14 November 2018

Newsletter Articles

Welcome to the hidden gem of Maroochydore – Maroochydore State School

KAIZEN – improvement, continuously improving

Payment Due - Prep to Year 5 Swimming

The weather has warmed up nicely and our swimming sessions for all Prep to Year 5 students are almost here.

All payments are due this Friday, November 16, so that we can confirm our numbers for the buses, with the swimming instructors and the swimming pool at Cotton Tree.

Payment Due - Year 6 – Surfing Mooloolaba Beach

This week the surf conditions are ideal and we hope these conditions continue for our upcoming Year 6 Surfing activity at Mooloolaba Beach.

All payments are due this coming Monday, November 19, so that we can confirm our numbers for the bus, for the equipment that we are going to be using at the beach and for the number of water safety officers that need to be on the beach.

Classes for 2019

Across this term we are looking ahead to the 2019 school year.

To assist us minimise the risk of disruption to classes in the first few weeks of the school year could you please advise us of any change in circumstances.

In the link below is an electronic form to complete if you will be leaving us at the end of the year (except current Year 6 students).

Can I ask all parents to complete this form and return to the office as soon as you become aware that you may be moving schools for 2019.

Years 5 and 6 - Laserzone 3 Main Drive Warana

Through the P&C we have made a booking for our Year 5 and Year 6 students to attend an afterschool session at Laserzone on Thursday November 22.

3 Main Drive Warana.

For $20 students play 4 missions and receive some arcade tokens to use across their 90 minutes.

Time: 4pm – 5:30pm.

So far there has been little interest in this activity. Please register by calling the School Office to put your name down by Monday November 19. A final decision will be made on Monday afternoon.

Tuckshop Volunteers

Do you have a couple of hours to spare on a Friday?

We are urgently seeking more volunteers for the Tuckshop.

Please drop in on a Friday and see Bronnie in the Tuckshop or call the Office to leave your details for a call back - 5475 1555.

Eternal Flame – Cotton Tree Cenotaph

Two of our school leaders joined Mrs Pool and I on Saturday evening at the Cotton Tree Cenotaph for the official opening of the eternal flame monument.

Hope and Manreet were an official part of the ceremony and read the poem, In Flanders Fields. Both received praise and positive comments around their participation and our school’s ongoing commitment to both Remembrance Day and Anzac Day.

I urge all families to take a few minutes and visit the Cotton Tree Cenotaph and eternal flame area early one evening as the flame takes ‘hold’.

Last Friday all students and staff received a poppy just before going home time and I hope everyone wore them with pride on Remembrance Day.

P&C Christmas Raffle

It’s almost time to return your tickets and money.

We did leave Mr Habel a little flat on Monday when we pointed out how many other people also wanted to win the seaplane prize. What an amazing prize and opportunity!

First prize – a Maroochy River Adventure from Paradise Seaplanes. This is a spectacular prize for one person for a flight off the Maroochy River and to see our local sights from up high before landing back on the Maroochy River.

Other wonderful donations have been received from Laserzone, The Ginger Factory, Aussie World and Spinners Bar and Bowl.

Chappy’s Breakfast

Monday and Thursday morning – all students are invited to come along and have a piece or two toast and a cup of milk or Milo in the forecourt area.

Did you know – one special grandmother continues to donate the Milo for everyone? A sincere thank you for this generosity for all.

2019 Prep Information Sessions

Have you a Prep aged student, or your neighbour, starting in 2019?

Have you completed the required enrolment paperwork and left it at the Office? If you haven’t now is the time to do this as we are about to roll out the 2019 Prep Orientation programme. Emails were sent out Monday night to enrolled 2019 Prep students with further details.

November 21 - Open Afternoon 1:15pm – 2:15pm

2019 Booklists

Back2School at Kunda Park is the company we are using this year, following Henry’s retirement from Swan News at the Plaza.

The book lists are finalised and instructions for ordering online and collection of the book packs directly with Back2School are in the following attachments.

Each family will need to set up an account after accessing the Back2School website.

The year level reflects the year level your child will be in for the 2019 school year.

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 or a place for dropping off or picking children up from.

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

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.

Be Responsible

Please reinforce with your child the idea that we do not solve disagreements by being physical. That we use our words, walk away or seek a teacher to assist.

Rule: Be Responsible Buzz Phrase “I Choose to Defuse”

• I say STOP if someone or something is upsetting me.
• I WALK away from the situation to a safe place.
• I TALK to someone I can trust.
• I CONTROL myself and keep my COOL.
• I can solve problems in a calm manner.

Resilience in this context means that students need to take responsibility for their own actions. Regardless of what bad things we experience or others may do to us we are still responsible for how we react. It is not acceptable to justify our inappropriate behaviour as a result of someone else’s behaviour towards us.

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.

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 3 Whole School Student Attendance Rate – 87.8%

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.

Term 4 Dates

November 16 – swimming payment due
November 19 – surfing payment due
November 21 - Prep Open Afternoon 1:15pm – 2:15pm
November 23 – Year 6 to Luther Heights Adventure Day
November 28 – Year 6 Parent Information Session for parents unable to attend the Term 1 session
December 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 – Prep to Year 5 Swimming at Cotton Tree Olympic Swimming Pool
December 6 – MSHS Transition Day for all Year 6 students heading to MSHS
December 10, 11 and 12 – Year 6 Surf Awareness at Mooloolaba Beach
December 12 Wednesday – Year 6 End of Year Night 5pm sharp
December 13 – Prep to Year 5 Movie Day
December 13 – Year 6 end of year AussieWorld activity
December 14 – last day of school

Year 6 Important Dates