Welcome to Week Eight.  This week we take time to acknowledge and celebrate the wonderful work our teacher aides do in our school, as we recognise the work that they do to improve learning for all students.  Australian Teacher Aide Appreciation Week is celebrated from 28 August – 1 September. 

I would like to thank all our teacher aides, who do an amazing job in our school working with our students every day.  This morning the leadership team provided a breakfast for our hard working teacher aide team.

Prep Enrolment Interviews

This week our Prep Interviews commenced for our 2024 enrolments.  Now is the time to book an interview time if your child is starting Prep next year.  Prep eligibility for children is from the beginning of the school year in which they will reach the age of 5 years by 30 June. All Queensland children are required to undertake Prep, prior to commencing Year 1.

Early or delayed entry to Prep are options which may be considered in specific circumstances and where it is in a child's best educational interests.  As we begin to create our classes for 2024 for our Prep students, please ensure you have your child on our list and an interview time booked, so that we are able to make the best placement, based on your child’s needs.

World Leukemia Day

Monday September 4 is World Leukemia Day. Students are invited to wear 'spots' on Monday for a gold coin donation for the Leukemia foundation.

 Student Free Day

A reminder that this Friday is a Student Free Day. 

Student Code of Conduct

Each week I will focus on an aspect of Calliope’s Student Code of Conduct.  This week the focus is Cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying

 Cyberbullying is treated at Calliope State School with the same level of seriousness as in-person bullying.  The major difference with cyberbullying however, is that unlike in-person bullying, cyberbullying follows students into their community, their homes and their bedrooms, giving them no opportunity to escape the harassment or abuse during the evening, weekends or holidays.  

 In the first instance, students or parents who wish to make a report about cyberbullying should approach their child’s regular class teacher .

 It is important for students, parents and staff to know that state school principals have the authority to take disciplinary action to address student behaviours that occur outside of school hours or school grounds.  This includes cyberbullying.  Parents and students who have concerns about cyberbullying incidents occurring during school holidays should immediately seek assistance through the Office of the e-Safety Commissioner or the Queensland Police Service.

 Students enrolled at Calliope State School may face in-school disciplinary action, such as educational programs, removing of privileges, or more serious consequences such as suspension or exclusion from school for engaging in behaviour that adversely affects, or is likely to adversely affect, other students or the good order and management of the school. This includes behaviour such as cyberbullying which occurs outside of school hours or settings, for example on the weekend or during school holidays.  It also applies to inappropriate online behaviour of enrolled students that is directed towards other community members or students from other school sites.

 Parents or other stakeholders who engage in inappropriate online behaviour towards students, staff or other parents may be referred to the Office of the e-Safety Commissioner and/or the Queensland Police Service.  State school staff will be referred for investigation to the Integrity and Employee Relations team in the Department of Education.

Some reminders of upcoming events from the calendar include –

Week 8

28 August – 2024 Prep Interviews

30 August - 2024 Prep Interviews, Teacher Aide Day, Father’s Day Stall, ICAS Maths

31 August – Year 2 Excursion,

1 September – STUDENT FREE DAY

Week 9

4 September – Leukemia Day; wear spotty clothes, 2024 Prep Interviews

7 September – 2024 Prep Interviews

8 September – End of Term Assembly and Open Classrooms