Thursday's Tidings - 22 May 2025

We’re almost at the halfway point of the term and classes are working through their assessment tasks in the coming weeks. It’s really important that students are attending school as much as possible during this time. It can be difficult to catch up and for children to show their potential when they are completing work at different times to their peers. 

Attendance Update 

In the coming week, families will receive the email with an update on their child’s attendance rate. We aim for 90% and above. It’s been rewarding to see the number of students whose attendance rate has increased from mid-Term 1 to now!  

School Photos - Tuesday 10 June 

To order photos: 

1. Go to www.leadingimage.com.au 
2. Click on Order Your School Photos 
3. Enter the GCSS access key 92CU5GDH  

Transition to Year 7 - Information Sessions 

Families of Year 6 students are invited to attend an information session to support a smooth and successful transition to high school. 

Date: Thursday 29th May
Times: 3:30 PM | 4:30 PM | 5:30 PM 
Locations: 
James Nash State High School - I Block 
Gympie State High School - Resource Centre 

Families are welcome to attend either school at a time that suits them. Each session will share the same essential information to help prepare your child for Year 7. 

Note: Enrolments and scholarship applications are now open. Contact the respective school for further information.  

They look forward to seeing you there! 

Year 5/6 Camp 26-28 May 

Camp’s happening next Mononday to Wednesday, when the students head off to QCCC at Mapleton. They’ll have an awesome time! Thanks to Mr Barnes and Mrs Sandrini who’ve put a lot of work into the organisation.  

Prep-Year 2 Gympie Library Excursion Thursday 29 May 

The Prep  to Year 2 classes are off to the Gympie Library next Thursday to meet local author Gregg Dreise. Remember to return the permission slips ? 

Focus on Reading - The BIG 6 of Reading 

Learning to read and write is a complex process that involves the integration of six key elements. Evidence-based research suggests that the explicit teaching of these ‘Big Six' components is the best way for children to learn to read and write. 

Oral Language    
We can speak to express our thoughts. We can listen to understand. 

Phonological and Phonemic awareness 
We can hear the individual sounds in spoken words. We can also blend sounds to read words.      

Phonics 
Phonics is the matching of sounds (phonemes) to letters (graphemes). There are 26 letters and 44 sounds in the English language. We use Sounds Waves to help us 

Fluency 
Fluency is being able to read aloud accurately, smoothly and with appropriate expression. Being a fluent ready helps us understand what we read. 

Vocabulary 
Vocabulary refers to the bank of words that a person knows. Having a rich, broad vocabulary helps us be better readers and writers. 

Comprehension 
This is the aim of reading. Comprehension includes understanding information, following a storyline, recognising an author’s message, analysing a text and making inferences.  

Semester 1 Report Cards 

Each year students are provided with two written report cards. Semester 1 report cards will be emailed to families on Thursday 26 June 2025.  

To ensure that parents/carers receive their child’s report card, we need to ensure your family contact details are correct.  Where students reside in two homes, it is important that all family members have the correct information listed so both parents/carers will receive a report card via email. The email addresses on file are currently being used to distribute our school newsletter electronically each fortnight so if you are not receiving the newsletter or you would like to change the email address, you will need to update your details with the school. This can be done simply and easily by contacting the school office via email admin@gympiecentralss.eq.edu.au

To ensure you receive your child’s report card, it is recommended that you add the following email to your safe senders list so the report card email isn’t sent to the junk folder: application.ONESCHOOL@dete.qld.gov.au 

Report cards will also be available via QParents - another great reason to make sure you have registered!  

Building Respectful Relationships at School

 At Gympie Central State School, we are committed to nurturing strong, respectful relationships between students and teachers from Prep through to Year 6. As children grow, they begin to understand more deeply what it means to be part of a school community - and how their actions contribute to a positive environment for everyone. 

Our school values - Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be a Learner - are central to every interaction. When students show respect to their teachers and peers, they create a classroom culture where everyone feels included, valued, and ready to learn. 

Respect in the classroom looks like: 

• Using polite and positive language 
• Listening attentively when others are speaking 
• Following instructions and being cooperative 
• Owning our actions and learning from mistakes 

At Central, we model and teach these behaviours every day, but the partnership with families is key.  We encourage all parents and carers to have regular conversations with their children about what these behaviours look like in the classroom, playground, and beyond. By reinforcing these expectations at home, you help strengthen the messages we teach every day at school. 

As your child grows older, their responsibilities and independence grow too - but so does the expectation that they contribute positively to our school community. 

Thank you for supporting respectful relationships at school. Together, we’re helping our students develop the values and behaviours they’ll carry into high school and beyond.