13 February 2018

Newsletter Articles

Date Claimers

• 12-16 Feb: Parent/Teacher Interviews
• 14 Feb: P&C Meeting @ 6:30pm
• 15 Feb: GRIP Leadership Conference
• 19 Feb: Musical Volunteers Planning Meeting @ 3:00pm
• 20 February: Writing Round Up @ 3:15pm
• 6/13 & 20 March: 1-2-3 Magic @ 9:00am
• 16 April: Pupil Free Day
• 20 April: Maleny State School Cross Country
• 24 April: Anzac Day Assembly
• 25 April: Anzac Day
• 7 May: Public Holiday
• 1-2 June: Maleny Show
• 25 June: Maleny State School Junior Carnival (Prep – Yr 2)
• 26-27 June: Maleny State School Senior Athletics Carnival (Yr 3-Yr 6)
• 19 & 20 September: Pirate’s! We’re Pirates! School Musical performances

Diary Dates

Principals Report

Maleny State School Focus 2018

Our primary focus this year is WRITING.

In 2014 - 16 our school focus has been on reading. We have achieved excellent results, and more importantly, have been able to continue to sustain them. Last year we commenced our writing journey with some very pleasing results especially in spelling. This year we will continue to focus on writing utilising the skills of our literacy coach Brent Heiniger to assist teachers and students. All students will have an individual writing punctuation goal set by their teachers and we encourage parents to talk to their teachers to find out how they can assist their children to improve their writing skills.

Leaders Induction Ceremony

Congratulations to all of our Yr 6 students who received leadership badges last week. I look forward to an exciting year ahead with the assistance of our Yr 6 leaders. All Yr 6 students received a seniors badge as we see and expect all of our senior students to act as role models for our younger students. A big thank you to our Maleny State High School Principal Deb Stewart and Deputy Principal David O’Shea who along with P&C President Adrian McCallum presented students with their badges.

It was also great to have the 5 Maleny State High School Captains at our presentation ceremony and hear their inspiring words on Leadership.

This year I have charged our school leaders with the responsibility of bringing our school values below to life.

Our School Values

• High Expectations
• A Supportive Learning Culture
• Being a Reflective Life Long Learner

Attendance:

Research clearly identifies the relationship that, in general, the higher the attendance rate of students the higher will be their academic achievement. Our goal attendance for students is 95% for the year. All students achieving an attendance rate of 95% or above will receive a special Attendance Certificate each Term. Each week on assembly we celebrate classes that have high attendance rates. Winning weekly classes are displayed on our Star Attendance wall in the office. Five random students that have achieved 100% attendance for the week are drawn out on parade and awarded a tuckshop voucher each week.

P&C Meeting Wednesday, 14 February – We need You!

Our first P&C meeting of the year will be held this Wednesday at 6:30pm in the Innovation Centre. New parents are welcome and encouraged to attend as each year we have parents that leave us as their children move on to High School. This year is no different, we will certainly miss some of our long serving members that no longer have children at our school. We would love to see many more faces come along to our meetings to ensure that our P&C is truly representative of our whole school parent body.

Absence Line SMS

If your child is absent from school for any reason please call the absence line on Ph54998366 before 9:00am. Once all rolls are marked and absentee line calls are processed an SMS message will be sent to parents advising that your child is absent (unexplained) and asking you to reply immediately to explain the absence. This is a safety measure and a mandatory practice of all schools. Thank you for your cooperation here as this can be a huge job if parents don’t use the absence line and ties up staff unnecessarily.

Parent Teacher Interviews (Yrs 1-6)

This week we encourage all parents to take up the opportunity to meet with their child’s teacher and inform the teacher about your child and how they learn best (e.g. 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 late in Term 2 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.

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 and they have yours.

Swimming Carnival Success

It was great to see so many students participating in last Friday’s swimming carnival and parent support on the day was impressive. I congratulate students on their behaviour for the day which was excellent. A huge thank you to our PE Teacher, Mr Shane Turner, on his organisational skills along with all staff that assisted before, during and after. If your child is interested in furthering their swimming skills or looking for a fun club to be in look no further than the Maleny Swimming Club. Also, a big Thank-you to all parents who volunteered as officials on the day. Congratulations to those talented swimmers who have made it to the District Trials this week.

School Volunteers and RE Volunteers

Last Wednesday we held a number of meetings for those wishing to volunteer within the school. Eric Flamank ran an induction program for all adults wishing to volunteer within the school. Some of the things Mr Flamank discussed were the role of volunteers, the Code of Conduct, asbestos awareness and Student Protection. A big thank you to all parents and community members in attendance. If you missed it you are still welcome to assist and volunteer in classes, please see your child’s teacher or Mr Flamank. All volunteers are required to undertake professional learning and awareness of school processes and if you missed the face to face session’s hardcopies of this information is available for you to access. Paula Heiniger our Deputy Principal also conducted an induction program for our religious instruction teachers.

SWPBL (School Wide Positive Behaviour Learning)

Our school is a Positive Behaviour Learning School. This means we teach our children what our rules, routines and expectations are and reward them for meeting or exceeding these expectations. The more we can catch children doing the right thing and praise them for it the more likely we will see that behaviour repeated. Now that’s a win / win for all. Try it at home. Ensure you praise behaviours you wish to see (explicitly name them, e.g. I love the way you are talking to your sister) many more times (4 to 1) than using corrective statements (that at times also need to be used). Try keeping count of these for a day to see how you are going. It is quite a challenge. But it works.

This Week's Rule

This Fortnight’s Rule is Be Responsible and our Buzz Phrase is, “Make Good Choices”. This means when students may find themselves frustrated, unsupervised (i.e. on way to school, in toilets etc.) or in class they try to choose an appropriate behaviour in this situation. I often tell students to imagine mum and dad are sitting on one shoulder, their teacher is on their other shoulder and I am sitting on their head watching. If they are not sure whether they should do something or not, simply DON’T DO IT. I encourage parents who randomly see students making good choices to let us know so we can acknowledge their positivity.

Drop Off/Pick up Zones

To ease traffic congestion I ask that parents using the 2 parking bay zone outside the Prep building (just before the crossing) DO NOT LEAVE their car. This will allow a quick turnaround in this area and benefit all. Parents leaving their car do cause frustration for other parents wishing to use this area.

It is important if your children are being picked up from this area they are:

1. There on time otherwise you will need to do a lap of the block and return.
2. Sit or stand next to the fence and not on the walkway.
3. Are alert and watching for parent’s car.

Tuckshop – Join a special group of Maleny Volunteers

Please consider joining possibly the happiest group in the school at the tuckshop. We desperately need new people to come forward. Even if you can only spend the first hour after drop off we have the ideal job for you. Please see Gunnar at the tuckshop or give the office a call if you can assist. Your children will love you for it.

Have a Magic week in Maleny. John

From the Deputy Principal

2018 ICAS Tests

Each year ‘The University of New South Wales’ offers your child an opportunity to participate in the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS). We as a school enable your child/ren to sit these tests.

ICAS assessments have taken place annually in schools for over thirty years and in 20 countries. Educational Assessment Australia (EAA), who design and deliver the assessments, is the not-for-profit arm of the University of New South Wales.

A registration letter went home last week, with more detailed information, to enrol your child in ICAS, simply complete and return it, with your entry fees, to school by 2nd March, 2018. (I have attached another Registration Form to the end of the Newsletter)

For more information about ICAS go to the link below, contact Customer Service on (02) 8344 1010 or send an email to info@eaa.unsw.edu.au.

Your child can also prepare for ICAS using Practice Online. Practice Online tests are available for English, Mathematics and Science. Find out more about Practice Online at the link below:

The types of tests your child can take part in, dates and entry fees are listed in the table below.

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 - Friday.

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.

Classroom News

Prep A & B

The Prep classes have had a wonderful start to the 2018 year. It has been great to meet with and get to know the children and their families. We have been busy learning routines and setting up our classroom rules for a safe and happy environment.

Mrs Price, our Engagement and Wellbeing Teacher, has come to our classrooms to teach the children about circle time. During circle time the children learn about being respectful, listening to each other and talking about their emotions. We talk about how in order to learn we need to have our have our cups full – survival, freedom, fun, love and power. This week we learnt about our survival cup and talked about how we need water, healthy food, sleep and rest, air, sunlight, shelter, and exercise to enable us to be ready for learning. The students will each bring a book home to share their learning with you.

Mandy Bauer & Lindy Hicks

Year 1A & 1B

Thanks to all students and parents for a fantastic start to the year. We appreciate the hard work you have put in, getting your kids ready for Year 1. Students have been enthusiastic about learning from day one and already we are seeing some amazing work and work ethic in the classroom. Swimming has started with a bang! Just a reminder to please ensure your child has a sun shirt/rashie and all items of clothing are named to avoid any loss of property. In our classes we have been talking about school core values and expectations, and students are very excited about our Be Club awards. They are also keen to get on board with our class attendance goals and be Proud and Proper everyday!

On a personal note, we both thank you for your warm welcome to Maleny State School (or as we have been informed More-rainy). Jo Dykes and Tammalee Johnston

Year 1/2C

Over the past few weeks it has been fantastic to see the students excited and eager to get back into school routines, and we have had a wonderful time getting to know each other. Thank you also to those parents who have introduced themselves to me, as I endeavour to get to know you all on first name basis. I feel very blessed to be part of Maleny State Primary School, and have been warmly welcomed by all the students, staff and parents alike. Thank you! I look forward to continuing to build these relationships with you and your child throughout the year.

Swimming has been and exciting part of each week so far. Thank you to those parents who have offered their help with changing arrangements before and after swimming. Please remember that we are a Sun Safe school so wearing a rashie or sun shirt during the lesson is necessary. This week we have started to welcome parent and community volunteers into our classroom. Our volunteers spend time in our room helping with reading groups, maths activities and many other hands on leaning experiences. Fun times ahead in 1/2C!

Jenny Jenkinson

Year 2A & 2B

The year twos are all off to a great start and enjoying their new curriculum. Swimming is extremely popular. If any parents can assist with swimming it would be greatly appreciated, especially with the changing over at the pool. If you can help please see your child's teacher. We also would love your help in the classroom with general classroom activities. If you can help on any days please see your child's teacher. Lastly if you have not yet brought in all your child's books from the booklist including the library bag please get them in as quickly as possible. Borrowing will begin week 3.

Sarsha Anthony, Suzanne Poindestre & Libby Ferguson

Year 3A & 3B

We are off to a fabulous start! All the children have settled in very well, including the new students. Thank you parents and carers for providing all the items on the booklist, there are just a few children who need to bring in a few items. We are learning how to write a persuasive text and the children’s efforts has been fantastic. In Maths we are learning about time, number sequences and odd and even numbers. In Science we have been talking about how and why scientists group things and we are learning about living, non- living and once-living things.

Kind Regards,

Emma Back (3A Teacher) Anne Coogan ( 3B Teacher)

Year 3C

We have enjoyed our first week getting to know each other and we welcome all the new families to Maleny. We are impressed at how well the children are getting to know our classroom routines and procedures. We have been writing about ourselves and drawing very detailed portraits. In Science we have started our unit on Living and Non-living Things with our first activity looking at how scientists group things together. Please make sure all pencils etc have been named and that your child brings a hat to school every day.

Kind Regards,
Trish Mackay & Lou Walsh

Writing Round Up

Last year I asked for volunteers to come to a meeting to help organise a writing day for the students. Unfortunately for various reasons we did not have a great response from Maleny residents so I am trying one more time to round up some support. The following information might help to explain what the Round Up is all about;

• Objective – To encourage every Maleny student to value the gift of writing in a way that they enjoy the process of writing and see themselves as a writer.
• How? – By having Maleny community members share their writing talents with the students and to encourage all to realise the power of writing.
• Who Can Help? – Maleny community members who are recognised writers whether it be through stories or song.
• What? – A day of workshops/talks where Maleny writers can share their craft with the Maleny writers of the future.
• When? – A meeting on Tuesday, February 20 at 3:15pm in the library meeting room to discuss the possibilities of such a day.
• Payment – The knowledge of knowing you have inspired future writers of Maleny plus a huge big thank-you. A coffee may be included depending on budgetary constraints.
• We would like this to be a community event so if you know of a Maleny resident who has the required talents but not directly linked to the school can you please pass on this information.

Thank-you for considering this project and if you would like to come to the meeting but can’t, you can ring me at the school on 54998333 or email me at bhein13@eq.edu.

Thanks again,
Brent Heiniger (Literacy Coach)

Innovation Centre News

The year has kicked off in a very busy way. Lots of setting up of the Innovation Centre space is going on like the installation of the new 3D printer, upgrading computers in the Centre to a new Windows 10 build (that has the free 3D Builder app for creating 3D models for our printer), getting the art supplies ready for the crafting table and of course getting all of the books ready for a BIG YEAR of borrowing and reading. During Library lesson times I have started to show children how to access and search for books in our new system Oliver. Many of the children have already started to search for books they are interested in borrowing. Don't forget that this is available at home as well so parents/ guardians can also help your child/ren search for books that you may be interested in. One great example of the power of our new system is one students interest in the Lego Ninjago book series. On our initial search for 'ninjago' our local library at the Innovation Centre in school return no results. Sadly, we don’t have any. However, we can also search the Sunshine Coast Libraries collection as well. We followed these steps:

1. Click on Search other Sources. This will bring up the other sources options.
2. Make sure Sunshine Coast Libraries is ticked.
3. Untick the Other Providers tick box to limit your search to just the two libraries. Then click search again.
4. The search will run again returning results for both the local library (our school library) and the Sunshine Coast Libraries. It may take a moment but you will then see the results listed.

The awesome staff at the Maleny Branch of the Sunshine Coast Libraries will be very happy to help you out find the book on their shelves or getting it sent over from one of the other branches.

3D Builder app (Windows 10 Free App)

This free app is available to anyone on Windows 10 (or available for download on Windows 8.1). From the app website it says "View, capture, personalise and print 3D models using 3D Builder. Download many kinds of 3D files and edit them using the 3D modelling space. Take a picture with your webcam and make it 3D. Personalise 3D files by embossing your name, or combine models and pieces to make something new. Build from scratch using simple shapes.". The students school will be playing this app as we explore where and how it can be used to meet curriculum goals. If you have a Windows device it may be worth having a look at.

Office 2016 for free for students

All Queensland state students can now download multiple free copies of the latest Microsoft Office to their personal home computers and mobile devices. Students will need to use their school email address to sign in. Students who don’t have a school login, school email account and password should contact their school's Managed Internet Service (MIS) administrator or class teacher. The administrator will help students activate their school login.

Microsoft Office 2016 is available for personal devices only, not devices owned by the department or part of a school network. Your Office subscription lasts for as long as you’re a Queensland state school student. For PC and Mac, visit portal.office.com, login using your school email address, click through to install and follow the onscreen process. For tablets and smartphones, download from your app store and sign in with your school email address. For details visit the link below:

Adrian Greig and Ms Shelley - Innovation Centre Team

Music News

Add these dates to your calendar: ‘Pirate’s! We’re Pirates!’ School Musical performances: 19th and 20th September. A huge thank you to these talented parents Bec Paltridge for agreeing to take on the role as Director, Charmaine Lucas for volunteering to be our costume co-ordinator and Kylie McAuliffe for making props.

More volunteers are still required because a production of this size with over one hundred students involved is a huge undertaking. Can you help with any of these – costume sourcing & making, dance choreography, set design and painting, coaches in acting, singing and dancing , back stage, hair and makeup.

If you can help please come to a planning meeting in the Music Room at 3.00pm. Monday 19th February or contact me lcrip9@eq.edu.au / 54998333

Liz Shortland

War on Waste

Maleny State School is embarking on a War against Waste for 2018. All classes in the school will learn about recycling and composting. Each eating areas has been set up with three bins – Waste, Recycling and Compost and there is an Information wall in all areas giving instructions on which bin to use. We have one very large compost tumbler bin that we will use to collect our food scraps and to make compost. Our school will start a garden club where we hope to grow veggies and herbs to use in our classrooms when studying Health and we are hoping to sell our produce in the future. If anyone has an old compost tumbler bin for recycling that they are no longer using we would very much appreciate having a second one to access. Please contact Lou Walsh, Year 3C Class Teacher. We will keep you posted on our progress as we get started on this very valuable project.

Chappy News

Welcome to Term1

Welcome back from the holidays everyone. I especially welcome any new families to the school and hope that this is a wonderful year for you. I would just like to introduce myself. I have been the Chaplain at MSS for just over 3 years now. I have two children who also go to the school and I live locally. I have loved being the Chappy here and find my role to be a very positive and fun one. I have always loved working with children and was a teacher for 9 years. I provide games during the lunch hour for students who enjoy a more active and social opportunity. Every Wednesday morning I run a free breakfast at the Tuckshop called the Breakfast Club. All of the food has been kindly donated by businesses in this community. The other program I facilitate is the Mentoring Program.

As a Chaplain, I am just one of many safe people that students can approach for support and a listening ear. I am passionate about building relationships with families and connecting people with one another. I believe in encouraging people in their strengths and finding ways to use them for the building up of others around them. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer for the Breakfast club or Mentoring, please see me on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.

Chappy Becky

Dates Claimers for GLASSHOUSE DISTRICT SPORT

1-2-3 MAGIC Parenting Course

Understanding our own and our children’s Behaviour.

We would like to invite parents to attend an upcoming series of 3 workshops designed to help parents with behaviour management strategies. Deb Price, a Behaviour Support Consultant with Education Queensland, will be sharing the

1-2-3 MAGIC Programme with parents. The workshops will include information on:

• Controlling difficult behaviour eg. arguing, fighting, tantrums
• Encouraging good behaviour eg. going to bed, doing homework, eating
• Strengthening your relationship with your child through the use of praise, active listening and shared fun.

The workshops will be held at Maleny State School in the meeting room next to the school library starting Tuesday the 6th of March and continuing over the following two Tuesdays, the 13th and 20th of March, 2018. Each session will run 9:00am-12pm.

Participants will receive a workbook linked to the programme at no cost.

Please note that the sessions are for all parents, regardless of whether your child attends Maleny State School or not. Arrangements will be made for the care of any non-school age child(ren).

Should you wish to attend please contact Maleny State School by emailing or phoning the school office on 54998333 or drop in personally to let office staff know you would like to attend.

Friends and family are welcomed.

Deb Price – Behaviour Support Consultant

P & C News

P&C Meeting Wednesday 14 February @ 6:30pm

Registration Form for 2018 ICAS

Community News

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