17 October 2025

Principal’s Report

Welcome Back to Term 4

Welcome back to the final term of the year! This is always an exciting time as we celebrate the achievements of our students and reflect on the wonderful growth they have made—academically, socially, culturally, and in sport.

At Mount Archer, we have a strong focus on improving literacy outcomes for all students. Each term, we carefully assess student growth and monitor progress. We are now beginning to see clear trends that show the impact of the intensive literacy work happening in classrooms every day. It is very encouraging to see students’ skills develop and strengthen. We encourage parents and carers to talk with their child’s teacher about the progress their child is making.

School Uniform

We remind families that it is important for all students to follow the school’s uniform policy each day. Since the holidays, we have noticed some students returning with brightly coloured hair, which is not part of our policy. Students will be asked to return their hair to its natural colour. Similarly, nail polish and acrylic nails are not appropriate for school, and jewellery is limited to a watch, and plain studs or sleepers for earrings. Wearing the correct uniform ensures that all students show pride in themselves and in our school.

School Arrival Times

Please remember that students should not arrive at school before 8:15am, as there is no supervision provided before this time. The preferred arrival time is from 8:30am. If you need to drop your children off earlier, we ask that you consider using the Helping Hands Outside School Hours Care program, which offers before and after school care.

Jeff Jepson
Principal

Deputy Principal’s Report

Mount Archer Day Fortnightly Focus

Over the past fortnight, our MAD Focus has been following instructions. Following instructions is a vital skill that helps children learn, stay safe and work well with others. At school, we encourage students to listen carefully, think before they act, and follow directions the first time. This builds independence, respect, and responsibility. Parents can support this at home by giving clear, simple instructions and expecting children to follow through. Praising your child when they listen and respond positively reinforces good habits. When home and school work together, students learn that following instructions is important everywhere, helping them succeed both in the classroom and in life.

1L and 4/5H have been excellent at following instructions this week, and have won the Mount Archer Day Fortnightly Focus trophies for Week 1.

3S demonstrated excellent Mount Archer Day behaviour on parade, and were awarded the Erimus trophy. Outstanding!!!

Date Claimers for Term 4:

Year 5 Leadership for 2026

• 28 October – Year 5’s return captain applications to the office.
• 7 November – Speeches for School Captains 2026 presented after parade.
• 14 November - Speeches for House Captains 2026 presented after parade.
• 10 December – Captains for 2026 announced at the Year 6 Graduation

Special Events

• 21 November 8.45am – Sports Awards Parade
• 5 December 11.30am – Ball Games Carnival
• 10 December 8.45am – Year 6 Graduation and Awards Ceremony
• 11 of December – Break Up Day/ Year 6 Big Day Out

Transitions

• 22 October – North Rockhampton SHS Year 7 for 2026
• 1/2 December – Glenmore SHS Year 7 for 2026
• 3 December – Rockhampton SHS Year 7 for 2026
• 9 December – North Rockhampton SHS Year 7 for 2026
• 10 December – Meet the Teacher for 2026 – Mt Archer – 1.40-2.45pm

Enjoy your week,

Julie Griffin
Deputy Principal

🥪 Tuckshop Update

Our tuckshop is open and ready to serve up tasty treats!

Operating Hours:
🕗 8:20am – 1:10pm
📅 Wednesday, Thursday & Friday

At the moment, we’re running on a limited menu while we look for a few extra helping hands. If any parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles or carers can spare a few hours a week, we’d love to have you join our tuckshop team! With more volunteers, we can bring back a wider range of yummy options for the kids.
(Please note: Volunteer Blue Cards may be required.)

How to Order:
Students can hand in their tuckshop orders and payments directly to the tuckshop each morning in a brown paper bag clearly labelled with their name, class and order details. Online ordering is also available through the QKR App.

Thank you for supporting our school tuckshop — every little bit of help makes a big difference! 💛

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.

Classroom Foyer Displays

5/6M

During Term 3, 5/6M explored an Earth Science unit on natural disasters. Students investigated different types of natural disasters, learning how to classify them as meteorological, hydrological, geological and climatological. Each student then researched one natural disaster: earthquake, flood, cyclone or bushfire.

Their inquiry focused on:

• the impacts on the Earth and local communities
• how technology has improved by learning from past disasters
• what communities do to prepare, respond and recover

Students then took their research and created informational posters with the aim to educate others on the causes, impacts and safety measures related to natural disasters. Through this work, students developed an understanding of the devastating impacts natural disasters can have and recognised the importance of being prepared, resilient and working together as a community.

Helping Hand Wanted

We are looking for a reliable and hardworking person to join our school team one day per week. The role involves general maintenance, gardening, and helping to keep our school grounds safe, tidy, and welcoming for students, staff, and visitors.

This would be a great opportunity for someone who enjoys working outdoors—perhaps a semi-retired person looking to stay active and be part of our wonderful school community.

Hours: One day per week (flexible day)

Hours: One day per week (flexible day)
Start Date: Negotiable
Enquiries: Please contact the school office on 4923 5222

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.

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

Helping Hands Network

🎨✨ Artventure at Helping Hands! ✨🎨

Mix, fizz, splash and swirl your way through a month full of creative fun inspired by science and imagination!
Join us every Wednesday for our Spotlight Program – Artventure, included in your regular term-time sessions 💫

🗓 Program Dates:
🔹 29 Oct – Get messy with squish, splatter & swirl creations!
🔹 5 Nov – Turn everyday foods into colourful, edible art 🍓
🔹 12 Nov – Think BIG and create even BIGGER! Collaborate on giant projects 🖌️
🔹 19 Nov – Mix science and art for fizzing, foaming fun!

📍 Happening at Helping Hands
💻 Spots fill fast – Scan the QR code or click “Book Now” to join the fun!

Let’s get creative, messy, and make masterpieces together! 🌈👩‍🎨👨‍🔬

#HelpingHands #Artventure #SpotlightProgram #CreativeKids #AfterSchoolFun #OSHC

Junior Water Polo