Queensland Association of State School Principals

THANK YOU, LORRAINE // QASSP was delighted last week to host Professor Lorraine Hammond AM from the University of Notre Dame in Western Australia, to deliver her Science of Reading and Instructional Practice workshop. Events on the Sunshine and Gold Coasts and in Brisbane attracted 350 educators, including from schools on the New South Wales border through to Bwgcolman Community School on Palm Island in the far north. We hope to bring Lorraine back to Queensland later this year. To be the first to know when new workshops are scheduled, follow QASSP.

HONOURING MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS // Congratulations to Jane Termaat, who has been presented with a QASSP Service Award in recognition of her long-term commitment to and support of her fellow members. Jane received her award at the recent Far North Queensland Leaders Strategic Summit; she's pictured with Cairns and Cape York Branch President Michael Patane and QASSP Life Member Tony Constance. Tony also took the opportunity to acknowledge 20 Year Membership milestones reached by Randal Smith and Tania Kaitara, and Karryn Brunetto's 10 Year Membership.

QASSP member Chris Honan was also honoured at a recent QASSP catch-up following a principal business meeting for FNQ, with a Service Award presented by QASSP Board member Mark Allen. Thank you all, for your continued support of your fellow leaders of Queensland’s state primary schools.

THE SAME ... BUT DIFFERENT // In honour of National Primary Education Week, QASSP President Debbie Hansen today visited Kenmore South State School – where she started Year 1 in the midst of the 1974 floods and from where she graduated in Year 7. Debbie was surprised and delighted to learn that one of the current school captains once lived in the house where she grew up (and that her parents built!) Although some things have remained the same (Debbie visited her Year 4 classroom), today's students have access to purpose-built playgrounds, STEM and digital learning spaces, and a new arts facility. Debbie was also introduced to a green owl called "Trip" – whose name denotes the values upon which the school's culture is built: Take a risk, Reflect, Innovate, and Perform. Congratulations to Principal Georgina Allardice and her leadership team, under whose stewardship Kenmore South State School is thriving. Primary Education Week culminates on 7 August with Primary Principals Day and is an initiative of the Australian Primary Principals Association.

SWITCH SCHOOL LEADER COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE EVENT // QASSP Business Partner Switch4Schools is inviting principals, senior staff and Heads of Department to a newly created opportunity: The first School Leader Community of Practice. Join in person or online. Expect a fast rundown of what's coming next for Switch, then the good part – an open floor roundtable where school leaders share what's working, what's not, and where the opportunities are in the world of wellbeing and engagement. Bring one win. Bring one challenge. Help shape the roadmap.

We hope to see you, on Thursday 20 August | 3:30–5:00pm at the QASSP Leadership Centre, 29 Baxter St, Fortitude Valley (or online) Spots are limited, register now: [email protected]

DID YOU KNOW? // It's National Primary Education Week! Across Australia, we’re celebrating the extraordinary work happening inside primary schools every day, culminating this Friday with Australian Primary Principals Day. We're asking our members – the leaders of Queensland's state primary schools – to take this opportunity to acknowledge the unique place they and their leadership teams occupy within their school and wider community. And we're inviting the students, carers and families they serve to say "Thank You!", for their dedication and contribution.

AN ACTION-PACKED FIRST WEEK // QASSP's new President, Debbie Hansen hit the ground running last week, with departmental stakeholder briefings, policy feedback requests, and a media appearance. The highlight though, was perhaps the Thursday morning meeting of QASSP's Brisbane West Branch, where she presented Vanessa Munker with a 10-Year Membership Certificate. Silver Business Partner, Phil Slade from Switch4Schools was also there, giving out free resources. Earlier in the week, Debbie was in Adelaide, representing our 1233 members at executive meetings of both the Australian Government Primary Principals Association and the Australian Primary Principals Association.