Junior School Bulletin

As we come to the end of Semester 1, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support and partnership throughout what has been a busy and rewarding period in the Junior School. 

A reminder that Friday 19 June is a Student Free Day, so the final day of Term 2 for students is Thursday 18 June. 

Semester 1 Gallery Walks

Thank you to all parents and caregivers who were able to attend our Junior School Gallery Walks over the past few weeks. These provided a wonderful opportunity for students to share their learning with their families, reflect on their progress and celebrate their growth. They also reinforce the strong culture of partnership we value, allowing families to actively engage in and support their child’s learning journey. It was fantastic to see the pride students took in showcasing their work and engaging in meaningful conversations about their learning. 

Thank you also to our incredible students for the effort and care they put into preparing for these experiences, and to our committed teachers for the time and thought invested in creating such engaging and purposeful learning opportunities. 

Staff Update

Mrs Peta Richardson, Junior School HPE Teacher, will be on Long Service Leave for Term 3, and we look forward to welcoming her back in Term 4. During her absence, Mrs Ebonney Woolnough will step into the role, bringing valuable experience and insight.

Happy Holidays

Our Junior School has had so many exciting activities and events this Semester and we would like to thank our whole community for your support. Wishing all our students a wonderful holiday and we look forward to welcoming you back to school in Term 3. For those of you taking advantage of this longer break and going abroad, we wish you safe travels and happy times. 

Semester 1 Reports

In the first week of the holidays, you will receive your child’s Semester 1 Report. The report is one of the ways the College communicates each student’s academic and social progress. It is designed to provide both students and caregivers with clear information to support learning, highlight progress and guide future goal setting. 

When reviewing the report, we encourage you to refer to the key at the front, which outlines the categories for Approach to Learning, Achievement Level and Skills/Concepts. Taking time to read the report together allows you to celebrate areas of strength and growth, while also identifying goals for Semester 2. A shared, positive conversation about progress and next steps is important in supporting each child’s continued development. 

We would particularly like to draw your attention to the Approach to Learning criteria. This reflects your child’s attitude, behaviour and effort in the classroom. There are three levels of attainment – Above Expectation, Meets Expectation and Below Expectation. As a staff, we have developed a shared understanding of what meeting expectations looks like at each year level, as well as what it means for students who consistently go above and beyond. 

We anticipate that most students will meet expectations across their learning. For families in the Upper Junior years, you may notice that ‘Above Expectation’ is used more selectively. We encourage you to acknowledge and affirm your child’s efforts in meeting expectations, as our standards for attitude, behaviour and engagement are intentionally high. Where there are areas identified as below expectation, we encourage open communication with your child’s teacher. Equally, areas of strength and excellence should be celebrated. 

Semester 1 Academic Assembly

Tuesday 14 July 2026 (Week 1, Term 3)

On the first Tuesday back after the break (14 July), we will celebrate students who have achieved Academic Merit and Academic Excellence in their Semester 1 studies. Families of students receiving awards will be notified prior to the assembly. We look forward to recognising and celebrating the achievements of these students together. 

Semester 2 / Term 3 - Student Conferences

17 to 21 August 2026

Further information regarding Pre-Prep Parent Interviews and Prep to Year 6 Student/Teacher/Parent Conferences will be shared at the end of Week 1, Term 3. This will include individual teacher schedules, as well as the opening and closing dates for bookings. These conferences will take place in Week 6 (17 to 21 August). 

These meetings provide an important opportunity to engage in meaningful discussion about your child’s learning. They offer time to reflect on achievements and effort across Semester 1, while also considering progress early in Semester 2 and identifying key goals and focus areas for the remainder of the year. 

If you have any questions regarding your child’s Semester 1 report, we encourage you to contact your child’s teacher at the start of Term 3. Teachers will be available to provide clarification and support as needed in the lead-up to these conferences. 

End of Semester Reflection

I would also like to sincerely thank our students for their effort, commitment and positivity throughout the semester. They have embraced a wide range of opportunities, both in and beyond the classroom, and it has been wonderful to see their continued growth. 

Thank you again to our parent community for your ongoing support and partnership - it plays a significant role in the success and wellbeing of our students. 

We wish all families a restful and enjoyable break and look forward to welcoming everyone back for Term 3 on Tuesday 14 July. 

Term 3 Save the Dates

Term 3 starts on a B Week

Just a reminder to parents that Term 3 starts on Week B. This has implications for your child’s uniform requirements, and also fortnightly events such as assembly.  

Cross Country Fun on the Oval 

Enthusiasm abounded as our Pre-Prep to Year 1 students took to the oval for this year’s Cross Country event. Depending on their year level, students confidently completed one, two or three laps of the course. 

After many hours of preparation and skill-building, Mrs Richardson was delighted to see every student cross the finish line - no matter how challenging they found the experience. Their determination and commitment were truly wonderful to witness. 

A heartfelt thank you to Ms Lewin, Mrs Richardson and Mrs O’Rourke for their organisation of this special event, and to our wonderfully supportive families who came along to cheer on our youngest runners. 

See the Week 9 Photo Gallery for more photos.

Welcoming Families into Our Classrooms 

It was a joy to welcome our Prep to Year 1 families into classrooms this week for our Gallery Walks, along with our Pre-Prep families for a special Stay and Play morning. The feedback from parents and carers has been overwhelmingly positive, with many enjoying the opportunity to see learning in action and share in their child’s school experience. 

Families particularly loved: 

• Seeing the work students have been completing and learning about their classroom experiences 
• Enjoying song performances and exploring the rich print environment in Prep, filled with letters, numbers and student work 
• Snuggling time in the Pre-Prep cosy cubby and engaging with favourite toys, making imaginative cupcakes, complete with foam and sprinkles 
• Coding challenges with Scratch and joining in interactive games and activities such as “Animal Who Am I?” in Year 1 
• Sharing information reports, learning goals and reflections, and number turn-around skills in Year 2 

These special moments provide a wonderful connection between home and school, and it was lovely to see our classrooms filled with curiosity, pride and shared learning. 

Readers Cup Competition

On Wednesday last week, five Year 6 students represented the College at the Brisbane Central Readers Cup, hosted by Somerville House. The students were challenged to read five newly released novels over the course of the term. The event consisted of five rounds, each featuring ten comprehension questions. Working collaboratively, the students demonstrated thoughtful discussion, strong recall and excellent teamwork, ultimately placing competitively among 30 participating schools.  

Congratulations to Haiden Kim, Frankie Ash, Isla Pearson, Paree Neupane and Daniel Harmse for your excellent teamwork throughout the day. It is wonderful to see that the love of reading is well and truly alive at Clayfield College. 

Winter Holiday Programs

Explore the Winter Holiday Programs section of this newsletter to discover and register for a range of activities designed to keep students engaged, active and having fun over the holiday break.