2025 – Week 2 Term 4

Welcome Back

As we head into this final term of the 2025 school year, I feel there's a wonderful mix of excitement and focus. We're looking forward to consolidating the learning and growth your children have achieved so far and finishing the year strong.

Key Focus Areas for Term 4

This term, our primary focus will be on the following areas:

• Academic Consolidation: Teachers will be working hard to review and reinforce key concepts taught throughout the year, ensuring all students are well-prepared for the next academic year.
• Transition Planning: We'll be supporting our students, particularly those moving from Year 6 to high school, with engaging and informative transition activities to ensure a smooth next step in their education journey.
• Celebrations and Events: Term 4 is traditionally packed with exciting events, including sports events (Year 4 to Year 6 Swimming Carnival), end-of-year performances (Christmas Concert), Student Leadership Assembly (2026 Student Leaders), and our annual Year Six Graduation to celebrate student achievements. Please keep a close eye on the school calendar and newsletters for specific dates and times!

Important Reminders

Your partnership is vital to a successful term, so please remember:

• Attendance: Ensuring your child attends school every day and on time is crucial, especially in this final term. Consistent attendance allows them to fully benefit from the review and consolidation of learning.
• Uniform: Please continue to ensure your child wears the correct school uniform with pride.
• Communication: If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child's progress or well-being, please don't hesitate to reach out to their class teacher in the first instance.

I look forward to an energetic and highly productive final term. Let's work together to make Term 4 a rewarding and positive experience for every student at Robertson State School.

iPad Families Guide

Setting up an iPad to be safe and productive for a child can be a tricky process. We want to limit access to harmful content and minimise distractions, while also allowing the freedom to create and explore as they learn.

Check out this great  iPad Families Guide.

It offers a wealth of information around digital safety, support and focus, and how to manage your child’s device from an iPhone (if you have one). Most parental controls can still be set up through the iPad if you don’t have an iPhone.

Please take the time to explore this fabulous resource designed to make using an iPad as an effective tool for learning a little bit easier.

Please also remember that any restrictions on apps or websites should be limited to outside of school hours. While students are connected to the school network our filtering is designed to support safe internet usage. Student iPads should not have a SIM card or VPN enabled at school.

Bandanna Day – 30 October 2025

Our Student Council have decided to support Bandanna Day!

On Thursday, 30 October, our school will be joining thousands of others across the nation to support CanTeen's Bandanna Day. This is the flagship fundraising and awareness campaign for CanTeen, the Australian organisation that supports young people aged 12-25 impacted by cancer; whether they have cancer themselves or have a sibling or parent with cancer.

Why have our students decided to get involved?

Every year, an estimated 23,000 young Australians have their world turned upside down by cancer. This event is a powerful way for our students to demonstrate empathy, kindness, and community spirit. By participating, our students will be standing in solidarity with these young people, showing them, they don't have to face cancer alone.

The funds we raise go directly to CanTeen's vital services, including:

• Counselling and one-on-one support.
• Peer support programs that connect young people with others who understand what they're going through.
• Youth-specific services in hospitals and online.

How your child can participate:

We invite all students, staff and community members to join us in making Robertson State School a vibrant sea of colour!

1. Buy a Bandanna: We will be selling official CanTeen bandannas on Thursday and Friday mornings in the tuckshop area from 8:15am to 8:45am. Bandannas cost $7.00 each. Please send the exact cash amount if possible.
2. Wear Your Support: On Bandanna Day, Thursday 30 October, students are encouraged to wear their purchased bandannas with pride! They can wear them on their head, around their neck, or as an arm accessory.

Digital Payments Now Available

There is a QR code available for digital payments

You can also scan the QR code below to donate directly to CanTeen, even if you’re not purchasing a bandanna. Every contribution makes a difference.

We encourage you to discuss the meaning of Bandanna Day with your children; it’s more than just a colourful accessory; it's a message of support and hope.

Let's work together to "Bandanna-fy" Robertson State School and make a real difference in the lives of young people navigating the challenges of cancer.

Thank you in advance for your incredible support and generosity.

Tyrone Bruce

Principal

Robertson State School - Parent Information Form - 2026

Teachers and Leaders at Robertson State School will be soon working together to plan for class groups for 2026. We appreciate parents and carers providing clear information to enable our staff to make informed class decisions. Our leadership Team, support staff and class teachers will work together to place students in a class for next year. Staff have deep knowledge of students, their needs and which students they should not be placed with. Your trust in our decision-making, your acknowledgement of the time and care that goes into this process and your respect for the competence and dedication of every member of our staff team are greatly appreciated.

Below is a link and QR code to our Parent Information Form for 2026. This Parent Information Form is to assist teachers in the placement of your children to class groups for 2026.  It will be used along with the criteria listed below.  Not all boxes need to be completed. Please note that class or teacher preferences are not guaranteed but information collected in the form will be given careful consideration throughout the 2026 class creation process.

CRITERIA FOR THE PLACEMENT OF STUDENTS

1. Current teacher knowledge of the student
2. Special learning requirements of students (verified, gifted)
3. Health/emotional issues of the student 
4. Behavioural combinations (students placed in a group which maximises their learning) 
5. Special issues identified by the parent (proforma provided to current teacher) 
6. Exceptional circumstances identified through interview with principal e.g. family circumstances

https://forms.office.com/r/DMiQzMWtse

Kerin Gordon

Deputy Principal

Avoid Early Pick-Ups After 2:45 PM 

We kindly ask that you do not collect your child early after 2.45pm. The final school bell rings at 3.00 PM, and the last 15 minutes of the day are important for wrapping up learning, preparing for home, and ensuring a calm and safe dismissal. 

If your child has an appointment or needs to leave early, please try to schedule it outside of school hours whenever possible. We understand that sometimes early pick-ups are unavoidable, however minimising them helps reduce disruptions for both your child and their classmates. 

Should an early departure be required, please notify the school office in advance through phone or email as early as possible. This allows us to prepare your child and ensure a smooth transition. 

Thank you for your cooperation and continued support in helping us maintain a focused and productive learning environment right up to the end of the school day. 

Administration Office

Robertson State School

Book Club issue 7 is out now! You can view the catalogue online. All orders must be placed online via the LOOP ordering platform by 3.00pm Friday 24 October. Every order earns free resources for our school!

The Term 4 Library & Technology News was emailed home last week. If you missed it, check it out below.

Claire Ennis

Teacher Librarian

We’re gearing up for an exciting term of sport, featuring our final gala day and the upcoming All Schools Touch Football competition. Stay tuned for updates and cheer on our teams as they give their best!

We have a large number of jumpers and jackets in the lost property bin outside the music room, collected over the winter season. Please take a moment to check the bin for any missing items your child may have left behind.

Congratulations !!

We are proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of Tennessee Crichton, Marcus Hsu, and their coach Summer Hsu. Marcus Hsu, just 9 years old and playing above his age group, was part of the South West Metro U12 boys Division 5 team that earned a silver medal at the Queensland Basketball State Championship. Their hard work, resilience, and teamwork truly paid off, making them the only team from the area to place. Well done to all for giving 100% and representing us with pride!

Chris Rostron & Renee Montgomery

HPE Teachers

Music News: Important Dates Term 4

The Music Department has many performances this term. Please see below a date claimer for some of our performances. Most weeks we have an ensemble performing on assembly. All school families are welcome to join us in the School Hall for Assembly performances and End of Year Music Extravaganzas. These are always very enjoyable events and will give you an insight into what music activities your child can participate in at Robertson.

Parents of performance music students – please check emails from your child’s music teacher for more specific information about these performances.

Heather Francis, Robyn Gray and Vivienne Thomas 

Music Team 

2025 Queensland Hanzi Character and Cultural Festival

In Term 3, our students actively participated in the 2025 Queensland Hanzi Character and Cultural Festival, competing in three exciting categories: Creative Art, Handwriting, and Reading Aloud. The competition took place both on school grounds and at the Taiwan Centre over the weekend, giving our students the opportunity to showcase their talents in different environments.

We are proud to announce that our well-prepared students received high praise from the judges, earning awards across the board, including High Distinction, Distinction, and Credit in all three categories. This achievement highlights the growing enthusiasm for language learning at Robertson, and we take pride in being an inclusive Chinese Bilingual School.

Congratulations to all the students who participated and represented our school so wonderfully in the 2025 Queensland Hanzi Character and Cultural Festival!

This fortnight we are looking at Bullying

• Be respectful and safe – Bullying
• Being an Upstander NOT a Bystander

Please read through this information and discuss it with your child/children.

 

What your child should do if they are bullied at school:

Use the High 5​

When they have gone through the High 5 and the person is still bullying, they need to REPORT to a trusted adult straight away.  

What you can do if your child is being bullied:

Schools can be much more effective when parents report bullying and support their efforts to deal with it.

If your child reports that bullying is occurring at school, or the bullying involves students from the school outside of school, you should let the school know the situation.

Working together with the school is the best way to help your child resolve bullying issues.

Schools will work with you to resolve the situation and will also work with the other student's parents. Due to privacy laws, they will not be able to share information about any other students involved.

Tips for contacting the school

Remain calm and focus on being constructive (even if you feel upset).

Prepare by:

• checking your school website for any information regarding their policy or procedures for managing bullying
• making a time to talk with your child's teacher, school counsellor or guidance officer
• writing notes (and any other records) based on what your child has told you so you can be as clear as possible about what happened.

Tips for working with school staff

Continue to be calm and constructive. In the first instance contact your child's teacher if possible.

During meetings with staff:

• refer to your written notes to be as clear as possible about what happened and write notes of the discussions with your child's teacher or other staff
• ask what steps will be taken and if a plan is to be developed with home and school strategies
• recognise that investigating the situation at school will require time
• keep a written record of when you contacted the school, who you have spoken with, and any agreements that were made
• stay in touch with the teacher and let them know if problems continue or something new happens.

If you are unable to achieve a satisfactory solution with the class teacher or counsellor, make an appointment to meet with the deputy principal or the principal.

Being and Upstander Not a Bystander!

 

Video Links

Parents

The Importance of Upstander Power

Students watched this Video at school

Be an Upstander - Prevent Bullying: A NED Short

What is a BYSTANDER?​

A bystander is someone who is watching the bullying take place. They can influence whether the behaviour continues and can also have long-term effects on the wellbeing of the person being bullied. ​

Someone making an effort to help can have a positive impact on the person being bullied. Most bystanders say that they would assist a person being bullied if they knew what they could do to make a difference. ​

Doing nothing about bullying sends a message to the bully that their behaviour is acceptable.​

A bystander can be a: ​

• reinforcer (laughing, cheering, encouraging) .​
• assistant (actively helping such as by blocking exits) ​
• outsider (silent observation that could be interpreted as approval) ​
• defender (active support for the person being bullied, also called an upstander).​

an upstander).​

What is an UPSTANDER?​

An upstander is someone who chooses to support a person who is being bullied. There are ways you can be an upstander. ​

Encourage your child to be an UPSTANDER!

This is how:

• Don’t laugh​
• Don’t encourage the bully in any way​
• Don’t participate​
• Stay at a safe distance and help the target get away​
• Don’t become an “audience” for the bully​
• Help the victim in any way you can​
• If you notice someone being isolated from others, invite them to join you​
• Include the victim in some of your activities​
• Tell an adult​

Well Done to our Students of the Month for September

Janine Muller

Classroom Teacher and PBL Communicator

INFLATABLE OBSTACLE FUNDRAISER - Tuesday 28th October

Only 1.5 weeks to go... how exciting! It’s going to be a fun-filled day with inflatables, water play, bubbles, and a visit from Monty the Monstar! We want every child to join in on the fun!

Have you signed up yet? Don’t wait — register and start fundraising today! Visit myprofilepage.com.au The more funds raised, the more prizes your child can win.

Our goal is to raise $30,000 for new Cold Water Fountains to keep everyone cool all year round. We’ve already reached $10,000 – thank you to everyone who’s started collecting. With the big event around the corner, please ask all your family and friends to support Robertson!

Enjoy these extra incentives:

Pizza Party for the class with the highest amount raised

Ice Blocks for the class and coffee vouchers for the teacher with the most sign ups

Wear white for colour, or dark clothes to stay clean. Bring a towel and change of clothes, and be ready for a fantastic afternoon!

Want to join in on the fun? Help us run the event - stationed at inflatables, spray the water soakers, MC, set up, etc volunteersignup.org/KPQPC

OUTDOOR MOVIE NIGHT – Friday 21^st November

Join us for a fun night under the stars as we celebrate an incredible 2025, Robertson-style!

Enjoy music, delicious food trucks, popcorn, sweet treats, and a family-friendly movie on our huge 12m x 9m screen!  Bring a picnic blanket and relax with our RSS families.

There’ll also be raffle prizes to win, so don’t miss out.

If you’d like to donate a prize or participate in sponsorship, please contact pcrobertsonss@gmail.com

Advertise your business on the BIG screen – only $50 per ad, visible on rotation prior to movie screening. Hurry, spaces are limited!

 

TUCKSHOP ASSISTANT

We’re looking for a friendly and reliable Tuckshop Assistant to join our busy team!

If you enjoy working in a fast-paced environment and love being part of our school community, we’d love to hear from you. For more details, please visit the P&C Association Facebook page https://facebook.com/pcrobertsonss

Please send your resume by Sunday, 19th October.

 

TUCKSHOP HELPERS NEEDED!

Our Tuckshop simply can't run without the help of amazing volunteers – and we’re always looking for more! Come and lend a hand to help feed our hungry kids and keep this much-loved service going strong.

Parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles – everyone’s welcome! It’s a great way to meet new people, or perhaps grab some friends for a fun morning? Your kids will LOVE seeing you ‘working’ at school. Plus, each volunteer (and their child) receives a free ice block or hot chocolate as a thank you.

Sign up here: https://volunteersignup.org/HCTXT

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

We're currently seeking business sponsors from within our community to support upcoming events and programs at the school. Gain meaningful exposure to our community as well as contribute to enhancing our school’s infrastructure and resources.

If you, or someone you know, owns a business that would like to get involved, please check out our Sponsorship Package at Robertson State School website (Follow to ‘Our Community’, then ‘P&C’) Sponsoring Robertson State School , or contact pcrobertsonss@gmail.com

STAY CONNECTED with us on Facebook!

We’d love for you to join our new Robertson State School P&C Association Facebook page! It’s the best place to stay updated on school events, P&C news and volunteer opportunities. Be part of our amazing community! Follow us: https://facebook.com/pcrobertsonss

Parents & Citizens Association

Robertson State School