Primary School News

Welcome to Term 3!

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Students 

I hope you have had a restful and enjoyable break, with time to relax and recharge, ready for another positive and engaging term ahead. It was wonderful to see some students at the Sports Holiday Camp that was offered during the holidays. 

We are looking forward to welcoming you back to Term 3 next week. Please note that Monday 14 July is a Student Free Day, all students will return on Tuesday 15 July (Week B). A reminder for the following Public Holiday and Student Free Days which occur this term and the College will be closed: 

Please also note that the last day of Term 3 is on Thursday 18 September, and it will be a full school day, finishing at 3:10pm.

Term 3 begins with plenty of activities in Week 1, with Pre-Prep Parent/Teacher Interviews and Prep to Year 6 Student/Parent/Teacher Conferences, our Semester 1 Academic Assembly and we come together as a school community to celebrate NAIDOC Week.

New Students

We are delighted to welcome several new students and their families across Primary to the College this term. We are also pleased to welcome short stay students from Korea, China and Japan who will be experiencing an Australian school over their summer holidays. We wish both our new and short stay students and families a wonderful beginning as they start their journey at Clayfield College. 

The College App

As a condition of enrolment, we request every caregiver download the College App (free download). The App provides current information about events and activities, as well as important notices and alerts (for example, training cancellations or venue changes, wet weather plans and ETA of buses returning from co-curricular activities). It also includes a live school calendar, absentee line and key school contacts. 

You are able to manage your notifications and subscriptions to ensure you are only seeing what is relevant to your family. Please refer to the Resource page on the College website for further information (link below). 

Clayfield Collective

The Clayfield Collective is our whole school weekly newsletter, sent via email every Thursday. This communication includes information/articles from our Senior Leadership Team, Deans and Heads of Department. It is imperative that you read the Secondary Bulletin to be kept up to date with all events and information. This, together with the College App, is the main form of College communication for our families, with staff assuming that what is published in the Clayfield Collective has been read by parents. 

Contacts

Please find below useful contacts, should you need anything as you settle in this term.

Staffing

As previously shared with the class, Ms San Miguel (5S) will be taking extended Leave for the first 2 weeks of Term 3, and we welcome back Mrs Skerrett who will be teaching 5S during this time.

Pre-Prep Parent/Teacher Interviews and Prep to Year 6 Student/Parent/Teacher Conferences

As per previous communication and booking instructions emailed at the end of Term 2, please note the following schedule for Pre-Prep Parent Teacher Interviews and Prep to Year 6 Student/Parent/Teacher Conferences: 

Week 1 

Week 3 

Week 1 Primary Assembly

In Week 1 on Tuesday 15 July at 2:20pm at our Primary Assembly we will celebrate our students' Semester 1 Academic Achievements. Families would have received an email from Mrs Wyer, should their child be receiving an achievement award.

Sports News

Please refer to the 2025 Primary Sports Overview below that can also be found on the College App.

Andrews Cup (Years 2 to 6 students only) 

• Football: 22 July (Years 4 to 6)
• Athletics: 21 August (Years 2 to 6)

Training has begun for these sports and further information is available on the College App. Event details with more information will be forwarded to families closer to the date. 

Gymnastics and AFL (Gala Invitational) will also begin training this term, and further information will be shared from the Sports Department in due course. 

Britton Shield (Years 2 to 7 students only) 

• AFL: 14 August 
• Cricket: 11 September

Further information will be sent to families throughout the term. 

Years 2 to 6 Athletics Carnival

The Years 2 to 6 Athletics Carnival will be held on Thursday 31 July and all families of students are welcome to join us. Information and details regarding the event will be shared soon.

Ms Amy Lewin is the contact for all Primary Sport related questions, and can be reached on alewin@clayfield.qld.edu.au

School Uniform

All students should be wearing their Winter Uniform as they return to school for Term 3. As we are making the transition from the old uniform to the new one, please be reminded of the following requirements. Please note, students in Year 6 are permitted to wear the pants in Winter. 

Primary Winter Uniform

** ALL STUDENTS MUST HAVE THEIR BUCKET HAT FOR PLAY – we follow a strict No Hat, No Play Policy to keep our students sun safe.

The Uniform Shop details are:

Phone:  3262 0251

Email: clayfieldcollege@theuniformcompany.com.au

Before School Hours and Supervision

The Learning Resource Centre (LRC) is open from 7:30am if students arrive before 8:00am. Please do not drop your son/daughter off at school prior to 7:30am, as there is no staff member on duty. 

If arriving before 8:25am, students are permitted to drop their bags outside classrooms, put their hats on and go to the playground or Lower LRC area. A bell will ring, which signifies the beginning of the school day at 8:25am and students should line up outside their classroom to wait for their teacher. 

The Amphitheatre, Palm Grove playground and grassed area in Leopard Terrace are available for play between 8:00am and 8:25am; however, the Tree Tops playground in Leopard Terrace is strictly out of bounds before and after school. The Pre-Prep classroom door opens at 8:30am daily. A parent or carer must wait with their Pre-Prep student until such time. 

Grandparents’ Day

We look forward to hosting Grandparents' Day, which will be held in Week 7 on Thursday 28 August. Our grandparents will enjoy morning tea, classroom visit and a special musical performance. Due to numbers, this event is specifically for our wonderful grandparents; however, if a grandparent is unable to attend, a special friend is more than welcome. 

Registrations will open in Week 1 of Term 3 within The Collective. 

We look forward to seeing you there.

Clubs Program

The Clubs Program will begin in Week 2 of Term 3 and information in relation to this will be distributed via the College App at the beginning of the term. Clubs are optional, at no cost to families and our staff enjoy sharing their expertise in specific areas to broaden the offerings for students, especially at break times.

Homework Club

Our Homework Club offering is for students in Years 1 to 6, Monday to Thursday. Please find information below pertaining to these Clubs.

Years 1 to 3

Homework Club is available for students in Years 1 to 3 in the Primary Technology Lab from 3:05pm to 4:30pm Monday to Thursday. In order to attend, Primary students must be registered via email to studentservices@clayfield.qld.edu.au. 

As places fill up very quickly, you are encouraged to book in early for the day(s) you would like to attend. Further, Primary students must be signed out by a parent or caregiver from the Tech Lab. Students are not permitted to leave this room unattended. All students must bring an afternoon snack. There will be a 15 minute play time for students to eat their snack and play before beginning Homework or quiet activities. Pick up time is strictly by 4:30pm, with no exception. Thank you for adhering to this timeframe.

Years 4 to 6

Homework Club is available to students from Years 4 to 6 in the Lower LRC on Monday to Thursday from 3:15pm to 5:00pm. In order to attend, Primary students must be registered via email to studentservices@clayfield.qld.edu.au. 

As places fill up very quickly, you are encouraged to book in early for the day(s) you would like to attend. Further, Primary students must be signed out by a parent or caregiver from the Lower LRC. Students are not permitted to leave the Lower LRC unattended by a parent or caregiver unless they are moving to a co-curricular activity, and we have written permission from parents informing Student Services of this activity via email to studentservices@clayfield.qld.edu.au. Pick up time is strictly by 5:00pm, with no exception. Thank you for adhering to this timeframe.

If you need to contact the College after 4:00pm, please call the College number (3262 0262) as usual and your call will be diverted to the Lower LRC.

To assist us in our Duty of Care, please notify Student Services if your requirements for this service change. If we receive no notification, please expect a call from us to clarify the whereabouts of your child. Similarly, if your child attends Homework Club without a booking, you will be called and asked to collect them as soon as possible. 

*Years 1 to 6 Homework Club Agreements

Homework Club is a school program and as such, all students using this facility are expected to adhere to the Clayfield College Positive Behaviour Process. This includes listening to staff instructions, arriving for Homework Club promptly at the end of the school day, remaining in the LRC or Technology Lab unless given permission to leave, and respecting peers and staff.

Thank you so very much for your assistance with these processes. 

External Providers Co-Curricular Activities  

The following external sports and activities will be available for students to participate in Term 3. Please contact the provider directly for bookings and information. Mrs David is the College contact for any questions you may have via studentservices@clayfield.qld.edu.au

Updating Details – Parent Lounge

Parent Lounge provides up-to-date information on College life. Such information includes your child’s timetable and teachers, policy documents, excursion details, school calendar and parent directory. Parents are also able to update their contact details and child’s medical details, view Report Cards and schedule Parent/Teacher interviews. Please see below a guide that will assist you in navigating key features of Parent Lounge.

App Notifications and Subscriptions for Term 3

A helpful reminder, that you can manage your notifications and subscriptions to reflect your child/ren’s sports and activities etc for Term 3 to ensure you are only seeing what is relevant to your family.  

Please refer to the following link for information and access:

Parent Helpers

If you are someone who enjoys covering books with contact, we need you! Please email Ms Avalon Banfield in the Lower LRC at abanfield@clayfield.qld.edu.au to get involved. Thank you!

Important Notice: Social Media Privacy Policy and Photo/Video Guidelines at School Events

I would like to take this opportunity to remind our school community about our Social Media Privacy Policy and the importance of protecting the privacy and safety of all students.

Photography and video recording at school events

While we understand the desire to capture special moments at school events, we ask all parents and guardians to respect the privacy of others. Photos or videos that include children other than your own must not be taken or shared without the express permission of those children’s parents or guardians.

To ensure the safety and comfort of all students and families

Parents and guardians are not permitted to take photos or videos at school events that include other children without prior, explicit consent from their parents or guardians. This includes informal sharing through messaging apps, as well as posting on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and others.

Why this matters

Many families have valid concerns about the digital exposure of their children. Unauthorised sharing of student images can pose privacy risks, especially for those with specific safety needs or other protections. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and respectful environment for all students.

Sun Safety

At Clayfield College we have a clear No Hat No Play policy. Could you please make sure your child has a hat at school every day. For hygiene practices, we do not provide hats for students to share. 

Circular Drive Reminder

During the Circular Drive pick-up process, the safety of our students and staff is critical and therefore we kindly ask you to review the following. 

At the conclusion of the day, staff will bring students down to Circular Drive from 3:05pm (Prep to Year 2) and 3:15pm (Years 3 to 6). Pre-Prep students can be collected from their classroom between 2:30pm and 3:00pm. Students in Years 5 to 6 may be collected at Circular Drive if they have younger siblings. Otherwise, they may be collected from Bayview Terrace. Students in Year 4 may be collected from Bayview Terrace if they have an older sibling. If you are collecting your child in Years 3 to 6, please do not come to Circular Drive before 3:15pm as they will not be there, and you will be asked to circle the block to keep the line moving.  

To assist us with the efficiency of Circular Drive pickup in the afternoon, we respectfully request the following: 

• Follow the direction of staff 
• Continue to drive forward to the furthest available park 
• Remain in your car until your child has been sent to you.  Do not leave your car at any time whilst you are in the Circular Car Line. There have been instances where cars have rolled whilst children are walking to their cars. 
• If you are using this service, students must be independent in buckling their seat belts, without your assistance. The staff on duty will help any child into the car if needed. If you are eager for your child to use this facility, the buckling of the seat belt is a wonderful teaching moment. 
• If your child has not yet arrived for collection, you must drive around the block to re-enter the Circular Drive queue. 

Reminders about Group Messaging and Large Group Chats

At Clayfield College, we strongly discourage the use of group messaging among students. As per our Technology Agreement, mass messaging (large group or class chats) and chain communication are not permitted. There is a copy of the Student Technology Agreement on p.7A-8A of the student diaries.  

These platforms, although popular with students, can foster an environment where inappropriate content, hurtful comments, and peer pressure are more prevalent, making it harder for students to navigate safely. It is a place where reactions to comments, cannot be physically witnessed, leading to miscommunication, misunderstandings and often hurt feelings. Our College takes a firm stance against such communication, and we urge parents to monitor and guide their children in making safe, responsible digital choices.  

Three handy hints:  

1. Check Privacy Settings: Ensure your child’s accounts are set to private, so they can control who sees their posts and messages. 
2. Monitor Chat Activity: Have regular conversations with your child about their online interactions and ask them to show you any messages/chats they are involved in. 
3. Encourage Kindness: Remind your child to think carefully before they post or send messages to another student. Encourage them to speak up if they see something unkind happening, or to remove themselves from negative environments immediately. 

Year 6 Canberra Tour: Term 3 - Week 10

Our Year 6 students will embark on an exciting educational tour to Canberra from Monday 15 September to Thursday 18 September. This experience will provide them with valuable insights into Australia’s capital, including visits to key cultural and historical sites. Further information will be provided soon.

Who Should I Ask?

Our Primary staff are always available to assist should you require any help. Their best contact is via email; however, for anything that requires immediate attention, please call the College directly. Mrs Bryan, Dean of Primary (Years 3 to 6) and Mrs Bailey, Head of Pre-Prep to Year 2, are available to answer any further concerns after you have touched base with the classroom teacher. I am always happy to receive feedback and continue conversations with you; please contact Mrs Wyer to arrange a convenient time.

The term ahead is filled with some of my favourite events, and the Primary Team and I look forward to sharing more wonderful memories with you. 

Yours sincerely

Mrs Audrey Fellowes  

Deputy Principal-Pastoral - Head of Primary  

afellowes@clayfield.qld.edu.au