Dear Parents/Carers,

It has been an action-packed couple of weeks particularly for Year 6 as they have moved back into their classrooms. Please click on this link for a virtual tour.   https://youtu.be/sKedM_s9ziU We are currently looking at a variety of furniture options to ensure that we take the opportunity to create a space which complements upper primary learners, who are utilising digital strategies for learning and are preparing to enter a secondary schooling environment. 

Middle room

I can’t commend the Year 6 teachers enough as in the midst of packing up, moving into another classroom and packing that up, moving back and unpacking, they organised a sleepover at school for their students. Unfortunately with Canberra off the table and some uncertainty around COVID-safe plans at some Queensland camps, new opportunities had to be explored for this year. On Wednesday, they attended The Kokoda Challenge at Mt Cootha which was a challenging experience where students learned much about themselves as individuals and as part of teams. Many heart-warming and amusing incidents were shared on their return. Year 5 also had the opportunity to attend this excursion the week before which was a great experience for them leading up to the Senior Leader selection process taking place this term.

GRANDPARENTS DAY

This Sunday marks Grandparents Day. Grandparents contribute much to the life of our school providing their grandchildren with much love, safety and care when parents can’t be there to pick up or drop off from school due to work commitments. They attend our events with enthusiasm and enjoy seeing their grandchildren excel in the school environment. We were able to hold a lovely assembly last year and I will re-share some photos below. However, we intend to have a special presentation within next week’s assembly and we hope you are able to share this with the special grandparents in your lives.

DAY FOR DANIEL

Next Friday 0ctober 30^th is the day we mark the Day for Daniel which is an important event in our calendar. We use this time every year to discuss with our students, strategies they can use to ensure their safety. We will not do a gold coin dress up this year, however, next week Mrs Bryce will be sharing some resources with teachers to enact in classrooms and providing some resources for students to undertake in the library. We will also share some strategies on assembly.

SENIOR LEADER PROCESS 2021

This week students in Year 5 have had their Senior Leader Forms distributed. This year students who wish to apply for this position will also attend an interview with a member of the school leadership team, a teacher and P and C representative. Those students who wish to apply for Captain positions (School Captains, House Captains, Music Captains, Tech Crew) are expected to submit either an essay or video presentation on how they meet the selection criteria. These forms, essays/video presentations are due to be submitted through the office by 3.20pm on Friday November 6. No late applications can be accepted.

CLASS ALLOCATION PROCESS 2021

(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 strictly by Sunday 25 October (end of Wk 3). 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 2020 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 informing 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 2021 school year. We do understand that circumstances do change but an indication will help with making plans.

Have a good week,

Kathy

Our Bridge Builders with their certificates

Bronze certificates

Silver certificates

Gold certificates

ICAS results – oops!

Congratulations to Viduni and Aarav for their recent success in the UNSW international assessment competition. There were two errors.  Viduni’s result was omitted from the previous newsletter and Aarav actually earned himself a distinction rather than a credit.  A marvellous result for both students.

ICAS Maths recipients 

Arbor Day

Last Friday, a number of our classes elected to plant shrubs to beautify our gardens and encourage native fauna to thrive in our school habitat.  As an ongoing commitment, some of them will water them at least until they are established.

Caleb 3HD has written the following poem leading up to the Craigslea arbor day.

Arbor Day

I love Arbor Day

Oh yes I do !

I love Arbour Day

It is true!

I didn't even know about this happy day

You know how to celebrate

There's only one way

The way is to plant a tree

I think you'd agree

I think you should celebrate and plant a tree!

Engaging with Nature

Nature play is FUNdamental to a full and healthy childhood - it grows children's health and happiness.  Nature play is proven to significantly improve all aspects of child development - physical, mental, social and emotional, including growth of resilience, self-confidence, learning ability, concertration, creativity and more.  

Playing in and with nature is a simple yet powerful activity that can provide enormous benefits for children.  If you complement playing in nature with learning outdoors, the children in your family have the potential to develop into resilient, happy and engaged people.

So, take your children outside into a park, the backyard, the beach, some bushland and let them be themselves, allow them to play, explore, challenge themselves, discover and create.  Don't take anything with you and encourage their play.   Let nature do the talking and the nurturing. 

We're Open!
Now that renovations of the Year 6 block are complete the Library is once again open for student borrowing during assigned class borrowing times and 2nd break. Please check in with your child to ensure that they are regularly borrowing and returning their books.

Premier's Reading Challenge
Congratulations to our students who completed the Premier's Reading Challenge. They received their certificates this week. The combined reading achievement of these students was 569 books!!!! 

BookClub
BookClub Issue 7 catalogues have been distributed and are also available online. All ordering and payments can be completed online using the Scholastic Book Club LOOP Platform or the LOOP app. Place your Book Club Order by October 26.

Christmas Concert
Our 2020 Christmas Concert will be slightly different this year. Due to COVID restrictions we are unable to have our concert in the hall.

We will be filming students singing their Xmas song and then the whole school will watch the filming together on the 27^th of November at 9:30 in their classroom. Santa will make an appearance. Please can all students wear Christmas Clothing on the day of their filming.
The filming days are listed below:
Prep, Year 3, Year 4: Monday 16^th November
Year 5: Tuesday 17^th November
Year 6: Wednesday 18^th November
Year 1, Year 2:  Friday 20^th November

Instrumental Music Induction
If you have a child in the instrumental music program please return all paperwork back to me ASAP. We need to know if your child is continuing in 2021.

If your child has been offered a place in the instrumental music program in 2021 please return your expression of interest form back ASAP.

Music Workshop
Last term all students in our senior ensembles and choirs were involved in a music workshop. Film of the students on this day is now ready to view:

Term 4 Swimming
Term 4 swimming has begun for all classes Prep to Year 6.  

Just a reminder parents will need to have read the 2020 Key Messages Guide and returned the Declaration page to administration before volunteering.  

Parents will check in and out directly at the pool for these lessons to avoid moving about the school-ground. 

"Remember to take your phone to scan the code at the pool for signing in"

Please ensure you adhere to social distancing whilst volunteering at the pool.

David Heidrich

Principal’s Academic Award

Excellence in  Literacy

Criteria

• Reads a wide selection of fiction and non-fiction        
• Borrows regularly from the Library
• Demonstrates an understanding of the written word
• Demonstrates competency in year level skills
• Able to write using a wide variety of genre
• Demonstrates excellence in writing skills
• High level use of spelling, grammar and punctuation skills