Term 4, Week 10

From the Principal - Micheal Grogan

As the year draws to a close, I find myself once again marvelling at all we have achieved as a school community. The exceptional learning opportunities and positive outcomes for our students reflect the dedication and hard work of so many: our passionate teachers, supportive staff, committed parents, generous volunteers, and, of course, our hardworking students. Thank you all for your incredible contributions.

Each day, I am reminded of the joy and enthusiasm in our students' faces as they arrive, eager to learn and connect with their friends. This thriving school culture doesn’t happen by chance. It stems from the strong partnerships between home and school, working together to nurture such well-rounded, confident children. I’ve experienced many schools where this dynamic does not exist, and it underscores how special our community truly is.

I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the parents who support our school in countless ways, from the P&C executive and members to the many volunteers who generously give their time each week. Your efforts are instrumental in shaping the success of our students.

Our staff have worked tirelessly to support students in our classrooms each day. By exploring topics that ignite their passions, our students have been deeply engaged and inspired to learn. It’s been wonderful to witness their curiosity and growth.

A special thank you goes to the students who took on leadership roles this year. You have done yourselves and our school proud. In particular, I want to recognize our 2024 School Captains – Dalton, Yagyaa, Aaradhya and Caleb – for their exemplary leadership. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching you grow and flourish in these roles. Congratulations to our 2025 School Captains – Sawyer, Julieta, Nasanbayar and Aditi. I am confident you will continue this legacy of excellence.

This past week, it was heart-warming to celebrate our achievements together at the concert and graduation events. These moments remind us of the strength and unity of our school community, and I thank everyone who joined us.

As we close the year, we must also bid farewell to some cherished members of our staff:

• Mr Darke, Mr Yoia, Mrs Stark, Mrs Riek, Mrs McVean, Mrs Dreghorn, Ms Abel, Mrs King and Mrs Lund are leaving us.
• Mrs Shephard will be taking a year of leave in 2025. We hope she enjoys a well-earned rest.
• Ms McMahon will be heading off on parental leave and we wish her and her family all the best as they welcome a new member to the family.
• A special acknowledgment goes to Mrs Jo Gawne, who has accepted an opportunity at a school interstate. Your dedication and expertise have improved the outcomes for numerous students enhanced the capability of all of our staff. Your contribution to our school will not be forgotten. Thank you for everything, and we wish you a fulfilling and enjoyable next phase in your career.

Additionally, Ms. Van Dyason, Mr Davis, Ms Wylie and Mr McKee will all be returning from leave in 2025.

Welcoming new and returning staff, we are delighted to have Ms Bianca Evans and Ms Jade Skinner joining the BCSS team.

Attached to this week’s newsletter is the class teacher list for 2025. You will receive an email on Thursday 22 January, informing you of your child’s class placement for the new school year.

To all those leaving BCSS for new adventures, know that you will always remain part of the Windsor family. I wish you all the very best and hope our paths cross again.

Finally, I wish everyone a safe, joyful, and relaxing summer break. Have a wonderful Christmas, and I look forward to welcoming you back when school resumes on Tuesday 28 January 2025.

2025 Class Structure

Deputy Principal - Nik Taufatofua

Dear School Community,

As we approach the end of the year I reflect on the wonderful achievements and events so far. There has been much to celebrate, and I’m thrilled to update you on some of the recent happenings.

Fun Run

Last week, we held our colour Fun Run, and it was an absolute blast! Students from all year levels participated with enthusiasm. The energy on the day was amazing and it was fantastic to see so many of our students continually running laps around the oval enjoying themselves. A huge thank you to all the staff and families who helped make the event such a success!

School Captains Announcement

We took the opportunity last week to announce our new school captains. After a thoughtful selection process, we are excited to congratulate Julieta, Sawyer, Aditi and Nasanbayar for being elected as our School Captains for 2025. These students demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities, a commitment to our school values, and a strong sense of responsibility. We are confident they will lead with integrity and inspire their peers throughout their term. Well done! We are also extremely proud to acknowledge our other aspiring leaders for 2025. We are very fortunate to have so many deserving candidates within the Year 5 cohort this year.

Swimming Carnivals - Junior and Senior

This week, we had our Junior and Senior Swimming Carnivals. Our students had the opportunity to showcase their swimming skills and demonstrate their house spirit. Both days were very enjoyable, whether your child competed in the races or cheered on their teammates. We will be announcing our winners next week. 

Year 6 Graduation

On Tuesday night we celebrated an especially memorable time for our Year 6 students, their Graduation Day. Graduation marks an important milestone as our Year 6 students reflect on their time at the school and look ahead to the exciting journey that lies beyond. 

Year 6 Celebration Day

Today for Celebration Day, Year 6 students enjoyed the day at Urban Extreme followed by pizza at New Farm Park to celebrate their achievements, friendships, and growth. It is always an emotional and joyful day for both students and staff, and we enjoyed marking this special occasion with them.

Christmas Concert

On Wednesday night we celebrated the end of the year through our Christmas Concert. This is a wonderful tradition organised by our fantastic P&C, where students from all year groups perform festive songs and share the holiday spirit. It was a great time for us to come together and celebrate. We thank all families who volunteered or attended to share in the festivities.

As we move into the final week of the term, I’d like to take a moment to thank you all for your continued support throughout the year. It’s been a truly remarkable year of growth, achievement, and connection, and we are so proud of everything our students have accomplished.

Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead and a joyful holiday season as we wrap up another fantastic year at Brisbane Central State School.

Warm regards,

Nik Taufatofua

From the P&C

1 Purple HASS Project

This term, 1 Purple was presented with a problem by the sustainability captains as a part of their HASS learnings. They responded by creating some eye-catching posters to help promote cleanliness in our school. Presenting on assembly was a big task and Miss Wheeler is very proud of how well they did. Have you seen our fabulous posters around the school yet?

Library

We would like to thank everyone for assisting our library become a more vibrant space for all to enjoy. During the holidays when your child would like to read a book go to SORA.

When you are purchasing your child’s 2025 school resources please consider buying a library bag from our school uniform shop. The library bag is waterproof, accommodates the two books your child will be borrowing every week and has an insert on the back of the library bag to write your child’s name and class. Enjoy the holidays!

Graduation

This week we farewelled our 2024 graduating class. Below is a copy of my speech from the night:

Good evening, parents, teachers, staff, and most importantly, our graduating Year 6 students.

Tonight, we gather to celebrate a significant milestone in the lives of these remarkable young individuals—their graduation from primary school. This is actually the first group of students I have had the privilege of being their principal form Prep to Year 6.

To our Year 6 students, today is about recognising your hard work, your growth, and the journey you’ve taken to arrive at this moment. You’ve embraced challenges, celebrated victories, and grown not just in knowledge, but in character. Each of you has contributed something special to our school community, and for that, we are deeply proud.

As we reflect on your time here, we see how far you’ve come—from those first tentative steps into the playground in Prep to the confident, capable young people sitting here tonight. You’ve shown resilience, creativity, and kindness—qualities that will serve you well as you embark on the next chapter of your educational journey.

This year, 2024, has been an extraordinary one. We’ve seen you shine in so many ways—whether it was through your achievements in academics, on the sports field, in the arts, or in simply supporting your peers with a friendly word and a helping hand. Your leadership as the senior students of our school has set a shining example for others.

To our parents and carers, thank you for your unwavering support and partnership. You have been your children’s first and most important teachers, and your encouragement has played a vital role in shaping who they are today.

To my fellow teachers and staff, your dedication, patience, and guidance have helped lay the foundation for these students’ success. You’ve inspired curiosity, nurtured creativity, and built resilience. For all of this, we are truly grateful.

As our Year 6 students prepare to transition to high school, my message to you is simple: be brave, be kind, and be true to yourselves. High school will bring new opportunities, challenges, and friendships. Embrace them with the same enthusiasm and determination you’ve shown here. Remember, the lessons you’ve learned at our school go far beyond the classroom—they are lessons in community, compassion, and perseverance.

In closing, I leave you with a quote by Australian author and educator John Marsden:
"Take risks, ask questions, make mistakes. It's the best way to learn and grow."

Congratulations, Year 6 graduates of 2024. We are so proud of you, and we can’t wait to see what incredible things you will achieve in the future.

Thank you.

2025 Booklists

Booklists for 2025 are now available.

Parents can choose to source the supplies themselves, or can order via Jaybel.

Placing Orders

• Ordering is fast, secure and convenient. Simply visit jaybel.com.au/booklists
• Enter your school code and password then follow the easy ordering steps.
• Your School Code: BTSBC001 & Password: BC2025
• If you prefer not to order online, please call our booklist team on 07 3423 5888. They will assist you with placing your order and taking payment over the phone.

Brisbane Central SS booklists are registered with this company, and supplies can be delivered to your home. Order early to ensure delivery by the start of the school year.

BRISBANE_CENTRAL_STATE_SCHOOL_PREP.pdf

BRISBANE_CENTRAL_STATE_SCHOOL_YEAR_1_.pdf

BRISBANE_CENTRAL_STATE_SCHOOL_YEAR_2.pdf

BRISBANE_CENTRAL_STATE_SCHOOL_YEAR_3.pdf

BRISBANE_CENTRAL_STATE_SCHOOL_YEAR_4.pdf

BRISBANE_CENTRAL_STATE_SCHOOL_YEAR_5.pdf

BRISBANE_CENTRAL_STATE_SCHOOL_YEAR_6.pdf

Consent Management / QParents

Queensland State Schools are moving towards online permissions managed through the QParents app.  We believe that moving to digital consent for excursions, SRS and Third Party Consent  managed through QParents would be beneficial to all.  It would remove the need for paper-based permission forms to be printed, distributed, signed and returned.   

Many in our community already have a QParent accounts but for those who do not,  invitations  have previously been sent out to your registered email addresses.  If you require a new invitation please contact the office.  By signing up you will not only have access to digital permission forms but also attendance records, finance (view only), positive behaviour and report cards. 

We understand that everyone is busy, and we hope that by streamlining our services online where we can, we will better service our community.

Uniform Shop Hours

Reminder: School Arrival/Opening Time

Dear Parents/Carers,

This is a friendly reminder that school officially opens at 8:30am. Unless your child is attending before or after school care with our provider "OurPatch" or attending an extra-curricular activity (such as band or choir), they cannot arrive to school prior to 8:30am. This is when adult supervision is provided.

Thank you for your cooperation. 

Code Camp