Dear Parents/Carers,

Welcome back to Term 4! This term we will have a number of events that will take Year 5 and 6 students outside the school to extra-curricula sport in particular Gala Sport. A reminder to parents/carers that uniform, hair and jewellery must be according to the Dress Code that has been ratified by our school's P and C.  Any exemptions on medical, cultural or religious grounds should be submitted through the Principal (kcana2@eq.edu.au) for presentation to the Uniform Committee which consists of school staff and representatives from the P and C. This request for exemption should be accompanied by the necessary evidence backed up by a religious/cultural leader or medical practitioner. In Queensland, P and C Dress Codes are supported through legislation in the Education Act.  Please click here to access our school's current Dress Code. We'd ask parents/carers respectfully not to take any requests to adjust a child's uniform to attend extra-curricula activities personally, it is simply the school adhering to legislation and the standards set by the school community. This is a policy requirement of all Education Queensland schools with the expectation that school staff will uphold the Dress Code. There is an exemption process to support genuine cases that parents/carers can use. Although it is desirable that all uniforms are worn in line with the dress code, children whose uniform doesn't comply can access a sporting program at school just not in competition with other schools.  


COVID Planning
With the recent outbreak, there have been some adjustments to our COVID plans yet again. Most of this effects students attending events across schools and having additional non-staff adults indoors. Therefore, our Instrumental Music Muster for our Band (Brass, Woodwind and Percussion students) has been cancelled. For Strings students, parents/carers won't be able to attend the concert. Drop off and pick up arrangements have been sent home for those students as parents/carers will be unable to walk into the venue. The Music Information Night for students who have been selected for the 2022 Instrumental Music Program, will take place on Monday night but we will be using the Year 2/3 covered area and the covered area outside the Year 6 building for the presentations, as we are unable to hold meetings of this size indoors.

At the moment, we are back to 4 square metres per person, therefore, there will be limits on the numbers of adults that can assist indoors in classrooms at the same time. Based on the square metres in each classroom, there can only be one parent/carer volunteer per classroom at a time and they must wear a mask. In the old Prep classrooms (Prep T and Prep K) there can be up to ten masked parent/carers indoors at a time due to the larger classroom size.  Outdoors is more forgiving but masks must be worn if the 1.5 metres distance can't be achieved.


Class Allocation Process For 2022
(PLEASE DO NOT NAME STUDENTS WHO YOU WANT IN YOUR CHILD’S CLASS. THERE ARE TOO MANY FACTORS INVOLVED WHICH MAKE SOME OF THESE REQUESTS DIFFICULT. TEACHERS WHERE POSSIBLE WILL BE MINDFUL OF PLACING STUDENTS WITH AT LEAST WITH ONE OTHER STUDENT WITH WHOM THEY ENJOY LEARNING AND WITH WHOM THEY LEARN EFFECTIVELY. THEY WILL ASK THE STUDENTS FOR THIS INFORMATION)

During Term 4, teachers commence the process of class allocations for next year. Teachers have considerable expertise and motivation in allocating students to classrooms where they think they will learn best particularly when they have worked with a group of students all year. The first priority is to attempt (with the best knowledge we collectively have), the creation of balanced class groups according to social, emotional, academic and behavioural characteristics. Teachers are not allocated to the class until well after the class groups are formed. Teachers (through a set process appropriate to each age level), will take into account the friendship networks of the student (based on student perspectives and teacher observations) as another part of the placement picture bearing in mind that students may not always work best in a classroom with particular friends. At certain times, a change from being in a classroom with a particular friend or group is necessary for student growth and classroom balance. The teacher is best placed to make this decision.

If parents wish to express a point of view about your child’s allocation, this needs to be put in writing to the Principal by submitting it on paper to the office or by email to kcana2@eq.edu.au strictly by Sunday 17 October (end of Wk 2). In order to be considered, this point of view must be framed in terms of an educational reason focusing on your child’s social, emotional and academic needs rather than requesting placement or non-placement with particular students or teachers. In short, please do not name students or teachers in your submission. In a school of this size, it is not possible for students to all be placed with a teacher or student favoured by themselves or their parent. Conversely, it is not possible for parents to request avoidance of a particular student or teacher. There are just not enough options when placing large numbers of students and more often than not, everyone wants the same thing. The information on which students and parents make these requests can be flawed.

Teachers are also aware that some students may not be compatible within a classroom environment or require a ‘break’ from each other in order to foster their learning. Additionally, there is no guarantee that certain teachers will be attached to their 2021 year levels. This is due to the fact that there are a range of external factors that can affect this from year to year. It has been our practice to move teachers around and the state-wide transfer process can impact belatedly on how classes are staffed from year to year.

I’d ask parents to understand that there are many complexities involved in forming classes and although parent views are definitely taken into account other circumstances can affect their child’s class placement. In most instances we have 75 to 100 students to place. Parents choosing their child’s class is not a workable solution for any school. Therefore, in fairness schools can’t offer choice of placement to particular parents as it is impossible to offer to all. I can assure parents this is a lengthy process that is given a great deal of time and effort and thank you in advance for your understanding and adherence to the guidelines outlined above if you decide to submit information before the due date.

Please note that information submitted after the due date cannot be considered as this process is done as part of a number of scheduled meetings and the opportunity for teachers to meet again to discuss late submissions is not possible at this time of year. In order to assist us with class allocations, please complete the online form (click here), stating your child’s return or non-return for the 2022 school year. We do understand that circumstances do change but an indication will help with making plans.


Senior Leader Process For 2022
In the week commencing October 18,  students in Year 5 will be given the option of applying for a Senior Leader position using our school form.  Those students who wish to apply for Captain positions (School Captains, House Captains, Music Captains, Tech Crew) are additionally expected to submit either an essay or video presentation on how they meet the selection criteria. Those students who wish to be considered for Captain positions will also be called to an interview with the school leadership team and representatives from the P and C. These senior leader forms and the essays/video presentations prepared by those who wish to be considered as Captains, are due to be submitted through the office by 3.20pm on Monday November 1.  No late applications can be accepted.

Have a good week,

Kathy