Dear Parents/Carers,

PREP ENROLMENT
We are currently holding interviews for our Prep families who reside in-catchment after distributing flyers to our local early childhood centres, sharing some videos and PowerPoints about our school with families and hosting two very well attended Zoom information sessions. Our next Prep Zoom Information Session will occur at 9.30am on June 1.

HAPPY  P AND C DAY
We are frequently reminded of the contributions of the P and C when occasions such as the Mothers Day Stall and the closure of the Sensitivity Unit occur. The P and C organise these events many weeks and months in advance and rally volunteers to help out on the day or night of the occasion. These are just two of the events that have occurred with P and C involvement in the last fortnight, there have been a number since the start of this year and there will be many more by the end of 2021. On a daily basis the P and C Executive (who are volunteers) run OSHC, the Tuckshop and the Uniform Shop. To oversee and take responsibility for these important school operations is a massive undertaking especially as most of the Executive are in the workforce full-time or part-time.

On Friday, it is P and C Day and our P and C President Elizabeth Lynch, Vice-President Sarah Hands and P and C Operations Manager Carol Mokrzecki have been invited to a “Thankyou to Volunteers Event” hosted by Anika Wells. At this event, our President Elizabeth Lynch will receive an award for her significant service to our P and C over years at this school. We asked our students, staff and parents  to provide some words about the contribution of our P and C to mark this day. Out of these words, we have created the Wordle below. We are using this Wordle to create a presentation to our P and C Executive and key employees in the coming weeks. We look forward to sharing photos of this presentation when it occurs.

SEE YOU SOON 
As mentioned previously we had the opportunity to do some farewells for now. The closure of the Sensitivity Unit under the leadership of Sharlene Emmanuel sees her continue her great work in Regional Office, however, she will remain involved with the school through her lead role in the school’s anniversary celebrations which will be held next year.

Photos above: Former Principals Hugh Goodfellow and Pat Franks pictured with Sharlene Emanuel and Kathy Canavan.  Also pictured are the many volunteers who had volunteered at the Sensitivity Unit over the years.

This week we also said goodbye for now to our Business  Manager, Karen Rye who is on leave until at least November. We wish Karen all the best for her leave and welcome Gena Sheppard into the full-time Business Manager role. Gena’s place in the front reception for two days each week will be taken by Julie Hicks who has joined us from Hilda Rd and Debbie Otago who will do an additional day in the office. Courtney Neale will continue to work full-time in the front reception.

Top left: Courtney

READING CLUB
Reading Club is going gang-busters in the library from 8.30 each morning. I was in there reading with some students on Wednesday and giving Gotcha raffle tickets for those students participating in reading club and to the older students who were helping them read. It was an amazing sight with almost every spot in the library taken and the buzz of reading everywhere! Congratulations to Mrs Dang leading this great initiative with the support of Mrs Bryce!

PREP TO 3 ASSEMBLY
On Thursday May 27, we will hold our next Prep to 3 Assembly. Students will start moving to the hall at 1.45pm and we will start once the whole cohort is seated. We look forward to the parents/carers of Year Two students there to watch their child's assembly performance as well as the parents/carers of recent award winners joining us. Please note from this point on all our school assemblies (Prep to 3 and 4 to 6) will commence between 1.45 and 2.00pm once all students are seated in the hall. 

YEAR LEVEL FACEBOOK PAGES
I understand there are a number of year level FaceBook pages in existence across the school. These are private groups that aren’t monitored by the school or P and C. Most of the time these FaceBook pages are positive and productive spaces for parents/carers to share information and ask questions. However, it can be tricky for the administrators at times to manage when members choose to post items which are outside the spirit of the page. There are guidelines for administrators of Craigslea State School year level pages that they should share with their groups. Please email me on kcana2@eq.edu.au for a copy as soon as possible.

Have a good week,

Kathy