Junior School Bulletin

As we continue to settle into the rhythm of the term, I would like to thank our Junior School families for your ongoing support and partnership. Whether it is assisting with smooth daily routines, supporting our students at co‑curricular events, or responding promptly to school communications, your cooperation plays an important role in ensuring the wellbeing and success of our students. 

The updates below include an important reminder regarding Circular Drive procedures, a celebration of recent sporting success, and a brief note about student absence notifications. 

Circular Drive Pick‑Up and Drop‑Off

Our Circular Drive pick‑up and drop‑off system is designed to be safe, smooth and efficient for all families, particularly during peak times. For it to work as intended, it relies on everyone following the same shared expectations. 

To support safety and traffic flow, we ask families to please note the following: 

• Circular Drive is for drop‑off and pick‑up only. Parking or waiting in the drive is not permitted. 
• Students using Circular Drive must be able to enter and exit the car independently. Parents should remain in their vehicle and not exit the car. This allows traffic to keep moving and helps the process remain quick and safe for everyone. 
• If your child still requires assistance at pick‑up or drop‑off, please park in the surrounding streets and walk in to collect or drop them off. 

• If your child is not ready when you arrive, please continue around the block and re‑enter the drive (turning left when exiting). Stopping and waiting in Circular Drive blocks access for others and quickly causes congestion. 

   

For safety reasons, we also ask families to be mindful of traffic flow on Gregory Street and surrounding roads: 

• Please do not stop or wait on Gregory Street during pick‑up and drop‑off times. The signed No Parking restrictions are in place to keep traffic moving safely. 
• Vehicles stopping in Gregory Street force other cars to drive around them, creating congestion and increasing the risk of unsafe driving situations. 
• Parents and caregivers are strongly encouraged to enter Circular Drive from the Bayview Terrace end, particularly during peak pick‑up and drop‑off times. Turning right into Circular Drive from Gregory Street disrupts traffic flow and has resulted in near‑miss incidents, as traffic behind is blocked and other drivers attempt to overtake. 

• Right‑hand turns are not permitted when exiting Circular Drive. Please follow all posted signage and traffic directions. 

   

The school will continue to review and improve efficiency within the pickup area to maximise the number of vehicles that can move through Circular Drive smoothly and safely. 

Our aim is to work together as a community to ensure the system is as safe as possible for our students and as quick and efficient as possible for our families. Small actions such as being ready, keeping moving and following traffic directions make a significant difference during these busy periods.

Thank you for your continued support. 

Britton Shield Swimming

Last Thursday, boys from Years 2 to 6 competed in the Britton Shield Swimming Competition held at BBC. Facing strong competition from BBC and Ipswich Grammar, our boys competed valiantly, achieving excellent results across the program. 

Our team finished second overall, with our Under 8 boys winning their division.

Congratulations to all the boys on this fantastic achievement, and a sincere thank you to the staff and parents for their support throughout the event. 

We now look forward to our girls competing on Monday in the Andrew’s Cup Swimming Competition. Good luck, girls! 

Student Absence – Text Notifications to Parents

As part of our duty of care, if a student is marked absent without notification, a system‑generated text message from Student Services is sent to parents requesting that they contact the College. 

Recently, we have noticed an increase in unexplained absences, with some parents not responding to these notifications. To ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students, we kindly ask parents to take prompt action when they receive an unexplained absence notification. Thank you for your cooperation and support. 

Harmony Day

Week 9 Tuesday 24 March | 10:30 to12:50pm | PE Centre | Prep to 12 

Clayfield College will celebrate Harmony Day, recognising Australian identity and the many cultures that make up our College community. The day is an opportunity to reflect on inclusivity, respect and belonging, and to celebrate the diversity that enriches our school. Students who are interested in processing under their nation/region please submit relevant information via the link below.

Student/Parent/Teacher Conferences

Last week families received detailed information about our upcoming Pre-Prep to Year 6 Student/Parent/Teacher Conferences, which will be held from Tuesday 17 March to Thursday 19 March. I would like to strongly encourage all families to please ensure you book a time to meet with your child’s classroom teacher. 

These regular conversations between home and school are a crucial part of supporting student growth. They provide a valuable opportunity to reflect on your child’s progress, celebrate strengths, and set clear goals together for the year ahead. We strongly encourage students to attend alongside their parents or caregivers, as this shared reflection helps build ownership, confidence and clarity around learning. 

Bookings are made through Parent Lounge and are allocated on a first‑come, first‑served basis. If you have not yet done so, please take the time to sign up once bookings open, and do not hesitate to contact the Junior School email address (juniorschool@clayfield.qld.edu.au) if you require any assistance.  

We look forward to these important and meaningful conversations with you. 

Clean up Australia Day

We are most grateful to our Green Team and Pre-Prep students who worked so hard to pick up litter and clean up our school on Monday. 

What can you do to keep our school tidy next week? 

Gymnastics

Every Friday, our Prep and Pre‑Prep children enjoy the novelty of a walk through the tunnel beneath Sandgate Road as they make their way to Delta Gymnastics. Once there, the students rotate through three activity stations, each led by experienced coaches. 

These sessions focus on building gross motor skills, coordination, core strength, flexibility and balance. Just as importantly, the children practise valuable social skills such as listening, following instructions, working cooperatively and waiting patiently for their turn. It’s always a highlight of the week and a fantastic opportunity for our youngest learners to grow in confidence and capability. 

NAPLAN Preparation and Testing

The readiness test completed last Wednesday and Friday went well for our students in Years 3 and 5, as they familiarised themselves with the testing platform. Please talk to your child about their experience of the tests and let their form teacher know if you are concerned.  

Testing will occur on Wednesday 11, Thursday 12, Friday 13 and Monday 16 March during Lessons 1 and 2 and/or 3 and 4. Please make sure that your child has working WIRED HEADPHONES and a fully charged device for each of these days. Please also encourage them to eat a good breakfast, drink plenty of water and have a good night’s sleep beforehand. We advise you not to listen to radio news broadcasts on the morning of testing and to arrive at school in plenty of time.  

Student Representative Council

Our Student Representative Council (SRC) meetings will be held on Friday lunchtimes in Week B, beginning this Friday in the 6B classroom (Room 56). These meetings give our student leaders an opportunity to share ideas, contribute to upcoming events, and workshop school improvements. If your child is a class representative, it is important that they attend the fortnightly meeting and share information with their class afterwards. They will also act as the main point of contact for classmates to pass on suggestions, reflecting our Junior School motto that: many voices lead to better choices. Students should bring their lunch, as the meeting will begin at the eating bell. We look forward to seeing the fresh ideas and positive leadership our SRC will bring to our school community this year.