31 March 2025

Date Claimers

Principal’s Report

Our School Priorities are:

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

Thanks for a Great Term

It has been a wonderful 10 weeks with excellent student behaviour and engagement in learning by everyone. Our Preppies have been impressive in making a very smooth transition from Kindy and learning so many new school routines. Some enjoyable events this term included our Welcome BBQ, Leadership Induction, Clean Up our Rainforest, Find a Frog in February, Australia Zoo Excursion and our Year 6 Camp. While we had a quick interruption from Cyclone Alfred, followed by some very wet weather last week, we are all looking forward to a safe, sunny and relaxing holiday before we welcome students back in Term 2 which will commence on Tuesday 22 April.

Maleny State School Cross Country

Our Cross Country will be held on Friday 2 May in Week 2. We welcome all parents to attend and encourage students to keep training over the holiday break.

Great Parent Support

It was great to have such strong parent support at last week’s assembly with standing room only. We celebrated both Harmony Day and Neurodiversity Week, showcasing many of our students performing songs and Hip Hop dancing. It was a great opportunity with so many parents present to bring a greater awareness of the strengths and diversity that our neurodiverse students add to our school. We are very proud of the inclusive culture we continually strive to create every day ensuring that all students feel like they belong at our school.

Thank you Students and Teachers for a Successful Year 6 Camp

It was fantastic to hear how much our students enjoyed their camp at Tallebudgera last week and even better to receive an email congratulating our teachers and students on their behaviour, attitude and manners, along with our supportive school culture. In speaking to Tallebudgera staff, they told me that this was the best camp they had been a part of this year. I would like to sincerely thank our teachers for their professionalism and commitment to take students on camp. Teachers don’t get additional pay or benefits for being on call 24/7 all week, or being away from their own families. I can assure you they are often exhausted by the end of the week, with long days and disrupted sleep while caring for so many students that are away from their parents and the security of home. I give my gratitude not only to our students and teachers but also to those parents who realise that, without teachers that are willing to organise and attend camps, children simply don’t get to have this wonderful experience. Modelling to our children the importance of giving gratitude is a lifetime gift and I encourage parents to emphasise this with their children. A favourite book of mine which I have shared with staff and my now grown-up children is ‘The Resilience Project’ that looks at the power of gratitude.

We only have camps at our school because our teachers agree to organise and participate in them, unfortunately many schools no longer have a camping program. Recent documentaries on the ABC have highlighted how school camps are quickly becoming a thing of the past in many schools.

Maleny State High School Open Morning

Maleny SHS will be holding its annual Open Day for prospective 2026 enrolments on 28 April 2025 from 9:00am until 11:15am. Please note this is for any interested families to attend. Later in the year there will be a 2-day transition program for all students wishing to attend Maleny State High School in 2026.

Have a Magic week in Maleny.
John 

Students of the Week:

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.

PBL (Positive Behaviour Learning)

Be Rule:  Be RESPECTFUL
Buzz Phrase:   Everyone Belongs

We love this focus at Maleny State School as it enhances our already kind and belonging culture.

When we focus on Everyone Belonging, we think about these statements:

• I am kind.
• I am inclusive.
• I use polite and positive language online and in person.
• I treat others the way I want to be treated.
• I encourage and support others.
• I listen to others and accept their ideas.
• I take turns and include others.
• I show good sportsmanship.

Harmony Week (Monday 17 – Sunday 23 March 2025) “is a celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds.  It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. You can wear orange to show your support, or you can attend/host a Harmony Week event.” ( https://www.harmony.gov.au/ )

Maleny State School held a free dress day on Wednesday 19 March to recognise Harmony Week by wearing orange or bright colours.  Gold coin donations will go to Welcome2Maleny.

PBL Team

Year 3

Australia Zoo Excursion 

Students from Year 3A, 3/4K and 2/3C visited Australia Zoo on Wednesday 26 March. Here are their thoughts on the day: 

When we went to Australia Zoo, we visited lots of animals such as the koalas, the wombats, the crocodiles and much more! At the start of the day, we did an educational workshop, then we saw the animals and finally at the end of the day we saw the Croc Show. - Ida 

I really enjoyed the Croc Show and animal education. There’s an African area, an Asian area, an Australian area and a reptile house. At the Croc Show everyone yells Crikey!   - Varli

My favourite part was the Croc Show because it was very entertaining. Also, the crocs were massive! They jumped crazy high! I think the crocs enjoyed the children, so Deadly.   - Finn D.

I think the whole school would like to go to Australia Zoo because it is an amazing place especially if you have never been before. I for one especially liked it when you had to yell ‘Crikey’ to celebrate Steve Irwin.  - Ellouise 

Kate Stassen & Jodie Kyte (3/4K) 

Year 4A & 4B

What a fantastic first term. 

Last week our classes performed beautifully singing at our Harmony Day parade. We are very proud at how the children have been busily completing their assessments over the last couple of weeks. 

In English the children have been writing and rehearsing a spoken film review where they have been taking on the role of a roving reporter at an Animated Film Festival.

In Maths we have been collecting data and making picture and bar graphs on paper and experimenting with Excel software.

In Science we have been completing an assessment on erosion caused by the action of water. 

Trish Mackay & Lou Walsh (4B) & Caroline Hartley (4A)

War on Waste

Garden Club News

Our wonderful and committed garden club members have had an extremely busy month in the school vegetable garden. They have weeded, revamped garden beds, planted seedlings and even harvested some basil and zucchinis.  Our plants are absolutely thriving, and we are amazed how much the tomatoes have grown in just a month.  We thank Wide Bay Seedlings at Pioneers Rest (near Tiaro) for their generous donation of 96 vegetable seedlings. We are also very happy that Maleny Primary School was officially approved last week for Pick of the Crop Funding for school gardens.  We thank Keith Gilbert for helping us with this grant and the delivery of seedlings from Pioneers Rest.  Our cucumber seedlings are already flowering!

Trish Mackay & Lou Walsh (4B)

Lost Property

Lost property is checked weekly and named items are returned to their owners.  Items not collected by the end of the term will be washed and donated to local charities.  Please ask your children to have a look, or yourself, in the alcove next to the Yr 4 eating area.

Now would be a great time to write your name on your jumper ready for the cooler weather!

Chappy News

Break time

We are almost on school holidays once again.  A break in the routine of school uniforms, lunches, drop off, pick-ups and homework.  For our family it may mean some pyjama days, sleep ins, getting your own lunches and snacks and relaxing hours at home.  It also means the grocery bill will possibly increase a fair amount!  The iPads and phones may also appear and want to take central place a bit more than usual.  My teens know that I make every effort to limit their screen time, however in the current social environment this is difficult.  They want to stay connected to their friends and what is happening in their world.  They want to unwind from their schoolwork. 

Every family is different, however in my family I encourage many breaks away from technology.  My two only have a certain number of hours a week that they can scroll, and we try and stick to this even in the holidays.  In these days where we are so focussed on staying online and having devices in our hands I feel as a parent I must lead by example.  I love my scroll time, and I seem to be wanting to check my emails and text messages often.  However, as we all know, many studies show that excessive screen time can be detrimental to our emotional, physical and mental health.

So, this Easter break I am reminding myself to firstly limit my own screen time and secondly to initiate some non-screen-based activities.  Time to get the board games out of the hallway cupboard, do some baking and re construct some Lego. We are blessed to live so close to the beach, the forest and so many libraries and shopping centres.  Let's get out there and explore our community and encourage our family members to do the same.

Chappy’s quote for the week “Time is precious, don’t spend it all staring at your phone.” anon.

Chappy Chris

School Photos – To be held on Thursday 1 May 2025

Please see ordering details below

Envelopes have been sent home.  Please contact the office if you haven’t received your envelope yet.

P & C News

Next P & C Meeting – Friday 9 May @ 6.30pm

Mother’s Day Stall

The P&C is hosting the annual Mother’s Day Stall on

Tuesday 6 May, Wednesday 7 May and Thursday 8 May from

8:15am to 8:45am under the Year 1 classrooms.

Beautiful presents and cards for mums and grandmothers will be for sale!

We would love to have volunteers to help run the stall from 8am. Please contact the office if you can join in the fun. 

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.

Maleny OSHC - Easter Vacation Care

From the Office

IMPORTANT REMINDER:

Casual Relief Cleaner Position

We are looking for a casual relief cleaner, this will require either a morning or afternoon shift or both depending on leave taken. Hours are 5am to 8am and 3pm to 6pm. This position requires a paid blue card. If interested, please give the office a call 5499 8333.

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 - 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 -