in the program are Goal setting, Wellbeing and Self-care, Health, Healthy Relationships, Support networks, Financial security, Food and Nutrition, Housing and Accommodation, Education and Employment.

During the 10-week program parents will build skills, knowledge and pathways to access supports, will learn how to set obtainable, realistic goals and will learn ways to increase stability in their lives.  They will also learn the importance of self-care and stress management.

CARE & CONNECT

Eligibility for the program is that the parent/caregiver attending the sessions has at least one child under the age of 8.  

The Care & Connect program is a parent/child, play-based, self-care program for parents to promote parental and child emotion regulation while increasing the parent/child connection.

Parents and children will take part in a play-based activity during each session and at the end of each activity will learn the rationale behind the activity and how it can benefit the parent, the child and the parent/child connection.

The aim of the program is to increase self-awareness, mindfulness, emotional regulation and connectiveness.

This program will run for 1 hour over 8 consecutive weeks.

Scottvale Squash Club

Parkhurst State School 125^th Anniversary

BreastScreen Queensland

BreastScreen Queensland offers free screening mammograms to women aged 40 and over, every 2 years. BreastScreen Queensland Rockhampton Service have available appointments at CQUniversity from 30 June to 30 July 2025.

Women are eligible to attend BreastScreen who:

• Have a Medicare card.
• Are aged 40 years and over.
• Are not under the care of a surgeon for breast cancer within the past 5 years.

Junior Touch Football Season 

Friday Nights (U14s):

• Start: Friday 8 August
• Grand Final: Friday 21 November
• Note: Games will play on 19 September, break for holidays, and resume on 10 October (*subject to team availability due to All Schools).

Saturday Mornings (U6–U12):

• Start: Saturday 9 August
• Grand Final: Saturday 22 November
• Break for holidays after 20 September, resume on 11 October.

Nominations will open mid June and close Friday 1 August.

Inspire Allied Health and Education Group

Allied Health and Education Group is a multidisciplinary team providing Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy, Psychology, Music Therapy, and Art Therapy for children and adolescents. We offer services through outreach (we come to you!) and telehealth, making therapy and assessments more accessible for families across rural, regional, and suburban areas.  

We have immediate availability to work with children aged 0–18 and support a range of developmental, behavioural, emotional, and learning needs. Our services include: 

Individual and diagnostic assessments 
Evidence-based therapy (in person and telehealth) 
NDIS reporting and support 
Family-centred, neurodiversity-affirming support 
Face to face and online workshops for families, educators and other professionals.