28 March 2025
Woree State School – Vision & Values
Principal’s Report
Tania Kaitara
Dear Families,
What an exciting week we’ve had at Woree State School! Here are some of the highlights:
Harmony Day Celebration
On Friday, we had the privilege of celebrating Harmony Day in style. Students and staff embraced the spirit of diversity by wearing traditional dress from their cultures. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn about and appreciate the rich tapestry of backgrounds that make up our school community. Students enjoyed a delicious sausage sizzle, fresh fruit, and a morning of connecting with staff and families. The student mural, showcasing our fantastic artistic talent, was a highlight for everyone. A huge thank you to everyone for participating and making this event truly special! Special thanks to Miss Marris-Whiteley and Ms Dean for your time and efforts in ensuring the success of the day.
Harmony Day 2025
NAPLAN 2025
A big congratulations to our Year 3 and Year 5 students who completed their NAPLAN assessments this week. I’m so proud of the effort they put in, and it’s wonderful to see them always striving to do their best. A special thank you to our DP, Ms Hanlon, our HODC, Mrs. Duda, our teachers, and Ms Downs for your support. Well done to all involved!
Cross Country
The weather was kind to us this week, and we were able to enjoy a successful Cross Country event. It was a fantastic day with all students giving their best, and the support from families made the day even more enjoyable. It was heart-warming to see so many smiles and cheers throughout the event!
Cross Country 2025
As Principal, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to speak with many of you during the week. Building these connections is one of the most rewarding parts of my role, and I truly appreciate the conversations and insights shared.
Included is the school calendar for 2025. Please remember, every day counts, and we look forward to working with you and your children throughout the year.
Discover, Strive, Shine
Thank you to our incredible school community for your continued support.
Principal
Tania Kaitara
Principal
Enrolment
Woree State School is currently taking enrolments. Please contact the office or visit our website for more information.
Ph: 4054 9111 Email: info@woreess.eq.edu.au Website: https://woreess.eq.edu.au/
Donations
Did you know we accept donations?
We love the support we receive from our community, if you have anything you would like to donate please drop off to Miss Leisa’s office in block 8.
- Uniforms
- Book / Stationary
- Fresh Fruit
- Lunch Snacks
If you are not sure what you can donate talk to Miss Leisa today.
Staff Profile – Nicole Bruce
Nicole Bruce
Year 4 Teacher
Hello my name is Nicole Bruce. I am currently teaching Year 4. I have spent most of my teaching career in the early years where I have worked in kindergartens and early childhood development programs. I am enjoying the change working in the upper years, where I find it rewarding and I love the team work and seeing the growth in the students’ learning.
I lived on the Tablelands for 10 years with my family before moving back to Cairns. I have 4 children and my favourite family activities are swimming, walking and camping.
I am happy at Woree State School and I love being part of the Woree community.
P&C News
What does your P&C do?
The Woree State School Parents & Citizens’ Association supports your children’s development by partnering with the Woree State School to provide essential services that include the Outside School Hours Care program, the Butterfly Café (tuckshop) and the School Shop. Our mission as a community-based not for profit association is to provide valuable support through reinvestment of monies and time back into the school to provide additional resources as seen necessary by the principal and essential to the development of the school community.
We ask all families to support your children’s journey by supporting our mission and encourage all parents and carers to play an active role in their child’s development through joining the P&C community.
Being a member
Interested in becoming a part of the Woree State School P&C Association?
Being an active member does not mean having to attend every meeting. You can attend as many or as little as you want. We do however ask you to attend the annual general meeting where a new committee is elected to office for the next 12-month period and critical direction is commonly discussed.
Remember NO P&C = NO TUCKSHOP / NO OSHC / NO SCHOOL SHOP
Volunteering
Being a volunteer comes in all shapes and forms. It does not necessarily mean having to help at every fundraising event. It could simply mean helping us with the administration of our Facebook page or a couple hours at our awesome Butterfly Café making sandwiches or pouring drinks. If your time is available, you may consider helping us with one of our main fundraising events? Our fundraising calendar supports a maximum of six events per year. Any support around this is always highly valued and happily received.
Why Volunteer?
- Volunteering helps you to connect to your community by strengthening your connections.
- Children whose parents are involved in their schools do better. Research has shown that children of a school volunteer make better grades and perform better on tests.
- Volunteering helps you spend more time with your kids.
- Helps you get to know teachers and other school team members.
- Makes the school a better place to learn.
- Allows us to use your strengths.
- Why NOT!
More Information
If you want to become a general member or a part of the P&C executive team, simply contact us at operations@WoreeSSPandC.com.au or come along to one of our monthly meetings.
Regards
The P&C Executive Team
School Shop
Did you Know?
The Woree State School P&C are the only authorized sellers of Woree State School uniforms.
You can place your school uniform and stationery orders anytime you like using our 24/7 Flexischools app and website www.flexischools.com.au ordering platforms. Our full catalogue is 100% online. We deliver your order the following day directly to your child’s classroom making it super easy, effortless and efficient.
If you want to pick up your online order, you can pop into the school shop, or we can drop it at the front office if it’s outside shop open hours.
If you prefer to do things in person our school shop’s opening hours are Monday & Thursday 8:15am – 10am (except Public Holidays). Feel free to come in.
Book Pack Solutions
Every year we offer a no fuss complete book pack solution from prep to Yr6 that make starting school the following year easy and seamless.
Layby
We support our book pack solutions by offering a layby facility from September every year to help spread the cost into manageable payments. Our Layby option can be initiated through email, over the phone or in person at the school shop. (T&Cs apply)
For more information email: schoolshop@woress.eq.edu.au or call 4054 9167 during business hours on Mondays & Thursdays.
Regards
Linda Circus
School Shop Coordinator
Butterfly Café
At the Butterfly Café all food is prepared fresh daily and is constructed with the guidance of Smart Choices for Queensland Kids. We open daily for breakfast from 8:15am and for both lunch breaks. We also do affordable classroom catering for birthday parties and special occasions.
You can place your orders via the Flexischools app and their website www.flexischools.com.au or directly over the counter. Orders need to be in by 9:30am every day to be delivered to the classroom.
The Butterfly Café is open for over-the-counter sales before school and through the lunch periods.
Using Flexischools app or website to order lunch can be done at any time of the week or day, but it needs to be placed before 9:30am the day you want the meal for first break orders or in before 12pm for second break orders.
Things to remember
- Breakfast is served from 8:15am daily
- Lunch orders can be placed anytime of the week via Flexischools, but you need to make sure it’s in by 9:30am for first break or 12pm for second break on the day you want it.
- All food is made fresh daily, and we make some yummy treats for your kids.
- No over the phone lunch orders – please use the Flexischools app or website.
Please place orders by 9:30am daily, to avoid disappointment as our items are all made fresh daily.
Facts to know about the Butterfly Café:
- We are operated by the Woree State School P&C Association, so all proceeds are re-invested back in the school – supporting us supports the school and your kids learning!
- We make café-style barista coffee – so why not grab a latte when you come to the next parade
- We are always making special treats for your kids, look out for them on our red day menu or Flexischools ordering platforms.
- We can cater for your child’s birthday party in classrooms and take-home packs.
Regards
Tanya Boyce
Tuckshop Convenor
Outside School Hours Care
Events
Harmony Day
Harmony day is to celebrate students strengths and cultural identities. We invited students and parents to join us, before school for a free breakfast provided from our schools P&C association and IGA. There was music provided by DJ Miss M and a photo booth.
School Photos
NQ School Photography have taken our school photographs, orders can still be placed online at www.nqsp.com.au using this code: 6JQUZE3N. The purchasing of photos is made directly by a parent or caregiver with the external photography company. Woree State School has no control over the purchasing or issuing of student photos.
Nurse Practitioner
Our Nurse Practitioner is available every Tuesday 9am-4pm, contact the school office on 40549111 or email nurseadmin@woreess.eq.edu.au to make an appointment.
Head Lice—What Parents Need to Know
🐜 Head lice are common in schools and don’t mean poor hygiene! Here’s how to check and treat them:
✔️ Look for nits (tiny white eggs) near the scalp
✔️ Use a fine-tooth comb on wet hair
✔️ Use a lice treatment (or conditioner and combing method)
✔️ Check all family members
If you need advice, Nurse Practitioner Mel can help identify and guide you on treatment options.
Winding Down for a Healthy Holiday
🎉 The holidays are coming—let’s finish the term feeling great!
🛏️ Keep a good sleep routine (holidays are fun, but rest is important!)
🥦 Eat healthy snacks (too much sugar = energy crashes)
🚴♀️ Stay active (play outside and keep moving!)
💧 Drink water (hot weather = more hydration needed!)
If you have any last-minute health questions before the break, come see Mel at the school clinic this week!
School Psychologist
Focus on Anxiety In Primary Schools
What is anxiety?
It’s normal for everyone to get worried or stressed at times, a little bit of worry is actually motivational, it helps us get up and get things done. However, troublesome anxiety is a state of regular worry that interferes with day to day functioning, like going to school or talking to peers. This type of anxiety occurs when a person’s mind overestimates the risk and underestimates their ability to cope which results in avoidance of situations that cause the worry. This avoidance reinforces to the anxiety that they’ve done the right thing and the anxiety gets stronger. With children, I like to call this the Anxiety Monster.
What does anxiety look like for primary school aged children?
Children are not able to easily identify and explain their worries to others. Instead, their bodies express their anxiety and they may complain of headaches, stomach-aches, poor sleep, poor concentration, and appear clingy or exceedingly shy.
When to get help for your child with mind worries?
- The worries are causing your child a lot of distress (e.g., crying, screaming, hiding)
- Worries are causing your child to resist attending school
- Fear of interacting with peers is causing loneliness
- Your child is avoiding people/activities/places due to worry
Are you concerned that your child’s worries are getting in their way?
- Talk to your child about their worries, resist the temptation to tell them their worry is silly but help them learn coping skills to tolerate the uncomfortable feelings.
- Support them through their anxious times and try to not reinforce the fears by letting them avoid the situation. Help them “face their fears” and not let the worry monster win.
Need more help?
The BRAVE Program is an interactive, online program for the prevention and treatment of childhood and adolescent anxiety. The programs are free and provide ways for children and teenagers to better cope with their worries. There are also programs for parents to understand how to help!
Check it out here: https://brave4you.psy.uq.edu.au/
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