17 May 2018

Newsletter Articles

Welcome to the hidden gem of Maroochydore – Maroochydore State School

Thank You

Thank you to those who contributed to the fundraising of the P&C in our recent Cross Country Splash of Colour Fun Run. Over $2000 was raised!

Mother’s Day Morning Tea

What a wonderful morning tea Chappy Sam hosted last week. Over fifty mum’s attended and were treated to a yummy selection of treats before their children joined them at first break. Many thanks to Chappy Sam for all of her ongoing work in supporting the students and parents of Maroochydore SS.

Voluntary Financial Contribution

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

NAPLAN Online

Our NAPLAN Online testing continues until Tuesday May 22 for our Year 3 and Year 5 students.

Year 5 students will complete each test online.

Year 3 students are now completing the remaining of the NAPLAN tests online.

New Playground

It’s almost ready! Wet weather delayed the laying of the rubber soft fall. The final coloured layer should be complete by Thursday. The final pieces of the climbing equipment are expected to be attached early next week.

Updating iPads

We are currently enhancing our fleet of iPads with the purchase of 40 new iPads. Did you know? Our first iPads are now 6 years old and are beginning to lag behind in the apps available, so we are using some of our Lend Lease hire money to also update our IT options for our students.

ISS – International Space Station Seeds

We are having some success with growing our radish seeds. These seeds have spent 6 months in space on the ISS (orbiting the earth every 90 minutes) and they have been successfully transplanted in one of our vegetable gardens. The only other school in Australia to have some of the seeds saw their seeds die after 2 and a bit weeks. Our seeds have survived for 7 weeks!

Contact Details – Do we have your most up to date contact details?

There are times when we may need to contact parents and carers. Do we have your most up to date contact details? If not, please contact the school on 5475 1555 so we can update our records. These details include parent/carers’ name, address, phone numbers, email address and emergency contact details. Please remember to contact the school if any of these details change.

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?

Premier’s Reading Challenge

We are delighted to invite all Maroochydore State School students to join in the 2018 Premier’s Reading Challenge.

Reading plays an important part in students’ lives during their school years and beyond.

It allows children to actively engage their imagination and opens up a world of educational opportunities. Last year, an outstanding 165,000 students from 900 schools took part in the challenge reading a total of 2.24 million books, an impressive rise from 1.95 million in 2015.

This year the Premier has challenged all state and non-state school students from Prep to Year 2 to read or experience 20 books, Years 3 and 4 to read 20 books and Years 5 to 9 to read 15 books. Experiencing books can include shared reading, listening to stories, or reading picture books. The aim for the 2018 challenge is engage more students than ever before.

Students wishing to take part in this year’s challenge can register by talking to their class teacher.

Every student who completes the challenge will receive a Certificate of Achievement signed by the Premier. Students who participate but don’t complete the challenge receive a Certificate of Participation from the school. It will be my great pleasure to present these certificates during the Premier’s Reading Challenge celebration in November 2018.

For more information about the Premier’s Reading Challenge, please visit:

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

Along with our class teachers, Mr Habel, Mrs Pool and I look forward to seeing as many of our students as possible embrace the 2018 Premier’s Reading Challenge.

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.

Athletics Sports Days

Prep to Year 2 will have their athletic sports day on Monday June 18

Across the first two sessions of the school day they shall compete in two sprint races – the 70m to 100m sprint and a 200m sprint. Then 3 rotations will be conducted with long jump, high jump and vortex throws/ball games for a finish at approximately 12:30pm.

The Year 3 to Year 6 athletic sports days will be run over two days.

Monday June 18 will be the first of 5 rotation events from 1:45pm – 2:15pm

Tuesday June 19 the students shall compete in two sprint races – 100m and 200m sprints.

Then will follow the second to the fifth rotation events – long jump, high jump, shot put, ball games and relays.

Age groups will be 8yo, 9yo, 10yo, 11yo and 12yo girls and boys.

Long Service Leave

Just letting all parents know that I shall be taking 12 days long service leave starting May 18. My wife and I are heading to Vietnam again, were we shall visit a village outside of Rach Gia that some staff have donated funds towards buying new school desks, as well as continuing to explore and stay in small villages.

Mrs Pool, Mr Habel shall be joined by Mrs Skehan in the Office with Mr Spurr replacing Mrs Skehan in Year 3.

Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month 2018

May is Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) Prevention Month. Again this year we are all encouraged to do something to stop domestic and family violence before it starts.

• Actions we can all take include:
• challenging gender stereotypes
• modelling respectful relationships
• speaking out if you hear excuses for violence
• celebrating positive role models.

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

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.

Positive Behaviour for Learning

Every day counts

Term 1 Whole School Student Attendance Rate – 90.6%

Our whole school target is 94%

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.

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.

This week’s rule of the week – Be Safe.

Be a positive friend and play safely with everyone in our school.

Term 2 Dates

Tuesday May 22 – NAPLAN Online Testing finishes
Under 8’s Day – Date to be confirmed.

Athletics Days

Monday June 18 Prep to Year 2 Sprints/relays and three field event rotations
Monday June 18 Year 3 to Year 6 first rotation of 5 field event rotations (30 mins)
Tuesday June 19 Year 3 to Year 6 Sprints/relays and remaining 4 field event rotations.
Friday June 29 – end of term 2