3 February 2023

Newsletter Articles

Date Claimers

Principal’s Report

Welcome Back

A special welcome to our new Preppies and new families that have commenced their first year at Maleny State School. We have 56 new Preppies and 33 new students across other year levels commencing with us this year. Please ensure you assist us to enact our school values, by actively supporting all students and families, especially those new to Maleny.

Our students look fantastic and I would like to genuinely thank families for choosing to ensure children are wearing all correct uniform items and have all items listed on their book lists. We are proud of our school and inclusive culture and rely on parents to ensure the correct uniform choices are upheld and not watered down in any way.

Our current enrolments stand at 387 active students.

I congratulate all of our staff who have worked incredibly hard over the last few weeks in creating a Supportive Learning environment for all students and setting High Expectations (for students with rules, routines, behaviours, uniforms and learning outcomes) by embedding school / classroom rules and routines in all that we do.

I would also like to acknowledge the enormous amount of work our P&C Executive and family members have contributed over the holiday break and the incredible achievements/improvements they have made to our school. Firstly, our new Store. Existing parents will be aware that in 2022 we totally remodelled our existing Uniform Shop. This project was only completed in the week before school, leaving little time for creating shelving, furnishing, labelling and organising cartons of new stock. A seemingly impossible task in given time constraints that has been realised with incredible results. Don’t take my word for it, come in and have a look yourself on any Friday during opening times from 8:30am – 9:00am.

At the same time, they were also able to remodel and rebrand our existing tuckshop, employ our new convenor, Rebecca, and organise a volunteer roster to enable our tuckshop to be open every day of the week this year. Our tuckshop is now known as the Mewar Café (Mewar is Jinibara language for platypus). See email sent last Friday that explains we are no longer using Flexischools and parents will need to sign up to My School Connect to be able to order tuckshop.

Mewar Café will be open every week day during the Term for these hours:

• Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM (both meal breaks)
• Tuesday and Thursday: 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM (first meal break only)

A refreshed changing daily Menu has been created.

Our P&C, along with OSHC staff, also very successfully conducted our first ever Vacation Care program over the holidays, of which parents using the service were extremely grateful. As Principal and on behalf of our staff and parent body, I would like to acknowledge the above incredible feats of our P&C, we are extremely grateful. You can also thank them by simply becoming a P&C member, volunteering and attending meetings when possible.

Maleny SS School Values

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

We realise the importance of creating strong positive relationships with students and families to ensure we create a supportive learning culture in which our students can thrive. By teaching children how to learn we aim to mould students into becoming reflective lifelong learners.

To assist creating and strengthening these relationships, our P&C will host a Welcome BBQ this Friday 3 February immediately at the conclusion of school. This will be an opportunity to meet other parents and students from your child’s year level. A sausage sizzle will be provided along with sports equipment for students to play with on the oval. In the case of possible wet weather an SMS will be sent to parents to indicate whether this event will be cancelled or not. Please note that drinks will not be provided.

BBQ Times Friday 3 February:

Preps 2:00pm – 2:30pm in Prep Area
Years 1 – 6 2:50pm – 3:20pm on Senior Oval and Mick’s Shed

School Targets:

Our main academic targets include:

• 95% of students in English and Maths a ‘C’ or above.
• 50% of students achieving an ‘A’ or ‘B’ for English and Maths.
• 95% attendance rate

Of course, we still value all of our Key Learning areas and aim to ensure all students are engaged, enjoy learning and feel like they belong.

Before School Routines

Note: Supervision is only provided from 8:30am onwards, students are encouraged not to attend before this time.

• Arrive at school from 8:30am onwards (Preps go straight to classrooms).
• Sit in year level area until the first bell goes.
• After the first bell at 8:30am students may play handball on courts in year level area only.
• Students may go to the Innovation centre and borrow a library book.
• Running or hanging around toilet areas is not permitted.
• When second bell goes, students line up for class or move directly to classrooms.
• Students coming to school by bus must come directly into the school and are not permitted to go to shops or wait outside the school.

After School Routines

Walking or Riding

After students are released from school they should promptly head directly home.

Bikes are to be kept in bike racks and scooters in the enclosed area provided near the staff room.

Students, for safety reasons, should wear a helmet and must dismount inside the school grounds, on the footpath and when using the crossing. It is important students are respectful of all other footpath users.

Smile and acknowledge our crossing supervisors (it’s free and it makes you feel good).

Students waiting for parents in cars (arriving at 2:50pm)

Students are to wait quietly along the Prep fence or behind the pedestrian crossing area on school side only, not on the fence across the road. Parents can park on this side of the road and students can then cross and meet them when they arrive. This is for their safety and a courtesy to our neighbours. If parents are ever later than the time the crossing supervisors have finished, children must move to the office, we will call home and they can wait there safely.

Waiting for High School Siblings

All students waiting for older siblings need to wait in the supervised area under B Block with Bus students. Staff will escort them out on time to meet their older siblings.

No students are to wait on the other side of the road near crossing.

Bus departures

2:50pm Buses

Students move promptly to the footpath and wait along the fence in front of the appropriate bus and wait for the bus driver to load students. Prep and Year 1 students are collected from their class by school staff and directed to the correct areas until they board their bus.

Students need to ensure they are not waiting on the walkway as this impedes pedestrian traffic.

Once loaded, students must remain seated at all times and talk quietly.

Students must follow the QLD Transport Code of Conduct, I will be addressing expectations of bus behaviour and the Code of Conduct for Students travelling on buses on assembly this week. All parents will be emailed this information. Bus drivers are the ones that enforce this policy. Any issues occurring on the bus should be conveyed to the bus driver in the first instance as soon as possible.

3:05pm Buses

Students move directly under B Block at 2:50pm and wait quietly in bus lines.

Staff will take students and load onto buses just after 3:00pm, this coincides with the same time High School students start to walk past our school.

OSHC – Outside School Hours Care

Students attending OSHC need to make their way to the OSHC Room immediately after being released from class. OSHC staff will collect Prep students from their classroom and escort them to the OSHC Room. Year 1 students will also be collected from their classrooms and escorted to the OSHC Room but only for the first term.

After School Drop off / Pick up Zone 2:50 pm (to right of pedestrian crossing school side)

Students wait quietly next to Prep school fence until parents arrive NOT across the road.

Students load quickly when parents arrive.

Students need to ensure they are not waiting on the walkway as this impedes pedestrian traffic.

If parents have not arrived before crossing supervisors have finished their shift students move to the office and wait to be collected. Note: This is not an area to park and leave the car.

Swimming

Swimming Lessons commenced this week beginning 30 January on a Monday or Tuesday and continue until Week 8. Shane Turner along with 2 other coaches will conduct lessons. One of the major benefits of having our own school pool is we are able to keep costs to a minimum for parents. Cost for parents is just $20, your immediate payment is much appreciated.

Students of the Week

Students will still be presented with student of the week awards on assembly (held every second Wednesday at 2:20pm).

Reminder: Slow down in 40km/h school zones

Police across the Sunshine Coast District are urging all motorists to take extra care, slow down and be on the lookout for pedestrians near schools. The school zone speed limit is designed to ensure motorists have a greater chance to react if something unexpected happens.

Children can be impulsive, unpredictable and inexperienced, which is why motorists need to exercise caution in the vicinity of a school.

Speeding through school zones greatly increases the risk to pedestrians as the faster a vehicle is travelling, the longer it takes to stop and the greater the severity of impact.

For further information on school zones, visit the link below.

No Dogs on School Premises

In alliance with Education Queensland Guidelines, dogs are not permitted in the School Grounds. This enables us to keep all our children safe.

P&C Meeting

Our first P&C meeting will be held on Wednesday 8 February at 8:50am in the Innovation Centre (library). Younger children are welcome where parents can occupy them and be responsible for them, we have lots of fun things in the library to assist. Please join us face to face or online, new faces are always welcome and encouraged. Further notification of this meeting will be emailed in the future. Our Country Fair is in Week 9 (Friday 24 March) and will be an important focus of this meeting.

Have a Magic week in Maleny.
John

From the Deputy Principal

Safer Internet Day Tuesday 7 February: Advice for parents and carers to help kids stay safe online

In Week 3 this term, Maleny State School will take part in Safer Internet Day. Safer Internet Day is on Tuesday 7 February and is a global event that brings together communities, families, schools and organisations from more than 200 countries to help create safer online spaces.

This worldwide initiative is celebrating 20 years in 2023, making it a great time to reflect as well as look forward.

Technology has evolved dramatically in the past two decades and the benefits have been huge. These developments have also exposed us to many risks with real-world impacts, making online safety awareness even more important.

This year’s message is: Connect. Reflect. Protect.

Connect safely and with purpose – by keeping apps and devices secure and using social media in positive ways.

Reflect before we act – by taking a moment to consider how what we do and say online may affect others.

Protect ourselves and others by taking action – by telling family, friends or colleagues about eSafety and how we can help.

By doing these simple things, we can work towards making every day a Safer Internet Day.

For further advice for parents and carers regarding keeping children safe on line please visit the eSafety Commissioner’s website:

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.

QParents

Maleny State School conducted internal trials last year of QParents. We are aiming to make school business processes simpler for not only school office staff but for parents as well. QParents is an Education Queensland service provided by the Queensland Government, that is available to all state schools.

Maleny SS is aiming to reduce the amount of paper we print as well as reduce the need for high volumes of inbound and outbound phone calls related to student absences. The QParent app will allow for parents to send a message to report an absence, check school invoices, make payments in app, access report cards, see important upcoming events and provide consent online for special activities/ excursions all within the one app or online website.

One thing you can do to make sure you get your invitation is to ensure that we have your most up to date email address in our school management system, OneSchool. So, if you have changed your email recently, please let the office know ASAP.

Keep an eye out for upcoming school emails, newsletter items, school Facebook posts and information on QParents when the staged roll out of email invitations begins in the first few weeks of school.

In the meantime check out the QParent Help site to get some detailed information. For example:

• What is QParents
• Privacy and Security
• Registering for QParents

QLearn – What is it?

In Semester 2 of 2022, our school leadership team and a dedicated team of class teachers began planning for the soon to be released state-wide digital learning ecosystem for teaching and learning across all of Education Queensland. It is called QLearn.

• QLearn is a new digital learning management system for student learning, replacing The Learning Place and integrating multiple systems.
• QLearn is a simple, engaging and reliable online learning ecosystem with single sign-on capability that can support every student at every stage of their learning journey.
• The QLearn ecosystem is underpinned by Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) to create and manage courses & assessments for all Department of Education schools.
• The QLearn ecosystem also includes Atomic Search, Commons, Studio and Equella, with other applications coming later this year and next year, including Canvas Credentials & Student ePortfolios, Cerego and QParents.
• QLearn integrates with other key applications, for example the Office 365 suite, which includes OneNote and Teams (Teams meetings and Class Teams).
• QLearn helps to reduce teacher workload, for example by replacing manual enrolments with automated integration with OneSchool class timetables.
• QLearn will improve digital learning capability for students and provide a more stable, integrated, uniform learning platform across all Queensland state schools.

In 2023, target year levels will start to explore, test and use this new learning management system and how best it can be used to support all our students. Training for all staff has already commenced early this year and it is expected that all year levels (Yrs 2-6) will, by the end of this year, have started to use the service with students in some way. With the Internet bandwidth upgrade scheduled in May this year, utilising this new ecosystem, along with other already available services, will greatly improve flexible access to learning.

We’ll continue to provide updates as they come.

Adrian Greig – Innovation Teacher

Innovation Centre News

2023 Borrowing has started from 30 January

It was great seeing children come into the school Innovation Centre this week and check out all the books on the shelves. Borrowing is available every day of the week, not just the set day classes have selected for whole class visits. So, encourage your children to come in and return finished books and get new ones whenever they want.

As in previous years, we have set a rule that children with current overdue books from last year, need to locate and return these books first, before they can start borrowing in 2023. We have already had a number of returns last week, ready for class borrowing this week. Well done to those kids who found their overdue books and returned them already.

In 2023 we are planning on setting up an email notification system for overdue books, to help kids when books have been left at home, especially in the younger classes. More on that to come when we get close to release.

Protecting our books

Maleny is well known for its wet weather. It’s why one of Maleny’s nicknames is ‘Morainy’. Please make sure that children have access to a suitable library bag to protect the books they borrow from all the wet weather we are sure to get. If you don’t have one, or need to update one, check out the Maleny SS P&C store as they sell a great library bag that will last for a long time. Just make sure to label the bag with your child’s name.

Adrian Greig- Innovation Teacher

PBL (Positive Behaviour Learning)

Welcome back to all our returning students and families and to all our new students and families to Maleny State School. We are all feeling very excited and positive for the year ahead!

Positive Behaviour for Learning is an integral part of Maleny State School. Our Mission Statement is:

Our school community is dedicated to promoting respectful, responsible and safe learners in a caring and inclusive learning environment. Our mission is to celebrate diversity, foster resilience and support children to be their best selves.

We encourage children to:

• make good choices;
• take responsibility for their behaviour; and
• develop effective communication skills for positive participation in society.

First Time Every Time

To start off the school year, our first focus is a BE RESPECTFUL rule with the buzz phrase “First Time Every Time”. This buzz phrase helps students and teachers learn and establish routines and expectations for the year ahead.

This means that:

• Be organised and ready to start learning without any reminders.
• If asked to do something by an adult, do it without delay.
• 3,2,1 Shhhhhhh react immediately First Time Every Time.
• Teacher needing to talk to another adult in class time - continue learning task silently.
• Do the right thing in toilet areas – Be respectful, Quiet and Quick.
• Walk always on concrete areas.
• Only be in the correct areas at lunch time.
• Have a hat at school every day.
• Be Proud and Proper without the teacher having to remind you.

Please see the end of the newsletter for further information about what PBL looks like at Maleny State School.

The PBL Team

Year 1A & 1B

Welcome back!

We are looking forward to a great year and it is nice to see the students settling into class routines, with very few unhappy ‘missing Mum/Dad’ moments. Each week an email ‘update’ of the coming events of that week will be sent on Sunday night/Monday morning, so please keep an eye out for it, as it will help to keep students, parents and teachers organised. If your child is having any difficulties, please reach out to Miss C or Mrs D.

Vicky Coningham (1A) Jo Dykes (1B)

WAR ON WASTE

Hi, my name is Imogen and I am the Maleny State School Sustainability Captain for 2023. I am excited and ready to work towards even better sustainability programs for our school, and to encourage families and students to be part of sustainability activities!

These holidays my family and I set ourselves a challenge to collect 1000 ‘containers for change’ to donate to the Garden and Poultry Clubs. We smashed our goal with a whopping 1700 cans! We did this with the help of family, friends, community members, neighbours and by picking up containers that had been disposed of irresponsibly into our environment.

This will have an enormous effect on our environment through recycling materials and stopping rubbish from entering our soil and waterways.

It has also raised $170 so our school clubs can look after 4 lucky chickens (who help with our compost system) and buy more plants and equipment including for the rainforest revegetation area.

I am encouraging others to participate in this challenge! You your family have the power to make a difference in our community so what are you waiting for? Have a family talk and set your family’s ‘Sustainability Challenge’, maybe walking more driving less, reducing the use of over packaged items or you too could set a target for recycling ‘containers for change’ and support the sustainability Clubs at our school.

There are two ways you can donate ‘containers for change’ to the Garden and Poultry Clubs. 1. Drop containers in the bins at the school. These are near the gates across from the Prep and near the Year One buildings. Or 2. Drop them off at a ‘Containers for Change’ bin at the back of the IGA. The School’s scheme ID is C10236849. Simply include this code on a piece of cardboard inside your bag of cans or bottles when you deposit it at the drop off unit.

If you have a business that gets ‘containers for change’ I would love to talk to you about donating to the school – my Dad could help by picking them up. Please let Ms Walsh know if you are interested.

Thank you!
Imogen Ilett, Captain Sustainability!

How Good Is This? I feel absolutely blessed to have such motivated and responsible children to work with in the garden. I’m absolutely inspired by Imogen’s determination to make Maleny State School a leader for sustainable action for a greener future.

Our grant for $2500 for the new compost bins has been approved so these should arrive within the next month. This week and next the garden club members will be weeding all the garden beds ready for some replanting.

Kind Regards
Lou Walsh

P & C News

The Mewar Café (formally Tuckshop) is now open and ready to receive orders from families, staff, visitors and volunteers!

It will be open every weekday during Term for these hours:

• Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM (both meal breaks)
• Tuesday and Thursday: 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM (first meal break only)

A refreshed changing daily Menu has been created to match the Healthy Choices Guidelines whilst maintaining many favourites and introducing new flavours. Seasonal fresh specials will be included throughout the year. All ‘red’ (twice a term) menu items have been removed, but don’t worry, the P&C is working with the School to introduce special ‘Red’ Food Menu Days across the school year for celebrations, rewards and special events.

For those who love Sushi Tuesdays, the P&C has been able to secure an external supplier and will now be offering 14 varieties of fresh Sushi and Inari every Tuesday during Term.

• Please note, to receive Sushi/Inari on a Tuesday, online orders must close at 1:00 PM the day before (Monday). Sorry, late orders cannot be accepted as the Sushi & Inari are made fresh overnight and leave the supplier at 3:00 AM for delivery to the Mewar Café in time for first lunch!

With a new format, new days and a new menu, the online ordering system has now changed from Flexischools to My School Connect.

• Current Flexischools users will need to close their account and request refunds online for any credits held in their account. Please allow 7-10 Business days to receive any refund. All enquiries are to be directed to Flexischools.
• Families, staff, visitors and volunteers, who wish to order online from the Mewar Café, will need to register online for a new user account with My Schools Connect.
• Online orders close at 8:30 AM each morning.
• Snacks, Drinks and Frozen items can be purchased over the counter.

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

Rebecca, our new Convenor, and her team always welcome feedback to improve this new 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

Very happy to be your Chappy again in 2023. It was a great first week back! I look forward to chatting with you at drop off or pick up time. If I haven’t met you yet come and introduce yourself to me. Even though Maleny State School has had a chaplain for a number of years some of you may be wondering what does a school chaplain do. Well, a variety of things really.

Chaplains are available to support students (referral process is through student’s teachers) when going through difficult emotional or social issues. We are also there to chat with family members if and when needed. We also strive to promote a general feeling of well-being and belonging and we like to spread positivity as well. Additionally, as the job title suggests we are here to assist students to explore their spirituality when requested.

So on any one day I may be helping in a classroom, running groups at lunch time, helping to mediate between friends in the playground, serving breakfast, greeting families at the front gate, helping in tuckshop or uniform shop. And the list goes on, that’s the great thing about this role, it gives the school community a support person to help where and when needed.

Anyway, onwards and upwards for school year 2023.

Chappy’s quote for the day “And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people the permission to do the same.” Nelson Mandela

Chappy Chris.

From the Office

Payments

Payments can be made by any of the following methods.

1. 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.

Maleny State School – Positive Behaviour for Learning Parent Information

Community News

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