31 August 2016

Newsletter Articles

School Review 2016

Our school is scheduled for a school review from on September 7, 8 and 9.

The Department of Education and Training introduced new performance reviews for Queensland state schools in 2015. The reviews are conducted by the department’s School Improvement Unit and the review team will have two principals and an external reviewer on the team.

The reviews do not rate or compare schools but provide independent and quality feedback to help schools continue to improve outcomes for students.

All schools have a review at least every four years. Key findings from the review are made available to parents and the community on the school’s website. The review team will talk to staff, students, parents and members of our school community. If you are interested in speaking to the reviewers, or would like more information about the review process please contact the school office.

This feedback is important and will help us continue to deliver a quality education for students and shape our Strategic Plan for 2016 – 2020.

Expansion of the Sunshine Plaza

As you know the upgrading of Evans Street is one of the preliminary actions for the planned expansion of the Sunshine Plaza. This work continues as planned and is currently ahead of schedule.

A couple of weeks ago, the developers of the Sunshine Plaza announced the commencement of the building works in the Sunshine Plaza complex across a number of media platforms.

Our school has been in discussion with the Sunshine Plaza developers to lease part of the large oval complex across Maroochydore Road to reduce the impact of the trade workers parking in our local streets and around the school campus by having these cars/utes parking on one side of the Oval which is accessed via Wright Street. Please note that this is not any part of the oval used by our students for play, every break time across the school week.

The small carpark near our Hall shall also be used as the project management site and will undergo some changes that will affect our school community who access the School Road entrance into the Hall carpark.

This carpark will be closed and a new pedestrian gate installed, along with an improved concrete path leading to the Hall from the School Road access. Also a large screening fence will separate the playing oval from the Hall carpark area and the project management site.

The funds from the lease agreement will directly benefit our Maroochydore State School students with improved resources available in the classrooms, library and across our whole school campus. Regular updates will be reported at P&C Meetings, via the School Newsletter and School Facebook page.

Book Week

Australia! Story Country.

It was a delight to see so many students and staff come in costume last Thursday for our Book Week celebration. Thank you all for joining in and making the day a highlight of the week! The children’s faces lit up during the march around as they got to see all the student costumes and their faces frowned when Mr Maish’s story reached its conclusion.

Father’s Day Breakfast

Thursday September 1 in the School Hall from 7:00am

Thank you to those who left their names at the School Office. An RSVP is essential for catering purposes and to avoid disappointment for all.

Happy Father’s Day for Sunday to all of our dads.

Swimming – Term 4

With the beaches and rivers so close it is vital for all students to be well skilled and confident in and around our waterways. Each year we provide an opportunity for all students to have an intensive week of lessons at the Olympic Swimming Pool at Cotton Tree with qualified swim instructors.

In Week 2 of Term 4 students from Prep to Year 6 will be bussed to and from Cotton Tree Olympic Pool each day for a swim session.

The cost includes the bus and the swim instruction and is again, $55. Invoices have been forwarded to all parent’s email address this week. Please contact the Office if you have received an invoice.

Payment is due by September 16.

Prep Enrolments

Now is the time all parents need to complete enrolment forms for any new students wishing to commence Prep at Maroochydore SS in 2017.

Students eligible for Prep are those born between the 1st July 2011 and the 30 June 2012.

Planning is well underway and so please ensure if you or any of your friends have a 2017 Prep enrolment that you collect the enrolment forms from the office and return asap so that you get all of the information about upcoming open days and transition sessions.

School Wide Positive Behaviour

Week 8 – BEe Responsible

I follow teacher directions with a focus on safety! In many situations in life we often have to just follow instructions to keep ourselves safe. Think about the signage you encounter on a daily basis, much of it is informing us very quickly, clearly and succinctly what to do for our safety.

Positive Behaviour for Learning

Every day counts

Parents are reminded of the importance of sending children to school every day. Being at school every day is important, if with one day absent each week quickly adding up to two months of missed lessons in a year.

Unless your child is ill, it is expected that your child will be at school learning every day of the school year.

More information on the importance of regular school attendance is available at the link below. The videos associated with this link highlight issues often faced by parents and dispel some myths about absences form school and are worth a look.

By sending your child to school every day we are together developing good habits for success at primary school and beyond. When parents do not support developing a solid routine of attending school every day issues of truancy and poor work habits can emerge.

If you have any concerns regarding your child’s attendance please do not hesitate to contact the school for support.

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.

Now is the time to complete the reading logs and hand them to Mrs Pool.

P&C News

Just a few things from the P&C…

Tuckshop Volunteers

We also have our usual request for volunteers to help in the tuckshop. We cannot keep the tuckshop open without volunteer help, and we are desperate for people to help on a Friday. Anytime you can give is great, even if it is just an hour or two every now and then – we don’t need you to make a regular commitment. Morning tea is provided for volunteers, and there are a range of different things that need doing, so Bronny will be able to find something you feel confident doing (and most of the tasks are things we do daily at home anyway!) Please see her at the tuckshop, email me on doncobeth@gmail.com, or leave your name at the office and we can contact you back.