Edition 15
Principal's Message
Welcome back!
Welcome to the 2023 school year. I would like to extend a very warm welcome to the many new families who are joining our extended Everleigh State School family and welcome back our returning families.
Taking Photos
Taking photos of our children are precious keepsakes. I have no doubt that for our Prep families in particular, there were many photos and possibly videos taken on Monday morning, both at home and at school. There will be a number of school events this year that you will be invited to attend and be moments to capture. Can I please remind you that not all parents/carers wish to have their child’s photo taken and we have some children who cannot have their photos shared for safety reasons. When capturing special moments of your child, please ensure other children are not included. In the event another child or even staff member is photographed, please do not share these photos on social media sites such as Facebook, TikTok, etc.
Daily Routines and Expectations
Our school gates open at 8.00 am when supervision of students commences. It is a preference that students do not arrive to school before 8.15 am, providing plenty of time to prepare for the start of school at 8.30 am. Should students need to be brought to school earlier due to work commitments, YMCA provides before, after school and vacation care.
If you would like to speak with your child’s teacher, please arrange a suitable time to do so. Teachers are not required to commence supervision of students until 8.25 am when our bell rings. At this time, teachers are busy ensuring students are settled for a busy day of learning. Similarly, of an afternoon, teachers often have meetings to attend and supervise students, particularly younger year levels, to leave their area safely. It is not customary to walk into a doctor’s surgery and expect to be seen immediately and the same is for teachers. All of our teachers are more than happy to speak with you about any concerns you have in relation to your child and by arranging a mutually suitable time can do so uninterrupted and be prepared if required.
Classrooms on the first floor (Year 1 through to Year 6) are out of bounds before school for safety and supervision purposes. Please ensure if you are waiting to walk your child to their classroom and it is on the first floor that you do not do so until the music begins playing. The only exception is in the event you have a meeting with your child’s teacher.
From week 2, commencing Monday 30 January, Year 1 and Year 2 students will be collected by their teachers from their eating area in front of the STEAM room before school. Year 1 teachers will walk students to the same area at the end of the day to reduce the need for parents/carers to walk upstairs. Teachers will communucate any class specific information as required, such as for specialist lessons.
I also ask that of an afternoon all parents/carers wait in the covered area near the canteen and office. Thank you to those parents who have done so this week. This is to ensure students are not distracted by seeing their parent/carer prior to school finishing. There should be no need for parents to access the first floor after school to collect children from classrooms unless necessary due to a medical condition or you have a scheduled meeting with your child’s teacher. If you have concerns, please contact me directly.
Playgrounds Before and After School
Unfortunately, for safety reasons our wonderful playgrounds are out of bounds for children before and after school. The exception is for students who attend Before and/or After School Care and are supervised by YMCA educators. Staff will direct any children to move off playgrounds during these times.
Parent/Carer Behaviour
It has been lovely this week to not have to worry about restricting visitors on site. It was wonderful to see so many parents and carers. It is timely to remind all parents/carers that in addition to a Student Code of Conduct and Staff Code of Conduct, there is also a Parent Code of Conduct. Schools are busy places, particularly before and after school. Please ensure your interactions with other students, parents/carers and staff members is respectful. Should you encounter a problem with the actions of another child or parent/carer, please speak with your child’s teacher, Deputy Principal or Principal. It is not appropriate for parents/carers to address the behaviour of other children or adults. It would be unfortunate if Police needed to be contacted or a parent/carer to be escorted off school grounds for inappropriate behaviour. Not only is it my job to ensure the good order and management of the school in relation to student behaviour, but also in relation to staff, parents/carers and other visitors to our school. I expect that as role models for our children, that parents/carers behave appropriately within the school. This includes our carparks and if dropping off or collecting children from YMCA. All members of the Everleigh State School community are expected to be Committed, Accountable, Respectful and Encouraging.
Deputy Principals' Message
PBL
Week 1 of this term we focus our attention to the rule of following directions of staff members and volunteers right away. This is extremely important to ensure classrooms and transitions run smoothly and allow for the maximum amount of learning time to ensure students are successful. Students were reminded that teachers and volunteers give directions in the best interest of students and their opportunities here at school.
In accordance with this, teachers reinforced this throughout the week as they developed routines and processes such as lining up, moving to specialist lessons, preparing for lessons and how to use play equipment and areas around the school.
During Week 2, students will focus on doing their personal best. This falls into the Commitment to being a life-long learner on Everleigh’s Expectations of Excellence. If we start the year off strong, aiming for our best and following directions then this will increase each student’s opportunities for success throughout the year.
Leadership Induction
During term 4, 2022, a leadership process was run to democratically elect student leaders from our year 5 and 6 cohorts. Students will be inducted at a special parade on Tuesday February 14th this year at 8:45am. We look forward to introducing our student leaders to the school and having them assume their roles.
Student Opportunities
Mrs Chivers has organised for Everleigh State School Singers for students in Years 3-6. Students were invited to sign up on Friday January 27th. If students missed out they can see Miss Chivers to join the choir which will occur every Monday and Friday at 2nd Break.
Ms Jenkins and Ms Beck will also have lunchtime activities organised in the areas of STEAM and PE for students to engage in. Times of these will be shared through SeeSaw to relevant classes.
Volunteer Induction
Parents and teachers work together in the education of our young ones at school. For any parents that would be interested in volunteering in your child’s classroom, an induction will be available on Friday February 3rd at 9am in the Resource Centre. In this we run through mandatory training required for onsite volunteers related to student protection, workplace health and safety as well as school-specific information for how you can best assist students in class.
MSP Photography
Students who are new to Everleigh State School will have photos taken by MSP for student profiles on OneSchool. Formal school photos will be occurring later in the year. They are scheduled for August 28th and 29th.
Pick up/Drop Off Zones
Parents/Carers are reminded they should be remaining in their vehicle at Stop, Drop and Go zones. The traffic around the school become quite busy and as such, it is important that we follow processes to ensure a fluent pick up for students.
Parents who exit their vehicle to enter the school for pick up should be parking in the main car park or the available offstreet parking. There is no footpath leading from the road at Platypus pick-up zone to the school entrance and as such, parents/carers should refrain from using this as anything other than a Stop, Drop and Go Zone for the time being.
Please refer to the map below for details on parking and/or Stop, Drop, Go zones.
Messages from Executive Services
2023 Student Resource Scheme Invoices
SRS invoices have been raised and emailed out. Thank you to those families who have already made payment. Payment towards these are due by 24 February. The departments preferred payment is Bpoint- this link is located at the bottom of your invoice, payments can also be made at the school office via Eftpos.
If you have not yet received an invoice please contact the office at admin@everleighss.eq.edu.au.
Every day counts!
Attendance matters and irregular, chronic absences can have a detrimental impact on the positive learning outcome for students. This table outlines the impact of regular absences over the course of a student’s schooling.
If your student will be absent, parents/carers have a legal obligation to notify the school, including advising the reason for the absence. We kindly request you let us know by 8.30 am on the day of the absence. We have two preferred methods for advising absence:
- Via the Q-Parents App – please see reception if you require information on this
- Via our dedicated Student Absence Line – (07) 2899 5160, where you can leave a message any time of the day or night. Please save this number in your phone.
Reminder: You will also need to advise YMCA if your child is booked in and will be absent.
YMCA absences should be advised before 2:15pm via email aev@ymcabrisbane.org or via text or phone call 0459 905 087.
Message from P & C
Our P&C Annual General Meeting (AGM), followed by a general meeting will be held on Tuesday 7 February at 6.00 pm. At this meeting, all executive roles (President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer) will be vacated. In order to continue the great work started in 2022, we need a team of committed, hardworking parents to fill these roles and attend our meetings. If you would like to nominate for an executive position, please contact me via email nwhea2@eq.edu.au and I will email you the necessary forms. Please note that all P&C membership lapse at this time and anyone wishing to become a member of the Everleigh State School P&C Association must apply. The AGM is the only meeting where you do not need to be present for your membership to accepted. Membership forms are available from the office or please email me. All applications for executive roles or general membership must be received via email or at the office by close of business on Monday 6 January. Executive Role nomination and membership forms will be available at the meeting. Our P&C does not operate with the support of our parents and carers.
Everleigh SS - Hear to Learn Screening Program
YMCA Everleigh
Welcome to Term One of 2023
Some messages from YMCA.
Pease ensure your child’s belongings are labelled to avoid lost property. YMCA have a lost property section to your left as you enter the room. YMCA staff will also endeavour to return any lost property to their bags each morning and afternoon to eliminate a pile up.
Please ensure you have followed up on the review of your child/rens enrolment via the my family lounge as per email that have been sent the last week of vacation care and week 1 of the term. If you need assistance with this please let the staff know and we will direct you.
Bookings are filling up extremely fast so if you are needing care please log into the My Family Lounge app and book or email aev@ymcabrisbane.org
