Filter Content
We sincerely thank parents and carers for the support you are giving your child/ren and for the understanding you are showing to our school staff as they respond to this unique situation. It is important we continue to ensure our schools are safe and positive places for our children during these challenging times.
As always, the health and wellbeing of your child/ren, and our staff, remain our focus. We thank you for your continued understanding and support with adjustments to routines and procedures as we implement ongoing recommendations from the Department of Education. We continue to take advice from Queensland Health in relation to this matter and the latest information is available on the Queensland Health website at www.qld.gov.au/health/ conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19. It is likely that these circumstances will be in place for many months ahead and we will all continue to work together in the interest of our school and our school communities.
Attached to this newsletter is a Principal update which contains more essential information. Please take the time to read this in full.
Social Distancing – how can you help?
To support our school environment we ask that non-essential visits to the school do not occur and the following processes are followed:
- No visitor including parent/caregiver is to enter the school if sick;
- Where possible, drop students off and pick them up at the front gates, at the car park or at the Stop, Drop and Go;
- Please limit requirements to go to classrooms, if you must enter a classroom, please ensure you have washed your hands;
- No classroom helpers are required at this time;
- All student collections during the school day will be via the front office;
- Respect social distancing advice.
We have opened up additional spaces for play and eating breaks to allow students to spread out more during these times.
We ask where possible students do not arrive at school until 9am.
We ask that you check our Facebook page and your emails regularly for further updates.
Contact Details
Please ensure your contact details, including email address and phone numbers are up to date. This includes emergency contacts on your list. Please phone the office on 4975 8333 to make any changes.
School Attendance
We understand that at this time, some families are deciding to keep their child/ren at home. If this is your decision, please make sure you let the office staff know so that we can update their attendance records accordingly. Please contact your class teacher via email for information about school work.
Playgroup cancelled
The Play2Learn Playgroup will not be operating at Calliope School for the remainder of the term. Thank you for your understanding.
International Read to Me Day
Last Thursday I enjoyed visiting classrooms to read to students for International Read to Me Day. As reading is our school improvement focus for 2020, classes shared a wide variety of texts. Thank you to 1C, 3/4E and 5B for inviting me to your classroom to read.
On Friday, we acknowledged Bullying No Way! Day at Calliope School. Students were able to wear orange to school and classes worked on a variety of activities.
As a school, we acknowledge the work of all of our school staff during this rapidly evolving situation. It is evident through their prompt and responsive actions that they continue to work towards ensuring the best outcomes for our students.
Please ensure that you look after yourselves during this time and thank you for your ongoing support and commitment.
Regards
Raelene Norris
Deputy Principal
Year 6D
Congratulations to 6D who had a great attendance rate for Week 8. Their attendance rate was 96% for the week! Also congratulations to the three classes which were at or above our school attendance target of 94% during this uncertain time. While every day you are away is a learning day lost, we appreciate sick students being kept at home to recover.
The Positive Behaviour for Learning lesson for Week Nine is on Safe: Transitions. When changing between breaks and class, or between activities in the classroom, transitioning is an important moment where we can maximise learning time. By ensuring that transitions are smooth and timely, we allow more learning time when our bodies are calm and in their correct area ready for learning. Effective transitions include:
- Lining up quickly and quietly;
- Moving calmly between activities;
- Keeping our hands and feet to ourselves as we transitions;
- Having all our equipment needed for learning.
By doing all of the above things, we can make the most of teaching and learning time. Please take a few minutes to go over this with your child/children.
Fantastic Fun Friday has gone through a slight change with the current health concerns. We are now doing a Free Dress Day this Friday for all the students who submit their Stamp Charts. This will help eliminate the need to have students gathering in the hall and we look forward to seeing your child-children enjoy the day in the free dress.
Also, please do check out Calliope News on Facebook and like and share it.
Have a great week.
Thanks.
Brian Rowe
Student Welfare Teacher
COURAGE
COURAGE DOES NOT ALWAYS ROAR.
SOMETIMES IT IS THE QUIET VOICE
AT THE END OF THE DAY,
SAYING, ‘I WILL TRY AGAIN TOMORROW’
(Insert taken from - ‘The Power of Attitude’ by Mac Anderson)
When I was in High School, I loved playing football. It was, and still is my favourite sport. But there was one part I hated… those first two weeks of practice in August, when the temperature often hit 100 degrees. The Coach, however, knew the importance of those two weeks and he ‘took no prisoners’… the drills, the grueling wind sprints and the dreaded laps. I still have nightmares about those five laps around the field in full pads following a three hour workout. My body after those first few days was so sore I could hardly get out of bed each morning. But as each day passed, the pain would lessen, and after three or four weeks, the transformation of being in ‘football shape’ would happen.
I’d love to say this was my story, but at school I think I knew of every excuse possible to get out of sport!! (much to my detriment now!!!)
Breaking bad habits is no different. The physical pain can be grueling, whether you’re trying to exercise more, smoke less, drink less, eat healthier or get rid of ‘stinking thinking’… its never easy. But the benefits to your health and to your attitude can be priceless.
Breaking a habit starts with COURAGE, ends with DISCIPLINE and is fueled by DESIRE!
I saw this recently and would like to share it with you – Who Am I?
I am your constant companion
I am your greatest asset or heaviest burden
I will push you up to success or down to disappointment
I am at your command
Half the things you do might just as well be turned over to me
For I can do them quickly, correctly and profitably
I am easily managed, just be firm with me
Those who are great, I have made great
Those who are failures, I have made failures
I am not a machine, though I work with the precision of a machine
and the intelligence of a person
You can run me for profit, or you can run me for ruin
Show me how you want it done. Educate me. Train me
Lead me. Reward me
And I will then … do it automatically
I am your servant
Who am I?
I am a habit
The author of the above is unknown, but the words are right on target. If you make good habits, they in turn will make you. But like the weeds in the garden, bad habits can take over your life.
Make a decision today to pull those weeds
Love Chappy Mel
FUNDRAISING AND EVENTS
Easter Raffle: Chocolate, who doesn’t love chocolate? As we do every year, we will be holding an Easter raffle this year, with a twist. Every student in attendance tomorrow, Wednesday 25th March, will go into the free random draw. Thank you to all the families who have donated gifts.
Bake Sale/Election BBQ: Due to the current health advise we have decided to cancel our Election Day BBQ and Bake Sale.
TUCKSHOP
We are excited to announce that our tuckshop is still open for business; however, we have a limited menu due to the difficulty of purchasing some products.
Each week, we have delicious home baked treats that you can order. If you have a family favourite treat that you would like us to share with our school family, please let us know.
UNIFORM SHOP
Our uniform shop is closed until further notice; however, all your uniform can be ordered on Flexischools and orders will be sent to your child’s classroom. If you have any queries regarding orders, please contact our P&C via Facebook, email uniformshop.calliopess@gmail.com or phone/message Tenielle on 0406218312.
Have a great week
Your P&C team
Tenielle, Sian, Bec and Kate
The Dental Van is still open for examinations and emergency treatment only. No other treatment. The dentist will contact you as normal for your appointment.
Purple Day
Each year we take part in Purple Day in March and do our best to raise awareness and funds so that we can continue to help Australians with epilepsy no matter where they are. Purple Day is a global effort dedicated to raising epilepsy awareness. Epilepsy affects over 50 million people worldwide or approximately 1 in 100 people.
Calliope State School has registered online and if you are able to donate please follow the following link; www.epilepsy.org.au .
PLEASE NOTE: DUE TO CURRENT HEALTH ADVISE REGARDING CORONA VIRUS - THE SELLING OF CUPCAKES ON THURSDAY HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
Make every step count and help create a world where no-one on the autism spectrum is left behind.
The 2nd April is Autism Awareness Week and to kick start this awareness, Calliope State School has registered for the challenge of 10,000 steps a day for 8 days? Don’t just talk the talk, walk the Walk for Autism!
Walk for autism is a free virtual walking event, which means you can do it at your own pace, in your own time. It starts on 29th March – 5th April 2020. You can go solo, or get your friends, family and workmates on board and step it out together in a team.
Raise much-needed funds and help provide the best opportunities for people on the autism spectrum to participate, engage and thrive in the world around them.
Register Now for the 2020 Walk for autism and any donations can be made by clicking the following link; https://www.walkforautism.org.au/fundraisers/calliopestateschool