Principal's Piece
Welcome to Week 7! The term is moving along quickly as we continue to focus on our school priority areas of Wellbeing, Curriculum and Pedagogy. I enjoyed visiting the Year 2 classrooms last week to join students in their reading group sessions. I look forward to reading with the Year 1 students this week.
Key Summary
- Science Week continues this week with lunchtime activities
- Prep Interviews for 2021 students starting next week
- 2021 Enrolment packages available from the office
- Staff participating in PD – Phonemic Awareness
- Premier’s Reading Challenge – last week to complete reading
- Active August – final week
- Student Free Day – Friday 4 September
- Continue to follow current procedures to stay safe and healthy
Science Week
Last week was Science Week. At Calliope State School we are continuing with Science Week for another week. Lunch time activities will continue throughout this week for various year levels.
Some classes have focused on classroom investigations for Science Week. 4B worked out how to make a pen lid float and then looked at buoyancy and the forces acting on the pen lid in water. When you squeeze the closed bottle, it causes the air bubble inside the pen lid to compress. This means the pen lid becomes more dense than the liquid surrounding it and gravity makes it sink to the bottom.
Starting next week, we will be conducting enrolment interviews for our Prep intake for 2021. We ask that the children attend the interview with parent/s. Please ensure you bring a copy of their birth certificate if you have not already provided a copy with enrolment forms.
Enrolment packages for Prep in 2021 are now available from the office. Student details will be required when an enrolment form is given out. Eligible students for Prep in 2021 must turn five on or before 30 June 2021.
Please contact the office on 4975 8333 or admin@calliopess.eq.edu.au for any further information about enrolment or to book an interview.
Staff PD – Phonemic Awareness
This Saturday we have 18 staff attending a day of professional development. Calliope State School introduced the phonemic awareness program based on work from Dr Michael Heggerty in the lower school from the beginning of this year. It has spread to other year levels and specific groups over the last two terms. We are fortunate to have such a dedicated staff, prepared to attend training on the weekend to consolidate their skills and knowledge with this program.
Premier’s Reading Challenge
The 2020 Premier’s Reading Challenge is well underway and it is pleasing to see so many classes accepting the challenge. The Challenge concludes on August 28 2020, so get reading this week to complete your sheet. Make sure you let Mrs Kettle know when you have completed the challenge to go in the prize draw!
Active August
Our classes have found many ways to be active throughout August. This week will be our final one participating in Active August. So far we have walked over 10 000km, taking us from Calliope to Perth and back!
Pupil Free Day
Friday 4 September is a Pupil Free Day for all Queensland schools and school will not be open. If you require care for your children, Helping Hands will be available and can be contacted on 0409 267 755.
Staying Healthy and Safe
Currently there are no changes to our operating procedures at school. I encourage you to remember the key actions that will prevent the spread of COVID-19:
- students stay home if they are sick
- if you have any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, get tested
- Social Distancing - stay 1.5 metres away from other adults, especially at pick up and drop off times — think two big steps
- all students, staff and adults entering wash their hands with soap and water or use hand sanitiser
Deputy Principal