Drayton State School News - 25 March 2025

Drayton State School Creed

Congratulations to our Drayton Dragon Award Recipients

Principal News

Dear Drayton State School Families,

With 9 school days left for Term 1, the term is ending on a very busy note! Our students are in the process of finishing off their Term 1 assessment tasks and our school Cross Country takes place in the last week of school. So far this term has been a very successful one and we want to keep this trend going right until the school holidays! We wish our Drayton SS families a safe, relaxing and enjoyable holidays and look forward to seeing everyone back here for the start of Term 2 on Tuesday 22 April.

School Cross Country

Our School Cross Country is being held on Monday 31 March and will be a great opportunity for our students to show some House spirit. 

Year 5/6 Camp

Our Year 5/6 students returned from Camp Cooby last Friday and by all accounts had a fantastic time. It was great to talk to some of the students on their return and hear some of the great things they got to experience, the challenges they faced and the things that made them laugh. All in all, a great time had by most. 

NAPLAN

A huge thank you to all of our Year 3 and Year 5 students who tried their very best during the NAPLAN testing window. We look forward to seeing their results later this year.

Parent Teacher Interviews

Parent Teacher interviews are scheduled for Tuesday 29 April. More information will be provided to families around booking times in the very near future.

Equity and Excellence – Our 2025 Annual Implementation Plan (AIP)

Equity and Excellence: realising the potential of every student External (the education strategy) sets a clear vision for a progressive, high performing education system. The strategy was tested and refined through consultation with education leaders, principals and key stakeholders. To achieve our vision of equity and excellence, as a system (and indeed, as a school community) we will focus on:

• educational achievement
• wellbeing and engagement
• culture and inclusion.

The education strategy provides a roadmap for all areas of our department to work together and renews our focus on empowering our teachers and school leaders, investing in digital innovation, school performance and support, fostering collaboration between schools and community, and delivering sustainable investment in schools for the future.

Equity and Excellence is about reducing barriers for all learners to realise every student's potential. It provides schools with clear priorities across each student's learning journey and recognises how these points are underpinned by curriculum, teaching and learning. Improving outcomes for First Nations students is a key focus across all priorities and measures, setting the imperative for schools to ensure every First Nations student can reach their potential.

I am pleased to have finalised our 2025 AIP – documenting, discussing and describing our Key Improvement Strategies for the year ahead. These strategies have been collaboratively developed with staff and derive from student data and our 2022 Full School Review.

I look forward to continuing to unpack our 2 School Priorities throughout the year, alongside the strategies and actions that will lead to enhanced Targets/Goals.

Upcoming Facilities Work

The external painting of B Block is well underway and will be followed with C Block also being painted externally.

Over the holidays our Prep/Year 1 playground is scheduled to be replaced, and this will provide our junior school with a lovely new playground to enjoy on their return in Term 2.

Work on the oval is also scheduled to begin during the holidays, fencing will be installed, and work will be completed in 2 phases with phase 1 being the planting on vegetation on the top end of the oval. Phase 2 will be the installation of the sandstone into the hill outside the MPH and also include the removal and installation of the new upper school playground. Works are expected to be completed around 9 June 2025.

Paul Wells
Principal

Uniforms at Drayton State School

Students of Drayton State School are expected to wear the full, correct school uniform with pride. When wearing the uniform, students convey a strong message about themselves as well as the high standards set by our school community. The uniform is designed to support a healthy and safe learning environment that allows students to participate in all school activities.

Sport & Everyday:

Shirts:  Drayton SS gold polo shirt with bottle green sleeves, featuring a piped collar.
Shorts:  Bottle green shorts with side slit pockets.
Bottle green skorts
Pleated netball skirts:  Pleated skirts are available from clothing stores.
School Hat – reversible with house colour available.

Winter:

Green Tracksuit top printed with the school's name and emblem
Green Trackpants (Fleecy or microfibre)
Drayton SS Spray Jacket

Please Note: * Generic plain gold or green polo shirts are NOT the school’s uniform shirt & should not be worn.
* Longer leg ‘cargo’ style shorts with external pockets are NOT the school’s uniform & should not be worn.

Year 6 shirts – All year 6 students may wear a specially ordered “Senior” Polo shirt, available after ordering and payment in Term 1.

Footwear:

All students need to be wearing comfortable footwear to school that is both neat in appearance and provides appropriate safety and protection for their feet. We need our students to be able to move safely within and around the school environment in a range of activities, knowing that their footwear are well protected at all times. As such, closed in, laced-up runners / sandshoes must be worn to, from & within school each day.

Canvas / synthetic ‘slip-on’ style shoes are NOT a safe nor acceptable form of footwear - they offer no grip and minimal protection for your child’s feet and are NOT to be worn to school.

Uniform Expectations

Student Council is registered with Containers for Change

Take your drink containers for recycling and direct your refunds to the Drayton state School Student Council by using our Scheme
ID:  C10618350

Chappy Sophie

School Chaplain Sophie Gittins

Chappy Sophie will be on site Wednesday and Thursday.

Please support Chaplaincy

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

Drayton State School
Term 1, 2025

What’s been happening
I am running the Bella Girls Junior program for some of our year five and six girls, on a Wednesday afternoon. “Bella” is the Italian word for “beautiful”. The program encourages girls to be beautiful in their character – the way we think, feel and behave. We are focusing on how to make and keep good friends, as well as being good friends ourselves. It’s great to have meaningful discussions around this topic and encourage the girls to think about how to apply it to their own friendships and other connections.

A Thought from Chappy
You’ve heard the expression, “take time to smell the roses.” Have you ever asked yourself why this is important?

This little phrase encourages us to appreciate the small moments and things in life that bring us joy.

Undoubtedly, we have times that are stressful and busy. We wonder if we’ll ever have time to rest again. It is during these times that we need to be the most deliberate about appreciating the things we notice along life’s journey. It could be thankfulness that your child thought about you and made something for you at school. It could be taking in that moment when they’ve fallen asleep on you in front of the television. What about those times when everyone in the room is laughing so hard, they can barely breathe? The sound of kookaburras laughing, a brightly blooming flower, the scent of home cooking on the breeze. Don’t overlook these things. Take a deliberate moment to think on them, to take a breath and relish them in the moment. Take a brief escape from the rush of life to remember that simple things are worth noticing. I hope you have some of those moments this week.

Thank You!

P&C Association

The P&C Committee

AGM Notice

Please note our AGM will be over two meetings this year.

Part 2 will take part in Week 10, date and time to be advised.

(Part 2 of the AGM will take part later in March, when audited Financials are available.)

Mother’s Day Stall

Donations have started for this year’s Mother’s Day stall.

Bunnings – Toowoomba West have kindly contributed $80 in vouchers to our stall.  We are so grateful for their ongoing support & can’t wait to see the range of succulents and plants we can have on the stall this year.

If you would like to be involved in the stall via donated gifts, please reach out to Sarah via pandc@draytonss.qld.edu.au.

Executive Positions

We are currently seeking a Vice President for our P&C Executive team.

If you are interested in being part of our team, please reach out to current members via pandc@draytonss.qld.edu.au

If you think you would like to be part of the team but are not sure which role you would like to take on, we have included below a little summary of what each role entails.

It’s a really wonderful way to meet new, like-minded people & to help enrich your child’s school experience.

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

NEWS:

Rugby Shirts are reduced to $20 sizes 6, 8 & 12 available
There is also a good range of second-hand clothing.
Senior Polos size: 8, 10, 12, & 16
Polos size 3, 4, 6, 8, 10 & 12
Jumpers size 4, 8 & 10
Jackets size 4, 6, 8, 10 & 12
Boy Shorts - most sizes

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.

TeamKids has another amazing Autumn Holiday Program planned!

Ready to discover the TeamKids difference?

•           Unique daily experiences

•           Value-packed program

•           Screen-free FUN! 

•           Delicious and nutritious morning & afternoon snacks

•           CCS-approved care

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