Well, the first few weeks of term have certainly flown by! It’s been wonderful to walk through our classrooms and see students engaged, focused, and enjoying their learning. By now, parents should have received the learning overviews for the term. These are a great way to stay connected with what your child is learning in class. They can also help spark meaningful conversations at home—especially on those days when “How was school today?” doesn’t get much more than a “good” in return!  I also encourage all families to continue reading our weekly emails, which include important updates, reminders, and celebrations. Staying connected helps us work together to support your child’s learning journey.

Prep Open morning this Saturday 2 August 10-11:30am

As a parent, watching your child take their first steps into school life brings a wave of mixed emotions—pride, excitement, and sometimes a little anxiety. The early experiences children and their families have with school play a crucial role in shaping how they feel about learning and belonging. These first interactions leave a lasting impression, which is why strong, positive connections from the very beginning are so important. This Saturday, our school is proud to open our prep classrooms to our 2026 Prep families. This is a

valuable opportunity for children and parents to begin building familiarity with the environment, meet some of the faces they’ll come to know well, and begin forming connections that will support a smooth transition into school life. If you have a child starting prep in 2026, we look forward to seeing you there.

Year 1 Phonics Check

Starting this year, all Queensland state schools will be trialling the Year 1 Phonics Check as part of a statewide rollout, ahead of its full implementation in 2026.The Phonics Check is a short and simple way to see how well our Year 1 students are developing their decoding skills – an important part of learning to read. The check takes just 5–7 minutes per student and will be carried out one-on-one by staff.  It will be completed early in Term 3.  Teachers will use the results to better understand each child’s needs and plan the next steps in their learning journey.  We are excited to use this valuable tool to continue supporting our students in becoming confident, capable readers.

School Opinion Surveys

It’s that time of year again! The 2025 School Opinion Surveys (SOS) will be conducted this term, during the official survey window from 28 July to 22 August. These surveys are an important way for us to hear your voice and gather valuable feedback from our school community. Parents and caregivers will be automatically invited to participate, with survey details sent via email to the first parent listed on the student’s enrolment form.  Our older students will also be taking part in the survey. They will receive a secure login and complete the survey in a supervised classroom setting during school time.  I encourage all families to participate, as your feedback plays a vital role in helping us improve and grow as a school.

Mobile Phone Policy – Reminder for Families

We’ve noticed a few issues recently with students using mobile phones inappropriately before and after school while on school grounds. Some students have been observed taking photos, accessing social media sites, and using their devices in ways that do not align with school expectations. These behaviours can raise privacy concerns and create unnecessary distractions. We have been regularly reminding students during daily assemblies about the importance of responsible device use, and we appreciate your support in reinforcing these messages at home. As a reminder, and in line with the Department of Education’s ‘Away for the Day’ policy, students are not permitted to use mobile phones at any time while on school grounds. Phones must be switched off upon arrival and handed in at the office. They can be turned back on only after students have left the school grounds at the end of the day. We understand that many families like to send a quick message to their child in the afternoon regarding pickup. However, the best way to communicate this is through the school office. Our staff will ensure your message reaches your child. Also, students wearing smart watches may use them as a watch only. All notifications should be turned off, and the device must not be used for messaging, calls, or internet access during the school day. If your child needs to contact you during school hours, they should speak with a staff member and visit the office. Thank you for your ongoing support in helping us maintain a safe, respectful, and focused learning environment for all students.

Celebrating Coombabah High School’s Success and Ongoing Partnership with our school

We’d like to take a moment to congratulate Coombabah State High School on some fantastic recent achievements. The school has been recognised as one of Australia’s top-performing schools, receiving several well-deserved accolades:

• The Educator 5-Star Best School 2025
• Australian Education Awards: Deputy Principal Justin Clinch – Secondary Deputy Principal of the Year
• Australian Education Awards: Finalist – Public Secondary School of the Year

These honours reflect the incredible dedication of the Coombabah team, the hard work of their students, and their strong commitment to educational excellence. As proud members of the ABC Cluster, we value our strong partnership with Coombabah High. The school continues to provide our Year 5 and 6 students with exciting opportunities to connect with secondary learning and explore their potential.  In the coming weeks, some of our students will take part in a writers’ workshop and a sports development program hosted by Coombabah High. Our Year 5 students are also looking forward to visiting the school in Week 10 this term for a high school experience day—a great chance for them to get a feel for high school life and start building confidence for the future. We are grateful for the ongoing connection with Coombabah High and look forward to seeing our students benefit from these enriching experiences.

Wishing our families a great week ahead, 

Mel Bodley

4A harvested a bumper crop of sweet potato's in the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden, some of the biggest we have ever seen. One student even found a massive earthworm. 

A Little Gift from Us to You – “Investing Like the 1%”

At Mercer & Cooper, we’re passionate about helping everyday Australians create financial security for their families through smart property investment. As proud Gold Sponsors of the Coombabah State School community, we’d love to share a little something with you.

• “Investing Like the 1%” is our free e-book that uncovers the simple yet powerful strategies used by successful investors to build property portfolios that stand the test of time. Whether you’re just starting out or already on your journey, this guide is packed with practical tips to help you make confident, well-informed decisions.
• Think of it as a gift from us to support your family’s future—and maybe spark some inspiration along the way.
• Download your free copy here - https://heyzine.com/flip-book/4aef6a7705.html

Because planning for tomorrow starts with learning today.