17 February 2025

Date Claimers

Timetable for Maleny State School Swimming Program Term 1, 2025
Week 2- week 7 (6 lessons per class)

Principal’s Report

Our Annual Improvement Plan Priorities are:

• Teaching Reading through the Australian Curriculum V9
• Developing Effective Pedagogies when Implementing the Australian Curriculum V9 Mathematics

At last Friday’s P&C Meeting I presented the school’s Annual Improvement Plan to parents. It is important to have a sharp and narrow focus for the year that is clear to all, which we have achieved in our priorities above.  This year, we will be implementing the new Version 9 of the Australian Curriculum in English and Mathematics. Although we have achieved excellent results in Reading for some time now, we will be digging deeper and aligning our processes with Education Queensland’s new methods of teaching reading. Our focus in reading will be in the areas of Fluency and Vocabulary which are important to develop to be an effective reader. 

Year 6 Leadership Ceremony

Congratulations to all Year 6 students that were presented with Senior and Leadership badges last week at a special whole school assembly. It was wonderful that the five Maleny State High School Captains were in attendance along with Deb Stewart (Principal) and David O’Shea (Deputy Principal) to meet our School Captains. Three of these Captains were past students and leaders of our school (Matilda Lepper - Barrun House Captain, Sophia Donnellan – School Captain and Hannah Leach Student Council President). Matilda addressed the assembly, sharing what leadership means to her, and gave some very useful tips to our new leaders.

Parent Teacher Interviews (Years 1-6)

This week, we encourage all parents to take up the opportunity to meet and inform your child’s teacher about your child and how they learn best (eg what they are good at, interests, motivators, special needs or considerations, medical issues, social abilities, academic challenges, behaviour). Teachers will be able to briefly communicate how your child is settling in and inform you if there are any early concerns noted. A second interview will be held later in the year where teachers will do the majority of talking, giving parents more detailed and explicit information around how your child is progressing academically, behaviourally and socially at school. You will also receive your child’s Semester One Report around this time.

Please note parents are welcome to meet with their child’s teacher at any stage throughout the year.  Please ensure you make an appointment beforehand with the teacher to enable this to be a productive meeting.

Email - Ensure you have your teachers email address to further facilitate parent / teacher communication.

Welcome BBQ

Thank you to all who attended our Welcome BBQ on Friday afternoon. It was great to be blessed with beautiful weather, allowing children to have fun on playgrounds and ovals, and catch up with parents new and existing. A big thank you to the P&C for organising the drinks and free sausage sizzle.

Tuckshop Volunteers Required

If you can assist in the Mewar Café as a volunteer on a Tuesday, Thursday or Friday morning, please email Merrick milet3@eq.edu.au (P&C President) or contact the office on 5499 8333.

P&C 2025 Annual General Meeting

P&C AGM Friday 14 March at 1:00 pm, followed by our General Meeting.

Please join us for our 2025 P&C AGM (online or in person) at 1:00pm on Friday 14 March in the Library. Vote in our Executive Officers and have your say!  The online link to this meeting will be sent separately closer to the time.

Young children are welcome (under parent supervision) with refreshments (tea, coffee, nibbles) available. 

We urge parents/caregivers, school staff, volunteers and citizens to become Members to help the P&C choose our Executive Officers and to provide ideas and  suggestions as to how the P&C can best raise funds, support and enhance our school to benefit our children. 

All Executive Positions will be declared vacant and nominations will be accepted.

If you are interested, please see John or Merrick to discuss. Support will be provided to anyone taking on any positions.

Renew or become a new Member today (it only takes 60 seconds online) to help enhance your child’s education and resources at Maleny SS.

Nominations are now open for our Executive Positions:

• President
• Vice Presidents
• Treasurer
• Assistant Treasurer
• Secretary 

Nominations for these positions will remain open and can be submitted to the Secretary, Erin Porter, either by email eport96@eq.edu.au  or in person.

Have a Magic Week in Maleny.
John 

From the Deputy Principal

Naplan 2025

Our students in Years 3 and 5 will be undertaking NAPLAN testing online at various times from 12 March – 24 March. NAPLAN online brings many advantages including a test design that offers test items tailored to students’ knowledge and ability.

The timetable below is a draft outline of the days and times that the various tests will be undertaken.

For further information, please visit ACARA’s NAPLAN Online website and ACARA’s Assessment Platform. Advice for parents and caregivers about NAPLAN in general is also available.

Parents and caregivers of children in these NAPLAN year levels will need to be aware of important information relating to privacy, which can be found on the Naplan Online website

A note went home to all Year 3 & 5 students on 17 February regarding NAPLAN, attached was also an information sheet regarding more details about NAPLAN Online and the NAPLAN Privacy Notice.

We will keep you up-to-date in the lead-up to March, but in the meantime if you have any questions, please contact your child’s class teacher or myself.

Paula Heiniger
Deputy Principal

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 5499 8333 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.

Students of the Week

Year 3/4K

Understanding Country

The students of 3/4K have been learning about the meaning of Country, as used by the First Nations people of Australia. Our Year 4 leaders: Tasman, Deakin and Violet; led groups in discussion on Caring for Country and about what is special about our Country, here in the Maleny area. Some great vocabulary was used to describe Country, including connections, ancestors, memories and landscape. We then enjoyed using watercolour paints to represent our special part of the Country on which we live, learn and play.

Kate Stassen, Jodie Kyte (3/4K)

PBL (Positive Behaviour Learning)

Be Rule:                 Be Safe
BUZZ Phrase:        High 5 + Connect, Reflect, Protect (Safer Internet Day)

This fortnight we have a combined Buzz Phrase – High 5 + Connect, Reflect, Protect (Safer Internet Day). Safer Internet Day is officially on Tuesday 11 February but, due to its importance, we have made it a fortnightly focus.  So, together let’s make the internet a safer, more positive place.

This means:

• I use the High 5 to help solve problems.
• I treat others with kindness and respect in person and online.
• Create a kinder world: Practice respect, empathy, and kindness online.
• Be mindful: Balance your time online and be smart about the content you watch and share.
• Speak up and get support: Tell a trusted adult and report online abuse and harmful content.

Some conversation starters or things to think about…

• What are the High 5 steps and what do they mean?
• Sometimes things happen online we don’t expect and it can make us feel a bit scared, sad, uncomfortable or upset. What could you do if this happened?
• Who are some adults you trust who you could go to for help if this happened?

The PBL Team

P & C News

P&C AGM Friday 14 March at 1:00 pm, followed by our General Meeting.

Please join us for our 2025 P&C AGM (online or in person) at 1:00pm on Friday 14th March in the Library.

Mewar Café (Tuckshop)

Opening Hours

Mewar Café will be open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday:

• 8:30am to 12:00pm (first meal break only)

My School Connect

Orders can be made on the online ordering system My School Connect.

• Online orders close at 8:30am each morning.
• Snacks, drinks and frozen items can be purchased over the counter.

When ordering, please ensure that you see the GREEN THUMB screen and receive an order confirmation email.  This notes that your order has been successfully submitted and will be sent to our service.

Several times each week, we still have upset children turning up at the final bell for 1st Break looking for their 'missing' orders.  We need all of the preparation time from 8:30am to 11:00am (when the first bell for 1st Break rings) to have every order ready for collection.  It is not possible to prepare fresh or cooked meals during 1^st Break.

Please ensure there are sufficient credits in your child's account so that they can purchase items from our Counter Menu in the event that their online order was not successfully completed or that they have forgotten to bring their lunch to school.  We don't want to see any child go hungry!

Our current menu is available on the P&C website. 

Thank you for your support and any casual or recurrent volunteering will make a big difference to our committed Team!

Volunteers - If you can help please contact Mewar Café

For instructions, support and to learn more, visit Mewar Café.

Feedback is welcome to improve our service and menu items.  You are welcome to visit the Mewar Café to talk to one of our team or send an email to:  tuckshop@malenyss.eq.edu.au

Uniform Shop

The Uniform Shop's regular hours are Friday mornings between 8.30am and 9.00am. Payment options are EFTPOS or cash at the uniform shop only. Alternatively, orders can be placed online via the link below by 5pm Wednesday for Friday pickup or class delivery.

If you have one hour per month that you may be able to help us out in the Uniform Shop please contact the office on 5499 8333.  Open from 8:30-9:00am on Fridays, bring along a friend and be part of our happy team.

Chappy News

Chaplaincy service 2025

I started back at our wonderful school week 3 this term.  I took some extra holiday time to get my son settled into high school and plan and organise for the year.  I also took some opportunities to have daytime naps, visit friends and enjoy myself.  I walked into the school smiling on my first morning back, what a blessing it is to serve this school community. 

This year I will continue to run Breakfast Club on Thursday mornings from 8am at Mewar Cafe.  This club is open to all the school community.  We serve a free breakfast usually consisting of cereal, toast, fruit and milo.  Sometimes we may have other items such as pancakes, toasties, etc.  Students that come along can receive a healthy breakfast and take part in some social interaction.  The club is staffed by myself and volunteers.  Come along, you are more than welcome.  If you have an hour to spare to help out with breakfast club as a volunteer, we would love to hear from you.  Please contact me through the school office if you can help out.

Lunch clubs are up and running also.  Thursdays first break is usually Lego Club in the STIC, next to the library meeting room.  We usually have a theme for the week and students use this theme as an inspiration to create their masterpieces.  So, if you have a child in your family that loves Lego or is finding it a little difficult to find something to do during break, tell them to come join Chappy for Lego Club.

Fridays first break is usually art and craft club in the art room, downstairs next to the year 3 eating area.  We always have a theme for the term.  This term is about nature.  Students that attend the club go home with their creation and a smile on their face.  Again, if you think your child may be interested tell them to invite a friend and meet me there. 

As well as running these clubs, I also assist in the playground, classrooms, tuckshop and wherever needed.  I go on school camps, help with celebration days, provide social education to groups of students, prepare resources and the list goes on.   The Maleny State School Chaplaincy service also facilitates the school’s mentor program in conjunction with the school leadership.  I love being available to help in any way I can.

Just a reminder that I am here for all the school community.  My role is one of providing emotional, spiritual and social support when needed.  If you feel that your child or family member could benefit from a listening ear and someone to point them in the right direction to gain further support, feel free to contact me via the school office. 

Chappy’s quote for the week: “Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can” Arthur Ashe.

Chappy Chris

From the Office

Payments

Payments can be made by any of the following methods.

1. Directly into our bank account noting the invoice number, initial and surname of the student for whom you are paying. Our Bank account details are:
   BSB: 064-462    Account Number: 10080359
2. Credit card using the bPoint reference number that is located on the bottom left-hand side of your invoice. Credit card payments can also be made in person at the office.
3. Cash and cheque can be made by placing the cheque/correct change in a payment envelope and depositing it into the drop-safe in the office. Please ensure that the envelope is sealed so the cash does not fall out.  Please write the student’s name, class, amount enclosed and what the payment is for, clearly on the envelope. 

Office Hours are 8.00am to 4.00pm on Monday to Friday

Community News

Please see the link below to the Maleny Sports and Rec Maleny Events Calendar

You can keep updated with Maleny Community News and the Maleny Local Shopper at the  NEW link: 

P&C’s Qld - Click through to view their most recent editions of Parent Talk -