The timelines for the revised program are dependant on whether the school is:

a) continuing with your current arrangement (can be lodged up to 9 December 2011);

b) expanding your current arrangement (the expansion round will be conducted in two opening periods - Opening 1 opens 20 October 2011 12.00 pm AEST and must be submitted by 8.00 pm AEST on 22 December 2011 and Opening 2 opens 5 January 2012 12.00 pm AEST and must be submitted by 8.00 pm AEST on 2 March 2012);

c) applying for the first time (expressions of interest are due 5:00 pm Friday 16 December 2011 AEST).

For Guidelines please visit http://www.deewr.gov.au/Schooling/NSCSWP/Pages/GuidelinesandDocuments.aspx

15 November 2011

The Queensland Government has developed important tips for parents to help support children during the dangerous weather season. With the season upon it, this timely information can help with children's anxiety about the weather and the upcoming anniversaries.

click here 

07 November 2011

As a result of the government's recent review of public holiday allocations the Premier has announced the following changes:

• The Queen's Birthday holiday will be moved to first Monday in October
• One-off Queen's Diamond Jubilee holiday to celebrate on June long weekend
• Student free days will not be spread over terms and some will help create two-week Easter break
• Students and teachers will get one extra day of holidays
• Extra public holiday when Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year's Day fall on weekend

"Queenslanders have voted overwhelmingly in favour of moving the Queen's Birthday public holiday to the second half of the year," Ms Bligh said.

These changes reflect the feedback provided by QCPCA on behalf of our members. Thank you to all those who contributed.

For more information about the changes click on the following link: www.justice.qld.gov.au

07 November 2011

Queensland school communities celebrate Tuckshop Day...

Tuckshop Day in Queensland was marked with celebrations across the state. QCPCA President Margaret Leary said 'The hard work of our tuckshops often goes unnoticed ...There are so many of our Tuckshops serving up healthy, nutritious food everyday and it's wonderful that there is finally some recognition. All Tuckshops could do with more volunteers too, so if you have some free time, head on down to your local Tuckshop and share your skills. It doesn't have to be a whole day, even one hour can be useful. '

QCPCA would be interested to hear your stories of the day for the next edition of Parent Talk.  Please send any contributions to publications@qcpca.org.au.

Click here to read the latest edition of Parent Talk- Featuring articles from QCPCA President, Minister for Education and Industrial Relations and the Deputy Director General, Education Queensland.

Parent Talk November 2011 

Download and install Adobe Acrobat Reader if you have trouble viewing Parent Talk.

Contents

• A message from the QCPCA State President
• A message from the Minister
• A message from the Deputy Director- General Education Queensland
• QCPCA to become a company limited by guarentee
• Year 7 move to high school
• ACSSO Conference
• School Chaplaincy Program expanded
• Mobile phones in state schools
• QCPCA State Conference and AGM
• State Officers 2011-2012
• Regional Council teams 2011-2012
• Preparing for the AGM
• FAQs: Tuckshop volunteers
• Serving our local school community
• Write in to Win
• Recipe: Crunchy noodle salad and chicken

The Minister for Education Cameron Dick has announced that Prep will be recognised as the first year of schooling from 2012.

Prep will continue to be non-compulsory but it is recognised that Prep lays the foundation for a child's learning and ongoing success at school.

With the new Australian Curriculum coming into effect from next year, it is vital that Queensland children don't miss out on this important year of their education.

Parents who are concerned their child is not ready to start Prep at that time can choose to start their child a year later - the year they become of compulsory school age (6 years and 6 months).

For further information please follow the links below:

Every Day Counts in Prep Brochure

Flying Start website

28 October 2011

In 2008, Workplace Relations Ministers from around Australia agreed to nationally harmonise work health and safety (WHS) laws. Each State and Territory will commence their work health and safety laws, on 1 January 2012.

On 26 May 2011 Queensland Parliament became the first to pass the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (the WHS Act 2011). These new laws will commence on 1 January 2012.

For further information on how these new laws apply to P&Cs please click on the following link:

http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/resources/pdfs/whs-laws-school-parents-association.pdf

If your P&C is a member of an employer association you may also wish to contact them to clarify further.

26 October 2011

QCPCA are celebrating World Teachers' Day 2011 with our partners in education.

Every day, in classrooms around the state, Queensland teachers are making a difference educating and inspiring young Queenslanders.

World Teachers' Day, on the last Friday of October, is a chance to acknowledge our teachers and say thanks.

Celebrated in more than 100 countries world-wide, World Teachers' Day was established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 1994 to celebrate the role of teachers in society.

The day is a wonderful opportunity for the public and local communities to recognise the important role of our teachers.

For more information click on the following link:

http://education.qld.gov.au/hr/recruitment/teaching/world-teachers-day.html

25 October 2011

QCPCA would like to extend its congratulations to the winners of this year's Showcase Awards for Excellence in Schools.

QCPCA State President Margaret Leary said that "The Showcase Awards show the truly innovative teaching practice in Queensland's schools"

"The hard work that these school communities carry out, delivers the results our children deserve"

This year's winners are:

The Network Ten Showcase Award for Excellence in the Early Phase of Learning

Bald Hills State School: Kick start to learning

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia Showcase Award for Excellence in the Middle Phase of Learning

Gin Gin State High School: Gin Gin alternative pathways program

The Showcase Award for Excellence in the Senior Phase of Learning

Brisbane School of Distance Education: Freedom to learn - anyone, anywhere, anytime

The Showcase Award for Excellence in Inclusive Education

Centenary Heights State High School: Flexi School Campus - Flexi school - youth attainment and transition

The Queensland University of Technology Showcase Award for Excellence in Leadership

Goodna State School: Moving on up - nothing's going to stop us now!

The RemServ Showcase Award for Excellence in Innovation

Bulimba State School: Young minds grow in this garden

The QSuper Showcase Award for Academic Excellence

Cairns West State School: Academic success guarantee

The Showcase Award for Excellence in Community or Industry Partnerships

Gold Coast Special and Secondary Schools Cluster: My future, my choice

For further details please visit:

http://education.qld.gov.au/community/events/showcase/2011/index.html

24 October 2011

Parents, teachers and principals are being encouraged to take part in a National Day of Action in support of greater funding for public schools.

The Day of Action will be held on Tuesday, November 15.

The event was announced by the President of the Australian Council of State School Organisations (ACSSO), Peter Garrigan, in Sydney at the national conference.

The action is a joint initiative with the Australian Education Union, the Australian Secondary Principals Association and the Australian Government Primary Principals Association.

Mr Garrigan said that as part of the National Day of Action parents, teachers and principals across Australia would be asked to send an email to the head of the federal funding review which is due to finish in December.

"The federal funding review, which is the most comprehensive in over 30 years, is in its final stages." Mr Garrigan said.

"While much has been done to highlight the need for change and the value of additional funding for public schools, it is important that we take one final step together.

"On this day we are encouraging the public education community to send a message to the head of the review, Mr David Gonski about the benefits of greater investment in public schools."

Messages will be able to be sent via the forourfuture.org.au website. Copies will be forwarded to the Schools Minister Peter Garrett and local MPs.

AEU Federal President, Angelo Gavrielatos said the National Day of Action was a great chance to demonstrate the high levels of support for greater federal funding for public schools.

"This is the last chance to have our say about what we want for our children and our schools," Mr Gavrielatos said.

"We know the best place to invest for our future is in public schools. We need to replace the current inequitable system that delivers one third of funding to the public schools which teach two thirds of students with one that ensures public schools have the resources to continue to deliver high quality education to students across Australia."

The funding review is due to finish in December when the expert panel which is conducting it will hand its recommendations to the Federal Government.

Already the panel has flagged it will recommend the abolition of the current federal funding model.

"There is no doubt that the many representations and submissions to the review, as well as the research and evidence presented to the panel, have made a case for a fundamental change in the way we fund schooling at all levels of government," the panel stated in its recent paper which accompanied the release of four research reports.

For further information visit http://www.forourfuture.org.au/

19 October 2011

Day for Daniel will be held on Friday 28 October and all schools are invited to participate through school-based activities that promote child safety awareness. For Day for Daniel activity ideas visit the Day for Daniel website and register your activity to receive a 'starter pack'.

Now in its sixth year, Day for Daniel promotes the Daniel Morcombe Foundation's aims of making the world a safer place for children.

Schools are encouraged to incorporate a red theme in their activities to link Daniel's story to the importance of child safety education.

In support of the day, schools are also invited to register to participate in online 'Cybersmart Detectives' activities through the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

'Cybersmart Detectives' is a free online interactive activity that provides a platform for students to learn about cybersafety and enhance their internet safety skills in a safe, school-based environment.

During this activity aimed at upper primary classes, students learn about how to keep themselves safe online. Federal police and police from various states and territories will be participating as guides on the day to assist students.

Numbers are limited so please contact ACMA as soon as possible with your school's preferred timeslot. More information about the program is available at Cybersmart Detectives.

18 October 2011

The Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs have approved the Education and Care Services National Regulations (National Quality Framework).

http://deta.qld.gov.au/earlychildhood/office/national/framework.html

Underpinned by the new National Law, the National Regulations will together set a new National Quality Standard for long day care, family day care, outside school hours care, preschool and kindergarten services across Australia, from 1 January 2012.

The Regulations provide details about application processes and approvals, minimum requirements relating to the operation of education and care services, the process for the rating and assessment of services and transitional arrangements to move existing services to the new system.

The Queensland Information Sessions on the National Regulations have begun. For more information about the sessions, registration and a copy of the National Regulations visit:

18 October 2011

The Department of Education and Training will be holding Information Sessions throughout Queensland on the National Regulations for the National Quality Framework (NQF).

The Information Sessions will provide comprehensive information on the new Regulations and explore the key changes for Queensland specific to long day care, family day care, outside school hours care and kindergarten services. There will also be discussion on the transitional provisions for services and what services will need to do to prepare for 1 January 2012.

Sessions will be held from mid- October to early November 2011. For event details and registration, visit the Office for Early Childhood Education and Care website.

07 October 2011