Fast and Furious: The Final Weeks of Term 3

As we move into the final stretch of Term 3, the pace at Warrigal Road is well and truly fast and furious! Weeks 8, 9, and 10 are jam-packed with events, activities, and special opportunities for our students.

In Week 8, we have our Father’s Day Stall, the CAPS program (year level planning for teachers), and Holt Bolt activities for our Prep and Year 1 students, as well as assemblies for the younger years. Week 9 continues the excitement with Year 1 Swimming, Holt Bolt and CAPS for Years 2, 3, 4 and 6, the Mad About Science incursion for Prep, and our R U OK? Day celebrations. Parent–Teacher interviews also begin this week. By Week 10, we round out the term with Music Immersion Day, Sports Days for Prep–Year 3, CAPS and Holt Bolt for Year 5, Parent–Teacher interviews, the ever-popular Colour Run, and a Free Dress Day to celebrate the end of term.

With so much happening, it’s important to help our children stay organised and calm. Families can support by:

• Keeping a calendar at home – note down assemblies, swimming days, and special events so nothing is missed.

• Preparing ahead of time – pack bags the night before with swimming gear, sports shoes, or stall money.

• Building in rest – encourage earlier nights and quiet time to balance the busyness.

• Talking it through – helping children know what’s coming up can reduce anxiety and give them confidence.

• Encouraging calm – remind students that it’s normal to feel tired at the end of term, and that pacing themselves will help them finish strong.

We are so proud of the resilience our students show as they participate in such a wide variety of experiences. With the support of families, they can enjoy every moment while still feeling balanced and prepared.

Let’s keep calm and carry on right through to the final bell of Term 3!

Planning for Major School Events

Behind every major event at Warrigal Road lies months of careful planning and preparation. Our staff dedicate significant time and effort to ensure that these experiences are meaningful, safe, and memorable for our students.

One of the biggest highlights on our school calendar is the Year 6 Camp to Cairns. This incredible opportunity allows our students to snorkel on the reef, explore rainforests, and take part in a variety of hands-on learning activities. It is a truly unique experience—but also a major undertaking. In fact, the camp costs over $200,000 to run each year.

As part of our ongoing commitment to delivering what our families value most, we survey our Year 5 parents annually to ask whether they would like us to plan for the following year’s Cairns camp. This is also an important way for us to take into account cost of living pressures while ensuring we provide experiences that families see as worthwhile.

A survey will be going out soon to to all Year 5 parents. We encourage you to please complete it as soon as practically possible. Your feedback will directly inform our planning for the 2026 Year 6 Camp to Cairns and ensure that our resources are aligned with what families want.

Thank you for supporting us as we continue to provide the very best opportunities for our students.

Parent–Teacher Interviews – Book Now!

As we enter the final stretch of the 2025 school year, it’s time for our upcoming Parent–Teacher Interviews. These sessions are a valuable opportunity for families to speak directly with their child’s teacher, celebrate achievements, and discuss any concerns or areas where extra support may be needed.

Interviews will be held on:

• Thursday 11 September

• Tuesday 16 September

Bookings are made through SOBS (School Online Booking System). We encourage all families to secure a time as soon as possible to ensure they don’t miss out.

Parent–Teacher Interviews are not only about addressing challenges—they are also a chance to recognise the growth, progress, and successes your child has achieved this year. Open communication between home and school plays a key role in helping every student finish the year confidently and strongly.

Thank you for partnering with us in your child’s learning journey. We look forward to seeing you at interviews and working together to ensure the best outcomes for all students.

In Week 6, our Year 6 students embarked on the much-anticipated Cairns Tour, a week filled with adventure, learning, and new experiences.

The itinerary was packed with highlights: a day on Fitzroy Island, where students snorkelled, explored, and soaked up the natural beauty of the reef; the thrill of river tubing, which brought plenty of excitement and laughter; and a visit to the Cairns Aquarium, where the mysteries of the ocean were revealed. At Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures, students learned about some of Australia’s most unique wildlife, while the Kuranda Scenic Railway offered breathtaking rainforest views. A visit to Rainforestation Nature Park was another standout, giving students the chance to experience Indigenous culture, see native animals up close, and explore the lush tropical environment.

More than just sightseeing, this tour gave students opportunities to grow in confidence and independence, strengthen friendships, and create lifelong memories.

We sincerely thank our families for trusting us with your children during this special experience. We are also incredibly grateful to our Year 6 teachers, Mr Duncan and Mr Mitchell, whose organisation, care, and energy ensured the success of the 2025 Cairns Tour.

This trip was supported with funding from the Queensland Government’s Great Barrier Reef Education Experience Program. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion, funding of $150 per student is being paid directly to the school.

This unforgettable trip will no doubt be remembered as a highlight of our students’ final year at Warrigal Road State School.

SPORTS NEWS – Week 8, Term 3

IMPORTANT DATES

THANK YOU, RUNCORN ROCKETS!

Last Friday, our Year 4 students had an exciting opportunity to take part in a special PE session run by coaches from our local basketball club, the Runcorn Rockets. The students learned new skills, developed their confidence on the court, and had an absolute blast!

A big thank you to Mark and Teasa for generously sharing your time and basketball expertise with our students. Your enthusiasm and guidance made the session truly memorable.

We also extend our thanks to the Lord Mayor’s Community Fund and Councillor Kim Marx, Councillor for Runcorn Ward, for supporting this fantastic experience.

The Junior and Intermediate Sports Days are fast approaching. Save the following Week 10 dates in your diary and come support our students. We’d love to see you there in your house colours! Don’t forget to pre-order your child’s sausage sizzle via flexischools. They are also looking for parent helpers for the BBQ Area.

• Tuesday 16^th September - Junior Sports Day (Prep & Year 1)
• Wednesday 17^th September - Intermediate Sports Day (Year 2 & 3)

GALA DAY RESULTS

Touch Football – Senior A Girls

The Senior A Touch Girls had a fantastic showing at Gala Day 2, returning to full strength and ready to compete!

In Game 1, the girls faced a solid SHSS A side. Both teams were strong defensively, but Ammara broke through with the only try of the game, securing a 1–0 win.

Next up was Runcorn Heights, who struggled to keep up with our speed and agility. In a dominant display, the girls came away with a commanding 10–0 victory.

Game 3 saw the team take on Warrigal B. Using their knowledge of the opposition’s strengths and weaknesses to their advantage, the girls battled hard and came out on top with a 5–1 win.

They rounded out the day with a convincing 3–0 win over SHSS B, sealing an undefeated run.

Well done, girls, on a clean sweep!

McDonald Awards went to Anamya, Myla, and Aria.

Touch Football} – Junior A Girls

After unfortunately withdrawing from Gala Day 1, the Junior A Touch Girls finally hit the field on Friday and  made an immediate impact.

Game 1 saw a strong performance against Runcorn Heights, with the girls securing a 5–3 win. They then met a tough Algester side and, despite a valiant effort, went down 5–3.

Against Kuraby, Penny stole the show with an incredible five tries, leading the team to a decisive win.

To finish off the day, the girls delivered a dominant performance against Eight Mile Plains, scoring an impressive 12 tries to none.

Congratulations, girls—what a fantastic start to the season!

McDonald Awards were presented to Penny, Mikayla, and Arina.

Miss Currie – Touch Coach

Touch Football – Junior & Senior B Girls

Our Junior B Girls Touch team showed great teamwork and determination at Gala Day 2. In their opening game against Algester, the girls worked hard but went down 5–0. In game two, they faced a strong Sunnybank Hills A side, with Katrina scoring our only try in a 5–1 loss. The team bounced back brilliantly in game three, securing a 2–0 win over Eight Mile Plains State School with tries from Scarlett and Abigail. To finish the day, they played a friendly against Runcorn Heights, with Abigail crossing for a try in a tough 9–1 match. Congratulations to our Players of the Day, Abigail and Katrina, who led the team with skill and determination. The girls should be proud of their efforts, teamwork, and sportsmanship across all games.

Our Senior B Girls Touch team had a strong showing at Gala Day 2, displaying skill, persistence, and teamwork across their matches. In game one, the girls started on a high with a 3–1 win over Sunnybank Hills B, with Mika crossing twice and Harjap adding another try. Game two was a tough challenge against Algester, ending in a 7–0 loss, followed by a 5–1 defeat to Warrigal A, with Amelia L scoring our only try.

The team finished the day on a high, securing a convincing 6–0 win over Kuraby thanks to tries from Mika, Verona, Amelia L, Aisha, and two from Harjap. Congratulations to our Players of the Day, Harjap and Amelia L, who both made outstanding contributions. The girls should be proud of their teamwork and resilience throughout the day.

Ms Mitchell – Touch Coach

Thank you to the Symphonic Band for your fantastic performance at the school Open Day last Thursday. It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the incredible talent of our students and highlight the strength of the music program you’re all part of.

Your performance was very well received by the audience, and you represented the school with professionalism and enthusiasm.

We are working towards the Music Fest in Term 4, and it's important that both the Senior Choir and Boys Chorus ensure they have fully memorised their words and music.

It’s wonderful to see the Chamber Choir beginning work on their new pieces — I’m looking forward to showcasing these at the upcoming Music Concert.

A special thank you to the Grade 4 students who attend Junior Choir so faithfully each week. They are making great progress learning their new repertoire in preparation for the school music concert.

Rehearsal attendance is a team commitment, and every student plays an important role. Please make sure you know when, where, and what time your rehearsals are.

Let’s keep up the great work as we prepare for an exciting and musical Term 4!

½ Day Music Workshop: Concert Winds Band & Corelli Orchestra.

We’ve moved these half-day workshops to later in the term so everyone has more time to get ready. These workshops are a great chance for the band and orchestra to really focus on playing as a team. They'll spend time in rehearsals, sectionals, and full group sessions to improve your playing, build confidence, and get better at working together.

The main goal is to help students feel prepared and confident for their Music Fest performance in Term 4. By working towards this together, they'll grow not just as individual musicians, but also as a strong, connected group ready to perform.

Please note that some emails are bouncing back due to full inboxes. I kindly ask students in the program to forward the Music Notes to their parents if needed.

I may need to recreate all email lists and groups in preparation for 2026, as entering data is a time-consuming process. I plan to address this at the end of Term 4. Thank you for your patience as we work through this issue.

In the meantime, please also refer to the Music Notes section in the school newsletter to stay up to date.

2026 Strings and Band Recruitment Update

Mr. Holloway and Mrs. Venn have now met with students who expressed interest in joining the Strings or Band program in 2026. (Students who were absent during this process have been followed up last week.)

This marks the beginning of an exciting musical journey—one that offers a wealth of personal, social, and academic benefits. Our instrumental music program is a valued part of school life, and we are proud of the strong musical culture developed over the years.

It’s also a significant commitment—for both families and students—and one we take seriously. The school continues to provide additional funding to maintain the size and quality of the program, and we are dedicated to seeing it thrive.

As such, we’re looking for students who are ready to be part of a team. In the words of Education Queensland:

"Participation in music education fosters discipline, perseverance, and collaboration—skills essential not just for music, but for life."

Due to limited spaces, selection is based on several factors, including student readiness, commitment, and maintaining a balanced ensemble across instrument groups.

Strings Program
Each year, we welcome approximately 30 new string students. Unfortunately, due to high demand and limited places, not all applicants will receive a placement. Students who are not successful this year are encouraged to reapply next year for a position in the Band program.

Band Program
The Band program typically accepts between 45 and 50 new students annually, which means there are more opportunities available in this area. Students allocated to band instruments can look forward to an equally enriching and rewarding musical journey.

Commitment & Expectations
Regardless of the instrument your child is assigned, daily practice, punctual attendance, and self-motivation are essential. Music is one of the largest and most collaborative teams your child may be part of at school, and every student plays a vital role in the group’s success.

There is a financial contribution required to participate, as outlined in the initial information sent via email in June. Please note: after the first year of school instrument hire, families are expected to purchase their own instrument. School-hired instruments will be reallocated to new recruits each year.

We frequently advertise quality second-hand instruments in our Music Notes newsletter, many of which come from past students upgrading for high school ensembles. A well-cared-for instrument can last for generations—one of our colleagues still plays a family violin that is over 300 years old!

What’s Next?
Letters of offer will be sent out by the end of this term. Families of successful applicants will be invited and expected to attend an Information Evening, where we will outline expectations, next steps, and the exciting year ahead.

We’re incredibly excited to welcome a new generation of music students into our program and can’t wait to see them discover the joy, discipline, and lifelong benefits of learning a musical instrument.

Final Notes on Selection
While we would love to offer a place to every interested student, our program is limited by the availability of specialist teachers and appropriate teaching spaces. As outlined by the Department of Education Queensland, instrumental music programs must operate within staffing and resource allocations.

The selection process is thorough and considers a range of factors. Teachers assess students' focus, listening skills, physical suitability for various instruments, and ability to produce sound. Attendance and academic engagement are also considered, as consistent participation is essential. Once accepted, students must commit to weekly lessons and a rehearsal schedule as part of their ensemble responsibilities.

Learning an instrument is a significant but rewarding commitment. It builds resilience, teamwork, time management, and confidence. Performing with an ensemble is a fun and memorable experience—and many students form lifelong friendships through music. The skills developed through instrumental music support students well into high school and beyond—both academically and personally.

We look forward to seeing the next generation of young musicians rise to the challenge and embrace the joy of learning an instrument in 2026!