Dear mums, dads, carers and colleagues

The activities at school have been gaining momentum across the past three weeks and I hope that we can sustain this and avoid another coronavirus outbreak.  Given trecent events, we need to remain extremely vigilant.  If your children are sick, you must not allow them to attend school.  This is really important as we look after everyone's health and well-being.  

Report Cards

Semester 1 academic reports were sent out to families this week. And what an incredible semester it was.  Congratulations to all of our young learners on their efforts across the semester and thank you to our families and teachers who supported them.

Assessment this semester has been very difficult.  Our teachers have done a fantastic job to gather evidence to assign a progress level.  These grades will provide an opportunity to reflect on work habits, achievements and challenges across the past semester.  More importantly though, you can use the report to set goals with your child and determine a path for future academic, social and emotional growth.

EFFORT is important!  As parents we want success for our children but it’s important that we don’t just measure this by a progress grade alone.  Please emphasise to your child the importance of their effort grade. This grade shows their work ethic and this can be one of the biggest indicators to future success with their studies.

For the Semester 1 report cards:

• Prep reports will not show academic progress this time.  Teachers will report on effort only.  
• Year 1-6 teachers are evaluating student work based on the standards set out by the Australian Curriculum in English, Maths, Science and HASS.  Other specialist areas will report effort grades only.  Teachers use a 5-point scale to show progress. These scales are different for different year levels so please peruse the front page of the report so that you understand the scale used.  

C is good!  A grade of C means that your child has met the criteria in the Australian curriculum, for a learner at that year level . This means that they are doing everything that is required - their academic development is exactly where it needs to be.  

Will the teacher provide written comments? Comments from teachers will be provided for English, Mathematics, Science and Behaviour sections only. An overall comment will also be provided. Teachers are identifying a highlight or academic strength in each of these areas as well as learning goals for the next period of study. These will provide you with both an understanding of their progress as well as ‘where to next’. 

Parent-teacher interviews

You may wish to request an interview with your child's class teacher to discuss your child's progress.    Please email your teacher and they will arrange a suitable time across the next fortnight with you.  There is no interview day like we would normally do.  Interviews may be face-to-face or via video conferencing, but this will be the teacher's choice.  

Interviews will be 10 minutes in duration so please arrive early and leave on time so the next interview can be started.  The focus will be on English, Maths, behaviour and work ethic but other areas can be included if time permits.

In most circumstances, the interviews will be held in classrooms.  Parents need to:

• Collect an interview gate pass from the office.  No gate pass = no access.  
• Wait outside classrooms until the teacher invites you in  
• Use hand sanitiser as you enter
• Practice social distancing inside the classroom
• Give the teacher the gate access pass  

State Schools are first class

State primary schools across Queensland whose leaders are members of the Queensland Association of State School Principals, are this week displaying on their school noticeboards the message: "State Education – First Class".

State schools reflect communities and they commit to including every child. State schools provide rigorous and relevant learning opportunities for all students. Drawing on evidence-based practices, our skilled and capable workforce positively impact student learning.

Queensland is leading the nation and is one of three jurisdictions in the world showing improvement in student learning outcomes. Research highlights that students who are educated in the diverse environments that state schools offer, achieve higher outcomes academically and socially.

The innovative and differentiated approaches to learning that our state primary schools provide, support the development and creativity of young learners. This work is the foundation of all their future learning and it also positions them to become positive contributors to our society.

Hopefully our school sign this week will cause you to reflect on the first class education that our state primary schools provide across the width and breadth of Queensland!

Congratulations Mrs Morris

Mrs Morris held a gender reveal for her baby this week.  Her class was part of this too and the reveal came in the form of cupcakes - which were blue inside.  

Congratulations Ms Wager

A massive congratulations to Ms Wager this week.  Back in May, we entered her amazing home learning, modelled writing lesson in the Seven Steps Online Members competition. This week, Ms Wager learned that she had been voted the winner!  She won $330 worth of Seven Steps product to use with her class.  Sensational!

Have a lovely week

Kind reagards

Vic