1 April 2021

Newsletter Articles

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

As this is the last newsletter for Term 1, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our parents for their continued support. I wish everyone a happy and safe Easter break. I hope the pace of day to day routine slows down to allow you all to enjoy extra family time. School resumes Monday 19 April. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone return relaxed, refreshed and ready for another exciting Term on “The Hill”.

Many cultures, one community

This is how I proudly describe our school. Musgrave Hill State School has many different and diverse cultures that combine to make up our unique community. In a world where difference is often used to divide and marginalise people, it is so important that we, as a school, actively teach and model respect, tolerance and acceptance. While this attitude should be present every day, it was even more relevant as 19 March was Harmony Day where we celebrated the cultural diversity of our students and staff. Falling on the same day as Harmony Day was our National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence. These two themes are intertwined as often bullying is based on difference or the unacceptance of others. By teaching our students about anti-bullying and harmony we hoped to highlight that we all indeed belong.

National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence

As you may be aware, the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence was held here on Friday 19th March. The theme for 2021 was Empowering Student Voice. The NDA is a catalyst for Australian schools to take a stand together against bullying. The day brings together more than 60% of schools nationwide, involving more than two million students in finding workable solutions to address bullying and violence.

Here at Musgrave, classes focused on a class activity to set up the week and then at Meet and Greet each morning daily challenges were presented to the students to assist in shining a light on an ever-increasing issue … bullying. I am hopeful that these challenges bought about many discussions around the dinner table at night! These activities and challenges were designed to target bullying and identify ways in which we can “empower student voice” to combat bullying and violence.

Survey Results are in-: Start and Finish Times

I sent an email out last Friday with the following information regarding the results of the Start and Finish times survey. I would like to thank all the parents who took the time to complete the survey and have your say. Please note as of day 1, Term 2, the official start and finish times for all year levels will be-:

School Times - Prep to Year 6-:

DROP OFF

Please be mindful, parking is limited around the school.

• All access via front gate near Prep Buildings
• Please ensure students don’t arrive prior to 8.15am
• All students will go straight to their designated Meet and Greet Areas
  - Prep students- under covered shade area in Prep
  - Year 1 and 6 students- Outside Hall

Options for Dropping off your child.

• We encourage parents to utilise the Drop-Off Zone. Parents remain in their cars, students exit car and staff will be there to escort them safely into the school ground.
• Parents can park in allocated parking zones and walk their child to the front gate, where staff will be on hand to direct them to their Meet and Greet Areas.
• If you feel you still need to escort your child to their Meet & Greet area, please ensure you follow these procedures and one parent only -:
  - You only go to Meet and Greet Areas
  - Enter school via front gate
  - Follow the fence line; continue behind the tuckshop to the hall
  - Find your child’s class line, kiss and go
  - Unfortunately, it is not a time to have a meeting with the class teacher, if you any questions or concerns please email so an appointment can be made
  - Exit via the same route back out the front gate

PICK UP-: (Social distancing is vital while waiting outside to collect your child/ren)

• Prep parents can collect students from the old driveway near Prep buildings or use the pick-up zone at 2.50pm. Your child will be escorted to you.Parents enter the Pick-up Zone, remain in your vehicle and your children will be escorted to you.
• Year 1 to 2 will be escorted to the Pick-Up Zone by teachers, Year 3 to 6 upon release from class will head straight to pick-up zone-
• If you walk, or park and walk please collect children from the front of the school. Your child will be escorted to you.

NAPLAN 2021

As children progress through their school years, it is very important that checks are made along the way to see how well they are learning the essential skills of reading, writing and mathematics – skills that will set them upon the path to success as adults.

NAPLAN is a point-in-time assessment that allows parents to see how their child is progressing in literacy and numeracy against the national standard and compared with their peers throughout Australia. At the classroom level, NAPLAN provides additional information to support teachers’ professional judgement about student progress.

Federal, state and territory education ministers agreed to gradually transition NAPLAN online by 2022. At Musgrave Hill, we will transition to NAPLAN online in 2022. We will continue the paper/booklet form of assessment for 2021.

NAPLAN dates for Year 3 & Year 5 students are May 11th (Language Conventions and Writing), 12th (Reading) and 13th (Numeracy).

Participating in NAPLAN 2021

All students in Years 3 and 5 are expected to participate in NAPLAN tests. NAPLAN tests give you information on how your child is progressing against national standards. NAPLAN does not replace, but rather complements assessments run by your child's classroom teacher throughout the year.

Parents or carers may withdraw their child from the tests to address issues such as religious beliefs and philosophical objections to testing. It is recommended that withdrawal be considered in consultation with your child's school, so please contact your child’s class teacher if this is an option you are considering. Formal notification must be received by the school principal prior to testing.

Wherever possible, schools will organise for individual students who are absent at the time of testing to complete missed tests at another time during the test window.

Julie-Anne McGuinness

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Spell-Off 2021

ASSEMBLY AWARDS

19th March 2021

TUCKSHOP NEWS

We all hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Easter Break and look forward to seeing you all back in Term 2.

Sushi Day

We are having another Sushi Day on Thursday 29th April, all orders must be placed on Qkr! by 9:00am Wednesday 28th April. We have the following available for order:

Chicken Bento Box $10.00
Teriyaki Chicken Salad $8.00
Sushi Twin Pack $5.00 each (Avocado, Beef Teriyaki, California Roll, Smoked Salmon & Avocado, Chicken Honey Soy, Chicken & Avocado, Teriyaki Chicken, Tuna & Mayo and Tuna & Avocado)
Kewpie Mayo $0.30
Soy Sauce $0.30

Munch & Crunch

The Tuckshop is no longer providing Munch & Crunch on our menu items due to delays in class learning time. Please remember to pack an apple, pear or carrot sticks for your child.

Musgrave Way Awards

If your child is lucky enough to receive a ‘Musgrave Way Award’, you can redeem it by writing a note with a tuckshop order for lunch with the award attached and get your child to hand it in to the tuckshop before school on the day of the order. The other option is to tell your child to come up and see Sally or Rach in the tuckshop and they can place an order directly. If you are unsure of prices or just have a query please don’t hesitate to call the tuckshop and we will help you out.

Tuckshop Lost Property

Please see attached photo for all lost property containers and drink bottles that are located outside the Tuckshop. If you see your child’s belongings please tell them to come up to the Tuckshop to collect it.

Uniform News

Please remember all orders must be placed on Qkr! The orders will be delivered to the classrooms no later than 24 hours after the purchase date. If your child has not receive their item please contact the uniform shop.

Winter Jackets

The winter jackets have been ordered and we are looking at receiving them in the first week of Term 2. I have a number of jackets on backorder but if you are concerned that you might not be on the list please give me a call.

Sally McWilliams - Tuckshop and Uniform Convenor

KindyLinQ – 2021

Musgrave Hill State School is lucky enough to be hosting KindyLinQ in 2021. We are looking forward to working closely with 3 year old’s and their families and finding exciting new ways to play and learn together.

A WORD FROM OUR GUIDANCE OFFICER

Building Self Esteem

Self esteem is feeling good about yourself, liking yourself, feeling that you are a worthwhile person. For almost all parents there are times when you worry about your child’s self esteem.

Self esteem enables them to try new things without too much fear of failing, to reach out and make friends, and to manage problems they are likely to meet along the way. Good self esteem builds a solid foundation for life.

An important part of self esteem is feeling that you have a place in the world where you belong – that you are part of a family where you matter.

What parents can do to help build self esteem

• Tell your child often that you love them and you are glad they are who they are
• Show you love them by spending time, listening to their point of view, being willing to help them achieve their goals eg. Drive them to sport, watch the game
• Support their learning – take an interest without taking over. Be involved in the school
• Encourage friendships and make their friends welcome, and get to know them
• Encourage hobbies or interests – a busy child is less likely to get into trouble
• Let your child assist you with something eg. Cooking, fixing the video
• Keep and cherish mementos of their success eg. Ribbons, trophies
• Help them to solve their problems themselves by talking through the issue, offering ideas or alternatives and helping them follow through.

All children need love and support. You are the most influential person in their life. How you support your child and the skills you teach them will affect them for the rest of their life. Parenting is not easy but it can be a most rewarding job when you see that the child you have reared is a happy, capable and caring person.

(Adapted from the Parent Easy Guide `Self-Esteem”)

Joy Wheeler – Guidance Officer

CLASSROOM CAPERS – 1 AMBER

Miss Bransdon – Classroom Teacher

A WORD FROM OUR CHAPLAIN

I hope all of you have had a great Term 1.  It flew by!

A lot of people ask or wonder what a School Chaplain does so for the next few newsletters I'll be putting in some information for you to look at.  I'm always free to chat if there is a need with your family or with a student I can help with.

Have a wonderful and safe break.
Happy Easter.
Blessings to you and your loved ones.

Chappy Rusty

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”

Labrador Kindergarten Open Day

Looking for a Community Kindergarten? Come along to our Open Day on Wednesday, 12 May from 1:30pm to 4pm, to

• Meet our team
• Explore our play spaces
• Enjoy an afternoon of craft and activities
• Learn about our Community Kindergarten with university qualified teachers who provide a play based Kindergarten Program for children in their year prior to Prep.

UPCOMING EVENTS