Unwell children

Essential to the success of these measures is that if your child is unwell or displaying any COVID-19 symptoms, they must not attend school. I cannot emphasise this message strongly enough – it is critical to keeping our school community safe. Your child, if they have COVID-19 symptoms, can visit your local Queensland health testing clinic and will be given priority access to a free RAT.

Workforce Planning – Combining Classes

https://alt-qed.qed.qld.gov.au/covid-19/Documents/back-to-school-plan.pdf 

In line with the COVID guidelines for schools, we have a plan in place to ensure the continuity of learning for all students and to minimise the disruption to student learning as much as possible. There will be times that we will need to combine same year level classes. We will try to limit this as much as possible; however, there will be circumstances where this will have to occur. We appreciate your understanding and support during these times.

Provision of Education

• As a result of the delay to the commencement of the school year, staff have adjusted programs of work so as to provide students with the very best opportunities to demonstrate what they know and can do.
• If students are at home in isolation for a period of time or if a parent/carer decides to delay their child’s start to school, learning can continue via Learning@Home online resource.
• Teachers will only be operating in face-to-face education delivery at this time.

COVID

The school community, and especially the staff, need to be commended for supporting one another as our school faces increasing cases of COVID. Thank you to all parents and carers for your support during these complex times and for your open and timely communication with the school. Please be aware that COVID may have caused some disruption to students accessing the teaching and learning throughout the term, which in turn will affect assessment and reporting as we progress through semester 1. The teachers are working hard to support students to catch up with missed content when they return from periods of leave related to COVID.

In terms of Reporting for semester 1, staff are collecting student evidence in assessment folios. They will continue collect the evidence of learning across the semester (Term 1 and Term 2 summative assessment tasks). If, on the rare occasion, a teacher does not have enough evidence from the summative assessment tasks, evidence of student work captured during class time (in their exercise books and/or handouts) that aligns to the aspect of the achievement standard being assessed, may also be used. Teachers will collaborate with their line leaders (from the leadership team) to determine an overall rating in these instances. This practice aligns to the P-12 Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Framework, our regulatory document that outlines the requirements for Assessment and Reporting in Queensland State Schools.

Student Code of Conduct – Use of Mobile Phones

Use of mobile phones and other devices by students

Digital literacy refers to the skills needed to live, learn and work in a society where communication and access to information is dominated by digital technologies like mobile phones. However, the benefits brought about through these diverse technologies can be easily overshadowed by deliberate misuse which harms others or disrupts learning. This also extends to Smart Watches i.e. watches that allow communication between school and the outside community to occur and that contain games and Apps which can lead to off-task behaviour.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities for students using mobile phones or other devices at school or during school activities are simple: all devices are to be handed into the office upon arrival at school. It is the responsibility of all students to collect these items at the end of the school day.

It is unacceptable for students at Calliope State School to:

• use a mobile phone or other devices in an unlawful manner;
• download, distribute or publish offensive messages or pictures;
• use obscene, inflammatory, racist, discriminatory or derogatory language;
• use language and/or threats of violence that may amount to bullying and/or harassment, or even stalking;
• insult, harass or attack others or use obscene or abusive language;
• deliberately waste printing and internet resources;
• damage computers, printers or network equipment;
• commit plagiarism or violate copyright laws;
• ignore teacher directions for the use of social media, online email and internet chat;
• send chain letters or spam email (junk mail);
• knowingly download viruses or any other programs capable of breaching the department's network security;
• use in-phone cameras anywhere a normal camera would be considered inappropriate, such as in change rooms or toilets;
• invade someone's privacy by recording personal conversations or daily activities and/or the further distribution (e.g. forwarding, texting, uploading, Bluetooth use etc.) of such material;
• use a mobile phone (including those with Bluetooth functionality) to cheat during exams or assessments;
• take into or use mobile devices at exams or during class assessment unless expressly permitted by school staff.

At all times students, while using ICT facilities and devices supplied by the school, will be required to act in line with the requirements of the Calliope State School Student Code of Conduct. In addition, students and their parents should:

• understand the responsibility and behaviour requirements (as outlined by the school) that come with accessing the department’s ICT network facilities;
• ensure they have the skills to report and discontinue access to harmful information if presented via the internet or email;
• be aware that:
  • access to ICT facilities and devices provides valuable learning experiences for students and supports the school's teaching and learning programs;
  • the school is not responsible for safeguarding information stored by students on departmentally-owned student computers or mobile devices;
  • schools may remotely access departmentally-owned student computers or mobile devices for management purposes;
  • students who use a school's ICT facilities and devices in a manner that is not appropriate may be subject to disciplinary action by the school, which could include restricting network access;
  • despite internal departmental controls to manage content on the internet, illegal, dangerous or offensive information may be accessed or accidentally displayed;
  • teachers will always exercise their duty of care, but avoiding or reducing access to harmful information also requires responsible use by the student.

Social Media and the School Community

https://behaviour.education.qld.gov.au/resources-publications/Documents/social-media-and-community-online.pdf 

General Tips:

Being aware of a few simple strategies can help keep the use of social media positive and constructive:

• Before you post something online, ask yourself if the community or individual really need to know. Is it relevant, positive and helpful?
• Remember that what you post online is a direct reflection of who you are. People will potentially form lasting opinions of you based on what you post online.
• Be a good role model. If things get heated online consider logging out and taking a few moments to relax and think. Hasty, emotive responses could inflame situations unnecessarily.
• Be mindful when commenting, try to keep general and avoid posting anything that could identify individuals.
• A few years ago, parents may have discussed concerns or issues with their friends at the school gate. Today with the use of social media, online discussions between you and your close friends can very quickly be shared with a much wider audience, potentially far larger than intended.
• Taking a few moments to think about the content you are about to post could save upset, embarrassment, and possible legal action.
• As a parent you have a role in supervising and regulating your child’s online activities at home and its impact on the reputation and privacy of others. Parents are their child’s first teachers — so they will learn online behaviours from you.

Road and Traffic Safety for Children

There have been reports that some of our younger children walking and riding to school are not always making safe choices in terms of where they ride/walk and how they cross roads when needed. Please ensure that you talk to your children about road and traffic safety regularly and where possible, model the correct behaviours so they know what it looks like in practice e.g. Go for a ride/walk to the school from home on the weekend.

• Talk together about signs and traffic lights. Identify and discuss places where it is safe to cross the road.
• Teach your child how to cross roads using the 'stop, look, listen and think' process – stop at the kerb, look and listen for traffic and then decide whether it is safe to cross. Take the trip to school together along the safest footpaths and use safe crossing places, such as pedestrian crossings and on straight sections of road.
• Check that your child always 'stops, looks, listens and thinks' when crossing the road. Ask them to explain to you what they are doing and why they are doing it.
• Plan with your child safe routes to school and to places your child often visits.
• Supervise your child on the way to and from school.
• Talk with your child about road laws. Go for regular rides and walks together.

Staff of the Week Leadership Award – Toni Schmidt

Toni enacts our school priority of ‘Every Calliope State School Student Succeeding” through her tireless work behind the scenes in making sure our school is resourced appropriately and her amazing contribution to staff and student wellbeing.

Staff Member of the Week Peer Award – Tayla Bradley

For her can do attitude and the endless support that she provides to all staff especially the duty officers when radio requests are required throughout the entire day.

End of Term Parade

We will be holding our End of Term Parade this Friday, April 1, starting at 9.15am. It will be a short sharp parade celebrating the end of term with a quick Easter Hat walk and presentation of End of Term Awards.

Easter

Another term has come and gone. Easter and the term holidays are with us again! I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Happy Easter and a safe and restful school holiday period. Please take time to enjoy the company of family and friends, even in these changed times. I look forward to seeing everyone back at school on Tuesday April 19th.

FINAL THOUGHT

TAKE A CHANCE ON US!

3C - Taking the Chance -

To show that they can interpret and show data from a chance experiment.

They can show results using tally marks that are grouped in 5.

To show the differences and similarities by comparing findings during a chance experiment.

To show they can collect accurate data efficiently.

End of Term Celebration

Well done everyone! We got to our target of 20 Whole Class Stamp Charts!

 We are postponing our Whole School end of term celebration until Term 2, Week 1 due to low attendance because to illnesses. Hopefully, this way we have less students that will miss out on the school celebration. It will be water play and sausage sizzle in Week 1. We will let you know what day your child will be attending. 

Indoor Play Areas

We are having some areas left disorganized and messy after play. At home, if you

could enforce the students cleaning up after themselves and even time how fast they can do it, this will help with this transition. Our teachers are packing the students up 5min before the bell to line up to help with the tidying in these areas at playtime. 

SLaW and HUB Resources

We are proud at Calliope State School to offer some resources that can help students stay focused in class. Your child may be using or may see some other students using wobble stools or even pedals. These help students who need some movement in the classroom. They can still focus on the learning and getting their sensory stimulation

at the same time. We also have noise cancelling headphones that can allow students to hear less noise around them and be able to focus on tasks. Some noises in the classroom can make students feel different emotions. Thank you to all those parents who have bought their child their own set of headphones. This is greatly appreciated. 

Positive Behaviour for Learning- Behaviour Action Summary (Term 1 2022 to date) 

Positive Behaviour for Learning- Behaviour Action Summary (Term 4 2021 to the same week) 

The countdown is on, school holidays in 4 sleeps!!!

We would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a safe and happy Easter break and we will see you all back next term. 

Cookie Dough

Cookie Dough delivery will be Thursday at 2pm until 3.30pm. Please note, all orders need to be collected at this time as we do not have the means to refrigerate any left over cookie dough. We once again thank you for your support in our fundraising efforts. 

Tuckshop Position Vacant

We are currently seeking a casual tuckshop employee to start Term 2. The ideal candidate will be available for an hour shift on Thursdays and Fridays. They may also be called upon on other days at short notice. If you have any questions or you think this suits you please forward your resume to president.calliopess@gmail.com. 

Applications close on 8 April 2022.

Tuckshop News

Tuckshop operates at both first and second breaks from Tuesday to Friday. Ordering is only through the QKR! App.

WE NEED HELP IN OUR TUCKSHOP! Can you spare a day or even a morning/afternoon?

Contact Lisa at our tuckshop from Tuesday-Friday or via email at pandc@calliopess.eq.edu.au.

Uniform Shop

Our uniforms can also be purchased through QKR! If you have any questions or queries, please email uniformshop.calliopess@gmail.com. 

Stay Safe, enjoy the break, we hope the Easter bunny is kind to you.

Your P&C Team