During Week 8 our students will look at this explicit teaching focus in a number of ways.  Through explicit and incidental teaching, students will ask to use and flush the toilet including washing their hands.  Students will be explicitly taught to close the toilet door and respect the right to privacy of others.  The teaching of these skills will be in conjunction with the use of the visual schedules to understand the micro skills involved in going to the toilet and washing their hands.  Students will be encouraged to flush the toilet after each use at school to ensure a clean and hygienic environment for their peers. 

Parents you can assist with this learning in a home school partnership, by encouraging your young person to flush the toilet after each use and wash their hands.  Please ask your teacher if they use a specific visual schedule, for your child in their classroom as this may assist with teaching the skill at home.  Families can assist this learning by explicitly teaching your young person to understand the need for privacy and shutting the door when they are in the toilet at home. When skills are taught at home and school it helps students with generalisation of learned skills.  Generalisation is the process where your young person has the ability to use skills that he/she has learned in new and different environments and transfer them to other environments. Whether the skills are functional or academic, once the skill is learned, it is required to be used in multiple settings in order to be considered generalised.

We are looking forward to planning our School's Book Week in real time as per The Children's Book Council of Australia date claimer. This will give us all plenty of time to engage with literature and select the character we want to be during the week of October 17. More information will be forwarded towards the end of term.

NEXT STEPS ANNUAL DATA

2020 Early School Leavers survey

The Queensland Government is seeking the support of the school community for the annual survey of Year 10, 11 and 12 students who left school in 2019, before completing Year 12. This short, confidential survey collects information about what young people are doing the year after leaving school. The results of the survey help provide valuable information to improve services available to school leavers in the future.

Between August and September, these school leavers can expect to receive instructions to complete a web-based survey or a telephone call from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office. Please encourage them to take part. If their contact details have changed, please assist the interviewer with their updated details or forward the survey to their new address so they can participate.

Thank you for your support of Next Step post-school destination surveys in 2020.

For more information, visit www.qld.gov.au/nextstep/ or telephone toll free on 1800 068 587.

Stop the Spread of COVID-19

Maintaining the required hygiene and physical distancing measures in place in our school. These are our most effective ways to stop the spread of COVID-19. It is not preferred however for Term 3 we will maintain limiting large groups of adults onsite or outside personnel from outside agencies eg therapists. All contractors for work repairs will adhere to Departmental guidelines.

we would like to clarify that if a member of your household is sick, you are not required to stay home unless you have received health advice to do so.

Any person who is sick (staff, student or parent) should stay home and if they have any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, get tested.

Symptoms of COVID-19 can include: 

• Fever
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Loss of taste or smell
• Tiredness and muscle aches
• Vomiting and/or diarrhoea
• Shortness of breath

If students or staff present at school as unwell we will follow up and request an imediate early departure until a medical clearance is provided and confirmation that the person is well.

We need to ensure we stay home if recurring flu like symptoms present to decrease the spread of influenza.

Further information about COVID-19 testing is available via the link below:

https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/stay-informed/testing-and-feverclinics

If you have any questions, please call your doctor or call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84).

Border restrictions Remain in Place

You would be aware that the Premier announced that from 1am Saturday 8 August, all local government areas in NSW and the ACT will be declared COVID-19 hotspots.

This means that any person who has been in NSW or the ACT during the past 14 days must not enter Queensland.  There are some exceptions subject to strict conditions including Queensland residents returning home who will be subject to government-directed quarantine at their own expense.

School Community new No Card, No Start blue card laws commence this Monday 31 August 2020.  

In support of this, a new Working with children authority procedure is now available. It includes a refreshed guideline and flowcharts to support Principals, Managers and employees to comply with their obligations.

While not an exhaustive list, important key changes are as follows:

• A person cannot commence working with children unless they hold a valid blue card linked to the organisation (No Card, No Start). 
• Existing employees cannot continue working with children if their blue card expires. It is imperative that blue cards are renewed prior to expiry (No Card, No Continue). 
• New obligations in relation to Restricted Persons and Restricted Employment, which prohibit persons who have been disqualified from holding a blue card to rely on an exemption provided to certain volunteers (eg. parents of a student at the school).
• Through P&C Qld we recommend that parents undertake applying for a volunteer card.
• New online application process.

• Student attendance 8.30 am till 2.45 pm.
• Phone the office and request the classroom. Please always be mindful of students' learning and teachers teaching times.
• If you are late to start the school day please attend the School Office and staff will assist with contacting your class.
• Utilise the students' Communication Diary and Seesaw.
• Request face to face meetings through your class teacher before, after school or in their noncontact time.

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