Principal's Post
Dear Parents/Carers,
What a fantastic Prep to 3 assembly we had last week! Prep did a beautiful job of their assembly item to the largest crowd we have had in ages-socially distanced of course! The behaviour of all the children was exemplary. Our next assembly will take place on May 13 at 2.00pm for Years 4 to 6. There will be a band performance at this assembly so we invite the parents of band members and award winners to come along and join us. We will give out the Year 4 to 6 LIFE Awards from the Week 1 Newsletter and the PE Awards from this week's newsletter.
PERSONALISED LEARNING PLANS
These plans outline how we meet needs of students particularly those with English as another language or dialect; Students with Disabilities; Students with Learning Difficulties; Students with behaviour or social/emotional challenges and advanced learners. They contain the recommendations of any specialist reports done at school or supplied by the parent/carer from an external specialist.
These plans are reviewed by classroom teachers in Week 5 of Term 1 and then again in Week 5 of Term 3. These plans are usually discussed at the Term 1 and 3 parent/teacher interviews. We are currently reviewing the communication process to parents about personalised learning plans. If your child has specific needs such as those described above, please talk to your child’s teacher about their personalised learning plan.
TWILIGHT MEETING
Twice this term staff will attend twilight meetings for additional professional development hours. This week staff from Metropolitan North Behaviour Team ran Zones of Regulation Training for Teachers. We use Zones of Regulation for our students that experience difficulty in emotional regulation. They learn to monitor which Zone they are in and the types of activities which help them return to the “Green Zone” which is the learning zone.
PICK UP AND DROP OFF TO SCHOOL
A reminder that students should not be dropped off to school too early. If they need to be at school regularly before 8.15am they should enrolled in OSH. At 8.15am, all students should sit quietly in the 2/3 eating area and at the 8.30am bell be undertaking games that don’t involve running around buildings and keep them close to their classrooms. In the afternoon, we have a 3.20pm bell and at that time students who haven’t been collected should come to the office so parents/carers can be called to clarify the pick-up arrangement.
NAPLAN
NAPLAN will take place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of next week for students in Years 3 and 5. It is a point in time test that will take approximately 1 hr in morning and 1 hr in middle session on Tuesday, 1 hr in the morning on Wednesday and Thursday. There are some important ways you can help your child every day which will also help them on NAPLAN days:
- Ensure they are on-time for school.
- Ensure they have had a good sleep.
- Ensure they have had a nutritious breakfast.
- Keep them relaxed about it. It is a point in time test taken in 1 hr. It does not define them. It helps the school guide programs at an individual, year level and whole school basis. The most important and valid measures that your child receives are their report card results as these are the outcome of six months’ teaching.
Finally, I would like to get an Active School Travel Committee together. This committee works with the Brisbane City Council on encouraging alternative ways to travel to school to reduce traffic and congestion. It also helps us apply for resources to make our pick up and drop off areas safer. Please email Kathy on kcana2@eq.edu.au if you are interested.
Have a good week,
Kathy