Our students and teachers have reached the tough end of the term. It’s going to be all about hard work, working smart and consistency to get through the last two weeks and all those assessment items. We have been talking to the students about what it means to work hard and show consistency in the classroom.

I am really encouraged by the work that I am seeing occurring in classrooms and the level of detailed feedback that students are receiving from their teachers. This feedback and responding to it is a vital step in improvement of an individual task.

Please encourage your young person to read any feedback on drafts very carefully and ask them if they understand what the teacher is telling them about their attempts.

The other challenging step for middle schoolers is being organised enough to meet those timelines. This is all about the working smarter idea. As a parent staying connected to your young person’s deadlines and coaching them to meet these is one way we can work together in their education. Please discuss with them when their deadlines are and work with them to achieve this around their other at-home commitments.

All these things will allow you to extend your support role in their learning which as a school we are grateful for and value the role you play in this as parents.

Term 1 Reports

Student reports will be emailed home on the last day of term. Please ensure that the email address we have recorded for you is current. Should you not have an email address registered with us, we will post your child’s report home.

Term 1 reports are interim reports. This means that they will indicate a child’s Term 1 achievement, effort and behaviour in each subject with grades only. We encourage you to follow up on this report by attending Parent Teacher Interviews in Term 2, Week 3. Information about how to book for Parent Teacher Interviews will be sent with reports.

Reading for Learning

Students are now counting down to the holidays and ticking off assessment items. It is a very busy time for students and their teachers, with everyone focussed on achieving the best possible results. Attendance every day is critical to maximise learning and academic performance.

At this time, students may be engaging in studying – perhaps for the first time. It is not uncommon for students to complain that they have studied for hours and remember nothing, or that they cannot remember what has happened in the novel they are reading. Education psychologists argue that to maintain ‘memory health’, one must eat and sleep well. It is also essential that students approach their reading with a focussed mindset – avoiding music and other distractions, and being determined to learn.

Beyond these strategies, it is recommended that students remember the acronym ‘SING’.

This means:

S – Stop at the end of each chapter or section. Pause and reflect on what has been read

I – Identify the main point of the story or writing

N – Never mind the details and

G – is for Gist. What is the gist of what has been read?

We know also that having to teach someone else makes learning easier, so have your child explain the chapter or section of work they have read to you.

NAPLAN 2019

At this stage, PBC will be participating in NAPLAN on paper this year, with a view to moving to online testing in the future. Tests will be conducted on 14 to 17 May.

We encourage all students to be part of NAPLAN if they are able to do so, and we make special provisions for students with disabilities. PBC teachers frequently use NAPLAN data to make decisions about differentiation and targeted teaching in the classroom. However, students may be withdrawn from the testing program by their parent/caregiver. Withdrawals are intended to address issues such as religious beliefs and philosophical objections to testing.

A formal notification of withdrawal must be received by the school prior to testing. Should you wish for your child to withdraw from NAPLAN, please contact HOD Middle School, Sharon Hillcoat, on shill242@eq.edu.au.

Attendance

The Middle School Attendance target for 2019 is 95%. Students are expected to attend every day, be punctual, and must be present for roll marking at the beginning of every class unless there is a valid excuse for absence. An unacceptable attendance record will lead to disciplinary action. Parent Compulsory Schooling Obligation - Failure to Attend Section 178(4) of the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006

Full Day Absence

Parents/caregivers must notify the school and provide an explanation of a student absence by 9:00am on the day of the absence.  Only ONE notification is required.

The priority for notification is:

1. Text Message – 0447 100 239 – provide student name, date and reason for absence OR
2. Email – absences@pbc-shs.eq.edu.au – provide student name, date and reason for absence OR
3. Phone – 07 5525 9333 – provide student name, your name, date and reason for absence OR
4. QParents App

Text messages are sent out to parents at 10:00am to notify you of an unexplained absence. If you receive a text message, you can reply to the message, providing your student name and reason for absence.

 Student Case Management

• the Middle School Optima team are responsible for your child’s wellbeing at PBC and our key priorities include attendance, positive behaviours and student case management so we can maximise student learning and performance
• parent/caregivers are required to update contact details for student profiles including change of address, phone, email, learning and/or medical conditions, Court Custody orders
• visit the PBC website for parent newsletters, staff email addresses and Assessment Calendars

Leaving Early

Leaving early (sign out) notes need to be written and signed by a parent/caregiver and delivered to the Middle School Student Services prior to 8:45am. It is appropriate for you to sign out no more than 3 times a term for an appointment or an activity during school hours.

The sign out note must specify:

• The specific reason for signing out (doctors, dentist, etc)
• The time and date that you need to sign out of school
• If a medical appointment, the time, location and professional that you have the appointment with must also be listed

Ongoing Early Departure

• any parent/caregiver requesting an ongoing early departure must complete the Student Leaving Early Request (with appropriate documents if required) and return to the Middle School office. Parent/caregivers will be notified if the request is approved or not approved.
• Any student with an approved Leaving Early Request must go to the Middle School office to sign out before leaving school grounds.
• Teaching staff will be advised of any student that is approved. 

The PBC’s Responsible Behaviour Plan for Students is available for perusal on the school website. Every student is expected to follow the Optima Code ‘Be Respectful, Be a Learner and Be Safe’ during the school day and in with wider community as they are representing PBC.