Cranbrook Newsletter - Term 1 Week 6 2021

Principal's Message

During 2020, we have had a significant focus on ensuring our learners are successful. What this looks like this year is:

• Our high achieving students will be offered extension and enrichment activities either through our Extra or Co-curricular programs and/or additional learning opportunities through our Global Tropics partnership with James Cook University, our school based enrichment program run by Mrs Sam Negra or an individual enrichment program coordinator by Cohort Leaders/Classroom Teachers.
• The Whole School Approach Improvement and Decision making Team, led by our Head of Inclusion means our teachers will be focusing on the three layers of quality teaching and learning (Differentiation, Focused Teaching and Intensive Teaching) for 100% of our students.
• The Positive Behaviour for Learning Improvement and Decision Making Team will continue the great work Cranbrook has already achieved in this area to support students and staff in continuing to make Cranbrook State School a positive place.

The Staff Car Park is for Staff 

Please do not park in the staff car park when picking up your children after school.  Parents are reminded that the school staff car park is not a safe place for children to be delivered or collected from school.

Another important reminder for parents -  Please do not drop your children off on or near the pedestrian crossing on Bergin Road as it is unsafe for the children who are using the crossing correctly.  

Facebook

Are you following yet?  Reminders and updates are posted regularly.

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 5

Positive Behaviour For Learning

Congratulations to Calvin from Year 3, who is this week's PBL Assembly Draw Winner.

Reading - Explicit Improvement Agenda wk 6

Below are some quick tips to help build your child's literacy skills.  No need to make it super complicated.  Have fun and get creative at home with this.

From the Resource Centre

Cranbrook Book Fair 

Coming Soon - Week 9

Buying days will be:

Monday           22nd March     8am-4pm    

Tuesday          23rd March     8am-4pm 

Wednesday     24^th March     8am-4pm

Thursday         25^th March     8am-4pm 

WHERE:          Cranbrook Resource Centre 

LOST

Kiwi Reading Buddy

The Library Reading Buddies and Mrs Shepherd are very sad as one of our Reading Buddies, Kuwi the Kiwi is missing.  She is so loved by all of Cranbrook Readers and we miss her everyday.  If you find Kuwi the Kiwi please return her to the Reading Buddies in the library where she is happy listening to stories.

From the P & C

P & C Annual General Meeting

The P&C AGM 2021, will be held on 17th March 2021, at 6pm in the Uniform Shop (location is subject to change, pending numbers).  The AGM, will be followed by the March General Meeting.

All positions and memberships are vacated at the AGM.  

New memberships will be accepted.  Please forward a completed membership form below, to pandc@cranbrookss.eq.edu.au or drop into the office before the meeting.  The AGM is the only meeting that you are able to submit a membership form and it be accepted in your absence.  

Nominations for executive positions are welcomed.  Nominations can be in writing (on the membership form) or from the floor on the night.  You can nominate yourself or someone else can nominate you.  If you are nominated, you will be asked if you accept the nomination prior to be elected in.

You do not have to be an Executive - you can choose to be a General Member.

Positions that will be vacant:

• President:  Responsible for ensuring compliance in relation to legislation and regulations, works in conjunction with the Operations Manager and other staff.  Chairs the meetings.
• Vice-President:  Support for the President and responsible for all President duties in absence or in conjunction with the President.
• Secretary:  Responsible for all administrative work of the P&C in conjunction with the Operations Manager including agendas, minutes and correspondence.
• Treasurer:  Responsible for the financial viability, budgeting, accounting and compliance of the P&C Association in conjunction with the Operations Manager.

All Executives are the Approved Providers for OSHC and are the P&C Employers.   All are responsible for the compliance and operation of the P&C Association.  Although no experience or qualifications (except a current Blue Card) are required, some knowledge of P&C operations, legislation and financial management would be beneficial.

The Executive Committee work in conjunction with Bridget Bambrick - P&C Operations Manager, who oversees the management of the P&C Association.  If you would like more information regarding duties and responsibilities of roles or the process at the AGM, please feel free to contact Bridget on 0402 142 961 or pandcoperations@cranbrookss.eq.edu.au or email the current executives on pandc@cranbrookss.eq.edu.au

Bridget Bambrick

P & C Operations Manager

The Arts Space

Concert Band

Our School Concert Band is made up of students who learn woodwind, brass and percussion instruments at Cranbrook.  Students rehearse once a week on Thursday morning from 7:50-8:30am and they are loving having their new Concert Band director and wind teacher Ms Greenfield.

We cant wait to hear the band perform later in the year! 

What Your Child is Learning this Term

The following attachments have information on what your child is learning this term at Cranbrook in their Year Level.  For more information on how you can support your child/ren, please contact the Classroom Teacher or Cohort Leader.

Year 6 Science Excursion

In Term One, Year 6 students have been accessing 2 multi-disciplinary units. 

As part of Unit 2 "Will I Survive the Next Pandemic?",  Year 6 students went on an excursion to Heatley Secondary College to perform an experiment - How Clean is Your Surroundings? 

Students worked with Ms Estri and her assistant James, to swab a range of different surfaces to see the growth of micro-organisms on different surfaces.  Agar dishes were placed in a refrigerator and incubator to see which environment would have a greater growth rate.  Students will compare and classify different types of observable changes to materials as part of their assessment. Students will also use this information to compare the growth of micro-organisms and the impact on the human body, during a pandemic.

News in Sports

Interschool Sports

Interschool Sports Training

Commences in week 7.

• Hockey Training – Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday on MPC at 2nd Break
• Rugby League Training – Wednesday at 2nd Break
• Netball Training – Monday 1st Break

Please note:  Students participating in Hockey and Rugby must have a mouthguard for training and for game days on Thursdays.

Game Day Gear

All Rugby League players need to bring a mouth guard, headgear and footy boots.

Hockey players need to bring a mouth guard.  All students need to bring a hat and water bottle. 

The  game draws can be viewed/downloaded below. 

Please contact Ms Von Wald for any enquiries.

Below are some photos of our 2021 Sports Excellence Team, Interschool Sports training sessions and footy game.

School Disco

NAPLAN Online 2021

This year Cranbrook will be re-engaging with NAPLAN online.  We have had great success with online in the past and look forward to more success in 2021.  Below is some information to familiarise yourselves with so you are aware of what happens on the ground.

NAPLAN Online test window

The NAPLAN Online test window is nine days. Day 1 is a Tuesday and Day 9 is the Friday of the following week.

The writing test must be scheduled within a two-day test window and schools must schedule writing from the first day of the appropriate two-day test window. For Year 5, the writing window is day 1 and 2. For Years 7 and 9, the writing window is day 2 and 3. 

The tests need to be taken in a specific order. Individual students are not permitted to sit the online tests after Day 9.  

There is an information flyer below to provide more information for you.  When a test schedule has been confirmed this will be published for our parents and community to see when their child will be engaging in these tests.

If you choose to withdraw your child from the testing program this must be done in consultation with the school.  Withdrawals are intended to address issues such as religious beliefs and/or philosophical objections.  The principal must obtain a signed parent/carer consent form for student.  The privacy information for parents is attached in the PDF below.

Tammy Haupt

Head of Curriculum

Community News