28 February 2018

Newsletter Articles

The Protectors

Thank you to our P&C for covering the cost of this performance last Thursday for our Year 1 to Year 6 students. This certainly was a highly engaging and thoughtful performance.

Bullying and Cyber Safety programme - offered concrete solutions children can practice to protect themselves from hurtful comments and negative behaviours they may encounter in the playground.

Clear instructions on cyber safety were delivered in a fun, memorable way through a theatrical performance and our students were able to empathise and appreciate the devastating consequences of cyber bullying. 'The Protectors' unlocked the secrets of body language and gives 'Protector Tools' to curb aggressive behaviour.

The Protectors Anti-Bullying Program Covers:

Year 1 Home Reading

Mrs Pool and the class teachers spoke to a small group of Year 1 parents last Tuesday afternoon on strategies around how to be a successful home reader. As home readers are sent home to all Year 1 students I encourage all parents to attend the next session if you missed the first one so that you and your child have the best chance for further reading success.

8:30pm March 8 Meet at the Mango Tree

Maroochydore State School Staff

Our first two newsletters have mentioned class teachers and teacher aides. This week we highlight other members of our staff who play an important part in your child’s school day and as with class teachers you are encouraged to keep in touch with these staff members about your child’s progress.

Learning Support – Kim McFadzen and Carley Noke
Speech Language – Merrett Pastourel
Physical Education – Michael Chamberlain
Music – Cherie Emerson
LOTE – Jason Adams
STEM – Brett Walker
Instrumental Music – Garry Buckley
Guidance Officer - Annette Te Aho
Intensive Language – Bronwyn Jenkins

Commonwealth Games

The Sunshine Coast region is hosting some 500 athletes from 9 countries in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

Our school is adopting the Isle of Man competitors for Athletics, Swimming and Lawn Bowls.

We shall make up some welcome posters and postcards for:

Athletics – Joe Harris in the Javelin, Erika Kelly in the 20km walk.
Swimming – Charolette Atkinson, Stephanie Brew, Guy Davies, Laura Kinley and Niamh Robinson
Lawn Bowls – Clive McGreal and Mark McGreal

Darg our your old atlas or do an online search to show your child where the Isle of Man is, as well as coming up with a few pieces of trivia to share in the classroom.

Year 6 Parents

- DATE CLAIMER -

Maroochydore State High School
PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT

(for Year 5 & 6 students and parents)
21st MARCH 2018 (6:00-7:00pm)

Maroochydore State High School – F Block Lecture Theatre

Information about our school performance and career pathways (from Years 7-12)

Information on Biotechnology Centre, Coastal Cookery Trade Training Centre, Academic Performance, Sport Excellence Program and Creative Industries School Scholarships

Please contact: Naydeen Soward, Deputy Principal for further details - Phone 5409 7333

Coles Sporting Schools

Coles Sports for Schools is back to help Aussie kids stay fit and healthy. When you shop at Coles, Coles Express and Coles Online you'll receive Sports for Schools vouchers that our school can exchange for sports gear. The more vouchers you collect, the more sports gear they'll receive. Start collecting today because the race is on!

Please send the vouchers to school with your child to be placed in the collection box in the office by June 15th 2018.

A box is on the counter in the Admin block for your collected vouchers.

Earn and Learn – Woolworths Promotion

Last year our Earn and Learn points went to providing some new lego kits. These were presented to us on Monday’s parade by our local store manager.

Book Club News

Scholastic Book Club

The Book Club catalogues were sent home earlier this week.

It is easy to order a great read. Look over the catalogue with your child, select the books you want and log onto the scholastic website to place your order. Each order helps earn free books and teaching materials for our school, however there is never any obligation to order.

TO PLACE YOUR ORDER, LOG INTO WWW.SCHOLASTIC.COM.AU/LOOP

There’s no need to return paper order forms or payment receipt details to the school.

ORDERS ARE DUE BY FRIDAY 16th MARCH

Speech Language Corner:

Have you seen the language board outside the prep classrooms? For those who have, you will have noticed that it changes each week with a new language concept to work on at home with your child. This week we are looking at the nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty, the idea of “not”, and the concept of “or”.

Ideas to work on these ideas at home include:

Humpty Dumpty:

• Learn the nursery rhyme and talk about Humpty. Talk about the words for things (nouns), the words for doing words (verbs) and the little words that “glue” our sentences together (if, the, and).
• Talk about Humpty as a character. What does he look like? What do you think his voice would sound like and why? What parts does he have? How is he feeling?
• Talk about the first sound in Humpty (h) and the first sound in Dumpty (d) and talk about the letter that makes that sound. Clap out the syllables in the words in the nursery rhyme. Talk about rhyming words and make up your own e.g. Humpty, Dumpty, Bumpty, Gumpty….

Not:

• Talk about tall versus not tall; old versus not old; mine versus not mine.
• Find things in a picture together e.g.
   - Find something that is blue. Now, find something that is not blue.
   - Find something that is alive. Now, find something that is not alive.
   - Find something you would eat. Now, find something you would not eat.
• Then extend the conversation and ask “Why wouldn’t you eat it?”

Or:

When we use “or” we’re talking about picking one thing from many. For example:

• Find something that is blue or black
• Find something that is walking or flying
• Find something that is tall or has feet

These ideas are not only for prep and can be used at any age to deepen understanding of language. What look like simple concepts are used in everyday language and everyday activities. The idea is to add these words to your everyday world this week.

In my house, we’ll be using them something like this:

• What do you think the character is feeling? (any book/movie/game)
• Find shorts that do not have holes in them please!
• You can go to Tiff’s on Saturday night or you can see Alex on Sunday. You will not be doing both.

Happy week 6 of term one!

Merrett Pastourel
Speech Language Pathologist
Maroochydore State School

Hall Playground

Exciting news - watch this space for updates.

In early March the old Hall playground will be decommissioned and a new super duper playground is planned to be completed by late March/early April.

The funds for this playground have come from the Oval hire to Lendlease during the Sunshine Plaza construction, and from funds raised directly from parents through our small yet wonderful P&C.

A huge thank you!

Kiss and Go – Drop Off and Pick Up Zone Reminder

Primary School Court – right outside the front of the school. This safety initiative is for our whole community and a reminder that when you stop in this zone you are not to exit your car. It is a drop off and pick up zone only.

Police have been monitoring the area and will book parents who stop, park and leave their car. The safest way for all to access this area is to drive to the end of Primary School Court and use the turning bay to head back to the school. Of course, never do a U turn across the traffic lights as this is not safe for our students or parents and it would attract the attention of the Police.

Routines and Expectations

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

All students should be dropped off at school from 8:20 to 8:30am.

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.

Hats – all students should have a green bucket hat for outside activities including both breaks. Parents please ensure your child’s hat is named.

Toys – all students are to leave their toys at home for play at home and to not disrupt the teaching and learning of the teacher and other students.

School Absence and Text Messaging Service

IT technicians are working on a fault in the student absence messaging service to parents and we hope to have it rectified by Friday.

A reminder:

If your student is absent - Phone the Student Absence Line before 9:00am to advise of any/all occasions when your child/ren will be away from school. This is a 24hr recorded service, you can call it anytime (convenient if your child is up ill during the night!). The Maroochydore State School Student Absence Line number is 07 5475 1555 – then dial 2 and leave clearly state your child’s name class and a reason for your child’s absence.

If your student is late and the class teacher has marked the rolls - Children who arrive after the roll has closed will be required to go to the office WITH THEIR PARENT to collect a LATE SLIP for presentation to their teacher. Legally a child’s explanation for their lateness is not acceptable and is recorded as an UNEXPLAINED ABSENCE.

If/when you receive an SMS message, reply to the SMS with the reason for your child’s absence and their name immediately OR if you believe your child/ren is/should be at school contact the school office immediately to notify us.

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.

P&C News

The next P&C Meeting is the AGM on Monday March 12.

All parents are welcome to come along from 8:45am and join in supporting your child’s school. We are meeting in the staffroom in the Administration Block.

Chappy Sam

Monday and Thursday mornings – toast and Milo and a chat with our student community in the forecourt area. Just a reminder to all students – we eat and drink in this forecourt area only. Do not wander off to the playground or around the school.

Term 1 Dates

Year 1 Home Reading – Thursday March 8 at 8:30am – Meet at the Mango Tree
Starlab visit – Wednesday March 20
World Science Excursion – Thursday March 21
Parent/Teacher Interviews – Weeks 9 and 10 March 12-23
End of Term – Thursday March 29

Year 6 Dates

Parent Night information – Wed March 21 6pm F Block
Maths Day of Excellence – Friday July 26
Project Extend – Thursday Aug 2
Orientation Day 1 – Thursday August 16
Parent Night information – Wed November 28 6pm F Block
Orientation Day 2 – Thursday December 6

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.

This week’s rules of the week is – Be Respectful. Be friendly, positive and have a happy outlook!