Junior School Routines

Routines play a vital role in fostering a calm and predictable environment for students. When children know what to expect, they feel safe, confident, and ready to engage in learning. Whether in the classroom or during break times, structured routines help students develop responsibility and self-management skills.

One of the most important routines in a school day is the eating routine. Just as classroom procedures help maintain focus and order, structured mealtimes contribute to students' overall well-being and ensure a smooth transition to playtime. At Aspley, we follow a clear eating routine that encourages respect for shared spaces and responsibility for personal belongings.

At break times, students are expected to take their lunch boxes, water bottles, and hats to their designated eating areas. While eating, they must remain seated and keep their area tidy. This not only promotes good manners but also helps maintain a clean and inviting environment for everyone.

After 15 minutes of eating time, students will be asked to pack up, dispose of any rubbish in the bins, and place their hands on their heads. The teacher on duty will then dismiss them in an orderly manner. Following dismissal, students will return their lunch boxes and water bottles to their bags, ensuring they are placed inside and zipped up—not left on top—to keep their belongings secure. They will then walk to their play areas, ready to enjoy the rest of their break.

By following these routines, students learn important life skills such as organization, responsibility, and respect for their environment and peers. We appreciate the support of families in reinforcing these routines to ensure a smooth and enjoyable school experience for all.

Staff on duty

Staff are supplied with yellow high visibility vests to support the duty roster at breaks. The vests make staff easily identifiable to students during each break. These vests also help the community recognize staff members during before- and after-school supervision. We encourage families to remind students that if they need assistance during these times, they should look for an adult wearing a yellow vest. Thank you for your support in keeping our school community safe and supervised.

Hop Into the Easter Spirit – Prep to Year 2 Easter Hat Parade!

Get ready for a morning full of fun, creativity, and Easter excitement! On Friday, 4 April, our Prep, Year 1, and Year 2 students will be lighting up the School Hall with their Easter Hat Parade from 9:00 am to 10:30 am. This is a wonderful opportunity for our youngest students to shine, and we encourage everyone to get into the spirit!

Dress Up and Join the Fun!
All Prep to Year 2 students are invited to wear free dress for the day and proudly showcase a decorated hat for the parade. Some of our Year 2 students will take on the special role of Masters of Ceremony, leading the festivities with energy and enthusiasm!

⏰ Event Details
To allow our student leaders and staff to set up, entry to the hall will be from 8:50 am onwards. Families are welcome to come and enjoy the event, cheer on the children, and capture some memorable moments.

A Friendly Reminder
Friday, 4 April, is a normal school day. If you plan to take your child home after the parade, please ensure they are signed out at the School Office following the usual early departure procedure.

If your child is unable to participate, please inform their class teacher as soon as possible so that alternative arrangements can be made.

Let’s make this a fun and festive celebration—we can’t wait to see all the creative Easter hats!??

2026 Preparatory Enrolment

Prep places for next year are filling fast. If your child is born between 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021, your child is eligible to enrol in Prep for next year. We encourage you to collect an enrolment form from the office as soon as possible so that the enrolment process can occur.

Preparatory Open Day for 2026

Open Days at Aspley State School are a fantastic opportunity to get to know our school through our information sessions and you see the students and teachers in action. You will meet members of our Leadership Team, key staff, and tour the school with our student leaders.

Dates:

• Wednesday, 7 May 2025, 9:30-10:30am
• Wednesday, 14 May 2025, 9:30-10:30am

RSVP:

• Friday, 25 April 2025
• admin@aspleyss.eq.edu.au

All families intending on enrolling in 2026 are required to attend one of our scheduled Open Days.  These Open Days are essential in preparing you for the beginning of your child’s schooling.  We look forward to seeing you in May.

Developing coping skills

Starting school is a big change for you and your child, and can be daunting; but having coping skills, good self-esteem and problem-solving skills can help your child deal with changes.

School life is full of new experiences and challenges, but knowing how to persevere, understand and control emotions, and manage social situations, can help your child settle in.

Self-esteem

Feeling worthwhile and a sense of belonging can help your child cope with their new environment and the challenges of the school day. Having positive self-esteem can boost their confidence and make them feel safe in trying new things.

Positive self-esteem also makes children feel connected and a part of their community. You can help support your child’s self-esteem by listening and making time for them, valuing their opinion and praising them when they do something well.

Managing emotions

Being able to manage their own emotions when faced with challenges and new experiences is an important coping skill. Understanding emotions and how to deal with them is necessary for your child to know how to move on from a confronting situation.

Conflict resolution

Having practice dealing with conflict allows your child to understand how their actions affect the people around them. Asking your child to think about what is fair or unfair, or how they would want to be treated, helps them to build an understanding of how to treat others and manage conflict.

Discussing different scenarios and experiences with your child will help them understand what happened and can allow you both to come up with new solutions they might want to try next time.

Problem solving skills

Children are faced with challenges each day, and understanding how to overcome these or work out a solution is important in building your child’s problem solving skills. Knowing how to make decisions, and learning to work with others and consider different approaches to solving a problem are important problem solving skills.

Knowing it is okay to ask for help, and knowing when and how to find support can help your child settle and feel safe in new environments.

(from https://earlychildhood.qld.gov.au/early-years/early-learning-at-home/care/developing-coping-skills)

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