How quickly we have come to midway through Term 1.

I would like to compliment our 2025 Prep students in the way they have moved into ‘big school’ – quietly confident and ready for the new experiences that happen in their Prep year. Congratulations to our families for preparing their children for this big adventure.

Recently I was reminded of a delightful situation I had a few years ago when a young Prep student came up to me on the first Friday of the new school year to ‘thank me for Prep’ – he believed that his Prep year had ‘finished’ after the first week. Explaining that there were another 39 weeks was the next step.

During the first few weeks of school we have had Year level Parent Information sessions and next Wednesday will have Term 1 Parent Teacher meetings – these meeting are important as they lay the foundations of home-school partnerships which are essential in achieving positive outcomes for every student.

I encourage families to seek information from either their child/ren’s teacher or a member of the school leadership team if you are unsure of any aspect of school life. If you would like a meeting, please contact the staff member to arrange a mutually agreeable time to discuss any issues.

I would like to acknowledge our amazing P&C for their support for our school. The P&C at Camp Hill oversee a large number of operations, including our Out of School Hours Care program (OSHC is a multi-award winning program and one of the largest in the State); uniform shop (Kerri’s support for all families is so valued); tuckshop (open every day for both breaks and providing a range of scrumptious food options) and Swim Club (who provide a program for nearly 200 registered swimmers). The P&C are all volunteers who are working on projects for ALL Camp Hill students. The 2025 P&C Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Tuesday 18 March. I encourage you to join the P&C (the minutes of meeting are very informative) and consider offering some time as a ‘casual’ member of the team. There are numerous diverse roles that family members can take up to support the team. It is so true that ‘many hands make light work’.

A special occasion each year is the P&C Prep Welcome BBQ – it is a wonderful opportunity for families of the Prep year to meet each other, members of the P&C and school staff. I know of several ‘Prep groups’ who are still meeting/going camping ten years after their preparatory year. Thank you to the P&C for hosting this valued event for our families.

Next year the school will celebrate our centenary – Camp Hill Primary School was opened on 1 July 1926. There will be a lot of information coming to families in the next few months regarding this very significant milestone. I encourage you to join in celebrations for our school, which has provided exceptional education programs for local families over the last 100 years.

I would like to thank Mrs Lloyd for the (considerable) work she has put into district sports this term.

There will be a Parent Information session on ‘Learning in Year 1” on both Monday 3 March (6pm) and Tuesday 4 March (9am). These sessions are highly valued and ensure that school and families have a clear understanding of their child’s learning program. I also encourage families to discuss your child/ren’s Term 1 Curriculum Overview with your children during the term. A great question is “can you tell me about …………… which you are learning about this term?”. I frequently ask my youngest granddaughter – “what did you learn today that you did not know this morning”, often the answer is from left field!

Thank you for your continued support for our school.

Best wishes
Deborah
Deborah Driver (Principal)

School parades are held on a rotation basis with our two campuses (Junior {P to year 2} and Senior {Year 3 – 6}) each Wednesday afternoon.

Parents are welcome at parades, but we do ask that you sign in at the office when you arrive at school.

Due to extensive building works occurring on the Multipurpose Hall, the Hall was closed until this week. The schedule for parades for the remainder of the Term 1 are:

2025 CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

Camp Hill State Infants and Primary School (CHSIPS), as a member of Department of Education Independent Public Schools (IPS) program, has a School Council that oversees the strategic operations of our school.

The Council leads the following functions for guiding the strategic direction of the school:

• Monitoring the school’s strategic direction

• Approving plans and policies (and their implementation) for the school of a strategic nature

• Supporting the principal and school with strategic matters to continue to improve and grow the school and its impact.

The Camp Hill School Council membership consists of:
* Principal

* P&C President

* 3 parent representatives

* 3 staff representatives (teaching and non-teaching)

Councillors elect a Chair for Council.

The school is seeking nominations for the 3 parent representatives and 3 staff representatives for a duration of 2 years. The Council can elect to have community members additional to the elected Councillors. The P&C President is automatically a member of Council.

The Council meets four times a year (once per term), where we have interesting and transparent discussions around the strategic agenda of the school and how we are implementing this.

The process to elect new School Councillors:

1. Nominations called:
Parent representatives: school newsletter (Friday 14 March 2025)

Staff representatives: staff newsletter (Monday 10 March)

2. Nominations to be received at school (email: ddriv10@eq.edu.au) by Friday 28 March 2025

3. Election of Council members (if over 3 nominations in each category):
Parent representatives: May P&C meeting

Staff representatives: Voting sent out to all staff on Tuesday 29 April 5 with due date COB Tuesday 6 May 2025

4. Announcement of Council members on 20 May 2025.

The school will provide Nomination forms and a copy of the School Council Role Description for consideration by members of our school community. If you wish to discuss this role, please don’t hesitate to contact me at school (Phone: 39009333).

I look forward to continuing to work closely with our new School Council to ensure that Camp Hill continues to be a high achieving school of choice.

Deborah Driver
Principal

Exciting Year Ahead: Implementing Version 9 of the Australian Curriculum in Mathematics

This year, 2025 is shaping up to be an exciting year in teaching and learning at Camp Hill, as we roll out Version 9 of the Australian Curriculum - Mathematics. This update places a strong emphasis on student achievement and provides our educators with new tools and strategies to enhance each student's learning, particularly in the essential area of mathematics.

Version 9 of the Australian Curriculum introduces a more streamlined and coherent approach to learning, ensuring that concepts build progressively each year. This structure will enhance students’ understanding and mastery of key mathematical concepts, preparing them with the skills needed to succeed in an ever-changing world.

Our commitment to providing a high-quality education is reflected in the use of evidence-based teaching strategies. These strategies, grounded in rigorous research, focus on active learning, real-world problem-solving, and differentiated instruction. This approach ensures that the individual strengths and needs of each student are met, helping all learners excel.

In mathematics, our goal is to ensure every student achieves proficiency. We recognize that mathematics can be challenging for some, so we’re using strategies like explicit instruction, feedback loops, and daily reviews to support students in mastering key concepts. These proven methods make learning engaging and help build students' confidence in tackling complex problems.

Formative assessment plays a crucial role in our approach, allowing teachers to monitor progress and adapt instruction to support students who need additional help. Whether through small group work, one-on-one support, or interactive lessons, we’re dedicated to helping every student succeed.

We invite you to join us in this exciting journey. Please share your experiences with mathematics by completing this very brief (anonymous) survey. Simply scan the QR code or visit the link below.

https://survey.qed.qld.gov.au/n/dLghJWG

Together, we can ensure all students develop the mathematical skills they need to thrive.

Nicole Vokes – Head of Department-Curriculum

SUN SAFETY AT HOME AND AT SCHOOL

In Queensland, year-round sun protection is important for all children and young people.

Research shows that high ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure from the sun in childhood and adolescence significantly increases the risk of developing skin cancer.

Parents, families, schools and the community play an important role to model and reinforce the 5 ways to be sun safe  with children and young people.

At Camp Hill State Infants School, we are aware of the important role we play in promoting sun safety and encouraging all school members to be sun smart. Some of the ways we do this is by:

• Teaching sun safety as part of the implementation of the Australian Curriculum through Health and Physical Education and incidental teaching
• Providing SPF 30 or higher broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen for students to use. Staff will remind students that the sunscreen is available. However, students are responsible to putting on their own sunscreen. Parents/carers can further assist by reminding their child/ren to put on sunscreen before breaks. Parents/carers are encouraged to provide sunscreen for their child if they don’t wish their child to use the school’s sunscreen.
• Using available shade for outdoor activities and providing additional shade (e.g. temporary shade structures on Sports Day, and applying for grants and fundraising for shade structures over new playground.)
• Including sun safe options with our school uniform and ensuring swim shirts/rash vests are sworn at swimming lessons. Our uniform has two hats, one our formal all blue hat and the other the sports hat, both are sun safe. However, If you are planning on buying only one hat, please buy the all blue hat as not only is it our main hat, it the best for sun safety. School shirts with long shirts are also available as a special order.

Online resources

• Sun protection External link
• Sun safety myths and facts 

Reporting Absent Student

It is important that you contact the school administration before 9:30 am if your child is absent for any reason or will be late to school. This includes absences for a school event where the students make their own way to the event.

QParents

email admin: admin@camphillipss.eq.edu.au 

Please state your child's name, class, the date and the reason for the absence.

Procedure for Collecting Students Early and During the Day

When possible, please inform the student’s teacher if they will be leaving early.

All students need to be SIGNED OUT from either the Junior Campus or Senior Campus Office.

It is not always possible to collect students during break times.

Our break times during the school day are:
First Break 11:00 – 11:45
Second Break 13:15 – 14:00

Please arrange to collect students before or after breaks.

Updating Student Information

During the school year, there can be occasions when it is important that we make immediate contact with parents. We are unable to do this if our information is not current. Please help us to provide care and consideration for your child by updating your family records whenever a change occurs.

• If there is a change in your emergency contact phone number, email, or other emergency contact persons details.
• If you change your address.
• If any significant changes occur with regard to your child/children's health or medical details e.g. Health Plan or medication.
• If there are any changes regarding custody or access to your child/children.
• If you feel we should know of any other changes which relate to your child.

The 4 “C’s” – Courtesy, Cooperation, Commitment and Consideration are embedded in teaching and learning. The “C” focus for this month, February, is COURTESY.

We are mindful of this as we settle into the new school year, aware of how our words and actions affect others.

Students in the Prep classes are looking at how we can be like Connie Confidence and Charlie Confidence as we begin our 2025 school journey.

The students are engaging in confidence building activities as they settle in to starting school.

Attention is centred on not being afraid to make mistakes when learning new things, making new friends and becoming used to new surroundings.

Connie and Charlie are characters from the ‘You Can Do It’ Program, a Social Skills program developed and designed for young children.

The students meet each character via puppets, songs and related stories and activities.

Throughout the year the students will review the characters from the Y.C.D.I. program and reflect upon how they have become more confident, organised, persistent, and resilient and how they get along with others.

Into the swing of it!

Our music program is off to a great start! A big thank you to all the parents who have registered their child in a musical group.

Just a quick reminder to ensure your child has their required music text. They will need a My Mini Music Book for their lessons. If your child does not have one, please contact the school.

Below, you’ll find the timetables for music groups at the school. Please remember that your child will need to bring a display folder to keep their music organized.

Thank you for your support!

Choir

The choirs are now set for the year! Please remind your child that joining the choir is a year-long commitment. Additionally, participation in the choir is a requirement for those interested in being part of the musical.

We encourage as many voices as possible to join in—they already sound fantastic!

Music Groups

Strings Program

Directed by Ms Rose Heratage ( rhera5@eq.edu.au).

Brass, Woodwind & Percussion Program

Directed by Mr Alan Spence (acspe0@eq.edu.au).

Important dates for 2025

Please mark the following dates in your calendars:
• ANZAC Day - 25 April (all choirs)

• Qld Symphony Orchestra excursion 23 May - for string, band & choir students Years 5-6

• Instrumental Music Information Session – Wednesday 19 June (for parents whose child/children are interested in being part of the Instrumental Program in 2026)

• Southside Junior Strings Camp 18 – 21 June TBC (String students in Year 4)

• Balmoral Beginner Band Camp 23 – 25 June (Band students in Year 4)

• Celebration of Music Concert Wednesday 17 September (all performance groups)

• Southside Senior Music Camp – 8 – 11 September (Selected Year 6 String and Band students)

• SingFest – 1 September (for Senior Choir)

• Choral Honours Camp 21-23 October (for selected Year 6 choir students)

• The Musical – 28-30 November

• Chaplaincy Carols Night – Tuesday 9 December (all choirs)

• Qld Symphony Orchestra Mentorship (date to be confirmed) – String Orchestra and Concert Band

A special thank you to our volunteers at class swimming lessons. Your support ensures that swimming lessons can proceed with the correct number of adult volunteers.

A few reminders:
1. All volunteers need to sign in at the office before the swimming lessons
2. Parents are exempt from requiring a Blue Card, but other family members will require a Blue Card. Please speak to an administration officer if you have any queries about Blue Cards
3. Volunteers are asked NOT to bring younger children to the lesson as the volunteer may be distracted from their core purpose of closely watching the lesson.
4. Non-staff adults are NOT to go into the change rooms when students are in the room. If a child requires additional support to dress the class teacher will organise an appropriate plan.

Thank you for supporting our school.

Years 3-6 Senior Campus Cross Country Carnival and Training

The date for our Senior Campus Cross Country Carnival is Tuesday 1st April from 9:00 – 11:30am.

Training will be offered to students (Years 3-6) from 8:00 – 8:30am starting in Week 5.

Training schedule dates are:

Students are encouraged to wear an alternate shirt for training and bring their school shirt to change in to. Please bring a full water bottle.

Semester 1 Lytton District Sport Trials

Term 1 Lytton District Sport Trials

Our school is one of many in the Lytton District school sport cluster. Students turning 10-12yrs old in 2025 (Born 2013, 2014 and 2015) have the opportunity to nominate in Lytton district sport trials, which is the first stage of representative school sport. If successful, students then compete in the Met East regional trial. If students are selected in a Met East team, they play in the QLD state carnival.

Trials can be during or after school hours. Please note that these are not participation-based opportunities and students at these trials would need to have a high level of ability and/or experience to be involved. Schools are usually limited to 4 nominations for each district sport trial.

Below are the considerations when nominating:

- Is the correct age to trial (Born 2013, 2014 or 2015).

- Usually children turning 12yrs old, would get priority over younger students.

- Has prior playing experience and skills in the interested sport.

- Their physical skill level and ability to trial in a representative opportunity.

- Safety suitability. Some children turning 12yrs old have developed physical size. Children under 12yrs old (Born 2014 and 2015) would need to demonstrate the ability to compete with older children at a representative trial.

Term 1 sport trials coming up are:

* Swimming is a straight Metropolitan East trial. No Lytton District trial.

* Squash is a straight Metropolitan East trial. No Lytton District trial.

* Boys’ Hockey is a straight Metropolitan East trial. No Lytton District trial.

Students interested in these opportunities, should see Mrs Lloyd to register interest.

Parents, please remember if your child is attending a trial and will be away from school to notify the administration office of your child’s absence.

It was lovely to have the opportunity to meet so many new families and to see some of our existing families, who have new Preps this year, at the Prep Welcome BBQ.

We had a perfect afternoon for a social gathering and for everyone to get to know each other. Thanks for the P&C team & Executives for taking time out on their weekend to put on this event.

Loose Change February

Ok, so we are off to a cracking start! Let’s keep the ball rolling and the loose change rolling in!

We have one week left and the top 3 as of the count on Monday, in no order, are:
5A, Prep Orange, 2A

Remember that the class from each campus that raises the most money, wins an Ice Block Party. Also, the top three fundraising classes will win their funds back to purchase resources for their class.

Join our P&C

We had a fabulous meeting on Tuesday evening, and we are always look at how we can make improvements to our school and how we can do that!

Be a part of our team… become a P&C Member and you will receive the Minutes each month to keep you informed. Come along to our monthly meetings, as your input is vital. Click below, for your Online Membership Form.

P&C Membership Form

Easter Raffle

Our wonderful Easter Raffle is back. Thirty-two fabulous fun hamper boxes to be won.
Year levels have been allocated their themes, so make sure you drop your donations into your class Easter box.

What could you win, just in time for the holidays. Tickets go on sale Week 6, 3rd March and the draw will take place Wed 2nd April. Winners announced at the 2pm parade with all hampers ready to go home.

There is the convenience of ordering tickets online

https://rafflelink.com.au/easterraffle2025

or by scanning the QR code below

Reminder of Dates

Wednesday 26th Feb – E-Koalas Ice Cream Day – Years 3-6 only

Friday 28th Feb – Loose Change February ends - last chance to make it count

Monday 3rd Mar – Easter Raffle starts – donations list to come via CPR’s

Saturday 22nd Mar – P&C Movie Night on the Oval – flyer to come

Tuckshop has had a slow but steady start to the year. We are open 1st (Prep) and 2nd breaks for all Year levels as well as each play break for ice blocks and snacks.

There have been a couple of additions to our menu GF Banana Bread and Hash Browns. If there is something you would like to see on our menu let Sharyn know and she will do her best to provide it.

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT CLASS ON YOUR CHILD'S FLEXISCHOOL ACCOUNT. I am still getting lunches going to wrong classes or left at the Tuckshop because the wrong class is on the order.

Thank you to all the lovely people who have already signed on to volunteer in the Tuckshop. There are still plenty of days left that we desperately need help with. Please consider coming and giving a hand as many hands make light work. We have air-conditioning and there is no cooking involved, just preparation of snacks and bagging of orders. Two hours once a week/fortnight/month or term is that is asked. Become part of the Camp Hill School Community. 

Click the link below to sign up.
https://volunteersignup.org/444JA

Sharyn – Tuckshop Convenor
Tel: 07 3900 9429 Email: tuckshop@camphillpandc.com.au

The Uniform Shop is open Tuesday and Thursday morning from 8:15 till 9:30 for over-the-counter sales. Senior Campus students can come to the shop themselves before school to collect online orders or purchase items. Online orders can be made at any time and will be filled on the next uniform shop open day.

Online orders not collected will be delivered to classrooms on the next uniform shop open day. Please help this service by ensuring class details are correct and up to date before ordering.

Uniform Special Orders

Did you know that the uniform shop is able to place special orders for uniforms if the standard sizing or features require adjustment?

We have always offered a service where uniforms can be tailored and these items are ordered through an individualised system and will incur individualised prices and additional timelines for production.

Thanks to a suggestion from one of our parents, we can now order long sleeved checked shirts/blouses and long sleeved sports polo shirts (see photos below) as inclusions in these special orders offerings.

More information is available through the uniform shop - please email or visit if you wish to discuss.

www.schoolshoponline.net.au/camphillipss

NORMAL UNIFORM SHOP TRADING HOURS
Tuesday and Thursday: 8:15 – 9:30 am
(under D Block, Senior Campus)

Kerri Rook - Uniform Shop Convenor
Tel: 07 3900 9328
Email: uniforms@camphillpandc.com.au 

Key upcoming dates for OSCH for your attention please

• Tuesday 18/02/2025 – 6:00pm OSHC Sub Committee Meeting
(All families welcome)

• Tuesday 18/02/2025 – 7:00pm P&C General Meeting

• Monday 10/03/2025 - April Vacation Care Program Released

• Tuesday 18/03/2025 – 6:00pm OSHC Sub Committee AGM Meeting
(All families welcome). We are always looking for more parents to join. Please ask Management for more information.

• Tuesday 18/03/2025 – 7:00pm P&C AGM & General Meeting.
A great time to join and become a member. Please ask Management for more Information or the P&C.

• Friday 04/04/2025 – Prep Breakfast and OSHC Showcase. All Prep families welcome. Please make sure to book in for the morning to join us.

Thanks, from your team at OSHC

Congratulations to the Crocs on the recent win at our new Carnival with Wishart and Coorparoo!

A huge cheer to all our Tiny Tots who had a swim last week. Our last Tiny Tot race will be in Week 7 this term, see you all then.

Our Crocs Committee enjoyed meeting many of the new Prep families last Sunday at the Welcome BBQ. We hope to see you pool side soon.

Meanwhile tonight offers another chance to practice your Individual Medley (IM) before our IM Night later in the term. Nominations will be open until 430pm today as usual at www.camphillswim.club/swim_meets or via the SwimTopia App.

Coming up is our Captains Carnival on Saturday 15 March. This is a fun-filled afternoon where our Captains run the carnival and our teams (we split all attendees into 2 teams) battle it out. The theme is yet to be announced, but nominations are now open at www.camphillswim.club/swim_meets 

Swim with the Crocs! 

TENNIS HOT SHOTS – ENROLMENTS NOW OPEN FOR TERM 1 2025!

Limited places are still available for term 1 tennis lessons and Fixture Leagues.

ENROL ONLINE at www.tennisforkids.com.au

PRIVATE AND SEMI-PRIVATE LESSONS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

Should you have any questions please contact Tennis for Kids on info@tennisforkids.com.au or 0408 187 741.

ALL NEW CHILDREN ENROLLING IN TERM 1 WILL RECEIVE A FREE JUNIOR TENNIS RACQUET!

Tennis For Kids is a FairPlay activity provider and therefore can accept Government FairPlay Vouchers - www.qld.gov.au/fairplayvouchers - please email us if you wish to use your voucher towards enrolment.

PICKLEBALL SESSIONS AVAILABLE

We are excited to announce that Pickleball sessions will be offered at Camp Hill Primary school in Term 1. Social play sessions are available for both adults and children. Children and parents from all schools are welcome to at-tend any of the sessions listed online.