17 August 2020

Newsletter Articles

Date Claimers

Principal’s Report

2020 Year of Clarity

This year our major school focus is the teaching of Writing with a specific look at spelling. It is also a year we have watermarked as the ‘Year of Clarity’ whereby we revise a number of school pedagogical practices we have introduced over the last few years including how we teach, monitor, and focus on lifting student achievement especially in the areas of reading and writing.

Our school along with many others in our region and right across the world are working with renowned international practitioner, researcher, educator, presenter and author Lyn Sharratt.

Lyn’s book ‘Clarity’ is the framework that we are using as a resource. It illustrates how system and school leaders come together to boost student achievement and build teacher capacity to learn, teach and lead. It looks at 14 parameters that are essential for guiding systems and school leaders towards building collaborative learning cultures. It is a data driven approach and based on research.

Myself, Paula Heiniger (Deputy Principal) and classroom teachers Kerry Lees and Greg Corkin attended a conference at the beginning of the year with Lyn Sharratt and other schools in the North Coast Region. Together we continue to network with other local schools in our region including the Maleny State High School to share our learnings with our staff. Over the remainder of this year we will also be coached by Lyn via SKYPE to gain valuable insights and strategies on ensuring clarity of process and precision of our implementation.

Congratulations to Adrian Grieg our Innovation Centre Manager

Congratulations Adrian on being selected as a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert for 2020-2021!

I have included the below information from Microsoft congratulating Adrian on his selection as a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert. Yes, impressive title I agree. Adrian will continue to work at our school whilst also having the opportunities to engage in this role. We are very proud of Adrian and incredibly privileged to have someone with his expertise, teaching capabilities and supportive personal qualities on our staff.

“Each year, Microsoft selects Innovative Educator Experts to be part of this exclusive global community paving the way for their peers to share ideas, try new approaches, and learn from each other. We are inspired by your achievements and look forward to working with you throughout the one-year engagement, and beyond.

You will be joining a group of some of the most amazing educators who are empowering the students of today to create the world of tomorrow. At Microsoft, we believe that technology alone cannot build 21st century skills for students. It is an accelerator, but the power of change lies within educators. That is why we bring change makers, like yourself, together to recognize and grow your achievements.

You have been chosen as an MIE Expert because you are self-driven, passionate about your work, have true collaborative spirit, and strive to inspire students with outside-the-box thinking on technology in education. We appreciate your resourcefulness and entrepreneurial spirit. As agents of change, you have achieved excellence in education, using technology and social media. We are grateful for the opportunity to tap into your enthusiasm and enable others to benefit from what is clearly your passion.”

Have you ever seen a radish this big! A new school record from our Gardening Club.

The excitement in the office couldn’t be contained last week as Grace and Ryan came running down to my office to show me what they had proudly grown. Lou Walsh is doing an amazing job with our keen gardeners and with the weather warming our native bees have never been happier.

Students Walking to and from School.

Please ensure your children are aware of how to treat our school neighbouring businesses and those in town with respect when walking past them. Some students have been walking along rock retaining walls and not realising that they are causing distress to businesses by damaging plants and knocking stones on to the footpaths, some younger students similarly have been playing around and climbing on business displays at the front of shops. All students have been made aware of their responsibilities and I do appreciate your help in reinforcing our expectations with students.

Clarity of Birthday Celebrations at School

Our P&C along with the school promotes healthy food choices for any celebration.

Please note that our policies have changed in this regard in relation to the sharing of communal food which has an impact on practices around birthdays that would have been acceptable in the past.

Students are allowed to bring in commercially made and individually wrapped items to be distributed by the teacher e.g. cupcakes purchased from a shop or ice blocks (Tuckshop can organise ice blocks with notice). Students are not allowed to bring in food made at home e.g. cupcakes, slices, biscuits etc. or distribute party bags etc.

P&C Colour Fun Run

Please register your children online. Of course this is not compulsory but the greater participation the greater the outcome will be that will benefit all of our students.

We will be holding the School Fun Run Colour Day on 18th November 2020. We are holding the event so that we can raise much needed money for Growing our School during the challenges and limited fundraising opportunities imposed by Covid 19. The fundraising commenced on Monday 3rd August and will continue until Friday the 18th September 2020. All children have received flyers and booklets.

So far we have raised $1673 from only 22 students - 5% of all students, with 44 students - 11% so far registered online. Imagine if all students could register. Students are eligible for prizes once they have raised $10.

Father’s Day Stall 2020

This year’s Father’s day Stall will be held in Week 8 from Tuesday 1st September to Thursday 3rd September from 8:15am to 8:45am. Please see P&C parent Mandy McMahon (contact the office 54998333) if you can help on the day or on the Monday to assist with set up. We will not be asking for parent donations this year. All gifts have already been purchased. A huge thank you to Mandy for coordinating this event this year.

Queensland Road Safety Week 24-28 August

The Fatal 5 (speeding, mobile phone distraction, drink driving, fatigue and not wearing a seatbelt) contributed to over one third of serious crashes where people were seriously injured or lost their life, from 2014 to 2018.

What can you do? Qld Road Safety week is around the corner! Show your support by kicking those bad driving habits and make our roads a safer place for everyone. Check out the StreetSmarts website for a range of activities and resources

Be especially aware of our 40km zone around our school and abide by our drop off and pick up zones.

Say a big hello and thank you to Karen and Dean our Crossing Supervisors for the wonderful work they do each day ensuring our children are kept safe.

Have a Magic week in Maleny. John

From the Deputy Principal

5 simple but highly effective questions!

The following 5 questions will assist parents in engaging with their child’s learning. If a child can easily answer these questions their understanding of the learning process is clearly understood, if a child struggles to answer the questions, then it is clear that the child is having some difficulty in understanding what they are learning.

• What did you learn today?
• How did you do?
• What did you do if you didn’t understand?
• How can you improve on your learning?
• What are you most proud of?

To find out more about how you can support your child’s understanding of what they are learning it is then desirable to have a conversation with your child’s teacher so that a team approach can be used to support your child. We acknowledge that you are their first teacher and we are their second teacher - and working together will always be the most effective response in any child’s learning journey.

These questions come from the research by Dr. Lyn Sharratt and are discussed further in her book ‘Clarity – What matters most in Learning, Teaching and Leading’

Paula Heiniger – Deputy Principal

Students of the Week: Week 5

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.

PBL (Positive Behaviour Learning)

Keep your Cool and Let it Go!

Our new PBL focus for the rest of Term 3 comes from ALL the 4 Bee rules and is focussed on times outside the classroom. With the catchy BUZZ phrase “Keep your Cool and Let it Go” our focus appeals to all students from Prep to Year 6.

This BUZZ Phrase helps all students to focus on:

• I keep my hands and feet to myself
• I let go of what I can’t control
• I use calming strategies when I feel upset
• I use the high 5 to help solve problems
• I move away and re-set
• I play fairly
• I am a team player and show good sportsmanship
• I use positive talk to myself, my peers and adults

Whole School Reward – 20 minutes extra playtime!

We are all trying to fill our Reward Rocket again! Anytime outside of the classroom, when students are ‘caught’ Keeping their Cool or Letting it Go, they receive a sticker. This sticker is exchanged inside their classroom for a ball. These balls collectively go towards filling our Reward Rocket that lives in the office. Once full, the whole school will receive 20 minutes extra playtime. All students are excited to watch the rocket fill up.

PBL Team

Year 3/4C

Students have embraced working towards new goals for learning their Times Tables in Maths. Every day they practise the Times Table they are currently working on during our Math Warm Ups. First, students aim for accuracy then for recall speed. At the end of each week we challenge ourselves against a timer using a Daily 10 interactive. Students have 3 seconds to answer each question before moving onto the next one. When students successfully complete all 10 questions within the time and are all correct, they are then able to move to the next times table on our chart in the classroom. Students are certainly up for the challenge and are keen to improve their personal bests.

In our current English Unit students have been putting the final touches on their Traditional Tales they have been working on. Each student is creating their own tale which is interwoven with a moral or message for the reader. I have seen some spectacular work and have enjoyed reading student’s writing and watch their crafting skills come to light. We can’t wait to reach the final stage of publishing and each student will personally create a corresponding illustration for their stories, which will then be proudly placed on display to enjoy before they take them home.

Kerry Lees (3/4C)

Year 4A, & 4B

Putting Yourself in Someone Else’s Shoes

Over the last two weeks the children in year four have been planning and writing their own historical recount from the time of the First Fleet. The children were able to choose a character, either a convict child, a child of a surgeon, a marine or an Indigenous child from the Eora Clan. We have investigated the language used from that time and are retelling events using a variety of language features to enhance our writing. The children have also been learning about inspiring Indigenous leaders of this time like Pemulwuy and Bennelong who both showed great leadership and strength.

Sizzling Starts for our Historical Recounts

Jye in 4B

Hello, I am a child convict and my name is Benjamin Audrey. I’ve spent years as a chimney sweep but one day I escaped and I lived on the streets begging and stealing to survive, wishing my parents had never died.

One dark stormy day, I was about to pick up a loaf of bread when the Bow Street Runners caught me. One of them said, “Oy! What are you doing smuggling that loaf of bread?” and I ran as fast as I could.

Bailey in 4A

My name is Kemarre and I am an Aboriginal child. I was sitting against the seashore watching the tides come in when I saw a giant boat coming towards the shore. I rushed to my tribe’s elder at our camp and told them there was a beast heading this way. They all laughed until they saw for themselves.

In Drama the children will present their recount to the class wearing clothing from that era and incorporate props, body language and reveal the personality traits of their selected person. We have had fun improvising and answering questions about our life and our journey or experience as an Indigenous person. We have used the witness box and expressed our perspective on different events using historical facts of the time.

Technology and Design – WE NEED YOUR HELP!

The year 4’s, are investigating new technologies in gardening and farming and how drones, farm bots and vertical gardens are being developed to help develop more sustainable products to improve and reduce time and use of pesticides. The children have been busy creating innovative designs using recyclable materials to make something for the garden.

They have had to think about selecting materials that are durable, cheap and consider ductility (how far an object can be stretched or bent before it breaks). The children from all year 4 classes will also be creating a vertical garden for our garden area along the fence line. We are asking our school community to save their plastic 1.25 or 2 litre drink bottles so we can put together 120 bottles to grow herbs, flowers and vegetables for all the students at Maleny to enjoy. Please send in your bottles to Mrs Walsh in 4B.

In Science, we have been discussing Natural and Processed materials. We are looking at how Indigenous Cultures around the World used natural materials.

Kylie Hulm (4A), Lou Walsh & Trish Mackay (4B)

Year 5A, 5B & 5C

Virtual Parade

This term Year 5 has been focusing on leadership. In our classes we have been looking at; What we think leadership is; What leadership looks like in our school and what type of leaders we aspire to be in 2021. Last week the year 5 classes wrote about their own beliefs about leadership. Some students were then selected to read their writing to the school during the Virtual Parade.

A couple of students also talked about our school’s behaviour focus of “Keep Your Cool and Let It GO!” They reminded students of what they can do when things are bothering them outside of the classroom. They also re-introduced the rocket to school.

Science Light Studies

Classes have been busy investigating light through experiments using torches and making our own periscopes in groups

Digital Technology

On the computers we have started using TEAMs and Class Notebook more regularly to complete our class work. This has included the Dictation and Immersive Reader tools. Also we have started fine- tuning our coding skills in Scratch, ready for our group assessment later in this term and completing it next term.

Deb Darcy (5A), Eric Faulkner (5B), Caroline Hartley (5C) & Tammalee Johnston (5C)

LOTE Japanese

Hokusai’s wave

The Great Wave off Kanagawa, also known as ‘The great wave’ or simply ‘The wave’, is a woodblock print by the Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai. It was published sometime between 1829 and 1833. It is part of a collection of ‘Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji’. It is often considered the most recognisable work of Japanese art in the world.

Students of Japanese in year 5 and 6 have produced their own version of Hokusai’s art and coloured with food colouring.

Emi Obara – LOTE Japanese Teacher

War on Waste

Our BEES Are Happy

It has been wonderful to see our bees looking so busy in the garden. They are enjoying our red stone mobiles hanging around their hive.

Treasure Chest

What a great surprise to dig up one of our wicking beds to find huge sweet potatoes and the biggest radish we have ever seen. Some of the garden club members were excited to take our produce home to try a new recipe.

Our snowpeas are being enjoyed daily and the borage plants are a beautiful sight with their bright blue flowers.

This week the garden club members were excited about making kale chips using two different varieties from our garden.

Kind Regards
Lou Walsh

Science Club

We have started an enrichment Science Club this term, for Years 3 and 4 students. To date, the students have enjoyed a number of hands-on activities exploring density of liquids and solids, the properties of water and concentration of liquids. This week we will be looking at the reactions between acids and bases and how these are used in real life.

August 15 to 23 is National Science Week and we are encouraged by organisers to reflect on the lifesaving work done by medical researchers and health professionals combating the pandemic as well as the fire propagation modellers, meteorologists and others who worked behind the scenes during the bushfires last summer.

Kate Stassen

Chappy News

Value Yourself

Since the start of the term I have been running a girls program for the year 6’s that specifically look at 3 topics of Worth, Strength and Purpose. Last week we discussed a quote that said, “If you don’t value yourself you will always be attracted to people who don’t value you either.” This lead into a very interesting discussion of whether the students agreed or disagreed, and why they believed what they believed. I spoke about when you love and value something, you treat it with great care and respect. This opened up the discussion to how they can treat themselves with value and respect and the importance of being kind and encouraging to themselves. Sadly many of them admitted to self-bullying and their struggle to be kind to themselves. In the end it became quite apparent that their battle raged mainly in their own minds and impressions/beliefs about themselves.

The whole point of the program is to instil a realisation and belief in the student’s that their lives are extremely valuable and priceless because they’re a human being. They already have worth and value, not because of their accomplishments, wealth, good looks or any other outward factor. They are valuable because they are human and every single human on this planet has immense value and worth. So if something is valuable, it is worth caring for. I leave you with this question…are you showing yourself, by your own words and actions, that you are worth being kind to? If not, I challenge you to stop and think about this. How can you show care and love for your own self?

Have a wonderful and blessed week.

Chappy Becky

From Our Tuckshop

The Tuckshop is open three days a week – Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

If you can help, please see Gunnar at the Tuckshop. Your support will be much appreciated.

FlexiSchools is our preferred ordering system and is simple and easy to use.

To register go to:

Uniform Shop

If you have half an 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

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

Community News

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