Dear Queenscliff Parents and Carers,
House Meetings
On Friday 27 July, students participated in House meetings in the afternoon and had the opportunity to have a ‘chant off’ singing their House chants and competed in a range of tabloid games including sack races, egg and spoon races, tunnel ball and a game called ‘Rock Off’. It was a wonderful afternoon led by Mrs. Hickey and our House Student Leaders. Congratulations to our House Student Leaders for demonstrating outstanding leadership in organising equipment, explaining the rules of each game and providing encouragement to students during the events. The event aimed to build House spirit and foster greater connections and new friendships between students within each House.
Semester 1 Reports
Semester 1 Student Reports will be available for parents and carers on Thursday 3 July via Compass. Student Reports are a wonderful opportunity for parents and carers to gain an insight into the achievements and successes of your child across a range of subject areas. In addition to this, reports include comments and information regarding ‘next steps’ or new goals for your child for Semester 2. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our teachers for their outstanding efforts and dedication in conducting assessments, reviewing student data and writing detailed report comments over the past few weeks. We encourage all parents and carers to take time to carefully read and review your child’s Semester 1 Report. Some families may wish to share the Semester 1 Report with their child and engage in meaningful discussion about the report, including celebrating their successes and achievements.
Term 3 Parent Teacher Interviews
Parent Teacher Interviews are scheduled for Tuesday 29 July and Wednesday 30 July 2025 (Week 2, Term 3) from 3:10-5:30pm. Interviews will be held for 10 minutes with your child’s teacher. Parents will have an opportunity to book an interview time on Compass from Tuesday 22 July. A notification will be sent out reminding parents and carers to book an interview time.
Parents will also have the opportunity to meet with their child’s Specialist Teacher on the following days:
Tuesday 29 July | Mrs. Kelly Caldwell - Visual Arts Mrs. Hannah Petrie - Performing Arts |
Wednesday 30 July | Mrs. Melanie Vistarini - Science/STEM Mrs. Melissa Fitzgerald - Physical Education |
Parents and carers of students in Year 3/4 will be able to book an interview time from 2:10pm on Tuesday 29 July.
Parent-teacher interviews are a valuable opportunity to strengthen the partnership between home and school. These meetings provide time for families and teachers to connect, share insights, and discuss each child's progress, learning goals, and wellbeing. They help build a clearer picture of how students are tracking both academically and socially, and offer a chance to celebrate successes and plan new goals and support strategies if needed for Semester 2.
Semester 1 Report - Learning Behaviours
detailing your child’s approach to their learning in the following two areas, Effort and Behaviour. Learning Behaviours are now graded from Beginning, Developing, Demonstrating and Excelling. Previously our Semester Reports graded Effort and Behaviour using the following levels Needs Attention, Satisfactory, Very Good and Excellent.
Following our School Review in 2025 and the development of our new School’s Strategic Plan, our new Wellbeing Goal states to ‘Strengthen the capacity of students to be active learners’. Our school has developed a Learning Behaviours Matrix outlining key behaviours and habits of learners from Beginning to Excelling.
Developing and Demonstrating meet Queenscliff Primary School’s expectations for Effort and Behaviour. Excelling exceeds Queenscliff Primary School’s expectations of Effort and Behaviour, whilst Beginning is below our School’s expectations. The Matrix was developed to be aspirational, encouraging our students to take greater agency and ownership of their learning with the goal of building their capacity to be active and engaged learners. The Matrix is helpful for parents/carers and students to gain an understanding of where to next and use the behaviours outlined to set new goals for Semester 2.
If your child has an Individual Education Plan (IEP), their progress towards their personalised goals within their IEP will be reported using the same scale: Beginning, Developing, Demonstrating, and Excelling.
High School Musical Excursion
On Monday 30 July, our Year 5/6 students had the opportunity to visit the Geelong Arts Centre to view Disney’s ‘High School Musical’ production performed by GSODA Junior Players. Our Year 5/6 students thoroughly enjoyed the show and came back feeling very inspired for their roles in our very own ‘Shrek Junior’ musical held in Term 4.
Book Covering Working Bee - Parent Volunteers Needed
Our school recently purchased new novel study texts for our Term 3 reading units for Years 3-6. On Thursday 3 July, we are hosting a Book Covering Working Bee from 9:30am-11:00am to contact the new books. We are seeking parent volunteers to assist with covering the books so that they are ready to be used by our students in Term 3. The Book Covering Working Bee will be held in the staffroom and morning tea will be provided for volunteers. We hope to see you there!
Term 3 Curriculum Day - Monday 21 July 2025
On Monday 21 July, our teachers and staff will be engaging in a Curriculum Day whereby they will participate in professional development. As a result, students will not be required to attend school on this day.
Year 3/4 Camp Webinar
Next term on Wednesday 23 July, our school will be hosting a Year 3/4 Camp Webinar to provide information about the upcoming Sovereign Hill Camp held on Wednesday 20 August until Friday 22 August. The webinar will be recorded and posted to Compass for those families who are unable to attend on the day. The webinar will commence at 3:30pm and a link will be distributed to families via Compass in advance.
In order for our school to tailor information and details about the Camp in the webinar, we encourage parents and carers to complete the survey that has been sent out via Compass with any key questions or information you would like to know about the Sovereign Hill Camp. This will ensure that our school can provide all of the necessary information to families during the webinar and to assist you with preparing your child for their exciting camp experience.
'Being Brave' Brainstorm Musical Production
This week, our students were treated to Being Brave, a powerful live performance by Brainstorm Productions at St Aloysius Primary School Hall. The show explored important themes such as resilience, empathy, friendship, and emotional regulation. Through an engaging mix of drama, music and storytelling, Being Brave highlighted the value of making positive choices, managing emotions, and standing up for yourself and others. The performance supported our school’s values and pillars and provided valuable messages that our students can apply in their everyday lives.
‘Think U Know’ Cyber Safety Parent Session
Next term, our school is hosting a ‘Think U Know’ Cyber Safety Parent Information Evening on Thursday 24 July at 6:00pm. The ‘Think U Know’ presentation will provide parents and carers with the tools to create a safer online environment for your children, and empower parents to feel confident in guiding your children as they access the internet and use technology.
Topics discussed in the Think U Know presentation include:
- Privacy and preventing inappropriate contact
- Sharing personal information
- Online grooming
- Self-generated content
- Taking action
- How to get help and report.
If parents and carers are interested in attending, please register your attendance below by completing the form below.
OSHC - TheirCare in Term 4
TheirCare will commence as our OSHC provider from the beginning of Term 4 2025. TheirCare will be offering OSHC service for families Before School, After School, Holiday programs and care on designated curriculum days. TheirCare staff will be attending our school assemblies in Term 3 and will have opportunities to visit classrooms and run clubs in order to build relationships and rapport with our students. These visits to our school assemblies will also provide parents and carers with an opportunity to meet the TheirCare staff and learn more about their OSHC service.
Please below for information regarding TheirCare programs and costs for OSHC.
TheirCare Parent Handbook
Parents and families may be eligible to access the Child Care Subsidy to assist with the costs associated with OSHC for your child. Please see below for a guide with detailed instructions for families on how to claim the Child Care Subsidy.
Child Care Subsidy Information Flyer
TheirCare are hosting a parent information webinar on Wednesday 27th August 2025 to provide families an opportunity to learn about their service. Please see below details and registration for the Parent Information webinar.
TheirCare Webinar Link - Wednesday 27th August 2025 - 6:30pm
Families can access further information about TheirCare by visiting www.theircare.com.au .
Victorian High Ability Program (VHAP)
Congratulations to the following students who have been nominated and accepted into the Victorian High Ability Program for Term 3 in the areas of English and Mathematics. This Department of Education initiative provides selected Year 5–8 students with the opportunity to participate in a 10-week online extension program in either English or Mathematics. Delivered by expert educators, VHAP offers challenging, collaborative learning that goes beyond the classroom curriculum, encouraging students to explore complex concepts and deepen their understanding. Participation in VHAP helps students build confidence, connect with like-minded peers, and further develop their critical and creative thinking skills. Congratulations to the following students in Year 5/6. We are incredibly proud of your selection into VHAP for Term 3.
| Mathematics | English |
|---|---|
| Jarrah Stuart Aydin Sayegh Xavier Grainger Sol Eldridge Louis Humphris | Jude Spencer Oliver Kent Loretta Boyd Emilia Horbowsky Ruby Vistarini |
Class Reps Meeting
On Friday 27 July, I enjoyed meeting with our Class Reps at Shelter Shed for a morning coffee. It was wonderful to catch up and we engaged in fantastic discussion around school operations and events. Thank you to Alex Wyatt, Elissa Brent, Kelly Clifford, Lauren Vosbergen, Tsari Thapa, Sarah Forsythe, Kiara Atkinson, Lisa Golightly and Laura Clarke for your time and meaningful engagement. We discussed Semester Reports, OSHC changes, Shrek Student Market, School Uniforms, Year 3/4 Camp and other school operations.
Assembly
Our next assembly will be held on the final day of Term 2, Friday 4 July. Parents, carers and community members are invited to join us for this special celebration whereby we will have Prep, 5/6C and PE showcasing their learning. In addition to this, we will have a special performance from the QPS choir with Maddy Serong.
School Council
Our next School Council meeting is scheduled for Monday 4 August 2025. I look forward to meeting with our School Council to discuss school operations, upcoming events and financial planning for the school. If you have correspondence or feedback you would like to provide to the School Council, parents and carers are invited to email our School Council President, Daniela Sayegh at daniela.sayegh@education.vic.gov.au .
As we reach the end of a busy and rewarding term, I’d like to wish all our students and families a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable winter break. This is a time to rest, recharge, and enjoy some well-deserved time with loved ones. We thank you for your continued support throughout the term and look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for an exciting Term 3 on Tuesday 22 July 2025.
Nyatne baa Gobata
(Thank you and take care)
Mat McRae
Principal
