Junior School Bulletin

It has been a very busy and rewarding week across the Junior School, with Foundation Day celebrations, the Junior School Swimming Carnival at the Valley Pool, and the Foundation VIP and P&F Welcome Evening all taking place. While each event was quite different in nature, together they contributed powerfully to the life of the College and to the overall student experience.

The Swimming Carnival provided students with valuable opportunities to challenge themselves, demonstrate resilience and strive for their personal best. Foundation Day offered a meaningful opportunity to honour and celebrate the rich history of the College, reinforcing the values and traditions that continue to shape our community today. The Welcome Evening was a wonderful opportunity to strengthen school–home partnerships, and it was a pleasure to connect with so many Junior School families in such a warm and welcoming setting.

I would like to sincerely thank all staff who contributed to the planning and delivery of these events. Each required significant organisation, teamwork and commitment, and they simply do not happen without the dedication of many. Collectively, these experiences play an important role in building community, celebrating who we are as a College, and enriching the educational journey of our students.

Being part of my first Foundation Day celebrations was a particular highlight. It reinforced just how deeply our history is valued and how thoughtfully we honour the past while continuing to look confidently towards the future.

Pal’entine’s Day

Henderson Fundraiser

On Friday 13 February, Henderson House will be hosting Pal’entine’s Day, providing students with an opportunity to show their support for MS Australia. On the day, students are invited to wear red accessories as a sign of solidarity. A bake sale will be held at morning tea and lunch in the Middle Years Courtyard to raise funds.

MS Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that supports research into treating, preventing, and ultimately curing multiple sclerosis (MS), while also providing support to individuals and families affected by the disease. MS is a chronic neurological condition that currently affects more than 25,000 Australians. Through our collective support, we can help make a positive difference.

Uniform Requirements – Pal’entine’s Day

• To and from school: Full formal school uniform (no accessories)

• At school: Red accessories may be worn (including a red wig)

   

All students are encouraged to participate by wearing a red accessory.

Please note that no gold coin donation is required on the day. Families wishing to donate, may do so online. A link will be shared over the coming weeks for these purposes. 

NAPLAN Preparation 

Parents of students in Years 3 and 5 should have received communication from Mrs Jenns, on behalf of Mrs Lakshmi Mohan, Deputy Principal, regarding this year’s National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). If you did not receive this correspondence, which contains important additional information, please contact Mrs Coote at lcoote@clayfield.qld.edu.au.

Next week, students will be supported to download the NAPLAN Lockdown Browser onto their devices. If your child is in Year 5 and has previously participated in NAPLAN, please ensure that the old NAPLAN Lockdown Browser is uninstalled, as the new application will need to be installed.

If your child’s device requires a permission code to download apps, please ensure that Mrs Coote is provided with this code prior to 19 February.

Please also ensure that your child’s device is fully charged each day next week and that they bring their wired headphones to school. Once the application has been successfully installed on all devices, students will participate in an online practice test to familiarise both staff and students with the platform and testing requirements.

We encourage parents and caregivers to support their child by keeping discussions about NAPLAN calm and positive. Students are well prepared for these assessments through their regular classroom learning, and there is no expectation for additional study at home. Reassuring your child, maintaining normal routines, and encouraging them to simply try their best will help to reduce anxiety and ensure they approach the assessments with confidence. NAPLAN is just one snapshot of learning and is used to support teaching and learning across the school.

'Excellent Start' Parent Workshop

Pre-Prep to Year 2 – Tuesday 3 March

In Week 6, on Tuesday 3 March at 8:45am in the Lower LRC, Pre-Prep to Year 2 parents are invited to come and learn about our Excellent Start in the early years at Clayfield College. At this workshop you will learn how to support our programs in Reading, Writing, Spelling and Numeracy, by assisting in the classroom and at home. You will find out how to ask comprehension questions following reading, what are reading strategies, ways to practise spelling words, developing ideas in writing, any why number sense is important.

Please register your attendance via juniorschool@clayfield.qld.edu.au and include the event name in the subject line and please mention your child’s name and class in the email.

Clayfield College – A Special Place

In honour of Foundation Day celebrations of the College’s birthday, our Year 2 students wrote reflections on what they love about Clayfield and what makes it a special place to each of them:

Year 5 and 6 Canberra Parent Information Morning

We are pleased to invite families of Year 5 and 6 students to a Canberra Information Session for our upcoming tour, which will run from 14 to 17 September. This experience is a valuable extension of our Humanities and Social Sciences units across both year levels, providing students with opportunities to explore our national capital, deepen their understanding of Australia’s democratic processes, develop independence, and share a memorable experience with their peers. To support families with further information, an information session will be held in the Chapel on Monday 2 March from 8:40am to 9:30am (Week 6). During the session, we will outline key details about the trip, provide an overview of the itinerary, and explain the next steps in the process.

Reminders

 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 pa7A-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.