Welcome back to the second half of our academic school year. I trust that all families successfully received semester one student report cards which were distributed prior to the holidays. We now have our sights firmly set on new learning goals for each child as we dive into term three units of work. The next ten weeks are vibrant ones. For our older students, camp or the school musical may be a particular highlight and for our younger students, excursions and Book Week will be sure to bring a spark to the learning. How are those Book week costume coming along by the way?
We began the term with a very special whole school parade under the fig trees to officially open our new junior playground. Marking this occasion in such a meaningful way helped our students understand the important role our P&C plays, as well as the part we contribute in building a strong and connected school community. Thank you to all who attended, offered and supported ideas throughout the process. Thanks to everyone’s contributions, we now have a play space that lends itself to greater amounts of imaginative play, exploration and collaboration – indeed, a beautiful playground for our students to enjoy for many years to come.
How many children does it take to fill a boat?
1A had been using the new sandpit for a maths capacity lesson when they decided to count how many students could fit into our boat.. the whole class it seems!
School Opinion Survey
This week you will have received an email with a link inviting you to complete our annual School Opinion Survey. This email is not distributed by Windsor State School but rather generated externally by the Department of Education. The survey is an opportunity for families to provide feedback to us, your primary school. All feedback is valuable as we acknowledge and create the best schooling experience for your child. I do encourage families to complete the survey as the higher the rate of completion, the more credible and useful the data received will be. This survey will also be completed by students in years 5-6, as student voice is another important aspect of our ongoing improvement plan.
The survey can be completed via computers, tablets or smart phones with an internet connection. For Parents/Caregivers who do not have access to the internet school computers/tablets will be available upon request. Parents/caregivers who experience difficulties accessing the survey can request a new survey from the School Opinion Survey team via email schoolopinionsurvey@qed.qld.gov.au
Can’t find your invitation? If your family has more than one parent/caregiver, check that they haven’t received the invitation and/or check your junk email folder.
Art Work Complete - The Windsor Way
One of our very talented Windsor parents, Amani Jhalisa Rodgers, with the input and ideas form our students, has been working on a bespoke digital artwork to represent our school community.
The artwork is now complete and we had the pleasure of sharing it with the whole school at our recent NAIDOC Parade. The artwork itself is absolutely beautiful and the story it represents even more powerful.
Please take a few moments to appreciate this incredible artwork and read the story of ‘The Windsor Way’.
‘The Windsor Way’ by Amani Jhalisa Rodgers
This artwork was created to honour the vibrant community that makes up Windsor State School. At the heart of the piece is a large central meeting place, symbolising the school itself. It represents the unity of staff, teachers, teacher aides and leadership who come together each day with a shared purpose; to guide and grow the next generation.
Radiating out from the centre are stepping stones. These represent the path of learning, growth, and connection — each step taken by students, staff, and families working together to build a brighter future.
Surrounding the central meeting place are four smaller gathering circles. These symbolise the school’s sport houses - Wilson, Lutwyche, Maynard and Bowen. Each one plays a vital role in shaping the students’ experiences, building belonging, teamwork and healthy competition.
Flowing throughout the piece is a journey line. It weaves through gatherings that represent each stage of a child’s schooling at Windsor, from their very first day in Prep, right through to their final year in Grade 6. This journey line is a visual story of growth, connection, learning and change - the years spent growing not just in knowledge, but in identity, resilience and community.
Across the canvas, you’ll see smaller meeting places that represent the parents, carers and volunteers the backbone of the Windsor community. These are the people who show up, lend a hand, and help create a safe, welcoming and supportive environment for every child.
You’ll also find symbols for waterways woven into the piece, representing the Brisbane River and local waterways that surround the area. These waterways have been a vital resource for the Turrbal people for thousands of years and continue to hold deep cultural, spiritual and environmental significance. Their presence in the artwork acknowledges and honours the enduring connection of the Turrbal people to this land and water.
Scattered throughout the design are delicate purple jacaranda leaves, which is a tribute to the many jacaranda trees that bloom across the school grounds each year, bringing colour and beauty to the space.
The entire piece is created in shades of blue, reflecting Windsor’s school colours. The varied dot and dash textures symbolise the natural elements of the school environment like native flora, flowering bushes and stone, grounding the story in the land on which the school sits.
This piece is a celebration of Windsor’s strength, unity and care. A living, breathing community that walks together to support every child’s journey, while standing with respect on Country that has been cared for since time immemorial.
Meet Amani Jahlisa Rodgers
Amani Jahlisa Rodgers is a proud Ngarrindjeri, Ngaiawang, and Ngangaruku woman with strong ancestral ties to the lower Murray River, Lakes, and Coorong regions of South Australia. Although born and raised in Queensland, Amani has always felt a deep connection to both salt and freshwater Country.
Amani is a multidisciplinary artist who creates both canvas and digital artworks, using storytelling, symbolism, and culture to express connection, identity, and healing. Her art is deeply personal and often inspired by her journey as a mother, creating from a place of love, strength, and a desire to leave a legacy for her son.
Through her cultural workshops and creative practice, Amani empowers young people to explore their own stories, build cultural pride, and find healing through creativity.
Years 3 and 5 NAPLAN
These National Assessments are now complete, with results shared with Year 3 and 5 families last week. Windsor State School students can feel proud of their achievements—both individually and in comparison, with peers across the state.
While NAPLAN was originally introduced to help schools identify areas for improvement in teaching and learning, its use has broadened over time (some uses less positive than others). What does remain most valuable is that NAPLAN offers a snapshot in time—a single piece of data. Our teachers use this information by triangulating it with ongoing classroom assessments and students’ A–E achievement to guide planning and support student growth. The below we share the Windsor’s Mean Scale Scores compared to the State.
Year Level
|
Group
|
Domain
|
Number
|
Mean
|
3
|
School
|
Writing
|
105
|
440
|
3
|
State
|
Writing
|
|
398
|
3
|
School
|
Reading
|
105
|
441
|
3
|
State
|
Reading
|
|
392
|
3
|
School
|
Spelling
|
105
|
416
|
3
|
State
|
Spelling
|
|
391
|
3
|
School
|
Grammar and Punctuation
|
105
|
444
|
3
|
State
|
Grammar and Punctuation
|
|
393
|
3
|
School
|
Numeracy
|
104
|
428
|
3
|
State
|
Numeracy
|
|
394
|
Year Level
|
Group
|
Domain
|
Number
|
Mean
|
5
|
School
|
Writing
|
88
|
490
|
5
|
State
|
Writing
|
|
464
|
5
|
School
|
Reading
|
88
|
518
|
5
|
State
|
Reading
|
|
483
|
5
|
School
|
Spelling
|
87
|
510
|
5
|
State
|
Spelling
|
|
476
|
5
|
School
|
Grammar and Punctuation
|
87
|
531
|
5
|
State
|
Grammar and Punctuation
|
|
487
|
5
|
School
|
Numeracy
|
88
|
518
|
5
|
State
|
Numeracy
|
|
480
|
Protected Industrial Action
I would like to keep families informed about the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement process that is currently in place between the Queensland Teachers Union and the State Government. This bargaining process usually has no bearing on your children however during this review phase the QTU members have clearly motioned for the option of protected industrial action (strike action) if appropriate offers are not received. If this were to occur I will communicate as quickly as able, any impact on your child/ren’s school day. For all, it is hoped a less disruptive agreement process will prevail.
Yours in Education