Caboolture Special School Week 1, Term 1, 2025

Principal News

Dear Caboolture Special School community members

Welcome to the start of an exciting new school year at Caboolture Special School!

We are thrilled to have your child with us as we embark on a year filled with growth, learning, and community building.

This first week has been a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with students and set the foundation for a positive and engaging school year ahead. Our staff have been working hard building positive relationships and creating a safe, engaging, communicative and learning enriched environment where every child can thrive, feel valued and achieve success.

Have you seen our school celebration video yet?  Click here to view.

A few highlights from the week:

• Welcoming (and welcoming back) students and families: We’ve had the pleasure of welcoming new and welcoming back existing students and families. Our staff has made sure each student feels settled, supported, and excited for the year ahead.
• Classroom Preparations: Our classrooms are buzzing with activity as students explore new routines and get to know their educators. There has been a lot of enthusiasm, and we are proud of how quickly the children have adjusted to their new settings.
• Engagement & Wellbeing: The wellbeing of every student is our priority, and we have already seen how students are responding positively to our nurturing learning environment.

As we move forward, we will continue to focus on the development of individualised curriculum plans for students, encouraging student independence, and fostering a sense of belonging within our school community. We encourage all parents and carers to remain involved in their child’s educational journey and to reach out if you have any questions, concerns, or ideas to share.

Upcoming Dates:

• Parent/Carer and staff member catch up: We’ll be offering an opportunity for parents, carers and staff to connect soon.
• School events: Keep an eye out for notifications about upcoming events, activities, and special projects as the year unfolds.

Come join our Parents and Citizens' (P&C) Association:

Want to connect with other parents and citizens as we work together towards enhancing our students' learning experiences?  It's a fun and warm P&C crew at Caboolture Special School and we'd love you to join us.  Want to know more?  Email our P&C through cabspecspandc@gmail.com

Let's make 2025 our biggest P&C Association membership yet!

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership. Together, we can make this year a memorable and successful one for all of our students. Our staff look forward to working closely with you and your child, and to building strong connections throughout the year.

Best wishes

Sheldon Boland

(Always proud) Principal
Caboolture Special School

Deputy Principal

Hi everyone,

Welcome to all of our new and returning students and families this week! It has been great to see everyone getting to know their new class group for 2025.

My name is Kerry Gilmore and I am the Deputy Principal for Classes 1-19. It is a very exciting time for everyone as they settle into their new classroom routines.

This week, I have been contacting parents in regard to individual health plans, emergency medication and routine medication forms. Please update this information anytime details change.

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 Section 1 of the Administration of medication at school record sheet.

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

Requirements for students at risk of anaphylaxis

If your child is at risk of anaphylaxis, it is important for you to provide the school with your child’s emergency medication and their ASCIA Anaphylaxis Action Plan, completed by your doctor. This Anaphylaxis Action Plan provides the instructions for the school to administer your child’s medication in an emergency, which is specific to respond to their health condition. 

Requirements for students at risk of asthma

If your child has asthma and requires assistance to administer their medication, it is important for you to provide the school with your child’s emergency medication and their Asthma Action Plan, completed by your doctor. An Asthma Action Plan provides specific instructions for the school to administer your child’s medication.

Providing medication to the school

Before you provide the school with your child’s medication, check the expiry date to ensure it is in-date and there is enough for the agreed time period. It is also a good idea to take a note of the expiry date so that you can replace the medication before it expires.

Please note, school staff will not administer medication that you can buy over-the-counter at chemists and supermarkets (e.g. paracetamol, eye drops, cough syrup) unless it has been prescribed by your child’s qualified health practitioner. For example, the school would administer paracetamol to a student only if it has been prescribed by their dentist to be taken for a short time after dental treatment.

School staff are bound by these regulations and we hope that all parents will acknowledge and cooperate with these rules.

It is safer for all students if you can provide medication to the school in person (rather than send medication with the student). If you can’t provide the medication in person, contact the school to determine the easiest and safest approach for the school to receive the medication.

When your child’s medication is no longer required to be kept at school, please collect all unused medication.

Thank you for assisting the school in keeping our students safe and healthy.

If you have any concerns about your child’s health concerns, please contact me through the school office.

Kerry Gilmore

Deputy Principal

If you have any concerns about your child’s health concerns, please contact me through the school office.

Kerry Gilmore

Deputy Principal

Deputy Principal

Curriculum 

Such as great start to the school year. Teachers will spend the first few weeks building relationships and getting to know students to set the stage for a fantastic year full of learning.

Our curriculum plan this is divided into three areas Prep, Lower Primary and Upper Primary. Teachers will cater for individual learning needs while delivering context from the age- equivalent curriculum.

Below is the curriculum outline for Semester 1. Prep Curriculum will be delivered in Classes 1-8, Lower Primary will be accessed by Classes 10-19, 21-24 and Upper Primary will be delivered in Classes 20, 25-36.

These overviews have the context that will be used to teach and assess the individual student curriculum goals that will be shared with parents/carers in meetings later in the term.

Looking forward to sharing some great learning experiences and achievements in the upcoming newsletter.

Regards, 

Katie Rogers 
Deputy Principal 
Classes 20-36

Deputy Principal / PBL Lead Teacher

Welcome to our new students and welcome back to our returning ones! We’re all looking forward to a fantastic year filled with fun and learning. It has been wonderful to see all our students returning with enthusiasm, ready to learn and settling well into their new routines.

Building and maintaining positive relationships is key to a thriving school community. Strong connections between teachers, parents, and students create a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and respected. These partnerships play a vital role in fostering student success, and we encourage open communication and collaboration throughout the year.

As a Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) school, we know that PBL works best when our community shares a common language and understanding. Throughout the year, we will continue to focus on the expectations outlined in our Caboolture Special School Matrix, with the shared goal of creating an environment where all members of our community can engage happily in learning.

This fortnight’s focus expectation is Respect for Learning: We Stay with the Group. Teachers have been working with students to understand the importance of staying with the group to help keep everyone safe.

Thank you for your continued support, and I look forward to the exciting opportunities this year will bring for our students, staff, and community.

Bridget Abbott 

Business Manager

I am excited to announce my return to the school after an insightful 18 months working with the Department of Education's Internal Audit - Schools team. This period has been incredibly enriching, providing me with valuable experiences and knowledge that I am eager to bring back to our school community.

I am delighted to be back and reconnecting with my colleagues. It feels wonderful to see familiar faces and meet new ones. The past 18 months have broadened my perspective, and I am enthusiastic about applying what I've learned to benefit our school.

Looking ahead, I am filled with anticipation for an exciting year. I am committed to contributing to our school's growth and success, leveraging the skills and insights gained during my time with the Internal Audit team. Together, we can achieve great things and continue to foster an environment of excellence and innovation.

Thank you for the warm welcome back. I look forward to working closely with all of you and making this year a memorable and successful one for our entire school community.

Stay tuned for more updates and exciting developments as we embark on this new journey together!

With gratitude,

Biddy Addams 
Business Manager 

Guidance Counsellor - Asha Kumar

Welcome to the New School Year!

Dear Parents,

As we embark on another exciting school year, I want to extend a warm welcome to each of you. My name is Asha Kumar, and I am the Guidance Officer here at Caboolture Special School. It is both an honor and a privilege to support our students as they navigate the journey of growth, learning, and self-discovery.

This year brings new opportunities to set goals, build friendships, and embrace challenges with confidence and resilience. Whether you are returning or joining us for the first time, know that our school community is here to encourage and guide you every step of the way.

As your Guidance Officer, my role is to ensure that every student feels supported, valued, and equipped to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. My door is always open for who may need assistance or simply want to share their thoughts. Together, we can create an environment where everyone feels empowered to reach their full potential.

Bedtime Tips

Does your child have trouble sleeping?
Children can have trouble sleeping for a number of reasons. They can be more sensitive to light, textures, and noise. 

Some children have low muscle tone, or other problems, and that can cause breathing disruption or contribute to sleep apnoea. And some medications can affect sleep.

Sleep problems aren't forever, but you can do lots to help. 

Help your child get ready for sleep

 Let your child get plenty of exercise and sunlight early in the day.

• Use a visual schedule and stick to a schedule.
• Don't watch TV or use the computer right before bed.
• Offer a warm bath or a massage.
• Don't tickle.  That revs up the nervous system.
• Reduce your spoken language.
• Eat a lighter dinner, light on protein, which is harder to digest.  Or eat early and have a light snack before bed.
• Read a simple story.  Some favourites: Goodnight Moon, Giraffes Can't Dance.

Create a room conducive for sleep

• A clutter-free bedroom.
• Create a separate playroom, if possible.
• Wedge pillows, towels, or bedding under child’s feet or
  sides.
• Cotton knit sheets.
• Snug-fitting cotton pyjamas; remove tags.
• Glow in the dark stars on ceiling.
• Mitigate for dust.
• Try an air cleaner or humidifier.
• White noise machines screen out noise.
  
  

If all else fails

• Ask your doctor about adjusting medications.
• Treat any allergies or sleep apnoea (your child can be tested for sleep apnoea).
• Read: Sleep Better -- A Guide for Improving Sleep for Children with Special Needs.
• Consult your paediatrician, neurologist, or a sleep disorder clinic.

Source: https://livingwellwithautism.com/

Warm regards,

Asha Kumar

Curriculum Corner

We are excited to reconnect with our returning students and welcome all our new students and their families into our Caboolture Special School community.  

This year we have lots of exciting events happening in the curriculum space. Of most note, is the implementation of Version 9 of the Australian Curriculum. This has been an ongoing behind the scenes process over the last few years and this year we get to watch it come to fruition.  

To compliment this, the teaching team will be engaging in planning days during weeks three and four to individualise the learning for the students in their class. This then aids the implementation of each students Individual Curriculum Plan (ICP) which will be discussed with families towards the end of term one.  

We have also introduced Jolly Phonics as a whole school systematic synthetic phonics approach to support the teaching of reading and writing. The five core Jolly phonics skills support the implementation of learning letter sounds, learning letter formation, blending – for reading, identifying sounds in words – for writing and tricky words. The use of such a program is linked to the new reading commitment released by the Department of Education in late 2023 which also supports the Reading Position Statement.  

We look forward to supporting our teaching team in the delivery of the Australian Curriculum into 2025 and beyond.  

 Jody O’Shea and Laura Baily  

Curriculum Team  

Book Club - Issue 1

Book Club is a great way to share reading in the home. There are two issues of Book Club a term that will be sent home with students. There is no obligation to purchase, it is just an opportunity offered to our school community. 

Issue 1 will be sent home early next week - so look out for catalogues in school bags! 

All orders are placed and paid for online. If you have any difficulties or questions please contact Katie Rogers  - kroge30@eq.edu.au.