Principal's Piece
EVERY STUDENT INCLUDED
COVID Update
Remember
You must practise physical distancing as much as possible and:
- wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and use alcohol-based sanitiser
- avoid hugs, kisses and handshakes
- wherever possible keep at least 1.5 metres away (two big steps) from people you don’t live with.
Queensland Government update about face mask requirements:
Rest of Queensland
If you have been in the following areas, you must carry a face mask with you at all times, unless 14 days have passed since you were last in the area:
- South East Queensland since 1am 29 June 2021; or
- Townsville City (including Magnetic Island) or Palm Island since 6pm 29 June 2021.
You must wear a face mask at all times when you are outside your home, unless:
- you are alone in your car or with the members of your household
- you are eating or drinking
- you are at your usual workplace and can physically distance from others (except if you work in a hospitality venue or are a passenger transport operator)
- you are alone outdoors or with members of your household
- it is unsafe.
CALLIOPE STATE SCHOOL STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT
Consideration of Individual Circumstances
Staff at Calliope State School take into account students’ individual circumstances, such as their behaviour history, disability, mental health and wellbeing, religious and cultural considerations, home environment and care arrangements when teaching expectations, responding to inappropriate behaviour or applying a disciplinary consequence.
In considering the individual circumstances of each student, we recognise that the way we teach, the support we provide and the way we respond to students will differ. This reflects the principle of equity, where every student is given the support they need to be successful. This also means that not everyone will be treated the same, because treating everyone the same is not fair. For example, some students need additional support to interpret or understand an expectation. Others may benefit from more opportunities to practise a required skill or behaviour. For a small number of students, the use of certain disciplinary consequences may be considered inappropriate or ineffective due to complex trauma or family circumstances. These are all matters that our teachers and principal consider with each individual student in both the instruction of behaviour and the response to behaviour.
Our teachers are also obliged by law to respect and protect the privacy of individual students, so while we understand the interest of other students, staff and parents to know what punishment another student might have received, we will not disclose or discuss this information with anyone but the student’s family. This applies even if the behavioural incident, such as bullying, involves your child. You can be assured that school staff take all matters, such as bullying, very seriously and will address them appropriately. We expect that parents and students will respect the privacy of other students and families.
If you have concerns about the behaviour of another student at the school, or the way our staff have responded to their behaviour, please make an appointment with the principal to discuss the matter.
STUDENT LEARNING AND WELLBEING
Dolly’s Dream – School Incursion
We are currently working with the Alannah and Madeline Foundation to have them visit our school this semester to facilitate some ‘Dolly’s Dream’ workshops. The goal of Dolly’s Dream visiting the school is to support staff, parents and students to change cultures and behaviours to assist in the prevention of bullying. They do this by working with students, staff and parents to increase understanding about the impact of bullying and provide strategies to navigate through the world we live in today, with a focus on ‘being kind’.
LUNCH BREAK SURVEY
We thank the parents/carers and staff who completed the Lunch Break Survey. We had approximately 12.5% of parents/carers respond to the Lunch Break Survey and 5% of staff. Although we had a low response rate, I have made the decision to trial some of the suggested feedback for Semester 2, 2021, monitor the behaviour data and collect anecdotal evidence to inform the decisions for 2022.
COOL WEATHER
Now that it is officially winter and the weather has cooled down there a few things:
- We have had an influx of non-school jumpers. Please ensure that your child/ren have a school jumper or a plain blue jumper. Hoodies are not to be worn over the head.
- The days will warm up and jumpers will come off - please make sure you name every item (First and Last name) so that lost items can be returned.
- The amount of Lost Property grows - if you are missing an item, please check the Lost Property basket outside the office.
Regards
Coralie Ditchmen
Acting Principal