Dear Parent and Caregivers

NAPLAN TESTING

I am very pleased to report that the NAPLAN ONLINE Testing for 2021 is now over.  We had excellent participation rates across Year 3 and Year 5 and were able to catch up almost all students who were absent for tests in the timeframe available.  A big thank you to Mrs O’Malley (NAPLAN Coordinator) and Ms McKenzie (NAPLAN Administrator) and Mr Wilson (Technical Officer) for ensuring everything went so smoothly.  Thank you also to the teachers for the great work in class leading up to the tests; ensuring our students were familiar with the testing platform and the skills they would need to navigate the platform, but also to do their best in answering all of the questions.  We look forward to positive data for our school coming back later this term.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Currently our teaching staff are undertaking a course of professional development around moderation within the Australian Curriculum.  Thus far we have had two cohorts of teachers commence this training run by the DoE Teaching and Learning team.  Our first cohort commenced their course last year and are continuing the series of five days professional development. Our second cohort commenced their course this week.  Whilst this is a big commitment financially and timewise for our school, the benefits are, further clarity around the Australian Curriculum and the consistency of teacher judgment through the assessment and reporting processes.

MULTI-PURPOSE COURT

Our roof over the multi-court project is progressing along nicely following having to gain a fire certification due to the close proximity of the court to adjoining houses and also our library.  I can report that following that,  the project will be ready to go through the tender process through the DoE School Subsidy Scheme. We look forward to the successful tender being chosen before the end of the term so that work can start as soon as possible.

NEW BUILDING

Our new building plans have progressed through another stage of planning and are now awaiting to be a funded project.  We have been very pleased thus far as to how the heritage elements of our school have been retained in the designs.  It is very exciting to think we will have a new and modern teaching and learning facility with six learning spaces that fits into the overall look of our school.

BEHAVIOUR FOCUS - PILLAR OF SAFETY

Last week Chappy Sarah held a very successful Red Pillar Day which is the Pillar of Safety.  It was a great opportunity to revisit the recent learnings from assembly around this pillar, but also to raise funds for Chappy Sarah as we headed into Chappy Week.  The focus of the Pillar is:

• Using equipment properly and safely
• Responding to instructions promptly
• Protecting safety of self and others
• Caring for our school and environment
• Moving around the school safely

CHAPPY WEEK

Chappy Week is an annual event run by SU QLD to raise awareness of the value of school chaplains and to raise funds to support Chaplains. Schools and communities get on board, hosting special events and taking to the streets for their ‘Chappy’.

We are so fortunate to have Chappy Sarah at our school each week for two days to provide pastoral care to our whole school community.  She does a wonderful job supporting our community through lunch time activities, breakfast activities and running a range of programs within our school.

Unfortunately, the government funding to have Chappy Sarah for two days each week does not cover her wages fully and it is up to the school community through the support of our P & C to fund the shortfall each year.  On top of the funds raised through the Red Pillar day last week, the P & C are also asking for donations through the QKR app.  If you are in a position to support our Chaplain, please go to the app and make a donation as every little bit helps.

150th CELEBRATION

Thank you to the parents and citizens who attended the P & C meeting last night.  It was once again great to hear how the preparations for the Family Fun Day on August 28 are going, to mark the school’s 150^th celebration. Please keep this day free to support the event and pass on the information to any past students.

Stay tuned for further details, but I would encourage as many families as possible to support our new P & C executive with the organisation of the event.

MORNING ROUTINES

Another reminder that in the morning our routine is that students:

• Do not arrive at school prior to 8:00am and they are to be seated under D Block. Only students supervised by parents should be under E Block.  There should be nobody under any other buildings or in other parts of the school.
• School staff provide supervision from 8:15am, when students will be allowed to move around under D Block and on the soft fall only. They may play handball, use the skipping ropes or sit with friends.
• At no time should students be playing with big balls (footballs, basketballs, soccerballs) or running around these areas.
• At the bell at 8:40am students should move to their class line up area and wait quietly in two lines for their teacher.

We thank parents who wait in the morning with their children for their cooperation with these expectations as they are in place to ensure everyone is supervised and safe.

Till next time,

Mrs Anne Robinson