Dear Queenscliff Parents and Carers,

As we reach the end of Term 2 and our final newsletter for the semester, it is an opportune time to pause and reflect on what has been an incredibly busy and successful term at Queenscliff Primary School.

Over the past ten weeks, our students have embraced a wide range of learning opportunities and experiences, including the Prep–Year 2 Swimming Program, author visits as part of the Queenscliff Literary Festival, IDAHOBIT Day, Reconciliation Week, Lightning Premiership and Division sporting competitions, school photos, and the Year 5/6 Camp. These experiences have enriched our students' learning, strengthened connections within our community and provided countless opportunities for students to challenge themselves, develop new skills and create lasting memories.

As families receive Semester 1 Reports, I encourage you to take some time to reflect on and celebrate your child's growth and achievements throughout the first half of the year. Success at school comes in many forms, and every student should be proud of the progress they have made in their learning and wellbeing.

I would also like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank our teachers and education support staff for the dedication, energy and passion they bring to their roles each and every day. Their commitment to supporting the learning, wellbeing and success of every student is extraordinary, and our school community is fortunate to have such a talented and caring team.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all of our parents and carers for their ongoing support of Queenscliff Primary School. Whether volunteering in classrooms, assisting on excursions and camps, supporting school events, or working alongside teachers to support student learning and wellbeing, your contribution plays a vital role in enriching the educational experiences of our students and strengthening our school community.

A special thank you must go to our Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 parent groups for their outstanding fundraising efforts this term. Thank you!

We are fortunate to have such a supportive and engaged parent community, and we thank you for the time, energy and commitment you contribute to making Queenscliff Primary School such a special place to learn and grow.

Division Sport

Division T-Ball

On Tuesday 16 June, our Girls' T-Ball team proudly represented QPS at the Division T-Ball Competition held at Stead Park.

The team had a fantastic day, winning two of their five matches and demonstrating great teamwork, resilience and sportsmanship throughout the competition. Despite several months passing since the T-Ball Lightning Premiership, the girls quickly rediscovered their rhythm and played with confidence, determination and skill against strong opposition.

There were many highlights across the day, including Rosie Le Page's outstanding catch in the field, Harriet Jones' excellent fielding efforts, Eva Thomason's strong catching behind the plate, and Aria Wolter's powerful hitting.

All players should be extremely proud of the way they represented our school.

Division Soccer

On Wednesday 10 June, our Boys' Soccer team represented QPS at the Division Soccer Competition held at Myers Reserve, Geelong.

The team achieved an outstanding result, finishing 5th overall. In the grading games, the boys narrowly lost their first two matches 1–0 against much larger schools, Ocean Grove Primary School and Torquay P–6 College. The team then showed great resilience, winning their final grading game 2–1 before defeating Clifton Springs Primary School 2–0 in the playoff to secure 5th place.

All of the boys should be extremely proud of the way they represented QPS. They played with excellent sportsmanship, determination and skill throughout the day. Special highlights included Xavier Grainger’s two goals, Thomas McManus-Varley’s fantastic efforts as goalkeeper, and Jude Spencer’s strong defensive work across the competition.

Division Netball

On Thursday 11 June, the QPS Red Netball Team proudly represented our school at the Division Netball Competition held at Kardinia Park.

The team performed exceptionally well throughout the day, progressing to the playoff for 7th and 8th place before securing a win in their final match to finish 7th overall in the Bellarine Division.

All players demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship, resilience and teamwork, approaching each game with determination and a positive attitude. It was particularly pleasing to see students encouraging one another, celebrating each other's successes and consistently displaying our school values both on and off the court.

The beautiful weather provided the perfect backdrop for a fantastic day of competition and school spirit.

A sincere thank you to Laura Clarke who assisted with coaching and the many parents and family members who attended to support the team. Whether assisting with scoring, providing encouragement from the sidelines or delivering much-appreciated coffees throughout the day, your support helped make the event a great success.

Congratulations to all players on a wonderful achievement at Division Netball and for being such outstanding ambassadors for QPS.

Year 3/4 Desert Expo

On Friday 12 June, our Year 3/4 students proudly presented their Desert Expo, celebrating the learning they have undertaken throughout the term as part of their Integrated Studies unit, Deserts and the Arctic.

The showcase formed the culminating assessment task for the unit, with students creating detailed dioramas of desert environments, writing information reports about desert animals and their adaptations, and delivering short oral presentations to parents and carers. Through these presentations, students demonstrated their knowledge and understanding of desert environments, how animals survive in extreme conditions, and how these environments have changed over time.

We were blown away by the creativity, knowledge and confidence our students displayed. Their dioramas were thoughtfully constructed, their reports showed strong research and understanding, and their presentations were delivered with pride and enthusiasm. Parents and carers provided feedback to students using a set criteria following the presentations.

Thank you to all parents and carers who joined us for this special learning celebration. A sincere thank you also to our Year 3/4 teachers, Mrs Yvette Hurley and Ms Megan Fullard, for supporting and guiding students throughout the term as they explored and learned more about our world.

Semester 1 Reports

Student Semester 1 Reports will be available to families via Compass from Thursday 25 June. Semester reports are an opportunity to celebrate your child’s progress and achievements from Term 1 and Term 2.

In accordance with Department of Education reporting requirements, the Semester 1 Report provides parents and carers with information about their child's achievement and progress against the Victorian Curriculum, as well as their development as a learner. The report reflects your child's learning throughout the first semester and provides an indication of their progress towards the expected standards for their year level.

We encourage families to take the time to read and discuss the report with their child, celebrating achievements and identifying goals for continued growth throughout Semester 2.

We thank our teachers for undertaking assessment, moderation and reporting processes to ensure all families receive meaningful information about their child's learning and progress.

Term 3 Parent Teacher Interviews

Parent Teacher Interviews will be held in Term 3 on Tuesday 21 July and Wednesday 22 July. Interviews will run for 10 minutes and provide an opportunity for parents and carers to discuss their child's learning progress, strengths, areas for growth and goals for the semester ahead.

Bookings will open via Compass on Monday 13 July. A reminder notification will be sent to families through Compass when bookings are available.

To support meaningful conversations within the 10-minute interview time, families will receive a Pre-Interview Survey in Week 1 of Term 3. We encourage all families to complete and return the survey before their interview. The information provided will help teachers tailor the discussion to your questions, wonderings or concerns, and prepare relevant work samples, assessment data and key observations.

We look forward to meeting with families and working together to support each child's continued learning and growth.

Best wishes Mrs Atkins

As we conclude Term 2, we would like to wish Mrs Laura Atkins all the very best as she commences Parental Leave at the beginning of Term 3. Laura has made a wonderful contribution to Queenscliff Primary School and we thank her for her dedication, care and commitment to our Prep class this year. Mrs Kelly Caldwell will be joining the Prep team on Fridays during Laura's leave. On behalf of the entire QPS community, we wish Laura, Tom and their son Alfie, all the best and look forward to hearing about their exciting news in the months ahead.

Building Fund Donations

With the end of the financial year fast approaching, we encourage families to consider making a contribution to the Queenscliff Primary School Building Fund.

The Building Fund provides an important source of funding for projects that improve and maintain our school facilities and learning environments. In accordance with Department of Education requirements, Building Fund donations can only be used for eligible capital works and building-related projects, helping to ensure our students have safe, modern and engaging spaces in which to learn and thrive.

Recent and future projects supported by the Building Fund include improvements to learning spaces, building upgrades and works to enhance the functionality and amenity of our school environment.

Importantly, donations made to the School Building Fund are fully tax deductible, making this an excellent opportunity to support the school while also claiming a deduction on your annual tax return.

Donations can be made via bank transfer:

Account Name: Queenscliff Primary School
BSB: 033 274
Account Number: 248725

If making a donation, please email the school at queenscliff.ps@education.vic.gov.au with your payment details so we can issue you with a tax-deductible receipt.

We sincerely thank our families and community members for their ongoing generosity and support. Every contribution helps us continue to improve our facilities and create the best possible learning environment for our students.

We are pleased to advise that the French Language Program will commence in Term 3 from Monday 20 July, running from 3:05pm in the Prep Classroom with French teacher Soraya Bozzetto.

Families who completed an Expression of Interest earlier this term have been contacted directly by Soraya to confirm enrolment in the program.

If you would like your child to participate in the French Language Program on Monday afternoons, please contact Soraya via email at sayouitofrench@outlook.com before Friday 26 June to confirm enrolment and arrange payment.

We look forward to offering this exciting opportunity for students to learn and develop their French language skills.

Assembly

We invite families to attend our assembly this Friday 26 June. We will have class showcases from Performing Arts, Year 2, Year 1 and a performance from our school choir. Parents, carers and community members are invited to join us for this celebration.

School Council

Our next School Council meeting is scheduled for Monday 27 July 2026. 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 .

Term 3 Commences - Tuesday 14 July

Term 3 commences for students on Tuesday 14 July. Monday 13 July is a Curriculum Day for teachers and education support staff to engage in professional learning.

As we head into the winter holiday break, I encourage all students and families to take the opportunity to rest, recharge and enjoy some quality time together. Stay warm, connect with loved ones, find joy in the simple moments, and return refreshed and ready for another exciting term of learning ahead.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back in Term 3.

Nyatne baa Gobata

(Thank you and take care)

Mat McRae

Principal

Our Prep students recently celebrated a very special milestone in their literacy journey with Milo's Surprise Party!

This term, students successfully completed Stage 3 of the Little Learners Love Literacy program, learning all the letters and sounds of the alphabet. To celebrate this fantastic achievement, students came to school dressed as their favourite character from Milo's Birthday Surprise.

The morning was filled with excitement as students proudly showcased their creative costumes and confidently presented to their classmates, explaining which character they had chosen and why. We were also delighted to welcome parents and family members into the classrooms to participate in a range of engaging literacy games and activities.

Learning all the letters and sounds in the program is a significant achievement and provides the foundation for future success in reading and writing. We are incredibly proud of our Prep students for their hard work, enthusiasm and growth throughout the year. Congratulations to our Preps and our school volunteers on this wonderful milestone!

Year 3/4H News

This term, 3/4H have been busy exploring “Extreme Environments.” Deserts are found on every continent and are home to unique plants and animals that are highly adapted to survive in these harsh biomes. Due to the constant movement of Earth’s tectonic plates, our planet is always changing. Did you know that 100 million years ago, The Great Victorian Desert was an inland sea? Scientist have found fossils of star fish, shells and squid hidden under the dunes which tell a story of great change over time. We have written information reports and created 3D models to share our knowledge with others about the features of a world desert and a creature who calls this place home. From the curious Fennec Fox with its body cooling ears, to the Emperor Penguin who huddles in packs to stay warm, we have been amazed by how living things adapt to survive and thrive in their habitats. During our expo, students showcased their impressive conversation skills to explain their work and answer questions. Planet Earth is an amazing, complex and ever-changing place, and we have really enjoyed researching, posing questions and learning about our world’s deserts.