10 December 2019

Newsletter Articles

Date Claimers

Principal’s Report

A Magnificent Year at Maleny

2019 has been a wonderful year at Maleny State School. I am continually impressed at the improvements we are making each year and I put this down to the willingness and enthusiasm of our staff, students and school community. Our priority focus of Writing was once again very successful, seeing some huge gains right across the school in this area. All of our students have shone in some areas and many have achieved fantastic academic, social and behavioural outcomes this year.

Our wonderful P&C have had a very productive year running the Tuckshop and Uniform shop as well as donating a staggering $65 000 to the school which has seen the purchase of a new junior playground and replacing a class set of laptops, along with other school resources, additional teacher aide support and a $5000 contribution to our Yr 6 Canberra Camp. Our P&C continually motivate me to be on the lookout for ways of improving our school that will benefit our students. 2020 will be a great year to become a member with a few other initiatives already being spoken about. Keep an eye out for our first meeting. I am excited about 2020 and can guarantee we will continue to be student and community focused.

Final Assembly 2019

Please come along to our final Assembly this Tuesday 10 Dec at 2:20pm where we will acknowledge our teachers transferring to other schools - including Mrs Coogan; and retiring staff, these include Mrs Railton, Mrs Shortland and Mr Sherwell. Please come along and show your support for the wonderful job and tremendous commitment that all of these wonderful staff members have shown to our school and students over many years.

We will also be acknowledging and farewelling our Year 6 students publically for the last time. They would love you to be a part of this assembly as we clap them out.

Thank You to our Volunteers

Last week we enjoyed a beautiful Morning Tea with 60 of our 160 school volunteers. We have numerous volunteers who assist in important areas such as reading, swimming, tuckshop, LAP (Learning Assistance Program) tutoring, arts, classroom help, religious education, excursions, camps, P&C activities, sporting teams, mentoring and a host of other activities on a daily basis.

This year we hosted the Morning Tea in our School Hall and were able to have students in Yr 4 perform a song which they sang beautifully.

Volunteers all enjoyed a delicious Morning Tea and lovely messages of appreciation from the Maleny School Captains and received a gratitude card made by students. Our volunteers provide us with an important connection to our community which I see as a vital part of Maleny’s culture. In 2020 we will look to foster and increase this important relationship between our school and the wider Maleny community. A huge thank you to Trish Mackay who coordinated this event.

Anyone interested in becoming a much valued volunteer in 2020 can contact the school on 5499 8333.

Class Formation 2020

One of our most important and difficult tasks at this time of year is devising our school’s class structure and staffing for 2020. The reason it is difficult is due to the fact of uncertainty around exact enrolments. New families are still enrolling in all year levels at our school (and will continue to do so until the start of next year) and some families, depending on employment and sale of properties etc., may be leaving us. Our school is staffed on a set allocation according to student enrolment numbers calculated on day 8 of 2020. Hence, estimates and predictions need to be made now for organisational purposes to commence the year but may need to be adjusted next year. Ideally we aim to put a structure in place that will remain the same over the Christmas break. It is for this reason that we hold off as long as possible in releasing our 2020 class structure. This Thursday we will inform students of their classes for 2020 as this often helps to reduce student anxiety over the holidays. Teachers have spent a considerable amount of time making sure that these classes are composed with a balance of factors in mind, including parent preferences. There are many variables involved and the change of just one student can have a domino effect that affects other students and the balance of the class. Now that classes are formed, there will be no room for changes to be made.

Please respect this process. As parents, the best skill we can assist our children to develop is resilience. This means facing issues rather than avoiding them.

Congratulations Year 5 Campers

Our Yr 5’s had a wonderful time at Mapleton Camp last week. I congratulate them for receiving the most praise from Maleny staff and Camp staff that I can remember. This is always a wonderful thing to hear and something parents can duly be proud of as is the case with all our staff. This year we boosted our Yr 5 leadership development program throughout the year and it was pleasing to see such responsible and respectful students emerge on camp. A big thank you to all staff that made this camp possible and such a rewarding experience for students.

2020 Welcome Back to School (Tea and Tissues)

School commences on Tuesday 28 January 2020 at 8:50am. Please ensure your children have their required equipment from their appropriate book list to ensure they enjoy a successful start to the year. There will be a morning tea at the Hall for all parents at 8:45am. We see this as an important time for our school community to welcome brand new parents who have not yet made any friendship connections and for old friends to catch up. Please take advantage of this opportunity to enjoy a free tea/coffee and catch up with some old/new faces after you have dropped your children off.

Attendance

Children are expected to attend every day this week including Friday. Please ensure you call the absentee line if your children are away, especially Friday this week. The additional work caused by parents that do not do so puts incredible pressure on office staff at a very busy time of year.

2020 Proposed Date Claimers

(please check again in 2020 in case changes are necessary)

• Welcome Banquet - Friday 31 Jan (Week 1) 3:00pm - 4:30pm.
• Yr 6 Leadership Badge Ceremony – Friday 14 Feb (Week 3) at 9:00am.
• Parent Teacher Interviews - commencing 17 Feb – 21 Feb (Week 4). Register online in 2020.
• Swimming commences all year levels - Mon 3 Feb (Week 2)
• Swimming Carnival 9 – 12 Years old - Wed 5 Feb (Week 2)
• Glasshouse District Swimming Carnival @ Beerwah - Wed 19 Feb (Week 4)
• Classroom Volunteers and LAP Tutors Information Sessions - Thurs 13 Feb (Week 3) 9:00 - 10:00
• RI Volunteers Induction - Thurs 13 Feb (Week 3) 11:45 – 12:30
• GRIP Leadership Yr 6 students - Thurs 20 Feb (Week 4)

Black Shoes – White Socks

Please ensure your children help to make our school look and feel great in 2020. It is an expectation EVERY STUDENT in every year level will have BLACK SHOES (joggers) and WHITE SOCKS to commence the year. Navy shorts/skirt/skorts not denim pants or jeans.

We want your old Uniforms, Hats and Black shoes

If your child is leaving this year or has grown out of their school shirt, sports shirt, hat, shoes, jumper etc. and they are in good condition please consider donating them back to the school. Please drop cleaned uniforms at the office. These will assist some of our families greatly and also assist us to ensure everyone has access to a school uniform.

Uniform Shop 2020 Opening Times

Mon 20, Wed 22, Fri 24 January 2020 from 8:00am – 10:00 am (Week before school starts.)

Volunteers are required to assist sell uniforms. Please leave a message for Corinne, who is organising helpers for these days, at the office.

Remember all helpers are volunteers giving up their holiday time to assist families get organised for the start of the year. I very much appreciate their extra efforts at busy times of the year to accommodate our new and existing families. Please show your appreciation with a smile and a thank you.

Tuckshop 2020

Once again tuckshop will open 3 days a week from the start of Term 1 next year – Tuesday/Thursday/Friday.

This means Tuckshop will be available on the first day of Term.

If you can volunteer next year please see the office or get in touch with our Tuckshop Convenor, Gunnar.

Year 6 Graduation and Farewell

Our special Graduation Ceremony for Yr 6 students is on this Tuesday beginning at 9:30am, followed by a morning tea starting at approximately 10:40 am. Students are required to wear full school uniform for this event and bring a plate of healthy food for the morning tea. Students from Yr 5 will also attend this ceremony. We encourage parents of Yr 6 students to attend if possible.

Our Yr 6 Graduation Dinner is at the RSL. The event starts at 6pm on Tuesday 10 Dec. It is strongly recommended that parents and students sit together during the meal as the main purpose for this event is for you to spend time with your child on this special occasion. We request that the students remain within the venue once they arrive.

It is always a proud moment to farewell our Yr 6 students. I wish all of our students the best at High School and for the future. We will also sadly miss many of our Yr 6 mums and dads, grandparents and guardians who, over the last six or more years, have been a great asset to our school in many different capacities. Thank you also to our School Leaders, Sports Captains, Music Captains and Student Council representatives for showing such initiative and enthusiasm in their roles within the school this year.

School Reports

Students will receive their Semester Two Report Card on Thursday. Please discuss your child’s progress with them and seek any clarification if required with your child’s teacher. Remember a ‘C’ academic rating means your child is achieving the outcomes expected of a child at their year level. The majority of children will generally fall within this rating.

P & C Thank You

Thank you to our P&C who have contributed so much to our school this year. A special thanks to our P&C executive who have continually sacrificed their time to ensure our school is forever improving and our students gain the benefits. Thank you also for the tremendous work done by our Tuckshop, Uniform Shop, Mothers’ and Fathers’ Day Stalls, Disco, Concerts, Shopping Bags, BBQ’s, Colour Fun Run, Country Fair and our behind the scenes busy Book Club coordinator.

A Wonderful Maleny Team

As this is the last Newsletter for the Term, I would like to acknowledge and extend my sincere thanks to the great school team of staff behind me. This is my seventh year at the school and I am excited that each year we have strived to make it better than the year before. Thank you to all staff for a tremendous 2019 and the positive contributions you have made to our school and each and every student every day.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

Enjoy the festive season with your family and have a safe and relaxing break. I look forward to seeing everyone in the New Year. Thank you for keeping an eye on our school over the holidays by reporting any suspicious activity on 131 788.

John

From the Deputy Principal

Writing and Spelling: Practical Ideas for Parents

As children learn some letter-phoneme (sound) matches and start to read, they begin to write words and sentences. Seeing how words are spelled helps children in reading and writing.

In the early years, reading and writing are learned together and if they are done every day spelling knowledge will develop. Below are some practical ideas that you can try at home to improve your child/ren’s reading, writing and spelling!

• Children can learn to spell some words by segmenting out each letter. Short, simple words are best to learn in the beginning. Encourage your children to write stories and to spell words using the phonemes the letters make.
• Make a puzzle word by writing a word on paper and cutting the letters apart. Magnetic and felt letters can also be used for this activity. Mix the letters and have your children spell the word by putting the letters in order.
• Point out that some words are similar. Talk about how hop is similar to top, cop, and mop. Create flip books with these similar phoneme endings.
• Ask your children to draw a picture of a family activity. Have them write a sentence about it below the picture. Encourage your children to say the sentence and write letters to match the phonemes in each word. Then have them read what they wrote.
• Have your children cut a picture from an old magazine and write a story about the picture.
• Tell your children a story and have them write their own ending for it.
• Have your children write letters and thank-you notes to friends and relatives. The holiday season is a perfect opportunity to do this e.g. gift tags, cards.
• As your children progress, help them learn the correct spelling of the words they write.
• Say a word and have your children repeat the word. Then have them write the letters that match the sounds in the word. Make a game of this!

Best wishes for the Holiday Season!

On a final note for 2019, have a wonderful break with your family and enjoy the little things, as ‘it’s the little things that make life big!’ I look forward to seeing you all again next year in 2020!

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.

Dental News

The dental van will be open on the first week (16/12/19 – 20/12/19) & last 2 weeks (13/1/20 -24/1/20) of the school holiday. If you require an appointment, please Ph: 0419736942 to arrange a time.

If you think your child has missed out, please feel free to give us a call to check.

Have a happy & safe holiday.

Don’t forget to brush & floss.

Enza & Kylie
Dental Van Staff

Year 1A & 1B

Year 1 are making the most of what is left of the year with a little bit of Christmas sprinkled in to complement our usual numeracy and literacy. Our daily writing has shown some exceptional progress over the year and all students should be commended for their efforts and achievements.

Swimming has now finished for the year, except for BE EPIC students who will enjoy one last dip in the pool on Tuesday’s Rewards Day.

1A and 1B Class Celebrations will be next Thursday, 2nd last day of term 4. Further information will be sent home regarding food and end of year pack up.

We wish you all a happy and safe Christmas and thank you for giving us the opportunity to teach your beautiful children, we wish them all the very best in year 2!

Jo Dykes and Jenny Jenkinson

Year 2A & 2B

Year 2 have worked extremely hard in these last few weeks toward completing tasks and should be proud of their efforts. Students have really stepped up to some challenges and shown that they are ready for Year 3. Everyone is looking forward to Tuesday’s well deserved rewards day and of course that long awaited Summer Break!

Throughout the year students have really applied themselves to building on their writing skills and have enjoyed positive feedback on the creativity of their narrative writing. This term, students have also enjoyed Drama and exploring role play as a character from a story. It is wonderful to learn that some students have enjoyed this so much they are keen to join a Drama/Theatre group! And you never know, we may see some Maleny State School faces on the big screen in the future.

This year has been thoroughly enjoyable and we would like to thank parents and carers for all of your support and for allowing us to be part of your child’s learning. We wish all families a wonderful Christmas, and an enjoyable school holiday. Also, best wishes to all year 2 students as they move up to Year 3!

Sarsha Anthony, Hayley Chamberlain & Libby Ferguson

Year 3A & 3B

Year 3 are still working hard and doing lots of learning as the year begins to wind down. They have been writing lots of creative stories and we can really see the improvement in their writing skills from the start of the year. They have the best imaginations!

3A and 3B Class Celebrations will be next Thursday, 2nd last day of term 4. Further information will be sent home regarding food and end of year pack up.

The children have been enjoying their swimming lessons and have learnt much-valued skills for safety in and around the water. They will bring home a Swim and Survive certificate this week.

We have thoroughly enjoyed our time with your students this year and wish them a successful and happy 2020. Thank you to all our many volunteers and parents who have helped in our classrooms each week. We wish everyone a very safe and happy Christmas break.

Shelly Chandler & Anne Coogan

Year 4 A, 4B & 4C

A Wonderful Year Together!

The year 4’s performance of the song, ‘One Call Away’ at the volunteer's morning tea was absolutely amazing! Our fabulous music teacher Mrs G created a great sense of rhythm in all students and it was obvious that music can touch the heart!

In English, the students have been busy writing persuasive scripts to sell their self-designed cereal. Some of the cereal boxes are on display in the office. Grace, from 4C, was inspired to create her own recipe and made her Chocoapic and put them in her cereal box to present to the class. The kids enjoyed the taste testing!

Last week, 4C celebrated everyone making it to “Be Super” by holding a Master Chef competition. The students worked in groups to create a juice that contained fruit, two vegetables, seeds and a herb. We were able to pick mint, apple mint, lemon balm, choc mint and fennel from our garden at school. We had a huge variety of produce to choose from and to taste some new vegetables and fruit for the first time. Mr Byrne and Mrs Heiniger came and sampled some of the unique and tasty recipes. The groups worked cooperatively to make up their recipe and to decide on a persuasive name for their juice. Each group created a different flavour and the winning team, The Meercats won a bag of salad mix from the garden as their first prize for their Berry Explosion!

The students in 4C have enjoyed having Maggie come to teach them art throughout the year. It has been remarkable to see everyone produce such beautiful artwork. We finished the year drawing a hummingbird.

Thank you so much to Maggie for giving up so much of her time to guide and encourage the students in 4C to become talented artists.

What a wonderful year it has been spending the past 200 school days with not only our lovely 4A, but all of year 4 and those fabulous women I call my colleagues! I looked forward to every Thursday and Friday to see what surprises and magical adventures we'd be facing. The highlight of my year was building our 'wicking beds' - seeing them actually work and then spending 3 WHOLE DAYS with all of year 4 on our Currimundi Camp! THE BEST CAMP EVER! From my family to yours - have a special Summer Holiday and wonderful Christmas time. See you all again next year!

Wow, how fast has this year flown! I write this last piece with such pride and admiration for each student in 4B. It has been such a pleasure watching your child grow both inside and outside of the classroom. Being able to spend camp together was most definitely a highlight for myself and I know it was for the students as well. They have worked so hard on improving their multiplication recall and I hope they will continue this into year 5 and beyond. Over the last two weeks the students have been creating a collage of an Australian bird and experimenting with colours. The students were so impressed with the final product. Well done everyone!

Caroline Hartley, Tam Johnston, Kylie Hulm, Lou Walsh & Trish Mackay

Year 5A & 5B

Year 5 Camp at Mapleton

What a great way to end a fantastic year. The main reasons that we went on the Year 5 camp was to develop Leadership skills, work as teams and to challenge ourselves personally. The camp has a hand symbol which they refer to all of the time.

The challenging (but also fun) activities included: Glider Possum, Giant Swing, Canoeing, Climbing Wall, Archery, Orienteering and Team Challenges with Peta Cave.

Students have reflected on their favourite activities and written short descriptions to display in the office foyer.

This was a great experience and will help to prepare the future school leaders for 2020.

Thanks also to all of the Year 5 students and their families for a great year. Enjoy the break.

Deb Darcy & Eric Faulkner

Year 3 Virtues Class

Students have been working on a fable where they had to write their own story with a moral. They created a diorama and told their story.

Regards Emi Obara

Students of the Week

Chappy News

Generosity at Christmas

As we near the end of the Term there seems to be an endless list of jobs and activities that we are invited to. Christmas for many families can be the happiest time of the year, however I would like to remember that for some families it’s also the saddest time. I think that for most people, Christmas represents family time together and so often there are many things that stop families being together. The media can also create a picture of supposed “perfection” at this time of the year, but for many that is just not the case.

I want to encourage you to make your children aware of the many ways in which they can be a blessing to people. To concentrate on ways in which they can bless and make someone in their life feel valued and loved. Maybe it’s an elderly neighbour. Maybe it’s a friend that has no children and would love to be included. Teaching children to be aware of the people around them and deliberately look for ways in which they can love and surprise them is a wonderful and highly rewarding gift to give them. Teaching them that to give is better than to receive is a beautiful way to teach generosity and gratitude this year.

If any of you has a desire to be part of this, Dee at BRANT & BERNHARDT REAL ESTATE are collecting donated toys and food to make hampers that the Chaplaincy will distribute at the end of the term. So if you want to teach your child what giving looks like, please drop off a toy or a food item to the Real Estate in town and know that it will be used to bless a family this year. Thank you in advance for your kindness and thoughtfulness this Christmas.

Chappy Becky

WAR ON WASTE

The Garden Club members picked kale from our garden today and we made sensational kale chips, which we all enjoyed. We are so pleased to announce that we have made $645 with our collection of ten cent containers. Thank you to everyone for contributing and supporting our recycling project. We will aim for $1000 next year! It has been a fantastic year and our garden area is a very special place within our school grounds.

Kind Regards
Lou Walsh

Uniform Shop

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 8:30-9:30am on Fridays, bring along a friend and be part of our happy team.

The Uniform Shop's regular hours are Friday mornings between 8.30am and 9.30am. Payment options are EFTPOS, cash or cheque at the uniform shop only. Alternatively, orders can be placed online via the link below by 5pm Wednesday for Friday pickup or class delivery.

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.

Community News

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