Junior School Welcome 

Dear Junior School Parents and Carers

Welcome to the 2026 school year at Clayfield College!

We extend a warm welcome to all families joining our school community and look forward to reconnecting with our returning students after a restful break. Our staff have prepared an engaging and supportive program of learning, and this communication is designed to help ensure a smooth and confident start for your child. If you are new to the College, or require clarification at any stage, please do not hesitate to contact us.

We are here to help your family settle quickly and comfortably.

Key Dates for the Start of School

New Student Orientation/Welcome Morning - Tuesday 27 January

Uniform: All students should wear their summer uniform and hat. 

What to bring: Water bottle, morning tea, device and stationery. 

Stationery Drop-Off for Returning Students - Tuesday 27 January

Returning students may bring stationery to classrooms during the 1:30pm to 3:10pm window. Families are welcome to briefly meet teachers. Students are not required to wear their school uniform for this stationery drop-off.

First Day for all Students - Wednesday 28 January

• Formal summer uniform
• Bring all books and stationery
• Diaries and timetables provided in class
• Families of new students may walk children to their classrooms

School Photos - Monday 2 February

Students to wear their summer formal uniform. Hair should be neat and off the face.

Meet the Junior School Team Afternoon - Monday 2 February (Staggered Sessions)

To give families the opportunity to connect meaningfully with classroom teachers and hear important information in a relaxed and well-organised environment, the afternoon will run in two staggered sessions.

Families are kindly asked to attend the session that corresponds with their child’s year level. As all teachers and members of the Leadership Team will be involved in these sessions, supervision of students will not be available. We therefore ask that students do not attend and appreciate your understanding as we focus on building strong partnerships with parents and carers.

Core Teacher Sessions

Leadership Team and Specialist Teacher Sessions

A short presentation will be offered at the times below and will outline key priorities for 2026, communication channels, wellbeing approaches, and how to best support your child’s learning. It will also provide an opportunity to meet our Specialist Teachers. 

• 4:00pm to 4:45pm 
• 4.45pm to 5.30pm

Annual Permissions

Please refer to the 'Annual Permissions' section of this communication for important actions required by parents and carers for each student. 

Daily Schedules and Routines

Please note: Students arriving before 8:00am must be supervised in the LRC.

Arrival and Pick-Up Procedures

Morning Drop-Off

Afternoon Pick-Up

Important: 

• Please avoid arriving early, staff will ask you to loop if waiting obstructs traffic.
• Students not collected by 3:30pm will be asked to wait at Main Reception. 
• Communicate any changes of pick-up routine directly to your child's teacher or Junior School Administration. 

Attendance and Absence Procedures

Short-Term Absences (Less than three days)

• Short-term absences, such as when your child is unwell, should be reported before 8:20am via the College App.
• If the App is not accessible, please email studentservices@clayfield.qld.edu.au, including your child’s full name and class (eg Year 1A).
• If neither option is possible, you may contact the school by phone; however, please note that phone lines can be busy in the morning, so the App or email is preferred.
• For other short-term planned absences (eg appointments), please log these on the App ahead of the planned date wherever possible.
• Please do not rely solely on contacting teachers directly or writing in your child’s diary to report upcoming absences, as these may not be seen in time for official recording. All absences must be logged via the App or email.
• Students arriving after 8:30am must sign in at College Reception.
• Students leaving early must be collected and signed out by a parent or carer at College Reception.

Longer-Term Absences (More than three days)

• We recognise that, at times, exceptional personal circumstances may require leave during term time (eg family emergencies).
• However, non-essential leave during the school term, including family holidays, is strongly discouraged.
• For planned absences of three days or more, please email absences@clayfield.qld.edu.au and attach the completed Absence Request Form which is linked below. In the subject line, please include your child’s full name and class (eg Year 1A).
• Requests will be reviewed by the Director of Junior School or Director of Senior School (depending on your child’s year level) and will be authorised or recorded as an unauthorised absence if taken. Family holidays during term time will be classified as unauthorised absences.
• For unauthorised absences, teachers will not provide alternative or catch-up work during the absence period.

• All authorised and unauthorised absences are documented in your child’s report card.

   

Refer to the Extended Leave Application Form linked below. 

Junior School Clubs Program

The Prep to Year 6 Clubs Program, facilitated by our Junior School team, will begin in Week 2 of Term 1. Further information in relation to the lunchtime and after-school offerings will be distributed via The Clayfield Collective and App shortly. Clubs are optional, at no cost to families and the offerings change each term. 

Junior School After-School Club

To assist our families in their planning for Term 1, we are pleased to share that an After-School Club (previously called Homework Club), will be offered for students in Years 1 to 6, running Monday to Thursday, commencing in Week 2. 

Lower Junior After-School Club | Years 1 to 3 

The Lower Junior After-School Club is available for students in Years 1 to 3 and operates in the Lower Learning Resource Centre (LRC) from 3:05pm to 4:30pm, Monday to Thursday. To attend, students must be registered via email to studentservices@clayfield.qld.edu.au (please include your child’s full name and class, eg Year 1A).

As places fill quickly, families are encouraged to register early for the day(s) required. Students must be signed out by a parent or caregiver from the Lower LRC; students are not permitted to leave the room unattended.

All students must bring an afternoon snack. There will be a 30-minute snack and play period after school before students complete their homework or other quiet activities.

Pick-up time is strictly 4:30pm from the Lower LRC. Thank you for your cooperation.

Upper Junior After-School Club | Years 4 to 6 

The Upper Junior After-School Club is available for students in Years 4 to 6 and operates in the Lower LRC from 3:15pm to 5:00pm, Monday to Thursday. To attend, students must be registered via email to studentservices@clayfield.qld.edu.au (please include your child’s full name and class, eg Year 4A).

As places fill quickly, families are encouraged to register early. Students must be signed out by a parent or caregiver from the Lower LRC. Students may only leave the Lower LRC independently if they are attending a co-curricular activity. Parents must advise Student Services of this when registering and provide permission for their child to move to that activity.

All students must bring an afternoon snack. There will be a 30-minute snack and play period before students complete their homework or other quiet activities.

Pick-up time is strictly 5:00pm from the Lower LRC. If you are running late, please contact the College on 3262 0262, which will be diverted to the Lower LRC. Thank you for your cooperation.

Junior School After-School Club Agreements 

If your child’s activities or afternoon arrangements change and this affects their attendance, notification must be sent via email to studentservices@clayfield.qld.edu.au.

The Lower and Upper Junior After-School Clubs are school programs. Students attending are expected to follow the Clayfield College Positive Behaviour Framework, including listening to staff instructions, remaining in the designated space unless given permission to leave, and showing respect to peers and staff. Thank you very much for your ongoing support.

After-School Activities - External Providers

The activities outlined at the link below are managed and run by external providers and available for Term 1. Please note for Pre-Prep and Prep students, coaches and staff will collect the students from classrooms and escort them to various activities.

Please let your child’s teacher know of any after-school activities you have booked for your child. 

Please contact the provider directly for bookings and information. Mrs Alice David is the College contact for any questions you may have studentservices@clayfield.qld.edu.au.  

Uniform and Sun Safety

Uniform Requirements

• Formal uniform (Prep to Year 6) worn on designated days
• Sports uniform on specialist lesson days
• Hat always worn outdoors ('No Hat No Play')
• Hair tied back and off the face

Refer to Uniform Policy linked below. 

Sun Safety

• Sunscreen should be applied at home each morning
• Sunscreen is available in classrooms for reapplying
• Hats are required during all outdoor activities

Refer to Sun Safety Policies linked below. 

Learning and Communication

Diaries and Timetables

All Prep to Year 6 students receive a school diary and timetable in Week 1.

Curriculum Information

Year-level overviews will be shared at the start of each term.

Communication

New families only: on the afternoon of Tuesday 20 January, new parents will receive an email invitation from Parent ID Passport to set-up their credential to access College portals including TASS Parent Lounge. Please follow the steps noted and contact the ICT Team for assistance if required on the email address in the communication you receive. For reference, the Parent Lounge address is https://ccportal.clayfield.qld.edu.au/parentlounge.

Parent–Teacher Conversations

Formal meetings will be held mid-semester, with optional meetings at other times by request.

Student Wellbeing

Clayfield College prioritises the social and emotional wellbeing of every child. Teachers closely support students as routines begin and work in partnership with parents to monitor engagement and progress.

If your child experiences separation anxiety or difficulty transitioning, please contact the classroom teacher for support.

Specialist Lessons

Students in Prep to Year 6 will participate in a range of specialist subjects, including Languages, Music, Physical Education, STEM, Food Technology and Art. Timetables will be communicated via diary and class announcements in Week 1.

Feedback and Feedforward

Clayfield College is always seeking ways to provide the best possible feedback on student’s academic and pastoral progress. We aim to offer families many opportunities throughout the year to engage with their child’s development through Student/Parent/Teacher conferences, Gallery Walks, digital folio feedback and feedforward, and Semester 1 and 2 report cards. 

Refer to Collaborative Partnerships Overview linked below. 

Events and Community

P&F Welcome Evening 

All families are invited to attend the P&F Welcome Evening on Friday 6 February in the Chapel Courtyard at 5:30pm. This is a lovely opportunity to get to know existing and new families of Clayfield College. 

To enable as many of our community members to attend this event, there will be supervision (which includes dinner) available for: 

• children that attend Clayfield College (Pre-Prep to Year 12) 

• siblings of Clayfield College students, so long as they are at least five years of age and are comfortable to be left in the care of others.  

   

Registration is essential and can be completed via the 'Buy Tickets' option. There is a nominal cost to cover dinner expenses. 

Conditions:

• Parents/caregivers must pre-register their children, so that adequate levels of staffing can be arranged, and dietary requirements provided.
• Parents/caregivers must sign-in their children from 5:30pm (Assembly Hall), and sign-out their children by no later than 7:30pm (Junior) and 7:45pm (Senior).
• Save for using the bathrooms, children are to remain in the allocated areas until such time as they are signed out by their parents/caregivers.

Calendar

The College Calendar is available on the App and updated regularly.

Fundraiser Days

2026 Staffing

We welcome several new staff members across the Junior School and specialist areas. These staff bring valuable expertise and enthusiasm, and we look forward to their contributions in 2026.

A full 2026 Junior School Staff listing is available below. 

Parent Coordinators and Class WhatsApp

The P&F Friends of Junior Group, through the Class Coordinators, facilitate a WhatsApp Group per class for any parent who wishes to join. This is a parent-based community platform which is run independently from the College. Positive and friendly communication is expected, as well as adherence to the College’s Parent Code of Conduct. 

The Class Coordinator is a year-round role, and we are looking for one to two volunteers for each class. The role of the Class Coordinator is essentially to help facilitate social events for their class, coordinate teacher gifts and assist with practical questions. 

If you are interested in becoming a Class Coordinator, please complete the registration form below by Tuesday 27 January 2026. The P&F Year Level Parent Coordinator, Katie Kennedy, will then reach out to the volunteers shortly thereafter. 

References/Links

• Junior School Staff Listing 2026

• Classrooms for 2026

• Pre-Prep Sun Protection Policy 

• Sun Safety Policy

• Extended Leave Application Form

• Uniform Policy
• Collaborative Partnerships Overview

• Term Dates 2026

Warm regards

Mr Damien Marshall

Director of Junior School