4 September 2020

Newsletter Articles

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

COVID Management and Planning

The implications of living in an environment where the threat of COVID-19 can escalate and change quickly was again witnessed over the past week. I appreciate the considered way our community remains responsive and vigilant, working with us in following our safety guidelines, seeking medical advice if sick, supporting the restrictions of remaining outside the school gates and maintaining social distance when dropping off and collecting your child/children.

As a school we are carefully considering how we can create more certainty for our students and community in these uncertain times. We continue to adapt, re-invent or cancel school events as COVID-19 guidelines change. We are determined to create as much ‘normalcy’ as possible and we give deep and exhaustive thought to what we believe we can and cannot do.

I appreciate your understanding and support. It is through this type of preparation that we can provide calm, caring, logical, productive and positive learning opportunities for our students.

Teacher Aide Appreciation Week

This past week we have been recognising a group of extremely dedicated, hardworking and committed members of our school community; our Teacher Aides. The 31 August – 4 September was Teacher Aide Appreciation Week in Australia and an opportunity to acknowledge the important role of Teacher Aides whose hard work and dedication make a difference to students, teachers and the entire school community. The Musgrave Hill Teacher Aide Team are a fantastic group of professionals who support our school providing assistance that gives the extra attention some students need to get the most out of a lesson and supporting our teachers to organise engaging and relevant activities each day.

On behalf of our school community I would like to say a big thank you to all of our wonderful Teacher Aides and assure them that their work is greatly appreciated by all, not only this week but every week of the year!

Planning for 2021

Planning for 2021 is in full swing....... Unfortunately our 2021 ‘Prep Classroom Experience’ has been postponed until Term 4 due to the new COVID restrictions in place but we are continuing with our Prep enrolment interviews. The feedback we are receiving from future parents has been extremely positive and they are looking forward to joining our Musgrave family in 2021. These interviews are all held with the aim of ensuring that our prep students make a positive start to their schooling here at Musgrave Hill State School.

It is important that we get our enrolment numbers for 2021 as accurate as possible so I ask you to please do the following:

• Ensure that you have enrolled your child for Prep if they are to commence next year.
• Let anyone you know who intends to attend Musgrave Hill State School in 2021 not only in Prep but all year levels to come and get an enrolment pack to complete as soon as possible.
• Please inform the office ASAP if your child will be leaving Musgrave Hill and therefore not be attending our school next year.

Our Prep classes and the other year levels are filling fast so the earlier people apply and enrol the more likely they will be able to attend our fabulous school.

Book Week

Julie-Anne McGuinness – Principal

25th August 2020

1st September 2020

TUCKSHOP NEWS

If you have placed a lunch order but your child is unwell and won’t be attending class, please call the school so I can put the lunch aside for you, then ring the Tuckshop when your child returns to school and we can make it fresh for them. All lunches are made to order which helps keep our costs down. If you have any concerns regarding Tuckshop, ring the school, follow the prompts and remember to leave your phone number when leaving a message so I can return your call.

Sushi Day

Sushi Day will be the last Thursday of Term 3, 17th September. All orders need to be placed on the Qkr! App by 9:00am on the 16th September and will be delivered Thursday 17th September at the first break ‘Lunch’ at 11:00am. We have the following available:

Chicken Bento Box - $10.00 each (comes with sauces)
Chicken Teriyaki Salad - $8.00 each (comes with sauces)

Soy Sauce Sachet - $0.30

Musgrave Way Awards

If you have any ‘Musgrave Way’ Awards please send them to the class teacher with a note attached stating the lunch order. The teacher will then contact the Tuckshop and place the order.

Uniforms

Place all uniform orders via our Qkr! App or ring the school if you are using school credit. All orders should be filled by the following day. If you have not received your order by then please contact the Tuckshop.

Run Club Badges

Run Club Badges are now available online through our Qkr! App. If you receive a note from your teacher with your child’s progress please click the Run Club Badge section and choose your badge. These will be delivered to the classroom within 2 days of purchase.

Sally McWilliams – Tuckshop/Uniform Convenor

CLASSROOM CAPERS – 3 WHITE

3 White have been exploring the Dreamtime this term. We have become familiar with different Dreamtime stories and created some wonderful art pieces that align with them. We are currently writing our own Dreamtime story and looking forward to publishing them for the Musgrave Hill community.

In Math we have explored measurement and money. We now know how to work out change when we buy something at the shop.

It has been getting very hot in science as we have been looking at the sources of heat and how heat is transferred. We now have a better understanding of the best colours to wear in summer.

Alison Thompson – Classroom Teacher

SCHOOL BANKING EVERY THURSDAY

A WORD FROM OUR GUIDANCE OFFICER

Worries and Anxieties: Helping Children to Cope

Children, like adults, have all sorts of strong feelings about what is happening to them. At times the world can seem frightening or uncertain, which may create fearfulness, worry or anxiety.

Different Types of Anxiety

Fears and Phobias

Very young children often develop fears and phobias. These can be triggered by changes (going to childcare, separating from a parent) or particular things (spiders, snakes, monsters etc). Fears like these are common but with encouragement and support most children learn to overcome their anxiety.

General Anxiety

Some youngsters feel anxious most of the time for no apparent reason – it may be their temperament or may be a pattern of behaviour that is shared by other members of the family.

School-Related Anxiety

School refusal can be caused by anxiety – separating from parents, fear of bullying, problems with friendships, trouble with school work or teachers are worth investigating.

Home Related Anxiety

Family problems (money issues, squabbling, separation/divorce), death of a family member or friend, harsh discipline or a traumatic experience eg. burglary can be a cause of anxiety (as well as depression).

What are the Signs

• Feeling sick – stomach aches, headaches. Not being able to stomach food.
• Feeling tense, fidgety, needing to go to the toilet often
• Feeling fearful or panicky, breathless, sweaty
• Being irritable, tearful, clingy or having sleeping difficulties
• Withdrawing from social contact

Anxiety can limit a person’s experiences in life. It can contribute to lack of confidence, loneliness, health problems and learning difficulties. The emotional effects if not remedied can be long lasting.

What to do

• Talk to your child –show your child that you care and want to understand the reasons for their anxiety
• Give comfort, reassurance and practical help with how to cope eg. encourage helpful thoughts rather than focussing on unhelpful thoughts. (There are children’s books to help children cope with divorce, death, anxieties.
• Prepare your child for changes. If possible give sufficient warning – talk to them about what might happen and why, as well as ways to manage the changes.
• For children with school/ separation anxiety, regular routines and consistency around sleep, and getting ready for school, having breakfast etc will generally improve the outcome.
• Be aware of school or family situations that may be creating worries for your child.
• Be aware of your own anxiety and protect your child from taking on your woes.
• Use relaxation techniques eg controlling your breathing, listening to peaceful music, doing something you enjoy.
• Encourage daily exercise, healthy eating, drinking plenty of water, and most importantly getting enough sleep – children need at least 8 to 9 hours – Healthy body helps keep us on top of difficult situations.

If your child is so anxious that they can’t cope, more specialist help may be needed. Have a chat with your guidance officer, and/ or see your doctor.

Adapted from Mental Health and Growing Up, 3rd Edition – Factsheets http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/info/mhgu/index.htm

Qld Child Protection Week

This week is an opportunity for parents and teachers to reinforce key messages to children about protective behaviours (feeling, acting and being safe). This is a prime time to address these issues at home. Key messages worth discussing with your children are:

We all have the right to feel safe all the time.

Nothing is so awful that you can’t talk with someone about it.

Although many parents alert children to ‘stranger danger’ the reality is that children are more likely to experience abuse from a person who is known to them (a relative, friend or family acquaintance).

Things you can do to help protect your child

• Talk to your child – keep the communication open at every age
• Discuss with your children how to recognise if they are feeling unsafe (eg feeling tense in their body, sweating, stomach pains, feeling sick).
• Use the words `safe or unsafe’ when possible to give them clearer understanding of what these words mean and how they feel.
• Talk to your child about ways of being safe eg. going straight home after school, walk in a group, avoid isolated areas, communicate to the parent/ teacher/responsible adult, when they have uncomfortable feelings.
• Avoid being an alarmist but have an action plan for those ‘just in case’ situations. This plan should include: people they can talk to at home or school about this; things to do if they are approached eg. walk/run away, scream etc; identify safe places to go to at home or on the way home; what to do if their friend tells them they are feeling unsafe.
• Talk to your child about the dangers of ‘secrets’ that make them or others feel uncomfortable.
• Help your child identify who they feel comfortable to talk with. Get them to identify 5 adults from home/ school/ family/family friends.

As a parent it is up to you to put in place everything possible to ensure your child’s safety. If you feel uncertain or uncomfortable about a situation do what is needed to put your mind at ease even though your child might feel you are over-reacting. It’s more important to not have regrets.

Adapted from:

Sunshine Coast Regional Child Protection Week Committee to assist in the promotion of 2008 CPW.

Document Author: Glen Zagami, A/Senior Guidance Officer, Education Queensland.

Permission is granted to reproduce this information provided that appropriate acknowledgement of the original source is included.

Joy Wheeler – Guidance Officer

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 Drama Workshop

UPCOMING EVENTS