Newsletter - 09/12/2024
Dear Parents / Caregivers
This is the final newsletter for 2024, and I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank you all for your contributions both big and small this year. Thank you to those who have volunteered in our classrooms, tuckshop, at a P&C event or as a P&C member this year. Thank you for supporting our student council by allowing your children to come dressed in the alternative dress and providing the fine to go towards student council projects. Thank you to those parents who have had children in the Instrumental program, Wakakirri, Drama group, Year 6 Spectacular, Choirs, Recorder group and our CAID group. Thank you for ensuring that your children have been at additional rehearsals outside of school and that they were ready in their appropriate uniforms. Thank you to our First Nations Reference group who are working with the school to support our First Nations planning to occur for 2025 and beyond. Thank you also must go to our RI volunteers who give up time every week to come and provide RI in our classrooms.
It has been a pleasure last week recognising all the wonderful achievements of our students during the Awards Ceremony for Years 5 & 6 and our Awards Parade this morning with our Year 3s and Year 4s. These awards were presented for student effort throughout the year, and I congratulate each and every one of the recipients of these awards. Success is not defined by a single moment, but by the growth, effort and determination they put into each and every day.
Awards Ceremony
Last Wednesday night also saw us celebrate the Year 6 students at their end of Year dinner. We have one final event this week and that is our Year 6 final excursion and Graduation parade. This will be held on Friday afternoon between 2pm and 3pm.
Bump up afternoon went well on Friday afternoon with students venturing into their new classrooms for next year, participating in activities with their classmates and their new teachers. The current year 6 cohort also had the opportunity to watch their 2024 Spectacular performance. A reminder that we have worked really hard to ensure a good balance of children in each class taking into consideration many factors and requests from both teachers and parents and we are not able to make changes without significant impacts on these considerations.
Today we had our Christmas Carols event at 9am in the hall, where parents and members of our community were invited to enjoy a coffee or tea made by the MAKE Coffee Cart and watch as our choirs lead us into the Christmas spirit with a variety of carols.
A reminder that this week will be running a little differently as we have some alternative routines for our students. Teachers will be supervising various classes while others will be off class to plan for 2025. Plans for the day will occur daily based upon the number of students who are at school. The school absence process will continue, so please let the school know if your child will not be attending.
Report Cards will be sent home this Friday via email. If you have changed emails since the previous reporting period, please contact the office to ensure that we have this correct. If this does not show up by Friday night, please check you junk mail folder. There will be no one at school to answer queries until the 20th of January when the office reopens as every staff member has the right to disconnect from school during holiday periods.
Friday morning 6th December, I had the opportunity of announcing the 2025 school leaders. I was a very proud Principal as I listened to the Student Councillors present their speeches to the Year 4 & 5 students. As a result of liaison with our First Nations reference group, we have also included a new leadership position for 2025, that being the First Nations Ambassadors. Congratulations to all of our leaders for 2025.
Please see the complete list of school leaders for 2025 below.
School Captains
Felix Cowan-Battley Indianna Mackle
Student Council
Indianna Mackle Isabella Campbell Felix Cowan-Battley Andrew Hawkins
Alexis McGeary Willea Jordaan Cameron Gainer Lily Smith
Systems Monitors
Connor Johnson Brydee Caporn Emily Goggin Matilda Hunt
Skylar Pretorius Aria Woods Kyle Payne Cohen Taylor
Audra Missan
Cultural Captains
Edith Adamson Ashton Jones
Sports Captains
Brolga Eagle Kingfisher Jabiru
Marli Steindle-Corrie Ari Harris Shelby Anderson Ondine Wendt
Ryan Dore Jonathon Lucas Noah Ware Sophia King
Sports Monitors
Ben-Leigh Howat Piper Holt Brock Watkins Zane John
Travis Busato Rhory Fahl Archie Strike
First Nations Ambassadors
Marli Steindle-Corrie & Edith Adamson
Next year we are planning on continuing with 26 classes with the make-up of each year level and their teacher outlined below.
Prep/Year 1A Mrs Tanya Taylor | Prep B Mrs Leanne Penshorn | Prep C Mrs Vanessa Schrueder | Prep D Mis Maghan Blakeney |
Year 1B Mrs Kirsti Dittmann | Year 1C Mrs Danielle Hume | Year 1D Mrs Tamara Madelaine | |
Year 2A Mrs Stacey Hume | Year 2B Ms Leigh Mansfield | Year 2C Mrs Eileen Porter/Rankin & Mrs Haber | Year 2/3D Ms Heidi Sinnott |
Year 3A Miss Holly Merritt | Year 3B Mrs Lauren Dodd | Year 3C Ms Karmann Allen | Year 3D Mr Riley Simpson |
Year 4A Mrs Jenny Ritchie / Mrs Jill Stolberg | Year 4B Mrs Ashley Reilly / Mrs Merissa Bailey | Year 4C Mrs Kathryn Zammit | Year 4D Mr Stuart Presley (Term 1) |
Year 5A Mrs Anna Hughes | Year 5B Miss Brenna Young | Year 5C Mrs Trina Patton | Year 5/6D Mrs Tania Rowe |
Year 6A Mr Matthew Doolan | Year 6B Mrs Jacquie Attard | Year 6C Miss Katelyn Sartor |
Next year there will be a few staff changes as follows: Mrs Christina Sam (Support Teacher) in retiring, Mrs Leonie Ross (Library Teacher Aide) will be retiring alongside her husband Mr Nev Ross (Crossing Supervisor) and finally Mrs Alyce Pell (Support Teacher) is transferring to Northview State School in 2025. I would like to thank all of these staff members for their many years of service to Fitzgerald State School and wish all of them well with their futures.
Mr Simon Kochevatkin (Year 4 Teacher) will be acting Principal at Valkyrie State School during Term 1.
We will also be welcoming Mrs Hannah Williams who will be teaching one day per week of Dance / Drama with our Year 1 and 2 classes.
I would like to wish you all a wonderful and safe Christmas and a Happy New Year. To those leaving Fitzgerald, we wish you all the best in your future schools and we look forward to welcoming the new students and families to the ‘Fitzy Family’ in 2025.
Principal News
Tracey Adams
Principal
From the Guidance Officer
As the end of the school year nears, along with Christmas and the start of a new year, some children AND adults experience lots of big emotions. Christmas may not be celebrated by all of you, but there are some handy tips in this newsletter for those who do, from Beacon House.
There are also some great ideas from Beacon House regarding transitions. Vulnerable children will be feeling unsure about the end and the start of the school year as there will be changes in routines. Check out the tip sheet for transition ideas.
Remembering that us, adults, also need support and care, so consider some of “50 Ways to Take a Break”
Wishing all families, the happiest and safest holiday season. 😊
Alexia Wotherspoon
Guidance Officer
Music
Carols Celebration – Monday 9th December – School Hall – 9am
The Junior Choir, Senior Choir, Recorder Ensemble and Guitar Club will be performing at our Carols Celebration on Monday 9th December in the School Hall, starting at 9am. Parents and members of the school community are very welcome to join us for this event.
Recorder Ensemble Christmas Tour – Wednesday 11th December
Our Recorder Ensemble will be touring North Mackay to perform Carols on Wednesday 11th December. Students to wear school uniform on this day and meet in the music room at 9am. Q Parent permission is required for this event.
Children’s Choir Performance
Congratulations to five of our Fitzgerald Junior Choir members, who recently performed with the Mackay Choral Society at their Christmas Concert, “A Glorious Christmas”. These students worked hard this term to learn a program of 8 songs, including a song performed in collaboration with the Choral Society. We are very proud of your wonderful performances over the weekend!
Sophie – Year 4, Sarah – Year 4, Nina - Prep, Emma- Year 3 and Oscar – Year 3
Linda Miller
Music Teacher/Instrumental Music Coordinator
From the Library
Brittany Kendall
Teacher Librarian
Upcoming Events
| 11th December | Recorder Ensemble Christmas Tour |
| 12th December | Waterslides 1A, 1B, 1C, 1/2D, 5A, 5B, 5C, 5/6D, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D |
| 13th December | Waterslides 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, PA, PB, PC |
| 13th December | Year 6 End of Year Activities |
Community News
