8 March 2019

Newsletter Articles

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

Even though it sometimes still feels like we have only just returned to school and the year is still young, last Friday marked the mid-point of Term One. One-eighth of our school days are over for the year highlighting the importance each and every day has in the learning journey of our students. Our teachers dedicate vast amounts of time, outside of their classroom contact hours, ensuring our school programs meet the needs of every student. If students miss class time, they miss vital learning time and are placed at a distinct disadvantage to their classmates. Research shows that students who have good patterns of attendance are more likely to achieve at school. Make 2019 the year that your child does not miss a day of school, unless absolutely necessary.

Principals’ Conference

Last week I attended the state wide Principals’ Conference on Tuesday and Wednesday which was hosted by the Education Minister and Director General. These conferences are held every two years and all of my fellow state school principals from across Queensland were expected to attend, there was approximately 1300 in attendance. This meeting provides an exciting opportunity to discuss educational issues on a whole of system scale and hear the one clear message from the policy makers of Queensland education.

National Day of Action-: Friday 15th March

On Friday 15th March our students will take part in activities and discussions around this year’s theme “Take Action Every Day.” This is our 2nd year of being an official NDA School and we are extremely proud of this association. The NDA gives schools the chance to take action and empower young people to be part of the solution when addressing bullying in their school community. It provides an opportunity to focus on bullying and the big changes we can make to create safer communities for everyone. It is important to note that not all disagreements and conflicts between students constitutes bullying, but persistent and targeted behaviours designed to isolate, upset or threaten a person can be considered serious bullying issues. The best way to deal with a bullying situation at school is to bring these behaviours out in the open by reporting them to a staff member (I have included some ideas below about talking to your child). Musgrave Hill takes any actions which upset or threaten fellow students or staff very seriously and all students are encouraged to report issues immediately so that they can be dealt with. Musgrave Hill has a lovely tone and the cases of deliberate and persistent bullying are very isolated, but if we don’t know about it we can’t fix it.

If your child talks to you about bullying:

1. Listen calmly and get the full story. Your calm response is important to allow your child to tell you all about the situation. After they have told you their story, ask questions to get more details if you need: who, what, where, when. Although you may feel some strong emotions about your child’s experience, try to keep calm to avoid more distress to your child.
2. Reassure your child they are not to blame. Many children blame themselves and this may make them feel even worse. You could say things like, ‘That sounds really hard to deal with. No one should have to put up with that.’ or ‘I’m so glad you told me. You should be able to feel safe at school; that’s not fair at all’.
3. Ask your child what they want to do and what they want you to do. A critical part of your response is to avoid jumping in to solve the problem. While it is natural to want to protect your child, helping them to find their own solution is a better option. It helps them feel they have some power in the situation.
4. Visit www.bullyingnoway.gov.au to find some strategies. The website has tips and ideas for different bullying situations. One idea is to practise strategies at home to help your child feel more confident.
5. Contact the school. Your child may be reluctant for you to do this, so discuss the idea and reassure them that the school would want to know and is able to help. Make an appointment to meet with your child’s teacher and, if you need to, ask to talk with the principal. Contact the school immediately if you have a concern about your child’s safety.
6. Check in regularly with your child. Keep the conversation going. It can take time to resolve issues, so check in regularly with your child about their experiences and their feelings. Your ongoing support is important.

If you are looking for support for yourself to deal with a bullying situation, you will find ideas on the Bullying. No Way! website for parents.

Harmony Day- Thursday 21st March

Harmony Day has great significance here at Musgrave Hill as it provides us with the opportunity to recognise and celebrate our cultural diversity. Harmony Day is about community participation, inclusiveness and respect - a time to reflect on where Australia has come from, while also recognising the traditional owners of this land.

Groundsman and Cleaners

Our groundsman and cleaners do an amazing job keeping our school clean and tidy. As you can appreciate there are some tasks that can only be done prior to student arrival for example mowing and the blowing of undercover areas and walkways. I ask that you please ensure you are nowhere near these areas when these jobs are being performed and that you try to arrive at school as close to 8.40am as we can. Your support in the matter is appreciated.

Julie-Anne McGuinness - Principal

WHAT’S HAPPENING

CUA Fundraiser

WOW!! We have been blown away by the incredible support that families have offered in order to raise as much money as we can to put towards a new playground. We are half way to reaching our target. With just over 2 weeks to go, let's see what we can do to lift and ensure our target is not only hit, but smashed!! Students (along with their parents) could take the brochure to sporting matches on the weekends, local businesses or perhaps you could ask the question to your co-workers you see daily, anything to get the question out there "Can you help support our community and the amazing school that is Musgrave Hill SS?" The leader board is constantly changing, the tussle for the top spot is a race between the following top 5 classes.

Prep Silver, 1 Jade, 3 Violet, 5 Ruby and 6 Emerald

Please note -

• If you haven't signed on yet, there is still time! Please go to www.schoolfundraising.com.au to create your Personal Profile page - it's FREE!
• Any money collected (not online) MUST be returned to the TUCKSHOP by Wednesday 27th March.
• Prizes MUST BE ORDERED ONLINE and finalised by Friday 5th April (last day of this term)

School Banking Information Session

Thursday 14th March at 8am in the Prep Area

Students participating in School Banking will get weekly hands-on saving practice, when they bring their deposit to school in their Dollarmites deposit wallet on School Banking day. They’ll also receive a silver Dollarmites token each time they make a deposit, which they can redeem for a Polar Savers reward (maximum one reward per item). For the full list of reward items visit School Banking. Not only does it teach crucial money skills, it’s also a great way for schools to engage with parents and the broader school community.

If you would like to learn more, come along to our information session.

PICK UP AND DROP OFF ZONE

Parking in Nakina Street in front of the school is prohibited between 8am and 9am and 2.30pm and 3.30pm. This side of the street is a pick up and drop off zone only. You are not permitted to park your car and get out as you stop the flow of traffic. The effectiveness of our Pick up and Drop off zone depends on parents doing the right thing. So please remember for the safety of our students - do not park and get out of your cars in the Pick-up and Drop off zone.

We also ask that parents have a clearly written surname on a sheet of paper that can be attached to the sun visor in the car. Please let the office know if you require a new sign and we will ensure one is made up for you. This makes the process so much easier for the staff on duty and for the smooth operation of the pick-up zone.

How to use the Pick up Zone

The passenger pickup zone/2 minute zone allows for quick pick up of children during congested peak school ‘let out’ times.

The Concept

Vehicles move slowly along the loading zone towards the front of the queue
Children see the vehicle and are ready to get in
Motorists ‘give each other a fair go’

If your child is not there then you move to the front of the line and can stay there in your vehicle for a maximum of two minutes before you are required to move off and park or go around the block and re-enter the line.

Respect the Timing

Do not stop for more than two minutes
Do not park in the zone and walk away from the car.

Pick up and Loading Bags

You can get out of the vehicle only to assist the children to load bags, never double park to pick up children – it is illegal and dangerous.

ASSEMBLY AWARDS

25/2/2019

18/2/2019

4/3/2019

SCHOOL PHOTO DAY – ***CHANGE OF DATE***

We have changed the date for school photos to Friday 29th March

TUCKSHOP NEWS

Qkr!

Both Qkr! and Flexischools ordering Apps will be running side by side for this term. We are looking to only use Qkr! by the end of Term 2. If you do have credit on your Flexischools account you can simply ring them and ask for your money to be refunded into your account. Remember the Qkr! App is FEE FREE. If you have any questions regarding ordering or transferring from one App to another please do not hesitate to come and see Rach or myself.

Uniform News

We are expecting a delivery of uniforms and jackets very soon.

Sally McWilliams, Rachele White - Tuckshop & Uniform Convenors

P&C News

Thank you everybody for your support so far in the Fun Run we are seeing some amazing numbers. Please remember all of the money raised is going towards our playground Upgrade.

Thank you to Rachele, Sally and their families for coming in over the weekend and installing our new Sensory Garden in the Prep Area. This garden is for touch, sight and smell and to add a little bit of colour. The money used for this project is from last year’s Fun Run. We have a lot more ideas in mind.

Melissa Holland - P&C President

eLEARNING

Our first Parent ICT Information Session on Cyber Safety focused on how to set up iPads to be secure, both at school and at home. Together with the online cyber safety sessions that students are doing as an introduction to using the ICT Lab at school, Musgrave Hill State School is providing our community with strategies to be safe when online.

We will be hosting another ICT Parent Information session next term and would love some feedback about what you would like to see as part of the session and what time would best suit you to attend. Please email me avlaa2@eq.edu.au to share your ideas or if you would like more information about cyber safety or any of the hints below.

Please find below some of cyber safety hints that were shared during the session on Tuesday afternoon. The Think poster was shared with all classes from Year 1 to 6 and forms part of our student cyber safety education program.

Opening of Woolworths Smith Collective

It was a very exciting evening for our Moovers and Groovers last Thursday when they performed at the opening of the new Woolworths Smith Collective.

Woolworths Smith Collective store manager Grant Drennan has reached out to Musgrave Hill SS to offer us support with breakfast club and donating a generous gift card.

We endeavour to continue an active community partnership with Woolworths Smith Collective with store visits and discovery tours.

Well done Moovers and Groovers and thank you Woolworths Smith Collective.

STAR LAB

MUSIC NEWS

Instrumental Music lessons are now underway for Band, Strings and Drum Club

Please check your relevant timetables to make sure you come to your lesson at the correct time each week. Timetables are located on the Art/Music Room window, administration and all relevant classrooms will also have a current copy. Students and parents can request a current timetable in digital or hard copy at any time during the term.

Before school Band Rehearsals (for all continuing students) are in the Arts/Music room on Mondays at 8am.

I have sent out Instrumental Music Program packs which include

Welcome letter,
Requirements + Checklist,
Enrolment Form,
Instrument loan agreement Form,
Student Resource Scheme Form

Please complete all forms (both sides where necessary) and return to Admin or the music room.

School instruments are currently being issued and students are permitted to take them home once all forms have been completed and returned.

All new and continuing students please make sure you have the relevant method book for your instrument.

If your child is involved in the Instrumental Music Program at MHSS this year or you would like your child to be involved and you have not received a forms pack or EOI, please contact the school or email me at adenn52@eq.edu.au and I will get them to you promptly.

Here’s to a great year in music at Musgrave Hill State School

Is your child interested in learning a musical instrument in 2019?

There are still some limited places available for band and string instruments at Musgrave Hill in 2019.

If you missed our parent information session or would simply like to get more information about the Instrumental Music program, you can request an Instrumental Music Handbook from our admin staff or come to the Arts/Music Block and pick one up. The handbook is our school’s policy document for Instrumental Music and has everything you need to know regarding the program at Musgrave Hill State School. There is also an Expression of Interest form attached to the back which can be filled out and returned to the school.

Students currently in Year 3 are eligible to learn a string instrument in 2019:

Violin, Viola, Cello

Students currently in Year 4, 5 and 6 are eligible to learn a brass, woodwind or percussion instrument in 2019:

Trumpet, Trombone, Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Drums/Percussion

Please don’t hesitate to contact the music staff or admin if you have any further questions.

Mr Denning and Miss Williams - Instrumental Music Teachers

CLASSROOM CAPERS – 2 INDIGO

This term, 2 Indigo have been busy innovating rhyming poems. Our focus has been on listening for and manipulating sound combinations and rhythmic syllable sound patterns, as well as looking at noun groups, verbs and rhyming words.

We had a lot of fun innovating “A Silly Crow” into “A Funny Pig”.

Our “get to know me” self-portraits were inspired by the artist Romero Britto and Australian Indigenous artists. As a class we delved into the meaning of symbols in artworks and created our own symbols to tell our own personal story in our self-portrait. Here is a sample of the amazing outcomes.

Mrs Parsons – Classroom Teacher

SPORTS TALK

Run Club

We are in the process of trialling some new systems in order to go paperless as of Term 2 for badge updates. I appreciate your patience, a badge update will be sent out to those students who have reached their next badge shortly. Class totals will also start to appear on our Run Around Australia Challenge within the next 2 weeks. The challenge has been thrown down to see which class shall earn their spot at Bounce come the end of the year!

Mrs Halsall – P E Teacher

A WORD FROM OUR GUIDANCE OFFICER

Joy Wheeler – Guidance Officer

PREP 2020

COMMUNITY NEWS

“This is a service provided when space permits. The school acts solely as a messenger and is not actually recommending any activities advertised”

Free Entertainment

Saturday 6th April 2019

Parkwood Sharks Rugby League Club
180 Musgrave Ave, Southport

What better way to spend an evening than outdoors watching a movie under the stars?

Meet up with family and friends or just get out with the kids to movies under the stars, which is on offer right across the city... and best of all they're free.

Free interactive kids activities from 4.30pm. Movie starts 7pm

Incredibles 2 - Animation | Adventure | Comedy

Bob Parr (Mr Incredible) is left to care for the kids while Helen (Elastigirl) is out saving the world.

NAIDOC Arts Competition

Keebra Park State High School

Year 7 Students in 2020

Benowa State High School

Year 7 Students in 2020

Allergy and Eczema Support

UPCOMING EVENTS