Friday Flash Week 2 - 2nd May, 2025
From the Principal
Hi Everyone,
We’ve had a fantastic full week of learning, topped off with our Flashtastic Friday Assembly! It’s been wonderful to see our Prep students joining in with the whole school.
🎉 Flash’s Birthday
Next week we’ll be celebrating the birthday of our beloved school mascot, Flash! To mark the occasion, we’re holding a Walk to School event from Stallard Park, followed by Flashtastic Friday activities with a birthday theme.
We’d love for you to join us—meet at Stallard Park at 8:15am on Friday for the walk.
💐 Mother’s Day Stall
Our annual Mother’s Day Stall will be held on Wednesday and Thursday next week, with an extra opportunity before school on Friday.
Children will be able to visit the stall during class time. Please send your child to school with money if they wish to purchase a gift. Check the timetable below for class visit times. Gifts range in price from $1 to $15.
📚 Premier’s Reading Challenge
This year we’re excited to be part of the Premier’s Reading Challenge! Every child will receive a reading record sheet to log the books they read.
The PRC is not a competition but a way to encourage students to develop a love of reading for life. Students are encouraged to select a range of fiction and non-fiction books suited to their reading ability and record books read during the reading period, from 6 May to 22 August. Enclosed is a reader record form to tally book read throughout the challenge.
To complete the challenge:
- Prep to Year 2 must read or experience at least 20 books
- Years 3 and 4 must read at least 20 books
- Years 5 to 9 must read at least 15 books.
Experiencing books can include shared reading, listening to stories, or reading picture books. The aim for the 2025 challenge is to encourage students to make time to read. Last year saw more than 216,000 children from around the state participate.
Key dates | Activity |
6 May – 22 August
| Reading period for Prep to Year 9 students |
25 August | Student reader record forms submitted to teacher |
3 – 14 November | Premier's Reading Challenge Celebration Weeks |
Book suggestions are available on the PRC website:
https://prc.median.com.au/BookList
Every student who completes the challenge, and returns the completed record reader form, will receive a Certificate of Achievement. I look forward to seeing as many of our students as possible take part in the 2025 Premier’s Reading Challenge.
Children who complete the challenge will receive an official certificate. We’ll also be running fun competitions for students who read the most books—books read for homework count too!
👕 Uniform Reminder
With the cooler mornings arriving, many students have started wearing jumpers to school. A friendly reminder that we are a uniform school:
Students must wear either a school jumper and track pants or a plain royal blue jumper and track pants.
Long hair (touching the collar) must be tied back with plain school-coloured hair accessories.
For safety reasons, children should not wear necklaces, bracelets, or dangly earrings.
If your child is unable to wear the correct uniform, please send a note to their class teacher.
👏 Student Achievements
Congratulations to our students who represented Amberley District State School at the Zone Cross Country and through the EcoMarines Queens Park and Tangalooma experiences. You were wonderful role models and demonstrated SOARING school spirit!
🏫 Celebrating 15 Years at Our Current Campus
This year marks Amberley District State School’s 15th anniversary since relocating from the RAAF Base to our current site. To celebrate this milestone:
We’re installing a new honour board in the front office, proudly funded by our P&C.
Families have the opportunity to design a commemorative brick to be laid in the school grounds.
Please check your child’s homework pouch for more information or visit the school office for details.
Thanks for your continued support in making our school a place where children can soar!
Kind Regards,
Kelli Harvey
Principal
What's On Next Week
- Monday: Labour Day public holiday - no school this day
- Tuesday: Strings Ensemble 7:50am. Book Club due
- Wednesday: Boys soccer training. Choir 1st break. Band 2nd Break. Netball training 3.10 - 4pm in hall. Mother's Day Stall.
- Thursday: Rugby league training 8am. Girl's soccer training first/second break on oval. Little Jets 9am in Base. Lunchtime disco. Mother's Day Stall
- Friday: Flash's Birthday: Walk to School 8.15am. Mother's Day Stall (before school). Flashtastic Friday Assembly 9am. Flashtastic Fun Time 1:50pm. Interschool Sport.
We also have Breakfast Club and Running Club every morning!
Wellbeing and Engagement
Defence Mentor
School Attendance
Our School attendance rate is currently 91.9%. Our goal is 95%.
Students who have 95% or above attendance each term will receive a SOARING attendance certificate.
Please contact your year level Deputy Principal, if you need support with attendance at school. Unexplained absence letters are deployed twice a term. You can update attendance through the QParents app.
Congratulations to 3A and 5B who had the highest attendance this week!
Payments Due
Save the Date
📅 5 May – Labour Day Public Holiday
No school on this day. Enjoy the long weekend!
🛍️ 7, 8 & 9 May – Mother’s Day Stall
Students can purchase a small gift from our school stalls to spoil someone special for Mother’s Day.
🎂👟 9 May – Flash’s Birthday: Walk to School Day
Help celebrate our school mascot Flash's birthday by walking from Stallard Park to ADSS. A fun and healthy start to the day!
📅 16 May – Ipswich Show Holiday
School closed for the Ipswich public holiday.
🐝 20 May – World Bee Day
A chance to learn about the importance of bees and biodiversity!
🎨 23 May – Early Years Expo
Prep to Year 2 students will enjoy a fun community day full of early learning activities.
👁️ 26–28 May – Prep Vision Screening
Queensland Health will be conducting vision tests for Prep students. Parent consent is required.
🏉 28 May – Jersey Day
Wear your favourite team jersey to show your sporting spirit!
🦁 29 May – Year 4 Excursion to Darling Downs Zoo
A wild learning adventure for our Year 4 students!
🌏 🐠 5 June – Ecomarines: World Environment Day
Celebrating sustainability and marine life with our Ecomarines.
📸 10 & 11 June – School Photos
Sibling, class, and individual photos will be taken. More information to come soon.
🎶 11 June – Music Alfresco
Students will showcase their musical talents in a relaxed outdoor setting for families to enjoy.
Sport News
Student Council
Flash's Favourites
Who said school and learning couldn't be fun? Between Star Lab, Zones, Interschool Sports and Ecomarines - we think our students had an engaging week at school!
Week 2
Friendly Reminders
Don't forget to download the Schoolzine App to so you can access all school communications in a centralised location. Please click here to find instructions on SZapp app installation. After you select Amberley District State School enter PassCode 7242. There is also a link to the left to download.
