Kruger State School eNewsletter

From the Principal – Maja Bogicevic

‘Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.’

Richard Steele

Reading Is Everywhere is a phrase we use with our students at Monday morning’s assemblies to remind them to use every opportunity to read at school, at home or anywhere where the opportunity presents itself. The more they read, the better they will become at it over time. Thank you for supporting your child with their reading at home.

Our teachers are implementing research-based and evidence-supported approaches to teaching of reading, and we constantly upskill ourselves to ensure we understand the pedagogy and assessment techniques we need to use to better help our students become proficient readers.

We have great readers at Kruger State School, and they have keenly joined the Premier’s Reading Challenge this year. Some of our students have already completed the challenge! We have proudly displayed their photos on the LED sign outside our school and look forward to more smiling faces celebrating the joy of reading.

Thank you to all the parents and carers who were able to attend last week’s Parent-Teacher interviews and support their child’s learning in this way. We are working hard to teach our students to reflect on their learning and set goals for the future.

Our Community Hub leader, Mrs Kym Alexander, has started a Homework Club for Parents to assist any parent with ways in which they can support their children with homework. You can read more about this great initiative and contact Community Hub directly if you need more information.

We were very lucky this week to have Deborah Lovely-Acason, a weightlifter Olympian who won a Commonwealth Games Gold Medal, visit our school and give a presentation to our students and staff about her journey to success as a professional athlete. Students really enjoyed the presentation and asked for autographs afterwards. It was a wonderful Monday morning, and we would like to thank Deborah for inspiring our students to do their best at all times and dream of achieving great things.

I am pleased to inform you that the Middle Amenities building is nearing completion, and we are on track to open the building before the end of term. Once this project is completed, we will focus on refurbishing the FlexiSpace and Tuckshop. We are adding an outdoor learning area to the FlexiSpace and the Tuckshop is getting a full upgrade, including new equipment. I would like to thank the P&C President and Tuckshop workers for their input and collaboration in designing the Tuckshop. It is great to have such wonderful community support when we work on these projects.

If you get to enjoy a day off for the Ipswich Show Day on Friday 16 May, I hope it’s a great long weekend for you and your family. We look forward to welcoming your child back to school on Monday and continue our learning journey.

Your child’s learning is our priority. Thank you for being our partners in education.

Contact Email: mbogi4@eq.edu.au

What's Coming Up at Kruger!

Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning - Elena Finlay

Thank You to Our Teachers for Their Dedication

A big thank you to our teachers for their dedication during the Parent-Teacher Interviews on Wednesday of Week 3. They worked hard to provide valuable insights and support to parents and carers, ensuring productive and meaningful conversations about each child’s progress.
Here are just some photos of our teachers preparing for the evening. We appreciate their ongoing commitment to our students' growth and success.

If you missed the opportunity to meet with your child's teacher during the Parent-Teacher Interview session, please don't hesitate to reach out to arrange a time to connect.

Contact Email: efinl9@eq.edu.au

Over the past three weeks, our Prep students have been reviewing the sounds and letter formation for the following letters: s, a, t, p, i, n. At the end of Week 3, it was wonderful to see how confidently the Preps used their sounding out and blending skills to read words made up of these letters. Students placed their finger under the first letter, said each sound, and blended the sounds together to read the word — a fantastic achievement! Below are just some photos of our Prep students proudly demonstrating their reading skills.

It’s amazing to reflect on how far they have come in just 13 weeks. A big thank you to the dedicated Prep staff, who have been working diligently to teach the foundational literacy skills that are critical for reading success.

If you have any questions about your child's reading development or the activities being sent home to consolidate these skills, please don’t hesitate to contact your child's teacher.

This week, students have been reviewing the sounds and letter formation for the following letters: m, r, h, e, d, c.

Please continue to practise the sounds and letter formation at home with your child.

Through these early efforts, we are laying the essential groundwork for a lifetime of literacy, learning, and limitless potential!

Prep Reading in Action!

Left to Right: Hamdan (Prep B), Luna (Prep B), Alexander (Prep B), Salama (Prep B), Bernadette (Prep B), Dorcas (Prep C)

National Simultaneous Storytime at Kruger

On Wednesday of Week 5 at 12:00pm, we will be celebrating National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS).

NSS is a special event where children across Australia all stop at the same time to read or listen to the same story.

This year’s text for NSS is The Truck Cat by Deborah Frenkel and Danny Snell.

The story follows the journey of a cat who finds a new life on the road, highlighting themes of friendship, belonging, and adventure.

At Kruger, we are proud to support our diverse community by recording the story in English and a range of other languages, so that students who speak languages other than English can enjoy and connect with the story in their own language.

Providing the story in multiple languages helps all students feel included and valued, strengthens their understanding of the story, and supports the development of literacy skills in both their home language and English. It also promotes cultural pride and builds a stronger sense of belonging within our school community.

We are excited for our students to be part of this national event that celebrates the joy of reading and brings communities together through storytelling.

Premier’s Reading Challenge Off to a Flying Start!

The Premier’s Reading Challenge has only just begun, and already two of our students have completed their first record sheets! Congratulations to Carter (4D) and David S (1C) (David pictured below).

While the Challenge requires only one sheet to be completed, at Kruger we always strive for the stars. We believe that strong readers today are tomorrow’s leaders, and we are proud to see so many students embracing this opportunity.

It has been wonderful to see students visiting the library during First Break to read and add to their Premier’s Reading Challenge records — their enthusiasm is inspiring!

As students complete their Premier’s Reading Challenge Record Sheets, their photos will be proudly displayed on the Celebration Photo Wall in the Main Office and Student Services areas.

If you would like your child to have a Premier’s Reading Challenge Record Sheet at home to track their reading, please contact the Office.

If your child completes the Premier’s Reading Challenge through home reading, please let Mrs Finlay (Deputy Principal – Teaching and Learning) know by emailing efinl9@eq.edu.au.

Let’s continue to encourage all our Kruger students to aim high and go above and beyond in this exciting challenge!

A big well done to the students who visited the library during First Break in Week 4 (please see photos below) to work on the Premier's Reading Challenge. Great job, students!

Thank you also to Nate in Year 6 for generously giving his time to help others with their reading, and a big thank you to Parker (2A) for his wonderful assistance in helping students borrow books.

Left to Right: Daniel (3A), Kalaini (1A), Shaquille (1B), Benjamin (1A), Faida (4C), Regina (1B) and Nate (6A), Parker (2A) and Elijah (PB)

Acting Deputy Principal and Head of Special Education Services - Regina Birchley

Welcome to Week 4!

It is hard to believe it almost mid-term! Recently, we were fortunate to have our Advisory Visiting Teacher (Deaf / Hard of Hearing) Tyler Bartlett, visit the school. Kruger State School has large number of students and Tyler’s support, along with our Hearing Pathways Team provide valuable support to our students. Conductive hearing loss is a common factor for hearing loss in young children. This is caused when sound waves are blocked from reaching the inner ear, or cochlear due to problems in the outer or middle ear. Doing breathe, blow and cough exercises can help keep your child’s ears healthy. The link below provides information on the Breathe, Blow and Cough, technique provided by the Queensland Government. As always, please follow your doctor’s advice if you suspect any issue with your child’s hearing.

This term, Prep students received have received a hearing and vision screening. A big thank you to the Hear and Say Centre, and Queensland Health for running these sessions at Kruger State School.

https://cdn.townsville.health.qld.gov.au/tgh/listingforms/page265/hearing_health_breath_blow_and_cough-2023.pdf

Finally, please remember to let the office staff know if there is a change in your child’s medication or medical details.

Contact Email: rbirc14@eq.edu.au.

Head of Department Student Engagement - Mathilda Holt

Student Engagement at Kruger State School

At Kruger State School, student engagement means more than just participating in class — it’s about connecting with learning in different ways. We support our students to engage:

Cognitively – We are Learners
Socially – We are Honest
Emotionally – We are Respectful
Behaviourally – We are Safe

This week, the Student Engagement team has been working closely with students to explore the concept of defiance — what it is and how it affects learning. Some students may find it challenging to listen to or follow instructions, and we are supporting them to develop strategies for responding in a respectful and positive way.

Over the coming weeks, we will continue this important work, helping students understand what it means to respond respectfully and build positive behaviours that support their learning and success at school.

Contact Email: mxhol8@eq.edu.au.

Guidance Officer - Allen Weynberg

May is Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month for 2025

It is a community-wide initiative to:

raise awareness of domestic, family and sexual violence (including coercive control, which becomes a criminal offence in Queensland on 26 May of this month)
highlight the pathways to support and safety
send a clear message that violence in our communities will not be tolerated
call upon Queensland communities, government and corporate entities, and the DFSV sector to take action to end violence against women and their children.

Domestic_and_Family_Violence_Prevention.pdf

Business Manager - Melissa Henderson

Thank you for taking the time to read the key messages below and keeping informed.

KEY MESSAGES FOR FAMILIES

Facilities Updates

Fire Ants

Fire ants are on the move with new nests being treated as they are found.
For safety reasons, the ovals are being closed while the nests are treated.

Middle Amenities Project Update

The revised practical completion date is 27 May 2025.

Other Reminders

Lost Property

Please label all school items, clothing, hats, shoes, lunch boxes etc but particularly jumpers so they can be easily returned to your child’s class. The lost property is at the tuckshop and the pile is overflowing.

Have you changed your contact details?

Please remember to let the Office know if your contact details change.

It is also important for the school to have current details for nominated emergency contacts.

Student Services Office is located at Block 2

Reminder, for all student matters including late slips, picking up students early from school etc please proceed to the Student Services Office located at Block 2. Follow the green painted line on the concrete from Admin.

The Office in the Admin Building continues to be staffed for all non-student enquiries.

Please see below for services offered at each location.

Contact Email: admin@krugerss.eq.edu.au

Teaching and Learning

Prep

The Prep Classes had a wonderful morning with their Mums, Aunts, Nans and other special people on Friday 9 May to celebrate Mother’s Day. The Mums were treated with hand massages, painting nails, decorating biscuits and making crowns followed by a lovely picnic in the Prep play area. We also had some special reading times with our Mums.

Our Preps are showing great learning as they start to read and write words. As part of their English topic, the children have been learning about chickens and information texts. The Preps have also been learning how to label the different body parts, combining science and English.

Our Preps are showing great learning as they start to read and write words. As part of their English topic, the children have been learning about chickens and information texts. The Preps have also been learning how to label the different body parts, combining science and English.

Year 1

Every morning, 1D class begins the day with a strong and focused start by completing a “Do Now” activity. This quick, pencil-to-paper task sets a calm and purposeful tone in the classroom, helping students shift into a learning mindset as soon as they walk in. It also provides a valuable opportunity for the teacher to check in with students individually, offering support and encouragement where needed. The “Do Now” is a great example of positive behaviour for learning in action—and a fantastic way to begin each day in 1D!

Year 2

2A engaged in shared reading about Mars where students find important factual information to write into an information report.

Year 3

In the Year 3 classroom, each class invited guest speakers to share their culture with us. Myra shared her languages from Subira, Mr. T thoughtfully spoke about the Samoan food he enjoyed back home, and Miss Chen raised cultural awareness by sharing about Chinese traditions. Students felt proud of their identities.

We are now gradually putting our ideas into writing. We have learned the structure of information texts and are currently working on writing each paragraph from different perspectives. We can't wait to share our final products with Kruger. Stay tuned!

Year 4

Our Year 4 students have excitedly begun the Premier’s Reading Challenge and are showing great enthusiasm and motivation to read a wide variety of books. It’s wonderful to see their growing love for reading! We encourage parents and carers to support this initiative at home by making time for regular reading and discussing the books your child is enjoying. If you need an additional reading record sheet, these can be collected from the school office.

Year 5

This week, Year 5 has been learning about bushfires and how they start. We explored the 2020 South Australian bushfires and investigated how they impacted the environment, local communities, and the economy.

Year 6

Year Six are working hard to complete their first Maths assessment task. We have been solving problems involving prime, composite and square numbers and finding unknown values using brackets and the order of operations.

In Science, we are continuing to conduct investigations about reversible and irreversible changes.

In English and HASS students are busy researching activists and their contribution to society. We are starting to look at writing our biographies on our chosen activists.

Please ensure that your child has submitted their camp form to the office and that payment is made by dates specified on the letter.

HPE - Orhan Memedovski and Lachlan Bowser

Deborah Lovely-Acason – Champion Weightlifter and Inspirational Speaker

On Monday, students were privileged to hear from Deborah Lovely-Acason, Australia’s most accomplished female weightlifters. Deborah shared her powerful story of perseverance, self-belief, and the importance of doing your best—a motto inspired by her parents.

Throughout her journey, Deborah was surrounded by both encouragers and doubters. Coaches believed in her, and her parents and teachers always reinforced the idea that if she trained hard and stayed focused, she could achieve anything. Her mother, in particular, urged her to never give up and to keep training even when others said she couldn’t succeed.

Deborah highlighted the importance of training hard, eating and sleeping well—the foundations of her success in becoming the most decorated female weightlifter in Australian history. She emphasised the value of listening to the right voices, especially those who support and uplift you, like her coach did.

Her message to students was clear and inspiring: “Do your best. You never know what you’re capable of until you try.” She encouraged everyone to trust themselves, block out negativity, and unleash their potential.

To finish, students were asked to reflect on their goals and were challenged with the question: “How will you unleash?”

Champion Spirit: Deborah Lovely-Acason Lifts and Inspires - written by Castiel Johnson 6B - Gold House Captain

This week on Parade a special guest came to Kruger State School. An Olympian and weightlifting champion, Mrs Deborah Lovely-Acason. She showed us and talked about her weightlifting achievements, like when she won the gold medal in the Commonwealth Games by lifting weights. She spoke about her early life and how she used to compete in shot put at the Goodna Little Athletics. An old coach of hers said that she was would not succeed in weightlifting because she was too small. Har mum encouraged her to ‘Do your best’, which is the mantra she goes by now. After the parade when she was walking lots of students gathered around her and asked for her autograph.

Thank You to Our P&C – A Wonderful Mother's Day Stall!

A big thank you to our P&C for organising and running their first-ever Mother's Day Stall. It was a huge success, with students excited to choose special gifts.

We appreciate the hard work, time, and care that went into making the event so special for our students. Below are just some of the lovely items that were available at the stall.

Building on the success of this event, the P&C is already busy planning a Father's Day Stall for September. We look forward to seeing what they have in store!