Brookfield Banter 15/10/25

From the Principal - Leanne Duncan

Term 4 is well and truly underway...

We are back in the swing of routine, and our students have settled in well. As you will see below in Mrs McMillans article, next week our Senior Choir have accepted an invitation to sing at the Moggill electorate’s annual Seniors Morning Tea. Another fabulous opportunity for our Senior Choir!

Exciting Oktoberfest Week of Festivities!

Frau Raben working alongside the P&C are getting our school excited about a week of vibrant Oktoberfest activities next week!

A huge thank you in advance to Frau Raben, the P&C (Parents and Citizens Association), and the Oktoberfest Subcommittee, who have been hard at work planning a fun, educational, and culturally enriching activities for our students and event for our families. From traditional games and music to delicious food and hands-on cultural experiences, next week promises to be a fantastic celebration of German heritage and global understanding.

School Zone Signs - Flashing lights - Boscombe Road

Our school has been informed this week that the Department of Transport and Main Roads has completed a review of all school zones and identified road safety concerns within the Boscombe Road school zone at our school.

Brookfield State School will have flashing school zone signs on Boscombe Road installed as part of a Queensland Government commitment to improve school road safety. 

You will notice that the new signs look similar to standard school zone signs with the addition of a red flashing ring around the speed limit as well as two flashing yellow lights at the top of the sign. The installation of flashing light school zone signs is proven to improve visibility of school zones, serving as an active reminder for motorists to slow down.

So next time you’re dropping off or picking up your child, keep an eye out for the new signs and make sure you stick to the signed speed limit. This includes the safety school zone signs and supervised crossing on Brookfield Road.

Road safety is everyone's responsibility.

We have recently received concerning reports from members of our community about children in our BSS uniform not utilising the supervised school crossing.  This is a timely reminder that such actions put children at serious risk and must be avoided. 

We urge all parents, carers, and community members to prioritise safety by using designated crossings and modelling safe behaviour at all times. The safety of our students depends on the collective efforts of everyone in our school community.

From the Deputy Principal - Leah Cathcart

PBL: Positive Behaviour for Learning

This week, our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) focus is on Snake Safety. As the weather warms, snakes in our local area and school grounds are becoming more active. It’s important that all students learn and practise our school’s SHOUT Steps so they know how to respond calmly and safely if they ever see a snake.

At BSS, we remind students that our job is to stay safe by following rules and routines respectfully and responsibly. We will understand, remember and apply the SHOUT Steps confidently and calmly when needed.

Do you remember what the SHOUT Steps stand for?

• S – Shout “Snake!” and point
• H – Help – tell an adult
• O – Out of the way – move slowly and safely away
• U – Understand – don’t touch or approach
• T – Trained professional handles it

This week in our Classrooms

Prep – Year 2

Focus: Recognising and remembering the SHOUT Steps

• Read: “Sammy the Snake Visits School”
• Action Song / Chant: Create a rhythm/chant to remember SHOUT
• Movement Practice (Role-Play): “What should we do if we see a snake?”
• Class Reflection: Discuss: “What should we never do?”
• Extension / Follow-up: Students create colourful SHOUT safety posters for classrooms and play areas.

Years 3 and 4

Focus: Confidence and calmness in following SHOUT safely

• Review the Poster: Students read and explain each letter of SHOUT.
• Group Challenge: Small group roleplay to act out what to do safely using SHOUT.
• Discussion: Why is it important to tell an adult?
• Extension / Follow-up: Create SHOUT safety posters; consolidate learning with group reflections on what went well and what could be improved.

Years 5 and 6

Focus: Responsibility, leadership and safety communication

• Discussion: What might younger students do if they saw a snake? How could you model calm and safe behaviour?
• SHOUT Debrief: Analyse each step and why it matters. Identify what not to do.
• Scenario Problem-Solving: Small groups write or perform a mini-sketch using a positive SHOUT response.
• Peer Feedback: Evaluate: Was the response calm? Clear? Safe?
• Leadership Link: Discuss how older students can remind and support younger ones during breaks if something happens.
• Extension / Follow-up: Poster creation for display around school.

By practising these age-appropriate activities, our students will be more confident, calm and responsible when responding to snakes — keeping themselves and others safe.

Parent Discussion Starter

Families can help reinforce this week’s learning at home by chatting about snake safety together:

“What would you do if you saw a snake in the yard or on the path?”
Encourage your child to explain the SHOUT Steps and practise what calm and safe behaviour looks like. This helps build confidence and ensures consistent safety messages between home and school.

Year 1 – “Fire Safe Kids”

Our Year 1 cohort were delighted to welcome the crew from Pullenvale Fire Station this week.

Our thanks to the Pullenvale Fire and Rescue crew for supporting our students in developing their Fire Safety knowledge and understanding.

🔥 Year 1 – Fire Safety Learning! 🚒

This week, our Year 1 students took part in important Fire Safety learning experiences to help them stay safe in an emergency.

💡 Students learnt to:

• Understand what to do in case of a fire 🔥
• Build awareness of safe and unsafe fire behaviours 🚫
• Contact emergency services (000) ☎️
• Become familiar with firefighters and their safety equipment 👩‍🚒👨‍🚒

🧯 They also practised:

• “Get down low and go, go, go!” – crawling safely under smoke 🚶‍♂️
• “Stop, drop and roll!” – what to do if clothing catches fire 🌀
• How to safely exit a building 🏃‍♀️➡️🏡

💬 Key Safety Messages:

✅ Fire is not a toy.
✅ If there’s smoke — get down low and go!
✅ 000 is the emergency number to call.
✅ Firefighters are safe helpers.
✅ Practise your family’s fire escape plan at home

Homework with parents:

1. Check if there are working smoke detectors in your home and make sure your child knows what they sound like.
2. Help your child learn their home address (in case they ever need to call 000).
3. Discuss your family’s fire escape plan – this should show at least two different ways to get out of the house and a safe meeting place (usually near the letterbox).

Ready-Set-Prep 2026 is Underway

We were thrilled to welcome over 30 kindy friends and parents to our first “Stay & Play” session on Monday! It was wonderful to see so many happy faces exploring our Junior Playground and meeting the Year 4 Buddies of 2026. We’re now looking forward to our first “Chatting Children” session this Friday. We are delighted with the wonderful support for our Ready-Set-Prep 2026 transition opportunities as our future Preppies take their first steps into big school life💚💛💚

👋 “Stay & Play” (9:00–9:30am) - 20, 27 October; 3, 10 November

Where: Junior Playground
On arrival, please enter via the main entrance near the office.

• Follow the coloured arrows to the junior playground to sign in, meet our staff and the Year 4 Buddies of 2026.
• Children are encouraged to wear a hat and bring a small snack to enjoy in the Prep Shed.

👉 Click Here to indicate your attendance for next week’s session.

🗣️ “Chatting Children” (9:00–9:30am) - 24, 31 October; 7, 14 November

Where: CPA2 Undercover Play Area & Prep Classroom
On arrival, please enter via the main entrance near the office.

• Follow the coloured arrows to the undercover play area (in front of the tuckshop) to sign in, meet our staff and the Year 4 Buddies of 2026.
  👉Click Here to indicate your attendance for next week’s session.

We can’t wait to begin this exciting journey as our future Preppies take their first steps into big school life!

What’s coming up:

🌿 Prep C visits Brookfield Kindy: Wednesday 22 October
🧑‍🏫 Staff visits to Kindy/Early Ed Centres
🎨 “Stay & Play” Mondays – Oct 20, 27 & Nov 3, 10
🗣️ “Chatting Children” Fridays – Oct 17, 24, 31 & Nov 7, 14
👕 Uniform fittings – Term 4 (bookings via email)
🤝 Meet & Greet interviews – Nov 21 & 22
📬 Welcome Packs – December

Stay connected:

👍 Like the BSS & BSS P&C Facebook Pages
📑 Share your child’s Kindy Transition Statement
📩 Check emails for date claimers, updates & booking links

We look forward to welcoming our 2026 students and families next week!

Prep Hearing Screening

Research shows that hearing difficulties can have a significant impact on a child’s ability to learn. Children with hearing loss may experience speech and language delays, educational challenges, and behavioural difficulties, often requiring additional support at school. Because a child’s hearing can change over time, it’s important to monitor their hearing even if they have passed a previous screening.

Today, with parent consent, our prep students participated in hearing screening conducted by the University of Queensland (UQ) Team, who visited our school as part of this valuable program.

BSS has proudly engaged and funded this service for several years, receiving positive feedback and excellent outcomes. This initiative is one of the many ways we support early identification and intervention to enhance our students’ health, growth, development, and learning💚💛💚

To learn more about the services provided by the UQ Health Clinics, visit:
🔗 https://health-clinics.uq.edu.au/

From the Deputy Principal - Katie Lewis

Screen Sanity - Parent Session

How much technology is too much for children? Can families ever find a balance in this new era of constant digital connectedness? The latest thinking across multiple sectors, says we need to, and we must.  Brought to Brisbane in 2021, not-for-profit Screen Sanity Australia, supports families to navigate this era of digital overwhelm for parents, caregivers, and most importantly, children. 

The Screen Sanity Parent Workshop’ raises awareness about healthy technology use, igniting the flame for the beginning of a movement that can speak to everyone.  It is not anti-tech, it is about finding balance in this new landscape.  This casual but informative workshop has received 100% positive feedback from all attendees.

During the two hour workshop, parents and care givers are taken through a series of videos and group discussions.  You will leave the workshop with actionable tools and resources to support your children and gain the motivation to create your family’s unique digital health plan.  Also, the acknowledgement that you are not alone with these challenges – everyone is feeling it! 

The workshop will run on Tuesday October 28th, from 6:00 - 8:00pm in the school hall. Brookfield State School is covering the cost of the workshop, you just need to purchase your handbook at $18. Sign up here.

Please visit https://screensanity.org.au/training/screen-sanity-parent-workshop/ to learn more about the workshop. 

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) - Year 3 in 2026

Students in Year 3 have the option of being involved in our Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Program.  Year 2 families have been sent an email this week with additional information and related documents. 

What is the BYOD Program?

At Brookfield, students are invited to participate in the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Program from Year 3 onwards. This is optional for parents to engage with, and we also have school devices in each classroom for students to access if required. We have sent our BYOD Parent Information for Year 3 2026 to support parents with more information around the overview of the BYOD Program along with the finer details related to the devices we encourage and support for student use.  Further information on how students are encouraged to use the device, along with school parameters can be found on our website. 

How/Where/When Do I Purchase a Device?

To assist with purchase of a device, we have again worked with JB HiFi to create a purchasing portal for parents to access if they choose to do so.  This portal includes two devices with related accessories for purchase, along with warranty and insurance options. 

If you wish to purchase your child’s device through the JB HiFi Portal, please visit this link: Education - JB Hi-Fi Education and enter the code: Brookfield2025. If you are intending to buy your child a device, we encourage you to place your order early, due to potential device shortages. 

Which Device Do I Purchase?

Many parents take up the JB HiFi option, and some choose to arrange their own purchase. Either way is fine, as long as the device meets our specifications:

Minimum Specifications:

• Operating System: Windows 11 Home/Pro
• Processor: Ryzen 3 or Intel i3
• Memory: 8gb RAM
• Storage: 128gb SSD
• Screen size: 13”

Preferred Specifications (longevity):

• Operating System: Windows 11 Home/Pro
• Processor: Ryzen 5 or Intel i5
• Memory: 16gb RAM
• Storage: 256gb SSD
• Screen size: 13"

Leadership Lounge - Year 5

Last week we launched our Leadership Lounge with two sessions, attended by all students in Year 5.

Our first session was an Introductory Session presented by Mrs Lewis, with our Year 5 students asking many questions and showing their eagerness to learn more about being a leader at Brookfield. Our second session provided our current Year 6 Student Captains with an opportunity to share with our current Year 5 students. The Year 6 students spoke about the highlights of their role, the challenges of their role and to answer any questions our Year 5 students had. This was a fantastic session which will definitely help our Year 5 students to clarify which role/s to apply for in the coming weeks.

This week, we begin our Lunchtime Lounge Sessions with our first presenter, Laura Geitz. 

Sports News

ALL SCHOOLS TABLE TENNIS

Congratulations to our 14 players who represented Brookie at the Queensland All Schools Table Tennis Tournament last Friday. You did us proud and played your hearts out, well done

DIV 2 - 3RD - Will & Seb

HOPES DIV - 3RD - David & Arlo

AQUATHLON and TRIATHLON

A huge well done to all the students who represented Brookfield at the All Schools Triathlon and Aquathlon event at Kawana.

Primary Aquathlon (7–9 years)

• Sam J – 🥈 2nd overall
• Eliza S – 18th

10/11 Years Aquathlon – Boys Met West 

• Noel J – 7th
• Freddy S – 10th

10/11 Years Aquathlon – Girls Met West 

• Mia P – 🥉 3rd
• Evelyn V – 5th

12/13 Years Triathlon

• George J – 8th (Met West)
• Thomas Mc – 7th (Met East)

We are incredibly proud of all these students for their effort, resilience and sportsmanship. Well done, Brookfield! 💙💛

Arbor Day

Thanks to the Brisbane City Council for providing us with plants for Arbor Day. We planted these out on Tuesday, with the help of our Environmental Captains and some other Year 6 students.

From the Head of Curriculum - Lisa McKay

Day for Daniel – Friday 31 October 2025

On Friday 31 October, our school will participate in Day for Daniel, Australia’s largest child safety education and awareness day. Students are encouraged to wear red to show their support and to help spread the important message of keeping kids safe. Throughout the day, classes will take part in Australia’s Biggest Child Safety Lesson, focusing on teaching children how to recognise unsafe situations, react confidently, and report to trusted adults. This national event helps students learn valuable personal safety skills in an age-appropriate way. Together, we will take this opportunity to strengthen our shared commitment to child safety and empower students to look after themselves and others.

Office News

Potential ACM (asbestos containing material)

It was brought to our attention recently that there was a potential piece of ACM (asbestos containing material) located in the clean fill dump piles behind the school administration building.

This was immediately passed on to the Brookfield Recreation Reserve Trust who responded and advised a small fragment of material showing characteristics consistent with asbestos cement sheeting was identified adjacent to the soil pile and removed. 

There are signs alert our community of   - Enter at your own risk - This is not school property. Whilst the Brookfield Recreation Reserve Trust supports a throughfare, respectfully request that families and children do not play on the dirt piles.

Thank you for your assistance in this matter.

Bird Watch

As you may be aware, we have quite a few plovers and curlew's nesting around the school. Students have been reminded to leave the birds alone, to stay away from the roped off areas and to inform a staff member if they are swooping. We are fortunate to share our school with these beautiful animals, though we all need to stay vigilant when encountering them. If you can, please take the time at home to share this message with your children. Thank you for your assistance in keeping our students and wildlife safe. 

Leaving Students

Planning for 2026 is already underway! If your child will be leaving our school at the end of this year (and isn’t a Year 6 student heading to high school), we kindly ask that you complete our Student Exit Form below to help us keep our records up to date.

Office Hours

• Monday, 8:00am - 3:30pm
• Tuesday to Friday, 8:00am - 4:00pm

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us at admin@brookfieldss.eq.edu.au

Permissions and Payments

Below is a list of past and upcoming excursions and incursions for 2025. We have noticed a number of outstanding invoices. If your child has participated in any of the activities listed and you are unsure whether payment has been made, you can:

• Log in to your QParents account (if you are the financial account holder) to check
• Contact the office on (07) 3374 7333 to confirm your account balance
• Email the office requesting an account statement
• Visit the office in person to make payment

Please note, in line with Education Queensland guidelines, payments cannot be processed over the phone. Account statements are emailed fortnightly to the financial account holder.

Payments Methods

The following are the payment methods available to you for your child/ren's invoices.

• BPoint
• EFTPOS
• Cash
• QParents
• Qkr

The link below will direct you to the BPoint payment system. This can also be found at the bottom of any invoice and statement. If you use the link provided below you will need to enter your details manually.

Absences

Reporting an absence

Parents can report their student's absence via the following options:

• QParents 
• Email - absences@brookfieldss.eq.edu.au
• Phone - 07 3374 7333 option 1

Any absence that is more than 10 consecutive school days must be requested via an exemption form to be approved by the principal prior to the absence. Please see the link below for more information about why an exemption is required from compulsory schooling 

Unexplained Absences

To avoid having unexplained absences listed on your child/rens school report, please ensure any absences are corrected by informing office staff on the day of absence. These can also be updated via the QParents app.

Late Arrival and Early Pick Up

We ask that all parents please bring their student/s via the office if arriving after 8:55am to ensure they are signed in, which will update their absence on the roll. Please note that even if you have emailed Admin advising your student/s will be late it is still mandatory that they are brought to the office to sign in.

If you need to collect your child/ren early (before 2:55pm) please ensure that you email both your class teacher and Admin.

Please note ALL STUDENTS must come to the main office to be collected prior to 2:55pm, unless confirmed otherwise by Admin.

Ensuring your student/s sign in and out of school correctly is for their safety. We thank you for your understanding.

2025 Term Dates

• Term 1: Tuesday 28 January to Friday 4 April—10 weeks.
• Term 2: Tuesday 22 April to Friday 27 June—10 weeks.
• Term 3: Monday 14 July to Friday 19 September—10 weeks.
• Term 4: Tuesday 7 October to Friday 12 December—10 weeks

2026 Term Dates

• Term 1: Tuesday 27 January to Thursday 2 April—10 weeks
• Term 2: Monday 20 April to Friday 26 June—10 weeks
• Term 3: Monday 13 July to Friday 18 September—10 weeks
• Term 4: Tuesday 6 October to Friday 11 December—10 weeks

Community Calendar - Term 4

From the Social Worker - Mrs D

As children move through the tween years, they experience many changes in their friendships, emotions, and confidence. It can be an exciting time, but also one that brings new challenges. Simply checking in with your tween doesn’t have to be a big conversation — often the best chats happen while driving, walking the dog, or cooking dinner together. Try gentle, open-ended questions like “How are things going with your friends?” or “What’s something that’s been on your mind lately?”

Listening without judgment helps your child feel heard and supported. Even if they don’t say much, knowing you’re available and interested makes a big difference. Small, caring check-ins remind them they’re not alone as they grow and change.

Michelle Mitchell has an insightful article on what our Tweens want us to know.

Happy reading,

https://michellemitchell.org/five-things-tweens-what-us-to-know/

German News

Week 3 is our German Oktoberfest week at Brookfield SS.

Did you know …?

The first Oktoberfest dates back over 200 years when a party and a horse race was held to celebrate the marriage of Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese.

Since then, the wedding party has been celebrated yearly and has become the largest funfair in the world!

Did you know …?

The traditional German outfit is called ‘Tracht’.

Traditionally, Ladies wear a ‘Dirndl’ and Gents wear a ‘Lederhose’.

But nowadays, German Tracht is a style that anyone can wear -any time!

Checkout the ‘How to dress in Tracht’ page from our Oktoberfest supporter Schnucki Dirndl und Lederhosen.

And check out their ad below for a special BSS Oktoberfest discount code BSS025 so you can dress like a Bavarian.

How is BSS learning about the biggest German festival?

Tuesday 21 – German Food Day coordinated by the Tuckshop – order now on Flexi Schools

Friday 24 – German Oktoberfest activities for each year level

• 10:15-11:00am Prep Oktoberfest story, song, craft activity
• 11:45am-12:30pm Year 1 Oktoberfest story, song, craft activity
• 12:30-1:15pm Years 2&3 Oktoberfest story, song, craft activity
• 1:50-2:50pm Years 4-6 OktoberFESTIVITIES

Friday 24 - family event Oktoberfest in the BSS Hall 5:00-8:30pm

• dress up in ‘Tracht’
• live German band playing music straight out of Munich for dancing – kids included!
• Alpenrosen group displaying Alpine bell ringing and German ‘Schuhplattler’ dance
• interactive German hat dance – come and learn how!
• German Heritage photo display
• food … drinks … gingerbread, pretzels… and more …!

Inclusion News

Inclusion Spotlight – Hearing Impairment

Understanding Hearing Impairment in Children: What Every Parent and Educator Should Know

Hearing is a vital sense that plays a crucial role in a child’s development, especially in language acquisition, social skills, and learning. Hearing impairment in children can sometimes go unnoticed, but early detection and intervention are key to helping children thrive both academically and socially.

What is Hearing Impairment?

Hearing impairment refers to a partial or total inability to hear sounds in one or both ears. It can range from mild to profound and may be present at birth or develop later due to illness, injury, or other factors.

Signs to Watch For

Parents and teachers should be alert to signs such as:

• Difficulty understanding speech, especially in noisy environments
• Frequently asking for repetition or turning up the volume on devices
• Delayed speech and language development
• Lack of response to sounds or a sudden change in behaviour regarding hearing

Impact on Learning and Social Development

Children with hearing loss may face challenges in language comprehension and communication, which can affect their performance in school and social interactions. Without support, these children might experience frustration, isolation, or behavioural issues.

What Can Be Done?

Early screening and diagnosis are essential. Audiologists can assess a child’s hearing and recommend appropriate interventions, which might include hearing aids, cochlear implants, speech therapy, or special education services. Additionally, creating an inclusive classroom environment with clear communication and assistive technologies can make a significant difference. Please also discuss your concerns with your child’s teacher as many accommodations in the classroom can be implemented.

How We Can Help

As a school community, it is important to raise awareness, support affected children, and foster understanding among peers. If you suspect your child might have hearing difficulties, we encourage you to seek professional advice promptly.

Together, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed and communicate effectively.

Our Prep hearing screener will be administered this week to children whose families consent to this.

The Inclusion Team – Ben Williams, Anna Vella & Steph Weigel

Music News

Moggill Electorate's Annual Seniors Morning Tea

Our Senior Choir has received an invitation from Dr Christian Rowan and Cr Greg Adermann to sing at the Moggill electorate’s annual Seniors Morning Tea next week. This is a wonderful opportunity for the group to sing in our wider community and show how fabulous they are. Families should have received both an email and a QParents notification yesterday with details about the morning. Please note that the turnaround time for getting permissions back is short and are due this Friday. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Melissa McMillan.

Metropolitan Honours Choral Program

Next week, five of our Year 6 Senior Choir members are heading off to represent Brookfield SS at the Metropolitan Honours Choral program. While there, they will join with students from across Brisbane for three days to work with highly regarded conductors to learn songs and experience singing at a higher level than is normally achievable in individual schools, culminating in a concert for parents and friends on Thursday evening. We wish Imani, Amelia, Sophia, Layla and Ewan all the best for their time there and look forward to hearing about their experiences.

DATE CLAIMER

Our big end of year Music Extravaganza concert date has been put onto the calendar as Tuesday Nov 25. We split the evening into 2 sections – Junior (running from 5:45 – 6:15pm) and Senior (6:30 – 7:30pm). Every music ensemble in the school will play a part – in total, around 200 students. The Junior part of the evening will feature the Junior and Intermediate Choirs, the Junior Band and the Beginner Strings. The Senior section will have the Senior Choir, Senior Band, Senior Strings and the Yr 5 and 6 Marimba groups. At both parts of the evening, we will be presenting awards to our most outstanding students to recognise their commitment and achievements throughout the year. It is a wonderful celebration of music in our school, so mark the date in your calendar and we’ll see you all there.

Strings Program News

Senior String Ensemble

A friendly reminder for students to arrive by 7:45am, with their instruments and music so we can make the most of our rehearsal time together!

Students should continue practising “Teeth” and “High Seas Adventure”, and start learning our exciting new piece, “Jumpin’ Jellybeans”.

Junior String Ensemble

Well done to our Junior Strings students who completed their assessment this week. Those who haven't will do so next week. Keep up the great work!

Thank you,
Mrs. Ellen Harle
Strings Teacher

Band Program News

A reminder that Band lessons will recommence as of next Tuesday, 21 October 2025. 

All the best.

Mr Damon Lougheed
Instrumental Music Instructor

Library News

We are excited to be celebrating Oktoberfest in library displays and makerspace lunchtime activities!

New books and series are on display and available for student borrowing each week this term.

Helping Hands News

Extra-Curricular Calendar - Term 4

Community News

Rhee Tae Kwon-Do

Exciting news! Rhee Tae Kwon-Do is offering an exclusive 50% discount on October fees for Brookfield SS families! Don’t miss out on this amazing offer — simply scan the QR code on the flyer to sign up today!