Term 1 Week 2 - P-2 Newsletter

From the Principal - Mrs Walsh

Welcome to Eight Mile Plains State School 2025

We have had a great start to the year with all students settling into their new classes quickly and show they are ready for learning. Welcome to our new prep students. We are absolutely blown away with how ready our littlest people have turned up for school this year. We welcome some new staff to our school in 2025. Here are our 2025 classes:

Thank You for Supporting Our Before & After School Routines!

We would like to take a moment to thank you for your ongoing support and cooperation with our updated before and after school routines. Your efforts in following these procedures have made a significant impact on the safety and well-being of our students.

A reminder that students are welcome to wait Under A Block from 8:00 AM each morning. This designated area ensures that all children are supervised and in a safe environment before the school day begins.

Since implementing these new routines, we are pleased to report that we have had no injuries, no property damage, and teachers have noticed a positive difference in how settled students are when they arrive in class. This is a fantastic outcome, and we appreciate your role in making this possible!

We do understand that these changes may have added some extra time to your morning and afternoon commutes due to increased traffic in the car park. We sincerely appreciate your patience and consideration as we work together to prioritise student safety.

Once again, thank you for your support. Your cooperation makes a real difference in creating a positive and safe school environment for everyone.

Get Happier Project

This year a strong focus will be placed on teaching students self and social management skills. The Get Happier Project is a whole school approach to teaching emotional intelligence, resilience, self esteem and problem solving skills essential for their future success. During Weeks 1 & 2, teachers have introduced students to the program. In the lower year levels we learnt about the zones of regulation and how our engine is running. In the upper school students focused on what needs drive us each and everyday (love and belonging, power, freedom, fun and survival). Students will start to focus on the ‘open roads’ over the coming weeks which teach children relationship skills.

From the Deputy Principal - Mr Horridge

Welcome to 2025

Welcome to our new and returning families, it has been wonderful to see our students settle into a new year of learning with excitement and curiosity. What lies ahead of us all will be many experiences in which we all learn and grow from.

We hold high expectations that all our students will give their best and strive for excellence in everything they do. One great way to achieve this is to be a learning community that works together to support the learning and wellbeing of all students. So, please stop and say hello as I know we can make this school year one of possibilities, growth and achievement for all our students.

2025 School Leaders Badge Ceremony

On Monday 10 February we will acknowledge and congratulate this year’s student leaders by presenting their leadership badges in front of the whole school community.

All families are welcome to join us for this important occasion: 

Monday 10 February 8:45am Undercover / Stage area

Tiered School Supports

As a school we are continually discussing and reviewing our processes regarding our everyday practices to best support all students, academically and/or with self-management and regulation.

We utilise a tiered approach of support and intervention which guide our staff to provide the most appropriate supports, accessing evidence-based practices and resources, levelled where the students are at, needs based.

This tiered approach of supporting students means that interventions/supports are planned and proactive rather than reactive, including early identification of students at risk and with a strong focus on student outcomes.

Universal supports - Tier 1 'differentiated and explicit teaching for all students', are the critical foundations and are at the whole-school level and are provided to all students across academic and social apsects of learning.

Targeted Interventions - Tier 2 or 'focused' interventions support approximately 15% of students in a typical school who are not responding to Tier 1 and who have moderate, ongoing behaviours of concern (social, behavioural, and academic). Support is provided through additional Tier 2 or "targeted" level interventions.

Intensive Interventions - Tier 3 or 'intensive' interventions support approximately 5% of students who have not responded to Tier 1 and Tier 2 interventions. Students may require highly individualised interventions to support a tailored learning program.

Visit by Registered Nurse for Free Prep Vision Screening

Good vision is important for a child’s educational, physical and social development. Vision screening checks for common eye conditions that may impact your child’s ability to see and therefore impact their learning and development.

A Registered Nurse will be visiting the school on Thursday 27th March 2025 to commence vision screening for children in their prep year.

 If you wish to have your prep child participate in this FREE vision screening program, please complete a consent form - 

1. Online by 14^th February or
2. Paper by 6^th March - you will need to print from website yourself.

Participation in this free vision screening program is not compulsory. If you do not wish for your child to participate in screening, please complete the consent form and indicate that you wish to decline screening.

Parents do not need to be present for screening, however if you would like to be, please contact the school to arrange this.

If you have concerns about your child’s eyes at any time, please take your child to see an eye health professional (optometrist/ophthalmologist).  

For further information, please scan the below QR code to visit the Program website or contact the Primary School Nurse Health Readiness Program on 1800 687 372.

From Head of Cirriculum - Mrs Simpson

Welcome Back!

I would like to warmly welcome all of our new and returning families to Eight Mile Plains State School. I hope that you have had an enjoyable holiday break.

This week, when walking around the school, it was lovely to see students settled and engaging in learning experiences with renewed energy and enthusiasm. Teachers have been working with their class to establish shared and supportive learning spaces and develop clear instructional routines and boundaries to support successful learning throughout the year.

Classroom Connections Afternoon

At Eight Mile Plains, we believe in building collaborative partnerships with all members of the school community. Throughout the year, we offer opportunities for families to visit our school to connect, share and discuss their child’s educational journey.

On Tuesday afternoon, families and students were invited into classrooms to meet classroom teacher/s during our Classroom Connections afternoon.

It was encouraging to see many of our families attend and engage in conversations with staff here at EMPSS.

Classroom Curriculum Newsletter

This week, teachers will be sending out their Classroom Curriculum Newsletters to families, outlining the curriculum intent for the upcoming term. Please refer to this document regarding information about your child’s class, important dates and focused learning for each learning area throughout Term 1.

Each day, I would like to encourage you talk with your child about their learning and what they have enjoyed most about their day.

Prep A - Mrs Scharf

The students have settled into school routines very well and have been busy getting to know each other and creating new friendships. Thank you to all our families for preparing your children so well and making their transition into school so smooth.

Click below to read the Prep A Newsletter:

Click below to view photos from Day 1:

News from 1/2S and 1A - Mrs Stangherlin & Mrs Van Leer

1/2S and 1A

Welcome to all of our families. We have been very busy settling into our new classes and learning about the expectations of our classrooms. It was lovely to meet you all and we look forward to working together to support your child in their learning journey. We have begun specialist lessons. Please refer to the Curriculum Newsletter for the days each specialist lesson occurs. Library borrowing will be advised as soon as possible.

So far this term, students have begun learning about the ‘sh’ and ‘ch’ digraphs. Digraphs are two letters that make one sound. Please ask your child about their sounds and see if they can show you what they have learnt. Last week, we explored our quality worlds – the things/ideas/values that are important to us. We discussed inside the circle and outside the circle behaviours and boundaries.

As we begin to dive into the curriculum, routines will become important as we learn to be independent. In the mornings, students are to sit and wait under A Block for the bell, say goodbye to parents and then make their way down to the classrooms to begin at 8:30am. In the afternoons, students will be released from their classrooms to head up and meet parents under A Block, the school gate or the Stop, Drop and Go.

We have had a brilliant start to the year and look forward to continuing to grow together.



News from Mrs Nottage - 2A

News from Miss Koh - 2/3S

In the first few weeks of Term 1, Year 2/3 S class has been busy engaging in a variety of hands-on activities that have made learning both fun and interactive!

In Maths, students explored position, movement, and how to give clear directions, which helped them understand concepts of location and how to use a map. They also enjoyed working with partners to retell stories about friendship, strengthening their communication skills. Students took part in word searches, wrote letters to their teacher, and explored narrative stories that focused on friendship.

The class loved working in pairs and small groups, making learning an enjoyable and collaborative experience. It’s been a great start to the term!

2025 Uniform Shop Hours

The uniform shop hours have now returned to normal trading. 

Hours are every Thursday from 8am - 9am for all of your school uniform needs.

News from The P&C

Calling All Parent Helpers!

Join Our Tuckshop Team in 2025!

The Tuckshop, open every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, is run by the wonderful Ms. Vicki.

Ms Vicki crafts delicious, healthy meals and fun snacks for our students and teachers.

How Can You Help? 

We need volunteers for 45-60 minutes from 8:45am on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday's to:

• Prepare food order bags
• Attach preprinted orders to the bags
• Add ice cream collection cards
• Place cutlery, sauces, or fruit into the bags

Your support makes a big difference!

Join us in creating a fantastic Tuckshop experience for everyone. 

Are you ready to lend a hand?

Contact Ms Vicki via email tuckshopempss@gmail.com or pop over for a chat after 8:30am on a Wednesday Thursday, and Friday.Please note: Tuckshop orders will only be accepted via the FlexiSchools App or via the lunch bags on the day at the school.

News from Chappy Sonia

Chappy News:

Welcome to all our families, especially our new prep families. My name is Sonia Lowe and I have the privilege of working here at EMPSS as your school chaplain. Chaplaincy is a part of the student support service team at our school, including the Guidance Officer and Psychologist. School chaplains in Australia provide social, emotional, and pastoral support to school communities. They contribute to the overall wellbeing strategies and educational goals of our schools. “Chappies”, as we are often called, are in the prevention and support business, helping students find a better way to deal with issues ranging from family breakdowns and loneliness to friendships and mental health.

At EMPSS, the chaplaincy service is available and accessible to all students, staff and families. I don’t provide case management or counselling but complement the other school support services by providing pastoral care support.

At lunchtime, I am about the playground just saying hello and being a safe and friendly person. I often bring out my set of balls for the students to play with, card games, skipping and “Calm Colouring” sessions as an alternative in the playground. I also enjoy catching up with parents and caregivers before and after school to catch up with how everyone is doing.

Chaplaincy also runs the “Breakfast Club on Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 8am to 8:30am. It is coordinated and run by myself, with the help of volunteers, to serve toast and fruit to all students before school starts.

It can only run effectively when we have volunteers to help prepare and serve the food. As yet we don’t have many helpers on the Thursday.

Because we start preparing from 7:30, it might fit in with parents/caregivers who are dropping off their children and can stay to help and be finished by 8:30 when the children go into class.

If you would be available and can help on one of those days or both (even just once a fortnight or month), please email Chappy Sonia at sonia.lowe@suchaplaincy.org.au or leave a message at the office.

It’s a lovely opportunity to be a part of the school community and provide the students have a necessary service that the children, and staff really enjoy

We are also needing donations of jars of Vegemite, Cole/Woolies brand Strawberry Jam and the squeeze containers of Honey (which are much easier to use). These donations can be dropped off at Chappy Sonia’s room, or at the office.

Much thanks, Chappy Sonia