Principal's Post
Dear Parents/Carers,
Teachers are knee-deep in parent-teacher interviews at the moment. It is unfortunate that these aren’t taking place face-to-face as this is the preferred mode of teachers. However, it is great to see that parents are making the most of the opportunity to talk to their child’s teacher either on the phone or via Zoom. We are thankful the Queensland Education Department has bought a secure version of the app so that we can conduct these meetings with additional protection.
Dress Code
Attached is the updated Dress Code Flyer for our school. (Click here) This is a set of community standards and expectations around the wearing of uniform at this school. This includes statements around the uniform itself as well as suitable hats, jackets, pants, shoes, hair accessories, jewellery and hair-styles. There are low cost options for many aspects of the uniform.
As a requirement of the Education Act, Parents and Citizens Associations are required to be consulted and endorse the school dress code. In our school all parents were invited to have a say on the standards and participate in the final vote at a P and C Meeting. This was done pre-COVID so we didn’t get the opportunity to share this widely due to this interruption. Additionally, we decided to shelve any reminders during this “COVID winter” as we didn’t want to place any additional pressure on families during this difficult time.
Please peruse the flyer as we will provide families until the beginning of Term 4 to have their child’s uniform aligned to the Dress Code. Staff after that time will send reminder slips home to respectfully ask parents to support their child to wear their uniform in line with the Dress Code. These slips will be sent home in a manner which is not designed to embarrass or upset the student as we recognise that children need and respond to the guidance and support of their significant adults in these matters. We also understand that this still may be a difficult time for some families and we are willing to support in any way we can to ensure your child has access to the necessary components of their uniform.
Parents can apply for an exemption on medical, psychological, religious or cultural grounds to the School Council through the presentation of a letter. To avoid disappointment, the letter should be presented with supporting official evidence from a medical professional, religious leader or leader of a community cultural organisation. Though it is not our intention to impose punitive consequences and there are no plans for children to be excluded from compulsory aspects of the curriculum, it may preclude them from positions of leadership (student council, school and house captains etc) or such things as photographs in the newsletter, FaceBook etc, unless of course they have been given an exemption. All children would love to wear what they would like to school-we get it. However, this school community (as have most school communities) decided on a set of standards to ensure fairness and equitable treatment for all students in our school in regard to the wearing of uniform, whilst ensuring there is a process of support for those that have a valid reason for their uniform to be varied.
Facilities
Towards the end of the term, there will be a new roof going on the Year 5 Building. Year 5 students will be relocated elsewhere in the school during this time. During the school holidays, the roof on the admin building will be replaced.
We have received $200 000 to refurbish the Year 6 building into a 21st Century Learning Space. Year 6 students were consulted about whether they wanted to be moved permanently to another building for the rest of the year to avoid disruption given they had their roof replaced earlier this year. The students have resoundingly stated that they would like to move back into the Year 6 building when it’s finished so they are able to make use of these improved facilities for the remainder of their time at Craigslea State School. It is likely this work will commence two weeks before the September school holidays and be completed two weeks after the break. We will share the final plans in the next newsletter. We are hoping that this may be a blueprint when other buildings are identified for refurbishment. We have had a small group of staff work hard in getting these plans together to the Department of Housing and Public Works. The Project Manager has said he hasn’t ever been presented with such professional perspective drawings for a school job of this kind. Our teachers are talented that’s for sure.
Assemblies
We are still unable to hold assembly because we are unable to seat students in the hall in such close proximity. We have started to undertake whole-school pre-recorded assemblies. These are now up on Craigslea State School You Tube for your viewing pleasure.
Pick up and Drop off Kittabilla Street
It seems that some impatience may be creeping in. Drivers are being courteous by not stopping in front of resident driveways whilst in the line. However, I’m told that other drivers are coming from behind and slipping in the gaps between cars to advance their place in the line. Please exercise safety and courtesy by waiting your turn. Everyone in this busy life has somewhere they need to be before and after school, let’s get there safely and with smiles on our faces. Let’s be great role-models for children to be safe and wait their turn.
Literacy Block Walkthroughs
Next week the leadership team will undertake our walkthroughs for the term, to see how Literacy Blocks are progressing in our school. We will have the chance to do some observations, have a look at planning and talk to teachers and students about this important aspect of learning in particular reading and writing. We appreciate the conversations we have during this time and what we learn about our students and their classrooms.
Family Resources to Share with Your Community
Talking Families is an initiative supporting parents as they navigate the ins and outs of parenting. They recently released three new activities families can do together.
Triple P Parenting Seminars
TUESDAY 25 AUGUST, 2020
6:00pm – 7:30pm
Online Seminar (via Zoom Webinar)
THURSDAY 10 SEPTEMBER, 2020
9:30am – 11:00am
Online Seminar (via Zoom Webinar)
Have a good week,
Kathy