Dear Parents and Carers,

Well, what a whirlwind these last eight weeks have been!  Leading a school through a pandemic was something that I didn’t expect to have to do and the learning curve has been steep. I am thankful for: 

• The flexibility of Craigslea’s staff who had to devise new ways of working within a remote learning model virtually overnight ensuring they could maintain connection with their students and families. The professional way in which staff responded to multiple changes in operations as new guidelines were issued from the Department of Education. Sometimes these changes came on a daily basis. 
  
  

• Craigslea State School students who undertook their learning at home with diligence, made mistakes and learned from them and ensured their parents/carers felt valued and hopefully not too stressed. 
  
  

• Students who attended school because their parents were unable to supervise their learning at home, who came to school every day working hard whilst treating staff and each other with respect. 
  
  

• Craigslea State School parents and carers who kept their children at home many of whom were juggling work, toddlers, multiple children or sometimes all three. This not only ensured their children were safe but allowed the school to follow the State School Operational Guidelines on physical distancing keeping our staff and students who had to be at school, safe. It also allowed teachers time to prepare the online learning whilst supervising those students who attended school. 
  
  

• Craigslea parents and carers who have been patient and have expressed their appreciation for the efforts of staff during this time particularly around the home learning, communication and the pick-up and drop-off arrangements. Teachers will always go the extra mile for their communities when they feel appreciated. 
  
  

• Narelle Green (Deputy Principal) and Sarah Abdy (Head of Inclusion) who during the second week of the vacation period and the first four weeks of this term have worked late into the night EVERY NIGHT reading each year level’s daily plans, to quality assure the home learning before it was given to students and parents. As well as for writing complicated timetables and plans for arrangements that changed almost daily.

I look forward to everyone’s return next week and emphasise that we will be continuing to remind students about frequent handwashing, ensuring ventilation and reducing touch of surfaces through open windows and doors, cleaning classrooms and playgrounds during the day, ensuring outdoor learning and play are maximised. I will state that there have been some suggestions in the media that schools will be spreading single classes across multiple spaces to maximise physical distancing.  This was obviously suggested without checking that schools actually have this space. A large number of schools in Queensland will not have the space to do so and Craigslea doesn’t. Please expect that students will be in their usual classrooms but teachers will be not be grouping desks and doing what they feasibly can, to reduce risk. 

I also look forward to conversations about what staff, students and parents learned, were challenged by and want to keep from this challenging time. I think there are many things we can take from this experience which can make Craigslea a better place to learn, work, play and be. 

PICK UP AND DROP OFF ARRANGEMENTS
If you have not advised us of your child’s pick up arrangements, we need this information for EVERY STUDENT BY MONDAY MORNING at the latest. We need it for all because we need it for most. So please bear with us. It is not our intention to interfere with your arrangements but to try to fit in with them whilst maintaining the directive that adults cannot be on the school site for at least the remainder of this term. It also helps us make the pick-up areas operate safely and efficiently.  We have not heard from everyone yet, so we will re-send the email and the online form https://craigsleass.schoolzineplus.com/form/32   and if you can see to it as soon as possible we would be most grateful. 

Wet Weather: We do ask that if you have concerns about your child getting wet to please ensure they have their own umbrella, plastic poncho, raincoat or similar. We have organised dry places for them to wait until your car pulls up but we only have so many people and umbrellas. To try to ferry each and every child to a car with one or two umbrellas is difficult. 

REPORTING
Teachers in the coming weeks will be gathering information in readiness for reporting. I’d ask you not to send your child to school if unwell as they will be sent home for the health and safety of others. If they are well, I do urge you to send your child back to school from Monday. Please contact me as a matter of urgency on kcana2@eq.edu.au if you aren’t intending to send your child back next week so we can have further discussions about how you can support your child's learning at home.  A reminder that Craigslea will be reporting on English, Maths, Science and the specialist areas. Prep won’t have grades but will have comments. Years 1 to 6 will have grades but no comments apart from an overall comment. The reports will be distributed at the start of Week 3 Term 3 and interviews will be conducted that week also.

CANBERRA (Yr 6) AND CURRIMUNDI (Yr 5)
There is still the remote possibility that these two events could still go ahead. However, we need to gauge how parents/carers feel about whether these events proceed or not before we go any further. We will be sending out an online survey to parents of these year levels to inform our final decision.  If the number of students who still wish to go dips below the trip remaining viable, we will have to cancel.

STAFFING
Narelle Green (Deputy Principal) will be out of the school until Friday May 28. Mrs Peta Tabuteau (Head of Arts-Craigslea State High School) will be Acting Deputy Principal for that period. Mrs Alison Harris (3HD) will be replaced by Mr Andrew Brush from Wednesday to Friday until further notice. Mrs Harris will be preparing the learning and resources for the class from home and checking in with students via Skype regularly whilst the class is working with Mr Brush. Mr Brush will be in touch next week by email to parents from 3HD to introduce himself and provide his contact details.

FACILITIES
There are aspects of the top oval that still require completion. The two sets of stairs need to be completed with handrails etc, some additional seats installed, futsal nets require installation and some work on the turf will be necessary. 

We are currently making plans for the Year 1 wooden playground to be replaced as soon as possible. Thanks to Sharlene Emmanuel for her efforts in getting these plans ready and to Liz Lynch for her support on behalf of the P and C. 

Finally, in the first two weeks of June the roof on the Year Six block is being replaced and in the second two weeks of June it will the turn of the Year Four block. Teachers have identified spare rooms in the school from where they will be working for this period of time. We are hopeful that this work will be finalised by the return for Term 3. 

Have a good week,

Kathy

Prep 2021 Information Session – How can I find out what Craigslea State School has to offer?

Firstly, email us at Administration@craigsleass.eq.edu.au and let us know you are interested!

With the different and continued restrictions with COVID 19, our information session for Prep 2021 will follow a different format from previous years.  You will be able to get answers to all your questions and also the opportunity to ‘meet’ our leadership team and current Prep teachers.

By the end of the first week in June, we will upload a video tour of our school on to our YouTube channel.  It will be accompanied by a slideshow with further information.  From this, you can draft any questions you would like to ask which can be posed and answered in one of three ways – join our Zoom session at 9.30 am or 6.00pm on Tuesday June 9 which is a face to face online meeting; by phone; or by email.  Current families can choose to view this or not.

From this point, you submit an application should this be the school of your preference.  As enrolment numbers allow, we will invite you to participate in an enrolment interview – again either by Zoom or phone call if restrictions continue around face-to-face meetings in schools.  An invitation for interview means that we have a position in Prep for your child.  A placement is NOT dependent on the outcome of the interview.  The interview simply allows us the chance to get to know your child a little better by speaking with you.

Look for our flyer at the local Early Childhood Centres and C&Ks, check our website and email us at Administration@craigsleass.eq.edu.au if you would like to be included in future communications.

Thanks Narelle

How exciting!!

Not long now and we will all be back at school.  The teachers have missed all of the children lots.

STRING ORCHESTRA
Just to let you know that there will be NO String orchestra the first week back on Tuesday the 26^th May, however there will be lessons for all string children that week.

BRASS, WOODWIND AND PERCUSSION
There will be no band on the 29^th of May, however there will be Miss Owens and Mr Schick lessons on Wednesday and Friday the first week back.

CHOIR
Unfortunately Inclusive Choir is on hold for the moment.

PARADE PERFORMANCES
Parade Performances are also on hold for the time being.

 
Thanks Pauline

“Congratulations to the strings students (and parents!) who’ve sent videos and audio clips of their work to me while we are learning online – it is so lovely to see and hear that students are practising and missing classes and rehearsals.  Keep them coming, especially if you haven’t sent one yet!

Please remember that it is very important to keep practising for at least 20 to 30 minutes every day (or 10 to 15 for beginners) so that skills can develop and improve.  I have sent everybody plenty of material to revise and to start (and it is fun and much easier if the CD backing for the “Sound Innovations” book and the Kjos Interactive Practice Platform accompaniments and video lessons for the “String Basics” books are used during home practice). Further Instrumental Music emails for will arrive while years 3 to 6 are working online, so please check for updates, work and messages from me.”

 Amanda Jerram (Strings)

LIBRARY OPERATIONS
I cannot wait to have students back in the Library! Next week (Week 6) the Library will be open for borrowing for all students, however during Week 7 and Week 8, 6W will be using the Library as their classroom while the Year 6 block undergoes roof renovations. During this time students will not be able be able to borrow and the Library will be closed during break times. Please encourage students to visit the Library and borrow during Week 6 – they may borrow up to 6 books (usually limited to 2 books) so that they have a collection to read during the closure time. Also until July 20, all students have access to Education Queensland's Digital Library using the Sora app and their MIS ID. If you need support to access the Digital Library please contact me tknig93@eq.edu.au. 

BOOK CLUB
Next week Book Club Issue 4 catalogues will be sent home and can also be accessed digitally https://www.scholastic.com.au/media/5608/bc_420.pdf. All ordering and payments can be completed online using the Scholastic Book Club LOOP Platform. Register at http://www.scholastic.com.au/LOOP and place your Book Club order by June 12. We are still awaiting delivery of Book Club Issue 3.

PREMIER'S READING CHALLENGE
The Premier’s Reading Challenge takes place from May 11 until August 28. The challenge encourages students in Prep to Year 4 to read 20 books and students in Year 5 and 6 to read 15 books. Students can register at school with me or parents can register students by emailing me: tknig93@eq.edu.au. Students can join the challenge at any time and all participants receive a certificate from the Queensland Premier.

BEFORE SCHOOL READING CLUB
Before School Reading Club is postponed until further notice.   

Tess Bryce
Librarian 

We welcome everyone back to school.

Tuckshop

The Tuckshop is open for first break online orders only (no over the counter orders, no cash) until further notice.  Orders must be placed by 9.00am for the day of the required order.

Please find attached a current menu and instructions for opening an account for ordering online if you do not currently order this way.

Uniform shop / bookshop is ONLINE ONLY. Order collection options are either delivery to the classroom or pick up from the school office cashier window. Please do not enter the office or walk around other areas of the school. Please specify which order collection method you would prefer in the “Comments” section when making payment. 

Please find attached instructions for opening an account and ordering online if you do not currently order this way.

This has been postponed until next Term.  Order forms will be going out Monday, 20 July to be returned by Friday, 07 August and delivery Friday, 14 August.

Run 4 Fun Colour Explosion

This has been cancelled.

OSHC

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

School Banking

There is no school banking until further notice.

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

Should you wish to contact Carol our P and C Operations Manager directly,  you can do so on either 3350 8741 or operations@craigsleapandc.org.au

Good news, many of the restaurants and cafe's that have been closed are open again!

Take this opportunity to order your membership today and still support our fundraising. The membership has hundreds of takeaway, shopping offers online, including Woolworth’s. So while you are at home take advantage and let locals support locals. Follow the link below to purchase your membership today.

Benefits to Members:

• 5% off Woolworths Gift Cards including groceries, petrol, liquor and more
• generous offers for local dining takeaways
• support your local cause through the fundraising dollars they receive from your purchase
• 10% off Priceline for medicines, toiletries, vitamins and more

Benefits to your Community:

• keep local businesses running by continuing to order directly from them
• sustaining jobs for locals
• fundraising groups are supported and can continue with the amazing work they do