Caboolture Special School Week 2, Term 2, 2025

Principal News

Dear Caboolture Special School Community Members

Thank you to school community members for their support of our staff and school into the second quarter of the school year.  Positive home and school partnerships are an essential ingredient for the strongest possible outcomes for students.

Student attendance

85.9%

ANZAC Day Acknowledgement

Thank you to classes for contributing to the school’s ANZAC Day Acknowledgement through participation in the school class wreath construction and wreath laying experiences.  As well as pausing to remember those who have (and do) sacrifice so much for us all, such experiences provide opportunities for age and developmentally appropriate conversations about such important life matters as conflict, resolution, and loss.

Once again, our school was represented at the local ANZAC Day March and Service on 25 April.  A wreath was laid at the Service by Isaac and I on behalf of our school community.

Guidance Officer Week(s)

In 2025, Guidance Officer Week(s) runs from 28 April to 9 May, acknowledging the counselling and advice GOs provide on educational, career, personal, mental health and wellbeing issues for students.

https://education.qld.gov.au/students/student-health-safety-wellbeing/student-support-services/guidance-officers

Guidance Officers (GOs) offer invaluable support and in the case of Caboolture Special School, our students and school community are fortunate to be supported by the services of Asha (GO) and Sarah (Senior GO). 

Thank you, Asha, Sarah and all GOs out there!

School Review

State Schools in Queensland takes part in a School Review every four years.  Our School Review will occur in Term 2, Week 4, 13-15 May and is a wonderful opportunity for us to celebrate shared achievements and to identify opportunities for improvement. 

Our school has much to celebrate and be proud of. 

Community member information about School Reviews is contained below: -

https://schoolreviews.education.qld.gov.au/review/Documents/parent-community-factsheet.pdf 

Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) - attached

One AIP priority = Implementation of Australian Curriculum (Version 9) across learning areas, with a focus on literacy and numeracy within safe, engaging, communicative and learning enriched environments. 

(Continuing) School Growth

We continue to plan ahead for forecast needs.  N Block is being prepped for next ‘active’ classrooms in the future.  I feel an additional class (number 37) is likely to occur on current growth trends.  Monitoring is ongoing.

Deputy Principal (DP) x 3

Our increasing student growth has now moved us into a three Deputy Principal (DP) school.  Our staff and students will directly benefit from the additional school leadership layer now present.  It is my pleasure to be working alongside our talented and committed Deputy Principals, Bridget, Katie and Kerry.

Whole School Classroom Observation and Feedback (COAF) Processes

COAF is embedded within our school, as we work together in the best interest of our students.  This is a valuable time for classroom and school leader colleagues to learn from and with each other.

P&C Mother’s Day Stall

May 7 and 8. 

An information note has been distributed to families.  Gifts start from $1.

Thank you to the P&C for organising and school community members for your support. 

Assistant Director General (A/DG) x 2 Visit to Caboolture Special School

Hayley Stevenson (A/DG – Strategic Engagement) and Chris Lassig (A/DG – Reviews, Curriculum, Teaching and Learning) will be visiting our school on Thursday 22 May from 9.30-11.30am.  We are excited to be welcoming Hayley and Chris to our site.

Avocado Drive Carpark

Recent weather has extended finalisation timelines.  Now due for completion in coming weeks.  This staff carpark will help alleviate traffic congestion and car parking shortages occurring on Adelaide Drive during peak times.

Assemblies

No assembly in week 1 of term

Odd weeks (other than week 1) – Classes 1-19 Assembly

Even weeks – Classes 20-36 Assembly

Last (Term 1, 2 and 3) week of term – whole school Assembly

More shade

Shade structures are coming for areas including swings (Parklands), spinner (Parklands) and sandpit (Oval).  An awning will soon complement area at student drop off and pick up.  Our working group – playgrounds has been instrumental in advocating for these improvements.

Oval Play Area Enhancements

• New soccer posts have arrived – assembly of posts are underway
• Sports gear order for this area being progressed
• Shade umbrella plan for tables being developed
• (Longer term) boundary path around oval being quoted on when concreter next on site

School signage enhancements

Our school now has two large school map signs located on site.  One sign is outside the school office area and the other sign is located near L Block.

Principal Roadshow (Brisbane City)

I join with other Metropolitan North Region (MNR) School Principals at the MNR Roadshow (aka Principals’ Conference) on 6 May.

Local School Partnerships

I am excited about the ever-strengthening partnership work occurring between our school and other local schools, including Lee Street State Special School and Morayfield East State School.  Initiatives include a sharing of curriculum expertise across campuses and mutual school visits by students.

Creative Generation (CGen) Experience

https://creativegeneration.education.qld.gov.au/

Our school will again be represented at this performance extravaganza.  Students have started rehearsing.  Thank you to all involved.

School Dance Workshops

These workshops have proven very popular in the past so they’re back, starting this week.  No cost.  Thank you to all involved.

Forward Notice - Long Service Leave (LSL)

I have approved LSL for weeks 9 and 10 of this term.

I have approved LSL for week 1 of Term 3.

Best wishes and regards

Sheldon Boland

(Always Proud) Principal

Deputy Principal News

School Photos

Our school photos will be held on Tuesday 29 July 2025 (Term 3, Week 3)

Information about school photos will be sent home later this term.

Creative Generations State Schools on Stage 2025

This term we are starting our rehearsals for Creative Generations State Schools on Stage 2025 (CGEN)! Thank you to all those parents and carers who nominated their child. We had so many applications this year and the team had a very tough decision to select the final team of eight students. Selection is based on a set of criteria that we use each year including year level/ age, attendance, behaviour, interest level of the student in dancing and performance, sensory stamina for a large-scale production including thousands of people, and staff nomination. The 8 students (and parents/carers) who have been selected have been notified. We encourage those who may have missed out this year, to reapply next year for CGEN26.

The Creative Generation 2025 Performances will be held at BCEC, South Bank

• Thursday 17 July
• Friday 18 July
• Saturday 19 July

A reminder that tickets for Creative Generation 2025 are on sale via this link:

https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=CREATIVE25

The performance will also be recorded and televised on Channel 10 (usually scheduled to air in October).

Regards

Kerry Gilmore

Deputy Principal

Class 1 - Class 16

Deputy Principal News

Semester 1 Reporting

At the end the term Semester 1 report cards will be emailed out to families. If you need to update your email contact details, please contact the office via email - admin@caboolturespecs.eq.edu.au or phone (07) 5431 4444.

Changes to Reporting in 2025
For students accessing a Highly Individualised Curriculum Plan there has been changes to the skills being taught and assessed to reflect the updates that have been made to the Australian Curriculum.
Along with changes to the content a new five-point scale has been developed to describe student achievement in the semester.

This scale has been designed to be inclusive and celebrate student’s strengths. The scale is to reflect a student’s growth and progress and acknowledge where a student may need more time than a semester to develop certain skills. 

Effort Reporting Scale.

For 2025 there is also a new five-point scale and descriptors for effort for all student Prep – 6, refer to the table below. This scale will be used consistently across all state schools for all students Prep – Year 12 in relation to effort shown in each subject being reported on through the semester.

If you have any questions about your students Individual Curriculum Plan (ICP) or reporting, please contact your class teacher.

Bus Transport

Are you changing address

or needing to change trips?

It is important to get this information to us as soon as possible – even before you move!

Changes to bus transport takes 3 – 6 weeks to process. The process begins with forms signed by families at the school office; these are then sent to Regional Office for approval. The next step is Department of Transport and then the bus companies.

Bus companies cannot make changes through conversations with families. It is important to also note that once the forms are lodged the school office has no further responsibilities and only gets updated after parents are informed changes have been made.

If you have questions or need changes made to bus transport, please call in to the school office or email kroge30@eq.edu.au

Enjoy the long weekend! 

Regards, 

Katie Rogers 
Deputy Principal 
Classes 17-28

Deputy Principal News

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a great break—it was so lovely to see our students return from holidays refreshed and ready for a busy Term 2 full of fun and learning. We've already seen so many wonderful achievements in our classrooms, and the positive energy around the school has been fantastic.

This term is also an exciting one for me personally, as I have stepped into the permanent Deputy Principal role. I am looking forward to the many new learning opportunities ahead and to supporting our incredible staff, students and families.

One of the highlights so far this year has been the update to our PBL Garden. A huge thank you to everyone involved in getting the garden ready for learning and exploration. Our students have been busy weeding, picking produce and watering their garden beds. It has been truly heart-warming to see the engagement between students and teachers in this space—it’s a wonderful example of hands-on, meaningful learning in action.

This fortnight, our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) focus is Respect for Learning: We listen and follow instructions. Our students have been participating in lessons designed to build their understanding of this important expectation.

Looking ahead to Weeks 3 and 4, our PBL focus will shift to Respect for Self: We give our best effort. Staff will support students by breaking down the key steps involved in learning how to give our best effort. It is important to learn this skill because it helps students build confidence, develop resilience, and take pride in their progress—no matter how big or small.

I look forward to a great term ahead and continuing to celebrate the successes of our students and school community.

Have a safe and happy long weekend!

PBL Garden

Bridget Abbott

Deputy Principal

Class 29 - Class 36

Business Manager News

Welcome back to Term 2. I hope you all had a restful and enjoyable break.

As we embark on this new term, I’m looking forward to working together on our school priority of implementation of the Australian Curriculum across learning areas, with a focus on literacy and numeracy within safe, engaging, communicative and learning enriched environments.

I would also like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to our school's officers, cleaning, and facilities team. Their hard work and dedication have ensured that our school is looking amazing and is a safe and welcoming environment for all. Their efforts often go unnoticed, but they play a vital role in our school's success, and we are incredibly grateful for their contributions.

As we move forward into Term 2, let us continue to work together to create a positive and enriching learning environment for all. I am confident that with our collective efforts, we will achieve great things and make this term a successful and memorable one.

With gratitude

Biddy Adams

Business Manager

Curriculum Corner

What a busy term we have ahead of us here at Caboolture Special School!

The lower school students have been exploring dance this semester and commenced a series of dance workshops this week. The smiles, spins, laughter and body movements were a delight to watch from all of those in attendance. Some of our students were even making up their own dance sequences – very clever indeed.

During week three, our year one to year six teachers will be participating in a Writing with all Tools (WWAT) moderation. This process enables our teachers to work collaboratively in small groups to moderate individual writing samples on a scaled continuum. From these professional discussions, teachers are able to discuss next steps in learning, develop writing goals and select teaching strategies to meet the needs of each student in their class.

The Premier’s Reading Challenge kicks off on Tuesday 6^th May. The Premier's Reading Challenge (PRC) is an annual state-wide initiative for Queensland state and non-state schools. The PRC aims to improve literacy and encourage children to read for pleasure and learning. At Caboolture Special School we value the PRC and the way it celebrates and promotes reading, supports a sense of accomplishment and promotes reading as the gateway to learning in line with the Department’s Reading Position Statement.

Check out some of our amazing writers and dancers in the photos below.

My New Gallery

Until next time, 

Jody O'Shea and Laura Baily 

Curriculum Team

Guidance Officer News

LAUGHTER THE BEST MEDICINE

How is it that the sound of laughter is far more contagious than any cough, sniffle, or yawn?

Laughter is a natural part of life. The part of the brain that connects to and facilitates laughter is among the first parts of the nervous system to come online after birth. Infants begin smiling during the first weeks of life and laugh out loud within months of being born. Even if you did not grow up in a household where laughter was a common sound, you can learn to laugh at any stage of life. Now is the time.

While humour and laughter can cause a domino effect of joy and amusement for anyone in range, it is well researched that this activity can make us healthier.

Though it can be difficult to define what exactly makes humour funny, laughter has long been considered helpful to the healing process. Substantial research indicates that humour and laughter play a health role.  Did you know that laughing:

• exercises the internal organs (great for the stomach muscles and the cardiovascular system),
• with all that mouth opening and deep breathing, laughing gets more oxygen to the brain (to enhance alertness and thinking),
• boosts endorphins (natural mood-elevating and pain-killing chemicals),
• strengthens the immune system (to help fight off disease.)

Laughter has also been shown to improve pain tolerance, reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and protect the heart.

The social effects too are many. They include:

• improving a person's optimism and outlook on life
• connecting you to others – others will want to spend time with you
• fostering instant relaxation
• and most importantly IT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD

Unlike more invasive therapies, laughter therapy is cheap and has no harmful side effects - not bad for such an enjoyable activity.

The great Groucho Marx who spent his movie life clowning around stated: A clown is like an aspirin, only he works twice as fast.

But Humour must be used with care. Children should not be exposed to inappropriate adult humour. Never use humour to offend or shame another person. It’s not about laughing at another person but ensuring everyone enjoys the joke. If you feel a need to laugh at someone, make sure that that someone, is you.

Try these activities. They will benefit your child and you:

• Watch comedy movies and shows
• Visit the circus – do some clowning around yourself
• Listen to comedy while driving – the news these days is very depressing
• Read comic authors/ tell jokes.
• Seek out funny people - spend less time with overly serious people.
• Bring humour into conversations. Tell and invite funny stories
• Just practise smiling and laughing. If you have to - `fake it till you make it`

Let’s see more people laughing and smiling. Our communities, including schools and workplaces, can only benefit.

Adapted from Gregory J. Boyle and Jeanne M. Joss-Reid, "Relationship of Humour to Health", British Journal of Health Psychology, Feb. 2004.

Here are some jokes to share with the Kids

Q What can you never eat for breakfast?

A …Lunch or dinner

Q What looks like half an apple?

A…. the other half

Q If you throw a red stone into the blue sea what will it become?

A…. wet

Q How can a man go 8 days without sleeping?

A… No problem, he sleeps at night

Q How can you lift an elephant with one hand?

A… You will never find an elephant that has one hand!

Q If it took 8 men ten hours to build a wall, how long would it take 4 men to build it?

A… No time at all as the wall is already built

Q How can you drop a raw egg onto a concrete floor without cracking it?

A… Any way you want as concrete floors are very hard to crack.

Kind regards

Asha Kumar

Guidance Officer

P & C News

Welcome to Term 2 - P&C is ready for a wonderful time in Term 2

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and we’re excited to announce our Mother’s Day Stalls, offering a special opportunity for students to purchase thoughtful gifts for the amazing mums, grandmothers, and caregivers in their lives.

 Stall Dates:

On Wednesday the 7th of May and Thursday the 8th of May

Gifts range from $1 to $10, with a wide selection of handmade items, pampering products, and fun surprises. Cash or QKR stall orders will be accepted, please note QKR will close ordering Tuesday the 6th of May at 5pm.

Additional Info on support

 Supporting the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower

Alongside our Mother’s Day celebrations, we are proud to raise awareness about the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower—a globally recognised symbol for people living with non-visible conditions.

Wearing the Sunflower lanyard or badge lets others know that the wearer may need extra time, understanding, or assistance. Conditions can include autism, ADHD, anxiety, chronic pain, and many more.

As an inclusive community, we are committed to making information accessible and welcoming for everyone.

🔗 Learn more about this program: https://hdsunflower.com/au/

Thanks to all volunteers and family members for active support to the P&C

With kindness,
Diana Nunez Rivera

Star Students - Week 2, Term 2, 2025

Book Fair Beach is Coming!!

Book Fair Beach will arrive on the shores of Caboolture Special school on Monday 19th May.

Full of amazing books for students and families to purchase. 

More information coming soon via Facebook and See Saw.