Dear Parents/Carers,

INVESTING FOR SUCCESS

We have recently submitted our Investing for Success Agreement for 2021.

This funding will be used to:

• Increase the percentage of Prep students able to read and comprehend short predictable texts and compose and record short, meaningful sentences.
  
  
• Increase the percentage of children achieving a C or better in Writing and Numeracy.

• Improve the number of A and B students in Year 3 Writing and Year 5 in Reading, Writing and Numeracy.
  
  
• Employ teacher-aides to support the implementation of effective literacy programs targeted to the needs of students.
  
  
• Resource targeted learning teams (consisting of classroom teachers, targeted learning teachers and teacher-aides) on each year level who will engage in focussed collaborations based on student data to improve teaching and learning for all students within a full inclusion model.

This funding is essential as it allows us to employ teacher-aides who work consistently on one year level. These teacher-aides get to know the needs of individual students very well and they become an important part of the year level team.

We also employ an extra teacher 4 days per week on each year level to assist with extension and support programs.  If you go into our classrooms to volunteer, you will see a significant number of adults assisting students with their learning.

On top of this funding, we have spent $100 000 of our school budget on employing an additional teacher to provide smaller numbers in year levels where there are complex needs.

WALKTHROUGHS

This week the Principal, Deputy Principal, Head of Curriculum and Head of Inclusion walk through every classroom to discuss their classroom literacy planning and implementation. After familiarising ourselves with the teacher’s planning, we observe the literacy block in action and take the opportunity to talk with students and ask them the following questions about their reading and writing progress:

The students are very articulate about their learning and next steps. We are so fortunate to have teaching staff who are willing to share their work with each other and the leadership team. This provide the conditions in which we can continually strive for improvement.

Have a good week,

Our recent LIFE award recipients

Parent Teacher interviews

This year, we are offering parent-teacher interviews in week 9 (not the last week of term as is the usual).  You can go online into the School Online Booking Service (SOBS) to secure a timeslot to speak with your child’s teacher.  You can do this from Monday 1 March. 

We hope all parents take up this opportunity as your interest and input is an important part of your child’s school success.

https://eq.sobs.com.au/pt3/parent.php?schoolid=70103

Our lessons for the next fortnight include:

   1. Be positive about learning; Learn from your mistakes.

Pose this question to your children - Why don’t we like making mistakes?

Then ask ‘how does making mistakes help your brain to grow?’

Research shows that making mistakes is an important part of learning.  When we do, we need to work our brain (cognitive dissonance and rewiring) to understand and learn from where we went wrong.   

Children need to take risks and make mistakes in their school work, homework, learning to play a game or an instrument, and with our friendships in order to become better at all of it! 

Helping children to recognise mistakes, staying positive and getting excited about the conversation and learning that can come out of them, will benefit all kinds of learning.  After all, we adults have had our fair share and we turned out okay. 

2. Making an apology is the hardest strategy on the Bridge and yet, it is often a strategy of choice for many of our students. Testament to the quality of learning that you - our families – expect at home.

     How does a Bridge Builder apologise?

1. Stand bravely facing the person you are apologising to.
2. Say ‘I am sorry for ….’ ‘I’ll try not to do it again’.
3. Do something nice for that person.

OR

Write an apology to the other person with 7 great things about you listed to show you respect their qualities.

Religious Instruction

Religious Instruction started this week for Years 2 & 3.  One of the instructors was not able to attend this week so next week, all three year levels will be starting.  Parents of these children will receive an invoice to purchase a Godspace student learning book which is used for lessons.  Once payment is received, you child will be given their book.

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL)

The first PBL committee meeting for 2021 has seen us analyse our school implementation data to inform the 2021 Action Plan.    Once finalised, this will go up on the website.

We are still hoping for a parent to join the team for this year.  The commitment is 2 meetings per term and no longer than an hour of your time each meeting.  Please consider it and talk to me if you have questions.

Home Reading Tips and Information for Parents 

Children need a lot of practice to develop their reading skills to the point of fluency. Ten minutes of daily reading at home with a supportive adult can make all the difference.  This will enable children to demonstrate how to apply their letter-sound knowledge to reading simple text. Reading at home should be a positive experience.  If it is turning into a very stressful time, please see your child's teacher for advice.   

Should the books be easy or difficult?

The books that children bring home to read, should be at a slightly lower level than what they are reading in the classroom.  It is meant to be an enjoyable experience for both parents and their children. 

If your child is getting stuck on every second word, then the book is too hard for them.  This can get frustrating for both you and your child which is not setting them up for a positive experience. I would suggest having a chat to their teacher if this is happening. 

Make it Routine

Children like routine!  Find a quiet, comfortable spot that is the go-to reading spot with your child.  It's about finding the right time for you and your child.  Whether it be just before they go to bed, or first thing in the morning. Do what works for you!

Ease into the Book

Get your child thinking about what the book might be about by asking some questions before you start reading.  Here are some examples of what you could ask:

• What do you think this book is about? Why?
• Do you think this is a story or a fact book? Why?
• Can you read the title? Does this give you more clues?
• What can you notice about the picture on the front of the book? 

Make it Enjoyable

Reading is meant to be a fun enjoyable time with your child.

If you are getting frustrated with them, this will rub off on them.  If they are finding it hard or they are too tired - read a page each.  Get them to follow along with you and make silly mistakes! Your children will love correcting you.  

Comprehension is Important

When they have finished reading the book.  Ask a few questions to check for comprehension.

Your child's comprehension is a vital component of them learning to read. Getting into the habit of asking some questions at the end will help your child with their comprehension skills.

They don't have to be difficult questions, here are a few that you may like to ask:

• What was your favourite part of the book and why?
• How did you feel when you read that story?
• What did you learn from this story?
• What was the problem in the story?
• Which character did you like and why? 

HAPPY READING! 

Hello Parents/Carers and Community members,

It has been very hot this week. Good timing for the Junior Swimming Carnival.

It was a pleasure to see parents coming along to watch their children swim. Thank you to the volunteers who helped out on the day and to the teachers and teacher aides who jumped in the water to support the students who needed a little extra help. 

Craigslea SS is an inclusive school and is all about providing opportunities for all students to be involved in all school activities. We as staff work hard to provide the supports your children need so they can achieve their very best. 

Last week I wrote about medications at school and this week I would like to revisit Education Qld's Inclusive Education Policy. 

The inclusive education policy (PDF, 330KB)   continues education Qld department's journey towards a more inclusive education system where students of all backgrounds, abilities and identities:

• attend their local state school or education centre and be welcomed
• access and participate in a high quality education and fully engage in the curriculum alongside their similar-aged peers
• learn in a safe and supportive environment, free from bullying, discrimination or harassment
• achieve academically and socially with reasonable adjustments and supports tailored to meet their learning needs.

Students experience inclusive education when they can access and fully participate in learning, alongside their similar-aged peers, supported by reasonable adjustments and teaching strategies tailored to meet their individual needs. Inclusion is embedded in all aspects of school life, and is supported by culture, policies and every day practices.

Craigslea SS inclusion is achieved through the employment of Targeted Learning Teachers and Teacher Aides who are allocated to a Year level. The Year Level Teams work together to plan and implement reasonable adjustments or extension activities for all students on their allocated Year Level. 

I hope this helps answer some question you may have about inclusive education. 

Have a great week, 

Dee Giudice

Choir News
The Peformance Choir is practising so hard weekly. I love the beautiful sound that they are making. We can’t wait to perform.

String Orchestra and Senior Band
All instrumental lessons are well underway for the year and students are settling in to a weekly time table. Please make sure you remind your children the days that they need to attend. All students need to bring books and instruments to lessons each week.
A reminder of practise times are:
String Orchestra 8:00 Tuesday mornings
Senior Band 7:45 Friday Mornings

New Zealand Anthem Singers
Thank you to all of the New Zealand Athem singers who came to the Music block bright and early to be filmed for our up and coming Anzac Parade. Well done. We are excited to have students from Craigslea State High School coming to our school to perform the Haka for our Anzac Day parade too. Our neighbours are so nice - thanks Craigslea High!

Music Camp
Second year Strings students and first year brass, woodwind and percussion students should have a note in their bag about music camp. If your note has been eaten by the bag monster, (which sometimes happens), please email me and I can get you another one - pstoc8@eq.edu.au. Music Camp is an exciting time for students and I encourage all invited children to attend.

Pauline Stockill

Book Club
Book Club Issue 1 orders have been submitted. These orders take approximately 4 weeks to be processed and delivered to our school. I will notify families via newsletter and Facebook regarding the arrival of Book Club items. 

Digital Library
By Week 6 children in Year 3 - Year 6 will have access to the Education Queensland Digital Library. Children only need their MIS-ID to access their accounts (there are no passwords required). Digital Library can be accessed on desktop computers and laptops here: https://soraapp.com/welcome and on mobile devices using the Sora app https://apps.apple.com/au/app/sora-by-overdrive/id1376592326. When setting up and locating your school, search for "Education Queensland" not Craigslea State School. Please contact me if you need further support to access the digital library. 

Queensland School Library Week Competition
I am excited to share our Queensland School Library Week Art Competition entrants and wish them luck. 

If you have any questions about books, borrowing or the Library, please contact me: tknig93@eq.edu.au

Tess Bryce