Term 2 Issue 10 Thursday 25 June 2020

Dear Parents and Caregivers, Work in the Hearing Impaired Unit is progressing well. The lino has been laid in the corridors and storage cupboards under the windows have been completed. The kitchen has been installed. The classrooms now have a teaching wall with sliding whiteboards and pigeonhole storage underneath. We are waiting for the Touchboards to be installed.

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Our procedures for Term 3 are as follows:

Before School Drop-Off

Parents are not to enter the school grounds to drop off their child/ren

Due to onsite safety measures parents need to ‘Drop and Go’

Students are to enter the school via ‘2 Minute Zone’, ‘Dirt Car Park’ (behind Pool) or ‘Tennis Court Gate’

Staff will be at gates to direct children to the Quadrangle from 8:20am

After School Pick-Up: - Changed arrangements for pick up for Term 3:

Parents are not to enter the school grounds to collect their child/ren

ALL STUDENTS in Prep and Year 1 and their siblings must be picked up via the ‘Dirt Car Park’ or the Tennis Court Gate. Not the ‘2 Minute Zone’

At 2:45pm: All students will be escorted to Option 1, 2 or 3 (see below)

Students who walk or ride/scooter to and from school can use either Option 2 or 3.

Parents / Students can either -

Option 1: Parents of students in Year 2 - 6 can use the ‘2 Minute Zone’ OR

Option 2: Park in the ‘Dirt Car Park’ behind the School Pool (Entrance off Balerang Street). You are to remain in your car and students will be escorted to you OR

Option 3: All students who catch public transport, walk or ride/scooter can use the ‘Tennis Court Gate’

Parent Teacher Interviews are being held on Tuesday 21 July from 3:00pm - 7:00pm. Face to Face Interviews will be held in the classrooms to discuss your child/ren’s progress. Your child/ren will be given a Parent Teacher Interview letter and those with email addresses will receive the letter via email as well.

Hello Stafford State School Community Thank you for all being so kind over the last 2 years. It is with great sadness that at the end of the first week of Vacation Care I will be leaving Helping Hands to follow my career pathway of becoming a teacher. The Holiday Care Program can be found at the end of this Newsletter. Call Helping Hands for any enquires. Tom Nicholson Ph: 0438 666 077

Principal Star Awards

Congratulations to this week’s Principal Star

Award recipients.

P1 David A

P2 Amelia S

1A Lincoln B

1B Tiffany G

2A Grace B

2/3B Kyarlah-Lee G

3A Daryl P

3/4C Amelia P

4A Hunter R

5A Isabella B

5B Rose B

6A Georgia S

HELPING HANDS

TERM 3 PROCEDURES

PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS

Procedures in State Schools will change in Term 3 to reflect the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. The following information is provided to Parents and Caregivers from Education Queensland and the Government.

On-site Health and Safety Measures

Unwell Students Under the Queensland Chief Health Officer Directive, any student who is unwell must not attend school and students should remain at home until well. The school must ask parents/carers to collect their child from school if they are unwell.

Physical Distancing within Schools Staff, parents and other adult visitors will need to observe physical distancing measures by not congregating in areas inside or around the school. This means:

not gathering before or after school not gathering in the car park not gathering at drop off and pick up not gathering at the school gate

At Stafford procedures minimising interactions of students and adults within the school and at school entry points will include:

restricting adult (including visitors and parent) access to school grounds

supervision at school gates, including during drop off and pick up times and supervised movements between the school gate and classrooms

minimising adult access to office environments and recommending contact be made to the school via electronic means

Hygiene Measures In accordance with Stage 3 of Queensland’s Roadmap to easing restrictions, schools are required to maintain appropriate health and hygiene measures:

regular handwashing and hand sanitising, particularly before and after eating, and after going to the toilet

covering coughs and sneezes increased cleaning of school classrooms,

particularly high frequency touch points including light switches, door handles and drinking taps

regular cleaning of playground equipment and play materials

School Assembly Weekly School Assemblies will commence for all students, starting in Week 1. Following our guidelines, parents are not able to enter the school grounds for Assembly at this stage.

Excursions, Incursions, Events and Camps Excursions and camps are permitted to be held at locations or businesses that have approved COVID Safe Industry Plans and Department of Education Outdoor and Environmental Education Centres (O&EEC).

At Stafford we are intending to hold:

Parent Teacher Interviews Soccer X After School Soccer Clinic School Open Day Cross Country Carnival Prep Information Evening Life Education incursion for Year 5 and 6 Sports Day 2021 Prep Interviews

Instrumental Music Program and Ensembles Instrumental Music Programs, Ensembles and Choirs are able to rehearse in the school environment provided that safety protocols are in place.

P&C and School Council Meetings To ensure physical distancing requirements are maintained and other COVID-19 control measures are implemented, P&C and School Council Meetings can occur within school grounds. Where possible meetings may include options for teleconference or online platforms.

OHSC - Helping Hands OSHC – Helping Hands will continue to operate before and after school care.

Stafford State School Playgroup The Stafford State School Playgroup will resume in Term 3. Programs such as playgroups, early childhood development programs (ECDPs) and KindyLinQ that involve parents on school sites need to follow EQ’s operating guidelines in line with the Queensland’s Roadmap to easing restrictions.

Stafford State School Playgroup procedures are:

Physical distancing requirements for adults will remain in place

Activities will be conducted outside Parking for Playgroup parents will be on the

School Oval only

Confirmed Case Management of COVID-19 The Public Health Unit will directly contact a school to confirm the presence of a confirmed COVID-19 case and will advise of any additional measures such as self-quarantine/contact tracing. In accordance with health authority advice, schools may be closed for a short time if there is a confirmed case. This time will be used to support contact tracing and specialist cleaning as required.

Term 2 Recipients Principal’s Morning Tea

P1 Green Smart G & Matilda B

P2 Vedant C & Emily G

1A Isla P & Lucy J

1B Bella A & Susan R

2A Grace B & James P

2/3B Avina H & Matilda G

3A Astrid C & Sarah A

3/4C Ashley O & Daniel L

4A Aiden P & Charlotte G

5A Gabe N & Martha E

5B Lachlan C & Ashwin P

6A Alione P & San Da M

I wanted to finish the term by reflecting on what has been a monumental semester of schooling. So, for what it’s worth these are my thoughts:

we have learnt that schools are about far more than just the 3Rs

the learning that happens at home contributes just as much as the learning at school

by working together we can achieve anything

our parents have been amazing, patient and respectful of our staff and the need to keep them safe

kids are far more adaptable and resilient than we sometimes think

I am proud of the way our school community has supported each other, the staff, and businesses that are a part of our wider community

it has been delightful to see the smiling faces of students and staff when all students returned to school

I have loved starting my day by greeting students as they arrive at school

we all need more fun in our everyday lives

now more than ever Kindness matters the staff and I are going to appreciate

this holiday just a little more than previous holidays

School resumes on Monday 13 July. Wishing you a safe and relaxing holiday.

Kind Regards, Lee Martin

JUNE

25 Report Cards sent home

26 Pancake Breakfast

26 Term 2 Recipients for Principal’s Morning Tea

26 Last Day of Term 2

JULY

13 First Day of Term 3