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Dear Families,
Positive Learning Environments
Our positive school culture is apparent when we see so many students here at school every day ready for learning. We are focused on maximising learning and providing opportunities for all our students to develop their knowledge and skills across curriculum areas. Over the past week, I have had the opportunity to visit a number of classrooms with each of the Deputy Principals and Head of Curriculum – Inclusion. We have observed clear learning goals, students engaged with their learning and we have chatted with students about their learning and how they are achieving their goals. It has been fabulous to see the targeted teaching in action and teachers co-constructing learning outcomes with their students so that students know what they need to do to be successful.
2023 School Priorities and Department of Education Strategy
Every four years, schools undertake a review and strategic planning process to map out the next steps for student learning and school improvement. Craigslea SS school is in the final year of the four year strategic planning cycle and there has been a lot of success to celebrate. In 2023 we will continue to focus our work on student learning in English and Maths and ensuring that all students feel safe, supported and successful at our school. The document below outlines key areas that we will focus on throughout this year to achieve this.
This year we will participate in a school review and consultation with the community, through the School Council, to set the strategic direction for the next four years. The Department of Education improvement strategy is centred on Equity and Excellence and we will focus on what this means for our school as we develop our plan for 2024-2027.
Nikki
Can I suggest that you instead ask your child a different, but much more relevant question, at the end of the day or over dinner, “What did you learn today?” The question “What did you learn today?” requires students to deeply think about their day and share with you what they learnt in a more meaningful way.
As a parent I have started to ask this question and have been pleasantly surprised with the dialogue that my children have engaged in as a result of changing the question. I encourage you to ask this question from time to time and see if you too find that this question provides an avenue for you to discuss your child’s understanding of what they are learning, rather than listening to a list of things they did throughout the day.
Parents/carers who are wishing to learn more about the assessments or who would like to assist their student/s to prepare for the technical requirements of the assessments can find more information at the below hyperlinks:
PBL & Social-Emotional Learning
Craigslea State School is a Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) school. PBL is a whole school approach for creating a positive, safe and supportive school environment in which students can learn and develop. This approach involves the school community working together.
PBL is implemented to improve the learning and well-being of all students in all school settings. The entire school, including the classrooms, tuckshop, oval, playgrounds, swimming pool and school grounds, are all considered part of the total learning environment.
Each fortnight on parade, we introduce the following fortnight’s behaviour focus for the whole school. During the next fortnight, students spend time in class discussing the expectation and doing activities related to the expectation.
The focus for the fortnight is:
It is important for all children to be safe whilst at school, this also includes before school and after school.
Being in the right place before school means:
Prep and Year 1 wait with the teacher aide in the Year 1 shed – Teacher Aides will dismiss Year 1 when it is time for class and walk the preps to class.
Year 2 and 3 students wait in the 2/3Covered Play Area (CPA) and Year 4, 5 and 6 students wait in the 6Covered Play Area (CPA).
At the right time means:
Our wonderful students do not need to be at school prior to 8:40am unless they are attending OSHC or a before school activity such as running club, book club, chess or band practice.
There is a bell that rings at 8:55am, which is a signal to grab their bag and head off to their class, ready to begin their day.
Doing the right thing means:
Prior to 8:40am waiting and sitting quietly in the Year 1 shed, 2/3CPA or 6CPA. No play at this time.
At 8:40am, when the bell rings:
Prep and Year 1 children may get up and move about and play in the shed or on the grass outside the shed. NO play on the equipment.
Year 2 and 3 children may get up and move about and play in the 2/3CPA. NO play around buildings.
Year 4, 5 and 6 children may get up and move about and play in the 6CPA and cool courts.
All children can go to the hub or office to hand in notes etc.
The area between and the Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3 classrooms and the Kubbi is out of bounds.
Running/chasing or tackling games are not appropriate play before school.
At 8:55am, when the bell rings, we strongly encourage children to visit the bathroom and get a drink on the way to their class.
After school, it is an expectation that children head straight to their pickup spot and head straight home. There is NO play on equipment or around buildings. If any child is still waiting to be picked up after 3:15pm, they will be taken to the office and families contacted.
Explicitly teaching children these expectations help us to create a safe environment for everyone before school and everyone understands that they need to be in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing before school and after school.
BridgeBuilders
Peer Mediators
Yesterday, Thursday 23 February, our 2023 group of Peer Mediators had their day of intensive training in preparation for their important roles in working with children in the playground. Jocelyne Chirnside, program developer and trainer from BridgeBuilders, was glowing of the group of Year 6s who worked with her.
Our mediators will head out next week into the Prep, Year 1 and Year 2/3 playgrounds. Peer mediators are tasked with the responsibility of guiding children through the process of conflict resolution when they encounter problems in the playground. They only deal with the small conflict - friendship issues, game disagreements etc. Anything major such as physical or strong verbal misconduct will be referred to an adult on duty. Our Peer Mediators can be identified in the playground by the yellow hi-vis vest they wear.
Please talk about the Peer mediators - commonly known as the Bridge Builders - with your child at home. Building familiarity by talking about it means they are more likely to seek help and ultimately build their conflict resolution skills.
Teachers of Years Prep, 1, 5 and 5/6 have almost set up the Bridge Builders online learning program. There will be some explicit teaching around the lessons in class time with follow-up in homework time. I have heard a number of stories where families have adopted the language and strategies with great success. Spending time with your child as they work through the follow-up learning really helps set them up with successful conflict resolution skills.
Our Year 2, 3, 4 and 6 students who are not subscribed to the online learning will continue to receive explicit teaching on a fortnightly basis. This includes proactive learning, as well as responsive teaching of skills.
Staff Learning
As we are all lifelong learners, our staff were engaged in their own learning this week. Teachers participated in a workshop run by our Metro Regional Behaviour Hub and presented by our External PBL Coach, Jo French, called Calming the Crisis.
This was a great opportunity to reflect on and learn more about how and why students behave the way they do. Learning and discussions focused on:
- Identifying a range of responses to student behaviour.
- Identifying non-verbal and verbal techniques that help prevent or de-escalate inappropriate student behaviour to minimise a crisis occurring.
- Understanding the importance of looking after yourself in order to maintain and provide optimal support to complex students in your care.
Active School Travel
Walking Wheeling Wednesdays are BACK!!
Wednesdays at Craigslea SS are Walking, Wheeling Wednesdays, and they’re back for 2023!!! Walking, Wheeling, Wednesdays are our day to actively travel to school to help increase physical activity for kids as well as reduce congestion on the roads around our school. This is a part of the Brisbane City Council’s initiative – Active School Travel or AST for short.
In 2022, Craigslea SS won school of the year for our work on Walking, Wheeling Wednesdays, a big effort from everyone involved. In 2023, we are hoping to have another amazing year of active travel.
Wednesday last week, was our first special Walking Wheeling Wednesday for the year. It was our Healthy Hearts, Happy Hearts Walk and what a wonderful morning it was. Our next special AST day will be Wednesday 8 March where we will be doing a litter walk as a part of Clean Up Australia.
We know that everyone is different, and there are many ways you can actively travel to school. How will you actively travel next Wednesday?
Sarah Abdy & Natalie Marhinin
|
CLASS |
NAME |
REASON |
|
Prep B |
Charlotte |
For always starting the day ready to learn, setting an example to her peers. |
|
Prep D |
Lily |
For being a genuinely caring friend who enjoys supporting her peers. |
|
Prep E |
Mila |
For consistently being ready to learn by using her whole body listening skills. |
|
1B |
Ina |
For making sure she is always ready for learning and is in the right place at the right time, doing the right thing. |
|
1H |
Sena |
For being an active participant in the classroom and for always doing her best learning. |
|
1K |
Casper |
For consistently making positive choices and being actively engaged in all learning. |
|
1S |
Elizabeth |
For being a kind and helpful friend to others. |
|
2C |
Charlie |
For consistently making strong choices in the classroom. Charlie focuses well during learning tasks. |
|
2G |
Hunter S |
For being an enthusiastic and engaged member of the class. Hunter loves sharing his learning and ideas. |
|
2H |
Hunter H |
For always being ready to learn and for being a role model by encouraging his peers to do the same. |
|
2K |
Willow |
For bringing a smile and positive attitude to all that she does at school. |
|
3DP |
Jasmine |
For showing confidence in reading and stepping outside of her comfort zone. |
|
3H |
Thomas T |
For attempting all learning tasks and being respectful to all his classmates. |
|
3S |
William |
For being a kind and helpful member of the 3S class. |
|
3/4D |
Emerson |
For demonstrating maturity and great independence. |
|
4M |
Reiji |
For striving to strengthen his reading skills. |
|
4S |
Samantha |
For always being ready to learn and doing her best in all tasks. |
|
4W |
Soham |
For demonstrating leadership and exemplifying independent learning within the classroom. |
|
5C |
Cameron |
For being a considerate classmate and for applying feedback. |
|
5JM |
Albert |
For always following the LIFE rules and being a kind and caring member of the classroom. |
|
5/6W |
Aleks |
For being a polite and respectful member of the class and always offering to help those around him. |
|
5/6J |
Sharon |
For contributing great ideas and having an excellent attitude towards all aspects of her class work. |
|
6B |
Theo |
For writing a creative humorous story based on the Just Tricking books with an engaging sizzling start to hook the reader. |
|
6H |
Samuel |
For always being an active and respectful learner. |
|
Prep |
We are developing our oral language so that we can respond to questions with adults and peers. We are super excited to meet our friends Maggie Mouse, Sammy Seal, Tommy Tiger and Andy Ant in InitiaLit. We are learning skipping rope skills with Mr Heidrich. We are developing our fine motor skills so that we can create animal habitats with Mrs Bryce. In Music, we are exploring beat and rhythm with different instruments with Mrs Stockill. |
|
Year 1 |
We are halfway through the term already! Time flies when you’re having fun. In Science, we have been exploring habitats and what animals need to be able to survive. In Mathematics, we have been learning how to use number lines to help us solve addition word problems. In English, we are continuing to improve our factual writing by using our feedback checklists. |
|
Year 2 |
What are the chances? We are asking that question a lot in Mathematics. Is it certain? Is it impossible? Is it likely or unlikely? See what conversations you can have at home! In English we are working towards writing a full narrative with a beginning, a middle and an end. Science is still ‘Materials’ and we are discussing how changes in technology have made our lives easier in HASS. |
|
Year 3 |
In English, we are learning to use ‘PEEL’ for writing a paragraph about why we need to reduce the use of plastic at Craigslea. In Mathematics, we have been focusing on number lines and representing numbers in a variety of ways. This week our LIFE focus is being at the right place, at the right time doing the right thing before and after school. We are working hard at remembering that we wait in the undercover area before school. |
|
Year 3/4 |
We have been very busy analysing our poetic devices and writing quatrains. Our problem-solving skills have been put to the test with some thinking outside the box type of questions. The fossils and minerals were the highlight of our science lesson. We are discussing ANZAC Day and a variety of world explorers. |
|
Year 4 |
Creating a range of poems using a variety of language features and structures has been a recent focus. In Maths, not only have we been learning our times tables but also recognising what is happening when we multiply in this way and recognising patterns within them. We have benefited from the school’s access to kits from the Queensland Museum in researching rock types, fossils, weathering and erosion. |
|
Year 5 |
Year 5 have been continuing to examine narrative in English. We have been analysing how authors use language features to describe events, settings and characters and how they are used to influence the reader. We have been using our senses to help us ‘Show and not tell’ to add description to our writing. We have been learning how to use protractors to measure and create angles in Maths. In Science, we have been engaging in hands on investigations to find out about light. |
|
Year 5/6 |
In 5/6W, students have been looking at using longitude and latitude to describe the absolute location of different cities. We have also started a Visual Arts unit that looks at common artistic techniques that have originated in different Asian countries – so far, we’ve looked at mandalas and watercolours! |
|
Year 6 |
In Year 6, students have been working on developing our understanding of how to read and interpret data presented in different formats: two-way tables, side-by-side column graphs and dot plots. Students have also continued experimenting with different materials to see if they are conductors or insulators. |
Well done to our Year 6 Bridge Builders who undertook their Mediator Training yesterday. They all did an amazing job and showed great commitment. We can't wait to see these role models and mediators out in the playground.
Reading Club is back on! Join us in the Library Mon-Thurs 8:30-8:50am.
Our Year 6 Scientists are designing & constructing circuits as they explore electricity.
Have you heard about weathering? Ask our Year 4 scientists for more information about physical, chemical and biological weathering and the impact it has on our planet!
A big shout out and thank you to Coles Robinson Road Aspley and Woolthworths Marketplace Chermside for the amazing fresh fruit and water - what a feast we had 
#activeschooltravel
Our Senior Shirts Arrived!
We acknowledged Safer Internet Day
Students explored the 2023 theme "Connect. Reflect. Protect." to learn how to create and participate in safer online spaces.
QParents
Please ensure you have registered for QParents. We are asking ALL parents to register and download the QParents App as Craigslea State School will be delivering permissions forms for your child to attend UPCOMING excursions, after school volley ball program, camps, consents forms, invoices etc. via the QParents platform ONLY. If you are experiencing problems registering or waiting for a LOW-DOC approval please contact the office as soon as possible.
Student Resource Scheme and Instrumental Music Levy and Hire
Is now OVERDUE. Please login to your QParents account to finalise payment as soon as possible.
30 Jun 2025 - 11 Jul 2025 All day 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM All day 28 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM All day All day
School Holidays
School resumes
Assembly - NAIDOC
Eco Club - Term 3
Eco Club - Term 3
School Trees Day
2025 Life ED Talk About It
P&C General Meeting
OSHC Educators Day
Due (Consent & Payment) - 2025 Perform Education Year 1 and Year 2
