21 March 2025

From Taylor Haley, Principal

I hope this message finds you safe and well in the aftermath of our recent cyclone. The past 2 weeks have been challenging for many of us, with disruptions to homes, roads, and our beloved school. I want to take a moment to acknowledge the immense challenges our school community has faced in the aftermath. The damage to our school meant we could only safely open for supervision, and I understand how frustrating this has been for many parents and caregivers. The disruption to routines, the difficulty of balancing work and home responsibilities, and the uncertainty of when full learning would resume has placed extra pressure on families. Please know that we share in that frustration. Our team and many others have been working tirelessly to assess, and then repair the damage so that we could reopen fully as soon as it was safe to do so. However, given the extent of the impact, this process took longer than any of us would have hoped. The work that took place over this last 2 weeks, easily cost upwards of $500,000.

We truly appreciate your patience and support during this time. I also want to recognise our dedicated staff, who have adapted quickly to ensure children feel safe and supported while at school, even in a limited capacity.

We recognise that some families may still be facing hardships, and we encourage anyone in need of support to reach out. Whether it's assistance with school supplies, or emotional well-being, we are here to help.

As we move forward, let’s continue to support one another with kindness and patience.

The Risks of Unofficial Parent Chat Groups

In today’s digital world, communication between parents has never been easier. Many of you are part of social media groups or messaging chats that allow quick and convenient discussions about school matters. While these platforms can be helpful, I want to take a moment to highlight some potential risks associated with unofficial parent chat groups that are not supported by Education Queensland.

One of the biggest concerns is misinformation. Without direct oversight from the school, information shared in these groups can often be incorrect or misleading, creating unnecessary confusion or concern. Important updates about school policies, events, and student well-being should always come from official school communication channels, such as emails, newsletters, and our school website.

Another issue is privacy and confidentiality. Discussions in unofficial chat groups may sometimes include sensitive topics, personal details about students or staff, or grievances that should be handled directly with the school. Sharing such information in public or semi-public forums can violate privacy laws and cause distress for those involved.

Additionally, conflict and misunderstanding can arise in online discussions. Without face-to-face interaction, messages can sometimes be misinterpreted, leading to unnecessary tension among parents, and even impacting the school community’s sense of unity and support.

We encourage all parents to rely on official communication channels for accurate and up-to-date information. If you ever have concerns or need clarification on school matters, I urge you to reach out directly to the school office or your child’s teacher.

Let’s work together to ensure that our school community remains a safe, respectful, and well-informed environment for everyone.

Thank you for your support.

World’s Greatest Shave

We're excited to share some wonderful news from the heart of our school community. This year, Surfers Paradise State School is proudly participating in the Leukaemia Foundation's World's Greatest Shave, a remarkable initiative that unites communities nationwide for people facing blood cancer.

What is the World's Greatest Shave?

The World's Greatest Shave is an annual event organised by the Leukaemia Foundation, aimed at raising funds to support families facing life with blood cancer. This year, our school is getting behind this incredible cause, and we invite each and every one of you to be part of this meaningful journey on Monday 31 March 2025.

How Can You Get Involved?

Sponsor our team: Our dedicated students, teachers and staff are ready to make a bold statement by shaving, cutting or colouring their hair, all in the spirit of solidarity. You can show your support by sponsoring them. Find our school team and contribute online at https://www.worldsgreatestshave.com/st/1223/13156 . We’re aiming to raise as much as possible.

Why Join the Cause?

Participating in the World's Greatest Shave is more than just a fundraiser; it's a chance for us to come together as a community, teach our children the value of empathy and solidarity, and make a real impact in the lives of those affected by blood cancer.

Let's Spread the Word!

We encourage you to share this exciting news with family and friends, and let's make the World's Greatest Shave a resounding success at Surfers Paradise State School. Together, we can contribute to the vital research, support services, and care provided by the Leukaemia Foundation.

Thank you for being a part of this meaningful journey. Let's show the world the strength and compassion of our school community!

Physical Altercations in Our School

I want to take a moment to address a concerning issue that has recently come to our attention—an increase in physical altercations among students. As a school, we take the safety and well-being of our students very seriously, and we are committed to fostering a respectful and inclusive environment for all.

Our school has a clear Student Code of Conduct, which outlines our expectations regarding behaviour, respect, and conflict resolution. When incidents occur, we will respond accordingly, ensuring that appropriate actions and consequences are in place. Our goal is not only to address behaviours but also to support students in making positive choices and developing healthy ways to resolve conflicts.

We encourage parents to have open conversations with their children about the importance of respect, self-control, and seeking help when needed. If you have any concerns or would like to discuss strategies to support your child, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Together, we can work towards maintaining a safe and supportive school environment where every student feels valued and secure.

Gold Coast Suns AFL

This week we had planned a special visit from our local Cold Coast Sun players, but unfortunately due to the rain Thursday morning, we had to cancel. However, they have been very generous with the below offer.

The Gold Coast SUNS would like to extend a gesture of goodwill to the school community who have experienced significant stress and upheaval.  We would like to invite all Surfers Paradise SS staff, students and their families to have a day out on us and experience the fun of a SUNS home game.

The offer is for families to redeem up to FOUR free tickets per family, to our game at People First Stadium on Saturday 5^th April. Gates open at 10.30am.  Please click the link below:

https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/Show.aspx?sh=SUNS0425&ep=R4SURFPAR52

Kind regards, Taylor Haley

Please note the following steps to redeem tickets:

1. Click the BOOK NOW button on the PDF Flyer or the link
2. Click FIND TICKETS
3. Select “Find Best Available”, not “Choose Your Own”
4. Select up to 4 Tickets from the “Choose your Tickets” menu item titled GC SUNS Sampling Program
5. Click Next
6. This will be a summary of your order
7. Click Go to Checkout

The rest of the steps then guide you through signing into Ticketek to complete your order.

Calendar

This calendar is for reference only and is subject to change. Please check with your child’s class newsletter for any changes to times and dates. If you are unsure, please contact your child’s teacher or the school office during business hours.

P&C annual general meeting

The P&C AGM will be held next week on Monday 24/3/2025 at 1.30pm in our school library. Everyone is welcome to attend.

If you are interested in a position on the executive, please email pandc@surfersparadisess.eq.edu.au or visit our school office.

Prep Puppet Show incursion

Year 6 Camp update

New dates, Wednesday 11 June 2025 and returning on Friday 13 June 2025 at approximately 2.30pm.

Car Parking

Please ensure cars are not parked in the bus zones on St Andrews Avenue. This morning our three morning school buses arrived at the same time and could not park in the allocated areas. This caused the buses to block St Andrews Avenue and traffic could not flow through the street.

Easter Bonnet Parade - Prep to Year 2

On Friday 4/4/2025 our students in Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 will participate in our Easter celebration on the school oval.  Parents and carers are welcome to attend.  Students will wear the Easter bonnets they have made at school and will sing for our audience.

Year 6 Parliament House excursion

On behalf of year 6, I can say that the Parliament House trip was a blast.

We started our trip. We have been learning about the 3 levels of parliament and what is a democracy.

After learning about democracy, we made our way over to the old Parliament House. We were told by our tour guide that there is 26 floors, which blew my mind!

We got to role play what parliament was like when it was in session, in the upper house, which is out of use. We discussed the topic of whether sport was better than online gaming. It was fun experiencing the set out and how parliament actually worked. My favourite part of the role play was saying ““hear, hear” when we agreed with the person and “no” when we didn’t.

We then were informed by our lovely tour guide that we would be able to watch actual parliament in session as the parliament was sitting, which to this day, I still can’t fathom!  A bunch of school kids watching real parliament! As we made our way to the chamber where we were told about a million times to be silent. Watching parliament was mind braking, the person speaking had 3 minutes to speak and after their time they were able to nominate someone else to speak. Being a politician is ruthless!  If you say one wrong thing and everyone disagrees with you, and yells ‘no’ or ‘come on speaker’. On the speaker, he is very focused on keeping parliament from getting too out of hand.

After we finished, we went to the Botanical Gardens for lunch and the landscape was breathtaking. The grass was well maintained and the plants were beautiful. After some lunch and a play, we were off back to school.

By Duke C 6S

Clean Up Australia Day

Thank you so much to all staff and students who supported our clean up on Friday 28 February 2025!

Our teachers promoted the clean up day and spoke to students regarding the correct use of our Pink recycling bins.

From Mrs Carroll and the Environmental Club

Free positive parenting strategies for families of children with disability

If you are a parent or carer of a child with disability, you want to support them to get the most out of everyday life, like daily routines, socialising with others and building independence.  We would like to highlight that there’s now FREE online support available so that you can help them with the key life skills they need and build your confidence, too.

Stepping Stones Triple P Online provides a toolkit of practical, proven strategies that you can use straight away and adjust to your family’s needs. Developed by the world-acclaimed Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, it can make life less stressful, to help the whole family adapt and enjoy life more. Do it online, anytime, plus it’s free!  Learn more at www.triplep-parenting.net.au

The Smith Family Saver Plus

What is Saver Plus?

Saver Plus is a program for people on lower incomes. It’s about bolstering financial skills and developing good savings habits.  Since 2003, Saver Plus has supported more than 62,000 people to start saving.  It’s helped overcome barriers around education expenses.

What are the eligible savings goals?

Eligible savings goals are education related products or services that assist a primary or secondary school student’s education

Keebra Park State High School

Are you considering Keebra Park for your child’s education? We warmly invite you to join us for a Principal’s Tour to experience firsthand our engaging learning environment, meet our dedicated staff, and discover what makes our school a great place for students to thrive.

Tour Highlights:

• Guided tour led by our principal
• Learn about our academic programs & extracurricular activities
• Meet our passionate teachers and staff
• Ask questions and get personalised insights

Date: Friday 28^th March 2025
Time: 7:45am – 8:15am
Location: Keebra Park Activity Centre (56 Anne Street, Southport) enter via gate B.

Please see map attached.

RSVP Today - secure your spot - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/C7FD8JV

Community Notice Board

The school is happy to advertise some local events and business ventures. However, we do not necessarily endorse them to you.  It is the responsibility of individual parents/caregivers to ensure that they themselves are satisfied with all services offered before they involve their children.