2025 Newsletter Term 3 Week 2

From the Principal – Darren Russell

Welcome back to all of our Kruger families for what promises to be an exciting term ahead! My name is Darren Russell and I am filling in for Mrs Bogicevic while she enjoys a well earnt holiday this term. It is a privilege to lead Kruger SS and I would like to thank our students, staff and families for providing me with such a warm welcome.

Since commencing, I have been impressed by the wide range of programs and strategies that staff use to support our students engage with their learning. My focus is to support our staff to do their jobs well and to ‘value add’ to our current work. I’m excited with the opportunities that we have in this space as our staff are so motivated and passionate to maximise learning outcomes for our students.   

100 Days of Prep Celebration

Congratulations to our Prep staff, students and families who did a fantastic job with celebrating the first 100 days of learning of our Prep students last Friday. There was much thought and creativity put into costumes as our students and staff embraced the ‘100’ theme and transformed themselves into looking 100 years old! It was great to see so many parents come along and join in the fun with the range of activities that kept our students highly engaged.

Attendance

To support the academic growth of our students, our focus this term is on ‘attendance’, ensuring that students are coming to school each and every day. The school is re-introducing the weekly ‘attendance competition’ and awards will be presented at our weekly parades. We will also be making contact with those students who aren’t meeting current attendance expectations as we work with supporting families to ensure that our students are coming to school.

Kruger’s Got Sparkle

To enhance a sense of school pride through respecting our school environment, ‘Kruger’s Got Sparkle’ is back! This program has a focus on keeping our school environment clean and tidy and after speaking to students at Monday’s parades, we are already noticing a positive difference around the school. Keep up the great work students!  

Containers for Change

To support this focus with respecting our environment, our P&C have organised our school’s participation in the ‘Containers for Change’ Program. Our recycling bins have arrived and students have been busy filling them up with the various containers that can be collected. We look forward to our collaborative work with the P&C with supporting our students.

School Opinion Surveys

It is that time of year when schools seek feedback from their students, staff and families about their school via the School Opinion Survey. Survey invitations have been emailed to parents with one email invitation sent to each school family. Can’t find your invitation? If your family has more than one parent/caregiver, check that they haven’t received the invitation and/or check your junk email folder.

(Please refer to today’s newsletter for further information regarding School Opinion Surveys.)

NAIDOC Celebration Day                                                                                                             

Next Friday our school community is holding our NAIDOC Celebration Day which commences with a whole school parade followed by a program of activities that will run throughout the day. We have a number of local primary and high schools joining us, who in combination with a number of Indigenous groups, will be delivering an exciting program for students to enjoy. The day promises to be a wonderful celebration of our Indigenous Culture as we engage our students in a program of enriched cultural learning.  

One of the important relationships that we value in schools, is the relationship between school and home as we work together collaboratively to support the learning of our students. I really look forward to working with you all over the term as we support each other to maximise learning outcomes for our Kruger students.

Contact Email: druss39@eq.edu.au

School Opinion Survey

The suite of School Opinion Surveys is undertaken each year by the Department of Education to obtain opinions about our school from families, school staff and students in target year levels (5, 6, 8 and 11). The surveys will help identify what we are doing well and understand where we can improve. The survey invitation will be emailed in the week beginning 21 July and is titled School Opinion Survey for Parents and Caregivers 2025.

Each school family will receive one email invitation from the Department of Education to complete the Parent/Caregiver Survey. The survey is anonymous, and the results are not reported in ways that an individual’s response can be identified by the school.

Parents / Caregivers are encouraged to complete the survey. The survey can be completed via computers, tablets or smart phones with an internet connection.

For Parents / Caregivers who do not have access to the internet school computers / tablets will be available.

For anyone requiring assistance regarding the school opinion survey (translation assistance, lost survey etc) please contact the school.

What's Coming Up at Kruger!

Deputy Principal Student Engagement - Peta Jackson

Attendance

At Kruger, every school day counts! Our current whole school year to date attendance is 81%. We encourage strong attendance, and one of the strategies that we will introduce next week is a focus on class attendance percentages at the end of each week.

The class with the highest overall attendance percentage in each Year level will be awarded the Attendance Trophy—filled with 5-point SNAPS for every student in the winning class!

Please continue to support your child’s regular attendance. Being at school every day helps them stay connected, engaged, and successful in their learning.

Remember if your child is away for any reason, please contact the school office (3814 9333) and let us know the reason why. Let’s work together to make every day count!

Kruger’s Got Sparkle is Back!

This term, we’re bringing back Kruger’s Got Sparkle—our positive behaviour initiative that encourages students to take pride in and look after our school environment.

We’re focusing on three key expectations:

• Bags zipped up and neatly placed on the bag racks
• Rubbish outside the classroom in the bin
• An extra area or responsibility, clean and clear of rubbish

Each week, classes will be judged on how well they meet these expectations. The winning class/es will receive a class set of 5-point Sparkle Snaps in the Kruger’s Got Sparkle trophy and go into the draw to win 30 minutes of extra play time.

Thank you for encouraging your child to take responsibility for keeping our school clean and tidy. With your support, we can all help Kruger sparkle!

Year 6 Transition to High School.

Next week, a letter will be sent home with all Year 6 students asking for information on what high school you intend on sending your child to in 2026. Please return the section back to their Year 6 teacher and consider starting the enrolment process into high school this term. If you are considering an out of catchment enrolment, this process needs to start now, as wait lists are often created by the high school. For students to attend orientation days, they must be enrolled in the high school they are intending to attend.

Bellbird Park State Secondary College will be holding a Diversity Transition Session this term on Friday 5 September. If your child requires additional support at school, this Diversity Transition session is a great way to support their transition to high school.

To RSVP, simply email diversity@bellbirdparkssc.eq.edu.au. Flyer below.

Contact Email: pmjac0@eq.edu.au

Deputy Principal Inclusion - Regina Birchley

Welcome to Term 3!

In Week 8, I wrote about the National Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD), which is used nation-wide to collect data for students with a diagnosed or imputed disability. The NCCD enables schools and educational authorities to better understand the needs of students and how they can be best supported at school.

NCCD census day is next Friday 1 August.

Your child will be included in the NCCD if they require ongoing adjustments at school due to a disability as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (the DDA). This is a very broad definition of disability, which includes physical and intellectual disabilities, learning disorders such as dyslexia and dysgraphia, and mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.

If your child has a disability, we provide information for the NCCD, including:

• the category of disability that best describes your child’s difficulties (one of four categories is chosen by the school team to reflect your child’s greatest area of need: physical, cognitive, sensory or social / emotional)
• the level of adjustment your child receives at school (one of four levels is chosen by the school team to reflect the type of support your child requires: quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary adjustment, substantial adjustment, or extensive adjustment).

While it is not possible for schools or families to ‘opt out’ of the NCCD, the privacy and confidentiality of all students and their families is treated with utmost importance. Data is collected within each school, and personal details, such as student names and other identifying information, are not provided to local or federal education authorities.

A fact sheet for parents / carers is provided in the link below. Translations are provided in Arabic, Chinese, Dinka, Greek, Japanese, Persian and Vietnamese. https://www.nccd.edu.au/tools/fact-sheet-parents-guardians-and-carers and further information can be found at NCCD Portal (https://www.nccd.edu.au).

Contact Email: rbirc14@eq.edu.au.

Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning - Elena Finlay

2026 Prep Enrolments

The Kruger State School Office is now taking names for Prep enrolment in 2026. If your child turns 5 years old by 30 June 2026, they are eligible to start Prep at Kruger State School next year!

Interviews and transition activities will begin this term.

If your child attends a kindy or day care, we have already begun providing videos of Kruger staff reading stories to support the transition to Prep.

Term 2 Week 10’s Kruger "Transition to Prep Reading Video" featured Prep A teacher, Ms Rebekah Waters reading "Peppa Goes Swimming".

Please contact Mrs Elena Finlay, Deputy Principal - Teaching and Learning, efinl9@eq.edu.au if you would like your child’s kindy or day care to receive a "Transition to Prep Reading Video" or if you have any questions about enrolling at Kruger State School for Prep in 2026.

We look forward to welcoming you and your child to our upcoming Transition to Prep events. Please see the flyers below for details about each event.

Contact Email: efinl9@eq.edu.au

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

Middle Amenities – Open for use

The new toilets opened this term!

There were some issues in the first couple of days, but they were quickly sorted.

One of the issues was the curiosity and subsequent misuse of the Dignity Vending Machine.  The machine was empty by the second day.  Rather than re-stocking the machine (before more education can be provided to students), it was decided to put the free feminine hygiene packs in “Student Services” for distribution to students.

Upper (Senior) Amenities Toilets - Demolished

With the completion of the refurbished Middle Amenities, Regional Office had the Upper Senior Toilets demolished over the holidays.  The Lower Amenities remain open to students throughout the day.

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

Head of Department Student Engagement - Mathilda Holt

We’re thrilled to see students already showing great enthusiasm and positive behaviour as we kick off the term. Our Term 3 SNAP Prize Shop is now open, and students are earning SNAPs to work towards exciting rewards! Chat with your child about their SNAP goals for the term — you might like to ask, “How many SNAPs have you earned so far?”

In Week 1, our PBL (Positive Behaviour for Learning) focus was “We are Respectful – respecting new facilities.” We’ve built on that in Week 2 with “Respecting Our Environment.” Students are learning to care for our school spaces by:

• Keeping bag racks and classroom surrounds tidy.
• Using our Containers for Change bins.
• Picking up rubbish when they see it.
• Respecting calm areas like the Zen Den as peaceful, mindful spaces.

We’re proud of the way students are rising to these expectations — Term 3 is shaping up to be a great one!

Contact Email: mxhol8@eq.edu.au.

Head of Department Student Engagement - Ahmed Jalloh

Curriculum, Students, Teaching and Next Steps (CSTN) 

At Kruger Primary, CSTN sessions bring our teaching teams together as a learning community to reflect, plan, and grow. While teachers collaborate, students enjoy engaging in planned sports activities - this term, the focus is volleyball. To participate safely and comfortably, all students must wear a hat. We kindly ask parents and carers to remind children to pack their hats each week. These sessions support both academic and physical development, reinforcing our commitment to whole-child learning. 

Celebrating Student Achievement at Kruger Primary School 

Student engagement at Kruger Primary School shines through the pride, enthusiasm and connection our students show when they receive their awards. This fortnight, we proudly recognised students who exemplify our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) values - Safe, Respectful, Honest, and Learner. 

Chosen by teachers and staff, these students have demonstrated outstanding commitment to our school rules, whether by supporting their peers or striving to be safe and respectful learners. Their efforts help foster a positive, inclusive environment that reflects the heart of Kruger’s values. 

A special highlight was the entire Prep D class, led by Ms Diak, receiving the PBL award - the first class to do so this year. Their collective achievement is a testament to teamwork and shared responsibility, setting a wonderful example for our school community. 

Congratulations to all our award recipients! Your dedication makes Kruger proud. We also thank our parents and carers for their ongoing support and warmly invite you to join us at future assemblies to celebrate our incredible learners. 

Assembly Schedule

• Senior Assembly (Year 3 to Year 6): Mondays at 9:00am 

• Junior Assembly (Prep to Year 2): Mondays at 10:00am 

We look forward to seeing you there and celebrating our students' successes together!

For any inquiries, feel free to reach out via email at asjalo@eq.edu.au.

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Guidance Officer - Ellen Taverne

Hello Kruger State School community! I’m excited to be here as Guidance Officer for two days a week during Term 3.

As Guidance Officer, my goal is to help students feel happy, confident, and ready to learn. I work closely with students, families, and staff to support students as they navigate their early school years. From helping with friendship challenges and managing big feelings, to building confidence and developing problem-solving skills, I’m here to assist students to feel safe and supported.

Whether it's a quick chat, a longer conversation, or simply needing someone to listen, my door is always open. I look forward to working together with students, families, and staff to help every learner thrive.

Please feel free to reach out at any time and I’m looking forward to getting to know you all!

Contact Email: egibb34@eq.edu.au.

Jaylen Ruska - Indigenous Community Co-Ordinator

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day 2025: Little Footsteps, Big Future

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day is celebrated annually on 4 August. It's a day to celebrate the strengths, stories and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, and to show support for them, their families, and communities.

The day was first established on 4 August 1988 and has become a significant event for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and the wider Australian community.

For information, please visit: https://www.snaicc.org.au/our-work/campaigns/childrens-day/.

Contact Email: jrusk14@eq.edu.au.

Teaching and Learning

Prep

🎉 100 Days Smarter! 🎉

Last week, our Prep students reached a very special milestone—100 Days of Prep! To celebrate, our amazing prep teachers and teacher aides, and our clever and creative preppies came to school dressed as 100-year-old versions of themselves! There were walking sticks, grey wigs, glasses, and lots of laughter as our youngest students embraced the fun of being "100 years old" for the day.

The celebrations didn’t stop with the costumes. Families were invited into the classroom to join in on the fun, with students proudly sharing their learning so far and taking part in special “100 Day” themed activities. It was wonderful to see parents and carers getting involved and enjoying this memorable moment with their children.

After a morning full of excitement, we continued the celebrations with a lovely picnic lunch outside. The sun was shining, and it was the perfect way to mark such a joyful occasion.

Congratulations to all our Prep students—you are now officially 100 days smarter! 🎓💯

Year 1

Exploring Maths Through Real-World Problems

Our Year 1 students have been busy building their mathematical thinking by learning how to solve practical problems using mathematical modelling. 

A key strategy they’ve been using is the Part-Part-Whole model, which helps them break numbers into parts to better understand how numbers work together.

Year 3

We can’t believe we are already halfway through the year — time is flying, and we have made it!

This term, we will be exploring two countries: Papua New Guinea and New Zealand (Aotearoa). Our inquiry will focus on comparing different aspects of these countries, including:

• Landscapes and environments
• Weather and climate
• School and education
• Culture and people
• Places to live

Students will develop an understanding of different perspectives by comparing and contrasting these areas across both countries.

We’ll also be making meaningful curriculum connections by linking our learning about weather and climate with Science (temperature and heat) and exploring democracy through HASS.

Year 3 Team

Year 4

The Year 4 cohort had a wonderful time at the Queensland Rail Museum on Wednesday 23 July. Students explored the trains and took part in the World Science Festival. They completed a scavenger hunt, watched a presentation about the Moon rover, and participated in science activities, such as robots, virtual reality, model trains and using pulleys to move objects. Thank you to Mrs Finlay who helped organise the excursion and to Mrs George, Ms Mango, Mrs Robinson and Ms F who supported the students in a successful day out!

Student Feedback:

This is so cool! I'll never forget this! ~ Asia

It was interesting, looking at the trains. ~ Marlee

I'd like to come back and look at the VR. ~ Dimitri

It was amazing! ~ Fomai

It was fun. I liked those robot things I was playing with. I used an iPad to program the robots. We should come back. I like it. ~ Cavalli

The activities were fun today! ~ Aurora

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Year 5

Welcome Back Everyone and Hello Term 3! 🎓

We hope you had a fantastic break and are feeling refreshed. This term is packed with exciting learning as we dive into endangered animals and persuasive writing and sharpen our maths skills with fractions and measurements.

English and Persuasive Texts

We’ll begin with fascinating research on endangered animals: what they are, how they live, and why they are at risk. Using our findings, we’ll craft compelling persuasive texts—letters, posters, speeches—designed to inspire others to take action. We’ll explore persuasive techniques: emotive language, facts and statistics, and strong conclusions to support our causes. The term will build to a live presentation, where students will share their persuasive messages with classmates!

Mathematics

Fractions and Measurements are next on the agenda: We’ll start with the basics of fractions—understanding parts of a whole, comparing fractions, and using equivalent fractions. We’ll then connect fractions to real-world measurements—length, capacity, and weight—working with mixed numbers, decimals, and converting between units. Hands-on activities and real-life problem-solving will make maths both fun and meaningful. We’re thrilled to get Term 3 underway! Please feel free to ask any questions along the way. Let’s make this term one full of learning, creativity, and real impact 😊

Year 5 Electives

As Electives have started again, I had the pleasure of taking Year 5 Readers down to read with the Kindergarten children on Friday. It was initially a little overwhelming for the Kindy children, but the Year 5 students showed persistence and care in building connections and helping them feel comfortable. The Year 5 students enjoyed reading to the children, and at the end of the session, some had the opportunity to take a walk down memory lane by looking through old photos from their time in Kindergarten.

Kirsten Pitcairn
Year 6 English / HASS Teacher

Year 6

In Maths, students convert between common units of length, mass and capacity and use all 4 operations with decimals. They solve problems involving area and angles. Students also use mathematical modelling and solve problems with fractions.

In Science, students analyse requirements for the transfer of electricity in a circuit and describe how energy can be transformed from one form to another to generate electricity. They use scientific knowledge to assess energy sources selected for a specific purpose.

For English and HASS this term year 6 students are creating a vlog (video blog) to their local council member, exploring the following important question:
“Why should Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country be more visible and used more often in our communities?”

Students will learn about how these practices show respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, honour the connection to land and culture, and help create inclusive and respectful communities. They will also think deeply about different types of places — like schools, libraries, parks, and government buildings — and how they are used by different people.

LOTE - Roberta Mango

German and Design Technology – Years 4-6 with Ms Mango
This week, students read a book called ‘Old Lion and his Friends’, translated it into German and created their own lions, using diameter measurements and following multiple steps. Gut gemacht! Well done!

Der Löwe und seine Freunde (The Lion and His Friends).
Der Löwe ist gross und gelb (The lion is big and yellow).
Er hat zwei Augen und zwei Ohren (He has two eyes and two ears).
Er hat einen Schwanz (He has a tail).
Er hat einen grossen Mund mit scharfe Zähne (He has a big mouth with sharp teeth).
Er hat seinen Freunde zum Essen! (He had his friends for tea!)

P and C

The Community Hub - Kym Alexander

Our new English classes will begin next Monday! These sessions focus on practical, everyday topics such as visiting the doctor or pharmacist, preparing for employment, setting personal goals, and supporting mental health.

Please note that registration is essential. You can register directly with Kym at The Community Hub.

Community Information