Junior School Bulletin

It has been wonderful to welcome students back for the start of Term 3. The term is already off to a fantastic start, with students quickly settling back into routines and engaging enthusiastically in learning and the many opportunities on offer across the Junior School. 

Short Stay Program

Next week, we look forward to welcoming a group of international short-stay students to the Junior School. These students will spend four weeks learning alongside our students and experiencing life at Clayfield College. 

We know our students will make them feel welcome and help them quickly feel connected to our community. The program provides a valuable opportunity for cultural exchange and global learning, and we thank our students, families and staff in advance for helping make this a memorable experience for our visitors. 

Parent-Teacher Conferences 

Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held during Week 6 and provide an important opportunity for parents, students and teachers to come together to celebrate progress, discuss areas for growth, and establish goals for the remainder of the year. 

Conference schedules and booking information will be shared by classroom teachers with families tomorrow. We encourage all families to take advantage of this valuable opportunity to strengthen the partnership between home and school and support their child's ongoing growth and development. 

Year 4 and 5 Outdoor Education Camp

Next week, our Year 4 and 5 students will head to QCCC Mapleton for their Outdoor Education Camp. Camps are an important part of a Clayfield College education and a key component of our Outdoor Education Program, providing students with opportunities to build independence, develop resilience, strengthen friendships and challenge themselves through new experiences. 

For many of our Year 4 students, this will be their first camp experience away from home. While this often brings a mix of excitement and nervousness, it is a significant milestone and one that contributes greatly to students' confidence and personal growth. 

These shared experiences create memories that often last a lifetime. I am very much looking forward to attending camp alongside our students and staff and sharing in what promises to be a wonderful few days of adventure, challenge, learning and fun. We wish all students a fantastic camp experience and look forward to hearing the many stories they bring back with them. 

Medication Storage for School Trips, Tours and Camps

To support the safe management of student medication on school trips, tours and camps, all required medications must be provided in pharmacy-prepared blister packs. 

Blister packs should separate medication by day and dose, with each compartment clearly labelled with the student's name, medication name, dosage and administration time. Any specialist instructions, including requirements relating to meals or storage, should also be provided. 

This approach helps ensure medications can be administered safely, accurately and consistently, particularly during overnight excursions and off-site activities. 

Parents and caregivers are asked to organise blister packs through their local pharmacy well in advance of departure and ensure all required medical forms and supporting documentation are submitted to the College prior to the excursion. Information regarding medication submission dates and processes will be communicated before each trip, tour or camp. 

By implementing this process, we can help maintain continuity of care for students while allowing staff to focus on supervision, wellbeing and supporting students throughout their experience. Thank you for your support in helping us provide a safe and positive experience for all students. 

Should you have any questions, please contact the Health Centre at healthcentre@clayfield.qld.edu.au. 

Grandparents' Day

We look forward to welcoming grandparents and special friends to our annual Grandparents' Day on Friday 21 August. 

This special event provides an opportunity for students to celebrate the important people in their lives by sharing their learning, spending time together in the Junior School and creating special memories with family and friends. 

To assist with planning, we ask that all grandparents and special friends intending to attend complete the RSVP form below by Friday 14 August. 

We look forward to welcoming our special visitors to Clayfield College for what is always one of the most cherished events on the Junior School calendar. 

Ashburn House Pyjama Day Fundraiser

Friday 24 July 2026

One of our favourite fundraising events is fast approaching. On Friday 24 July, students are invited to wear their pyjamas to school in support of children in foster care. 

Students should wear appropriate closed-in footwear and are reminded to bring their sports uniform if they have HPE lessons or sporting commitments on the day. 

Academic Awards

Congratulations to the Semester 1 Academic Award recipients, who received their certificates in assembly this week, please refer to the Photo Gallery for full suite of images. In Years 3 to 6, Academic Merit Awards are presented to those students who achieved an A grade in at least five of the eight key learning areas. 

Academic Merit Awards were presented to: 

• Luca Calder-Potts 
• Yugo Hosoi 
• Imogen O’Connor 
• Daniel Harmse 
• Tahli Lawson 
• Harper Glasson 

Academic Excellence awards are presented to those students in Years 3 to 6, who achieved an A grade in at least six of the eight key learning areas.   

Academic Excellence Awards were presented to:

• Beatrix Freke
• Rena Sugita 
• Tora Anderson 
• Isabelle Cominos 
• Franklin Esmonde 
• Matilda Essig 
• Remi Heinemann 
• Bean Le 
• Mabel Morgan 
• Eva Hancock 
• Lincoln Retief 
• Isla Vilis 
• Henter Yu 
• Frankie Ash 
• Isla Calder-Potts 
• Olivia Chung 
• Xavier Gunn 
• Joshua Hall 
• Haiden Kim 
• Anna Liu 
• Pareeanna Neupane 
• Willow Reid 

Our next assembly will be in Week 3, Tuesday 28 July at 2:20pm. Year 5 are presenting and we will award the new class leaders and SRC reps with their badges and certificates.  

Term 3 and 4 Debating 

Year 5 and 6 QDU Debating 

Students in Years 5 and 6 are invited to participate in Debating this Semester. This exciting opportunity to develop confidence, critical thinking and public speaking skills is being offered by Mrs San Miguel and Mrs Patterson this year. Training sessions will be held every Wednesday from 3:15pm to 4:15pm in Room 61 (5S). 

During these sessions, students will work together to research topics, construct persuasive arguments and practise debating techniques. Teams will find that they are required to commit additional time after hours to complete their debates. 

The competition is organised by Queensland Debating Union (QDU) between local primary schools and consists of four evening debates, commencing at 6:00pm, and will be hosted by Eagle Junction State School on the following dates: 

• Round 1: Thursday 20 August 
• Round 2: Thursday 10 September 
• Round 3: Thursday 15 October 

• Round 4: Thursday 5 November 

   

For each debate there will be a different topic area, prescribed by QDU, and the allocation of the ‘affirmative’ or ‘negative’ team is randomly organised. Closer to each debate, students will find out which school they are up against. 

Debating is a fantastic way for students to strengthen their communication, teamwork and leadership skills while engaging with current issues and learning to present their ideas with confidence and respect. We look forward to another rewarding and successful season of debating. Please email esanmiguel@clayfield.qld.edu.au for further details. 

Year 6 Canberra Tour 

Parliament and Civics Education Rebate (PACER) 

In Week 10 of this term, our Year 5 and 6 Students will undertake an educational tour of the national capital.  Students will be given the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational programs with a focus on Australia’s history, culture, heritage and democracy. The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government is contributing funding to our school in the amount of $90.00 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program. The rebate is paid directly to the school upon completion of the excursion. 

Upon receipt of this rebate, a credit will be applied to your parent account by the Accounts department. 

Pre-Prep Refresh 

Over the holidays, our Pre-Prep entrance and outdoor learning areas received some wonderful enhancements. Families will notice a beautiful new mural at the entrance, featuring artwork by the late Leah Cummins. Many members of our community will recognise this artwork from around the school. It beautifully reflects our four school values of Care, Integrity, Resilience and Respect, creating a warm and welcoming space for children and families alike. 

Our nature play area has also been refreshed with the installation of a filtered drainage system, ensuring safe and consistent water flow for children as they explore the water pump and riverbed. Adding to the excitement, a custom-built mud kitchen is now ready for creative play and discovery, and has been eagerly embraced by the children on their return to school. 

A heartfelt thank you to our Operations Manager, Mrs Woodhead, for her dedication and support throughout this project, and to our Maintenance team for their tireless efforts and exceptional craftsmanship in bringing this vision to life. These improvements provide even more opportunities for imaginative play, exploration and learning in our Pre-Prep environment. 

NAIDOC Week Activities 

Our Pre-Prep to Year 2 students were delighted to be involved in a range of meaningful NAIDOC Week activities, celebrating and learning about the rich histories, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Highlights included face painting and Indigenous story readings.

Please visit the photo gallery to view the full suite of NAIDOC images from the week.

Volunteer Callout 

We are excited to share that the Learning Resource Centre (LRC) has recently received many wonderful new book titles. We are seeking parent volunteers to help cover and prepare these books so they can be made available to students as quickly as possible. If you have some spare time and would like to assist, we would love to hear from you.

Please contact Avalon Banfield at abanfield@clayfield.qld.edu.au to learn more and arrange a suitable time. Thank you for your support.