Primary News

Finding Balance

One of the hardest things about parenting today is finding the right balance between technology use and other pursuits. As our children get older, they increasingly connect with their friends socially, and with fewer in-person play dates and social occasions resulting from a continuing pandemic, finding the right balance can feel like a constant battle. 

The UK Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health produced a paper titled ‘Evidence-based guidelines: an example of good practice from the United Kingdom' (Viner, Davie, Firth 2019). In it, they suggest posing four questions for families to self-assess their use of screens at home:

1. Is screen time in your household controlled?
2. Does screen use interfere with what your family wants to do?
3. Does screen use interfere with sleep?
4. Are you able to control snacking during screen time?

These questions highlight some of the main concerns that we may have – that screen time impacts sleep, healthy eating habits and fitness levels. It is also interesting to note that the questions address everyone in the household – children learn good (and bad) screen behaviour habits from watching their parents. This can be problematic as adults increasingly work from home, and the work/life boundaries are blurred. Young children, in particular, cannot tell the difference between screen time that is work-related or relaxation, and even older children do not always make the distinction.  In a nutshell, children need us to limit their screen time whilst planning for and modelling a balanced lifestyle.

Academic Analytics

Student comparative analytics of Semester 1 academic results are now available in Parent Lounge and Student Café. Comparative analytics can be viewed in Student Details: Academic Analytics. 

ICAS Testing

Years 3 to 12

Clayfield College will be participating in the ICAS Assessments this year. Students in Years 3 to 12 will have the opportunity to test their higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science and Digital Technologies. For more information, click on the below button. Registration is due Sunday 31 July 2022.

Jeans for Genes Day 

Friday 5 August (Pre-Prep to Year 12 - Co-educational)

As we know, the Campbell Cowgirls/Cowboys love their blue, and love their blue jeans! Campbell House is proudly supporting our College Fundraiser for Jeans for Genes day next Friday 5 August. For a gold coin donation, all primary and secondary students can come to school dressed in appropriate denim attire! Every dollar we donate goes directly to the Children’s Medical Research Institute and helps them find treatments and cures for children’s genetic diseases. 

Did you know that…

1 in 20 kids face a birth defect or genetic disease

Kids just want to be kids, but instead of playing sports with their friends or catching butterflies on a sunny day, kids with genetic diseases are getting liver transplants, taking dozens of medications, or getting their next dose of chemotherapy. It shouldn’t be this way. By donating through Jeans for Genes, you can help the scientists at Children’s Medical research Institute find cures, so these kids can go back to being kids. No child's life should be cut short. We will do all within our power to change "incurable" to "curable".

Faith Week

We have been celebrating Faith Week around the College over the last few days.  The theme of ‘Big Ideas – Hope’ has been the focus.  

Activities during the week have included making “Hope” flags in the form of bunting to brighten the Chapel Courtyard, a Faith Week banner, chalk drawing in the Amphitheatre and a trivia quiz at lunchtime. Faith Week will finish tomorrow with a Dance Party on the Oval and some delicious cake.

Postponed - Grandparents Day

On Friday 12 August 2022, Clayfield College had planned to celebrate Grandparents Day.

Unfortunately, due to the current public health situation, we have decided to postpone this event. We believe this is the most appropriate response to support the health and safety of our staff, students and community members.

We understand there will be inevitable disappointment; however, trust that you will understand our reasons for taking this course of action, especially given the interactive nature of this event.

We look forward to welcoming our grandparents and friends on another occasion soon. 

Book Parade 

Tuesday 23 August

We are very much looking forward to our annual Book Parade on Tuesday 23 August at 9:00 am. Students are welcome to attend school in their costumes and stay in this for the day. If students have HPE on this day, please bring PE clothes and runners to change into.

Andrews Cup Swimming Training 

For those students who are swimming training as part of Andrews Cup on a Friday afternoon, please find the following rules that will be closely monitored by the staff of the College.

• A staff member from Clayfield Swimming will collect the students from Circular Drive
• Students will place their school bags in the pool gym for safekeeping as soon as they enter the facility
• No devices are to be taken out of school bags
• Students may have their snacks on the grass area before changing for training at 3:30 pm start

Please note, no devices are to be used at any other before or after school Andrews Cup or Britton Shield Training.

Primary What’s Happening Calendar Snapshot

Term 3: Week 4 (Monday 01 August 2022 – Friday 5 August 2022)

Timetable: Week A

Please refer to the online calendar, via the Clayfield College app or your Parent Lounge, for a live daily/weekly schedule of events.