22 March 2019

Newsletter Articles

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

As this term draws to a close with only 2 weeks left to go, it is important to remember that every day at school counts so please ensure your children continue to come to school right up until the last day. Our overall attendance percentage is sitting at 93.7% and our target is 95%.

Harmony Day

Thursday 21st March was Harmony Day and this day celebrates cultural diversity. It is about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. Here at Musgrave we have over 50 different nationalities and the values we adopt so proudly here encompass our strong belief that we stand together as one and everyone belongs. So we want to send a strong message of belonging and support to all in our school community to show harmony and encourage peace, acceptance, and unity.

Annual General Meeting for P&C

The P&C AGM was held last Thursday 14th March. Our 2019 P&C Executive Team is as follows-:

President-: Melissa Holland
Vice-President-: Rachele White
Secretary-: Renae Fyfe
Treasurer-: Sally Grassick

I thank them all in advance for volunteering their time to be a part of our P&C.

Parents and Carers – Do we have your most up to date contact details?

There are times when we may need to get in touch with you. Do we have your most up to date details? If not, please contact the school on 5531 3919 or admin@musgravehillss.eq.edu.au so we can update our records. These details include your name, address, phone numbers, email address and emergency contact details. Please remember to let the school know if any of these details change.

School Photos

Our School Photos are scheduled for Friday 29th March and I just wanted to clarify some questions that have been circulating around the school community. With regards to uniforms, as you are all aware we currently have two uniforms that students are permitted to wear this year until we transition completely into our new uniform in 2020. So what does this mean for school photos? If your child/ren have the new uniform we are asking that they wear this for the photos, if they don’t then they are to wear the old uniform in its entirety. Black shoes and white socks are a must and no sport shirts are to be worn on this day. I really appreciate your support in this matter.

Taking Photos

Speaking of photos. I know there are many opportunities throughout any year for parents, other family members and friends to come together and celebrate the success of individual students. So I would like to take the opportunity to remind parents and other family members and friends not to post these images on social media. Some of our families have not provided permission for their children to be on social media sites. This also relates to parents volunteering to help out on school excursions. I wish to emphasise that I am merely being proactive and am not responding to any complaints or concerns raised.

We do have families with complex domestic arrangements and in all cases it is the school’s priority to ensure the safety of all members of our school community.

Julie-Anne McGuinness - Principal

WHAT’S HAPPENING

CUA Fundraiser

With only a few more days remaining, we are nearly at our target!! Please, please, please, any last efforts to bring in any cash donations would be very welcomed and valued. I am truly appreciative of the generosity and support that has been shown by our families and am extremely proud to be part of Team Musgrave. I cannot wait for numbers to be tallied and to be able to announce our final effort for our 2019 major fundraiser.

There are currently two leader boards underway as a last minute effort to drive home our fundraising dollars. Our Champions Leader Board which highlights our ultimate class champions and the other is that of our Challenge Leader Board, which winners will be rewarded with a free PE lesson of their choice.

Both leader boards are changing daily, the tussle for top post is on! To update you with 5 days of fundraising left …

Champions Leader Board –

The top five classes in no particular order are 2 Indigo, 3 Violet, Prep Silver, 1 Jade and 3 Amber

Challenge Leader Board –

The current top five classes are 3 Amber, 2 Indigo, 6 Gold, Prep Silver and 3 Violet

Please note some important information and dates –

• If you haven't signed on yet, there is still time! Please go to 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)

Mrs Halsall

NDIS – National Disability Insurance Scheme Information Session

Ben from Carers Qld with be at Southport Special School on Thursday March 28th from 1pm to 2pm to address questions regarding NDIS. If you are interested in this opportunity please contact the Southport Special School on 5552 0333 to confirm your attendance.

ASSEMBLY AWARDS

11/3/2019

18/3/2019

AFL SPORTS DAY

On Monday the 11th of March, a group of 15 students were invited to attend an all abilities AFL sports day at Metricon Stadium. We arrived by bus and made our way into the stadium. The students were then invited onto the playing surface to meet the players, ask questions and take photographs. The students were then split into two teams and participated in AFL skills, AFL tricks and AFL games, all run by the Gold Coast Suns players. After this the students were given a Suns fan pack containing a football, beach ball and poster. The students were then able to meet the players individually and ask for signatures. It was a terrific day hosted by the Suns and we thank them and Gold Coast Sport and Recreation for organising the day.

Tuckshop News

I’d like to apologise for our ice block freezer being out of action and being unable to supply ice blocks at the moment. We are currently looking to purchase a new freezer so for those parents who have purchased an ice block for their child and missed out, we have made a note and when the new freezer is up and running we will be able to fill those orders.

Please let your child know that if there is anything missing from their lunch bag to please come up and see Rachele or Sally but please note that we are unable to send the Slushee’s in the tuckshop bag as they come in an open cup, students are required to collect them from the tuckshop.

Sally McWilliams, Rachele White - Tuckshop & Uniform Convenors

NETTS: Number Explicitly Taught Through Skills

Focus: Developing a Growth Mindset

What sort of learner do you want your child to be?

NETTS lessons at the start of this year saw all students learn about perseverance and a Growth Mindset. Recent research on the brain has found that the brain continues to grow. Neuroplasticity is the ‘ability of the brain to be remodelled or ‘re-wired’ based on different experiences throughout life’ Research suggests that this has huge implications for learners.

Carol Dweck, a leading Psychologist in education and pioneer in research on mindsets, has developed a Mindset theory – Fixed vs Growth. A Growth Mindset is where students believe that effort, persistence and challenge are necessary for learning, not just ability. A Fixed Mindset is where making mistakes is avoided and effort may not lead to improvement. This has serious implications for building learner resilience. Students who will take risks, make mistakes and challenge themselves not only exhibit a Growth Mindset but are also more likely to be resilient as learners. One way of fostering a Growth Mindset in NETTS is to believe that if we can’t do something it just means that we can’t do it YET!

Michael Grose, a leading parenting expert in Australia, outlines three simple ideas for developing a Growth Mindset with students as a way of developing confidence:

1. Praise effort, strategy and action, not results
2. Look for opportunities to stretch your child’s capabilities
3. Give honest feedback

You can find more information here.

The infographics below, together with stories and short films, were used with students to introduce a Growth Mindset in NETTS. (Sources: www.thedesignerteacher.com www.simplyskilledinsecond.com)

CLASSROOM CAPERS – 3 VIOLET

What a fantastic term we are having in 3 Violet.

In Geography, we have been learning about Australia and its neighbouring countries, especially Japan.

In Literacy, we have been innovating narratives using Japanese animals, food and places.

In Science, we have been investigating the Earth, Sun and Moon.

Did you know that some features are always present even if we cannot see them? These include the stars, the sun and the moon! We even made our own planets.

Mrs Meagher – Classroom Teacher

A WORD FROM OUR GUIDANCE OFFICER

How do I help my child manage their feelings?

To help our children when they are feeling strong emotions (feelings), we must understand a few facts about feelings. These are:

• Feelings cannot be judged as “good” (should have them) or “bad” (should not have them) – they are just feelings.

• Everyone has the right to their own feelings – whilst you may have a certain feeling towards someone or an event, your child may have a different one. Neither person is wrong.

• Feelings (how you feel about something/one) should not be confused with actions/ behaviours (what you do). For example, feeling angry about how someone hurt you is separate to hitting someone because you are angry with them.

• All feelings are okay but not all behaviour is okay.

Feelings are an important and normal part of being human. We need to help our children understand, accept and talk about their feelings. Only then will they be able to deal with them in a helpful way. Telling children that they should or shouldn’t feel a certain way is not helpful. Be calm and patient when they are experiencing strong emotions. Your child is more likely to settle and be ready to talk things over when they see you are not reacting strongly and/or judging their feelings.

We need to help our children identify what they are feeling and talk about it before it results in bad behaviour (e.g. hitting, swearing and teasing).

Remember, your child’s brain is still under development. Don’t expect them to quickly learn what many of us adults are still working out!

Joy Wheeler – Guidance Officer

A WORD FROM OUR CHAPLAIN

School Chaplains have been providing social, emotional and spiritual support in schools for more than 28 years. Throughout 2018 we collected information on their activities and impact that we will share with you over the next four newsletters.

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”

Set Free Care Community Hub

Phoenix Martial Arts

UPCOMING EVENTS