Cranbrook Newsletter - Term 1 Week 2 2021

Principal's Message

Staffing - Day 8

Our numbers for our Day 8 staffing return will not see any significant changes to student class lists due the school maintaining the current enrolment numbers of 497. 

Parent Teacher Communication

All parents should have received an introductory letter or information sheet from their student's classroom teacher. Parent/teacher meetings will be held in Week 3, Thursday 11^th February to explain to parents the classroom expectations and routines for 2021.  The P and C will also run a fundraiser sausage sizzle in the afternoon.  

Traffic Problems

Many schools face the challenge of traffic congestion at drop off and pick up times with regard to finding a car park.  Please don’t forget that you can make use of the numerous car parking spaces on Bergin Road and Albert Street.  Patience is needed at these very busy times to maximise the safety and wellbeing of all our students.

Parent Class Representatives

Our Parent Class Representatives will be finalised after the new class lists have been finalised.

Teaching Staff email addresses

A pdf list of our teaching staff and their email addresses is available to view and download below.

Investiture Ceremony

The 2021 Senior Council Investiture Ceremony will be held in Week 5, on Thursday 25th February at 2:30pm.  

Parent Volunteer Course

The parent volunteer course will be conducted by classroom teachers from Week 2.  If you are interested in volunteering within our school you will need to arrange a time with your child’s teacher to do the 10 minute annual update.

Jeff Capell,
Principal

Every Day Counts - Attendance

Regular, punctual attendance at school is expected of all students.  Students should be present at school ready to prepare for the day's learning by 8:30am.

Late Arrivals

Students arriving after 8:50am must report to the office to receive a lateslip.  If a student is late, a letter of explanation from the student's parent/guardian must be presented to the office staff on arrival.

Absence

If a student is absent and the parent/guardian has not notified the school, they will receive an automated text message by 10am that day.  

Parents will receive a text message informing them that their child is absent. If you receive one of these text messages, please contact the school to explain the reason for your child’s absence.

A working mobile number should be registered with the school, if available.

Please remember that absence is only marked for the days specified by the parents. If you ring up on a Monday informing that your child is sick and they remain away from school for the following 2 days because they are sick you need to inform us that this was the reason for their absence. You can inform us after the absence via a message directly to the teacher or by contacting our absence hotline or email.

If your child is absent, please leave a message detailing:

• Child's name
• Class
• Reason for absence
• Dates or duration of absence

Absence For More Than 10 Days

What is an exemption and why do I need it?

Every parent of a child of compulsory school age has a legal obligation to ensure their child is enrolled and attending school. Parents can apply for an exemption from this obligation when their child cannot attend or it would be unreasonable in all the circumstances for their child to attend school for a period of more than 10 consecutive school days.

Situations where an application for an exemption may be made include:

• Illness
• Family reasons
• Cultural or religious reasons

If your child is exempt from compulsory schooling, you are excused from your obligation in relation to compulsory schooling. 

The school principal is not responsible for providing an educational program for your child, however they may provide advice on other educational options available. Decisions about exemptions for up to one school year are made by the principal and decisions about exemptions for more than one school year are made by the relevant Regional Director of the Department of Education, Training and Employment, responsible for the supervision of the school your child attends.   

Attendance Award Week 1

Positive Behaviour For Learning

Explicit Improvement Agenda - Reading

2021 is the year for our school to refocus on reading.  We spent our Pupil Free Days working with our teachers and aides to ensure everyone has clarity on the how to teach reading at Cranbrook.  

To support parents at home we will be providing some basic information in the newsletter each week to give you all a better understanding of the process of reading and some tips and tricks for you to try at home.

Tammy Haupt,
Head of Curriculum

Message from Chappy

Welcome back to a new school year at Cranbrook SS.

It has been wonderful reconnecting with our school community and seeing students looking very smart in the new school uniforms.

Coming back into any routine after a long break can bring with it a mixture of feelings.

Some people are ready to take on the world while others may be challenged by the prospect of what lies ahead.

Some parents can’t wait to drop their children off at school while other feels anxious and concerned.

Students are adjusting to new rooms, new teachers, new teacher aides and for some a new school.

As I walk around the school and visit classrooms there is a sense of calm, but I am very aware that it is because of committed staff who work extremely hard behind the scenes to create that in a classroom, while educating young people.

Our school creates a safe place to learn.

It is my prayer that this year will be a special year and that our whole school community works together for a common goal which is to educate, nurture and care for our students.

Christine Walter,
Chaplain

From the Resource Centre

Welcome to all students and parents, we look forward to seeing old faces and new utilising the Cranbrook Resource Centre.  Below are some reminders about student borrowing which begins Week 2.

• Prep to Year 3 students MUST have a library bag to be able to borrow a book.  All students can use their red bags from last year.  If it is lost/damaged, please see the class teacher.
• We encourage Year 4 to 6 to keep using a library bag – it keeps books safe from leaky water bottles.
• Students in Prep to Year 2 are able to borrow 1 library book.
• Students in Year 3 to Year 6 are able to borrow 2 books.
• Books are borrowed for 1 week.
• Students are unable to borrow until they have returned their previously borrowed books.

There are 230 overdue or lost books from last year

PLEASE RETURN ALL LIBRARY AND HOME READER BOOKS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

Sadly, we have MANY books that haven’t been returned from last year!  Please have a good look at home to see if they can be found.  They will have Cranbrook State School clearly marked on the back cover and inside title page of the book.  We get very excited when LOST books are FOUND!

You will receive an email notice this week asking for the return or payment for lost books from 2020. This payment can be made at the office.

Library books are $10.00

Home Readers are $5.00

Download Our School Communication App

A direct and free communication channel to parents

SZapp is a mobile app that’s free for parents to download. SZapp allows our school to send free push notifications to our families and school community at any time.

Everything at your fingertips

The App features:  Events, News, School E-Newsletters, School Calendar, Forms and Documents and push notification alerts (Newsflashes) direct from the school.

All of our school's important information is collated in the one place and notifications are sent to our families and school community your mobile device so you can receive instant updates.

INSTALLING SZapp

1. On your device, open the App Store
2. Search the App Store for SZapp
3. Download and install SZapp

FIND YOUR SCHOOL

1. Select your school's region (Queensland)
2. Search for and select your school (Cranbrook State School)

REGISTER A USER

Before you can add your school, you will need to register.  Register with your email, or sign in with Google or Facebook. Enter your email and name and then create a password.

MANAGING NOTIFICATIONS

Choose which group/s you would like to receive notifications from. Groups with arrows indicate that there are sub-groups which you can join.  Push Notifications – turn on to receive instant alerts to updates.

Laptop Program Information Session

Parents and guardians of Year 5 and 6 students are invited to attend the Laptop Program Information session on Wednesday 10th February to learn more about the BYOL (Bring Your Own Laptop) Program or to participate in the 1 to 1 Laptop Program.  Please contact our school office for all enquires.

Cranbrook's new Adopted Cowboy's Player

On Tuesday, 2nd February Year 4 teachers, Mrs La Fauci and Ms Von Wald met Cranbrook's new Adopted Cowboy's player - Wiremu Greig or 'Woody', as he prefers to be called. Wiremu was born in New Zealand and has played for the Northern Pride and the Blackhawks. Wiremu is  looking forward to meeting our Cranbrook school community on his first visit, which is on Wednesday 17 February and we look forward to welcoming him to our school

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys and their Adopt-a-School sponsors- Bravus for continuing this valuable partnership with our schools. The children and staff enjoy the interactions and personal nature of these visits. 

P & C Meeting

Parent Class Information Session

All parents and caregivers are invited to attend the Parent Class Information Session on Thursday 11th February to learn more about our classroom procedures and to connect with your child/ren's teachers.  The P and C are having a sausage sizzle fundraiser.  Please remember that social distance rules apply.

The Arts Space

WELCOME 2021 CONCERT BAND STUDENTS

Welcome concert band students to 2021’s Concert Band Program!

Concert Band will be held on THURSDAY MORNING’S at 7:50AM. Miss Greenfield is looking forward to seeing you all there in WEEK 3 (11^th Feb 2021). Don’t forget to bring your instrument, music folders/music and a pencil.

Our Concert Band members for 2021 are:

I look forward to seeing you all there.

Ms Greenfield

Sports Excellence

Our Sporting Excellence Program endeavours to:

• Provide expert coaching for identified students to further enhance their skill development and knowledge in numerous sports throughout the year.
• Encourage students to participate and represent Cranbrook State School at interschool, district, regional and state sporting events.
• Identify pathways for targeted students to participate and gain selection in representative district, regional and state sporting teams and competitions
• Develop and maintain partnerships with local and wider business, government and sport community which support Cranbrook's Sporting Excellence Program.
• Promote participation in state wide competitions and carnivals.

The Outcomes for students include:

• Increased numbers of students participating in school sports and Physical Education Programs.
• Increased numbers of students with higher-level sporting skills and fitness.
• Increased numbers of students participating whilst representing the school at interschool, district, regional and state sporting events.
• Increased number of targeted students gaining selection in representative sporting teams and competitions.
• Increased sponsorship and partnerships with the local and wider business community assisting with the provision of financial, physical and human resources that support the enhancement of student needs and sporting programs/resources.

For more information please contact Ms Von Wald lmvon0@eq.edu.au

Sports Pride Fridays

Cranbrook Outside School Hours Care

Community Notices

Book Club Orders are Due back on Friday 19th February

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information published in our newsletter is accurate.

Please contact our office for any enquiries.