30 October 2020

Newsletter Articles

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

World Teacher's Day

Today is World Teacher’s Day and I would like to take this opportunity to thank our dedicated staff and let them know how much I appreciate their work - particularly in a year such as the one we are currently experiencing where the expectations of staff and schools have risen tremendously as we navigate the COVID pandemic.

While today is World Teachers Day, I would like to clearly state that it is not just the teachers who make up our valuable workforce and have worked magnificently throughout 2020. It takes many people to run a school and to provide a learning facility that children feel proud of and are eager to attend.

On World Teachers Day, I would like to recognise and acknowledge the entire Musgrave Hill staff because each and every one of them play a vital role in our team educating our students. Education has become an increasingly demanding profession and this year more than ever produced greater complexities and expectations.

Our staff are a passionate and dedicated team who keep giving their all, striving for ways to improve student outcomes. I am humbled at the way our teachers and support staff rise to every challenge, continue their pursuit of excellence, and I am blessed to work with them. Thank you all, this year more than ever, you have made our school a wonderful place to work and learn.

Classes for 2021

A letter was sent home this week providing parents with the opportunity to write to me regarding any educational considerations you would like the school to be aware of when allocating your child’s placement for 2021. The deadline for this information is Wednesday 11th November.

Please understand we cannot entertain late requests or requests that simply ask for specific teachers or particular friends to be in a child’s class. Classes must always be balanced in numbers and in educational dynamics. You can be assured that we spend a great deal of time and effort in accommodating and allocating children to classes.

Please also remember that the final class make-ups (for all state schools in QLD) will not be determined until staffing is finalised on day 8 of next year. I thank you for your understanding of this process. We take class formations very seriously and I assure you we aim to do the right thing educationally, socially and emotionally for every student in our school.

School Leaders for 2021

The School Leaders election process for 2021 is underway with many current Year 5 students showing interest in undertaking one of our leadership roles. The applicants are required to complete a detailed application and then go through an interview process with members of the School Leadership Team. From there successful applicants will be shortlisted and head into the next phase in the process. Formal speeches by the shortlisted candidates will be conducted in the coming weeks. After these speeches, the staff and students will then be asked to undertake a voting process to identify our School Captains and School Leaders for 2021. All of our school leaders will be formally inducted at a ceremony prior to the end of the school year. I have no doubt that the caliber of students vying for our leadership positions will conduct themselves admirably and I am extremely confident that our school will continue to be safe when our 2021 Student Leaders are elected.

Day for Daniel

Today the Musgrave Hill students and staff celebrated the annual Day for Daniel. The Daniel Morcombe Foundation created Day for Daniel to help raise the awareness and importance of child safety within schools and their wider community. To support this worthy cause our school was a sea of red T-shirts which symbolizes the foundation’s beliefs surrounding the prevention and awareness of child safety.

It is also a great opportunity for families to start conversations. Travelling to school or other familiar places by themselves is an opportunity for children to develop confidence and new skills. Many children start travelling independently in primary school. Parents and carers can help their children make the move to independent travel by using a few simple safety tips.

Recognise, React and Report

When teaching travel safe skills, it is important to remember the following general safety advice for children:

Recognise - What is happening around you? Are you safe?

React - What can you do if the situation is not safe?

Report - Tell an adult at home or school if something is not ok or you do not feel safe.

Colour Run

What a fantastic event. A big thank you to everyone who contributed to making this such an enjoyable and successful afternoon. It was amazing to see everyone having such a great time.

I do want to point out that I believe both the students and staff unfairly targeted me but I would not have it any other way.

2021 Enrolments - Important

Thank you to the many families who have already returned the form regarding children who are returning to Musgrave Hill State School, those who are leaving our school or those who are taking extended holidays in 2021. If you have not yet returned this information, please do so as soon as possible to ensure we have as accurate enrolment numbers as possible to start 2021.

Julie-Anne McGuinness – Principal

WHAT’S HAPPENING?

Musgrave Hill SS would like to thank the Federal Government and our member for Moncrieff Angie Bell for the funding received through the Local Schools Community Fund.

The funding has been used to upgrade the landscaping at the entrance to Musgrave Hill SS and improve the usability of this area for the students during the school day.

This is also the new pickup zone waiting area for all the students. This area has improved the safety and efficiency of the pickup zone processes.

INCREASE TO STUDENT RESOURCE SCHEME FOR 2021

Student Resource Scheme has been increased to $150 for 2021

If you have previously opted in to the Student Resource Scheme (SRS) your participation is assumed for the remainder of your child's enrolment unless you inform the school otherwise by completing a new participation agreement form. If you are a new parent to the school, this information will assist you in deciding as to whether you wish to participate in the SRS.

What is provided by the Queensland Government?

The Queensland Government supports children’s education by providing funding for instruction (teachers), facilities (school grounds and buildings, internet), and administration (staff to run the school). Funding for schools does not extend to individual student resources such as textbooks, equipment for personal use and many more items used by the student in the classroom.

The school can purchase resources at lower rates due to its bulk buying power. Resources such as textbooks or musical instruments that will be used over a period of time are hired to students to further reduce costs for families.

Participating in the SRS also offers a convenient way for parents to source the items that their child needs for school and ensures that all students have access to the same standard of resources.

The types of resources that will be included are

Owned by the student – eg. student diary – once provided, these items are retained by the student and used at their discretion.

Hired to the student for a specific duration of time – eg. textbooks or musical instruments – these items will need to be returned to the school in reasonable condition at the end of the hire period or if the student leaves the school.

Used in class – eg. stationery, timber, material, workbooks – these items will be used in class. Finished products that are created from these resources will generally come home with the student.

The fee

COST - $150

The school SRS is an all-inclusive fee for the supply of resources for each student in all year levels.

If you are not satisfied that the SRS fee represents good value for money based on the inclusions, you may choose not to participate in the SRS. If that is the case, please complete a new Participation Agreement Form indicating that you no longer wish to participate. If you choose not to participate you will be provided with a detailed list of resources that you will need to provide for the student.

Term instalments

If you have opted to pay the SRS by term instalments you will receive an invoice for the full amount and term instalments of $50 will be due on the following dates: February 7th, April 15th and July 24th 2021.

Financial difficulty?

If you would like to participate but are experiencing financial difficulties, please contact the school to arrange an appointment to discuss options. Any information that you provide will be confidential.

Release of resources

Resources will be not distributed until the full or first payment has been paid to the school. Any unpaid invoices will be managed according to the department’s Debt Management Procedure and may result in the student being excluded from the scheme and/or from participating in extra-curricular activities until payments are made.

Return of hired resources

A repair or replacement cost will be charged to the parent for any items that are damaged or not returned.

Contact us

If you have any queries regarding the SRS and its inclusions, please contact the office on

5644 5555 and arrange an appointment.

Janette Connolly – Business Manager

TUCKSHOP NEWS

Please remember to place all orders via the Qkr! App or their website. The daily cut off time for ordering is 9:15am. If you do happen to miss the cut off time you can order the Late Lunch Menu until 10:30am daily.

Musgrave Way Award

If you receive a ‘Musgrave Way Award’ please send the award in with a note to order from the Tuckshop. For example: John in 2 Gold would like a mini chicken wrap, muffin and popper for the first break please. Please remember to attach the voucher to the note and have your child hand it in to the tuckshop before school.

There are quite a number of lost property containers, lunch boxes and drink bottles in the lost property area near the Tuckshop. Could you please ask your children to check this area for any missing items.

Uniform News

Please place all orders via our Qkr! App or their website. If you have school credit and would like to purchase a uniform, please contact the office.

Senior Shirts 2021

Year 5 students are now able to place an order on Qkr! for their 2021 senior shirts. These shirts are being made by an Australian company and are manufactured in Brisbane.

Run Club

If you are ordering your run club badges please note they will only be sent out to classrooms on a Friday.

Sally McWilliams – Tuckshop/Uniform Convenor

The Musgrave Way Award – Tuesday 20/10/20

The Musgrave Way Award – Tuesday 27/10/20

NAIDOC

Annette Vlaanderen

CLASSROOM CAPERS – 4 PINK

This term 4 Pink have been learning all about sustainability and the impact of plastic use on our local environment. To kick start our unit of work we decided to investigate the type of litter we find around our school grounds. 4 Pink and 4 Maroon went on a great rubbish hunt and discovered that the majority (83%) was in fact plastic. From here on, we will use the data from our investigation to write our persuasive essays, arguing to reduce plastic use at school. As our students know, making a global change starts with small local action!

Mrs Kent – Classroom Teacher

A WORD FROM OUR GUIDANCE OFFICER

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”

Childhood Anxiety Treatment Study

Communities for Children

UPCOMING EVENTS