Junior School Bulletin

What a wonderful start to the week following Sunday's On the Green community event. It was fantastic to see so many Clayfield College families, students, staff and alumni come together for such a vibrant celebration of our community. Events like these remind us of the strong connections that make our College such a special place. 

A particular highlight for many of our students was the opportunity to spend time with Ben Lee. From all reports, Ben was incredibly generous with his time, engaging warmly with students, answering questions, sharing his experiences and encouraging creativity and curiosity. Experiences like these create lasting memories for our students and are a wonderful example of the unique opportunities that emerge through our connected and supportive school community. 

EKKA Show Holiday

A reminder that the College will be closed for the EKKA Show Holiday in Brisbane on Wednesday 12 August. If you are attending the EKKA, we hope you have a wonderful day. 

Parent-Teacher Conferences - Final Reminder

A reminder that bookings for our Week 6 Parent-Teacher Conferences are now open via Parent Lounge.

Families should refer to the information provided by classroom teachers regarding conference schedules, available appointment times and booking instructions.

Bookings will close at 9:00am on Monday 10 August.

We strongly encourage all families to take advantage of this opportunity. Parent-Teacher Conferences are an important part of the partnership between home and school, providing valuable time to discuss each child's progress, celebrate successes, identify areas for growth and work together to support their continued learning and wellbeing.

Students are encouraged to attend alongside their parents wherever possible, helping them to reflect on their learning and contribute to future goal setting.

We look forward to these important conversations and the opportunity to continue working together to support every child's growth and development.

Bullying No Way! Week

In Week 6, we will be raising awareness for the National Week of Action Against Bullying with the theme "Be Bold. Be Kind. Speak Up!". 

Our student leaders will lead a range of activities designed to encourage students to think about friendship, kindness, inclusion and gratitude. Through Personal Development lessons and special lunchtime activities, students will explore what it means to be an "upstander, not a bystander" and learn how their words and actions can positively influence the wellbeing of others. 

International Short Stay Program

As we enter the final week of our International Short Stay Program, I would like to acknowledge what a wonderful experience this has been for both our visiting students and our Junior School community. 

I have been incredibly proud of the way our students have welcomed their international peers, demonstrating kindness, inclusion and genuine curiosity. The friendships formed and connections made throughout the program reflect the strong sense of belonging that exists within our Junior School. 

The program has also provided valuable opportunities for all students to learn about different cultures, perspectives and experiences, helping to broaden their understanding of the world around them. 

We look forward to celebrating our visiting students and recognising the success of the program at assembly this week before they return home. We thank our staff and students for their support in making this such a memorable and enriching experience for everyone involved.

MMG Education Survey - Have your say!

I encourage all Junior School families to share your feedback through the MMG Survey. If you have not yet completed the survey, you will receive a reminder invitation via email. I encourage you to take a few minutes to participate and have your say.

Your feedback provides valuable insights that will help inform future planning and support our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement across the College. We greatly appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts.

Care@Clayfield Parent Event 

Thursday 13 August

Grandparents’ Day

We are excited to welcome grandparents and special friends to Clayfield College for our much-loved Grandparents' Day on Friday 21 August 2026.

This special Junior School celebration is a wonderful opportunity for students to share their learning, showcase their classrooms and enjoy quality time with the grandparents and special friends who play such an important role in their lives. 

Registrations are filling quickly. To assist with event planning, we encourage families to register their grandparents or special guests by Friday 14 August using the link below.

Register now to secure your guests' attendance.

Please refer to the flyer below for event details and registration information.

Circular Drive Reminder

The safety of our students, staff and families remains our highest priority during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up. 

We ask all families using Circular Drive to: 

• Always follow the directions of staff. 
• Drive forward to the furthest available bay before stopping. 
• Remain in your vehicle while in the pick-up queue. 
• Ensure students can independently exit and enter vehicles promptly and safely. 
• Observe the signed left turn only when exiting onto Gregory Street. 

• Drive slowly and remain alert to students, staff and other vehicles. 

   

As we move into the second half of the term, there are many exciting opportunities for students and families to connect, celebrate and learn together. Thank you for your ongoing partnership and support of our Junior School community. 

Crazy Hair and Sock Day Youngman House Fundraiser

Friday 9 October 2026

ICAS Testing

On Monday, students enrolled in ICAS testing completed the Digital Technologies assessment. The remaining ICAS tests will be conducted over the coming weeks on the following dates: 

Please make a note of the times and tests you have requested in your student diary.  Unfortunately, we will not be able to make up missed assessments.  

QDU Primary Debating

Round 1 of the QDU Primary debating competition is approaching fast on Thursday 20 August. Students involved are eagerly digging into their first topic. More information will be coming shortly to debating families.  

Junior School Book Week Parade

Friday 28 August - Clayfield College PE Centre 

Families are warmly invited to join us for our annual Junior School Book Week Character Parade, commencing at 9:00am in the PE Centre. 

Students from Pre-Prep to Year 6 are invited to dress as their favourite book character. Closed-in footwear suitable for playground activities must be worn. Students who have HPE on the day should also bring appropriate clothing to change into if their costume is not practical for physical activity. 

The 2026 Children's Book Week theme is "Symphony of Stories", celebrating the power of books to inspire imagination, creativity and wonder. We look forward to seeing the creativity and enthusiasm of our students on display as we celebrate reading together. 

Families can learn more about this year's theme by viewing the illustrator's presentation via the video below.

We look forward to sharing these special events with our Junior School community over the coming weeks.

A Day on the Farm

Imagine being a guinea pig named Diva, Marbles, S'More or Princess... and then being on the receiving end of care, attention and cuddles from our lovely Pre-Prep children! This week, our youngest students enjoyed a wonderful excursion to Trevena Glen Farm, where they were immersed in a range of hands-on animal experiences. The children fed and petted goats, sheep, donkeys and alpacas, searched for eggs laid by the chickens and spent time grooming the ponies, discovering just how soft their coats could be with a good brush. Many memorable moments were created as the children enthusiastically embraced every opportunity to learn about and interact with the animals. After such a busy day of adventure, it was no surprise that there were plenty of sleepy children on the bus ride back to school! 

Please refer to the Photo Gallery for highlights.

Pre-Prep and Prep Parent Information Support Session

Illuminate Maths Extension in Years 3 and 4

The Illuminate Maths Extension program provides selected Year 3 and 4 students with the opportunity to enrich their classroom learning by applying their mathematical knowledge and problem-solving skills to unfamiliar and increasingly complex situations. During these lessons with Mrs Penelope Patterson, students are encouraged to think critically and deeply, justify and defend their mathematical reasoning, reframe their thinking when presented with new information and communicate their ideas using mathematical language. Through rich tasks and challenging investigations, students are exposed to higher-order thinking and develop resilience, confidence and independence as mathematicians. 

The connections made between concepts, together with the mathematical conversations that take place, create valuable learning experiences that support students in becoming thoughtful and capable problem solvers. 

Please refer to the Photo Gallery for highlights.

Academic Captains' Book Week Short Story Competition

All students are reminded of the Book Week Short Story Competition for students in Years 3 to 12.

This year's theme ‘A Light in the Dark’, offers students the opportunity to explore ideas of hope, resilience, discovery and transformation through creative writing. Students may choose to interpret the theme literally or metaphorically, and all genres are welcome.

Entries are due this week on Friday 7 August, Term 3 Week 4. 

Students may submit one story, and previously written pieces may be entered provided they connect clearly to the theme.

Word limits:

• Years 3 and 4: 500 words maximum
• Years 5 and 6: 500 words maximum
• Years 7 and 8: 700 words maximum
• Years 9 and 10: 800 words maximum

• Years 11 and 12: 1000 words maximum

   

Academic Captains, Megan Groundwater and Ema Costello look forward to celebrating the creativity, imagination and talent of our student writers, with winners and runners-up announced at Assembly and recognised in The Collective later in the term.