Thursday's Tidings - 28 August 2025
TERM 3 2025 |
|
| Sunday 24 - Saturday 30 August | Speech Pathology Week |
| Friday 29 August | Prep R Parade Performance |
| Monday 1 - Friday 5 September | Teacher Aide Appreciation Week |
| Tuesday 2 September | P&C Meeting - Library at 5pm |
| Wednesday 3 September | Year 3 - 6 Swimming |
| Thursday 4 September | Prep - Year 2 Swimming |
| Friday 5 September | Pupil Free Day |
| Monday 8 - Tuesday 9 September | True Relationships Sessions for P-2 |
| Monday 8 - Wednesday 10 September | Instrumental Music Workshops - Strings |
| Wednesday 10 September | Year 3 - 6 Swimming |
| Thursday 11 September | Prep - Year 2 Swimming |
| Friday 12 September | Religious Instruction Presentation at 2:20pm |
| Tuesday 16 - Thursday 18 September | Instrumental Music Workshops - B/WW/P |
| Wednesday 17 September | Year 3 - 6 Swimming |
| Thursday 18 September | Prep - Year 2 Swimming |
| Friday 19 September | P&C Colour Run |
| Friday 19 September | Last day of Term 3 |
Term 3 - Week 7
Dear families,
Thank you to all the families who supported the P&C pie drive. There were A LOT of pies in the staffroom yesterday and hopefully some easy dinners last night!
Swimming
Swimming has commenced after the cancelled lessons last week. The school will work through the process of coordinating refunds or applying credits for families.
Wednesday swimming - 3/4D, 4/5S and 5/6B
Thursday swimming - Prep R, P/1BM and 2H
True - Relationship and Reproductive Health sessions for P-2 students
Hayley from True will be returning to deliver information to our early years students. Your child is going to be involved in a relationship and sexuality education program run collaboratively with True Relationships & Reproductive Health and the classroom teachers. Note: only children with consent will attend the sessions.
The many benefits of relationship and sexuality education include supporting the development of a healthy self-esteem, a positive attitude towards sexuality, information to care for bodies and the development of skills to make healthy decisions.
The best way for children to learn about sexuality is by receiving small amounts of age appropriate, factual information from parents/carers and teachers in a gradual and ongoing process.
True recognises that you are the primary sexuality educator of your child. Parents/Carers and schools can work together to encourage healthy behaviours and attitudes about sexuality & bodies. The following information may be useful to start discussions with your child, so that you have the opportunity to reinforce appropriate behaviours, new skills and discuss your family’s values, attitudes and beliefs about these topics.
In line with the national HPE curriculum True will be delivering sessions in your child's class. The information will include:
- naming body parts
- public/ private bodies, places & behaviours
- identifying emotions
- what children can do if they feel unsafe
- types of touch
- safety networks
Each child will receive a leaflet outlining the information that they learned in class, allowing families to continue conversations at home.
Instrumental Music Workshops
In Weeks 9 and 10, many of our instrumental students will join students from across the Gympie Region for their Instrumental Music (Strings and B/WW/P) workshops. These workshops give beginners, intermediate and advanced students the chance to work with like students, receive intensive instruction and develop their playing over 1-2 days. Parents are invited to attend the concerts at the end of the workshops and details are in the original letters sent home.
Book Week 2025 – Book an Adventure!
What an amazing week last week when we celebrated Book Week 2025 and this year’s theme, “Book an Adventure!” The library visits had students buzzing with classes taking part in a range of fun and creative experiences last Wednesday.
This year is also a special milestone as we celebrate Book Week's 80th year, making it an even more memorable occasion.
The week came to a wonderful finale with Friday’s Book Week Parade. It was fantastic to see so many students (and staff!) dressed as their favourite book characters, filling the school with colour, laughter and imagination. It was truly a celebration of reading, stories and the joy books bring to our lives.
Speech Pathology Week
Speech Pathology Week is being held this year from 24–30 August. Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) work collaboratively with school staff to build capability and support teaching and learning adjustments. They support teachers to build students’ communication, language, literacy and learning skills.
This year we are encouraged to reflect on the multi-layered and meaningful impact speech pathologists have across all aspects of life. The 2025 theme of ‘Impact through communication’ is dedicated to the different ways speech pathologists support and strengthen communication in our communities.
Here at Gympie Central SS, we would like to recognise Claire Runge, our school SLP, for her contribution to our students and their learning. Thank you Claire!
P&C Meeting – Tuesday 2nd September at 5pm
All parents are invited to the next P&C meeting being held Tuesday 2nd September from 5:00pm in the school library. New members are always welcome!
Pupil Free Day
Parents are reminded that Friday 5 September is a Pupil Free Day.
Waru Kids - Operating Monday to Friday
Our families using Waru Kids OSHC have given really positive feedback. If you haven’t enrolled, please get in touch with the team and see how they can support your family. They are open each day from 6:15am-8:45am and then 3:00pm-6:00pm.
See the attached flyer for contact details and estimated costings once the Child Care Subsidy is factored in.
P&C Colour Fun Run
Sponsorship booklets have been distributed to students today. It looks like there are some great prizes up for grabs, so make sure the kids set their goals and start fundraising.
Kind regards,
Glenn Cafferky
QParents
QParents has launched at Gympie Central SS!
It’s great to see that so many parents have registered for QParents already. If you have not received an invitation, please advise us immediately.
Gympie Central will be starting to use QParents as a means of gaining digital consent for excursions and camps later this term to reduce the amount of paper notes that are sent home. You will need to be registered for QParents to enable your digital consent access.
If you need assistance with the registration process, please click on the link below or contact the office on 5480 2111 for support.
QParents Registration Guide for Parents
2025 Voluntary Financial Contribution - $20 per student
Each year, the Gympie Central State School P & C Association endorse a voluntary financial contribution of $20 per student, which equates to $0.50 per week for the entire school year. This money is a vital part of Gympie Central P&C’s commitment and helps to fund reading books, classroom resources, photocopying paper and tissues. This year the payment can be made via the Qkr! app or in person at the office. Your support in paying the voluntary contribution is greatly appreciated.
Payment Options
We have a variety of payment options available here at Gympie Central. Our most preferred method of payment is the Qkr! app. Qkr! is a cashless payment app, which means you can make payments on your mobile phone, rather coming into the school. The Gympie Central P&C also use this app, so not only can you pay for camps and excursions, but you can also order school uniforms and tuckshop with the app.
Instructions on how to download and use the app are shown in the link below.
Other payment options that we provide are:
1. BPOINT - (for invoiced activities) Pay online or by phone using credit/debit card: https://www.bpoint.com.au/payments/dete or phone 1300 631 073
2. CENTREPAY - (for invoiced activities) We now offer Centrepay as a payment method for instrumental music and school camps. Use Centrepay to arrange regular deductions from your Centrelink payment. You can start, change or stop using Centrepay whenever you like. If you would like to set up a Centrepay payment, or know more information about this payment method, please contact the school office.
3. EFTPOS - We accept Mastercard, Visa and all Australian bank, building society and credit union cards.
4. CASH - Cash payments are still accepted. However, the school no longer has the ability to give out change, so only cash payments of the correct denomination will be accepted.
Student Absence Notification System
If your child is absent from school without explanation you will receive a SMS text message that morning to your mobile phone asking to explain their absence. Please reply (on the same day) with a simple SMS answer eg sick; specialist appointment. Alternatively, you can call and leave a message on the Student Absence HOTLINE - Telephone 5480 2166 to report your child’s absence.
Please contact the office by phone if you have any concerns regarding the message you have received.
Gympie Girl Guides
We're waiting to meet you!
Come and try, 3 weeks free!! We also accept PLAY ON government assistance vouchers.
Volunteers also welcome to help out with activities for girls.
There's also Olaves for 18 - 30 year olds!!
And Trefoil for adult women of all ages with or without previous Girl Guide experience.
Visit www.guidesqld.org.au for more information or call 0425850360.
