22 June 2016

Newsletter Articles

Athletics Carnival

A little bit wet, a very bit windy and a whole lot of activity across the day. Well done to our students for their enthusiastic and supportive participation across the day as they jumped, threw, bounced and ran, and ran! The senior relays to finish the day were a highlight with great smiles and strong teamwork featured.

Congratulations to our senior age champions – ’07 Jade & Dominic, ’06 Yaghie & Zane, ’05 Jordannah & Reuben, ’04 Hope & Slade and to all in Seagulls house who were victorious on the day.

Thank you to our small band of wonderful tuckshop helpers who were here very early baking and later providing a sausage sizzle and a variety of food for all on the day.

Give Me 5 For Kids

Tomorrow, Thursday, we are supporting the Give Me 5 For Kids fundraising and are inviting all students to come to school in free dress and donate a gold coin to the official white bucket that the student leaders shall bring around on Thursday morning.

We’ve suggested that students may like to come in a hospital style theme to add to the event.

Reporting

As the end of term rapidly approaches it will be a very busy few weeks ahead. Our teachers have been spending many hours at night and across the weekends completing each students’ end of semester report card. These reports are a comprehensive account of how your child is progressing against the expectation of the Australian Curriculum.

Another reminder to please ensure you have provided the Office with your correct or an updated email for reports to be emailed home on Tuesday. Students were sent home with a note last Friday with further details. Please contact the Office if your child didn’t bring home a note.

Prep 2017

Enrolments for Prep 2017 are open now and classes are filling fast. In semester two, we will have regular Prep tours for families interested in enrolling at Maroochydore State School. We will also hold a number of open days for families and information sessions for parents. If you would like to receive information about Prep enrolment for 2017 please contact the office to add your name and contact details to our mailing list.

Term 2 Curriculum

This term we have been busy learning in every classroom. Here are a few highlights as listed by the students

Prep – design and creation of wind ornaments, production of Bee Bot tutorial videos, patterning and shapes, retelling a favourite story
Year 1 – design and construction of paper bridges, boat building, poetry
Year 2 – division & multiplication, graphing, First (Aboriginal) Australians and First Fleet arrival
2/3 class – how our Earth, sun & moon orbit, shadows, life cycles, persuasive writing, maths buzz games
Year 3 – Australia’s neighbouring countries, significant places, shadows, the relationships between the Sun and the Earth and other planets, arrays (multiplication)
Year 4 – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, designing and making Dharis / headdresses, polygons, retelling a story and making it more interesting, cursive handwriting, reading the Twits by Roald Dahl
Year 5 – natural disasters, our solar system, fractions, decimals, angles, writing animated stories and comics
Year 6 – electrical circuits, programing, order of operations, modality, energy sources, building self-propelled cars

NAPLAN Online

Some exciting news - our school has been selected as a trial school for our Year 3 and Year 5 students to complete the 2017 NAPLAN test online. Our students will be among the first in Australia to undertake NAPLAN tests online and we will lead the transition to national online assessment for other schools. We shall be working with our incoming Year 3 and Year 5 to prepare them to navigate and complete the tests on our desktop computers in the Library.

Staff Professional Development

All of our teachers and teacher aides have spent considerable time this semester learning about the new Digital Technologies curriculum. Most of our teachers even gave up a Saturday morning to learn and play with some new digital tools. As a launch school for this exciting new curriculum, Maroochydore State School is leading the way in using digital technology in learning and learning about the digital tools that we use every day in our lives.

4 School Rules

Be Safe – during the holidays all students have been reminded to be very careful when playing and to make sure they aren’t in a hurry or forgetful near road or on footpaths. A reminder that the Evans Street work is still progressing and great care should be taken in and around this area with the bank up of traffic being very evident of late.

Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be a Learner

Student Attendance

We have a target of 94% for our student attendance. As the end of the semester looms our student attendance is at 91.1%.

Congratulations to our Year 2 and Year 5 students who are currently our top performing students in this area.

The Importance of Reading

The Importance of Reading

I cannot overstress the importance of developing reading skills for all students. These skills are critical for future success in all other learning areas and later life. It is also important to recognise that preparations for success in reading begin long before Prep. I am keen to share some information about reading at various stages and how parents can help.

Reading - babies and young children

Sharing stories, talking and singing every day helps your child’s development. You’re helping your child become familiar with sounds, words, language and the value of books. This all builds your children’s early literacy skills, helping them to go on to read successfully later in life.

Reading stories sparks your child’s imagination, stimulates curiosity and helps with brain development. Interesting illustrations and word patterns –such as rhymes – can get your children talking about what they are seeing and thinking, and help them understand the patterns of language. Exploring stories also helps them learn the difference between ‘real’ and ‘make-believe’.

Sharing stories with your child doesn’t mean you have to read. Just by looking at books with your child, you can be a great storyteller and a good model for using language and books. Your child will learn by watching you hold a book the right way and seeing how you move through the book by gently turning the pages.

They will learn that print carries a constant message that doesn’t change. Reading or telling stories can also be safe ways to explore strong emotions, which can help your child understand new or frightening events. Books about going to the dentist or hospital, starting at child care or making new friends will help your children learn about the world around them.

Reading stories with children has benefits for grown-ups too. This special time together promotes bonding and helps to build your relationship, laying the groundwork for your child’s later social, communication and interpersonal skills.

Year 6 Students

Urgent reminder for parents – your child’s Programme of Excellence and Scholarship applications are due to MSHS by Friday June 24. Do not miss this important date to have those applications in.

7D Drive Academic Excellence, 7E Encore – Creative Industries, 7M Music Excellence, 7S Sport Development and the All Rounder Scholarship, Music Scholarship and Sport Scholarships.

Also for all Year 6 students enrolled at Maroochydore SHS for 2017 you are invited to attend the MSHS on Thursday 28th July for Project Extend. This is a transition day that runs from 8:45am until 2:30pm and has the students completing one of the following electives for the day.

1. Photography, Film & Television ‘Movie Making’
2. Toy Designs – Manual Arts
3. PE Health ‘Fitness’
4. Scientific Processes and Other Strange Things
5. Music Experiences ‘I Write the Songs’ using Computers
6. Home Economics ‘Treats You Can Eat’

Parents are also asked to note you are invited to sessions at MSHS on August 10 and December 1.

2016 Premier’s Reading Challenge

All Maroochydore State School students have been registered for this year’s Premier’s reading challenge. Every student who completes the challenge will receive a Certificate of Achievement signed by the Premier. These will be presented on parade in November.

Some classes will complete their reading records at school and some will send them home. Please check with your child which option their teacher has chosen.

You can play a big part in your children’s future by encouraging them to be part of this positive initiative.

We look forward to seeing as many of our students as possible embrace the 2016 Premier’s Reading Challenge.

Term 3

Term 3 commences on Monday July 11.

Have a wonderful and safe holiday and all staff look forward to seeing the students for a new term of learning and opportunity to further shine.