19 April 2017

Newsletter Articles

Term 2

We hope you had a wonderful Easter break with your family, and, had no major damage around the cyclone that unexpectedly finished Term 1 abruptly for us all.

This was our first time at sending out the group SMS messages to all families and it enhanced the speed of communication to you following the direction given by the Premier. We followed this up later in the day with another message once it was confirmed that schools in our region would remain closed on the Friday as well.

To ensure our records are accurate at all times please update us when you have a new mobile number or a new email address.

It was certainly nice this morning, under clear blue skies, to welcome the students back to the new term, as well as welcoming a number of new families starting here!

Anzac Day Service – Maroochydore RSL

All students are welcome to participate in the Maroochy RSL Anzac Day March on Tuesday April 25.

Students are asked to meet our Student Leaders, Mrs Pool and myself from 8:00am – 8:20am at the traffic lights in front of the Maroochy RSL with the March commencing at 8:30am.

All parents are then asked to meet our school group when we complete the march near the Cenotaph area in Cotton Tree Park. This then allows parents and their children to attend as a family group for the main part of the service.

All students need to wear their school uniform and to bring their hat.

MGM Wireless Messaging Service – app – School Star

Maroochydore State School would like to further upgrade our school communication services by using an app called School Star. This app is free and can be downloaded from your app store.

News, Events, Notices and general messages can be sent using the School Star app with no cost.

Only parents and community members can access content in this secure app for iPhone and Android.

Please download to your phone or tablet ASAP. The app is called School Star.

NAPLAN Online Trial

During the holidays the Education Minister, Kate Jones, announced that Queensland state schools would withdraw from the NAPLAN online testing trial this year.

As one of the trial schools this does impact on us and our Year 3 and Year 5 students will now complete the traditional paper based NAPLAN tests this year.

NAPLAN testing for Year 3 and Year 5 students

Tuesday May 9 – Language conventions and Writing
Wednesday May 10 – Reading
Thursday May 11 – Numeracy

Free Dress Day

Friday - April 21

Due to school being closed on the last day of term we’ve held the Free Dress Day for Yaghie’s State Softball over to this Friday. All students are asked to come along in their favourite sporting team colours and donate a gold coin.

Normal school expectations around footwear and appropriate clothing and coverage still apply.

Staff Car Park Area

BE Safe - is one of our 4 school rules.

Could all parents and students ensure they DO NOT use the staff car park area as a thoroughfare?

Did you notice?

Mr Cullen has constructed a new pedestrian access next to the staff car park driveway. There is now no excuse for any student or parent to be accessing the car parking area and creating a potential danger for your family.

Mother’s Day Stall

Again, this year the P&C will be holding a Mother’s Day Stall on Thursday May 11 outside the Chappy’s Room. In class groups on the Wednesday, students will visit the stall to have a look at the gifts and become aware of the prices and come home with a special request for a few dollars. A range of gifts will be available with a maximum price of $5.

On the Thursday, again in class groups the students will go to the Mother’s Day stall with their money and make their purchase.

Mother’s Day Morning Tea

Chappy Sam again this year invites all mum’s and carers to join our school community for the Mother’s Day Morning Tea.

May 11, Thursday from 10:30am in the Main School Hall. Can you please contact the Office to have your name added to our RSVP list, which we then use for catering numbers?

Your child/children shall meet you in the Hall after the 10:30am drums.

School Photo Day

May 5 is the day that has been booked for the school photographer to come to school to take class and individual photos and sibling request photos.

An order form envelope will be sent home shortly.

Payment will be only online and electronically to the photography company.

Voluntary Financial Contribution

Thank you to the large number of parents who have already paid this year’s voluntary financial contribution. As mentioned in the letter sent home these funds enhance and add to the resources available in each classroom including the art and craft supplies and keeping our IT at the forefront. Could all parents please consider contributing the $70 ASAP.

Reading

Isn’t this helpful, informative and powerful to enhance your child’s success with their learning?

Encouraging our students to read at both home and at school, what a difference can be made!

Routines and Expectations

Wearing the correct school uniform including a broad brimmed hat for play times.

School learning starts at 8:30am sharp.

There are high expectations around student work, personal achievements and behaviour.

For any student absence please call the school before 8:30am on the day of the absence. 5475 1555

Our 4 School Rules are:

All student mobile phones are to be taken to the School Office for safe keeping during the school day. Students collect them at the end of the school teaching and learning day at 2:30pm.

School Uniform

With the cooler weather beginning a reminder to all parents and students that the School Uniform Policy has support for students wearing a bottle green jumper/jacket as opposed to a variety of colour and branded jumpers/jackets.

Don’t forget to name your child’s jumper as they are often taken off during playtime and left lying about. Having a name greatly assists in the jumper being reunited with it’s owner quickly!

Playground Use

It is great to see students and families enjoy the wonderful facilities and playgrounds straight after school. However, I need all of the community to please support this practice in the following way.

If students are to use the playground after school, their parent must be actively supervising their child from right next to the playground.

I appreciate everyone’s support with this.

Term 2 Dates

May 5 – Prep to Year 6 School Photographs
May 11 – Thursday P&C Mother’s Day Stall
Chappy’s Mother’s Day Morning Tea
May 22 – School Athletics Carnival
June 5 – Whole school Performance, Ghana Beat That Drum
June 22 – Student Report Cards sent home electronically

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, 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.

Keeping up-to-date - Facebook Updates

Mrs Pool regularly updates the School’s Facebook page to share information you might like to check in and follow the school page.