We have now completed the first month of the 2025 school year and momentum for this term is really increasing with teaching and learning of the Australian Curriculum. I have thoroughly enjoyed the amazing start our entire school community has demonstrated and it is pleasing to see results coming across the school from the hard work linked to our 2025 vision.

It has been confirmed that our 2025 staffing model and predicted student enrolment has been sustained with over 300 students currently enrolled in our school. I can confirm like last year there will be no classroom restructures and we will continue with our current structure across the school.

Deputy Principal Position

There will be a change to the Deputy Principal position at Berserker Street State School. Mr Dan Williamson has accepted an appointment as Acting Principal at Theodore State School after a state-wide selection process. Mr Williamson will commence his new role in 2 weeks on Monday 3rd March 2024.

A process is underway to appoint a new Acting Deputy Principal for our school. This will be finalised in coming weeks and the successful applicant will be relayed directly to our school community once known. Mrs Elizabeth Rose our Head of Curriculum will step up into the Acting Deputy Principal position as we undertake the recruitment process.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Dan Williamson who has been a key factor to our Better & Brighter journey and wish him all the best for his next adventure.

I encourage our school community to connect with Mr Williamson before saying farewell.

Berserker Day - Meet & Greet Event

Thank you to every body who came along to participate in our meet and greet afternoon. I was overwhelmed by how many family and community members came along to say hello, join us for a BBQ and cake to celebrate our school’s 108^th birthday. We look forward to growing this event to ensure it is better and brighter next year. A massive thank you to all of the volunteers who came along to help the event be such a huge success.

CCTV

Working with Protective Services we have secured funding to install CCTV across the school setting. These security cameras will be installed to promote further protection to our students, staff and our facilities. This installation will occur in coming weeks and signage will also be installed to promote the cameras to those entering our school grounds.

Attendance

If your child is absent from school we require this to be explained to ensure we know your child is safe and accounted for. This can be done by simply calling our school on 49 990 333 or responding to the text message sent from our school by 10am.

Remember we are here to support you with ensuring regular school attendance occurs.

School Zone Drop off & Pick up

Thank you for ensuring you a proactive in keeping our school zone safe for our students and families.

• Drive slowly in school zones: stick to the 40km/h limit.
• Stay alert: be mindful of pedestrians, bike riders and other motorists and look out for crossings.
• Avoid U-turns, three-point turns, and other complex manoeuvrers as they disrupt the flow of traffic and can be dangerous.
• Park safely and be mindful of our neighbour’s driveway access.
• Encourage your child to use the school crossing on Berserker Street.
• Remind your child about walking/riding safely to school – wear a helmet!
• Fasten your seatbelt.
• Re-assess your drop off and pick up locations.
• Remind your child about walking/riding safely to school.
• Students who ride to school are required to wear a helmet.

Nurse Practitioner appointments

Kerinda our school nurse practitioner has been busy with many families taking the opportunity to connect for bulk-billed medical check-ups, referrals and prescribed medication. Kerinda is here every Monday during the school term and you can book an appointment by contacting the office.

Swimming lessons:

Swimming lessons continue next week for students in Year 4 & Year 6. If your child is in this cohort then I thank you for ensuring all permission and payment is returned before they attend. If you require more time to pay then contact the front office to discuss a payment plan.  The cost has already been subsidised by the school.

Year 6 students will swim on Tuesday and Year 4 on Wednesday. Students will be required to ensure they have togs inclusive of a sun safe shirt, towel and goggles are encouraged.

Student Leader Induction

Today our Year 6 student leaders were inducted formally into their roles during a special ceremony on our morning parade. We look forward to watch them grow and demonstrate leadership skillsets through their actions to promote being better & brighter every day!

School Captains: Madison Busch & Riley Lawton

School Vice Captains: Matthias Mannion & Maxwell Ryals

Student Councillors: Blake Armstrong, Latoya Butler, Lucas Leyton-Smith, Marcus Roberts, Phoebe Roe, Jarred Spanner, Estelle White & Heath Witt

Griffin House Captains: Flo Anderson, Theo Chin, Jackson Drake & Dustin Schoeler

Mahoney House Captains: Bethany McCormack, Rita Rogers, Lebron Ross & Marjon Saldo.

Steven House Captains: Raylan Armstorng, Ethan Mu, Rayne Stevens & Merl’Andi Willie

Wilkinson House Captains: Willow Birse, Jackson Dobbs, Oli Parter & Tynan Tremaine.

Year 1 Excursion

As part of their English unit, the Year 1 students will be going on an excursion to the Pilbeam Theatre in Week 5, on Thursday the 27^th of February 2025 at 10am.

In English they are learning how to plan, present a retelling and given an opinion on a familiar story. This visit will give our students the opportunity to see live theatre and experience a favourite story book brought to life. 

Alongside The Very Hungry Caterpillar, the show features three other Eric Carle stories – Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Ten Little Rubber Ducks, and The Very Busy Spider.

Students will need to be dressed in full school uniform.

Students MUST be at school by 9.00 am sharp as we will be boarding the bus for departure at 9.15 am and will be returning to school at 11.30am (lunch time). Any latecomers will need to go to the office where they will be redirected to another class for that day.

The is a FREE excursion as the school will cover the costs for each child.

We need permission for the students to travel by bus and request that the permission slip below is returned by Thursday 13^th February to their classroom teacher.  

Emergency Procedures

Today our school conducted a practice of our emergency procedures in line with workplace health and safety requirements. Our students and staff participated in both a lockdown and evacuation drill to ensure in the unlikely need to be required students and staff are prepared. 

P&C AGM Meeting

We are currently anticipating to hold our 2025 P&C AGM on Tuesday 11^th March, pending financial auditing documents are returned in time. We encourage new family members to come along in join our hard-working team of volunteers.

Prep classroom refurbishment

We are anticipating that our prep classroom refurbishment will be concluded in the next fortnight. This will allow us the opportunity to utilise this modern learning space for our prep cohort once we move back in. I was fortunate enough to get a sneak peak the other day and the rooms look spectacular. We look forward to sharing with our school community soon.

Have you liked our Facebook page?

Remember to stay up to date with what is happening across our school so don’t forget to like our Facebook page – Berserker Street State School.

I hope you have a better & brighter day!

Ryan Gilmour

Principal

Berserker Street SS will continue to be a PBL school in 2025. This will allow us to continue to explicitly teach and reward positive behaviour for learning with a whole school approach. Each week our students are taught a school wide lesson on a particular focus.

Our school expectations are:

• We are safe
• We are respectful
• We are responsible
• We are learners.

PBL Focus week 3&4: I am ready to learn!

At Berserker Street State School, we are learners! Over the last 2 weeks we have been teaching and supporting our students to understand and improve learning behaviours in our classrooms.

What does a learner look like at Berserker?

• I follow school and classroom rules.
• Do my work to the best of my ability.
• I ask for help when I’m having difficulty.
• I respond appropriately when directed by adults.
• I am respectful of the learning environment and my classmates.
• I take responsibility for my behaviour.
• I am a positive member of my classroom.
• I am brave
• I bring a healthy lunch to school.

Week 5&6: Strong Starts and calm transitions.

• Start each entry (beginning of the day and after each break) with our whole school entry routine

-           Greeting

-           Check in

-           Affirmation

-           Do now activity

• Walk quietly and calmly around the school.
• I check in with at the end of playtime
• When the bell rings I transition quickly to be in my class safety line on time in the Stadium or at the end of lunchtime.
• I am punctual. Right place: right time!

Berserker Bucks

Students are rewarded for positive behaviour choices with our whole school universal rewards known as Berserker Bucks. Each term students have the opportunity to reach Berserker Bucks milestones with incentives on our rewards day for those who reach our Gold benchmark. Berserker Bucks will change colour each term and this year we have raised the bar with our students blowing expectations out of the water last year. Each Term students who receive their gold award will be eligible to participate in a better and brighter event. Term 1 will include a petting zoo!

Bronze – 100 Berserker Bucks

Silver – 150 Berserker Bucks

Gold – 200 Berserker Bucks

A platinum award is presented to students at the end of Term 4 for those students who have received their Gold award in every term of the school year. This year our Platinum award will consist of an excursion to the movies with the cost covered by the school.

Children can also earn extra Berserker Bucks by using our school wide focus word of the week on Wednesday and Friday with school staff.

To promote further incentive the highest earning student in each cohort will be invited to a pizza party with the principal.

Week 4 

Week 5 

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit each year. NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through the school curriculum and allows parents/carers to see how their child is progressing against national proficiency standards. NAPLAN will be held online during the testing window of Wednesday 12^th March through to Monday 24^th March. Catch-up sessions for students who are absent for their tests will also occur during this same test window. A letter and information flyer has been sent home to all Year 3 and Year 5 families. If you have any further questions please contact the office 49990333.

Are you interested in a scholarship, free educational programs, digital access, and support with improving your child’s educational outcomes?

The Smith Family will be at Berserker Street State School every Friday morning this term. If you are interested in finding out more about a Learning for Life Scholarship for your child, or you are an existing family already on Scholarship, please feel to meet with us.

When: Fridays

Time: 8.30am to 9.30am

Where: Parade and Admin Office

We look forward to meeting you. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact:

Karen Mulligan, Family Partnership Coordinator, The Smith Family 0481 905 240 karen.mulligan@thesmithfamily.com.au

Berserker PCYC invites any new or current families to come and see us in A Block for any Before and After School Care needs for your children. If you would like to enrol, Natalie can be contacted on 0418 116 481 or by email at berserkerstsac@pcyc.org.au. We are open school days 6:30 – 8:30am and 2:45-6:00pm. You can also find us at the Breakfast club most mornings for a chat. At Berserker PCYC we offer children the opportunity to engage in different thing such as outdoor play, team games, cooking, craft and much more.