Report Card Changes - Preview

There are three main changes coming through this semester for written Report Cards for all students which I am previewing here, as you will get an email soon with more detail and examples.

As you know, our teachers complete written reports twice yearly, in Term 2 and Term 4 to describe the achievement and progress of your children, providing information about student performance in each learning area studied that semester, including student effort in each.  Teachers also provide two comments which describes the child’s learning behaviours – one specifically in relation to behaviour, and an overall general comment. 

This year you will notice three main changes in written reports which we list and then describe in more detail in the coming email to each family.

• System-wide changes in reporting (these apply to all schools)

The 5-point reporting scale for students in Prep to Year 2 is different.

What reporting looks like in the Prep Year is different.

• Ascot SS changes to ensure that the report cards are most meaningful – this will include personalised individual behaviour and overall comments for each child and with more details about achievements in the English, Maths, Science and Specialist learning area strands in the comment fields for these learning areas rather than a general comment.

• A change to the system-wide access for reports through QParents only (not email) so that you will ONLY be able to access to student reports via QParents. Instructions to create a QParents account are coming, and the DoE have made recent changes to make this easier.

Hobbiton Project – There and Back Again…

It is getting exciting now as we plan how to begin our arts installation project for the year with students (and parents).  We have made a movie of the ideas so far to show you and then soon the students.    Here is a link to our Ascot SS YouTube channel featuring the video … https://youtu.be/plML8wHeyko   Your support with voluntary $ donations is greatly appreciated to get this up and running, and later your assistance with creating and installing.

Anzac Day Reflections

On behalf of our school, I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for our ANZAC Day ceremony last week.

To our special guests, thank you for your presence and for helping us honour this important day. In particular Aviation High School’s Catafalque Party (including two ex-Ascot students) who represented themselves so very well.

The Catafalque Party included:

• Harry Connors – Catafalque Commander
• Mikayla Frawley – Catafalque Sentry
• Saxon Andrews – Catafalque Sentry
• Miles Roberts – Catafalque Sentry
• Kohen Canellis – Catafalque Sentry
• Jett Regan-Feldman – Musician (Bugler/Drummer)

To our teachers and staff, thank you for your support in making this ceremony respectful and meaningful. Your class wreath contributions were truly creative, but most importantly,  thoughtful.

And to our students – thank you for your impressive Ascot audience manners - you listened with respect, participated with pride, and showed the spirit of ANZAC in your actions.   The band and choir are increasingly impressive, and I so admire the skill and courage of our students who performed The Last Post.   It was not missed on us that the skies opened at the beginning of this performance, and that the rain cleared and sun appeared at the end. 

Thank you to the parents who joined us, and to those who kindly were sharing our wreaths in the community at services on Anzac Day.  

We remembered the bravery, courage, and sacrifice of the men and women who served our country, and those who still do.   Thank you for remembering with us and with such dignity.

For the past few years, the Dept of Education has conducted a voluntary student wellbeing survey to inform school practices and priorities.  This year we have decided to participate with our yr 4-5-6 students as we anticipate that this will give us useful information on how to deepen our culture of wellbeing and belonging, and the support services we provide at Ascot SS.  You can “opt” out so your child does not participate should you wish, please email Sondra McArthur - smcar17@eq.edu.au

Research for many years now has clearly indicated that “in education wellbeing is important for two reasons. The first is the recognition that school should not just be able academic outcomes but that it is about the wellbeing of the ‘whole child’ and the second is that the students who have higher levels of wellbeing tend to have better cognitive outcomes at school” (Centre for educational statistics and evaluation”. 

Below is some further information and links about children’s wellbeing for all parents.   I particularly like the model represented below as a healthy and positive way to think about how we can all create an environment with the right nutrients in which the children, like trees,  can flourish. 

https://www.mhips.org.au/resources/news/2023/children-s-wellbeing-continuum/

Wellbeing:

Engagement:

Ultimately blending the research to get a picture of the following for the school (not the individual child):

PREP Information Evening

It is that time again where we are Prepping for Prep.  Come join us to find out about Prep at Ascot and how to transition your Kindy child into Prep in 2026.  

PREP Out of catchment applications

The Prep out of catchment process opens at 10am Friday 9th May.  You will receive a confirmation email and be recorded on our waitlist.  Out of catchment offers are made in Term 3.  Details on how to apply is listed on the flyer below.

As you know, our teachers complete written reports twice yearly, in Term 2 and Term 4 to describe the achievement and progress of your children, providing information about student performance in each learning area studied that semester, including student effort in each.

Teachers also provide two comments which describes the child’s learning behaviours – one specifically in relation to behaviour, and an overall general comment.

This year you will notice 3 main changes in written reports: 

1) System-wide changes in reporting (these apply to all schools)
    The 5-point reporting scale for students in Prep to Year 2 is different.
    What reporting looks like in the Prep Year is different.

2) Ascot SS changes to ensure that the report cards are most meaningful.

3) A change to the system-wide access for reports through QParents only (not email). 

Further detail and instructions for creating a QParents account can be found via:

For easier access to QParents, parents are now able to set up a QParents account using any mobile device.

The office have re-sent school invitation codes to all families. If you already have a QParents account, please dismiss. The invitation codes will come via noreply@qparents.qld.edu.au.

To verify your identity online, you must provide at least 100 points from the online documents list. If you are unable to provide 100 points of ID online, you can still register for QParents. During the registration process, select the ‘not enough ID’ option and then visit the school to have your identity verified.

If you have any additional questions about signing up to QParents, please contact the office staff 3326 9333 or via admin@ascotss.eq.edu.au

Additional information about QParents can also be located directly on our School Website

Year 4/5 Scientists Shine with Solar Car Investigations

Last term in Science, our Year 4/5 students have been exploring the fascinating world of light, electrical circuits, and forces. To put their learning into action, the students built solar-powered cars and conducted fair tests to investigate how they work.

One of the key experiments focused on discovering whether the angle of the solar panel affects the speed of the car. Students tested the cars with the solar panels set at four different angles — 0^o, 30^o, 60^o and 90^o. For each angle, they timed the car as it travelled a 2-metre distance, repeating the test three times and then calculating an average time. Using the formula, speed = distance ÷ time, students worked out how many metres per second their cars were traveling.

This hands-on investigation not only deepened students understanding of scientific principles but also sparked curiosity, teamwork and problem-solving skills.

A special thank you goes to our P&C, whose generous innovation grant funded the solar cars and made this exciting learning experience possible. We are so grateful for your support.

Mr Manning and Year 4/5

These students impressed their teachers with their approach to learning in a variety of ways over the past week. Congratulations!

Sport Carnival Dates/ Gala Days -Term 2, 2025

Cross Country Results

After a few wet weather setbacks, we were thrilled to finally hold our Year 3 – 6 Cross Country Carnival on Wednesday. The sun was shining, the course was ready, and the energy was high as students hit the track with enthusiasm and determination.

It was fantastic to see such strong participation from all students, with everyone giving their best effort. The house spirit on display was outstanding – thank you to our Year 6 students for leading by example, encouraging, and supporting our younger students. A big thank you must also go to our groundsman (Mark), teachers, parent helpers, and families for helping make this morning a success.

Congratulations to our Cross-Country Age Champions for 2025 –

2013 Girls - Ava 

2013 Boys - Boyd 

2014 Girls - Franki 

2014 Boys - Finn 

2015 Girls - Katherine 

2015 Boys - Nemer 

2016 Girls - Sofia 

2016 Boys - Bernie 

2017 Girls – Juniper 

2017 Boys – Ryan 

Congratulations to all of the 9 – 12 yrs students who placed in the top 5 and were selected in the Ascot team to compete at the district carnival on Friday May 2. We look forward to reporting on how our team performance in our next newsletter.

In the P – Yr 2 cross country the children also showed great spirit and effort. We were all very proud to see everyone give their best effort and continue at their own pace until they completed the race. Great work by everyone involved and congratulations to our placegetters listed below.

At the end of both carnivals the final house points were as follows:

Congratulations to Lilley house on winning the carnival and to all the children for their efforts on the day in completing their race to the best of their ability. 

Schedule of Athletic Events Prior to  Yr 3 – 6 Athletics Carnival

Due to time constraints at athletics carnival, some events are run prior to carnival day. Children will nominate for these events in P.E. lessons and these events will be run this term as follows on Thursday afternoons (2:15 – 3 pm) , weather permitting.                                                                                                                            

Yr 5 – 6 Gala Sport Days (May 23,30 and June 6)

In term 2 (dates detailed above) Yr 5 and 6 students will bus to venues to play fixtures against other schools. Children nominated their preferences and will be placed into one of the below sports. Students will be attending one of the following:                                                                                                                                                  

Tag League                                                                                                           

Venue: Norths Cricket, Shaw Park 

Soccer

Boys Venue: Brisbane Grammar Playing Fields, Northgate

Girls Venue: Virginia United Soccer Club – Northgate

Netball

Venue: Downey Park, Cnr Northey St & Green Tce, Windsor

Students playing soccer will need to wear long socks and shinpads. Our sporting development sessions, have been helping our year 5/6 students prepare for these Gala Sport days. Children will receive permission notes to be completed and returned to class teachers early next term and parents will be invoiced next term for bus fees. This is a great opportunity to develop sporting and social and emotional skills. We look forward to seeing our Year 5 and 6 students involved.

Prep Perceptual Motor Program (Term 2)

This term on Tuesdays starting in week 3 (May 6) and continuing to week 7 (June 3) prep classes will participate in rotational perceptual motor activities. These are very valuable activities for developing coordination and agility and are most effective with adult support. Children love to have you helping out with their class and the bonus is you get to see what type of activities help with physical development and how your child’s physical skills are progressing. If you may be able to help out with your child’s class please let your classroom teacher know and your name can be added to the classroom roster. Two or three parents per lesson from week 3 to week 7  would be greatly appreciated. The order of classes on Tuesday is as follows:

9:00 – 9:30       Prep D

9:30 – 10:00     Prep A

10:00 – 10:30   Prep C

10:30 - 11:00    Prep E

11:45 – 12:15   Prep B

Alayne Graham (Mon – Thurs) agrah27@eq.edu.au

Brogan Hunter (Wed –  Fri) bphun0@eq.edu.au  

School Zone Parking

I received the following communication from the Brisbane City Council this week.

Ascot State School is confirmed to be included in the Brisbane City Council (Council) Safer Schools Program for Term 2, 2025. This program aims to promote safe parking practices and ensure compliance with local traffic regulations around schools.

 Message to our community from the Council:

Parking in accordance with all road rules and signage is important to keep our children and other road users safe. Unfortunately, Brisbane City Council has received an increase in the number of reports of illegal parking around our school. As a result, our school has been added to Council’s Safer Schools Program this term.

What does this mean?

Brisbane City Council’s Parking Compliance Officers will be actively patrolling the streets surrounding our school over the coming term to encourage safer parking behaviours. These patrols will be conducted on foot and in highly visible Community Safety and Regulation vehicles that can identify alleged offences using Automatic Number Plate Recognition and GPS software. Please be kind – they have a job to do.

What are the common parking signs around schools?

A guide to common parking signs around school zones can be found on Council’s website by searching the term ‘School Parking’.

This newsletter section provides a great opportunity for local businesses to engage with our parent community. If you would like your business to be a part of this or for more information, please email us at comms@ascotsspandc.org.