Everleigh State School eNewsletter

Principal's Message

Despite the horribly warm weather, we have had a smooth start to the school year. Thank you for your support.

Current enrolments

As of Day 8, the day all schools are required to confirm and lodge their current student enrolments, we had 544 students. This number is expected to increase throughout the year as new house builds continue within our catchment area.

Morning procedures at school

From 8:00 am, our school gates are open and students are supervised in the junior and senior waiting areas while they sit and wait quietly for the day to begin. 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 8.30am. Students will be able to make their way to classrooms to unpack their bags and get ready to start their day of learning. We ask that parents please say good-bye down stairs and allow their children to walk up to class. This will ease the congestion in the stair wells to ensure these are safe for our students. This change will come into effect from Monday morning. We thank you for your assistance in directing your child to their classroom at this time.

Parent/Carer afternoon waiting areas

I will continue to remind parents and carers of appropriate waiting areas, away from classrooms of an afternoon. It is extremely difficult for students to remain focused and on task when parents/carers are looking and waving through windows. It is also unfair and unnerving for our teaching staff to feel they are being ‘watched’ through the windows. Please show respect to the learning environments and remain in the dedicated waiting areas until the bell rings at 2.30 pm.

From Monday of week 4, gates will not open for parent/carer access until 2.15 pm. Parents/Carers are requested to not access the school via the office. Please wait until the gates are opened at 2.15 pm.

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

Drop off and Pick up in Kangaroo Zone

We continue to see parents not following procedures during drop off and pick up. It is a first come, first serve when waiting in the 2-minute zone in the Kangaroo Zone. As the car in front leaves, please drive up to the next bay to keep the flow of traffic moving.

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. Drivers are expected to remain in line and not overtake other drivers to find a spot closer to the crossing.

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

A HUGE thank you to those families who are using the Visor Cards at both pick up points of an afternoon. This helps our staff and students greatly.

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. There are a number of students who are arriving to school late on a regular basis. If you are experiencing difficulty in getting your child to school on time, please contact us for support.

This table outlines attendance details for the first 2 weeks of our school year. As it is evident, there are a number of students who arrive late, or leave early. Our school day starts at 8.30 am and finishes at 2.30 pm.

On Friday of week 2, 17 students were called to leave early in the space of 5 minutes! This increases unnecessary work for Miss Carol and Miss Marina, and causes interruption to teaching and learning. It is particularly frustrating when parents/carers arrive without notice and expect their child to be pulled out of class immediately. In the event your child is required to leave early, please call in advance.

Year Level	No. of students	Attendance Rate	Unexplained Absences	Late arrivals/Early Departures
Prep	106	94.76	5	41
Year 1	110	92.48	6	92
Year 2	101	92.13	4	46
Year 3	62	91.25	3	47
Year 4	53	91.86	7	39
Year 5	57	94.74	7	55
Year 6	57	91.61	2	48
Total	546	92.69	34	368

Parent_waiting_areas.pdf

Carpark_map.pdf

Deputy Principals' Message

School Leader Induction

On Tuesday, our school leaders will receive their badges on parade. Due to this, our parade will commence at 9am and will be longer than our typical parades. We are proud to recognise our school leaders and are excited for the role they play in representing our school and fulfilling their roles as role models for our student body.

Parent Volunteer Sessions

Parents are viewed as partners in the education of children. In line with this, parents may be invited to be involved in classrooms and with school activities. As per our departmental processes, volunteers in the school are required to undergo training. This training reviews code of conduct and how to work with student privacy matters. It also discusses Workplace Health and Safety. We are holding two sessions this term.

Session 1: Wednesday February 14^th, 1:30pm in the Staff Conference Room.

Session 2: Friday February 16^th at 08:30 in the Staff Conference Room.

Please email admin@everleighss.eq.edu.au to confirm your attendance.

School Camp

Students in Year 6 are gearing up for school camp in Week 6. This will occur from Monday February 26^th-Wednesday February 28^th. Students will be focussing on developing leadership and working as a team through a range of challenging activities throughout the camp whilst also including a little fun. This is a wonderful opportunity for students. Payment is due by Wednesday February 14^th.

PBL Focus - Weeks 3 & 4 - Commitment - From the PBL TEAM

Message From the Head of Special Education Services (HoSES)

TRANSITIONS

The last few weeks have been busy helping all over students find their feet at school. Teachers have been busily teaching expectations and our school rules to help our students feel welcomed, safe and supported.

All transitions for students are in important milestones! Creating a positive experiences and successful transition for children as they move from kindy to Prep, or year levels sets the foundation for their learning, wellbeing and development. To help your child with the move, there are some fun and helpful resources, activities and games available:

NDIS SUPPORT IN SCHOOL:

We are experiencing a high volume of requests for Therapist Services at Everleigh. If you are interested or are looking for your child’s therapist to work with them in school, the following information is important for you.

Children aged 7 years and older with permanent disability may be able to access NDIS supports External link to help them achieve their goals. Supports may include assistance with daily living, therapy to help them improve or maintain their skills and function, assistance to improve social and community participation, or funding for assistive technologies such as communication or mobility equipment.

In some instances, parents may request that NDIS providers deliver supports included in their child's NDIS Plans (NDIS supports) at school, during school time. The NDIS providers may be either engaged by the parent or NDIS plan managers.

Principals will consider these requests on a case-by-case basis. For more information, see the following resources:

The new NDIS Provider staff access to state schools – frequently asked questions fact sheet (PDF, 225KB) provides information and scenarios developed based on an analysis of frequently asked questions and emerging issues in relation to the NDIS Provider access to state schools procedure. Schools may find this resource helpful when considering parent requests for NDIS provider access to state schools.
The department's NDIS providers in schools policy, procedure and related fact sheets, including a parent access request form, are available on the department's policy and procedure website External link

SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD’S WELLBEING AND LEARNING

All parents and carers are encouraged to watch the short online video presentations by respected child and adolescent psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg.

There is a very strong link between the wellbeing of young people, and their ability to learn and achieve in education.

Dr Carr-Gregg outlines ways that you can support your child’s wellbeing at home, which will in turn help them during their school years.

The webisodes provide an opportunity to learn practical ideas and tips and are available online at:

http://deta.qld.gov.au/initiatives/learningandwellbeing/resources.html

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.

REMINDER

2024 Student Resource Scheme (SRS)

A deposit, full payment or part payment of the SRS and iPad hire scheme is required to be paid by Friday 23 February 2024. If payments for both schemes are not received by this date access to all iPad apts will be restricted until payment is received.

The department’s 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 between 8am & 3pm.

Please contact the office on 07 2899 5111 or alternatively email admin@everleighss.eq.edu.au if you have any questions.

Thank you to the majority of parents and carers who have already made payment.

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. Please see attached photos of some recent items handed into the office.

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. The app 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

Music Notes with Mrs Chivers

Welcome back for 2024.

I was so proud of all the students at the end of year concert last November. They all put in a great effort on their items. Thank you, families for your support. It was a great evening.

We are well and truly back into lessons this year.

Semester One has a dance focus and students will be assessed in this area at the end of semester. They will be assessed in music at the end of Semester Two.

Years One and Two are looking at dance as action stories and will be choreographing and performing a short dance with a partner.

Years Three and Four are exploring dance as celebration. They will be responding to dances from around the world and learning a dance to perform.

Years Five and Six are looking at dances from countries in the Asia Pacific region. They will respond to dances viewed and learn a dance to perform.

Preps are exploring music and dance through singing, dancing and playing music games.

Choir will be starting up in week 4.

This year we will be rehearsing in the music room at second break on Wednesdays.

Choir is open to students from years 3 to 6.

JUST REMEMBER…..

Music is life… That’s why our hearts have beats.

(Cecily Morgan)

STEAM News from Ms Jenkins

This fortnight in STEAM we have been madly designing and creating with a passion!

Our Juniors have enjoyed using different materials to follow steps and construct finger puppets as well as practising their coding using the beebot appl. The preps have had fun learning how to use our Indi robots, building, counting and digital drawing.

Our 3 and 4 group have started learning about the 3 R’s and had a ball designing and making their mascot from recycled materials. The year 5 and 6’s first challenge has been to create a design that one of our preppies drew. The students have been experimenting with felt and sewing to create their preppies ‘friendly monster’. They are looking forward to giving it to their prep friend when it is finished.

Everleigh P & C News

P&C AGM

Would you like to be involved in contributing towards school events and help to raise money for school resources? Come along to our AGM on Monday 4th March at 6pm in the resource centre and join our P&C team. There are many ways you can contribute, and we look forward to seeing you there!

Parent Helper Needed!

We are in need of a parent volunteer to be our book club coordinator for 2024! It involves a small amount of time twice each month distributing the Scholastic book club catalogues, submitting the parent online orders and then handing out orders when they arrive.

Book Club benefits our school —for every Book Club order placed, Scholastic gives back 15% of the order spent to our school to purchase valuable educational resources and new books via its Scholastic Rewards program.

Please email everleighsspandc@gmail.com if you can help with this role and help to provide more books and resources for our students.