28 May 2025

Principal’s Pride

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Community Members,

Welcome to Week 6 of Term 2. This week we have the Year 3 Billabong Sanctuary Excursions, the continuation of Inter-School Season Sport for Netball and Rugby League for participating Year 6 students and our Year 4-6 Student Councillors will continue their engagement with the student community in seeking their voice input into our School-Led review processes.

Inter-School Cross Country Achievements

Congratulations to all TWSS students who represented our school with pride at last week’s Inter-School Cross Country Trials at Bicentennial Park.  Thank you to all staff involved in supervision of the students at the after-school event and for coordinating training sessions in the lead up to this.

Two of our students have progressed to the next stage:

• Novah W – 3^rd in the 10 Years Girls
• Eva-Shell C – 9^th in the 11 Years Girls

Under 8’s Day Celebrations

Our Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 students had a lovely afternoon on Friday celebrating Under 8’s Week. They took part in an afternoon of fun activities, where they had the freedom to choose what they wanted to do.

Our special guests from the Rural Fire Brigade, Queensland Police Service, Pick of the Crop and Townsville Fire were very popular.

Our Willows Mascots (Willow the Wallaby, Olive the Owl and Waldo the Wombat) were also able to join us for some of the fun, and we appreciated the help from our Student Council leaders who guided them through the area.

A very big thank you to all of our families who came along to help us celebrate. It was wonderful to see our youngest students having fun exploring with their family members.

A massive thank you to Deputy Principal of Prep to Year 2, Amanda Souter, the Under 8’s Day Committee led by Katherine Williams, all Prep to Year 2 staff, support staff teams including our Guidance Officer, OSHC, and our student leaders whose efforts all combined to create a magical afternoon for our students.

Special thanks to volunteer dads, Sam W, Ashley R, Fab B, Peter O, and Zac E for all their assistance to our Schools Officer, in setting up and packing up equipment for the event. We so appreciate your support – many hands make light work.

If anyone would like to flag their interest in volunteering to assist with future school events such as Athletics Day and our Colour Explosion Fun Run, please feel free to contact the school on 47 991 333. We love volunteers!

National Simultaneous Storytime 2025

National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country. Now in its 24th successful year, it is a colourful, vibrant, fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children's book that explores age-appropriate themes, and addresses key learning areas of the National Curriculum from Foundation to Year 6.

Last week, The Willows State School students participated in a special reading of the 2025 NSS text, The Truck Cat. As part of our celebrations, a number of Disney Week themed activities were also on offer in the library at lunchtimes which the children loved.

Sincere thanks to Miss Hawkins, our Head of Department-Teaching and Learning, for her coordination of these NSS activities and our teacher aides for their support.

National Reconciliation Week is held from 27 May to 3 June, commemorating significant milestones in the reconciliation journey: the successful 1967 referendum on 27 May and the 1992 High Court Mabo decision on 3 June.

In the spirit of reconciliation,

• Find out more about Queensland Government's Reconciliation Action Plan – for all department employees, and all Queensland Government employees.
• Read the story of The Mabo Native Title Decision (PDF, 284KB) and what it means for reconciliation.
• Find out more about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

School-Led Review:

Opportunities for parents to provide input into the future 4-year direction of The Willows SS

Thank you to the parents who last week provided significant input into our School-Led Review, whether through discussion at our Pre-Prep Program, Willows Warriors, through the Evening Parent Forum hosted just prior to the P&C Meeting, or via QR Code Survey at our Prep to Year 2 Under 8’s Day. Your input and insights into what we are doing well and how we can improve are very valued.  The feedback and reflections from all stakeholders will result in the development of the school’s Strategic Plan 2026-2029 by the conclusion of the 2025 school year.

There will be a further opportunity for parent and community voice:

• Afternoon Parent Forum - Thursday, 12 June – 3:30-4:30pm – prior to Music Gala

Have a wonderful week. Our next newsletter for Term 2 will be issued on Wednesday, 4 June.

Warm regards,

Michelle Donn
Principal

Upcoming Events

Year Level Parade Times

General News

PEEK AT PREP – Wednesday, 25 June

Positive Behaviour Learning (Safe, Respectful, Responsible)

FORTNIGHTLY FOCUS

We will continue with the fortnightly focus ‘Kind Words, Gentle Hands’.

EXPECTATION - At The Willows State School, students use kind words and gentle hands to show they are safe, respectful and responsible both in the classroom and playground.

Students will identify ways that they can express their thoughts and feelings positively using kind words only. This includes communicating through online platforms and emails.

It is also important to not ask your friends to send messages on your behalf or to listen to these messages as they can be misunderstood and often lead to unnecessary problems.

We encourage students at TWSS to take responsibility for their own actions and words as everyone has the right to feel safe at school. Please chat with your children about how they can use their kind words to solve problems.

75-STAR REWARDS

Lots of students enjoyed the 75-Star Rewards last week.

The teachers and students had fun celebrating excellent behaviour for learning. Below are some of the Year 4 students enjoying their celebrations.

THANK YOU COFFEE CART

Last Wednesday, the ‘Thank You Coffee’ cart visited our school and started the day for the staff in an awesome way.

The Willows is very grateful for their visit.

MASCOTS VISIT UNDER 8’S DAY

Waldo, Willow and Olive came to visit the Prep to Year 2 students and our school community who attended Under 8’s Day last Friday.

The students loved joining in the activities and giving our mascots a high 5.

Thanks to Mrs Mac and the wonderful Year 6 helpers that guided Waldo, Willow and Olive around for the afternoon.

We can’t wait to see them again!

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Defence News

Hello and welcome to all Defence families/caregivers and students,

Defence member absence is going to be very high throughout the coming months so please reach out to me at school via my email cwhee36@eq.edu.au or phone the office on 4799 1333. This can be a rollercoaster with many challenges along the way for all the family and there are many supports available to children and at home parents. All feelings are normal and having a loved one absent can be an emotional time. I have a vast understanding of what you are experiencing during the absence and am available at school Monday to Thursday for a chat, my door is always open in L Pod.

The Partner Employment Assistance Program (PEAP) is again available to partners to claim reimbursement up to $1500 per financial year for a variety of employment services. More details and how to register are on the Defence Website or you can ask me for a flyer. 

Kookaburra Kids is in Townsville, this organisation supports defence kids living in families that are affected by mental illness.  For more details on activities contact Hannah Galliner on 0484 544 451 or check out the website www.kookaburrakids.org.au

Education Assistance Scheme is available to access for tutoring within 18months of posting to a new school. This is available for all primary and high school aged children who may require support in Maths and English. Contact the DMFS Helpline on 1800 624 608 for all details on how to apply. Just complete the form online at ADF Pay and Conditions Manual and send an email to the teacher. With approval your child can have access to 14 hrs of tutoring for both Maths and English through a private tutor. Contact me with any questions. Flyer below with details.

ADF FAMILY HEALTH PROGRAM - Did you know that ADF families can access funds to maintain a healthy lifestyle? The ADF Family Health Program provides reimbursement for physiotherapy, dental, specialist appointments and more of up to $800 a year per dependent! Get one now! For more information on how to register, visit Home - ADF Family Health Program

Families with Special Needs you can access support through the Defence Special Needs Support Group (DSNSG) or call 1800 037 674.  For more information on assistance measures go to the website or email specialneeds.families@defence.gov.au

Did you know that you can walk into DMFS office (Private and Confidential) at Nathan Business Centre Corner Ross River Road and Nathan Street during business hours to speak to a Social Worker/Councillor or you can phone Open Arms on 1800 011 046 to make an appointment to discuss your concerns further? Remember it is OK TO ASK FOR HELP. We all a need support at one time.

For what’s coming up in Townsville for Defence Families see attached flyer or register to receive their newsletter and updates dmfs.townsville@defence.gov.au or follow on Facebook.

Geckos Family Centre-North Queensland is at Lavarack Barracks and is open for parents and families to drop in. Organised daily activities on offer. Follow them on Facebook or phone them on 07 4411 7031 for more details.

TO BE UP TO DATE WITH “WHATS ON IN TOWNSVILLE” CHECK     whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au

IMPORTANT CONTACT DETAILS

Defence Family Helpline 24/7 - 1800 624 608 - Need Help give them a call    

DMFS Office at Nathan Business Centre on Ross River Rd, call 07 4430 3879  

Open Arms support former and current serving ADF personnel and their family members can use the service – office is at the Nathan Business Centre or call 1800 011 046 www.openarms.gov.au

Mates4Mates – Townsville FRC 4771 9600 townsville@mates4mates.org

Café now Open from 9am-12.30pm every day, you are welcome to attend for a chat and to have a look around.

The Oasis Townsville for Ex-ADF Community in Townsville  hello@theoasistownsville.org.au

Dirty Books Café – 1 Staging Camp Avenue, Oonoonba – 07 4759 8777 is currently under renovation

DFA (Defence Families of Australia) – NQ Delegate Larissa Ostermann 0418 796 561 nth.qld@dfa.org.au

DSNG Defence Special Needs Group - 1800 037 674  www.dsng.org.au

Beyondblue.org.au www.australia.gov.au

Geckos Family Centre Nth Qld Lavarack Barracks - Contact for enquiries on 07 4446 1238 or follow on Facebook

Kookaburra Kids Charity Organisation Mental Health Service - 1300 566 525   www.kookaburrakids.org.au or contact Hannah Galliner 0484 544 451/1300 566 525

Defence Holidays NQ at Lavarack Barracks (opp the Gym) - 07 4725 3842 admin@defenceholidaysnq.com.au

My office is open for a private conversation and cuppa anytime or alternatively phone me any time on 4799 1333 ext 323, Monday to Thursday 8.00am – 3.30pm or email me cwhee36@eq.edu.au

Have an awesome week!

Correna Wheeler
Defence School Mentor

DON’T SWEAT THE LITTLE STUFF!!

The Pulse (PE News)

Season Sport

• Netball
  • The Mixed Team played Cranbrook and won 29 points to nil.
  • Congratulations to the Mixed Team that have made the semi-finals this week.
  • The Senior B Girls Team played a scratch match against Carinity to prevent a bye and won 6 points to 2.
  • Week 3 players of the match were Grace for her defensive skills and Charlie for her shooting skills.
  • Week 4 players of the match were Isla and Eva.
• Rugby League
  • The A Team played Rasmussen and went down 28 points to 16 in a fast, physical contest.
  • The B Team played Holy Spirit and lost 30 points to 12.
  • Well done to all players on their continued effort.

Cross Country

Congratulations to the twenty students who participated in the Interschool Cross Country. All students were respectful and represented the school with pride.

Goodluck to Eva-Shell and Novah who will compete on Tuesday for the Townsville Northern Team.

NQ Netball Cup and The Bill Nettle Challenge – Friday 27 June

The NQ Netball Cup and Bill Nettle Challenge that were washed out in Term 1 have been re-scheduled for the last day of Term 2, Friday 27 June. Students had already been selected for this event. New forms will be distributed shortly as it is an off-site activity with a new date.

Sporting Schools

Our Sporting Schools lunch time clubs are proving to be a big success with AFL, Rugby League and Hockey being enjoyed over the week.

Pitch News

Music News – Issue 8 Term 2 Week 5 / 6

CONGRATULATIONS to all our Choral and Instrumental children who are committing to practice and attending rehearsals. Assessment is well underway, keep practising and your efforts will be rewarded in your report cards, at our Gala Night and Fanfare for Choral students.

Notes have gone home to all the Choral students who have been regularly attending rehearsal for Fanfare competition. Both our Junior and Senior Choirs will be participating. Please return these as soon as possible.

Instrumental Workshop

Intermediate and Advanced String and Band Workshops will be held at the Excelsior Centre, Kirwan SHS, starting 25 June, 2025 with our guest conductors Emma Jimenez and Robin Gray.

Letters have been sent home to all our continuing Instrumental Wind, Brass, Percussion and String players. Please complete the consent, medical, parent contact and the media release by Friday, 30 May, 2025 and submit it to the office.

Date Claimer

G A L A    N I G H T
Thursday, 12^th June, 2025
4.30pm TCBC

All our performers are ready and invite you to an afternoon of entertainment.

It is an expectation that all members of our Music Program are available to perform at our outside school events. The Gala Night is a performance to showcase what your child has been learning for the first half of this year. It also allows your child to build confidence and perform in front of a large crowd in preparation for the Eisteddfod in Term 3 and share with you their learning progress. All performers are required to wear full music uniform as requested in previous newsletters. Please make sure you have your music and instrument ready for the afternoon. We would like it to run smoothly and quickly with all children ready in the Performing Arts Centre. All children are to be seated at the front of TCBC to minimise entry and exit and to get children up on stage and off as smoothly as possible. Younger children must be with their parents at all times displaying audience manners. No children are to be left unsupervised or on play equipment. The following groups will be performing: Junior Choir, Senior Choir, Junior Strings, Senior Orchestra, Beginner Band, Percussion Ensemble and Concert Band. All are welcome to come and watch our sensational musicians performing.  

Junior & Senior Choirs
 Fiona Coleman

You are working extremely hard and progressing beautifully. Time is getting closer and there is still lots of work to do in becoming confident and synchronising our actions etc. Keep working hard and turning up to ALL Rehearsals on time!! Extra rehearsals during lunchtimes in the lead up to our performance. 

C H O R A L   F A N F A R E
Friday, 6th June
Pimlico Theatre

Choral Fanfare is our first performance and all Choir children must be in attendance. Venue is Denise Glasgow Theatre at Pimlico. Parents are welcome to attend.

We are performing as follows: 

• Senior Choir – Performs @ 10.50am
• Junior Choir – Performs @ 11.50am
• Adjudication approximately 12.15pm.

Regional Festivals will take place on Friday 20^th June if selected from Heats.

There are some great sounds, vocal and performance skills developing. I’m very excited to see you perform on stage. Please keep up the hard work and your efforts will be rewarded. Same rehearsal times as below.

Junior Choir 
Monday (First Break Play/Eating) - Whole Choir
Tuesday (First Break Play Only) - Part 1
Tuesday (Second Break Play Only) - Part 2
Wednesday (Second Break Play/Eating) - Whole Choir

Senior Choir - as per timetable
Thursday and Friday (First break Play/Eating)
Extra Rehearsals when needed

Music Shirts, Folders/Music, School Instruments/Fees

We are marked on the fanfare criteria for presentation. I hope these messages about uniform have given you plenty of time to organise. If there are any problems, please come and see me as soon as possible. Please ensure you have organised your music uniform with navy skorts, skirts, shorts, white (crew) ankle socks, black closed in shoes and matching school coloured hair ties if needed. No Makeup.

Musically Yours,
Fiona Coleman

"Music is the universal language of mankind."  ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Prep News

English

In English, Preps are learning to create a short, written informative text about a topic, using words and images.

Mathematics

In Mathematics, Preps are learning to partition and combine collections up to 10 in different ways. And represent practical situations involving quantifying, adding and taking away from collections to at least 10.

Science/Melvilles Farm

In Science, Preps are learning to represent, share and reflect on observations about the needs of living things and how an environment can affect them.

Year One News

Week 5 was a really action packed week for our Year One students! On Thursday, we celebrated the students who have earned their 75 Stars with a rewards afternoon. The students got to choose from a range of indoor and outdoor activities to play with their friends from all of the Year One classes.

1A and 1B students have been learning lots while working in the computer lab with their Grade 6 buddy class. The students work well together to improve their typing skills and enjoy some Maths games. 

On Friday, students got to have lots of fun at the Under 8’s Day! There was face painting, craft, painting, playdough, slime, sensory sand, The Rural Fire Brigade, The Townsville Fire Basketball and so much more. Lots of fun was had by all. 

Year Two News

Year 2 came together to celebrate reaching 75 stars reward this week. Students chose to participate in a number of activities such as free time on Laptops, iPads, Bee-Bots/Sphero and construction. A lot of fun was had by all students as they enjoyed their reward time with friends from all Year 2 classes.

In the past week, students in Year 2D have been learning how to locate important information in an information report to use when writing their own informative text. They have been learning about Axolotls. Students have written notes and used those notes to create their own text about the Axolotls diet using a title, sub-heading and commas in a list.

In Maths, we have been learning how to tell the time to the hour, half hour and quarter of an hour using analogue clocks. To practice the skills they have learned, students have been using a classroom clock to manipulate the hands to represent different times. They have also been drawing the hands on a clock face to represent the time while also writing the time in words.

In Science this week, Year 2 have been learning about lifecycles of animals. 2D has learned about the lifecycle of a Ladybird and a butterfly. They have created a life cycle diagram using pictures provided and described the changes the butterfly goes through from eggs to full grown adult using the scientific language learned.

Year Three News

These last couple of weeks have been busy for our Year 3 learners! We have been actively engaged in scientific studies, learning about living and non-living things, along with various animal adaptations. This will help us broaden our knowledge as we embark on our amazing excursion to The Billabong Sanctuary later in the week. So far we have learned how to identify living from non-living (living things breathe, reproduce, respond to stimuli, need nutrients and grow), and practised our scientific labelling of diagrams. This has also helped with strengthening our knowledge for our English task – creating an informative poster on a chosen animal.

Details for the Billabong Sanctuary Excursion are as follows:-

• Group 1 – 3A, 3D & 4/3F - Thursday 29 May
• Group 2 – 3B, 3C, 3E - Friday 30 May
• Students will need to be at school by 8:45am with a:
  • Hat
  • Closed in shoes
  • Water bottle
  • Morning Tea and Lunch

***Students will not be able to purchase anything from the store or café.***

Week 5 also saw Year 3 students celebrating their great achievement in reaching 75 Stars! Well done Year 3! Time to set new goals, ready for the next round.

Year Four News

Hello families,

This week, the Year 4’s visited the Townsville Waste Recovery Facility. A great morning was had learning about what happens to our rubbish after it is picked up by the garbage trucks! The Year 4’s sorted some rubbish into waste or recycling, investigated which bins our waste should go into and observed the waste sorters and machines at the facility!

Year Five News

Exploring the Solar System!

This term, in Year 5 we have been on an exciting space adventure! We've been learning all about the solar system, including the planets, how they move around the sun, and what makes each one special. We’ve also talked about how day and night happen and the important job of the moon. The students have been super curious and asked some amazing questions during our science lessons. To show what we’ve learned, we have been creating bright, fun, and creative solar system posters and booklets.

Year Six News

Welcome to halfway of Term 2! This seems to be going very quickly. Before you know it, it will be their graduation. Wow! Speaking of graduation, the Year 6 students this term are having a little bit of fun planning it in a hypothetical situation. In Maths, students are learning to use excel and other digital tools to create a budget for the event. We have been learning about what budgets are and how to use sums to work out what we have spent and how much we have remaining. 6A had a go at planning their own birthday party with a budget of $300. Let’s hope they remember to buy plates and cups not just the fun stuff!

In English, students are reading and comprehending informative texts and creating their own. 6A has been helping their Year 2 buddies with their computer skills while they navigate information texts.

Year 6’s have also been helping the younger students in the playground. The Buddies in Blue program has volunteers out on playgrounds and soccer fields helping coach students, umpire games and helping them get along. It looks great on their high school application.

Community News

Thuringowa State High School Theatre Restaurant

Thuringowa State High School Theatre Restaurant Tickets are now on sale. Saturday restaurant night tickets are limited for larger groups, however we still have tickets available. This is a tradition that we have at Thuringowa State High School and that has occurred every year since the school opened.

Basketball Social Season