Cranbrook Newsletter - Term 2 Week 4 2021

Principal's Message

Emergency Contacts

Please ensure the school has up to date information regarding emergency contacts so that you can be reached if an illness or accident should occur.

Friday, 14th May is National "Walk Safely to School" Day.

Our School Captains handed out temporary tattoos to students who walked safely to school this morning.

This national campaign encourages all primary school children, their parents and carers to walk safely and regularly to school.

Remember! Until they are ten years old, children must always hold an adult's hand when crossing the road.

From My Readings...Are We Raising Great Kids? – Make Caring for Others a Priority!

Research shows that parents tend to highlight their children’s happiness and achievements over their children’s concern for others. Yet, this should be a priority as children need to learn to balance their needs with the needs of others, whether it’s passing the ball to a teammate or standing up for a friend who is being bullied.

They need to hear from parents that caring for others is a top priority. A big part of that is holding children to high ethical expectations, such as honouring their commitments, even if they don’t want to. For example, before kids quit a sports team, choir, or a friendship, we should ask them to consider their obligations to the group or the friend and encourage them to work out problems before quitting. Instead of saying to your children: “The most important thing is that you’re happy,” say “The most important thing is that you are kind.” Ensure that children always address others respectfully, even when they’re tired, distracted, or angry and emphasise caring, yourself, when you interact with other key adults in your children’s lives.

It’s never too late to become a caring person, but it won’t happen on its own. Children need to practice caring for others, express gratitude for those who care for them and contribute positively to others’ lives. Studies show that people who are in the habit of expressing gratitude are more likely to be helpful, generous, compassionate, and forgiving—and they’re also more likely to be happy and healthy. Learning to be caring is like learning to play a sport or an instrument. Daily repetition—whether it’s a helping a friend with class work, helping out around the house, or having a classroom job—help make caring second nature and develop and hone children’s caregiving capacities. Learning gratitude involves regularly practicing it.

Don’t reward your child for every act of helpfulness, such as clearing the dinner table. We should expect our children to help around the house, with siblings, and with neighbours and only reward uncommon/unexpected acts of kindness. Discuss with your child about the caring and uncaring acts they see on television and about acts of justice and injustice they might witness or hear about in the news. Make gratitude a daily ritual at dinnertime, bedtime, in the car, or on a family walk. Express thanks for those who care and give to us and others in large and small ways.

Children learn ethical values by watching the actions of adults they respect. They also learn values by thinking through ethical dilemmas with adults, e.g. “Should I invite a new neighbour to my birthday party when my best friend doesn’t like her?”. Being a moral role model and mentor means that we need to practice honesty, fairness, and caring ourselves. But it doesn’t mean being perfect all the time. For our children to be able to respect and trust us, we need to acknowledge our mistakes and flaws. We also need to respect children’s thinking and listen to their perspectives, demonstrating to them how we want them to engage others. Model caring for others by doing community service at least once a month. Even better, do this service with your child. Give your child an ethical dilemma at dinner or ask your child about dilemmas they’ve faced.

Here’s a simple way to teach your kids to calm down: ask your child to stop, take a deep breath through the nose and exhale through the mouth, and count to five. Practice when your child is calm ...

Read more in the article linked below:

Are you raising nice kids? A Harvard psychologist gives 5 ways to raise them to be kind - The Washington Post.  

Jeff Capell,
Principal

Positive Behaviour for Learning

Congratulations to Cwade from Year 5 who is this week's PBL Assembly Draw Winner!

School Photos - Timetable

School photos will be taken next week from Monday 17th to Wednesday 19th, inclusive. 

Students must wear their Cranbrook School Uniform.  Senior Students and Sports Captains are requested to bring their Senior shirts and their Sports Shirts in their bags on the days that their group photos are scheduled.  Below is copy of the School Photos Timetable.  Please contact the school if you have any enquiries.  

From the Resource Centre - Week 4

Many different learning programs are underway in the Resource Centre this Term.

• Global Tropics Future: Year 5 and 6 students engage with Thuringowa High School teachers and other students from around the region.  Year 6 are completing scientific investigations around agriculture and plant growth and Year 5 are writing their scientific report recording observations from a liquid density experiment.
• Solid Pathways: selected Year 4 - 6 Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander students have began online learning to see if modern computer coding languages and technologies can be used to revive ancient languages,  record environmental observations and help with Indigenous fire knowledge.
• Readers' Cup: students are preparing for the up and coming reading competition every Monday afternoon.  The competition requires teams to read 5 novels and then are tested on their reading and comprehension within a competitive team challenge in June.

What's On in Year 5

The Year 5 students have been learning about algorithms in Digital Technologies. They have been creating their algorithms using coding blocks to program Micro:bits to be used as a compass, reaction or zen game and even to power an automatic fan. Noah has spent weeks in both Digital Technologies lessons and STEM Excellence to problem solve and engineer his equipment to power a fan.  On Wednesday this week, he finally experienced success!

Year 5 Camp

A reminder that our Daradgee camp is quickly approaching! All fees and forms to be completed and returned by Friday 11th June! If there are any parents willing to come along, please get in contact with Miss Kennett as soon as possible on akenn233@eq.edu.au.

Keep an eye out for your information booklet and Parent info night on Tuesday 8th June at 5:30pm. 

Amy Kennett,
Year 5 Cohort Leader

Picture Plates

Last Chance!

If you would still like to have a picture plate printed, please return your forms by Friday 21st May.  More forms can be collected from the office.

Judy Turner
Teacher Aide - Prep Year

The Arts Space

The Cranbrook Preps and Year 6 classes are at it again! This term they are preparing a song to perform on assembly!

The classes have new buddies; 6A is now buddied with Prep C, 6B is now buddied with Prep A and 6C is now buddied with Prep B for Term 2.

They are working hard on learning their new song and also some instrumental and/or percussion parts. Here is a glimpse of their work-in-progress so far. Imagine what great pieces these new teams will have ready by the end of the term! 

Ms Sarah Earle and Mrs Suellen Onslow,
Performing Arts Teachers

Makayla's Monkey

On Thursday, Chappy Chrissy delivered a special surprise to 3A's classroom- 'There's a monkey in my chair' monkey, backpack and story book. This wonderful initiative by 'The Cure Starts Now' helps to keep us in touch with class members who are unable to physically be in classrooms due to illness. 

Makayla's monkey took pride of place in 3A's classroom yesterday as Makayla is unable to join 3A until her treatment in Brisbane is completed.  Makayla's monkey was an immediate hit. The children took the monkey to 'The Arts' lesson with Mrs Onslow and to the library during  borrowing time.

The children have already added cards and letters to the backpack that Chappy Chrissy will pass on to Makayla's family. We continue to wish Makayla and her family all the best through this 'difficult journey' and hope they take comfort in the knowledge that they are in our thoughts and hearts.

Mrs La Fauci and Ms Von Wald,
3A Class Teachers

From the P & C

New Tuckshop Menu

Our new tuckshop menu is here and will be available from Monday 17th May!

Chaplaincy Fundraising Dinner

Invite a friend or two to join us at our Chaplaincy Fundraising dinner on the 29th May.

Tickets must be purchased by 21st May and are available to purchase through QKR or at the P&C Uniform Shop.

Cost - $65 per person or $360 for a Table of 6. 

No tickets will be sold at the door.

For all enquiries and bookings, contact Bridget on 4726 1254 or email: pandcoperations@cranbrookss.eq.edu.au

We look forward to a having you join us for this special evening!  All proceeds go towards our School Chaplaincy services.  

Chaplaincy Fundraising Dinner

Chaplaincy Dinner Sponsors & Supporters

The Chaplaincy Committee, Cranbrook P and C Association and Cranbrook State School would like to thank the following businesses, supporters and families for their generosity and support towards the Chaplaincy Fundraising Dinner.  

News in Sports

Interschool Sports - Season 2

Season Two of Interschool Sports will commence in Week 7 on 3rd June.  Notes have been handed out this week.  Depending on the number of participants, the students will be playing Rugby Union, Touch and Soccer in Season 2.

Sports Achievements

Congratulations to the following Yr 6 students for their individual sporting achievments:

• Tellay - NQ 10-12yrs Basketball Team.  Tellay will be travelling to the Gold Coast on May 21st to play in the State Championship.
• Jett - Thuringowa Soccer Team - 12yrs and under - NQ Trials
• Rhylee - Thuringowa Football Team - 12yrs and under girls - NQ Trials
• Oliver - Thuringowa Rugby League Team - 12 years and under.
• Malakai - NQ Cyclones Touch Football Team.  Malakai made it into the NQ top 30 selection squad and on Sunday, he made the made the NQ Cyclones team and will travel to play in the Nationals in September.

Health and Physical Education in Term 2

This term we are doing athletics skills in preparation for the Athletics Carnival in Week 9.  The Preps are practicing catching, throwing and balancing skills using bean bags. 

Ms Lara Von Wald,
HPE and Year 3 Teacher

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 3

Community News