Newsletter 8 2 June 2025
From the Principal
Dear Families,
As we approach the halfway mark of the term, I’d like to take a moment to share some updates and acknowledge the wonderful efforts of our staff and students.
P&C Meeting – This Wednesday
Our next P&C Meeting will take place this Wednesday evening. I’ll be sharing details about our upcoming Winter Solstice activity, which promises to be a creative and engaging experience for our students and families. We hope to see many of you there.
Queensland Day – Friday 7 June
Queensland Day commemorates the remarkable moment on 6 June 1859 when our great state started to chart its own course away from New South Wales by becoming an independent colony. The link will take you to an interactive timeline to learn about the history of Queensland Day.
National Sorry Day
Last week, our school community came together to acknowledge National Sorry Day. The message displayed on the pedestrian bridge was a powerful and moving expression of our commitment to reconciliation, from our students. My heartfelt thanks to everyone who took part, especially to Helen Bright, whose leadership and coordination ensured the message was both meaningful and visible to our wider community.
School Access – Salisbury Street Closure
As previously communicated, the Salisbury Street entrance is now closed due to a construction project at Narbethong Special State School. As a result, students must now use the Churchill Street entrance before and after school.
To ensure student safety, a staff member will be supervising the gate from 8:30am in the morning and 3:00–3:20pm in the afternoon. If your children previously used the Salisbury Street gate, please remind them about safe travel around the school and encourage extra caution as they adjust to the change.
A big thank you also to Mrs Nelson and our staff for their fantastic work with the Budgie Cup teams. The students are developing their skills with enthusiasm and teamwork – we’re looking forward to seeing them shine at the upcoming carnival on 13 June.
World Environment Day 2025 - #BeatPlasticPollution
Thursday the 5th of June is World Environment Day. In 2025 World Environment Day will focus on ending plastic pollution. I shared the video Beat Plastic Pollution with our students at assembly today.
Plastic pollution permeates every corner of the planet—even in our bodies in the form of microplastics. World Environment Day 2025 calls for collective action to tackle plastic pollution.
At Buranda many children voluntarily Take 3 for the Sea during their lunch breaks to keep our school playgrounds clean and prevent plastics from blowing down into Norman Creek where they will enter the broader water ways and be a threat to wildlife and a contributor to microplastics in our environment.
Thank you to those students who are community minded and show by their actions that they understand – it’s not my rubbish but it is my school, it is my environment. Thank you to the parents and students who make a conscious effort to bring nude food lunches which are healthy and help to minimise the waste in our environment.
Facebook Page
Please remember our Facebook Page is up and running. This will allow you to stay up to date with events and important information within our school community
Andrew Bryant Update
I want to share that Andrew has encountered some unexpected health issues and will be taking leave to undergo treatment. While the matter is serious, Andrew is in good spirits and expects to return in a month or two after some “running repairs.” We wish him all the very best for a smooth recovery and look forward to welcoming him back when the time is right.
As a result, Friday Environmental Education Lessons will be on hold until further notice. I will discuss the Friday afternoon Garden Working Bees with the P&C this Wednesday.
All the best for a great week.
Kind regards,
Simon Vaseo - Principal
From the HOD-C
Axiom Holographics School Incursion P-6
In week 10 of term 2, on Thursday the 26th June, Axiom Holographics will provide presentations for all students at school (P-6) in the school resource centre.
The presentation students will be shown is about the Hologram Zoo Science Center in Brisbane. It is free for all students. Staff from Axiom Holographics will give an interactive presentation about how 3D and holograms are made in the context of zoo animals. Each student will receive a free pair of red-and-blue 3D glasses and a small 3D projection box to take home. The presentation lasts about 45 minutes.
An Axiom Holographics school incursion aligns with the Australian National Curriculum Version 9 by engaging students in interactive learning across Science and Technologies. In Science, it supports understanding of light, vision, and depth perception, linking to Physical Sciences by exploring how two eyes create 3D vision and how animals perceive depth. The program also introduces the history of 3D and the brain’s role in processing holograms, enhancing students’ knowledge of biological and physical sciences. In Technologies, the incursion connects to Digital and Design Technologies by demonstrating how holograms are created and used, fostering digital literacy and innovation. With hands-on puzzles, real-world applications, and a free projector gram for each student, the program is adapted for all age groups, making complex concepts accessible and engaging while meeting key curriculum objectives.
Mrs Wain will speak with the students about this incursion in their Technologies lessons, as the event draws closer.
Semester 1 Reporting
At Buranda we are implementing a staged transition to Version 9 of the Australian Curriculum. In 2025, Years 1-6 have been transitioning to the Australian Curriculum Version 9 for English and Mathematics. Further to this, Prep have transitioned to Version 9 of the Australian Curriculum in all learning areas. This has implications for reporting requirements, as outlined below.
- Semester 1 Reports 2025 – Years 1-6
In 2025, on the Years 1-6 student report cards in 2025 you will see:
Grades for achievement and effort for:
- Each learning area:
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Technologies
- HPE
- Health
- Physical Education
- Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS)
- The Arts
- Music
- Languages
- Comments for:
- English
- Mathematics
- Value Added Programs (VAP)
- Philosophy
- Instrumental Music
- Behaviour and Homework
- An Overall Comment
Rosie Scholl - HOD-C
Student Absence Procedure
Dear Parents and Carers
Just a quick reminder of our student absence procedure.
If your child is going to be late to school (arriving after the bell) or absent for the day, please advise the school by one of the following options:
- Text message to 0428 679 117 before 9am with student’s name, class and a reason for the absence
- email admin@burandass.eq.edu.au as well as your child’s teacher/s before 9am on the day of the absence or ahead of time if they have an appointment
- call the office on 3435 1222 – office opens at 8.30am
If you are collecting your child early, please email your class teacher and cc admin before school. If you need to collect your child at short notice, it is best to call the office asap.
A student exemption form will need completed by a parent or carer if a student is away for a period of more than 10 consecutive school days (eg. holidays).
Many thanks,
Admin team
Parent-Teacher Interviews
You will soon receive an email from your child’s teacher with details about booking a Parent–Teacher Interview online. These interviews will take place in Week 10, from Monday, 23 June to Friday, 27 June. This is a valuable opportunity to connect with your child’s teacher and discuss their progress and goals.
Philosothon 2025 – Encouraging Young Philosophers
We’re excited to let you know that Buranda will once again be taking part in the annual Philosothon—a special event where students from different schools come together to explore big ideas through discussion and shared thinking.
The Philosothon is all about encouraging students to think deeply about interesting and important questions in a respectful, collaborative way. It’s a great chance for our young thinkers to build confidence, develop their reasoning skills, and learn how to listen and respond thoughtfully to others.
This year’s event will be held at Hillbrook Anglican College, on Monday 23rd June, and Buranda will be taking two teams made up of 8 Year 5 and 6 students.
We’ve had an enthusiastic response, with 20 students putting their hands up to be involved! To help us decide on the final teams, students are taking part in weekly philosophy practice sessions with Mrs Alexion. These sessions take place on Mondays from 1:45–2:15pm and started last week.
We’re so proud of the way our students are engaging with big ideas and giving the auditions their best effort. Final team selections will be shared very soon.
Thank you for your support—we’re looking forward to seeing our students grow as curious, open-minded thinkers.
Desley Alexion - STLaN
QParents
Prep 2026 Information Session
Head Lice
Head lice have been detected at school.
It is extremely important for you to check your child’s head for head lice TODAY.
If you do find head lice, commence treatment immediately and be sure to complete the process of treatment. This will help prevent head lice from spreading.
Remember to keep checking your family member’s heads every 2 days until there are no head lice found for 10 consecutive days.
For further information regarding treating head lice, refer to the Department of Health’s Head Lice fact sheet.
Your local pharmacist can provide advice regarding head lice treatment options and head lice combs.
Because head lice need close head-to-head contact to spread from one person to another, to reduce the spread of head lice, teachers will discourage students from activities which may involve head to head contact.
To reduce your child’s risk of getting head lice, make sure that long hair is tied up and discourage children from sharing their brushes and combs and having head to head contact with others.
Remember - Anyone can get head lice – they have no preferences for cleanliness, hair colour, hair type, ethnicity or age.