Brookfield Banter 22/10/25

From the Principal - Leanne Duncan

Brookie Kids Shine with so many opportunities!

At Brookie, learning extends well beyond the classroom – and last week was a perfect example!

 From STEM superstars, Brilliant Brookie Reading, Leadership Lounge sessions to our Senior Choir today!

Our talented Senior Choir was honoured with an invitation to perform at the annual Seniors Morning Tea. Their beautiful performance brought smiles and joy to our senior community members, showcasing not just their musical talent, but also the spirit of connection and kindness that Brookie students are known for.

These events highlight just some of the wide range of opportunities our students are offered – encouraging creativity, community involvement, and a love of learning in every form.

Have you registered for Playgroup this week?

We would love to see you there! Prep 2026 families have been emailed this week for an additional opportunity Brookie offers to meet one of our Teachers, Mrs Hogg, and to connect with others in our community!

Nature and Safety!

Brookfield State School is fortunate enough to be surrounded by nature and open spaces! 

As part of our ongoing commitment to providing a safe and beautiful environment for our students, staff, and families, our school recently undertook a comprehensive arborist report to assess the health and safety of the trees across our site.

Trees not only provide essential shade, fresh air, and natural beauty; however, they must be regularly monitored. With recent years extreme weather events, trees have been monitored above the recommended annual timeframe. some recent years every three months. An arborist —trained in tree health and safety—has carefully inspected our school grounds to identify any risks, such as unstable branches or trees affected by disease or pests.  These inspections help inform our maintenance schedules and prevent potential hazards while ensuring that our natural spaces continue to thrive and offer a calm, inspiring atmosphere for learning and play.

If any trees require pruning or removal, it will be done sensitively and in line with environmental guidelines, with a focus on preserving our beautiful landscape for future generations. Currently, there will be three trees identified by this report to be removed by the end of the year.

The Week of Oktoberfest!

As you can see from the images, stories and reels on Facebook or the articles and photos in this week's Banter - students and staff are enjoying Oktoberfest activities!

Oktoberfest Fun for our Students on Friday!

Will we see you at Oktoberfest?

Thank you for supporting the P&C and Frau Raben to attend and/or lending a hand. 

From the Deputy Principal - Leah Cathcart

PBL Focus: Respect During Oktoberfest Week

This week at BSS, our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) focus is RESPECT — as we celebrate and value different cultures, languages, beliefs, and traditions during Oktoberfest Week 2025!

Throughout the week, students are learning that:

• Language is the words people speak.
• Culture is the way people live their lives.

In Australia, we are fortunate to experience the languages and cultures of others through fun celebrations like Oktoberfest. At BSS, this long-standing tradition gives our students the opportunity to learn about and enjoy German culture in meaningful ways.

On Friday 24 October, our school will welcome:

• Visiting German teachers running classroom activities
• Parents and helpers assisting with the evening event preparations

At BSS, we show Respect by:

✅ Welcoming visitors with a smile and polite greeting
✅ Asking and answering questions respectfully
✅ Listening carefully to instructions and information
✅ Using our manners — saying “please” and “thank you”

We look forward to a week filled with learning, music, dancing, delicious food, and fun! Thank you to everyone involved in making Oktoberfest such a special celebration of culture and community.

Reading Celebrations

The Joy of Reading in Prep and Year 1

At BSS, we know that reading every day is one of the most powerful ways to support a child’s learning and development. In Prep and Year 1, our students are building the important literacy foundations that set them up for success — not just in reading and writing, but across all areas of learning.

Each day, our young learners approach reading with curiosity, excitement, and pride. Whether they’re sounding out new words, sharing a favourite story with a friend, or celebrating their growing independence, it’s wonderful to see the joy on their faces as they unlock the magic of books.

Daily reading helps children develop confidence, comprehension, vocabulary, and a love of learning. Most importantly, it nurtures a lifelong positive attitude toward learning — one that continues well beyond the early years of school.

At BSS, we know that daily reading builds the strong literacy foundations essential for lifelong learning success. Our Prep and Year 1 students are filled with pride and excitement as they discover the magic of reading — growing in confidence, curiosity, and a love of learning each day.

Reaching the 100 and 200 Nights of Reading milestones is a very important and proudly celebrated achievement for our youngest learners. Teachers and parents share the joy and responsibility of supporting, encouraging, and celebrating each child’s enthusiasm and perseverance as they take these important first steps on their reading journey.

Buddies at BSS

 The Value of Our Buddy System at BSS

At Brookfield State School, our Buddy System is an important and much-loved tradition that connects our older and younger students through friendship, support, and shared learning experiences. These relationships help build confidence, kindness, and a strong sense of belonging across our school community.

This year, our Year 3 students are proudly stepping into their role as Buddies-in-Training, preparing to become the official Year 4 Buddies of 2026! They are already doing an amazing job supporting our Ready-Set-Prep transition opportunities — welcoming our kindy friends and families, helping during “Stay & Play” and “Chatting Children” sessions, and modelling the caring, respectful spirit we value at BSS.

We are so proud of our Year 3 students for the enthusiasm and maturity they bring to their Buddy responsibilities. They are truly making a difference as they help our future Preppies take their first steps into big school life. 💛💚

From the Deputy Principal - Katie Lewis

Leadership Lounge

We kicked off our Leadership Lounge Lunchtime Sessions on Thursday last week with our first Guest Speaker – Laura Geitz.

Laura spoke of her time as captain of the Australian Netball Team, and of the Queensland Firebirds. She spoke of the important qualities of being a leader, how important it is to believe in yourself and encouraged our students to "relish the challenges as these are the moments when you learn the most". She also shared the importance of legacy and sustainability as a leader and reminded our students that together, they are a “leaderful team”.

Our students (and staff) were so inspired by Laura's presentation. Students made notes in their Leadership Journals and will reflect on these as they begin to put their Leadership Application together in the coming weeks. Laura’s presentation linked to our SUCCEED value.

Tomorrow, we welcome Cr Greg Adermann to talk with our students related to our BELONG value.

Screen Sanity Workshop - POSTPONED

We have POSTPONED this Screen Sanity Workshop until 2026. Keep an eye out for more information.

Student Council Update

Last week, our School Captains, on behalf of our Student Council, met with P&C Vice President Amanda to share the findings from our recent Council Meeting.

Based on student feedback, and through support from our P&C, there are plans underway to secure some more books for our Library. Well done, Captains, and thank you to our P&C. We can't wait to share with you once we arrange purchase of these books!

High School Transition Readiness

Over coming weeks, we have enlisted the expertise of our Social Worker, Niki Durrheim (known to the students as Mrs D) to work with our Year 6 students and support them as they prepare for High School.

Niki will present a session each week on Thursday afternoons, covering topics outlined below:

1. Hopes and Fears about high school (Objective – students reflect on feelings about moving to high school)

2. Skills for independence (Objective – building organisational skills for high school)

3. Finding my tribe and choices (Objective - making new friends and managing peer pressure)

4. Problem solving and resilience (Objective – developing strategies for dealing with challenges)

5. Looking ahead at my high school journey (Objective – reflections and goals)

Niki started these sessions last week, and our students enjoyed their session.  We hope these sessions provide a strong platform as you prepare to support our Year 6 Students in their move towards high school.

Orange and Green Ball

Congratulations to our players who represented Brookfield SS recently at the Orange and Green Ball Tournaments for the Tennis Queensland Primary Schools Cup.

Our Orange Ball team came second (by one point!) to BBC and will go on to represent at the State Finals in January, well done! Our Green Ball teams played incredibly well on the day, and all players should be proud of the way they played and the way the represented our school.

From the Head of Curriculum - Lisa McKay

📚 A Huge Thank You to Our P&C! 📚

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible P&C for generously purchasing new decodable books for our Year 1 and Year 2 students! The excitement in classrooms has been contagious, and our young readers can’t wait to dive into these vibrant new stories.

The books are currently being accessioned and prepared for classrooms, and we’ll soon be reaching out to our wonderful parent helpers to assist with covering them in contact.

Your ongoing support makes a real difference in fostering a love of reading and supporting every child’s literacy journey at Brookfield State School. 💙📖

Here are some photos of our students engaging with the new books, their smiles say it all!

🎉 Congratulations to our STEM Superstars! 🌟

We are so proud of our students who shone at this year’s STEM Convention. Their creativity, curiosity, and problem-solving skills were truly inspiring. Brookfield State School received the following awards:

🏆 School Award

Audric G and Ashden F – “The Effect of Sun Rays on Aquatic Environments” ☀️🌊

🔬 Scientific Inquiry – Encouragement Award

Dylan W and Caden J – “Laser Light Refraction Through a Glass Pyramid” 💡🔺

🧮 Working Mathematically Award

Hannah M, Ettie K, and Charlotte H – “Worms vs Magnets” 🪱🧲

💬 Communication Award

Lucas M and Oscar P – “Which Water Is Best for Consumption?” 💧

👏 Well done to all our budding scientists and innovators — your hard work and curiosity make us proud! 🌟

🔬 Thank You, Mr Skehan!

A special thank you to Mr Skehan for his support, guidance, and organisation of our STEM students. His enthusiasm and commitment have provided wonderful opportunities for our young innovators to explore, create, and shine in the world of science and technology.

Office News

Snakes

There have been a number of sightings of snakes on the school grounds this week. An Eastern Brown snake was caught and relocated by our Wildlife Consultants. Please be vigilant when making your way around the school during the warmer months.

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

German News

It is German Oktoberfest week at Brookfield SS!

As you read this, we will already have had our successful German Food Day.

Wow! What a great treat for Brookfield students.

Huge thanks go to Sue and her group of Tuckshop helpers who served up over 400 orders of Bratwurst German sausage, salty Brezel and the ever-favourite cinnamon Brezel.

German Oktoberfest activities for each year level are on Friday, 24 Oktober

• 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 Oktober FESTIVITIES

Do come and support the P&C Family friendly event on Friday 24 - 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, with photos from the SLQ John Oxley Library collection
• food … drinks … gingerbread, pretzels… and more …!

CLICK HERE to get your tickets NOW or scarn the QR code below to secure your spot at the best festival outside Munich!

Music News

Date Claimer: End of Year Extravaganza!

Our Music Department End of Year Extravaganza concert date has been set for Tuesday November 25. Every music ensemble will be taking part, from our youngest choir and Beginner Strings, right up to our most experienced groups. The evening is split into two sections. The Junior part starts at 5:45pm and will involve the Junior Choir, Year 3 Strings, Intermediate Choir and Junior Band. The Senior part of the evening starts at 6:30pm and will feature our Senior Choir, Senior Strings, Senior Band and both our Yr 5 and Yr 6 Marimba groups. Both parts of the concert will have award presentations for our most outstanding ensemble members, as well as recognition of our most reliable and enthusiastic members in the form of our Conductor’s Choice awards. It is a busy time of the year, so make sure to mark the date on your calendar for a fabulous night’s entertainment. More details will be sent home to involved families closer to the date so keep an eye on your inbox for these.

Sports News

Swimming Weeks 5 and 6

When:

• Year 4, 5 & 6 (Week 5) Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri - GALA Day Wednesday
• Year 1, 2 & 3 (Week 6) Every Day

Where:

📍Bellbowrie Pool

What to wear:

• Appropriate swimmers with swim shirt
• Swimming cap
• Goggles are optional but recommended
• Towel
• Swim Bags
• Shoes to get wet and walk around pool area (The ground does get quite hot)

Swimming is coming up in Weeks 5 and 6 for all students from Year 1 to Year 6. The focus for the swimming is around water safety, awareness and skills. Students will have the opportunity to learn and practice a range of skills in the water which includes, entries and exits, traditional and survival strokes, treading water and water rescues.

Each student will be placed into appropriate groups on the first day and swim instructors will adapt the learning to their ability. Depending on their ability and age, students will spend time in the smaller, shallow pool where everyone can stand, or transition to the large 50m pool.

Swimming Caps

Students are required to have a swimming cap on the day as part of our risk assessments. Please ensure you get one over the next couple of weeks. Also, if you have one and you haven’t tried it on for a while, give it a go as they can get quite brittle without much use.

If you have questions about this, please feel free to get in contact.

Mitchell Bidner
(HPE Teacher)

P&C News

Welcome to Oktoberfest week! We are in the middle of a week full of wonderful German activities which will culminate in Oktoberfest this Friday night. It is a wonderful example of the P&C, schoolteachers and staff and broader community all working together. 

A few key dates and events coming up including: 

• This Week (20 October): German Food Day (21 October) and Oktoberfest (24 October)
• 8 December: Swimming Carnival (the P&C support this through lunch packs)
• 10 December: Grade 6 Graduation

Oktoberfest 2025

Please don’t forget to jump in and grab your tickets for our fabulous upcoming Brookfield State School Oktoberfest event presented by the P&C in partnership with BSS!

📍 School Hall | 🗓️ Friday 24 Oct | 🕔 5 – 8:30pm

🎟️ Tickets: Click on Eventbrite Link or via QR code on the poster

We need Volunteers too! Click on the link to sign up - volunteersignup.org/DC7RR - Just an hour of your time will greatly help to make this event a success!

Jump onto the P&C Facebook Page for more information.  

We welcome all members of the Brookfield community to join in the festivities. Feel free to invite your neighbours and extended family.

Grab your family ticket now and join us for a fabulous night of festive fun with traditional German food & drinks, live music, games, raffle prizes and more! Dress up in your best lederhosen or dirndls – kids too!

🍻 Prost to good times & community spirit!

Tuckshop

The P&C runs the amazing school tuckshop. Any profits from the tuckshop go directly back into supporting our school and students.  

Led by our wonderful Tuckshop Coordinator Sue and supported by Zoe and Victoria, volunteers help keep the tuckshop running smoothly so our kids can enjoy healthy and affordable meals. Anyone can volunteer in the tuckshop, you don't need to be a chef. Volunteering in the tuckshop is a great way to connect and meet other parents, see your kids running around during the school day and learn new food ideas. 

We have a group of wonderful volunteers who have already signed up, but there are lots of days where we don't yet have anyone and we need your help. Even one shift or an hour or two each term makes a big difference! 

If you can spare some time to volunteer this term, please reach out to Sue at: tuckshop@brookfieldss.eq.edu.au or drop in and say hello! 

Thank You Corner

Connected to the tuckshop update, a huge thank you to Sue, Vicki and Zoe in the tuckshop, including volunteers who make sure our kids get delicious healthy food every day. A big thanks to the Term 4 volunteers so far including: Di, Sarah W, Courtenay R, Natalie D, Bianca McK, Fiona D, Lucy J, Lizzie C, Sophie R, Sephora C, Liz E and Anna and Sophie S.

P&C Meetings

We are working to make P&C meetings more accessible, shorter and fun!  At our recent P&C meeting we discussed: 

• P&C priorities and ways to ensure a clear vision and priorities for the P&C each year as well as over the longer term, for example through a 5-year strategy. 
• An overview of some key projects and P&C priorities for Term 4 including: Oktoberfest, purchase of new books for the school library, upgrading the bubblers/drinking fountain options, supporting end of year events, and governance and budget reviews and processes.
• Ongoing work by the P&C Executive to improve systems, processes and transparency in relation to P&C work, IT and finances. 
• Agreement about supporting the tuckshop and encouraging more volunteers, as well as purchase of some new tuckshop equipment.
• Upcoming Term 4 events, including Oktoberfest

The next P&C meeting will be held on Tuesday 11 November at 7pm in B Block so please join us virtually or in person! 

Stay Connected and Get Involved

📣 Follow the Brookfield State School P&C page for all the latest updates:
👉 https://www.facebook.com/BrookfieldSSPandC

Have questions or ideas for the P&C? Have a special skill or some time and keen to contribute? We’d love to hear from you!

📧 pandc@brookfieldss.eq.edu.au

Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to seeing as many of you as possible on Friday at Oktoberfest!  

Tess, Amanda, Jill, David and Danette (P&C Executive Committee, Brookfield State School)

From the Social Worker - Mrs D

Everyday Awe

Linda Strade speaks about the importance of encouraging our children to see the awe in the everyday.

https://lindastade.com/benefits-of-experiencing-awe/

In our busy, technology-filled lives, it’s easy for children to miss the simple moments of wonder that surround them — a rainbow after the rain, a bird building its nest, or the first stars appearing at dusk. Experiencing awe helps children feel connected to the world, sparks curiosity, and supports their wellbeing. Let’s slow down, look up, and help our young people rediscover the beauty in the everyday.

How can we nurture that sense of wonder at home and at school?

• Give kids time. Slow down. Awe doesn’t fit neatly between appointments — it often happens when we have time to wander, explore, and simply be.
• Mind your language. Instead of explaining everything, let children experience things for themselves. Sometimes silence allows the magic to speak.
• Use technology with curiosity. When we were young, curiosity led us to encyclopaedias — now it can lead us into digital rabbit holes of discovery. Use the internet to explore, not escape.
• Encourage cocurricular activities. Service programs, science clubs, and environmental projects all offer chances to experience something bigger than ourselves.
• Celebrate greatness. In conversations and stories, highlight the beauty and brilliance in people, nature, and the arts. Your awe will spark theirs.

Albert Einstein said it best:

“There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle.”

Let’s help our young people see that the world — both digital and real — is full of miracles waiting to be noticed.

Strings Program News

Senior String Ensemble

Thank you to all the students who turned up for rehearsal today. We had a few students away before the choir excursion, but many students came to rehearsal first in their performance uniform - thank you to all those students! 

This week we are continuing to work towards the end of year concert, practicing Teeth, Jumpin' Jelly Beans, and High Seas Adventure. Let's all try really hard to get to rehearsal on time for the next few weeks to make this concert amazing!

Junior String Ensemble

Today the Junior Strings learnt a new piece called French Folk Song. Keep working on this for next week, and if you want a challenge try one of the different harmony lines!

Selection for 2026 

Some students who had registered for selection have completed this today. If your child did not do a trial of the instruments today, I will see them in the coming weeks! 

Mrs. Harle
String teacher
mehar0@eq.edu.au

Helping Hands News

Extra-Curricular Calendar - Term 4

Community News

🏃‍♂️ FREE Trial Exercise Session with Ignite Physical Performance!

Join the Ignite Physical Performance team for a fun, active session designed to improve hand-eye coordination, speed, agility, strength, and power — all while helping prevent injury and building confidence.

📅 When: Tuesday 28th October, 8:00–8:30am
📍 Where: Brookfield State School Basketball Court

This session introduces the new team delivering Youth and Adult Exercise Programs at the Brookfield Tennis Centre. Come along, get moving, and see how you can be part of a supportive, safe, and fun training environment!

📞 Register your interest:

Ignite Physical Performance
Cody Fullarton — cody@ignitepp.com.au
Henry Cox — henrycox130@gmail.com | 0426 503 412
Instagram: ignite.p.p

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!