Dear Parents/Carers,

The Annual School Improvement Plan has been drafted and is attached to this newsletter. This plan will guide the activities of the school in 2020.
(Click here to view)

CORONAVIRUS

We are getting daily updates from the Director-General to ensure we are taking all precautions and are prepared for this ever-unfolding health event. Those families who have arrived back from affected countries or have had exposure to the virus, have followed all precautions such as self-isolation and testing regimes.  There are no confirmed cases at this point. The Federal and State Department of Health are directing Education Queensland daily and sending communication.

Here is the current advice from Queensland Health:

Self-quarantine advice

If you have been overseas in the last 14 days and are feeling unwell, see a doctor immediately.

The advice below is for anyone who feels well and has travelled through high-risk countries, or been in contact with a confirmed case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

If you have been in, or transited through, mainland China, Iran, South Korea or Italy

• You need to self-quarantine for 14 days:
• from the date you departed mainland China or Iran
• from the date you departed South Korea (if you departed on or after 9pm 5 March)
• from the date you departed Italy (if you departed on or after 6pm 11 March).
• If you begin to feel unwell and develop a fever or shortness of breath, a cough or a respiratory illness during your period of self-quarantine you should seek immediate medical attention. Call ahead to your GP or emergency department and mention your travel history before you arrive.
• If you experience any other symptom during your period of self-quarantine you should also seek immediate medical attention. Call ahead to your GP or emergency department and mention your travel history before you arrive.
  
  

If you have been in close contact with someone who already has novel coronavirus

• You need to self-quarantine for 14 days from the last date of contact with the confirmed case.
• If you begin to feel unwell and develop a fever or shortness of breath, a cough or a respiratory illness during your period of self-quarantine you should seek immediate medical attention. Call ahead to your GP or emergency department and mention you’ve been in contact with someone with novel coronavirus infection before you arrive.
• If you experience any other symptoms or illness, perhaps due to chronic disease, during your period of self-quarantine you should also seek immediate medical attention. Call ahead to your GP or emergency department and mention you’ve been in contact with someone with novel coronavirus infection before you arrive
  
  

Here is the current advice from the Director-General of Education

The Commonwealth travel advice follows the decision I made yesterday that all school/departmental international student and staff travel should not proceed until further notice for all destinations other than New Zealand. 

Please note that the directive I issued yesterday only applies to school and departmental travel abroad. It does not include any private international travel plans that you have made or are considering.

Notwithstanding, all of the above information and advice is underpinned by the need for good personal hygiene, both at home and in a school setting.

Again, the message is very clear. To help stop the spread of germs, please make soap and paper towel available across our schools and workplaces and use these materials to wash your hands regularly, especially before and after eating, and after going to the toilet.

In addition to this advice, please:

• use alcohol-based hand sanitiser if soap is unavailable
• cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of your elbow
• dispose of tissues in the bin immediately
• if you’re unwell, stay at home and avoid contact with others through touching, kissing or hugging..
• I would also ask that school leaders ensure there is an appropriate supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff dealing with ill children and for cleaning staff.
• Disinfectant products should also be made available for cleaners and disposable cleaning cloths are also recommended for use in favour of reusable cloths.

Ms Green and I were spending the Easter Holidays on an International Study Tour with a focus on inquiry to Canada and the United States which entailed school visits. This has been cancelled.

The school is currently acting on the advice given by Queensland Health and the Director-General of Education to ensure we are aligned. Extra care around the cleaning of surfaces and resources and information around handwashing are taking place. I would advise all families to be aware of the personal hygiene advice stated above and consider implementation in the home setting, if it isn’t already.

Schools across the Region are asked to look at their upcoming events which may need to be cancelled/postponed to minimise risk. The school will keep the P and C and the parent community as a whole informed as we undertake assessment of our various events.

WORKING BEE

Sincere thanks to the merry band of helpers who came to last weekend’s working bee and those that made the beautiful new garden at the front of the Sensitivity Unit with Sharlene. Much was achieved with a full skip and gardens, gates and paths at the back of Prep looking so much better. Particular thanks to our Business Services Manager Karen Rye and Jay Brosnan our Grounds/Facilities Officer who gave up their family time to come to work.

ONLINE FORMS DUE AND SUPPORT PROCESSES

The response to the new online forms has been considerably positive.  The following forms are now due:

Year 2 excursion

Year 5 incursion

Year 6 Commemorative shirt

For those who are having any issues or technical difficulties completing the online form, you are more than welcome to seek support from the office staff or use the school iPad in the office.

Thank you for your support with this transition to going digital and paperless in order to improve efficiency and environmental sustainability. 

OVAL UPDATE

The oval looks to be handed over to us sometime in the coming weeks depending on rain delays. 

HARMONY DAY - (CANCELLED - Assembly only)

Our school will mark Harmony Day on Tuesday March 17. There will be a variety of activities in classrooms and play-breaks and a whole-school assembly taking place from 2.15pm. We encourage all students to wear their international dress or sun-safe orange to commemorate our diverse community and our stance on bullying no way.

EASTER BONNET PARADE (CHANGE OF PLAN)

Please revise your school calendars. We will be cancelling Junior Assembly on March 31 and instead conducting the Easter Bonnet Parade for Prep to 2 students only on Friday April 3 from 2.15pm.

Have a good week,

Kathy

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS AND ASSESSMENTS (ICAS)

Each year, we offer parents the opportunity to have their child sit the UNSW ICAS tests. ICAS tests higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills for high potential students.   This is not data the school uses as we have other diagnostic tools used across cohorts.  

This year, the testing will be undertaken as per the following dates. 

What’s different?

Parents are required to go online and purchase the tests.  The testing date will be determined by the school and this year will take place during school hours.  This will likely include learning time.  Please note that testing for Year 2 students is only available for four out of six tests.  School test dates will be included in the next newsletter.

Social Emotional Learning

This week on senior assembly, I addressed a shorter version of the above and ‘Support and Include Others’.  I had them consider what future job they might like to have; how teamwork and associated skills will be highly sought after skills in their future workplace.  Start now to be the best version of yourself.  This means caring for yourself and others.    

Academic Award - Mathematics

P-2

Attendance

Well done to the following classes

Peer Mediators at work in the playground

Harmony Day

Week 8, Tuesday 19 March

Students can come in traditional/cultural clothing or wear the colour orange.

NO donation necessary.

We will also have some assembly items in a whole school assembly - parents welcome!

Narelle Green
Deputy Principal

Book Club

Book Club Issue 2 catalogues were sent home last week. All ordering and payments must be completed online using the Scholastic Book Club LOOP Platform. Register at www.scholastic.com.au/LOOP and place your Book Club order by March 20. 

Digital Library

Students in Year 4 and Year 5 who are participating in the Student Resource Scheme now have access to the Education Queensland Digital Library. Please download the free Sora app on to iPads to assist students to set up their Digital Library access. If your student needs support to access the Digital Library please visit me in the Library Monday-Wednesday with the Sora app on your iPad. 

Before School Reading Club

Students can visit the Library between 8:30am and 8:50am Monday - Thursday to participate in Before School Reading Club. Before School Reading Club gives students the opportunity to read out loud to an adult. Reading out loud can help students to develop a stronger vocabulary as they hear familiar and new words, this in turn helps them to develop stronger overall communication skills. Parents are welcome to read with their child or students can read with teachers and teacher aides who volunteer during this time.

Borrowing & Overdue Book Notices

Students may borrow 2 books from the Library for a 14 day period. After 14 days the book is tagged as being an 'Overdue Book' and needs to be returned or reborrowed. Overdue Book Notices will be delivered to classrooms this week - please support your student to respect their Library Books and return Overdue Books.

Tess Bryce
Librarian  

Music Camps

Beginner instrumental parents, please keep your eyes out for information notes inviting students to beginner music camps.

These camps are run by the region and are a worthwhile learning activity for all music students. Please ensure that you return paper work by the due dates listed on the forms. 

Pauline Stockill
Music Teacher

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

P - Year 2 Awards will be presented on Harmony Day Assembly.

Year 3 - 6 Awards will be presented on Senior Assembly.

If you have not received any of the above e-form links via email or are having difficulties completing, please contact the school office.

With the P&C AGM held on Monday we now have a new executive committee as follows:

President               Elizabeth Lynch

Vice Presidents      Sarah Hands & Claire Krebs

Secretary              Kirstin Wise

Treasurer              Paul Madey

Thank you to Matthew Kuhr for his service as President over the last three years and also to Bradley Scott as Secretary over  the last year.

Easter Raffle

A container has been placed in each Year level block for the collection of items as below.

Raffle tickets will be sent home next Monday, 16 March for students to sell.

Easter Raffle – A book of raffle tickets will be sent home for each family member of each class for selling from Monday, 16 March 2020 and return tickets and money by Friday, 27 March.

Raffle with be drawn Tuesday, 31 March at assembly.

The theme for each year level is as follows:

Year 6     Dad’s Treat Basket

Year 5     9 – 12 Year Old Children’s Basket

Year 4     Traditional Easter Basket.

Year 3     Family Night Basket

Year 2     Backyard Basket

Year 1     5 – 8 Year Old Children’s Basket

Prep        Mum’s Treat Basket

So put your thinking caps on families as to what things might be good for each Year level.

Be as creative as you like and when you have found your item please deliver it to the tub located in your Year level building marked Easter Raffle by Friday, 27 March.

If you can help to coordinate the Year level baskets, please contact Carol - operations@craigsleapandc.org.au

Uniforms

We have placed an order for more uniforms and unfortunately, due to the current virus this order has been delayed until the end of March.  Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

We are open every morning from 8.30am to 9.30am.

Uniform orders can always be placed online - https://schoolshoponline.net.au///index.aspx with deliveries being made as soon as we can to your child’s class.

Tuckshop

It is with regret that we advise that Julie one of our long standing Tuckshop staff has decided to leave.  We thank Julie for her time with us over many years and wish her well in the future.

You will see a new face in the Tuckshop. Jo has three children at the school and we are looking forward to her joining our team.  Please make Jo feel welcome.

Tuckshop Survey – Feedback

We received five paper and 24 online Tuckshop surveys.  We thank everyone that participated.  The most common comments were that we provide:

Value for money

Convenience

Special treat / reward

Some suggestions were:

Would like more fresh / healthy options (not necessarily specified as to what)

Sushi

More special deals

The menu is a work in progress and we will continue to update the community with any changes.

Positions Available

Thank you to all who applied.  We have now employed two new staff members.

Working Bee

Thank you for everyone that turned up on Saturday for the working bee.  This has made a fantastic improvement to the Prep playground and Inclusion Centre.  Well done.

Swimming Club

Every Friday from 6.00pm.  For more information email info@craigsleaswimming.com

5 Cent February – Final tally $967.35 – Well done to Prep C for being the overall winner.  Congratulations!!

OSHC

Vacation care program– (click here).

The vacation care program is now available for the Easter holidays. It is going to be an action packed eight days with a visit to the theatre to see The Cat in the Hat. A day of outdoor adventure and mud play at Jump Up Outdoors. A visit from Hello Africa and Celia from Torres Strait Island incursion to do some cooking with coconuts.

There is plenty of spaces available so please book your children in as soon as possible so that you don’t miss out.

Before and After School Care - We have places available for both BSC and ASC.

We provide breakfast and afternoon tea for the children. Our operating hours are 6.30am – 8.30am and 3.00pm – 6.00pm.

Please contact Kylie on 3256 3688  craigslea.oshc@bigpond.com to secure a place.

School Banking

Every Wednesday. Happy Banking! 

Please remember to drop your banking in the banking box at the front of the Uniform Shop every Wednesday before school in the morning.

School Sign – Electronic

We currently have spaces available for advertising on our electronic school sign at the front of the school.  Should you be interested, please contact Carol on either 3350 8741 or operations@craigsleapandc.org.au

Carol, our P & C Operations Manager is always more than happy for anyone to come and say hello at The Hub or should you wish to contact Carol direct you can do so on either 3350 8741 or operations@craigsleapandc.org.au

MOTHER’S DAY STALL  Friday 8th May 2020

The Mother’s Day Stall will be held on Friday 8th May in the School Hall.  Each student will have the opportunity to purchase gifts for their mum, nan or special person, to show how much they appreciate them.  The gifts are either donated or sourced by the Craigslea SS P&C.

Gifts range from $1 to $10 and are sure to make everyone smile.

Please arrange for your child to bring money and a shopping/plastic bag on the day and each class will visit the stall with their teacher at a pre-arranged time.

The Mother’s Day Stall is here to support and raise funding for our school and the students, and we would appreciate your assistance in having a successful Mother’s Day Stall.  A request for volunteers has been emailed and we would love to hear from you, if you are able to help.  Any help would be greatly appreciated and refreshments will be provided to say THANK YOU to our volunteers. 

If you have any questions, drop by THE HUB or email craigsleauniforms@gmail.com