Primary News

Parking

We have observed increasing instances of illegal and inappropriate parking during the drop-off and pick-up times in the surrounding streets of the College.

Ensuring the safety of our children and the comfort of our neighbours is a priority that requires our collective effort. Unfortunately, improper parking practices are creating hazards for both students and local residents. These issues include obstructing traffic flow, reducing visibility for drivers and pedestrians, and increasing the risk of accidents. Additionally, our neighbours are facing difficulties due to blocked driveways and restricted access, which affects their daily routines and quality of life.

Licence plate numbers are being reported by residents to local Council and Police.

We kindly remind everyone to adhere to the parking regulations and guidelines in place. This includes:

• Avoiding parking in restricted zones (yellow lines) or partially blocking driveways• Utilising designated drop-off and pick-up areas only
• Observing all traffic signs and signals to ensure safe and smooth operations during busy times
• Please find further explanations of Traffic Rules here, from Brisbane City Council.

Your cooperation is essential in maintaining a safe environment for our children and respecting the needs of our local community. We encourage all parents to park in designated areas and if you are walking into the Campus to drop off or collect your child, please do not park in or opposite Circular Drive.

Let us all work together to uphold these standards and demonstrate our commitment to the wellbeing of our school and neighbourhood. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Everyone Belongs

This week, in our Personal Development lessons, we shone a light on kindness, friendship, and positive energy as we thought about Action Against Bullying Day on Friday 16 August. These discussions clarified the distinction between what constitutes bullying and general friendship issues or typical conflicts.  

Bullying is defined as repeated, intentional behaviour where someone with more power engages in hurtful actions or speech towards another person. This behaviour is deliberate and ongoing, with the intent to harm or dominate. In contrast, friendships can have challenges and common conflicts, although very unpleasant, they do not always meet the criteria for bullying. These situations can include disagreements or misunderstandings that are a normal part of social development. 

To assist you in understanding this distinction, we have provided a flow chart below to help differentiate between bullying and other forms of student conflict or anger. This flowchart has also been shared in classes, where students were given the opportunity to share their feelings within the safety of familiar teachers and our Counsellors. 

In our community we uphold values of respect and kindness and adhere to a Christian ethos that rejects unkind language and physical aggression. Such behaviours are inconsistent with our College values and are not acceptable. Conversations also centred around what it means to be a bystander.  

Our core teachers will be working closely with Ms Lahey and Ms Pashen, our College Counsellors, to unpack these terms and provide tangible strategies for students to help when confronted with these behaviours. 

We greatly value your partnership in addressing these issues and encourage you to bring up these important distinctions with your children. We can foster a supportive and respectful environment for all students by working together. Thank you for your cooperation and support in this matter. 

Prep Excursion: Bush School

During Term 3, our Prep classes have been making the fun journey to Downfall Creek and Raven Street Reserve for Bush School. This has been a unique opportunity to provide real-life experiences that align with our curriculum to our students. 

In true Bush School spirit, we braved some cool temperatures and enjoyed the sunshine. Over the weeks, we have been learning about habitats, animals, and plants, observing the features of all these and the five things animals need. 

On our third visit, we learned about rubbish and how it can affect our animals, waterways and environment. We talked about how we only have one rubbish dump in Brisbane, and it might all be full within four years! So, we learned how to deal with our different types of rubbish at school and at home. Who will try to earn some extra pocket money with Containers for Change? 

During our initial visits, we had a fabulously informative visit to the Education Centre about insects and nocturnal creatures. There were so many interesting facts to learn! We look forward to two more visits filled with bushwalks, exploration and fun.

Pre-Prep Excursion: Nudgee Environmental Centre

On Thursday 25 July our Pre-Prep students became nature scientists as they explored, discovered and made connections with an outdoor learning space away from our classroom. 

At Nudgee Beach Environmental Education Centre, the students first explored an artwork by an Indigenous local and noticed the waterways, the animals and the diversity at Nudgee Beach. The students then walked to the beach and learned about how our First Nations People started fires by rubbing sticks together. Everyone all had a try – thankfully, we were not successful. 

The students also made some bush soap with the local leaves to wash our hands and then looked carefully at some animals, like hermit crabs. At the end of the excursion students were very brave as they touched a carpet python and a blue tongue lizard. The day was finished with watching a story from Uncle Joe and which shared why it IS important to respect our environment. 

Upcoming Events

Book Week Character Parade

We look forward to our much-enjoyed Book Week Character Parade for Pre-Prep to Year 6 on Friday 23 August. Students may come dressed as their favourite book character (closed in footwear, appropriate for the playground must be worn). If students have HPE on that day, please bring your PE gear. The Theme for this year's Book Week is Reading is Magic!  

Date: Friday 23 August 

Time: 9:00am – 9:45am

Where: Assembly Hall (all families are welcome)   

Book Week Author Visit 

We are very excited to have award-winning Children’s author Chris Collin visiting our school on Friday 23 August.

Chris’ books include the Funky Chicken series and A Bug Called Doug. His latest environmentally themed book, The Things You Can Do with Blue Whale Poo, reveals the importance of whale poop to the planet! 

All Pre-Prep to Year 6 students will engage in a fun and educational workshop or presentation designed to encourage reading and writing through maximum fun!

If you want to purchase signed copies of his unique musical picture books, simply follow the link below and select Book Now to order your child’s books. There is also a provision in the ordering process to request the books to be signed by Chris, if you would like to order your book with a signature from Chris. All orders will be delivered to the school after Chris’ visit.

Larrikin Books Book Fair

Thank you to all those parents who support our book fairs and book clubs by ordering from the wish lists and magazines which come home. We have been able to order a large number of excellent teaching resources from the Scholastic rewards generated, with something for every classroom.   

Please note Larrikin Books Book Fair has had to reschedule to Week 9, further information regarding ordering and book viewing will be advised shortly. We look forward to seeing you there! 

Festival of Fathers

Father's Day Stall

P&F Friends of Primary are proud to present the Father's Day Stall 2024! You are invited to purchase tokens for all the important Father-figures in your life, whether they are Fathers, Grandfathers, or other special individuals.

We will be operating a cashless stall again this year, and you can purchase tokens for your child to spend at the Father's Day Stall. Gifts will be offered at $5, $10, $15, $20, and $25. You can purchase any amount and combination of tokens for your child to spend at the stall. 

Date: Wednesday 28 August 2024 

Purchase Tokens: Use the link below and please note that token purchases close on 23 August 2024

Catalogue of Gifts: Available at the link below.

Code Camp

The Big Chop

On Friday 4 October, Meghan Guthrie-Quinn and Tia Tyler (Year 11 students) will be running the Clayfield Big Chop! The Kids Cancer Project’s Lose Your Locks Campaign encourages people to sponsor others to cut their hair. By taking part in the Big Chop, or sponsoring others, you will be helping researchers develop kids' cancer treatments, give kids their childhoods back or allow their confidence to be restored with a life changing wig. The minimum donation of hair is 20cm. If your child is interested in having their hair cut by our on-site hairdresser, please fill out the survey form attached.  

If you would rather keep your locks, we would love for you, your family and friends to donate to our Clayfield Big Chop Campaign Page, all of the funds go towards the Kids' Cancer Project. Thank you for your support! 

Student Free Day

A reminder that Friday 30 August is a student-free day.

Upcoming Events