Friday Flash Term 3, Week 5 - 15th August, 2025
From the Principal
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
A sea of purple filled our school today as we recognised Bullying. No Way! Week.
Our Guidance Officer, Mrs Selina Box, shared some powerful reminders at our whole school assembly:
It’s important to stop bullying, but even more important to choose what to do instead — choose kindness.
Kindness is powerful — like sunlight, it warms those around us and never runs out.
Being kind is shown through everyday actions: including others, sharing, listening, and helping.
Kindness can change how we feel and improve relationships, even with those who have hurt us.
Every person has the power to make someone’s day better — even a small act can make a big difference.
Make kindness your superpower — use words to build, not break, and actions to help, not hurt.
This week, our focus school expectation has been including others in games, which links directly to one of our core values — being friendly.
I encourage parents to talk with their children at home about the key messages of the 2025 Bullying. No Way! Week, to help reinforce and support the learning that has taken place at school.
It’s important to remember that children will sometimes have disagreements at school. A big part of primary school is learning how to navigate friendships, manage social situations, and develop a toolbox of strategies for life. This year, we introduced the Problem-Solving Wheel to give students practical strategies they can use in the playground when playing with friends.
Next week, we celebrate Book Week with our annual costume parade on Wednesday from 9:00am in the Hangar. Don’t forget to also check out the amazing big books our students have created, which will be on display at Yamanto. Also Skate Night that night!
We love celebrating our students — both at school and when they achieve great things outside of school!
If your child has an achievement to share, please send it to us so we can celebrate it in our newsletter.
Very exciting news our new oval playground should be open in time for next week's Flashtastic Friday!
Have a great week!
Warm regards,
Kelli Harvey
Principal
Wellbeing and Engagement
🌟 PBL Expectation of the Week – “We are learners when we keep our problems small”
At Amberley District State School, we support students to be safe, respectful, and friendly learners. One way we do this is by using the PAUSE process to help children calm down before solving problems. You can use these same steps at home to help your child manage big emotions in a safe and positive way.
The PAUSE Process Steps
When your child feels upset, frustrated, or angry, guide them through these steps:
Shake the Mind Jar – Imagine or use a real jar with glitter in water to show how thoughts can settle.
Take 3 Deep Breaths – Slow, deep breathing to calm the body.
Have a Drink of Water – A short break that helps the brain reset.
Name the Feeling – “I’m feeling… sad / angry / disappointed.”
Go to the Calm Down Area – A safe space to reset.
Go for a Walk – Gentle movement to help release tension.
After PAUSE – Solving the Problem
Once your child feels calmer, you can use the Problem-Solving Wheel together:
Ignore it
Walk away
Talk it out
Take turns
Ask for help
Apologise
Putting Things into Perspective
Help your child think about the size of the problem:
Is it a small problem I can solve myself?
Is it a medium problem I might need help with?
Is it a big problem where I need an adult right away?
At Home You Can:
Practise the PAUSE steps when little frustrations happen.
Role-play common tricky situations.
Praise your child when they calm down before reacting.
Model the PAUSE process yourself.
By using the same language and strategies at home, we can help children build resilience, confidence, and positive problem-solving skills that will benefit them at school and in life.
School Attendance
Our School attendance rate is currently 90.1%. Our goal is 95%.
Students should who had soaring attendance for the term should have received a purple certificate today!
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 1C and 6A for winning the highest attendance this week! These classes will be the first to play on our new playground next week when it opens!
Payments Due
Music News
Congratulations to these students who achieved Band Karate Level 1 in instrumental music lessons
Save the Date
📅 Term 3 Key Dates
📅 Upcoming Events at ADSS
📚 14–22 August – Book Fair (Library)
🚫🗣️ 15 August – Bullying. No Way! Day
🏃♀️🏆 15–16 August – District Athletics
🛼 20 August – Skate Night @ Bundamba Skateaway
📖🎭 20 August – Book Week Parade (Come dressed as your favourite character!)
👩🏫👨👧 26 August – Parent/Teacher Conversations
🛍️ 27–29 August – Father’s Day Stall
🏕️ 1–3 September – Year 6 Camp @ Warrawee
📌 5 September – Pupil Free Day
🏕️ 8–10 September – Year 5 Camp
🏊♂️ 8–12 September – Year 1 Swimming @ McMahon’s Swim Factory
💛 11 September – R U OK? Day Wear yellow
📸 15 September – Extra-curricular School Photos (Hall)
🏫🎉 19 September – Open Classrooms: Celebration of Learning
🌟 19 September – Last Day of Term 3
📌 Please note: Dates are subject to change. Keep an eye on school updates!
Library News
📚 Premier’s Reading Challenge is Underway!
Amberley students are encouraged to log the books they read between 6 May and 22 August as part of the 2025 Premier’s Reading Challenge. Books read during daily 20-minute reading homework can be included!
✅ Prep–Year 2: 20 books (read or experienced)
✅ Years 3–4: 20 books
✅ Years 5–9: 15 books
📘 Need a new reader record form? Visit the library.
📖 Book ideas: https://prc.median.com.au/BookList
Completed forms are due 25 August. Let’s keep reading, Amberley!
Flash's Favourites
Brielle and Emelia have been donating their time for the past 2 years to Eat up Australia! They get up at 5am on a Thursday morning every 3 weeks to help make 5000 sandwiches for 30 schools around Ipswich. We then deliver these to Churchill and Amberley School! Here are a few pics from last weeks efforts!
Soaring Students in the Community
Each year, Amberley District State School creates Big Books for display at Yamanto Central! Our Arts Captains, Millie and Immy, also recorded a special promo — well done, girls! 👏
A huge congratulations to everyone involved in creating these beautiful artworks. 🎨✨
Yamanto Central
Week 5
Sport News
These hard working athletes won the interschool sports competition 2025. Last week the girls represented our school at Met west in Brisbane. They had a lot of fun and came third in the competition.
Friendly Reminders
