Junior School Bulletin

It has been a lovely week across the College, with a strong sense of connection and community evident in many aspects of school life. A particular highlight was Tuesday evening’s Care@Clayfield parent session, where Dr Justin Coulson spoke about the importance of connection between parents and children. It was a wonderful opportunity for families to come together, reflect and engage in a meaningful conversation about supporting young people through strong, positive relationships. 

The evening reinforced the importance of the partnership between home and school, and the role this plays in supporting each child to thrive. Events such as this, along with community gatherings like the upcoming P&F Junior Disco on Friday evening, are important opportunities to strengthen connections across our College and build a strong sense of belonging for our students and families. We look forward to what will be another wonderful community event. 

Strengthening Our Home School Partnership

At Clayfield College, we know that strong and trusting home-school relationships play a vital role in each child’s learning and wellbeing. When students see a consistent and respectful partnership between school and home, they feel secure, supported and better able to thrive. This is made possible through the commitment of our teachers, who work closely with each child and family to build and maintain these relationships with care, professionalism and a genuine focus on student wellbeing. 

At the centre of this partnership is always the child. Our shared focus is on supporting each student’s growth, academically, socially and personally, through open communication, mutual respect and a genuine commitment to working together. When families and teachers collaborate as a team around the child, the impact is both immediate and long lasting. 

As a College, we continue to value opportunities to strengthen parent engagement, not only in the life of the school, but increasingly in the learning itself. This may take many forms including conversations about progress, partnership in supporting learning at home, or engagement in the experiences that shape each student’s development. 

At the heart of this partnership is a shared understanding that the most productive outcomes come when concerns are raised respectfully, directly and with a focus on solutions. By keeping conversations centred on individual children and working closely together, we can ensure the best possible outcomes for all students. 

Thank you for the strong relationships that already exist across our College community. We look forward to continuing to build on these as we move forward together. 

Year 5 and 6 Da Vinci Decathlon

Tuesday 19 May 

On Tuesday, a group of our Year 5 and 6 students proudly represented Clayfield College at the Queensland da Vinci Decathlon, held at Brisbane Boys’ College. This academically focused event challenged students to work collaboratively across a range of disciplines, all centred around this year’s theme, Machines and Mechanics. 

Throughout the day, students demonstrated curiosity, problem-solving and teamwork as they worked through a series of timed challenges. It was wonderful to see their enthusiasm and commitment, as well as the way they supported one another in a true team context. 

There were 70 teams across Year 5 and Year 6 in the competition. The Year 5 students did exceptionally well, placing 3rd in Science and Cartography and 1st in Ideation. 

Congratulations to all students involved: 

• From Year 5: Olivia Borsch, Harriet Dash, Tom Le, Imogen O’Conner, Alex Packer, Lincoln Retief, Isla Villas, Henter Yu. 
• From Year 6: Olivia Chung, Anna Liu, Frankie Ash, Haiden Kim, Josh Hall, Daniel Harmse, Paree Neupane, Willow Reid.

We are very proud of their efforts and the way they represented the College, and thank Mrs McPherson and Ms Walsh for their guidance and support throughout the day. 

P&F Junior School Disco

We look forward to seeing many of our students at the P&F Disco this Friday evening, a wonderful way to finish what has been a busy and productive week. We hope it is an enjoyable time for all as students come together to celebrate and connect with one another. 

We welcome all parents and caregivers to stay and enjoy the evening with a P&F Bar open for drink sales plus access to the Sausage Sizzle. Please note it is a condition of entry that Pre-Prep and Prep Parents stay for the duration of the event.

Code Camp

Please refer to the attached for further information regarding the upcoming Code Camps at Clayfield College.

Incursions and Excursions

This week has provided some wonderful opportunities for students across the Junior School to engage in rich, hands-on learning experiences beyond the classroom. 

On Wednesday, our Year 3 students visited the Ngutana Lui Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Studies Centre. 

On Thursday, our Pre‑Prep students enjoyed a Mini Medics incursion, bringing learning to life through practical, age-appropriate activities. Year 1 students ventured out to Mt Coot‑tha for their Lessons in the Garden excursion, exploring the natural environment and making real-world connections to their learning. Our Year 4 students also engaged in a Living History incursion, deepening their understanding through immersive and interactive experiences. 

At Clayfield College, we place a strong emphasis on hands-on learning and making real-life connections. Experiences such as these allow students to engage more deeply, apply their understanding in meaningful contexts, and bring their learning to life in ways that extend far beyond the classroom. 

Gallery Walks / Pre-Prep Stay and Play Morning

A reminder that the opportunity for you to visit your child’s classroom and hear from them about their learning is coming up in just a couple of weeks:  

Under Eights Week

The rain held off for us last week as our Pre-Prep to Year 3 students enjoyed a morning of play in celebration of Under Eights Week. In the Prep area, students enjoyed a glow-in-the-dark dance party, made pasta necklaces and explored building 3D constructions with spaghetti. Sandpit play and an adventurous obstacle course kept many friends busy in the Pre-Prep area, while others created collaborative art works, played with construction toys and engaged in imaginative play in the home corner. The playground areas were alive with skipping, quoits, skittles, hoops, ball games and active play on the equipment. Those seeking a little quiet had their faces painted, played board games and engaged in craft activities like crayon rubbing, playdough, mindful colouring and making paper pinwheels. What a special morning it was! The children are commended for the lovely way in which they included others in their play and pulled together as a team to tidy up afterwards. We can’t wait to celebrate again next year!

Trading cards to be kept at home

Over recent weeks, we have seen a growing number of students bringing Pokémon cards to school. While these can be a positive way for students to connect and share interests, we have also noticed some concerns. There have been reports of cards being lost, damaged or taken, as well as unfair or pressured trades between students. These situations can be difficult to manage in a busy playground and can impact student wellbeing. 

After careful consideration, we ask that Pokémon cards and similar trading items remain at home. Trading often requires adult supervision to ensure fairness, especially for younger students, and this is not always possible during the school day. We appreciate your support in helping us maintain a safe and positive environment for all students. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to get in contact