Class Open Morning – Friday November 29

Classrooms will be open after parade for parents and caregivers to see the amazing learning our students have been doing on Friday November 29th.

We also invite you to bring your picnic lunch and rug to have lunch time with your child/ren. 

2024 Week 4 or Term 4, Week 11 (December 9 to 13)

Every 6 – 7 years, our school academic calendar requires a recalibration and in doing so we have an extra week added to the school year.  Normally we have 10 weeks of learning per term, amounting to 40 weeks for the year.  This year we have 41 weeks in the academic calendar.  This is being resolved in 2024 by making Term 4 and 11-week term.  This is what is being called Week 41 (or Week 11 of Term 4).  Calliope State School will be open for all students in Week 41 (or Week 11 of Term 4), but we wanted you to be aware of some changes during this week. 

All school learning, programs and events will be completed by Friday 6^th December.
At Calliope State School, that means by Friday 6^th December, we will have completed:

• All learning necessary for the year
• All ceremonies (e.g., Year 6 Graduation, End of Term Parades and Open Classrooms)
• All prep and high school transition days
• Allocation of 2025 classes and classroom transition activities

Report Cards will be sent home via email on Thursday 12^th December. 

In Week 11, from Monday 9^th December, we will be taking this opportunity to have an enhanced focus on student wellbeing activities through alternate programs.   It should be noted:

• Students may not necessarily be supervised by their regular teacher
• Students will be combined into diverse groups varying ages depending on the students who are present at school
• There will be no formal learning of the Australian Curriculum
• Activities will comprise of tasks that a multitude of age groups can participate in
• Groups of teachers will be taken offline to work on deep planning and preparations for 2025 in line with the Australian Curriculum
• Uniform is still expected to be worn each day
• Tuckshop will be open Tuesday to Thursday

Calliope Community Christmas Carols

It’s that time of year again – Christmas Carol time!

Calliope State School students will be performing as part of the Calliope Community Carols. 

Our year level cohorts will be singing a Christmas Carol and there will be performances from our String Ensemble and Concert Band. 

This is a community event, and parents must be responsible for their own children.  There will be no adult supervision provided by the school.

Locking up Bikes and Scooters

Students are highly encouraged to ensure their bikes and scooters are locked to the racks each day when they arrive at school. 

Grief supports for Students and Parents

Please see the following external agencies available to families for grief support.

Prep Enrolments 2025

Prep Enrolments for 2025 are now open! 

Enrolment packs are available from the school office.  If you haven’t already booked in a time, please book one as soon as possible through our school office.

Intentions for 2025

If you are intending on leaving Calliope State School in 2025, please let our friendly office staff know, as we are in the planning stages of our classes for next year.  Please email our office staff at admin@calliopess.eq.edu.au

The speeches for the 2025 School Captain, Music Captain, Visual and Audio Captains and Sports Captains are being held this week.

Year 4 and Year 5 students and the staff of Calliope State School vote after the presentations of the speeches.

The successful 2025 Leadership position applicants will be announced at the End of Year Parade on Thursday 5^th of December.  All parents and caregivers are welcome to attend this parade.

 Kind Regards,  Sheree Mastromonaco Acting Deputy Principal

Each year, some students like to give a card to their friends at Christmas. There is a Christmas Card Post Box in the school office, for students to post their cards in.   

Our Year 6 Santa helpers will deliver the cards to classrooms. Please ensure each card has the students name and class written clearly on the front.

Due to Health and Safety guidelines, we ask that no food items are placed in the cards. The Post Box will be in the office for Weeks 9 and 10.

Our first Prep Open afternoon is on this Friday from 2.00-3.00pm. We look forward to meeting our newest students and their parents on Friday.

Bookings are essential, call on 4975 8333 or email admin@calliopess.eq.edu.au

4A has been learning all things about helping our country.  

We have been on multiple excursions this semester. This term alone we went to Spinnaker Park and Barney Point. We are using all of this knowledge to persuade the community to make sustainable choices in our Showcase in Week 9.

We have been investigating animal and plant lifecycles and examining what they rely on in each stage of their lifecycle. The excursions have helped the students to develop their knowledge of ecosystems and Gladstone’s Big 6 in particular.

The students have made multiple statements about the Buraligim Wieber program from CQU. These are some:

2025 Leadership Position Speeches

A number of Year 5 students have submitted Student Leadership Applications for the 2025 Leadership positions this term. A panel of Calliope State School staff met to shortlist nominees for the positions of School Captain, Sports Captain, Music Captain and Visual Audio Captain. Students have now been notified of the outcome of their application and short-listed nominees will be preparing their election speeches to be held next week. Parents and caregivers are invited to attend the speeches.

School Captain speeches will occur on Wednesday 20^th of November, starting at 9:30am.

The speeches for Music, Visual Audio and Sports Captains will be held on Thursday 21^st of November, from 2pm.

Presentations of the speeches will occur in the Calliope State School Hall.

Sports Captain speeches will occur in the following places, as students view and vote for their Sports House.

Fitzroy – Undercroft
Oxley – Tuckshop
Flinders – Hall

Year 4 and Year 5 students will vote after the presentations of the speeches.  All votes will be collected and counted. 

The successful 2025 Leadership position applicants will be announced at the End of Year Parade on Thursday 5^th of December.  All parents and caregivers are welcome to come to this parade.

We wish all of the short-listed nominees well in their speeches next week.

PBL focus this week is ‘Having a go’. Students have been working on a lot of assessments over the past few weeks. This week we are focusing in classes on having a go with their assessments. We are trying to relieve the pressure and build the students’ confidence around assessments. At home, doing some positive affirmations for building your child’s confidence will help to start their day or when discussing assessments.

GEM Focus

This week students will be discussing their favourite song and how it makes them feel. At home, have family discussions about everyone’s favourite song and how it makes them feel or when listening to music discuss how the song makes you feel.

The Imperfect Podcasts – Dr Emily

How long have you been holding on to that grudge? Are you picturing that person or moment right now? Have you ever considered what a step towards forgiveness might look like?

These are BIG questions, and thank God, Dr Emily, The Imperfects resident psychologist, is here to talk us through it all. 

In this episode, Dr Em begins by acknowledging that resentment is a normal human emotion.

However, holding on to resentment for prolonged periods of time can have a serious impact on your physical and emotional wellbeing, as well as your relationships (just ask Hugh and Josh).

Then we get onto the F-word. Yep, that’s right. We’re talking about forgiveness. And more specifically, how forgiveness is FOR YOU, and not about excusing behaviour.

So get comfy, and enjoy the last of Dr Em for 2024. To watch the full episode follow the link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbRrULCZz6Q

Positive Behaviour Comparison Data

Please see attached Calliope State School book list for 2025.  There has been a slight change to the original list communicated.  The only change is the reduction in the amount of A4 Botany Book 18mm ruled for Prep.  Thankyou