Drayton State School News - 11 February 2025

Drayton State School Creed

Principal News

I’d like to begin by welcoming back all our Drayton State School families to the start of another year of great learning and opportunities at Drayton State School. I hope that everyone has had the chance to relax, refresh and get ready to excel. I’m very excited to be the new Principal of Drayton State School, a school I was very fortunate enough to teach at over 10 years ago. It’s a school that holds great memories and I’m looking forward to relearning about our wonderful community. A big thank you to our students, staff, parents and community who have welcomed me during these first few weeks. Please come and say hello when you get the chance and I’m looking forward to being a part of this wonderful community at Drayton State School.

School Start Time

A reminder to our parents and carers that students and parents are not permitted on school grounds until 8:30am. All students are to make their way to the Multi-Purpose Hall at 8:30am with their school bags where supervision is available. If you require you supervision of your child before 8:30am please talk to the OHSC – Team Kids, located opposite our school on Darling Street, phone: 0436 384 337. 

School Leadership Ceremony

We will hold our student leadership induction on Monday 17^th February following our whole school parade at 2:30pm. In 2025 at Drayton State School, our aim is to help our student leaders gain a better understanding of leadership, and to extend their leadership experience further. We want our student leaders to actively contribute to our school community and develop their civic awareness. We invite families to attend our ceremony, and a family member to come up on the stage during the badge presentation and present the student with their badge.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

On the 20 February, Students in Prep to Year 2 will have the opportunity to travel to the Empire Theatre to experience one of the most read and famous children’s books of all time, The Very Hungry Caterpillar as it emerges off the pages in a masterful theatrical experience for our students. Alongside the Very Hungry Caterpillar, the show features three other Eric Cale stories – Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, Ten Little Rubber Ducks, and the Very Busy Spider. This will be a fantastic experience for our Prep-Year 2 students and I can’t wait to hear about their adventure when they return back to school.

Year 5/6 Camp

Our Year 5/6 students will be attending an overnight camp at Camp Cooby on Thursday 20 March to Friday 21 March as part of their HASS and Health program. This is a brilliant camp for our senior students to attend. A reminder that if students have not been meeting the expected behaviour standards, then they will not be permitted to attend. If you know that your child will not be intending to attend camp, please inform the office as soon as possible.

Why Does School Attendance Matter?

Regular school attendance gives students a better chance at life. Students achieve better when they go to school all day, every school day because:

• they have increased access to learning opportunities
• they maintain friendships
• they stay connected to the curriculum progression
• they develop self-efficacy as a learner
• they have better long-term life outcomes.

Paul Wells
Principal

PE and Sports

Hello Drayton!

Happy New Year and what a spectacular start to 2025 it has been. PE at Drayton will look slightly different in 2025 with the introduction of Mrs Taylor Manley teaching our students for Term 1. PE lessons are every Monday and have been filled with lots of games and training in preparation for our Cross Country Carnival towards the end of this term. I will remain in the role of ‘Sports Coordinator’ this year, and work alongside our PE teacher to plan our sports carnivals and continue to seek out sporting opportunities that will directly benefit our students here at Drayton State School.

Some important news in relation of representative sport in 2025 – previously Drayton has hosted the Cambooya District Cross Country trials, as the same with Bunker’s Hill hosting for Athletics trails. It was determined at the most recent Cambooya District Sport meeting that these group meets were not necessary, nor did they align with the processes from the rest of the schools in the Toowoomba region. Because of this, there will no longer be Cambooya District trials before students get through to the Inner Downs level of representative sport. Individual schools will host their own carnivals, record the results of each student and use that information to confirm qualifying athletes that will move on to compete at the Inner Downs Sports level.

I look forward to another year of sports at Drayton!
Kelsey Tonscheck

Chappy Sophie

School Chaplain Sophie Gittins

Chappy Sophie will be on site Wednesday Thursday and Friday.

Please support Chaplaincy

Donate to Drayton’s Chaplaincy Program here! Please search for Drayton SS Chaplaincy.

RI in Schools

Hello to the families of  Drayton State School students. My name is Jackie Bishop, and I am a volunteer for CRI (Christian Religious Instruction) or RI at your school.

 Students in Years 1-6 may participate in a weekly, 30-minute, age-appropriate and engaging lesson, that encourages story-telling, drama, interactive discussion, music and craft.  

All Toowoomba state school children can be part of a CRI programme, which reinforces Queensland Education core values of responsibility, understanding, respect, tolerance, inclusion, integrity, positive self-image, freedom, compassion and caring. Students are encouraged to develop positive values and choices on topics such as thankfulness, forgiveness and hope.

Each RI instructor holds a blue card, is accredited by their church, attends in-service training and personal development sessions (including child safety) and is approved by the school Principal.

If you are not already part of this program and would like to be, please go to the school office for sign-up details.

It’s a privilege to be part of your school community and I look forward to another year of CRI.

P&C Association

The P&C Committee

Executive Position

We are currently seeking a Secretary, President and Vice President for our P&C Executive team.   If you are interested in being part of our fantastic team, please reach out to our current members via pandc@draytonss.qld.edu.au

Volunteers really do need other volunteers to make a difference. We would love to see some new faces and fresh ideas at our next meeting!

Contact the P&C

Please email pandc@draytonss.eq.edu.au, with questions, ideas and when you might be able to support us with your time or donations.

Drayton P&C are registered with Containers for Change.

Take your drink containers for recycling and direct your refunds to the P&C by using our Scheme
ID:   C10195001

Tuckshop Friday

Please place your tuckshop orders online via quickcliq, see link below. All orders should be made by Thursday 10.00am.

If you do not have an account for quickcliq please go to the link below to register:

Uniform Shop

Opening Hours during School Term

Monday 8.30am-9.00am
Friday 2.30pm-3.15pm
Order online at the link below:

Cash - Efpos & QuickCliq  payment available

Enquiries  Julie - 0428193463

Your orders will be filled on Mondays and Fridays and sent to the office or your child’s classroom.

OHSC: Team Kids

Book Now or contact Team Kids on 1300 035 000 for more information.

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