Everleigh State School eNewsletter

Principal's Message

Welcome to the 2024 school year! It was wonderful to see many returning families arrive on Monday as well as a large number of new families who have joined our growing Everleigh family this year.

We have close to 550 students starting the year and we expect this to grow.

Stage 2 Begins!

As you may have noticed, there is safety fencing erected near Platypus pick up and the Resource Centre. I am pleased to announce that the pre-works for Stage 2 have commenced! We are not expecting any interruptions or restrictions to our current school space during construction.

This stage will contain:

20 classrooms and the provision for 4 ‘future classrooms’
Kitchen to accompany our ‘kitchen garden’
Bush Tucker Garden
Yarning Circle
Open green play area
Tiered sandstone seating/steps to join Oval to Stage 2 green space

I have also stressed the importance of lengthening the Platypus drop off/pick up zone and the addition of footpaths from the gate to the road.

As the project progresses, I will share photo updates via Facebook and our newsletter.

Parent/Carer afternoon waiting areas

On Monday, I sent an email out containing a ‘mud map’ of designated parent waiting areas. It is important that parents/carers refrain from waiting outside of classrooms, as it is a distraction to the students, particularly our Prep Students. It also creates a ‘bottle neck’ and potential hazard in the event we have to evacuate. These maps have been placed outside of all ground floor classrooms and an in prominent locations around the school. Please respectfully adhere to these instructions and follow the directions of staff if you are asked to move away from the classrooms. Staff have been given permission to politely request parents/carers who are not in the correct areas to move away.

Before school, parents/carers are more than welcome to wait outside of ground floor classrooms until the music starts at around 8.25 am. At this time, it is important that parents say their quick farewells and allow teaching and learning to commence at 8.30 am.

A reminder that all playgrounds and play equipment are out of bounds before and after school.

Drop off and Pick up zones

Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 students and older students with siblings in Prep, Year 1 or Year 2 should be dropped off and picked up from the main carpark, Kangaroo. Students from Year 3 to Year 6 should use Platypus for drop off and pick up unless alternative arrangements have been discussed with Executive Services.

In the event parents/carers of students from Prep, Year 1 or Year 2 use Platypus entry, please refrain from walking directly through the pick-up zone and through the garden. This is endangering the lives of our children. I understand the frustration with the lack of footpaths down to the road, however walking along the grass is much safer that in front of a moving car.

PLEASE NOTE: There should only be a SINGLE LANE of traffic entering the carpark. Please be courteous and respectful of other drivers and our children when entering the carpark or Stop, Drop and Go lanes.

Please refer to the map below on appropriate use of the Kangaroo Parking Zone.

School Uniform

It was pleasing to see most students in full school uniform this week. I would like to remind parents/carers that our uniform consists of:

Polo Shirt
School shorts/skorts
White socks
Black shoes – shoes should be completely black
Sports Shirt can be worn on Friday

It is expectation that all students wear the appropriate full school uniform every day. When buying shoes, please ensure they are plain black. Having purchased new school shoes for my son, buying plain black shoes is very easy. All shoe, sports and department stores sell plain black shoes.

Every day counts!

It is important that students attend every school day for the whole school day where possible. Arriving on time is also important, as it reduces any anxiety students may feel walking into the classroom after every one else has arrived.

If your child is absent from school, it is a departmental and school expectation that his/her absence is explained. Any unexplained absences will result in follow up via text messages, notes home or a phone call from a member of the Executive team.

Continued unexplained, continuous, or patterns of absences may result in a formal enforcement of attendance process commencing.

If you require support in getting your child to school, please contact the school and we can assist you. Visit https://education.qld.gov.au/parents-and-carers/enrolment/choosing-a-school/attendance for more information on the importance of regular school attendance.

Parent_waiting_areas.pdf

Carpark_map.pdf

Everleigh State School Dress Code

Everleigh_State_School_Dress_Code.pdf

Deputy Principals' Message

PBL

This fortnight our students are focussing on ‘Following the directions of staff and volunteers right away.” This expectation has been chosen as teachers will be busily working with students around classroom and school expectations, developing routines and preparing students for unexpected events such as an emergency evacuation or lockdown over this fortnight. This is part of setting students up for success in the classroom. Students will be provided a great deal of opportunity to demonstrate that they can meet this expectation as they learn and practise these expectations.

CARE Cards and Certificates

Last year the PBL Committee surveyed our students, staff and community to review and refine our acknowledgement processes. As part of this, some changes are occurring in 2024 to be in line with community and school expectations.

Students will be collecting CARE Credits throughout the day. As in past years, this will be handed out freely and frequently. This means that these are used to recognise students who meet Everleigh’s Expectations of Excellence. Students meeting expectations is viewed as something that should be typical and frequent and CARE Credits will be handed out to recognise this. Staff will provide descriptive feedback to ensure students understand why they are receiving CARE Credits.

When students receive 25 CARE Credits, they will receive a CARE Card. This will come home so families can see they are meeting expectations at school. They will also receive a draw into the House Box which will see students receive a prize if their name is pulled out. This will occur each week at parade. House Captains will count the number of CARE Credits to go towards a termly recognition of the house that has received the most. This will be reset each term.

Once students receive 100 CARE Credits, students will receive a CARE Certificate that will be awarded at parade. Parents will be informed when their child is receiving this. The PBL Guide will be shared with the community.

Away for the Day

As part of the Away for the Day policy that has been introduced into schools in Queensland for 2024, all cellular devices must be left at home in order to ensure students are not distracted during the school day.

This does not provide a great deal of difference for how devices have been handled at Everleigh State School previously. However, all previous exemptions that were agreed to and signed off will need to be re-submitted to consider the individual circumstances of why a student requires a device to be brought to school. These will be needed to be completed annually to ensure the appropriate use of devices. Please organise to see Mr Morley for further questions.

Playground Areas

We have had a significant increase in students this year leading to some changes in playground areas for students. Prep and Year 1 are able to use the junior playground, central area and grassed area in front of the resource centre. Students in Year 2 are able to use the grassed area in front of the resource centre and the playground located in front of the hall. Students in Year 3 are able to use this playground also. All students from Years 3-6 are able to use the Senior Undercover Area, Hall and Oval. The resource centre will be open to all students but is a smaller space and numbers will be limited. Year 2 students will be eating in front of the resource centre with Year 1 students remaining in front of the STEAM room. The playground duty areas will continue to be monitored and reviewed for student safety and engagement.

NAPLAN

Students in Year 3 & 5 will participate in NAPLAN Online this term. The testing window begins on Wednesday, March 13 and will finish on Monday March 25. A schedule outlining testing will be shared in the coming weeks. Students in Year 3 will complete the writing test on paper with all other tests being completed online using the NAP Locked Down Browser. Please ensure that your student-owned device has this app loaded onto their device for familiarisation at school prior to accessing the testing. Should any parent have any concerns regarding their child participating in NAPLAN, please contact Mr Morley to discuss how students can be supported to access this program.

Message from the Head of Special Education Services (HoSES)

Hello Everleigh State School community!

My name is Rhiannon Kemp and I am honoured to introduce myself as the Head of Special Education Services. With a passion for fostering inclusive learning environments, I am committed to ensuring our students receive the supports they need to thrive. I have spent 11 years of my career working with students from Prep through to Year 12 across Ipswich and I am excited to be coming back to Greenbank; near where I grew up.

So, what is my role?

I investigate learning needs and help create plans or connect students to supports based on how they learn best.

I work closely with our Inclusion teacher and teacher aides as well as the Student Services team to support students with diverse needs, such as:

A person wanting to do better at school or learn how they learn best
People with disabilities (from short term conditions like a broken leg to lifetime conditions like Autism)
People that speak more than 1 language
Or people that are having a hard time with learning

My job is to help teachers to achieve the best out of students and advocate. To do this, my team and I help you communicate your child’s needs to their teachers, meet with students/parents/ carer to develop support plans and consult with external services.

Thank you to those of you I have met already- you have made me feel very welcomed. I look forward to meeting and working with our school and parent community to make a positive impact on the lives of our students.

Kind regards,

Rhiannon Kemp | Head of Special Education Services (HoSES)

PARENTS AND CARERS' WORKSHOPS

Flyer_Parentworkshop_080224.pdf

Online_school_meeting_workshop_310124.pdf

Messages from Executive Services

Student Absence Procedure

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 9am 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.

Don’t forget to also cancel your canteen order if you have pre-ordered ahead: (07) 2899 5125

Change of contact details:

Please advise Executive Services if any of your details have changed. For example:

Address
Best contact phone number
Work details
Emergency contacts other than parents/carers

Please email admin@everleighss.eq.edu.au to update your details.

Student Accounts

Your SRS/ iPad Fees are now payable. Thank you to those parents and carers who have already made payment. Your support of our school is greatly appreciated. .

The preferred payment method is via, Bpoint or QParents. Payments can also be made via Eftpos between 8am and 3pm at the office.

If you would like to set up a payment plan or have any concerns regarding your account, please contact the Admin Team by phoning the Admin Office on 07 2895111 or emailing

admin@everleighss.eq.edu.au Statements will be emailed to families during each term.

Families can arrange to have fortnightly repayments deducted from Centrepay to pay off SRS/ iPad Fees

Spare change of clothes reminder

Please ensure you have a spare change of clothes in your child’s bag in case of accidents. Please include underwear, black shorts/skort and socks.

Lost property

Name labels make all the difference in helping us to returned lost items to the correct students. We kindly remind parents to name hats, lunch boxes, water bottles, etc. We really appreciate your assistance with this.

Q Parents

We invite all parents and carers to set up their Q Parents app. This app is our preferred option and is a one-stop location to check on your account or pay invoices, as well as to report absences. It is quick and easy to use, and will follow your child to any state school all the way through, including to high school. If you require any assistance to set this up, please contact executive services.

QParents_registration_quick_reference_guide.pdf