Caboolture Special School Week 5, Term 4, 2024

Principal News

Dear Caboolture Special School community members

The positive connections between students, staff, parents and carers that occur on our school site every school day bring a strong sense of happiness and fulfilment to every person involved in these interactions, including those who simply witness them.  It is certainly true that we are a part of an amazing community.  As our school grows larger, it is important that we all continue to invest in these positive relationships, for the benefit of all persons.

We need a P&C President for 2025 - could this be you?

This voluntary role is well supported by school administration layers and is an opportunity to strongly contribute to your school community in a leadership role.  Learning is on the job and the position is designed to work around one's other commitments.  We have a small and warm group of people that make up our P&C. 

Like to know more?  Please email me on sbola5@eq.edu.au 

School Colour Fun Run (9/11) - a message from our P&C Committee

Here we go! Let's kick off our fundraising efforts and make our goals a reality.  Our school is fundraising for more all abilities playground equipment and learning resources for our students with a Colour Explosion Fun Run.

Students are starting to receive their sponsorship booklet and can now create their online profile at www.australianfundraising.com.au

Big prizes are up for grabs.  Unlock your first incentive prize simply by raising $10 online. The more your child raises, the more prizes they will receive.  Our extra incentive for the top CLASS who raises the most will get to SLIME Principal Sheldon at the event. 

Date: Saturday the 9th of November from 9:30am to 11:30am

Location: on the school oval

Swimming

Our students are enjoying their swimming lessons, and I have observed quite a few swimming drawings and stories being shared by students in my school travels recently.

Student Attendance

Our school continues to be at the front of the pack when it comes to student attendance across all Queensland Special Schools.  While there will always be legitimate reasons for a student's non-attendance at school, I thank parents and carers for prioritising their child's school attendance.  Every school day counts.

School Growth

The latest student enrolment projections see approximately 175-185 students joining us as students for start of school next year.  2025 teaching teams and class formation drafts are in continual development in order to accommodate this growth, with additional classrooms for 2025 already in place and extra educators secured.  Parents and carers will learn of their child's class placement for 2025 prior to end of school year.  It is important to note that while every effort is made to minimise class changes, circumstances such as a flurry of enrolments late in the year or early in 2025 may affect some student class placements.

2o25 AIP – input from school community members

What whole school focus areas do you think should sit within our 2025 Annual Implementation Plan (AIP)?

I encourage you to drop me an email (sbola5@eq.edu.au) or put a note in the suggestion box in the front office with your thoughts.

Term 4 - Week 11

This year, there are 11 weeks in Term 4.  The department has shared that Principals will decide on a flexible approach to the final week of this year, with a focus on engagement, cultural, and wellbeing activities. The school will operate within its normal hours and classes will take place for all students during week 11.  I will share more information around plans as we move closer to week 11.

Metropolitan North Region (MNR) Special School Financial Workshop

Margaret (Business Manager) and I attended this professional learning experience at Aspley Special School on 23/10 and found it highly beneficial.

MNR Special School Principal Network Meeting

I attended this meeting alongside other MNR Special School Principals on 30/10 at Aspley Special School.  It is always a pleasure to work alongside other Special School Principals who are invested in the success of every student across all of our schools.

School Entry Gates - signage and markings

I have approved additional traffic signage and driveway marking within our school to assist with the safe and smooth flow of vehicular traffic on our school site.  I expect this work to be completed by the start of the 2025 school year. 

Adelaide Drive Traffic Congestion - peak times

I am having ongoing meetings with departmental and council representatives about Adelaide Drive traffic congestion solutions during peak times.   Gate 3 entry is open from 8.30-9am and from 2.30-3pm.  

In the interim, traffic congestion in the morning and afternoon within the student drop off and pick up area can be minimised by: -

 - Arriving slightly after the highest peak times of 8.30am and 2.30pm.

- Preparing as much as possible for a prompt student exit from the vehicle and handover to staff.  We do however understand that even with forward planning, sometimes things take longer than expected :-)

- Ensuring conversations with educators at this drop off and pick up area are restricted to a greeting.  Longer conversations do hold up traffic flow and therefore require that alternative information sharing options take place e.g. SeeSaw message. 

- Utilising other options for student drop off and/or pick up (in consultation with class teacher).

Parents and carers choosing to use this student drop off and pick up service are reminded to expect delays.  Thank you for your patience and courtesy.

School Security

We have made significant improvements with school security over recent years, including increased rigor around the unlocking and locking of boundary gates, high fencing around the total perimeter of school boundary and on-site CCTV cameras.  The next stage of these security improvements will be a ‘buzz in’ feature being installed on the two pedestrian gates on Torrens Rd, bringing our school more in line with new school builds.  Once these new and enhanced security features are installed, this will mean visitors to the school site will need to buzz into the office to enter through these two pedestrian entries.  This school security enhancement will be finalised in coming weeks.

Day for Daniel – 25/10

Thanks for your support.  https://danielmorcombe.com.au/day-for-daniel/

Tuckshop Day 25/10

Thank you, Lee Street friends and all supporters that made this day, so memorable.

2024 School Magazine

Work is underway getting content sorted for this year's school magazine.  Every student will receive a complimentary copy.

More date claimers…

• School community BBQ Book Fair - 6/11- from 3pm
• (2025) Prep Activity Morning - 22/11 - 10:00-11:00am
• Year 6 Graduation - 27/11 - 9.30-10.30am
• Christmas Concert - 4/12 - various times (keep an eye out for session details)
• PBL Rewards Day - 6/12
• Semester 2 report cards home - Week 10

I look forward to seeing you around the great place that is Caboolture Special School :-)

Best wishes

Sheldon Boland

(Proud) Principal

Deputy Principal

Swimming this term is going swimmingly!

Our students and staff are enjoying themselves which is evident in the excitement students show coming to school on their swimming day and in their reluctance to leave the pool at the end of their lesson :)

We value being able to offer our students these rich experiences as part of their learning journey and thank our staff and family members who help make this happen.

Swimming Fun

Our Year 6 graduation is being held on Wednesday 27th November from 9:30 - 10:30 in the hall. Year 6 families will receive their child's official graduation invite next week with more information to come so please keep an eye out for this.

Our student leader nominations are well under way also with many of our Year 6 students expressing their interest in being a student leader in 2025 which is fabulous! Families will receive updates as we move through the process.

Have a great weekend everyone and keep your umbrellas handy.

Kind regards

Sheree Carter

Deputy Principal - Upper Primary

Deputy Principal

This is a busy term for all of us. Please keep an eye out for more information about events as we move forward through the term.

Colour Run – Saturday 9 November

Are you getting excited for our Colour run this year?

Our school colour run is being held next Saturday 9 November and we would love to see as many families as possible at the event. Come along and enjoy a colourful time with water play, foam fun and of course…….lots of colour!! Make sure you wear clothes that can get coloured powder on them! The lighter the colour of T-shirt, the better the result!

The event is being held on the school main oval from 9:30am to 11:30am.

There will be a BBQ, multiple raffles, snow cones and more.

Cash and Eftpos payment options will be available.

Fun memories from Colour Run 2023

Health Plans

During Term 4, the State School Nurses and the Deputy Principal will be holding meetings with some families to discuss the individual student health plan requirements for 2025. 

At the meeting we will discuss the current health needs of your child, update nursing referral forms, complete the new individual plans (if applicable) and complete any emergency plans (if required).

Administering medication at school

If you require staff to administer medication to your child at school, please contact the school office in the first instance to discuss your child’s requirements.

Please note, school staff will only administer medication that:

• has been prescribed by a qualified health practitioner (e.g. doctor, dentist)
• is in its original container
• has an attached pharmacy label.

Office staff will ask you to complete and sign the Administration of medication at school consent form.

N.B. If your child requires more than one medication, you will need to complete a form for each medication.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Kerry Gilmore

Deputy Principal - Lower Primary

Chaplaincy Support Fundraising

Christmas is Coming – Order your Christmas Cards and support Chaplaincy

$4.00 each or a Box Set of 5 for $20.00

More designs available.  Blank inserts so you can add your greeting.  Available from the office or see Katie Rogers or Margaret Waite for more information.     

Take care

Margaret Waite

Business Manager

Curriculum Corner - Celebrating Reading

Well done to our young readers

More than 216,000 young Queenslanders participated in the Premier’s Reading Challenge this year, reading 1.9 million books. That's 16,592 books read each day of the reading period! Wow!

Every student from Caboolture Special School is included in this number. As a school we commit every year to participating in the challenge with class teacher recording the books read as a class. Shared reading is an important part of learning every day in our classrooms.

Students will receive a certificate to acknowledge this achievement and participation.

Semester 2 Reporting 

Teachers are finalising the collection of data and evidence to prepare the end of semester report comments. Report cards will be emailed to families during week 10. Please ensure your contact email is up to date with our office records. 

Katie Rogers 

Head of Curriculum 

Screen Time Strategies - Guidance Counsellor

Kind regards

Asha Kumar

Guidance Officer

P&C News

Colour Explosion School Run 4 Fun is just over a week away!  

Saturday 9th of November from 9:30am to 11:30 am.

Have you registered to participate? Visit WWW. AUSTRALIANFUNDRAISING.COM.AU

Have you set a personal fundraising goal? Making a difference starts with knowing what we're fundraising for. Let's join forces and achieve great things 💪! We have just over a week to go until our event and need lots more donations to reach our goal of $5000 and purchase more all abilities playground equipment and learning resources for our students. Can you help us 💜?

AMAZINGLY again this year, the Tess Hocking Foundation has pledged to match us dollar for dollar raised in this fundraiser. We're also reaching out to our amazing community whether you're a business or an individual interested in supporting our school.  We will be having a BBQ, raffles, snow cones and more! We are searching for donations to go towards a few things at our event for example - BBQ items sausages, bread, onion and drinks and also Raffle prizes.

Thank you to anyone who would like to donate items for the event, please reach out via message on our Facebook page or email us at cabspecspandc@gmail.com

Looking forward to a family fun day!

Book Fair

As a thank you for supporting Book Fair and Book Club in the past we have a special offer coming later in the term. 

Book Fair this term will be BUY ONE GET ONE FREE! 
For every book purchase you will receive a second book of equal or lesser value FREE! 

This is a perfect time to get some Christmas gifts! 

One day only - Wednesday 6th November
                                      3:00pm - 5:00pm 
Staffroom area just behind the office.

Come along for the School Community Sausage Sizzle at the same time! 

Star Students - Term 4, Week 5, 2024