25/05/2022

Dear Parent and Caregivers

NAPLAN 2022

The NAPLAN testing window for this year has now closed and we are happy to report,  that apart from a few COVID absences which we could not catch up, we managed to get most students through the testing process.  We are now through to the results phase which means we will await our school preliminary results in a few weeks.  As next year the testing program is changing and will be earlier in the year,  we will commence some preparation with our current Yr 2 and 4 students in Term 4 of this year.  A huge shout out to Mrs O’Malley who was the NAPLAN Coordinator and Ms McKenzie who was the NAPLAN Administrator, as these are hugely stressful roles during the process.  Our Teachers and Teacher Aides did a marvellous job supporting our students, making them feel at ease so that they could demonstrate their best learning outscores.

Lockdown Drill

This Friday we will practise a lockdown drill, so that we are prepared for any emergency.  Last term we practised the Evacuation Drill and this term it is the Lock Down, where all staff and students lock down in their classrooms until any perceived threat has dissipated and the school is safe once again.  Our classroom teachers will be talking to students about this drill this week in readiness.

COVID Reminders

A continued reminder re the latest communication around changes for close contacts that were emailed out last week. Please ensure you are letting us know if absences from school are due to COVID or being close contacts as we have to report weekly on this to the DoE.

OPEN DAY

This morning we held our first Open Morning for families considering our wonderful school to enrol their children in 2023.  It was lovely to see so many families make the time to hear about our amazing school and to go on a tour of the facilities. Whilst the largest intake in every year is Prep, it is a also open to students looking at our school for other year levels.  We will hold another Open Morning next term before we commence the Prep enrolment process, which includes interviews and transition programs in Term 3 and 4.

CROSSING SUPERVISOR

We are hoping to have an interim crossing supervisor take over the reins whilst the full recruitment process takes place for a new supervisor.  Please take care if the crossing is unsupervised.  We are continuing to work with the Department of Transport re this issue.  Our P and C Association are also working with our Brisbane City Council local councillor and Tim Mander, our State Member re the traffic issues we experience at our school. We are all working together to improve the current arrangements.

STAFFING

We have finally completed the recruitment process for a new Administration Officer to replace Mrs Renee Ovey who moved to higher duties at EPSHS.  We welcome Miss Catriona McCarthy to our staff as the new Administration Officer.  She will commence with our school on June 6.

Professional Development

It was lovely to take part in a Metropolitan Regional Professional Development Day yesterday with Ms McKenzie in EPAC, around a whole school approach to differentiation.  This is part of our priorities this year, so it's important work we are continuing to lead in our school, to ensure that all students are catered for and supported to be the best they can be and to achieve to their full capabilities.

I will also be attending 2 days of Professional Development from 9-10^th June in Brisbane, where I will be in attendance at the Qld Association of State Schools Principal’s Conference.  Mrs Burrows will be Acting Principal in my absence for those 2 days.

Til next time

Mrs Anne Robinson

Principal