Dear Queenscliff Parents and Carers,
Parent Information Evening
It was wonderful to see so many parents and carers join us on Tuesday 11 February for the Parent Information Evening. It was a brilliant opportunity for parents/carers to connect with each other and their child’s teacher as the year commences. We are grateful to the families who were able to attend. A special thank you to all of the teachers who presented such informative presentations at the event. The slides from the presentations have been posted by your child’s teacher onto Compass. I encourage parents/carers who were unable to attend the evening to review the presentation slides to gain a deeper understanding of your child’s class timetable, organisation and school-wide operations.
Parent Teacher Meet and Greets
Parent Teacher Meet and Greets are scheduled for Week 4 on Monday 17 February and Tuesday 18 February for students in Year 1 to Year 6. Meet and Greet Interviews with specialist teachers (Mrs. Hannah Petrie, Mrs. Melissa Fitzgerald and Mrs. Kelly Caldwell) will be held on Tuesday 18 February.
This is an opportunity for parents to meet with their child’s teacher and to provide important information about their son or daughter, including their strengths, interests, challenges and goals for 2025.
Parent Teacher Meet and Greets for Prep with Mrs. Jackie Morris will be held on Monday 24 February and Wednesday 26 February. Parents will be able to book an interview with Science teacher, Mrs. Melanie Vistarini on Wednesday 26 February.
School Committees
This year we are seeking parents/carers to be actively involved in our school community to fundraise and improve school grounds and gardens.
We have the following committees in 2025:
Grounds and Gardens Committee
QPS Community Engagement and Fundraising Committee
Queenscliff Market Committee
The Grounds and Gardens Committee meet twice a term to discuss plans and projects to improve the school grounds. In 2025, our focus will be on constructing a nature play space and refurbishing the hardcourt basketball area. The committee are involved in sourcing contractors, creating plans for refurbishment and organising community working bees.
The QPS Community Engagement Fundraising Committee will work together to create a plan for hosting termly school community events to increase parent engagement and support the planning and development of fundraising for the school to improve learning resources, equipment and technology.
The Queenscliff Market is a significant fundraiser for our school. Annually, the Queenscliff Market can fundraise up to $20,000 for our school. In the past, the Queenscliff Market has primarily been coordinated by one parent volunteer, Lisa Golightly. However, 2025 is her final year of being a parent in our school community. As a result, it is time for the ‘baton to be passed on’ as they say. We are seeking to create a committee made up of parent volunteers to support the organisation, communication and preparation involved in the Queenscliff Market, which is a pivotal fundraiser for our school. The roles of committee members will be streamlined so that they are not momentous or significant. Rather, we take the approach of ‘many hands, make light work’.
If you are interested in being part of one of the above committees, please register your interest by completing the form below, including your name, contact details and the committee with which you would like to be involved in.
QPS Committee Volunteer Registration
Enrichment - Maths Olympiad
In 2025, our school will be participating in the Maths Olympiad competition coordinated The Australasian Problem Solving Mathematical Olympiads (APSMO). The program will involve selected students from Year 4-6 who demonstrate high ability and achievement in Mathematics. Students selected in the program will participate in weekly one hour lessons focused on problem solving from Week 6. Families of students selected in the program will be provided with information about Maths Olympiad in the coming weeks. Students in the program will have an opportunity to compete against other students and schools from across Australia and other neighbouring countries.
Parent Workshop - Anxiety, School Refusal and Resilience
Later this term, we will be hosting a Parent Workshop with Lisa Taylor from Strengthening Families Australia focused on anxiety, school refusal and resilience building. Lisa has professional expertise as a family therapist and parenting coach. We encourage all parents/families to look out for the date when the workshop will be hosted at QPS. She is an excellent practitioner with a wealth of experience and knowledge. Lisa will be able to provide effective strategies, advice and understanding to families and their parenting journey. Families can learn more about Lisa’s experience and knowledge by visiting her website at Home - Strengthening Families Australia.
School Council Nominations 2025
From Monday 17 February 2025, nominations for Parent Members to join our School Council will open. Parents can collect nomination forms from our School Office. Parents may wish to self-nominate themselves for the position or have another member of our community nominate them for the position. Nominations will close on Monday 3 March 2025. All signed nomination forms are to be returned to the School Office or emailed to queenscliff.ps@education.vic.gov.au by the closing date to be considered.
Depending on the number of nominations, a ballot will be formed for the community to vote for our parent members to join the School Council. Ballots forms can be collected from the School Office and forms will be emailed to all families. All completed ballot forms must be submitted in person at the School Office or sent via post. The Ballot process will open on Wednesday 5 March 2025 and close on Wednesday 19 March 2025.
If you require any further information on the School Council nominations and ballot process, please contact our School Office or connect with one of our current School Council members.
Safety - Pick Up and Drop Off Procedures
Parents and carers are responsible for the care and supervision of students travelling to and from school.
Families collecting their children from school are encouraged to arrange a meeting spot with their child on school grounds, to reduce the number of students leaving school grounds and having to cross Stevens and Stokes Streets unsupervised without a parent or carer. Parents are welcome to meet outside their child’s classroom at 3pm or arrange another meeting spot on the school grounds.
Students and families are encouraged to use the supervised children’s crossing that is located at the front of the school on Stevens Street when crossing the road, rather than exiting the school using the school gates on Stokes Street, unless they are riding their bike home to access the Bellarine Rail Trail.
When dropping off your child at school, parents/carers are encouraged to park their car in a suitable parking zone (not near the children’s crossing) and walk their child along the footpaths and/or supervise road crossings until they arrive onto school grounds.
The above practices aim to ensure that students arrive and depart from school safely under the supervision and guidance of parents/carers. Thank you for your understanding and support to ensure safety is maintained for all students, parents and community members.
Huff and Puff
Our Huff and Puff program commenced last week with students participating in different physical activity games including Rob the Nest, Skipping and Fruit Salad. We encourage students to arrive at school at 8:25am for an 8:30am start. Huff and Puff is an opportunity for students to get active and participate in fun and inclusive physical games and activities in the morning until 8:50am. Huff and Puff will run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and coordinated by school staff.Currently, we only have up to 15 students out of 170 participating in the program each day. Due to the small number of students attending the program, our school will need to reassess the viability of delivering the program each morning. In order for the program to be viable for the school with regards to staffing, we encourage students and families to get involved and participate each day.
Parent Class Representatives
Thank you to the parents/carers who have nominated to be Class Representatives for their child’s class in 2025. We have the following class representatives:
- Prep: Brooke Burgess and Kiara Atkinson
- Year 1: Alex Wyatt
- 3/4R: Kelly Clifford
- 5/6C: Tsari Thapa
- 5/6H: Lisa Golightly and Elisa Brent
We are seeking 2 Class Representatives from the following classes:
- Year 2
- 3/4T
- 5/6T
We seeking an additional Class Representative for the following classes:
- Year 1
- 3/4R
- 5/6C
Please email your child’s teacher or queenscliff.ps@education.vic.gov.au to register your interest in becoming a class representative for 2025.
Class Representatives will meet with the School Leadership Team termly and facilitate communication in organising class/grade level events outside of school hours. Class Representatives will also assist in organising parent volunteers for school events, functions and fundraisers. Parents and carers who are interested in being a Class Representative for their child’s class are to email their child’s teacher directly or register their interest at the Parent Information Evening held on Tuesday 11 February.
Congratulations - District Swimming
Congratulations to the following students who have qualified for the District Swimming event held at Kardinia Park on Tuesday 11 March 2025. Students had to achieve qualifying times to be eligible to compete at the event, and we are extremely proud of their persistence, dedication to training and overall achievement. Congratulations!
- Sadie M - U9/10 Girls Freestyle, U9/10 Girls Breaststroke
- Lou F - U9/10 Girls Freestyle
- Jude S - U9/10 Boys Breaststroke
- Charlie H - U11 Boys Breaststroke
Assembly
Our first school assembly for 2025 will be held on Friday 21 February. We will have Year 2, 5/6C and 3/4T showcasing their learning at the assembly and we will have our new School Leaders hosting for the first time. We encourage all parents, friends and community members to come along to join us for this occasion. Assembly will commence at 9am on the hardcourt area outside the main building.
School Council
Our first School Council meeting for 2025 will be held on Monday 3 March 2025. I am excited to meet with our School Council and to commence working together to achieve our school’s goals for this year. Our School Council’s AGM will be held on Monday 24 March 2025, whereby our new members to School Council will be announced following the nomination and ballot process.
Nyatne baa Gobata
(Thank you and take care)
Mat McRae
Principal
