Dear Craigslea Community, 

Another fortnight has flown by and we are at the midpoint of term 1.    This term we are making learning visible in our classrooms using Learning Walls.  When learning is visible students have clarity about learning expectations and what they need to do to be successful. 

Learning walls include the learning intention (goal linked to the unit purpose), success criteria (what students need to know and do to be successful) and examples of student work identifying what success looks like. Teachers and students construct these walls together. Here are some examples of learning walls used in schools.

Over the next fortnight I am looking forward to visiting all our classrooms to see how our learning walls are developing and to talk with students about their learning.

Strategic Plan – 2024– 2027

By the end of this term, we will finalise our strategic plan setting our direction for the next four years.  The development of our strategic plan gives us an opportunity to continue the great work already happening in our school and to think big about what we would like the future of learning to look like.  It is very exciting.

This week through Schoolzine I sent a survey to gather community thoughts and ideas on our future direction.  We have had a very positive response to the survey.  Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to complete it.  It’s not too late to have your say.  Click on the link below to complete the survey.  Insert Schoolzine link here please

Whilst we look to the future our plan must reference the recommendations that came from the School Review undertaken in Term 2 2023.  The key recommendations from this review were:

This week I commenced meeting with staff teams to gather their thoughts and ideas.  Next week I will be meeting with student representatives and on March 1 I invite parents and carers to work with me on building our school’s plan.

I will share results of the survey and a summary of information gathered from each of the groups in future newsletters.

Principal’s Afternoon Tea

I am very much looking forward to my first Principal’s Afternoon Tea at Craigslea next Friday.  Teachers nominate one student from their class for their efforts in learning during the week to attend.  At the afternoon tea I talk with students about what they are proud of about their learning.  This week’s afternoon tea will be for students in year 4 – 6.

 
“Together may we give our children the roots to grow and the wings to fly.” 


Have a great fortnight.

 Yours in Learning,

 Melanie Rehm

 Principal

This week our Prep and Year 1 teachers started a deep dive into reading, guided by our school’s Speech Therapist. The teacher’s will be continuing their exploration of reading over the next 2 weeks. This review includes the latest research coming from the department.

NAPLAN – Years 3 and 5

From Wednesday, the 13^th March – Wednesday 20^th March, Years 3 and 5 students will be completing NAPLAN 2024.

NAPLAN is a national literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit each year. It is the only national assessment all Australian students have the opportunity to undertake. As students progress through their school years, it’s important to check how well they are learning the essential skills of reading, writing and numeracy.

NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through the school curriculum and allows parents/carers to see how their child is progressing against national standards and over time.

All students are expected to participate in the tests. If you are seeking to withdraw your child from NAPLAN, or an individual test, please contact Renee McGregor (Head of Inclusion) or myself through the office. Your child’s wellbeing is a priority and we will work with you to support your child.

I would like to emphasise that it is really important that primary students do not feel unnecessary pressure leading up to and during NAPLAN. Whilst NAPLAN results may be useful as a whole of school data set the information is not used at an individual student level to assess performance. We use the A-E rating scale against the Australian Curriculum to inform you of your child’s progress. The best way you can help your child prepare for NAPLAN is to let them know that NAPLAN is just one part of their school program, and to urge them to simply do the best they can on the day.

As NAPLAN may be new to some of you, we would like to invite you to a NAPLAN Parent Information session where we will discuss what NAPLAN is, what will be assessed, format of the tests and what we do to prepare your child for these tests. The information session for parents/carers will be held on:

Wednesday 28^th February

3:15-3:45pm

CSS Library

NB: Children do not need to attend this session. 

If you plan on attending, could you please RSVP by 3pm Monday 26^th February using this link: https://craigsleass.schoolzineplus.com/form/247

We understand that you may not be able to make it, and so a copy of our presentation will be emailed to all families after the event.

More general information is available through this link.

Active School Travel 

Wednesdays at Craigslea, are Walking Wheeling Wednesdays! Our school is a part of the Brisbane City Council initiative – Active School Travel.

Next Wednesday, 28^th February, is the last opportunity for a class to win the Golden Boot Award. This will be awarded to the class with the highest percentage of active travellers who walk to school.

The competition is close with 6C leading the way on 68%. Hot on their heels are 5/6K on 67%. Check out how your class is traveling. How will you actively travel to school next Wednesday? 

Have an amazing fortnight of fun and learning,

Natalie

Registration: https://www.ivvy.com.au/event/KLCA5Y/

Lynley Williams
Head of Curriculum

So far, two amazing techniques from Teach Like a Champion have been shared with you in the School Newsletter. All teachers are encouraged to use these in their daily routines to help with transitions into the class each morning (Threshold) and to begin work nice and early (Do Now) as they complete morning greetings.

The next two techniques that teachers could be using are Wait Time and Cold Call. Both of these techniques work well when linked together but they don’t have to be. Here is an overview of each one:

• Wait Time – this allows students time to think before they answer. If students (as a cohort) aren’t productive with that time, the teacher can narrate them towards being more productive. Teachers often answer a question fairly quickly, and so Wait Time allows teachers to also pause, wait and narrate students towards a vast majority of students putting up their hands, and then perhaps using Cold Call for a reply.
• Cold Call – this allows teachers to call on students regardless of whether they’ve raised their hands or not. Teachers use a variety of means in Cold Call like ping-pong balls, large paddle pop sticks, names in a small jar etc, all with their names on them.

Anthony J Kleidon (Pedagogy Coach)

The focus for the fortnight is:

Be safe in all Environments - I am in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing before and after school.

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 running or 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 tuckshop or 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/gate 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.

In this edition… 

1. Five cent February
2. Swim club news
3. P&C meeting – Monday 11^th Please note this will start at 6:30pm for the AGM. 

Also….

• Tuckshop update – there have been a few changes to the tuckshop menu this week. The new muffins are delicious chocolate banana and cinnamon apple, made from scratch and containing fresh fruit. These muffins are egg and dairy free! We have also made a healthy move to wholemeal bread as the standard choice for sandwiches (however you can still opt for white bread if this is your preference).
• Do you have some old newspapers lying around – the Sustainability Subcommittee would love to have them for their composting bins. Please leave them at the compost hub next to the greenhouse.
• We’re planning to use an online raffle ticket system (RaffleLink) for this year’s Easter Raffle. An online raffle system brings many benefits for the P&C and parents (including no paper tickets and plastic bags, no having to return and count money, better opportunities to sell at any time, any place). However, we’re curious about whether this change would “help” or “hinder” your ability to sell tickets. Let us know through the contacts below. 
• Can you help? Volunteering opportunities available
• P&C Contacts – Get in touch
• Fundraising Opportunities 

1. Five Cent February

• Five Cent February is well on it’s way with one more week to go. The complete tally of every class is available on the P&C Facebook page (see contacts below).
• Please remember to bring in 5c coins to your classroom container or donate through Munch Monitor. Please note that only Australian currency is accepted (we’ve had lots of interesting coins donated!)
• We are excited to announce that the entire winning Five Cent February class will receive a frozen treat of their choice from the Tuckshop (on a day and time chosen by the class teacher). The class teacher will help to collate parent permissions and dietary requirements. 

2. Swim club news

• There was a great turn out to the Stafford Friendly swim event with swimming clubs from Craigslea, Stafford and Wilston state schools competing on Sunday 11^th Craigslea came 2^nd on the day with a great hall of ribbons and PBs from the kids. Well done to all who competed!
• Unfortunately, there has been another delay with returning to Friday night swim club with a sensor at the pool needing to be fixed. Please keep an eye on the swim club Facebook page (see contacts below) for further updates. 

3. P&C meeting – Monday 11th March. Please note this will start at 6:30pm for the AGM.

• The meeting will be held in-person (OSHC Building) and online via Teams (link in the SchoolZine Calendar)
• Please note that you do not have to be a member to attend – why not come along and see what happens at these meetings. We would love to see! By becoming a member you can then vote on any motions that are raised.
• At this meeting, all P&C memberships and executive positions need to be renewed. To become a member of the P&C, please complete the online form: https://forms.office.com/r/ywNJVsDq8d. If you are interested in nominating for one of our executive positions, please complete the online form: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=RFb32NInXUmH9Mpkylxb8G4spEJr_H5NjJ8EMNkxyF1URFQ0N1EzUzdOWTRBOFZDOVAyMFlBMzNTUC4u
• We’re looking to run the meetings “paper free”, so please use an electronic device instead of printing.

Can You Help?

Help to make Craigslea State Primary School a better place by volunteering for these activities:

1. Tuckshop – tuckshop are always after volunteers during the week. Even if you only have a short amount of free time please reach out and get in touch with Deb (see the P&C contacts below)
2. Mother’s and Other’s Day stall (Friday 10^th May) – If you like online shopping and would like to help find products for our upcoming Mother's and Other's fund raising stall please contact Emily at the uniform shop (see below for contact information).
3. Bunnings Sausage Sizzle – 22^nd June 2024 – more details to come

P&C Contacts

P&C Executive (Joel, Charmaine, Raechal, Sophie, Kate)

enquiries@craigsleapandc.org.au

https://www.facebook.com/CSSPandC

http://tinyurl.com/2xkuvtx9 (link to download P&C 2024 Calendar)

The Hub (Carol)

3350 8741 or operations@craigsleapandc.org.au

Tuckshop (Deb, Jolei, and Emily)

3350 8744 or tuckshop@craigsleapandc.org.au

Bookshop and Uniform Shop (Emily)

3350 8741 or uniforms@craigsleapandc.org.au

Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) (Kylie)

3350 8724 / 3256 3688 or oshc@craigsleapandc.org.au

Sustainability Group (Jen)

sustainability@craigsleapandc.org.au

https://www.facebook.com/groups/223902536111469/

Swim Club (Andrew)

info@craigsleaswimming.com

https://www.facebook.com/groups/627683971988700

Fundraising Opportunities

• Entertainment Books: Craigslea State School link - https://au.entdigital.net/orderbooks/225332?utm_campaign=2021-130521
• 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