Dear Craigslea Community,

Winter has certainly arrived this week with chilly starts to our days.  We are at the end of week 7 and our students are commencing assessment of this term’s learning.  This can be a challenging time for students as the focus moves from learning to demonstrating what they know and can do.

During assessment periods we can often see a change in student engagement in school.  Our teachers are very supportive of their students during assessment periods.  This includes the language they use to talk about assessment and the strategies they employ to assist students to undertake tasks successfully.  Giving students multiple opportunities to show what they know, breaking larger tasks into smaller chunks, utilising teacher aides to support task completion and spacing assessments so that students don’t feel overwhelmed are all ways our teachers support our students.  If you notice a change in your child’s attitude to school during this time it is important to contact your class teacher to discuss ways, we can work together to support them.  At the end of this term all students will receive their Semester 1 report card.  These will be sent out in Week 10.

Enrichment Opportunities
We have a very busy end to our term with lots of whole school events and enrichment opportunities for our students to engage in.  Next Wednesday groups of our Year 5 students will participate in the Readers Cup competing against students from other local schools. On Wednesday we also welcome the Suncorp Tech Team to our school.  They will speak to all our students about career opportunities in technology fields before mentoring a group of our year 4 students to innovatively solve a design challenge. Our Music team will be busy sharing their terms work through pop up concerts and virtual assembly performances over the next few weeks.

End of Term Events

• AST Walking Wheeling Wednesday Green Steps for a Greener Tomorrow Walk for World Environment Day 5 June – Students are to wear green on this day 
• Year 1 Excursion 10 June
• Cross Country 11 June
• Year 2 Excursion 12 & 13 June
• Year 6 Incursion 12 June
• Show & Shine 13 June
• Junior Sports Day 14 June
• Senior Sports Day (1/2 day) 18 June
• Senior Sports Day (full day) 19 June

Show & Shine

We will host our much-enjoyed Show & Shine Afternoon on Thursday 13 June.  Last term we had 250 plus visitors across the afternoon.  After feedback from our teachers there will be a slight change to the organisation of the afternoon for this term.   The afternoon will be split into 2 sessions, Year 3 – 6 from 2pm – 2:30pm and Prep to Year 2 from 2:30 – 3:00pm.  Show & Shine will take place in the classrooms and parents are asked to sign in on arrival.  We are really looking forward to seeing lots of parents sharing in the celebrations of this term’s learning.

Road Safety Reminder
Please remember to use the lights to cross Hamilton Road at all times during drop off and pick up.  With cars pulling in and out of the Stop Drop and Go zone and the traffic congestion along the front of our school it is important that we teach our students safe crossing practices.

P&C Appreciation Day

Last Friday was P&C appreciation day.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank our wonderfully supportive P&C.  Without their support we would not be able to do as much as we do for our students.  The P&C is run by a band of volunteers and we are very grateful for the time and effort they give to our school

Uniform Reminder
With the cooler weather arriving we have noticed a number of our students are wearing non-uniform jumpers.  The expectations of our school dress code include the wearing of a navy-coloured jumper with no writing or decoration or the school jumper.  We ask parents and carers to support us in ensuring our students wear their uniform with pride.

POSTPONED:  Term 2 Coffee & Connect Session (2)
Unfortunately, next week’s Coffee & Connect Session scheduled for Friday 7 June will be postponed until Term 3.  Please keep an eye out on our Schoolzine calendar for the new date.

Our 2024 Priorities

High expectations and learning success for all: Strengthening partnerships between the school and community to enhance learning opportunities for all students.

This year we have opened the Sensitivity unit as a flexible learning environment for students to access for social and emotional learning, supported play programs and small group interventions. Our students are enjoying accessing this space as an option to support their positive engagement in learning.

As your new principal it has been a priority for me to connect with our community and provide opportunities to invite community voice into our planning and community presence in our classrooms as partners in learning. 

This year to achieve this we have introduced:

• Coffee & Connect sessions
• Community Surveys
• Show & Shine Afternoons
• School sharing at P&C
• Principal Afternoon Teas
• More assemblies including whole school and sector assemblies

As a school team we are committed to continue to expand these connections over the next 4 years as the partnership between home and school is critical for positive student engagement and success in learning.

“In a growth mindset, challenges are exciting rather than threatening.  So rather than thinking, oh, I’m going to reveal my weaknesses you say, wow, here’s a chance to grow.”  Carol Dweck

Yours in Learning,

Melanie Rehm