Dear Parents/Carers,

Reports/ Parent  Teacher Interviews
Parent/Teacher Interviews and distribution of report cards has been completed for Semester 1. Teachers report that parent participation in the interviews was the highest we have had for a long time. We are thinking that for some families that the phone or Zoom interview is more convenient. Although most teachers prefer face-to-face interviews, we may offer parents the option of phone or Zoom going forward, if presenting for a face-to-face interview is too difficult for some families.  Unfortunately, there was a glitch in the entering of PE comments in the database for students who received an A or B for PE. This has now been rectified and the correct versions have been emailed. For students who received a C in their report card for PE, there has been no change to the report that was originally issued. We apologise for any anxiety or inconvenience this has caused.


Dress Code
Some parents have asked for clarification around the Dress Code. Plain navy pullovers, zip-up jackets,  tracksuit pants,  tights (must have feet) or shorts are all acceptable. We'd ask that parents visit the dress code requirements around hair, jewellery, shoes etc and address this between now and the start of Term 4 or ensure the necessary documentation is gathered if requiring an exemption.

The P and C have appointed P and C Uniforms as the successful tenderer for our new uniforms which will become available for purchase at the end of the year ready for next year. There will be a three year phase-in period where our existing uniform items will be acceptable to wear to school. More information about this exciting change will be forthcoming.


Assembly
This week’s recorded assembly has been uploaded on the Craigslea State School You Tube Channel.


Teaching and Learning
Students completed a writing pre-assessment at the beginning of this term so their improvement could be tracked. Teachers meet every fortnight to track the improvement and plan the student writing focus for the next two weeks.  Reading of every child has been assessed and new goals have been assigned. Teachers construct their reading sessions around what the children need to learn to achieve their reading goal.

The Deputy Principal, Principal and Head of Curriculum have conducted walkthroughs in every classroom to provide teachers with feedback around their implementation of the Literacy Framework, particularly the teaching of Reading and Writing.  We each interviewed three children to see if they could tell us what they were learning, where they experienced success and what they needed to do in order to improve.  We share this information with teachers to continually guide their practice. We were amazed at how articulate and motivated students are around their reading and writing goals and how much clarity they have about how to improve. This was evident in every year level from Prep to Year 6.  In the coming weeks, teachers will have a chance to watch a colleague (of their choosing) teach and provide them with feedback on how the literacy block is being implemented in their classroom.


Sport Carnivals
Athletics and Cross-Country Carnivals are being cautiously planned for the last two weeks in the term. We are hopeful that these will go ahead but we will need to operate to a strict COVID safe plan. This will mean adults need to be distanced from each other and particularly from the staff as this is a current workplace health and safety requirement as outlined in the Term 3 Operational Guidelines for State Schools. Some form of registration and own seating (to be set down in a designated area) will be required.  There will be limited movement around the area where the children and staff are undertaking activities.  It will be difficult for children to move to and from parents on the day as they will need to remain seated in their house area. This is to ensure they do not miss events or can be accounted for easily by staff without the staff having to move to the area where parents are seated.

At the P and C this week, some parents questioned whether holding the carnivals under these conditions would be too difficult and whether we should consider cancellation.  Obviously, these won’t be the carnivals we know and love but we would like to hold them so that we all can have something to look forward to as a community at the end of the term.

We obviously need the community’s cooperation as we don’t want to be in the difficult position to have to ask parents to comply with our requests on the day.  This just gives staff another job to do that takes away from the support we need to provide to children and also having to address these matters with adults in a public place puts everyone in an awkward situation.  We just ask before parents decide to register to come to the event, they read the plan, know what is expected of them and their children and we encourage everyone to come along if they can adhere to the requirements of the event.

Have a good week,

Kathy

TUESDAY 25 AUGUST, 2020

6:00pm – 7:30pm

Online Seminar (via Zoom Webinar)

https://www.triplep-parenting.net.au/qld-uken/find-help/check-our-calendar/2020-08-25/seminar/raising-resilient-children-focus-on-cyberbullying/108353/

THURSDAY 10 SEPTEMBER, 2020

9:30am – 11:00am

Online Seminar (via Zoom Webinar)

https://www.triplep-parenting.net.au/qld-uken/find-help/check-our-calendar/2020-09-10/seminar/raising-resilient-children-focus-on-cyberbullying/108354/

Prep 2021

If your child was born between  July 2015 – June 2016, then they are of age to enrol in Prep.  If you are concerned that he/she is not ready for some reason, please call and speak with me about this.  It is possible to delay entry to Prep and talking it out will ensure we make the right decision for your child.

We have scheduled Prep Experience Days (implementing a COVID safe plan) for our 2021 Prep Students in weeks 8 and 10 this term.  This day is scheduled after the enrolment interview has taken place. 

We will finish enrolling our in-catchment students in the next week and expect to start enrolling some out-of-catchment immediately after. Even if you already have children in the school, you need to organise a Prep Interview through the front office.

Typing Skills 
Learning to type is a skill children increasingly need in our tech-reliant world.  

The use of technology is constantly increasing for children, especially in the school environment. Typing is an important skill to learn.  In 2022, NAPLAN will be moving to a computer based system.  Typing is part of the school curriculum, however are they getting enough practice and guidance to become confident in typing? 

There are many typing programs out there for children to learn to type that are fun and educational.  See the list below for some free typing programs available:

Typing Club 
TypingClub is a free program that provides great instructional videos that will engage your child and teach them about the wonders of typing.  TypingClub is available online and as an app for Apple and Android! Your child will build stars and points, allowing them to measure their progress.

Typing.com
Another typing program that rewards your child with stars, points and achievements for their typing practices is called Typing.com. This program and Typing Club are both American, however they are free to sign up and available for Australians.  They start off at a slow pace, which is great for beginners, only practicing two letters to start with, including 'f and j', allowing your child to cement their skills with the home keys before progressing. 

Dance Mat
Dance Mat is a free program, that will draw your children in with the colourful graphics and animal characters. The typing lessons are broken down into four levels with three stages in each level. 

Free Books For Kids at BIG W

Sarah Abdy
Head of Curriculum

Book Club Issue 5
Some Book Club Issue 5 orders have been delivered and given to students, however, Scholastic are experiencing delays at the moment due to limited flights, social distancing requirements and increased parcel volumes. This means that your student may not receive their order this week and may have items on back order. I will give students their books as they are delivered to the school but I have no control over the delivery timelines. Thank you for your understanding and patience.


Overdue Books
There are a large number of our Library books that are overdue. Overdue notices will be sent home over the coming week. Please help your student to locate their Library books and return them to the Library. 


What's On The Shelf?

I am excited to add new graphic novels to our library collection. Graphic novels are becoming more popular as students find the visual elements engaging and these same elements can help to develop their language, communication and reading skills.

Tess Bryce

Showcase
Unfortunately, due to COVID 19 Showcase has been cancelled this year. We will be filming our Senior Ensembles so their talent will be displayed in an online concert.


Music Workshop
The annual music workshop will be held on the 8th of September this year. Due to the current restrictions, we are unable to have all of the children working together so we have the following timetable staggered throughout the day:

8-9am String orchestra (Normal rehearsal time)

9:15-10:15am Senior Band (Year 5-6)

10:30-11:00am Senior String Orchestra

Morning Tea

11:45am-12:15 Senior String Orchestra

12:30-1:30pm Performance Choir

All students are welcome to wear their normal school uniform or music shirt. We will be filming students at the workshop so you can see our fabulous musicians at work online.


Instrumental Music Program 2021
Selected students in Year 2 and Year 3 have the opportunity to play a Brass, Woodwind, Percussion or Stringed instrument.

On the 24th and the 28th of August all year 2 and year 3 students will be given a test in their music class. Students who do well in the test will be given a note to begin the process of selecting an instrument that will suit them. Students who are responsible and display good home communication as well as good behaviour are high in the selection process. Unfortunately not all students can be offered a place.

The scheduled parent information meeting on the 12th of October has been cancelled, notes inviting selected students will be sent home in its place. The return of these notes are very important as without the returned notes offers cannot be made.

Keep your eye out and please return any communication regarding a place in the 2021 Instrumental Music Program. This is a very exciting time for young starting musicians.


Honours Music Camp
Congratulations to Lachlan, Gabby and Daniel for being nominated for the 2020 Honours Music Camp. Well done on such a fabulous achievement.


Strings
During the school closure in Term 2, Senior String Orchestra members were invited to participate in the inaugural Metropolitan Region Virtual Orchestra.  Gabriella in Year 6 and Evelio in Year 5 were keen to take up the invitation, which involved a lot of their own time in preparation (as they had to download instructions and music, practise the music, film themselves playing along with a click track and then upload the result).

Here is the link to view their performance of “Soul to Keep” by Keith Sharp! 

https://youtu.be/lX-bFSS3XxU

Pauline Stockill
Music Coordinator

The following recipients are receiving a L.I.F.E. Award, as they have enacted our school values: